Ancient Coins: GREEK and GREEK IMPERIAL BRONZE: Phokis, Delphi, Faustina Sr. d.141 A.D.

AE 23,   7.74g.  Diademed and draped bust of Faustina to right.  Rev. Agonistic(games) table for the Pythian games with vase, laurel wreath, five apples, and a crow.  BMC 35.  Svoronos, "Coinage of Delphi," in Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique, XX, 1896, p. 47, 91 and plate XXX,4.  RPC on-line 4602. Dark Brown patina.  Scarce and superior in quality to most published examples. 

The reverse type with the games award table and the inscription commemorate the Pythian games which originated at Delphi in honor of Apollo whose temple and oracle were located there.  Other cities copied these games and referred to them on their coins.

Provenance/Pedigrees:
Ex Kölner Münzkabinett, Köln, Auction 80, November, 5, 2003, lot 366
Ex: BCD collection,  NAC, Zurich, Auction 55, October 8, 2010, lot 411

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