Type 25: Eros with a cult-statue of Aphrodite

Found on coins of Aphrodisias in Caria and Olbasa in Pisidia with (as the usual type) a stylised, archaic statue of Aphrodite and Erotes to l. and r.

* Aphrodisias in Caria, coins of Caracalla (not illustrated) and Gordian III, with Aphrodite r. and (on some of the Gordian coins, as here) the Erotes standing on columns. The coins of Orbiana are forgeries. There are also coins of Hadrian (unique in silver, very rare in Æ, neither illustrated) with a single figure of Eros as a bowman to the r. of the cult-statue.

Æ, 21.86 g. Obv. ΑΥ Κ Μ ΑΝ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC CE. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III r. Rev. AΦPOΔEICIEΩΝ. Cult-statue of Aphrodite r. on plinth between small figure of priestess (?) and low altar with conical cover (?); on either side, cippus surmounted by Eros, poised on one leg, holding torch toward cult-statue (Photos courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., www.cngcoins.com).

 

 

 

* Olbasa in Pisidia, coins of Caracalla (not illustrated), Maximinus I and Maximus Caesar (not illustrated), all with the ensemble within a two-columned temple.

 

 

Æ 23, 1 h, 4.77 g. Obv. INP CAICAI IVL VHR MAXIMINON [sic]. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I r., seen from rear. Rev. COL IVL AVGV OLBASHNH [sic]. Cult-statue of Aphrodite facing, wearing kalathos, between flying Erotes holding out apples (?), the whole within temple of two columns, wreath within pediment.

 

 

 

 

 
CATALOGUE

Aphrodisias / Hadrian, AR cistaphoric tetradrachm
References: RPC III, 1365; MacDonald, The Coinage of Aphrodisias, type 52; RIC 512
Rarity: RRR

Aphrodisias / Hadrian, Æ 
References: RPC III, 2247; MacDonald, The Coinage of Aphrodisias, type 54
Rarity: RR

Aphrodisias / Caracalla
Reference: MacDonald, The Coinage of Aphrodisias, type 110
Rarity: RRR

Aphrodisias / Gordian III

References: RPC VII, 1, 613, 618
Rarity: R

Olbasa / Caracalla
Reference: ISEGRIM
Rarity: RRR

Olbasa / Maximinus I

Reference: RPC VI, 5964*
Rarity: Common

Olbasa / Maximus Caesar

Reference: RPC VI, 5963*
Rarity: RRR