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Orbis Collectibles

Perinthos, Pupienus, Medallion — Group of gods: Serapis (CN type 3158)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 238

Issuing entity

Thrace

Medallion in bronze struck at Perinthos in Thrace under Pupienus, dated AD 238. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 3158 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of Pupienus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΚΛWΔ ΠΟVΠΙΗΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ Π Π. Reverse: Group of gods: Serapis, Zeus and Hera; in the middle, Serapis standing left, wearing kalathos, holding patera and cornucopia; to left, nude Zeus standing left, holding patera and sceptre; to right, draped and veiled Hera standing left. Legend: ΠЄΡΙΝΘΙΩΝ ΝЄΟΚΟΡΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 29.72 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 37.3 mm (from 1 recorded specimen).

Published references cited by the corpus: Peter, Der Senatskaiser Pupienus in Thrakien? Zu einem Medaillon aus Perinth, Sofia 2017; Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values III Band 3, Thrace (from Perinthus to Trajanopolis), 2007, p. 67, nr. 491.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
2

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Perinthos, also known as Perinthus or Heraclea, was a major city of ancient Thrace situated on the Propontis, to the west of Byzantium. Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus ruled as Roman emperor alongside Balbinus for 99 days in AD 238, during the Year of the Six Emperors. Civic bronze medallions such as this were struck by the city during Pupienus's brief imperial reign in the Roman Imperial Period.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Denomination
Medallion
Recorded diameter
37.3 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
29.72 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Perinthos
Region
Thrace
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Pupienus

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of Pupienus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Group of gods: Serapis, Zeus and Hera; in the middle, Serapis standing left, wearing kalathos, holding patera and cornucopia; to left, nude Zeus standing left, holding patera and sceptre; to right, draped and veiled Hera standing left.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΚΛWΔ ΠΟVΠΙΗΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ Π Π
Reverse legend
ΠЄΡΙΝΘΙΩΝ ΝЄΟΚΟΡΩΝ

Identification

Period
Roman Imperial Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/3158
Type corpus identifier
CN type 3158

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

  • Corpus Nummorum bibliography
  • Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 67, nr. 491

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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