A Boy and His Stone

<< <i>#50!

I don't recall ever seeing Priapus on a coin before.

I mean, I knew there had to be some, as much as a he features in art of the period, but that is the first time I've seen him on a coin. >>



I've been somewhat interested in collecting a set of all ithyphallic Priapus issues. So far I have only two, this Elagabalus and a bargain basement Julia Domna (Elagabalus's grandmother), also from Nikopolis ad Istrum.



In case anyone is interested, here's a list of all the ithyphallic Priapus coins I've seen but I haven't scoured Wildwinds. There may be more emperors/empresses represented. Most extant examples are from the Severan dynasty; Septimius Severus/Priapus coins are fairly plentiful. The Augustus issue from Lampsakos and Elagabalus from Nikopolis turn up fairly often.

MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum
-Septimius Severus
-Julia Domna
-Caracalla
-Elagabalus

MYSIA, Lampsakos
-Augustus
-Domitian
-Septimius Severus
-Trajan Decius
-Valerian I

A variety of other coins feature the bust of Priapus but where's the fun in that?