The cult image of the Ephesian Artemis has a mummy-like body with the feet placed close together, is many-breasted, and from each of her hands hangs a long fillet with tassels at the ends. At her side stands a stag raising its head.
Coins of Ephesos most frequently depict a bee on the obverse. The high-priest of the temple of Artemis was called the King Bee, while the virgin priestesses were called honey-bees (Melissae).
Modern location: Archaeological site
Reverse: Tyche standing half left, holding rudder cornucopia; EΦECI_ΩN
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 7.7 g
Reverse: Stag right; KOVΣI / NIOΣ / (TO) _ / Δ / EΦE
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.2 g
Reverse: incuse square
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.6 g
Reverse: Female head (Artemis?) left, wearing stephane
Die Orientation: -
Weight: -
Reverse: bee; E _ Φ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.2 g
Reverse: stag right, quiver above; AΠOΛΛOΔΩPOΣ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.36 g
Reverse: bee in wreath; E_Φ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.37 g
Reverse: stag grazing right, quiver above; ΣOΛΩN
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.21 g
Reverse: stag standing right looking left; torch behind; ΠYΘΩN
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.7 g
Reverse: Two stags standing face to face with long torch between them; ΔHMH_TPIOΣ / KΩ_KOΣ / E_Φ / ΣΩΠATPOΣ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.43 g
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Reverse: Two stags standing face to face with long torch between them ΔHMH_TPIOΣ / KΩ_KOΣ E_Φ ΣΩΠATPOΣ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.1 g
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Reverse: III•VIR• R•P•C - head of Octavia atop cista mystica, between twisting snakes.
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 12.4 g
"Following the death of Octavia's first husband C. Claudius Marcellus in 40 BC, her marriage to Antony sought to seal the Pact of Brundisium in which it had been agreed that Octavian would assume control of the west and Antony of the east. The striking of this type cements the agreement before the people of Ephesus, an important city, later made the capital of Asia Minor by Augustus in 27 BC. Octavia spent two winters with Antony in Athens and in 37 BC assisted in securing the Triumvirate for another 5 years at the Pact of Tarentum. Following this, Antony returned to the east and, having left Octavia behind, lived with Cleopatra VII in Egypt. Although they divorced in 32 BC, after Antony's defeat at the Battle of Actium and subsequent suicide, Octavia raised all of his surviving children by Fulvia and Cleopatra, along with her own."
Provenance: Roma Numismatics, Auction XX (29-30 October 2020), lot 373.
Reverse: Bare head of Octavian right, wearing slight beard; CAESAR • IMP • PONT • III • VIR • R • P • C • around.
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 3.99 g