BITHYNIA. Prusa ad Olympum. Caracalla, 198-217. Diassarion (Orichalcum, 26 mm, 9.35 g, 1 h). AYT•K•M•AYP•ANTΩNINOC•CЄ KA• Laureate head of Caracalla to right. Rev. ΠPOYCAЄΩ/N Ajax the Telamonian, nude but for helmet and balteus, falling on his sword; before, pile of stones; on ground line, shield. RG 102. SNG Copenhagen 596 (same dies). SNG von Aulock 873 (same obverse die). Rare and very likely the finest known. An exceptional example of this interesting mythological type, beautifully struck and with a lovely olive green patina. Extremely fine.


The Telamonian Ajax was one of the main protagonists of the Trojan War: as the second-strongest warrior of the Greeks after his cousin Achilles, Ajax fought hard to recover the hero's body, but in the argument that followed, Achilles' body armor was not awarded to him, but to the eloquent Odysseus instead. Grievously offended, Ajax fell into a rage the following night, killing a flock of sheep which he imagined to be Odysseus and Agamemnon. Coming to his senses somewhat later, he found himself covered in the blood of the sheep and decided to commit suicide to wipe out his disgrace. Ajax fell on the sword he had received from Hektor in an exchange of presents, and from his blood sprang a red flower that bore on its leaves the initial letters of his name, AI, letters that were also a cry of lament.