IONIA. Ephesus. Julia Mamaea, Augusta, 222-235. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 28 mm, 11.13 g, 6 h). IOYΛIA MAMAIA CЄB Diademed and draped bust of Julia Mamaea to right; on neck: uncertain countermark.
Rev. ΑΠΗMH ΙЄPA / ЄΦЄCIΩN Sacred four-wheeled wagon (hierà apêmê), to right, drawn by two mules, the driver holding the reins from inside. Kraft, p. 124, 50a. SNG von Aulock 1911. SNG Copenhagen -, cf. 468 (for obverse) and 471 (for reverse). Very rare and of great interest. Slightly rough
, otherwise, very fine.
From an American collection and that of Prof. Clive Foss, formed from the 1950s through 1980s (with collector's ticket).
This interesting coin features the holy wagon (called 'hiera apeme' in Greek or, in its later form, apene) on the reverse, used in religious festivals to carry sacred objects related to the cult of Artemis Ephesia. Most notably, four-wheeled wagons of a similar type, called 'araba', survived in Turkey until modern times, the driver always sitting inside the roof-covered wagon. This type also exists with one of the usual Ephesian reverse formulas (BMC 328; Price-Trell p. 216, fig. 459), but the present variety has a descriptive legend explaining the type.
