BITHYNIA. Nicaea. Septimius Severus (193-211). Ae.

Obv: AVT K AΛ CЄΠ CЄVHPOC ΠЄ.
Radiate head right.
Rev: NIKAIEΩN.
Triptolemus with right hand raised, driving biga of winged serpents right.

RPC V.2 online - (unassigned; ID 90074) (2 specimens; this coin illustrated); RG -.

Extremely rare

Triptolemus was the son of Celeus and Metanira. Demeter, who had been their guest in the palace of Eleusis as an old nurse and had tried in vain to give immortality to his brother Demophon, assigned Triptolemus the task of spreading the cultivation of wheat, especially the operations of ploughing and sowing. For this purpose she gave him a chariot drawn by two winged dragons. In honour of the goddess he instituted festivals in Athens called Thesmophoriae.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 10.58 g.
Diameter: 26 mm.