Diadumenian Marcianopolis Ancient Roman Coin Serpent in cista mystica i49393

Item: i49393

Authentic Ancient 

Coin of:

Diadumenian
– Roman Caesar: 218 A.D. –

Bronze 17mm (1.82 grams) of

Marcianopolis in Moesia Inferior  
Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN, 
Serpent
peering out of half-open cista 
mystica. 

You are bidding on the exact item pictured, 
provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of 
Authenticity.

A cista (kiste) in the classical world was generally a casket, used 
for example to hold unguents or jewels. More specifically, in the
Mystery cult
, a cista mystica (literally 
“sacred chest”) is a basket or chest used to house snakes. Cistae mystica were 
used in the initiation ceremony of the cult of Bacchus or
Dionysus
, as well as an early
gnostic
sect called the
Ophites
. Cistae mysticae appear on ancient 
Roman and Greek coins.

Furthermore small Cistas were worked in Etruria, contained in cylindrical 
bronze containers for domestic use and storage of toiletries. Their faces were 
usually adorned engraved with figures, soldered on the top small bronze figures.

The Cista could be realized with different materials like wicker, wood, 
rawhide, but above of all in metal, used from the 5th century. The Etruscans 
manufactured it in different qualities from the 5th century, at first in ovoid 
form with thrown scenes, and then in cylindrical form with engraved scenes. The 
handle of the lid consisted of little structures. One of the most important city 
of production of Cista is Preneste, an old city of Lazio, which realised 
different types of Cista from the 4th century.

Marcianopolis, or Marcianople was an ancient Roman city in
Thracia
. It was located at the site of modern 
day Devnya
,
Bulgaria
.

The city was so renamed by Emperor
Trajan
after his sister
Ulpia Marciana
, and was previously known as 
Parthenopolis. Romans repulsed a
Gothic
attack to this town in
267 
(or 268
), during the reign of
Gallienus
.
Diocletian
made it the capital of the
Moesia Secunda
province.

Valens
made it his winter quarters in 368 and 
succeeding years, Emperor
Justinian I
restored and fortified it. In 587, 
it was sacked by the king of the
Avars
but at once retaken by the Romans. The 
Roman army quartered there in 596 before crossing the Danube to assault the 
Avars.

Between 893 and 972 it was one of the most important medieval cities in 
south-eastern Europe.

Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus or Diadumenian 

(208–218) was the son of the

Roman 

Emperor
Macrinus

, and served his father briefly as

Caesar

(May 217–218) and as

Augustus

(in 218). Diadumenian was born in 14th of September 208 a.C 

or according to

Historia Augusta

in 19th of

September

208 a.C because he 

shared the same birthday with the emperor

Antoninus Pius

. His mother was Empress

Nonia 

Celsa
, although her existence remains dubious, because she was only 

mentioned by the

Historia Augusta

. He was born Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus, but his 

name was changed and added Antoninus to solidify connection to the family 

of

Marcus Aurelius

as done by

Caracalla
.

Diadumenian had little time to enjoy his position or to learn anything from 

its opportunities because the legions of

Syria

revolted and declared

Elagabalus
 

ruler of the

Roman 

Empire
. When

Macrinus
 

was defeated on June 8, 218, at

Antioch
, 

Diadumenian followed his father’s death.