Ancient Coins

Miscellaneous, Magical Amulet, 6th century, King Solomon enthroned facing, holding scroll and an uncertain object, feet on footstool decorated with zzz, coiled serpent Ourobouros with its tail in its mouth around, eFpaGiS xoLomWnox above, ethna oxaLamazaba meaza ovc to left, abo vac mohe nete kene hhe aab k to right, rev. snake-legged, cock-headed Abraxas, with the body and arms of a man, holding a sword and shield, three stars in field, the whole enclosed within the coiled serpent Ourobouros with its tail in its mouth, iawalwn wn above, hw mu wn baL cQ ep c to left, ce eichacan vvxhn to right, 63mm, 23.80g/12h (Manganaro, Documenti magici della Sicilia, dal III al VI sec. d.c., Studi Tardoantichi 6 [1989], pp.22-3, figs.17-18). Extremely fine, dark green patina; with suspension loop (£1,000-1,500)

This most remarkable amulet or talisman is full of symbolism. The obverse sphragis Solomonis refers to the ‘seal of Solomon’, but the inscriptions on either side of the figure are merely magical names and cannot be translated. The reverse Abraxas is commonly found on magical gems, accompanied by the divine name Iao, along with other magical names. The only translatable phrase is on the right side, eis pasan psychen, ‘for all souls’ (that is, individuals; apparently the amulet was for all people)