Coming all the way from Jeruselum is this very scarce tetradrachm of Vespasian/Titus I recently got. Thanks to @David Atherton for some of the help & the writeup of why this particular one is scarcer than the regular issue. Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.) Antioch, Syria AR Tetradrachm O: AYTOKPAT KAIΣA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laureate head right. R: (T) ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠ KAIΣ ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY; Laureate Head of Titus, r.; in r. field, B=Year 2 ( 69-70 AD) 11.37g 25mm RPC 1941 (2 spec.)., Cf. Prieur 107-107A A RPC group 2 tetradrachm attributed to Antioch, but style wise very similar to Alexandria. RPC speculates the Alexandria style tetradrachms were either struck in Alexandria and then shipped to Antioch, or less likely Alexandrian mint workers were sent to Antioch and produced the coins there. Kevin Butcher speculates these Alexandria style tetradrachms were ordered by the southern Syrian cities from the Alexandria mint for circulation in that part of the province. Of note, Galilee, Samaria, and Judaea were a part of the province of Syria at the time. Interestingly, these tetradrachms in which Titus' portrait is featured on the reverse may have been circulating in the very region where he commanded the legions fighting the Jewish War. Most likely they were struck during the massive military build up before the siege of Jerusalem, providing strong evidence of the important role Titus Caesar held at the time. This regnal year 2 type is more commonly seen with a star behind Titus' portrait on the reverse. This is the rarer variant lacking the star.
There's almost nothing that can compare to holding a big chunk of silver in hand. I'm glad you finally got it! A superb piece. NB: Your example is an obverse die match with mine, perhaps hinting how rare this type really is!
My Vespasian is a year three. Is there a significance to the use of the line over the numeral when attributing the mint place? Is the attribution to Alexandria based on style?
Yes, style is one way, fabric another. Butcher and Ponting have found the metallic composition of the 'Alexandrian' style Syrian tets is the same as contemporary Alexandrian tets. For style, compare this Alexandrian tet with your Syrian. Same engraver? Vespasian AR Tetradrachm, 12.17g Alexandria mint, 70-71 AD RPC 2424 (0 spec.). Obv: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYVEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laurerate, r., date LΓ before neck Rev: PΩ-MH; Roma standing l., with spear and shield Ex eBay, 7 March 2018.
