I just got this Caracalla from Antioch to add to my Roman Antioch (Syria) collection. It's got all the traditional characteristics of the type: bearded and curly haired obverse bust (by the time Elagabalus was old enough for a beard, he was well into using Deltas and Epsilons), loads of leaves in the laurel wreath on the reverse (14 to be exact, almost double those of AP and others at the usual 8), and an eagle below the large SC. But this one has an interesting extra character, a B, to the right of the eagle, something I haven't seen before in my shirt experience (and haven't had a chance to consult my books yet). Either the letter is above the SC or below without an eagle, or no letter at all. I'm currently traveling this week for work, so sadly can't jump right to leafing through a reference book, and not being able to find anything so far with a letter like this online in my searches, I'm reaching out to the community with all your great knowledge to see if you all can help track it down? Here is my new coin in question: Thank you all in advance!
Interesting variety - sorry I can't help. I do have one of the more common types, with just the eagle (but head right, not left like the OP). In my limited experience, these can be a challenge to attribute thanks to all the varieties and the usually poor condition of my specimens: Caracalla Æ 21 (c. 198-217 A.D.) Syria, Seleucis & Pieria Antiochia ad Orontem Laureate head right, AVT • K • M • AV[ • ANTΩ]NEINOC / S • C within wreath terminating in circle with pellet, eagle with head right below. McAlee 686; Butcher 456 (?) (7.70 grams / 21 mm)
I have a left facing bust Caracalla from Syria, it has an epsilon above the SC and something else I've never been able to make out. Delta?
Finding a Caracalla from Antioch in that condition is quite a score. Most that I've seen are pretty worn. Congratulations on a beautiful coin. Sorry I can't help with the attribution.
Just running out the door to work but I think it is McAlee 698 - rated very rare! A great looking coin.
Have a common Caracalla, with an obverse that I like, but the reverse - Tyche - is ugly, in hand one can see Tyche holding branch and cornucopia, but can't take a good enough picture showing it. Is there a way I can clean just the reverse ? Æ23, Pisidia, Antioch, 206 - 211 AD Ref.: Krzyzanowska Group C CAR19.37-38 var (rev legend with CAS instead of CAE); BMC Lycia, Pamphilia and Pisisdia p.182, 41 - 43 var (?); RPC 6109; Obv.: IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS A, laureate head right Rev.: ANTIOCH GENI COL CAS Tyche of Antiocheia standing left, holding branch and cornucopia
Yep, soak it in DW and only brush the reverse with a cut down toothbrush. Here's my only coin from Antioch in Pisidia: Septimius Severus, Ruled 193-211 AD AE23, Pisidia, Antioch Obverse: L SEPT SE-V AVG IMP P, laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Reverse: ANTI-OCH G-ЄNI COL CAЄ, Genius (or god Mên?) wearing modius, standing facing, head left, holding branch and cornucopiae. References: SNG Cop 30, Krzyznowska 39 var. (obverse legend, as Krz 43) Size: 23mm, 4.2g
Thanks! I'm finally home and also looked it up in Butcher... It's Butcher 455. And it appears to be a reverse die match with the plate coin, with it's twisted S. Thank you all for the help and support!
And looks like it is an obverse match with this one (different reverse with no B): https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=428430 I wonder if the B (and smaller denomination with the A) we're prototypes as Antioch celators got back to work in their workshops after a pause in AE coin mintage of this type. Maybe they made one reverse die for B (large denomination) and one for A (smaller denomination) and they struck coins with them until they wore out and made new ones without the letters. Something to ponder?