Syria, Antioch under Roman rule, Æ19, time of Marcus Crassus, dated Year 13 of the Pompeian Era

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Amit Vyas, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. Amit Vyas

    Amit Vyas Well-Known Member

    Syria, Antioch under Roman rule, Æ19, time of Marcus Crassus, dated Year 13 of the Pompeian Era (54/53 BC), RPC 4218, Vagi 18 (7.8 g, 19 mm)

    Marcus Licinius Crassus, often called the richest man in Rome, was a member of the First Triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. In 71 BC, he defeated the slave revolt led by Spartacus (the Third Servile War), crucifying some 6000 survivors along the Appian Way (though Pompey managed to steal the credit).

    Crassus was the governor of Syria until 53 BC, before being killed by the Parthians during the truce negotiations following his army's defeat in the Battle of Carrhae.
    According to Plutarch, Crassus’s head was brought to the Parthian emperor Orodes II and used as a prop in a theatrical production staged for the king’s amusement. According to another account, the Parthians had molten gold poured inside his mouth, to symbolize his greed for wealth.

    Cassius Longinus (later the famous assassin of Caesar), who had abandoned the campaign early on, escaped to Syria, which he was able to defend against the Parthian counterattack.

    Obverse: Diademed head of Zeus right
    Reverse: (A)NTIOXEΩ(WN) THΣ (MHT)POΠOΛE(ΩΣ). Zeus seated left, date IΓ in ex.

    Crassus.jpg
     
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  3. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Nice coin, @Amit Vyas !

    Here is the guy who put that “Crass-as” Crassus down...

    [​IMG]
    PARTHIA
    Orodes II 57-37BC
    AR Drachm 18mm 3.3g -
    Crassus gold -
    Ekbatana mint stars crescent
    Arsakes on throne bow anchor
    Sellwd48.9
     
  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    And here is the Cassius Longinus who stopped Orodes II from overrunning Syria afterward...

    [​IMG]
    Roman Republic
    GAIUS CASSIUS LONGINUS & PUBLIUS CORNELIUS LENTULUS SPINTHER
    AR silver denarius.
    Struck circa 42 BC, at a mobile military mint moving with Brutus & Cassius, probably located in Smyrna.
    C CASSI IMP LEIBERTAS, veiled & draped bust of Libertas right.
    Reverse - LENTVLVS SPINT, jug & lituus. 18mm, 3.3g.
    Ex: Incitis
     
  5. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    A great coin to get to represent Crassus. The tets with his monogram are prohibitively expensive for many of us!
     
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  6. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    A very nice coin. I'm surprised that there's an RPC number for it, though, given that by its own definitions RPC begins with the death of Caesar. Traditionally, "Roman Provincial" coins a/k/a "Greek Imperial" coins begin even later, at the beginning of Augustus's reign. However, I believe, and I think @Alegandron agrees, that there's no reason to exclude coins minted in provinces ruled by the Republic from the "Roman Provincial" category, so I usually call them "Republican Provincial" coins. So I'm certainly not complaining that RPC included the coin! It should include all "Republican Provincial" coins.

    FYI, I checked RPC I 4218, and it's not this coin; that coin is described as "Caesarian era, year 2, Dating 47 BC." I think the correct number is RPC 4212; see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/4212.
     
  7. philologus_1

    philologus_1 Supporter! Supporter

    @DonnaML is correct that it is RPC I 4212. A more specific citation for the OP example is McAlee 37. Below is a link to my RPC 4212 which is McAlee 38c.
    https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/352821
    There is only one minute difference between the OP example of the type and mine.
     
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  8. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Agreed. In my thoughts, Rome became an Empire during the First Punic War with the Carthage Empire. The Roman Republic took Sicily, and it became their overseas First Province after incorporating Italy. The Roman Empire was over 200 Years old by the time of Augustus. In fact, Republican Rome had already accreted more territory / provinces into their Empire than what was conquered AFTER Augustus.
     
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  9. philologus_1

    philologus_1 Supporter! Supporter

    FWIW: The sub-heading under which RPC lists these types is "Pre-Imperial Bronze".
     
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  10. Amit Vyas

    Amit Vyas Well-Known Member

    Thank you. I do not have RPC. If I remember correctly, I had copied the number from Wildwinds.
     
  11. Amit Vyas

    Amit Vyas Well-Known Member

    There is always the chance, however slim, to encounter one unattributed. I have got 3 unattributed AEs so far.
     
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  12. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    RPC is all online.
     
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  13. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

  14. Amit Vyas

    Amit Vyas Well-Known Member

    Thanks. Just Googled and found it.
     
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