Rhoematalces I was the ruler of the Sapaean Kingdom of Thrace from 12 BC to 12 AD. He was a staunch supporter of Caesar Augustus. Tacitus describes him as "attractive and civilized." His queen, Pythodoris is only known by coin evidence. This example is rough to be sure, but it's (actually) a rare coin. The bust of Augustus and inscription are pretty good though. KINGS of BOSPORUS. Rhoemetalces I & Pythodoris, with Augustus. Circa 11 BC-AD 12. Æ (26mm, 11.06 g, 6h). Jugate heads of Rhoemetalces and his queen Pythodoris right / Bare head of Augustus right. Youroukova 204; RPC I 1711.
There is an 'upgrade' version I never got that adds Livia on the Augustus side. What is the countermark on the neck of the king?
I used to have the foursome but sold it due to condition. Here's the duo: Rhoemetalces and Augustus (11 BC-12 CE). Thrace. Æ (19mm, 5.89g, 3h). Diademed head of Rhoemetalces r. R/ Bare head of Augustus r. RPC I 1714. Green patina, Good VF Rhoemetalkes I with Augustus (Circa 11 BC-12 AD). Ae. Obv: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ. Fasces and capricorn right. Rev: ΡΟΙΜΕΤΑΛΚΟΥ. Male head right above curule chair, decorated with monogram. RPC I 1705; Jurukova 168. Rare Condition: Near very fine. Weight: 2.86 g. Diameter: 16 mm. Ex Savoca
It's the second time I see your bottom coin, @Ryro and my first thought is "hey, a coin with a Jack-in-the-box"
Another Ae type of Rhoemetalkes I: Obv: BA ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΟΥ; Sella curulis (throne) and scepter Rev: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ; Fasces (ceremonial axe) Size: 14mm, 2.1gms
Two decades ago I had the opportunity to snap the following. Wasn't cheap back then, but I never regreted buying it Augustus and Rhoemetalkes, Bronze Semi autonomous coinage of Thracia, c.11BCE-12CE KAISAROS SEBASTOU, Bust of Augustus right BASILEWS ROIMHTALKOU, Busts of Rhoemetalkes and his wife right 9.82 gr Ref : Sear #5396 Q
Here's my one example, of the same type shown in the OP. (For some reason, the dealer's photo switches the obverse and reverse. Perhaps so that potential customers would see Augustus first rather than a couple of people they probably wouldn't recognize.) Rhoemetalces and Augustus, AE 22 mm., 11 BCE-12 AD, Thrace. Obv. Jugate heads of King Rhoemetalces and his queen Pythodoris right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΟΥ / Rev. bare head of Augustus right, ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ.); RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I 1711 (1992); RPC I Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1711 ; Sear GIC Thrace 5396 [D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (Seaby 1982)]; BMC 3 Thrace 4-6 [Poole, R.S., ed. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, The Tauric Chersonese, Sarmatia, Dacia, Moesia, Thrace, etc., Vol. 3 (London, 1877)]. 22 mm., 8.93 g., 7 h. Ex. London Ancient Coins.
Here's a similar coin, but it's unclear who is on the coin because experts disagree. Augustus or Tiberius? Rhoemetalces I or his grandson, Rhoemetalces II? Pythodoris, the wife of Rhoemetalces I or the unnamed wife of Rhoemetalces II? RPC, the most up-to-date in terms of scholarship, attributes it to Tiberius and Rhoemetalces II. Although RPC calls the jugate busts side the obverse, it's clear from my coin that this side was the one struck by the hand-held die and the hammer; it's thus the REVERSE and I label it as such. Kings of Thrace under Roman rule. AE 24 mm, 6.88 g. Uncertain mint of Thrace. Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟ[ΡΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ]ΤΟΥ, bare head of Augustus or Tiberius, right. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΟΥ], jugate bust of Rhoemetalkes I or II, diademed, and queen (Pythodorus?), right. Refs: RPC I, 1721; BMC 3.209,23; Sear 5405; Youroukova 201–3, pl. XXIV; Forrer 207.
Or, as is apparent on my similar coin above, the jugate busts side of the coin was the actual side struck by the hand-held die and the hammer, and thus properly called the reverse.
The quality of portraits on the coins of Rhoemetalkes / Augustus ranges from clumsy and barbaric looking ones to ones of very sophisticated style, surely made by the hands of artists. Mine is also RPC 1711 with countermark "X" that can stand for the Legio Decima (X) Fretensis, found primarily on the coinage used in Judaea and Samaria and primarily connected with the Jewish wars of 66 - 73 AD and the following Roman occupation. The X Legio was participating in the fight against the Jewish revolt in Masada. Could have also been applied over a period of time, but since no counter-marked coins are later than the reign of Domitian, it is likely that it was applied before the reign of Hadrian. Bought by my dad in the 70's for 250 CHF 22 mm, 9.854 g Thrace, ca. 11 BC - 12 AD Ob.: BAΣIΛEΩS POIMHTAΛKOY Jugate heads of Rhoemetalkes, with diadem, and his queen Pythodoris, draped, right. Rev.: ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ Bare head of Augustus right. Countermark X and an issue of Augustus and Rhoemetalkes: Thrace, ca 11 BC - 12 AD 19 x 20 mm, 5.135 g RPC 1718 Ob.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΡOIMHTAΛKOΥ Diademed head of Rhoemetalkes right Rev.: KAIΣAΡOΣ ΣEBAΣTOΥ Bare head of Augustus right; Bought by my dad from Schulman in 1976 for 200 HFl
Here's one that adds Livia and Augustus's pet capricorn. KINGS OF THRACE, Rhoemetalces I AE28. 13.51g, 28mm. THRACE, uncertain mint, late 1st century BC - AD 12. RPC I 1708; Youroukova 182-4. O: BAΣIΛEΩΣ POIMHTAΛKOY, Jugate busts of Rhoemetalces, diademed, and Pythadoris, right. R: KAIΣAPOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY, Jugate busts of Augustus, laureate, and Livia, right; to right, capricorn right, holding globe.
Here is my mediocre example. It was like $12.50 from a group lot at Roma. Not the best, but I'll take it as a representative example of Augustus and the Rhoemetalces couple
That's a great countermark, Doug. Curious, I found these possible matches: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6840629 https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/countermark/175 https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/279574
