A new Caracalla tetradrachm, Cyprus?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by robinjojo, Dec 17, 2021.

  1. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    This Caracalla tetradrachm arrived today. I purchased the coin as a tetradrachm from Antioch, but I think it is actually from Cyprus. The obverse portrays him in his usual sunny demeanor. The reverse appears to have a grain ear below the eagle, but I am not sure.

    What do you think?

    Roman Provincial, 215-17 AD
    Caracalla
    BI tetradrachm
    Cyprus?
    Obverse: Laureate head facing right.
    Reverse: Facing eagle, head right, grain ear below.
    Well centered strike, cleaned.
    About VF

    16.49 grams

    D-Camera Caracalla BI tetradrachm Cyprus 215-217 AD eBay 16.49g 12-17-21.jpg

    Are there comparable examples out there?

    Thanks
     
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  3. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    robinjojo, Your coin is a common Tet from Cyprus, & unusually heavy ;). It's Prieur 1578, 54 examples cited.
     
  4. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    Thank you, Al.

    It is quite heavy. I weighed it twice on my el cheapo scale, which has been reasonably accurate in the past. The first reading was 16.48 grams and the second 16.49 grams, so I guess I'm in the ballpark weight-wise. My not-so-sophisticated kitchen scale has it at 16.5 grams.

    The coin cost me $80, so I guess this was a reasonable deal.

    I glad that this is a Cyprus coin, since I have plenty of Roman provincial coins from Antioch and Tyre.
     
    ancient coin hunter likes this.
  5. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Interesting chunky tet. You don't see coins from Cyprus everyday so nice pick-up!
     
    robinjojo likes this.
  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Mine was labeled Prieur 1580a when sold but I do not have the reference to check it. It is not heavy but none of the seven shown on acsearch are either. What is the distinction between these two as listed in Prieur?
    pm1395fd3376.jpg
     
  7. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    I've seen this type as well while researching the OP coin. There is a difference, stylistically with the treatment of the wheat ears. The obverses differ as well in the portrait styles and the placement of the legends. Your coin also has a cross below the portrait, which, based on my scanty research, could make the coin a rare variety, but I am not a specialist in this field, so I defer to others.

    BTW, a beautiful coin Doug!

    Here is a similar coin to yours, currently on offer through Vcoins:

    https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ae...us_mint_cross_behind_bust/649762/Default.aspx
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2021
  8. Cherd

    Cherd Junior Member

    I don't know anything about mintmarks, but my slab says it's from "Antioch", and also says "Star between legs" in case that means anything. Kind of wimpy compared to yours though, only 10.91 g :shifty:
    image010.png
     
  9. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    A very nice coin!

    The star under the eagle is the common mint mark used during this period by the Antioch Mint.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  10. Cherd

    Cherd Junior Member

    Learn something new everyday! Thanks!
     
  11. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    robinjojo, it looks like your search paid-off :D! Doug's Tet looks like an obverse die match to the coin from Vcoins :jawdrop:. The obverse die from the Vcoins example has more wear but appears to be the same.
    Cyprus Tets (2).jpg
    The reverse on Doug's coin reveals an interesting engravers flaw o_O. A series of minute punch marks to the left of the eagle's wing were used as a guide for engraving the eagle which turned out to be too large :rolleyes:. The engraver then used smaller lettering to accommodate the full length of the inscription. Despite the engraver's flaw he was a resourceful craftsman :p.
     
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  12. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    It is important to remember the late Michel Prieur published his landmark book nearly 22 years ago, so it can be misleading to use many of his "cited" numbers as a measure of rarity. Many hoards of Syro-Phoenician tetradrachms have been put on the market since then, & most of those hoards were probably diffused to dealers illegally :shifty:. If a level of peace can ever be achieved in the Mideast many more tetradrachms will appear on the market :smuggrin:.
     
    robinjojo likes this.
  13. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    It seems to me that a lot of Syrian and Phoenician tetradrachms, and their divisions, are coming into the market through "back door" channels such as eBay. I have seen so many tets of Nero, Trajan, Vespasian, Caracalla and Elagabalus offered for sale, often in lengthy multiple listings, that the only conclusion that one can come to is that they are the result of hoard discoveries in the region constituting Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Coins have also been coming out of Gaza as well.
     
  14. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    Here's one more Caracalla tetradrachm from Cyprus, for sale online.

    Note the different style of the ear of wheat under the eagle on the reverse. The obverse portrait shares much in common with Doug's coin, with a very faint hint of a cross at the bottom, left.

    [​IMG]
     
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