This Antoninus Pius DiDrachm weighs just under 6 grams, I am curious as to where it is from... I have several Drachmai but none this early, and they are all silver drachmai of Caesarea with Mt. Argaeus on the reverse... this one appears to have a diety sacrificing next to an altar..... I cannot make out the titles on the reverse... I was hoping someone could point me somewhere that ID's what exactly the titles are on both the obv and rev. I find the portrait beautiful as with the reverse..... curious as to what everyone on here has to think of it.... I have never seen a Didrachm with this reverse, then again I have not seen to many didrachm of Antoninus Pius. Pics below... very large.
Rev: EYCE - BEIA Pietas, not veiled, standing l., raising r. hand over lighted altar and holding open box in l. hand
Another one from Caesarea added to my collection... I also bought this Caesarea, Cappadocia - Gordian III (238 - 244 AD) Didrachm, possibly, but unlikely, it could be a drachm... I am not sure... but I think it is a Didrachm because of the weight; 4.7 grams, that and the fact that it has a bit missing from one edge, so I assume when it was full it had the weight of a didrachm. I bought it along with the Antoninus Pius Didrachm for quite an amazing deal from a well known seller I have bought from in the past. This Gordian III Didrachm has Mt. Argaeus on the reverse just like my other Caesarea Silver coins.... also I am including a picture of my favorite Caesarea Drachm, which happens to be an Ex CNG coin of Caracalla, Regnal Year: 17 (208 - 209 AD) - 3.15 Grams. I just love this one, it has a crescent moon in the field and a star atop the mountain, as well as an AMAZING young portrait of Caracalla, it is truly beautiful, no?.... the Gordian III Didrachm of Caesarea doesn't seem to have a star or statue (which is seen on some types) or anything at all atop the mountain, or anything in the reverse fields. I also have one of Septimius Severus, an AR Drachm of Caesarea. Regnal Year 15: 207 AD It is ex Harlan J. Berk and just wonderful. I also got amazing deals on those two coins, but bought them a while ago. I was very surprised to win these Didrachmai of Gordian III and Antoninus Pius, since my 'max bid' wasn't all that high. Plus the Antoninus Pius one looks rare to me, I am surprised no one snapped it up at the last second. here is some info on the coins in the photos in this post.... no room for my Septimius Severus Caesarea AR Drachm, but if anyone wants to see it let me know and I will post some pics next post. I have no Questions about the Caracalla Issue, I know the info on that coin, and my only question on the Didrachm of Gordian III, is what the regnal year is? I know it is written in a Greek numeral right beneath the mountain on the reverse... looks like an 'E' kinda, but my Greek numeral knowledge is very limited, so hopefully someone can tell me what that Number is. Gracias! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Info: ------ Gordian III (238 - 244 AD) Caesarea, Cappadocia AR Didrachm. Ancient Roman Empire Emperor Gordian III ( 238 - 244 AD ) Silver Drachm or Didrachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia.... most likely didrachm. (Titles in Greek) obv: Laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed. Seen from Behind. rev: Mount Argaeus. Regnal Year below. Weight: 4.7 Grams ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Caracalla (198 - 217 AD) Caesarea, Cappadocia AR Drachm Roman Empire Caracalla Silver Drachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia Struck Regnal Year 17 (208 - 209 AD) (Titles in Greek) obv: Laureate bust right. rev: Mount Argaeus surmounted by star; crescent in left field. ex CNG Weight: 3.15 grams Reference: Syderham 476c *The first photo of this coin I show (the one showing obv and rev w/ black backround and emblem in the middle) is currently being used as an example of the type on wildwinds.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pics: The first pic is of the new Gordian III Didrachm of Caesarea, the one I am asking for the regnal year of, all the rest are pics of my ex CNG Caracalla Silver Drachm of Caesarea. ~~~ ~~ ~ So only question here is what the regnal year is on the Gordian Didrachm of Caesarea? That, and I would LOVE to find out the date of, and where the Antoninus Pius Didrachm with Pietas w/ Altar on the reverse, as IDed by Mat, was struck.
The didrachm is of Caesarea in Capapdocia. Metcalf, Cappadocia 116d; RPC online temp. 6917. http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6917/ NB - the CNG coin is from the brief period when they sold via eBay. There are no records of the contents of these sales. The best pedigree citation is Ex Classical Numismatic Group ebay sale, 1/14/2001
The Gordian reads ETE or year 5. I agree it odd someone did not take the Pius. Sorry you found the Septimius least interesting but I'll offer mine in case anyone is interested: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/feac25.html http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/feac10.html I know a collector who specializes in Caesarea and has most of the known types to the point that he rarely buys a coin anymore. He does, however, love to tell the stories of how much he paid for the ones he got in Turkey in the 1940's. My Commodus didrachm also made the site: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/voc1.html Ceasarea is unusual in that it is a Provincial city which not only issued silver but for which the silver is easier to find than the bronzes in many cases.
Nice additions Rexesq Not sure if this fits in with the posts but picked this up a little while ago. Cappadocia, Caesarea as Eusebeia AE19/20mm. During the reign of Archelaus, 36 BC - 17 AD. Cuirassed bust of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet / EUSE-BEIAS, Mt Argaeus surmounted by eagle with wings spread. Syd 14 Rare
I do find the Septimius Severus coins interesting, I was just saying that mine seems to have less activity on the reverse than the Caracalla one with it's crescent moon, or a statue like some have... but I do like the star atop it.... Here are some pics of my Septimius Severus Caesarea Silver Drachm. I especially like your example with Victory doug, beautiful, I love it! And the Commodus is very interesting as well. Thank you Ardatirion, for the info on the Antoninus Pius Didrachm. It is good to know that the Didrachm of Antoninus Pius is also from Caesarea, along with the coin of Gordian... I had not seen many of Caesarea that did not have Mount Argaeus personally .... Great link, I am very pleased with these coins. I also love my Septimius Severus and Caracalla Drachmai which I have had for years, and especially love the portrait of young Caracalla.
Well, by young I meant young looking portrait (it looks young to me at least).... .... I should have been more specific... that is a beautiful coin dougsmit! Very impressive, like most of your coins, I am envious I notice that one also has the crescent moon in the reverse left field, if I am not mistaken.... very nice!, also wonderful bare head portrait and cuirassed bust! That is a one Drachm coin ? ------ I also found out my Gordian III AR coin of Caesarea, Cappadocia is definitely a Silver Didrachm, I can tell this by the weight (4.9 grams with a planchet chip, accounting for the slight light weight) as well as the diameter, it is at least twice the diameter as my Caracalla and Septimius Severus single Drachmai coins, and the same diameter as the Antoninus Pius Didrachm with Pietas reverse (5.9 Grams) .