This coin was an unattributed 2014 seller freebie sitting in my junk pile until I randomly pulled it out earlier this week to take a shot at attributing it. Yeah, I guess technically it really is my first of 2015 only in that it's the first coin of the year to be given a new number in my collection spreadsheet. Just killing time until I get my first proper newps of the year.... but hey, having fun while doing it . COMMODUS AE19 4.77g, 19.3mm CILICIA, Augusta, 183/184 AD (Year 164) Karbach, Augusta p.54, 81 (same obv die); RPC Online Temp 6170 (as Marcus Aurelius, one example cited) O: Laureate head of Commodus right, AV KOMODO [...]. R: AVGOVSTN(sic) ETOY EPD, horse standing right, head turned left; tree to left. The coin is in pretty rough shape, but the portrait is distinctly Antonine. Attributing it still took some hunting, but eventually some trawling through RPC Online turned it up as a rarely seen issue from a rather obscure provincial mint. Research Trivia: The city of Augusta (near Adana in modern day Turkey) was founded in AD 20 on the eastern Cilician plains and named after Livia, widow of Augustus. It was built in a loop of the river Seyhan between some low hills, and its ruins were only discovered in 1955. Unfortunately, the site was never excavated as that same year, the Seyhan Dam was completed and the ruins disappeared beneath its waters.
Junk piles and mixed lots can be fun . This coin won't win any beauty pageants but hey, it's still an ancient coin and therefore awesome .
Great snag, Z-Bro ... you're ahead of me in 2015 (man, I've gotta get my act together, I'm falling behind!!) => *sigh*, I could sure use that beach-climate right about now!! (cool photo & trivia)
Free always nice, good lookin' coin Z, i have 4 coins in the pipe line, hope they show soon...amazing what these old coins could say!!!
Hey brother, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to toss-in my Cilician examples, but well, you know me, so "here they are" ... CILICIA, Uncertain, AR Obol 4th century BC Diameter: 10 mm Weight: 0.60 grams Obverse: Youthful male head (Triptolemos?) left, wearing grain wreath Reverse: Eagle left on lion's back, all within dotted square border CILICIA, Tarsos. Æ18 164-27 BC Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.42 grams Obverse: Club; MH-TPO (in monogram form) flanking; all within wreath Reverse: Zeus Nikephoros seated left; star-in-crescent to left Cilicia, Tarsos AE22 Circa 100 BC Diameter: 22 mm Weight: 9.78 grams Obverse: Turreted head of Tyche right, Countermark: Radiate head of Helios right (CM: Howgego 11? Hierapolis Phrygia circa 50AD) Reverse: "TAPSEWN" Pyre of Sandan in the form of a pyramid, Sandan on a horned lion within CILICIA, Soloi AE25 Circa 100-30 BC Diameter: 25 mm Weight: 9.30 grams Obverse: Aegis with winged facing gorgoneion in center Reverse: Aphrodite riding galloping bull right; monogram to upper left Cilicia, Aigeai AE22 1st century BC Diameter: 22 mm Weight: 6.26 grams Obverse: Turreted and veiled bust of Tyche right Reverse: Horse's head left, ethnic above, monogram to right
Nice little coin, Z. I also enjoy collecting obscure and uncommon coins from obscure places, as long as enough of the details are present to make them recognizable.
Thanks for the comments, folks. This one may have been a freebie, but it's definitely a keeper. Nice Cilicians, Steve... love the one with the winged gorgoneion on the aegis. Getting to be quite fond of Cilician coins, and actually coins of Asia Minor in general.
Great story about them capturing and ransoming Julius Caesar. He told the pirates that once ransomed he would be back to hunt them down. And he did. He went back and captured them soon after being released.
