Here is another random purchase. I had never seen the reverse before and bought it out of curiosity. Caracalla AE31 Obv: AU KAI M AUR ANTWNINOS, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from front. Rev: ADR SEU AN AMASIAS MH NE P P / ET - CH, Burning altar with tree to left Minted in Amaseia/Amasia, Pontos, 208-209 AD 15.08 gms, 30.95 mm
I don't have a Caracalla of the type but here is the Septimius AE32 20.2g. It has a couple of voids from poor flan preparation but there is a lot of detail left.
There appear to a few reverse different types. From my limited research thus far these types depict the Altar of Zeus Stratios (alt. Strateus). The great monumental altar to Zeus Stratios is always accompanied by a tree or flower, which would seem to have some connection with the cult. The altar is depicted with eagle with open wings above, eagle perched right, Helios in facing quadriga above and the altar aflame.
Nice!! => yup, that's a sweet big example you've got there!! (very cool, Martin) Ummm, my example doesn't show Caracalla ... my example has Severus Alexander on the obverse => but the reverse shows an altar with eagle, quadriga and tree ... does it count? Pontus, Amasia. Severus Alexander. Æ35 A.D. 222-235 Civic year 228 (A.D. 228/9) Diameter: 35 mm Weight: 26.18 grams Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander right, seen from behind Reverse: High altar upon which eagle stands facing, head left; above, Sol in facing quadriga, holding whip; to left of altar, tree Reference: Dalaison 566 (D145/R439); RG 101; cf. SNG Copenhagen 119; BMC 39 (same obv. die); SNG von Aulock 6710 (same obv. die) Other: 12 h … Grayish-green patina under earthen deposits, light roughness ... man, you've gotta love these sweet coins from Pontos, eh?
Steve: Any AE35 that you can decipher counts. acsearch gives the series to Commodus as well but lists no Elagabalus, Macrinus, Geta or Diadumenian so there could be some rarities out there.
Nice! There's something just a little creepy-cool about that reverse. One of these has been on my want list for awhile now, just have never found quite the right one to pull the trigger on.
Yeah, it reminds of the Temple of Doom from the Indiana Jones movies. Who knows what sort of ghastly sacrifices are being offered...
