I haven't posted any new coins in a while, so while everything is rather slow on CT today, I thought I'd show this Caracalla provincial struck at Carrhae. This is my first and only coin struck at this mint. For those of you interested in the military aspect, Carrhae was the scene of one of Rome's worst defeats at the hands of the Parthians and where Crassus, a member of the First Triumvirate and one of the richest men in Rome, was killed. CARACALLA AE 17 OBVERSE: Laureate head right. REVERSE: Turretted, veiled and draped bust of Tyche right. Struck at Carrhae in Mesopotamia, 198 -217AD 4.89g, 17mm BMC 30-42
Nice little coin! I don't believe Mesopotamian engravers knew what the emperors looked like. Here is Severus Alexander on a coin of Rhesaena... Mesopotamia, Rhesaena, Severus Alexander AE26, 11.1g, 5h; Rhesaena, 222-235 Obv.: [AΛEXANΔROC CE.. A CEB]; Laureate and draped bust left, holding shield Rev.: PHCAINHCI-[ΩN LEG III G]; Tyche seated left on rock, holding eagle in right hand, left hand set on rocks, river-god swimming left below Reference: Mionnet 187; BMC Rhesaena 1; cf. Castelin 30 (?) I've also noticed that most bronze coins from this region are quite rough. We actually have "nice" examples of our types.
That's a neat coin! I haven't heard of that mint before...but there's a lot I haven't heard before...
Here's a coin from Crassus' son who died along with his father on that ill fated expedition. P. Licinius Crassus. Denarius 55, AR 4.02 g. Laureate, diademed and draped bust of Venus r.; behind, S·C. Rev. P·CRASSVS· – M·F Female figure leading horse l. with r. hand and holding spear in l.; at her feet, cuirass and shield. B. Licinia 18. Sydenham 929. Crawford 430/1.
Really cool coin @Bing ! Crassus... great subject! Rumor/stories that the Parthians poured molten gold down his gullet because he was always pursuing wealth... OUCH!
Yeah, Carrhae was a military outpost always in danger of being overrun. It was about as far east as the Roman empire went, and was one of the first cities to fall to the reinvigorated Persian empire.
that's a neat provincial bing, from an interesting place! i have this similar coin of trajan descius from edessa, which is pretty close by. the coin has a very similar style to yours. here's a cool little video the "decisive battles" series about carrhae. the video game graphics haven't aged well, but still pretty cool.
I think this coin gets extra cool points because it was outside Carrhae that Caracalla was assassinated while taking a leak by the roadside.
Nice coin Bing! The history behind the cities is why I pursue provincials. Mesopotamia, Carrhae. Elagabalus AE17 Obv: Radiate bust right. Rev: KAΡAKOMH, Crescent with star, pendant fillets and pellet below. 17mm and 2.8g. Mesopotamia, Carrhae. Septimius Severus AE25 Obv: Laureate bust r. Rev: Dionysos seated on throne l. 25mm, 8.9g. SGIC 2283
Cool posts everyone!!! Nice coin Bing!! I do not have any struck at that particular mint but would love to have one just for the historical connection!
Hope it's okay to dig up another old thread, but Bing's Carrhae from '16 helped me identify this very poor specimen from a harshly-cleaned lot of Roman stuff I just got from eBay (thanks, Bing). At least I think that is what it is - my attribution is a semi-guess - there are several types similar, but this seemed closest: Caracalla Æ 18 (198-217 A.D.) Carrhae, Mesopotamia [M ANTONINVS P F AVG], laureate head right / [COI MET ANT]ONINIANA [AVR ALEX] turreted and veiled head of Tyche right. BMC 22; SNG Cop 177. (3.15 grams / 18 mm)
I'm digging up Bing's old post on Caracalla from Carrhae because I just got two new ones. While re-researching these, I came across a very interesting article by Edward Dandrow questioning the Carrhae location - he makes a pretty convincing argument for these coming from Edessa. Dandrow make an exhaustive study of die pairs, and inscription variations. Here is a link: https://www.academia.edu/31013674/T...in_Coins_of_Caracalla_from_Edessa_in_Osrhoene Here are the two I just got - they are Dandrow's "Type 3" with the cornucopia in front of Tyche - most of the legends are missing and they are generally pretty cruddy, but I did enjoy researching them, well worth the $1.83 I shelled out for them: Caracalla Æ 17 (198-217 A.D.) Carrhae, Mesopotamia (or Edessa? see E. Dandrow) IMP CAES ANTONIN[VS PF AVG laureate head right / COI MET ANTONINIANA A, turreted & veiled head of Tyche right, cornucopia to right. SNG Cop. 177; BMC 38. (3.66 grams / 17 mm) and (2.87 grams / 16 mm) Are there any others out there? One of the scarcer varieties has a snake in front of Tyche. Either Edessa or Carrhae, it is an interesting issue - per Wikipedia: "The Roman emperor Caracalla was assassinated on the road from Edessa to Carrhae (now Harran) by one of his guards in 217. Edessa became one of the frontier cities of the province of Osroene and lay close to the border of the Sasanian Empire."
My only coin from Carrhae, AD 215-217, this billon Tet of Caracalla, 14.72 gm, 27 mm, Prieur 820. The bull's head under the eagle is the mint mark. These Tets are common, however, well struck examples in choice condition are scarce. Legend has it that Caracalla was stabbed to death in Carrhae while taking a leak .
Nice coins, everyone! Here is another Caracalla from Carrhae: Caracalla, Roman Empire, Provincial issue of Mesopotamia, Carrhae, AE 21, 198–217 AD. Obv: M AVR ANTONINV[S PF AVG]; head of Caracalla, laureate, r. Rev: COL MET ANTONINIANA AVR ALEX; bust of Tyche, draped and turreted, r. 21mm, 6.17g. Sear Greek Imperial 2702; BMC 19. Ex Warren Esty.
