Mount Argaeus Didrachm

I've admired some of the Cappadocian didrachms with the Mount Argaeus reverse that have been shown here in the past, so when this one came up a couple of months ago, I jumped at it. I've no idea what's up with the unusual blue deposits on the coin, but I've no intention of trying to clean it as I actually really like its present appearance.

Another thing I love about this coin is quite a small detail, but worn away on many examples of this type - a small leaping deer inscribed on the large rock at the left of the mountain base, and a tree on the rock at the right. Apart from that, there also seems to be a small structure at the center of the base that I've not seen described before (and in addition, not always present on these issues). To me it looks like it could be the entrance or facade of a temple or shrine, but I'm no expert on these coins and am very likely wrong...

As always, please feel free to share anything you have that might be appropriate here... coins of Cappadocia, coins with Mount Argaeus, etc...


LUCIUS VERUS
AR Didrachm. 6.64g, 21.4mm. CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea, AD 161-166 (Cos 2). Metcalf 131d; RPC Online Vol. 4, #7030. O: AYTOKP OYHPOC CEBACTOC, cuirassed bust right, viewed from behind. R: YΠATOC B, Mount Argaeus with two large rocks at its base, left rock decorated with a deer leaping left, right rock with a tree; on summit, Helios standing left, holding globe and long sceptre.

 

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Not sure about the blue either, maybe it's blue patina, which is fairly rare and desired.

Great coin though. Better details than mine.


Lucius Verus (161 - 169)
Caesarea, Cappadocia
AR Didrachm
O: AYTOKR OYHPOC CEBACTOC Bare-headed and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
R: YPA TOS B ,Mt. Argaeus surmounted by Helios standing left.
Struck 161-166 A.D. (as COS II)
Caesarea, Cappadocia Mint
6.3g
20mm
Metcalf, Caesarea 131d; Sydenham, Caesarea


Commodus (177 - 192 A.D.)
AR Didrachm
Caesaria, Cappadocia
O: AYT M AYP KOMO ANTωNI, laureate head right.
R: YΠATOC ∆ ΠAT ΠA-TPI, Mt. Argaeus surmounted by star.
Cos IV, struck 183-185 AD.
21mm
3.96g
Metcalf 155f; Sydenham 372a


Nerva (96 -98 A.D.)
AR Didrachm
Cappadocia, Caesarea
O AVTOKPAT NEPOYAC KAICAP CEBACTOC YΠAT Γ, laurate head right.
R: CEBACTOY TYXH, Tyche standing left holding rudder in right hand and cornucopiae in left.
Cappadocia, Caesarea 97 A.D.
20mm
6.7g
Sydenham 150


Hadrian (117-138 A.D.)
AR Didrachm
CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea
O: ADPIANOC CEBACTOC, laureate head right.
R: YPATOC G.PATHPPA, Helios standing on Mount Argaeus, holding globe and sceptre.
20mm
6.35g
Sydenham, Caesarea 263; Metcalf, Caesarea 92a

 

Another winner, Zumbly! I don't have any coins showing Mt. Argaeus but it is on the list. The overall look of yours is fabulous

 

Wonderful post @zumbly!!

Love yours as well @Mat !

My drachma of Severus appears to be the only example of Mount Argaeus that I actually won or purchased:

 

Great coin, Mikey. Looks to have a tone that I am drawn too.

 

i see the deer! it took me a couple minutes! great lookin' coin Z, i wouldn't remove the blue stuff either..i like it.

here's an AE of elagabalus...

 

Nice bunch of Cappadocian silver, Mat. I really like the Commodus and Nerva.

 

Very nice bronze, Chris... one of these with the altar is on the list.

 

Great coin, Z! The leaping deer inscribed on the rock is just outstanding!

 

Caracalla, AD 198-217
AE27, 14.5g, 12h; Caesarea Cappadocia, year 13 (of the rule of Septimius Severus), AD 204/5.
Obv.: AY KAI M AYP ANTΩNINOC; Laureate head right.
Rev.: MHTPOΠ KAICAPEI; Agalma of Mt. Argaeus, star over summit // ETIΓ (year 13)

 

Both my Septimius AR and AE are year 2 (194 AD). This year is most common for Caesarea for Septimius. I have never seen a year one coin. The Caracalla as Caesar is year 5 but dated according to his father's dates so 198 AD. This coin is also silver but has a completely black tone.


Not a mountain coin but still Caesarea is this Nike dated E-R. Traditional wisdom is that the R is a letter form of B but I have not seen it on a mountain coin nor have I seen a B on a Nike. I can not help wondering if the R could be a letter form of A and would like to see other coins that speak to this matter. I do note that the three alphas on the coin are 'normal'.

 

WOW @zumbly , the Leaping Deer detail is FANTASTIC!

 

Thanks for the comments and coin-shares, guys.

@dougsmit, great set, especially the Nike, which seems much less common. My Cappadocian Septimius drachm is an Argaeus type, but with the MH on the reverse ligate, as it is on your Caracalla.

 

This is probably my favourite type from Cappadocia ... and that's a really great example Z!

 

I catalogued this recent purchase tonight. I wanted to post it so I searched CoinTalk for "Caesarea" and found this thread. Here is mine:


18-17 mm. 2.70 grams. 6:00.
The MH is again ligate, and the year is the most common: B = 2.
There are very many provincial coins of Septimius Severus, but relatively few are silver drachms.
CEΠ = SEP[TIMIVS] [C = S, Π = P]
CEOYHPOC = SEVERVS [C = S, OY = U, H = eta = E, P = rho = R, OC = VS]

 

Thats a really nice example.