Featured Roman Provincial Coin Cities-- How many can we cover?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by TIF, Jul 23, 2017.

  1. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Do you love provincial coins? I sure do! It's a huge area ripe with interesting niches and opportunities for contribution, discovery, and deeper knowledge if you're of an armchair academic mindset. Like rarities? Provincials are loaded with them! As a group, Provincials seems understudied compared to Imperials.

    Portraiture is not the draw. Often, the portraits bear little resemblance to the Imperial portraits. It matters little-- the reverses are the most interesting part of Provincials. They give insight into what was important to that city or area. Sometimes they are just plain wacky to our modern view.

    Let's see how many Roman Provincial coin cities we can cobble together here. Let's try to do it by alphabet, allowing a couple of days per letter. Inevitably there will be latecomers, omissions, or later purchases but that's okay-- just add them when you can if that letter's time has already passed. Also, it's okay if you want to post a city that someone already posted. Go ahead and show it off if you wish :)

    Feel free to include maps showing the location of your coin's city and whatever else you think is appropriate or interesting.


    How many cities are we potentially talking about? Well... using a list compiled by Henrik Agndal (found on TJ Buggey's site-- a great site by the way), and adding some Egyptian cities and nomes (and I still have more to add), and allowing for pre-Imperial Greek cities under Roman rule-- there are more than 635 cities.

    I've converted Mr. Agndal's list to a spreadsheet, with some additions and clarifications, and with more additions to come.

    Roman Provincial Coin Cities by Alphabet: alphabetical list by city, with region or state following

    The spreadsheet is not editable but you can copy and paste it into your own spreadsheet program if you wish to customize it. If you find errors please let me know. Spellings variations occur (Kyrene instead of Cyrene, for instance), so if you don't find a city, consider whether it has an alternative spelling.

    At first I labeled the list "Roman Provincial Mints" but there are instances where the named city and mint are different, so I went with the more inclusive (okay, vague :D) label of Cities. Also, there may be instances of coins issued for a state or region without a known city of minting.

    It's a work in progress.

    Edited to add a posting schedule. Some letters have few cities and so have been grouped with another letter.

    Screen Shot 2017-07-24 at 8.51.26 AM.png

    .....

    Let's get started! Post your Provincial coins from cities beginning with the letter A!

    ....

    Alexandria, EGYPT. #19 on the map below. I have >160 from this city but I'll just post one :D. It may not be my finest or my most prestigious Alexandrian, but the iconography is unmistakably Egyptian.

    Screen Shot 2017-07-23 at 5.21.44 PM.png
    [​IMG]
    EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian
    BI tetradrachm; 26 mm, 12.6 gm
    Regnal year 11 (CE 126/7)
    Obv: AVTKAI TPAIAΔPIA CEB; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
    Rev: L ENΔ EKATOV: Canopus of Osiris right
    Ref: Emmett 827.11, R3; Milne 1205


    Alexandria Troas, TROAS
    Screen Shot 2017-07-23 at 5.25.43 PM.png
    [​IMG]
    TROAS, Alexandria. Trebonianus Gallus
    CE 251-253
    AE 21 mm, 4.76 gm
    Obv: IMP VIB TREB GALVS AV; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: COL AV / TROA; Apollo, head right and holding kithara, seated facing on griffin springing right, head left
    Ref: RPC IX 407; Bellinger A403


    Anazarbus, CILICIA
    Screen Shot 2017-07-23 at 5.27.40 PM.png
    [​IMG]
    CILICIA, Anazarbus. Severus Alexander
    AE 24.8, 9.2 gm
    struck CE 230/1
    Obv: AVT KM AV CE AΛE ΞANΔPOC; laureate bust right
    Rev: ANAZ CNΔOΞMHTP・ETOYC; heptastyle temple; Γ-B across fields; AMK below temple
    Ref: similar to Righetti 1503 and Righetti 1504
    Τhe date, ΕTOYC, is CY 249 which is CE 230/1, per a coin in CNG's archives which is also similar to mine, although less similar than the Righetti examples cited above.


    Arados, PHOENICIA (Marker 16 on the map below)
    Screen Shot 2017-07-23 at 5.35.08 PM.png
    [​IMG]
    PHOENICIA, Arados. Trajan
    CY 375 (CE 116/7)
    Æ 22, 9.65 gm
    Obv: draped bust of Astarte-Europa right; before, small laureate and draped bust of Trajan
    Rev: bull charging left
    Reference: SNG Copenhagen 81; BMC 374
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2018
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  3. FitzNigel

    FitzNigel Medievalist

    Brilliant idea - and this is going to force me to quickly ID some of the Provincials I just cleaned up...
     
    TIF likes this.
  4. FitzNigel

    FitzNigel Medievalist

    I'll add my one Alexandrian:
    Anc-09-k0064-Nero-Egypt-TET-Alexandria-657.jpg
    Provincial Rome - Egypt
    Nero, r. 54-68 A.D. (64-5 A.D.)
    Alexandria mint, BL Tetradrachm, 24.23 mm x 11.8 grams
    Obv.: NEPΩ KΛAYΔOΣ ΣEB ΓEP. Radiate bust right, wearing aegis
    Rev.: AYTOKPA. Eagle standing left, palm frond behind, LIA to left
    Ref.: SGICV 657 (Emmett 118)
    Ex. Doug Smith Collection #178
     
  5. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I won't have much to contribute here, so I'd better get one in while I can:

    Antioch, Syria (now in Turkey):
    Screen Shot 2017-07-23 at 2.54.32 PM.png

    AR tetradrachm of Augustus, issued in 5 BC. Tyche, wearing murate crown, holding palm, seated right; below, river-god Orontes swimming right. Year (ΥΠA IB) and ANT monogram in field. The ςK indicates the 26th year of the Actian era ("26th year of the victory" at Actium), and the IB indicates the 12th consulship.

    Screen Shot 2017-07-23 at 2.55.40 PM.png
     
  6. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    There's Antioch ad Orontem, of course:

    Capture.JPG



    Otacilia Severa Tetradrachm Antioch.jpg
    Otacilia Severa, 244-249
    Roman provincial AR tetradrachm; 12.23 g; 25.1 mm
    Syria, Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch ad Orontem, AD 245
    Obv: ΜΑΡ ΟΤΑΚΙΛ CΕΟΥΗΡΑ CΕΒ, diademed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟ Α, eagle on palm, left, tail right, SC in exergue.
    Refs: McAlee 1088; Prieur 341; BMC 541

    Macrinus Antioch.jpg
    Macrinus, Augustus AD 217-218
    Roman provincial Æ 19 mm, 3.80 g, 12:00
    Syria: Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch ad Orontem
    Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ Ο C ΜΑΚΡΙΝΟC CЄ, laureate and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: Large SC, Δ/Є above and beneath; all within laurel wreath interrupted by star above
    Refs: SGI 2949; BMC 20. 198,385; SNG Cop. 233; McAlee 728

    Diadumenian Antioch.jpg
    Diadumenian, Caesar AD 217-218
    Roman provincial Æ 16.5 mm, 4.63 g, 11:00
    Syria: Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch ad Orontem
    Obv: ΚΑΙ Μ Ο ΔΙA ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CЄ, bare-headed and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: Large SC, Δ/Є above and beneath; all within laurel wreath interrupted by star above
    Refs: SGI 3017; BMC 20. 201,408; SNG Cop. 235; McAlee 745a
     
  7. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    ALEXANDRIA (several, but will post one):
    RI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64 CE Milne 217 RPC 5275.jpg
    RI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64 CE Milne 217 RPC 5275


    How about a founded city by Alexander whose name later changed?
    Alexandria by Issus:
    upload_2017-7-23_17-37-13.png

    The geographical location of Issus is along a strategic bottleneck between inland mountainous terrain on a coastal plain
    upload_2017-7-23_17-38-44.png
    Makedon Alexander Lifetime Tet Myriandrus mint-Alexandria near Issus.jpg
    Makedon Alexander Lifetime Tet Myriandrus mint-Alexandria near Issus
    Issus was where Alexander met and beat Darius III for the first time, took his baggage train, his Wife, and his daughters, as well as an enormous amount of gold. Today called Iskenderun in Turkey, which is their derivative of Alexander...
    (OK, SORRY, not a provincial, but the Romans LOVED him, and my Avatar name is a bastardization of his name... :) )


    Alexandria Troas:
    upload_2017-7-23_17-23-38.png
    RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 20mm Alexandria Troas mint Horse Grazing


    Antioch:
    upload_2017-7-23_17-25-24.png
    RI Aelia Flacilla w Theodosius I 373-388 CE 21mm 5-7g Victory Christogram shield Antioch RIC IX 61


    Later, Augustus was absolutely TICKED-OFF with this guy for losing 3 Legions to the Germans...
    upload_2017-7-23_17-28-56.png
    RI Publius Quinctilius Varus 5-4 BCE AE20 8.0g Tetrachalkon Zeus Tyche Orontes Antioch Yr ZK RPC 4252 SNG Cop 92
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2017
  8. Smojo

    Smojo dreamliner

    Interesting. Threads like this will force me to make time to get pics of my coins :shame: I'm so far behnd :oops:
    I'll offer an Alexandrian
    20170513_211759.jpg Salonina
     
  9. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Great start, everyone! Thanks for contributing.

    As for Antioch... it is a source of confusion for me an probably for others.

    I think but am not certain that all of the "Antioch" coins shown so far are from Antioch ad Orontem in Seleucia and Pieria, part of Syria.

    In CNG's format:

    SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia ad Orontem.

    Can anyone out there confirm that this is correct (regarding all of the above coins Antioch)?
     
  10. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    upload_2017-7-23_17-43-16.png
     
    Mikey Zee, Okidoki, randygeki and 3 others like this.
  11. Smojo

    Smojo dreamliner

    Theodosius isn't in my area, but I do have this Antioch
    20161214_180137.jpg Theodosius I
    Antioch 379-395 AD
    DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG
    Pearl diamdem cuirassed bust right
    CONCORDIA AVGGG
    Concordia turreted seated facing. Holding scepter and resting lft hand on knee
    ANNT in exergue
    RIC 4a(1)Antioch
     
  12. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    All the references I have agree - the Syrian Antioch is Antioch ad Orontem.

    And here is my contribution.

    Caesarea Maritima

    CaesareaPainting.jpg


    RPC1967.jpg


    Titus as Caesar
    AR Tetradrachm, 14.48g
    Caesarea Maritima mint, 70-71 AD
    RPC 1967 (3 spec.)
    Obv: AYTOKP TITOΣ KAIΣ OYEΣΠ; Bust of Titus, laureate, r., with aegis
    Rev: ETOYΣ Γ IEPOY; Eagle standing, l., with wreath in beak on palm branch; club in l. field
    Acquired from CGB, September 2015.
     
  13. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Thanks for the clarification and the coin, @David Atherton :)

    For clarity, is Caesarea Maritima in Samaria?
     
  14. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    A fine coin, Smojo, but it is an Imperial issue.
     
    Volodya likes this.
  15. Smojo

    Smojo dreamliner

    You're right it is, my bad. It's post-300 AD and is an anomally in my collection.
    I was only thinking letter "A" that I have pics of :( oops.
     
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  16. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Yes, that's the one.
     
    Mikey Zee, Alegandron and TIF like this.
  17. Pompeius

    Pompeius Well-Known Member

    image.jpeg My one Nero of Alexandria. I love how thick and wide it is compared to denarii. It looks excellent too.
     
  18. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    The other commonly seen Antioch is the one in Pisidia. Both are shown on this map.
    [​IMG]

    Antioch, Pisidia, as a full colony, issued coins with Latin Legends rather than Greek.
    Septimius Severus
    pi0870b00313lg.jpg

    Severus Alexander
    pn1875bb2919.jpg
     
  19. Ed Snible

    Ed Snible Well-Known Member

    I have many cities beginning with A ... but for the most part others here will have them. Agrigentum might be scarce as a provincial.

    3270361.jpg
    SICILY, Agrigentum/Akragas. Late 1st century BC - early 1st century AD. Æ 16mm, 5.43g.
    Obv: Triskeles with facing gorgoneion at center.
    Rev: AGRI/GENT in two lines within wreath.
    RPC I 659.
    ex-CNG e-auction 327, May 2014, lot 361 (The Continental Collection)
     
  20. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    I'll contribute a fairly rare issue of Anemurium that I just acquired, Gallienus with Artemis reverse...

    gallienus 6.jpg

    Only four examples seen by CNG in the last 12 years, see here.

    On the southern coast of Turkey...

    anamur.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2017
  21. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Interesting, Ed. I hadn't even noticed Agrigentum on the list and didn't realize until you posted the coin that it was under Roman rule at that time.

    Related, deciding what is "Imperial" and what is "Provincial" is not clear-cut. Roman Provincial Coinage Online has good summary and introduction:

    http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/intro/whatisrpc/
     
    ancientone likes this.
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