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

Here's another example of the pseudo-autonomous Rhodes type that ancientone posted, with busts of Helios and Serapis...

 

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My only coin of Rhesaena - it seems Mesopotamian bronzes did not generally have good survival skills, for whatever reasons. Severus Alexander with river goddess holding eagle.

 

Seleukis/Pieria under Roman rule
AE 20
Year 44, 13/14 AD
Obvs: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Revs: EΠIΣIΛANOY † ANTIOXEΩN, Ram running r. looking back. Star above, ΔM in ex.
20mm, 7.37g.

 

Side is an ancient Greek city on the southern coast of Turkey, one of the country’s most renowned classical sites. The name of the city may be Anatolian in origin, and may mean pomegranate. Side has a rich history, from its founding by settlers of Kyme to its role as an important center of Roman trade and commerce.

Here is Domitian on a wonderfully crusty but well-detailed coin of Side. Athena is pictured with some rather uncharacteristic accoutrements: a pomegranate in her hand and rearing serpent at her feet. Hm...woman, serpent, fruit. Where have we heard that story before?

 

Side

Pamphylia, Side. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ18
Obv: ΔOMITIANO KAICAP, Laureate head right.
Rev: CIΔ-HT, Athena Promachos advancing left, holding spear, shield and pomegranate. Serpent at feet to left.
RPC II 1527.

Sillyon

Pamphylia, Sillyon(Sillyum). Lucilla AE24. Bust of Men
Lucilla, daughter of Marcus Aurelius, wife of Lucius Verus, Augusta, 164-182 AD. AE24, 9.5g.
Obv: ΛΟΥΚΙΛΛΑ CEBACTH. Draped bust right, hair gathered in back in Chignon.
Rev: CIΛΛYEΩN. Draped bust of Mên right, crescent at shoulders.

Sinope

Paphlagonia, Sinope. Hadrian AE17. Athena
Obv: IMP C TRAI HADRIANVS / Laureate bust of Hadrian r.
Rev: C IF ANN CLXVIII (year 168) / Athena standing head l., spear and facing circular shield lowered at her sides.
17mm and 3.86g.
WADD RG S207A,107(1) / COLL PARIS(1)

Sidon

Phoenicia, Sidon. Severus Alexander Æ26.
Obv: Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev: Three standards surmounted with eagles.
26mm., 8.3g.
BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; AUB -.

Synaus

Phrygia, Synaus. Æ18. Asklepios facing
Obv.: ΘЄOΝ CΥΝ - ΚΛΗΤΟN, draped bust of Senate right.
Rev.: CΥΝΑ - ЄΙΤΩΝ , Asklepios standing facing, raising himation with his right hand and holding serpent-entwined staff in his left hand.
18mm., 3.92 g.
Late 1st Century.
Forni 514, SNG Leypold II 1749
Rare

Selge

Pisidia, Selge. Lucius Verus AE19
Obv: KAI BHROS / Barehead bust of Lucius Verus.
Rev: SELGE WN / Winged thunderbolt and bow decorated w. animal heads.

Samosata

Syria, Commagene, Samosata. Antoninus Pius AE24
Obv: ΑΥΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΤΙ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ ΕΥΣΕ / laureate-headed bust of Antoninus Pius wearing (cuirass and) paludamentum, r.
Rev: Φ ΣΑΜΟΣΑΤ ΙΕΡ ΑΣΥ ΑΥΤΟΝΟ ΜΗΤΡΟ ΚΟΜ / turreted Tyche seated on rock, l., holding poppy and two ears of corn, resting arm on rock, resting foot on swimming river-god (Euphrates).

Seleucia

Syria, Seleucia. Autonomous AE21. Legate C. Julius Commodus Orfitianus.
Syria, Seleucia. AE21. Legate C. Julius Commodus Orfitianus. Year 188 of the local era (157 AD).
Obv: EPI KOMODOU PR, female bust (Tyche of Seleucia) right, wearing turreted head-dress and veil, palm-branch behind head, border of dots.
Rev: CELEUKEWN THC IERAC KAI AUTONOMOY above and beneath thunderbolt, with fillet attached, on cushion placed on stool.
BMC 31

Serdica

Thrace, Serdica. Marcus Aurelius AE20. Bust of Isis
Obv: AY KAI M AYPH ANTΩNINOC Head facing r.
Rev: CEPΔWN Bust of Isis decorated with lotus r.

Sestos

Thrace, Sestos. Trajan AE17
Obv: KAICAP TRAIANOC, Laureate bust of Trajan r.
Rev: CHC TIWN, Lyre or cithara.
3.48g, 17.1mm
Varbanov 2978(B)

 

Singara was a heavily-fortified city in northern Mesopotamia, and the outpost of Legio I Parthica. It was first taken by Trajan, and later became a part of Septimius Severus’ Parthian campaign, at which point it was promoted to the status of a colony. This is a case where coin evidence provides us with facts otherwise unattested elsewhere. We know it was promoted to a colony by SS because of the legends that appear on the later issues of Gordian III and Tranquillina: ΑΥΡ ϹΕΠ ΚΟΛ ϹΙΝΓΑΡΑ, or Aurelia Septimia Colonia Singara.

Here is Tranquillina with Capricorn leaping over Tyche...

 

Thanks @TIF! Your new Boule from Lysias is amazing! I may need to check out JA's coins.

 

For some mysterious reason, your name got deleted from the auction list. I've reinstalled you. Apologies!

 

No problem! I enjoyed looking at your lists and hope to have the funds to purchase in the future.

 

Cybele will pomp yoo ahp! It may be just a trick of the sand patina, but here’s a muscular version of Cybele on a pseudo-autonomous issue of Sala. Sala was located in eastern Lydia, occupying the territory between Blaundus and Tripolis north of the River Sindrus (BMC., Lyd., p. xciv). Other than this factoid from BMC, I could find no information on Sala, so perhaps we can assume it was a small town of little importance? Nevertheless, it did produce pseudo-autonomous issues with names of magistrates, and a limited number of provincial types. Here's one of the pseudo-autonomous, AD 128-161, magistrate Androneikos.

 

Today is Tday and that means I get to post my favorite Tyrian coins!

Tyre:



PHOENICIA, Tyre. Elagabalus
CE 218-222
AE29, 13.4 gm
Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Dido building Carthage; she stands to front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work, [below, a man digging with pick]; murex shell in upper field, palm tree to right
Ref: Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-the-building-of-carthage.254625/

The same reverse from Valerian:


and Gordian III:




PHOENICIA, Tyre. Julia Maesa
CE 218-224/5
AE 27, 12.71g (11h)
Obv: IVLIA MAE - SA AV[G] Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Rev: TVRIORVM Dido (?) standing left on deck of galley sailing right, extending right hand and holding cornucopia in left; to left, helmsman bending left over rudder (?); to right, sailor extending right hand and holding curved staff in left; stern decorated with a shield and aphlaston, [two murex shells] in exergue
Ref: CNG e320, 12 Feb. 2014, lot 323 (same dies). Rouvier 2408

Tarsus:


CILICIA, Tarsus. Elagabalus
218-222 CE
Æ 23mm, 6.91 g, 12h
Obv: laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Ciliarch crown decorated with seven imperial portraits, ЄΛ, and KOIN monogram; A/MK in center of crown
Ref: Cf. SNG France 1557 (similar type with five heads on crown); cf. SNG Levante 1079 (same); SNG Copenhagen 374 corr. (obv. legend)
From the estate of Thomas Bentley Cederlind. Ex Cederlind 125 (1 July 2002), no. 96

 

TIUM

MARCUS AURELIUS
AE 19. 3.98g, 18.7mm, BITHYNIA, Tium, circa AD 138-161. Rec Gen 66; BMC 9. O: AYPHΔ-IOC KAICA-P (P is below bust), bare-headed bust of Marcus Aurelius (youthful - lightly bearded) wearing paludamentum, right. R: TIA-NΩN, Isis standing left, wearing lotus headdress, holding sistrum and long sceptre.

TERMESSUS MAJOR

PISIDIA, Termessus Major
Semi-autonomous, temp. Gallienus
AE30. 10.46g, 29.9mm. PISIDIA, Termessus Major, AD 260-261 (Dated Q = Year 9, reign of Gallienus). SNG BN Paris 2195; SNG von Aulock 8639. O: TER-MHCCEON - Q (year 9), bearded head of Zeus left. R: [A]UTO-NO[M]WN, Tyche in long robes standing facing, wearing Kalathos on head, holding cornucopia in left hand, rudder in right hand; in left field Q (Year 9).

TYRE

GALLIENUS
AE Dichalkon. 14.21g, 30.9mm. PHOENICIA, Tyre, circa AD 253-268. Rouvier 2529 var. (rev legend); AUB –; BMC –. O: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from front. R: COL TVRO MET, Hermes-Thoth, half-naked, standing left, holding papyrus roll and caduceus; to left, ibis standing left; to right, murex shell set upon palm tree.
Ex Dennis Rider Collection of the Coins of Tyre; Ex John A. Seeger Collection (CNG 172, 5 Sep 2007), lot 125

 

Just posted this in the big Coins thread, but here is another Tarsus:


Provincial Rome - Cilicia
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D.
Tarsus, AE Tetrassarion, 35.12 mm x 19.1 grams
Obv.: AΥT KAI M AYP CEYEPOC ANTΩNEINOC. Bust right, in robes of demiourgos, Π left and right
Rev.: ANTΩNEINIANH CEYHP AΔPIA. Emperor standing left, sacrificing over altar, wearing toga, A/M/K left, Γ/B right, TAPCOY/ΛN in exergue

 

TOMI

Moesia Inferior, Tomi. Nerva (96-98 AD), AE16 (2.91g).
Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤωΡ ΝΕΡΟΥΑ; laureate head of Nerva, r.
Rev: ΤΟ/Μ//ƐΙΤ/ωΝ; bunch of 3 ears of corn and 2 poppy heads RPC vol. 3 #778

TYANA

CAPPADOCIA, Tyana, 1st or 2nd century AD, AE19, 4.9g
Turreted and draped bust of Tyche right.
TYANEWN, Perseus, naked, standing left, holding patera in outstretched right hand and harpa and chlamys in left.
BMC 1
ex-Alex G Malloy, auction LXIII, November 2001, lot 164

 

I don't collect ancients. But I find this thread quite
interesting. My question is , is there a ruler that issued
coins at all or most of the mints? If this was already
answered please direct me. Is it possible to collect one
coin from each city/mint that is on the list in the opening
post? Thank you.

 

I am not a provincial specialist. For pre-Roman Greek city-states there are about 600 cities: 200 common, 200 scarce, and 200 very rare. It is possible to try to collect one from each city. I would be surprised if any single human collector obtained an example all of the very rare cities.

No emperor can have all of the cities as some cities were incorporated into the empire and became Roman mints or lost their mint status. I would guess the Roman ruler with the most cities would be either Augustus, Hadrian, or Gordian III but I don't know and hope someone will say.

I had forgotten I have a coin of Tityassos from the Roman period:

Pisidia, Tityassos, circa 2nd Century AD. AE 18mm, 4.78g
O: ΤΙΤΥΑСС; Forepart of boar right
R: ΜΗΤΡΟС; Tetrastyle temple with pellet in pediment and diagonal connectors between outer columns; within circle of dots.
SNG von Aulock 5375, SNG Paris 2233-4
Clark's Ancients, list 119, November 2004, lot 136 (Lovette collection)

This coin was previously posted on the Roman Republican sophomoric humor thread. Some folks find the city's name name highly suggestive. If you want a coin of this type for your own collection, there is one on an auction site at this time, and it is nicer than mine.

 

Here is one from Tripolis, Phoenicia.

23 mm. 9.44 grams.
Caracalla. 198-217.
Astarte standing right, foot on prow, one either side the Dioscuri, each holding a bunch for grapes.
Sear Greek Imperial 2678. Lindgren and Kovacs 2354. BMC Phoenicia 87. SNG Copenhagen Phoenicia 287.

 

Wow! Some great T's so far.

Temnos

Aeolis, Temnos. Pseudo-autonomous Ae25. Senate/Nemeses

Obv: IERACY NKLHTOC; Bust of youthful Senate r.
Rev: THM NE ITWN; Two Nemeses standing facing each other, drawing fold of drapery from breasts.
200-250 AD.
25mm, 6.5g.
SNG COP 21 266(1)

Tium

Bithynia, Tium. Antoninus Pius AE18. Zeus Syrgastes
Obv: ANTONINO Y KAICAPOC (retrograde) / Pius bust r.
Rev: ZEUS TIANWN / Zeus Syrgastes standing, l., holding patera and long scepter.
18mm, 3.4gm.

Tabae

Caria, Tabae. Dionysos/Poseidon AE23
Obv: Head Dionysos wearing ivy-wreath right / TABH-NΩN.
Rev: Poseidon standing facing, head left, holding trident in left and dolphin in right; foot on galley.
1st cent AD.
23mm.

Tavion
Galatia, Tavion. Æ27 Zeus/bull
GALATIA, Tavion. Circa Mid-1st Century AD. Æ 27mm (13.20 gm). TPO-KMWN, Zeus seated facing, holding sceptre in right hand / [SEBASTH]NWN (retrograde), bull standing left. RPC I 3568 (corr.); SNG France 2646; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC Galatia pg. 24, 3-4; SNG von Aulock - Laffaille -. Rare.

Thyateira

Lydia, Thyateira. Pseudo-autonomus AE23 Artemis Boreitene
Lydia, Thyateira. Pseudo-autonomus AE23. ΒΟΡEΙ − ΤΗΝΗ, Draped bust of Artemis Boreitene left with bow and quiver / ΘΥΑΤEΙΡΗΝΩΝ, Eagle with spread wings standing facing.

Tralleis

Lydia, Tralleis. AE22. Pythian games issue.
Tralles, AE22. AD 253-260.
Obv: IEΡOC ΔHMOC, head of Demos right, hair bound in a taenia.
Rev: TΡAΛΛIANΩN around prize crown inscribed ΠYΘIA.

Thessalonica

Macedonia, Thessalonica. Maximus Caesar AE28
AE 28, 12.52 gr. G IOULOUHR MAXIMOC KE, bare-headed, draped bust right / QECCALONIKEWN, Nike walking left, holding Kabeiros and palm branch. Mionnet Supp. III, 985; BMC 115 var.

Themisonion

Phrygia, Themisonion. AE22. Sozon/Kazanes
Obv: Radiate and draped bust Sozon right.
Rev: River-god Kazanes, holding reed, reclining left on overturned amphora.
3rd cent AD.
SNG Copenhagen 750; BMC 5, pl. XLIX, 2.

Tiberiopolis

Phrygia, Tiberiopolis. AE18, Cult statue of Artemis Ephesia.
Obv: IERA SYNKLHTOS / Bust of Senate r.
Rev: Cult statue of Artemis Ephesia; stags at sides.
BMC 17 S421

Termessos Major

Pisidia, Termessos Major. Æ30
Obv: TEΡMHCCEΩN AVTONOMWN Θ, laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev: TΩN MEIZONΩN, Tyche standing left, wearing kalathos, holding rudder and cornucopiae, Θ in left field.
AD 238-268.

 

@Ed Snible gave a good answer. I would add that Caracalla and Septimius Severus minted at many provincial mints. Caracalla's listings in Sear's Greek Imperial Coins take 23 pages and Septimius Severus's take 17 pages. Gordian III has 16, Augustus has 14, and Hadrian has 14. The list of cities for each emperor in Sear is very far from complete, but it does give an indication of how widely they minted.

 

Tripolis, Lydia



Early - mid 3rd century AD, 4,31g 22mm
Turreted and draped bust of Boule right; BO VΛH
Dionysus standing left, pouring kantharus and holding thyrsus; TPIΠΟΛΕ I TΩN
SNG Copenhagen 732