Elagabalus (?) provincial help wanted

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Jan 28, 2018.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    This one has been bugging me for a long time because I haven't been able to attribute it. All I need is to know what city minted it and I'm confident I could find a reference for it from there. Uggh! If only the reverse inscription weren't largely off the flan.

    It's diassarion-sized (small) and probably portrays Elagabalus (though Caracalla can't be ruled out) and probably portrays Hermes holding a purse, naked but with a chlamys over his shoulder.

    The reverse inscription appears to read OV[...]ЄΩN[...] or possibly OV[...]CΩN[...]

    Elagabalus Provincial.jpg
    Elagabalus or Caracalla
    Roman provincial Æ (diassarion?); 2.41 g, 14.5 mm, 1 h
    Obv: [...] ANTΩNIN, laureate and draped bust, right
    Rev: OV[...]ЄΩN[...] or possibly OV[...]CΩN[...] (maybe OVCIЄΩN?), Hermes, nude but for chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing facing, head left, holding purse and caduceus.

    Thanks in advance for your help.
     
    Roman Collector, Jan 28, 2018
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  3. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    If you think there may be two letters before OVCIEΩN, it could be ΠPOVCIEΩN[...] for Prusias ad Hypium.
     
    zumbly, Jan 28, 2018
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  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Thanks! That is a very solid lead. Now, if I could only figure out which page it's on in one of the many online versions of Waddington's Recueil Général.

    Not much online from this issuing authority, but this similarly-sized bronze of Julia Domna from Prusias has simliar lettering on the reverse:

    Domna Prusias.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
    Roman Collector, Jan 28, 2018
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  5. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    There are definitely some letters before OVCIЄΩN and they are compatible with ΠP, even though they are not clear. Here's another photo of the reverse inscription, rotated about 120 degrees:

    Elagabalus Hermes rev.jpg

    Perhaps:

    Elagabalus Hermes rev reconstructed.jpg

    Moreover, the city did issue smallish bronzes with this reverse type, as this listing in the CNG archives demonstrates:

    Antoninus Pius Hermes Prusias (CNG).jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
    Roman Collector, Jan 28, 2018
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  6. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Well, volume 1/4 of RG isn't online, but the plates are. Elagabalus coins from Prusias ad Hypium are in plate CV. It's not listed.

    It's not to be found at the BMC web page, Sear's Greek Imperial Coins, the CNG archives, the Coin Project, acsearchinfo, coin archives, RPC online (which has all the Elagabalus coins from Asia Minor online; it's just not in there), Wildwinds or V Coins.

    I don't know where else to look. Does anyone have Lindgren I or SNG von Aulock?
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
    Roman Collector, Jan 28, 2018
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  7. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    If it turns out to be unpublished, I wouldn’t be very surprised.
     
    zumbly, Jan 28, 2018
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