Here is a travel type that does not fit into the "ADVENTVS" or "PROFECTIO" categories discussed here recently. Welcome to Egypt. Caracalla (196-198-217). Sestertius. 31 mm. Struck 215 for his imperial visit to Alexandria. Caracalla standing left in military dress, right foot on crocodile, holding reversed spear. Isis advancing right to him, holding out ears of grain in her right hand and holding a sistrum in her left hand. PM TRP XVIII IMP II COS IIII PP, which gives the date as TRP XVIII. RIC 544. Sear II 6938. This type and one other have been added to the PROFECTIO page: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/PROFECTIO/#other I like coins related to historical events. The book by Clive Foss, Roman Historical Coins, is the book you want if you would like a comprehensive list of coins issued for specific events. I consult it frequently. Are there other types related to specific travel events? Let's see what you've got!
Really nice coin! Of course, as to the event, the coin represents much irony. Specifically, Cassius Dio reports that, "Now Antoninus, in spite of the immense affection which he professed to cherish for Alexander, all but utterly destroyed the whole population of Alexander's city. For, hearing that he was ill-spoken of and ridiculed by them for various reasons, not the least of which was the murder of his brother, he set out for Alexandria, concealing his wrath and pretending that he longed to see them. So when he reached the suburbs, whither the leading citizens had come with certain mystic and sacred symbols, he first greeted them cordially, even making him his guests at a banquet, and then put them to death. Then, having arrayed his whole army, he marched into the city, after first notifying all the inhabitants to remain at home and after occupying all the streets and all the roofs as well. And, to pass over the details of the calamities that then befell the wretched city, he slaughtered so many persons that he did not even venture to say anything about their number, but wrote to the senate that it was of no interest how many of them or who had died, since all had deserved to suffer this fate. Of the money in the city, part was plundered and part destroyed. Together with the citizens there perished also many outsiders, and not a few of those who had accompanied Antoninus were slain with the rest through ignorance of their identity; for, as the city was large and people were being murdered in all parts of it simultaneously both by night and by day, it was impossible to distinguish anybody, however much one might desire to do so, but people perished as chance directed and their bodies were straightway cast into deep trenches, to keep the rest from becoming aware of the extent of the calamity. Such was the fate of the natives." From Cary translation in Loeb, in the public domain, Book 78.
Hey @Blake Davis , that is a great quote! I will put it on my site and thank you. It is one of those connections to history that make coins so fascinating.
Here's a (rather worn) Hadrian on the move. Wildwinds places this among the emissions it dates generally to 125-128AD: in which case this must commemorate either the imperial tour of Italy in 127AD, or the commencement of Hadrian's journey to the eastern empire in 128AD. Hadrian, 125-128AD: O: laureate head right, drapery on far shoulder, HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS / Hadrian on horseback prancing left, raising right hand, COS III, S-C between, EXPED AVG in ex. My photo.
This sestertius of Hadrian belongs in the EXERCITVS series which commemorates Hadrian's visit to the legions posted around the empire. In this example he is shown greeting or saluting the Syrian Legions. Hadrian 117-138 AD Orichalcum Sestertius EXERCITVS SYRIACVS Rome Mint 134-138 AD ''This coin memorializes Hadrian's visit to the Province of Syria where he made Judaea the object of a special visit, around the time of the Bar Kochba Revolt''.
Wow! I hadn't read that before. Perhaps part of the reason why so few (apparently) coins of Caracalla were struck in Egypt?
As for non-Aventvs and non-Profectio travel coins, the transport of the sacred stone of El Gabal comes to mind (and I see you already have that on your website ) Not only was it gloriously paraded into Rome when it first arrived, one historian notes that twice a year the boy emperor took El Gabal out for a parade around town, relocating the representation of the Syrian sun god from its summer home to its winter home and vice versa. Elagabalus, 218-222 CE AR denarius, 19.4 mm, 3.5 gm Antioch, 218-219 CE Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Rev: SANCT DEO SOLI / ELAGABAL, Quadriga right, bearing sacred Baetyl stone, flanked by four parasols Ref: RIC IV 195 ex Vauctions 310, lot 250 (25 Sept 2014) ex CNG Mail Bid Sale 33, lot 914 (15 March 1995)
Wow, what an excellent and interesting reverse! I really need to get the Clive Foss book. Thanks for the recommendation.
One point I fail to understand is why there are dozens of different coins but almost every one is an R5 in Emmett. If there are dozens of unique variations, it only makes sense that there must have been as many more from which no example survived. There are similarly few Alexandrian coins of Macrinus and Elagabalus has no common year one issue. My favorite Alexandrian of Domna is a LK year 20 but is known as an obverse die match with a year 18 coin so they were not striking enough to wear out dies. There is no common Alexandrian after Septimius year 5 until Elagabalus year 2. I would love to understand this situation. Both of these have been shown here too many times: Domna year 20 tetradrachm Caracalla year 22 drachm
I may never understand why no one outbid me on that lot. What did Clio and all his ilk know that I missed?
