A new one, courtesy of @John Anthony ! Post anything you feel is relevant! Comments welcome. Caracalla, AD 198-217. Roman provincial Æ 28.3 mm, 13.70 g, 8 h. Thrace, Serdica, AD 198-217. Obv: AVT K M AVP CEVH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust, right, seen from behind. Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC CΕPΔΙΚΗC, Hercules standing right, forearm draped with lion skin, holding club set on ground and bow. Refs: Ruzicka Serdica 266; Moushmov Serdica 397; Moushmov 4912; Varbanov 374; cf. BMC 3.173,15. This one was a bit tough to attribute because Herakles's left forearm, hand, and bow are weakly struck, making it appear that the lion's skin and head draped over the demigod's arm are actually his hand. A comparison to a better example illustrates there is a hint of a bow extending up to the CE in CΕPΔΙΚΗC, and what appears to be Herakles's forearm and hand on my coin is actually part of the lion skin: I think the specimen in the British Museum collection was probably similarly weakly struck, giving the appearance that Herakles was holding an apple (which is likely the lion's head; why would Herakles be holding an apple, anyway?), because this is how the curator describes a similar coin (with a radiate head) in BMC 3, p. 173:
I don't know if there's another edition of Varbanov that might have different numbering (older, Bulgarian language one maybe?), but Varbanov 374 on my copy is a Perinthus AE medallion of Elagabalus. I have yours as Varbanov 2355 (R6): The only Caracalla I have from Serdica is this one with a Tyche reverse. CARACALLA AE24. 7.82g, 23.7mm. THRACE, Serdica, circa AD 198-217. Varbanov 2474 var. (obverse bust type). O: AVT K M AVP CEV ANTΩNEINOC, radiate head right. R: OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Tyche standing left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopia.
That's a cool coin RC! I have a rare, but ugly, Thracian Caracalla from Anchialus with an Apollo reverse.
While not in great condition, I like the style of this Serdica Athena feeding a snake in a (rather spindly) tree.
