Won this one today at auction for a good price. One doesn't come across this one every day. It's an obverse and reverse die-match to the specimen in the British Museum, too! These Severan issues were formerly attributed to Laodicea but, as we've discussed previously, modern scholarship assigns them to the mint in Antiochia ad Orontem. Coins of Julia Domna from this mint can be distinguished by the presence of a loop at the base of her neck, above the shoulder. Post your Antioch mint Severans or whatever you feel is relevant! Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.87 g, 18 mm, 6 h. Antioch, AD 196-202 (or later). Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: CERERI FRVGIF, Ceres seated left, holding corn-ears in right hand and long vertical torch in left hand. Refs: RIC 636; BMCRE 592; Cohen 14; RCV --; CRE 300. The specimen in the British Museum with which it is a die-match:
I do have an S. Severus from this mint, and what a beauty it is... Septimius Severus 193-211 AR Denarius 17mm. 3.55g. Laodicea mint. A.D 198-202 L SEPT SEEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, laureate head of Septimius Severus right VICTORIAE A[V]GG FEL, Victory advancing left, holding open wreath over shield set on low base RIC 516; RSC 719
Last time this came up we asked the basis of the change and who is responsible for the study on which the change is based. I'm still for calling it "The Mint Formerly Known as Laodicea" and suggest a contest to design a symbol to replace the names. Did he change come with a full study of the questions that have come with this mint and 'Emesa' for the entire time I have collected them or did someone decide to make a name for themselves by disparaging Mattingly and his 'guess'? I my favorite Domna from this mint from this mint or from another mint by the same or different name?
I still have this coin assigned to Laodicea on my web page. Perhaps it's time to defer to the "modern scholarship"? Provincial Silver Denarius Laodicea ad Mare mint, A.D. 196-202 Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA Rev: CONCORDIA - Concordia, seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae RIC (Septimius Severus) 637 18mm, 3.7g.
The most intellectually honest thing to do -- and I think @dougsmit would agree -- is to attribute it to an "unknown Syrian mint."
Julia Domna - Concordia Is there a similar rule when it comes to the denarii of Septimius as for Domna "presence of a loop at the base of her neck"?
Though I suspect that there are many "unknown Syrian mints." I have had a couple of these Ceres.. A possible reverse die to the OP? A different style staff.