Seeing as the reverse of this Cappadocian drachm is not Mount Argaeus, I thought it'd be interesting enough to share here. It's a little scrappy, but I like the portrait, and that some of the letterforms stood out to me as unusual (the Δ in ΔOMNA and the Єs on the reverse). I haven't seen very many of this reverse with Aphrodite around, and they appear to have only been struck for Domna in Severus's 5th year. Feel free to share any of your Cappadocian provincials. JULIA DOMNA AR Drachm. 2.42g, 17.1mm. CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea-Eusebia, RY 5 of Severus = AD 197/8. Sydenham 440. O: [IO]VΛIA ΔOMNA [CЄ], draped bust right. R: [MHTPOΠOΛ KA]ICAPIA, Aphrodite standing right, holding apple; ЄT – Є in fields.
That's an intersting portrait of Domna. She looks older than what one would expect in 197 though. Through time I've had two Mount Argaeus coins, the Tranquillina only remains in my collection. The Plautilla is now in a specialized Severan collection in Paris (note the skillful portrait of Plautilla, one of the best ones I've ever encountered) Plautilla, Provincial - Caesaraea drachm Cappadocia, Caesaraea - Eusebia), AD 205. ΦΟΥΛΟΥΙ ΠΛΑΥ ΑΥ, draped bust right ΜΗΤΡΟ ΚΑΙCΑ, Agalma of Mt. Argaeus with star. In ex., CΤΙΓ : regnal year 13 of Sept. Severus, 205 AD 2.69 g, 19mm Ref : Sydenham -; SNG Copenhagen -; Sear 2775v. Sydenham-Malloy, p. 152, no. 496b cf. Lanz auction # 117/956 thanks to Curtis Clay for additionnal information Tranquillina, Drachm - * Cappadocia, Caesarea- Eusebia, AD 241-244 Tranquillina, Augusta, AR Drachm - Dated Regnal year 4 of Gordian III (AD 240/1) CABINIA TPANKVΛΛINA AV Draped bust right, wearing stephane MHTPO KAICA B N E Mount Argaeus ЄT Δ (date) in exergue 2.72 grams - 18 mm Ref : Bland, Last # 58, Sydenham, Caesarea Supp # 617a Ex CNG e-auction 354, #352 Ex Steve P. collection Q
That's a very nice drachm with an expressive portrait – I like it a lot! Here are some of my Cappadocians, only one of which has a Mount Argaios reverse. Not yet a provincial, but minted by Ariobarzanes Philorhomaios ("Friend of the Romans", r. 95–63/62 BC), under whose rule Cappadocia became a de facto Roman protectorate: Ariobarzanes I. Philorhomaios, Kingdom of Cappadocia, AR drachm, 66/65 BC, Eusebeia mint. Obv: Diademed head right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ APIOBAPZANOY ΦIΛOPΩMAIOY, Athena standing left, holding shield, spear and Nike; to left monogram, Λ in exergue (off flan). 17mm, 4.3g. Ref: Simonetta 1977, no. 43. This is almost a provincial – minted for Archelaus, the last king of Cappadocia (r. 36 BC –17 AD). His bronzes are relatively rare (only two on acsearch, none currently on the market, seven examples listed in RPC), which makes it all the better luck that I found this in a pick bin for $10. The dealer hadn't identified it. Archelaus, Kingdom of Cappadocia, Æ18, 24/23 BC (?), Eusebeia mint. Obv: Head Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev: EVΣΕ – ΒΕΙΑΣ, eagle over Mount Argaios. 18mm, 5.02g. Ref: RPC I, 3610. Finally, a proper provincial minted for Hadrian: Caesarea, province Cappadocia, Roman Empire (under Hadrian), AR hemidrachm, 120/121 AD. Obv: AVTO KAIC TPAI AΔPIANOC CЄBACT, laureate head right, with slight drapery. Rev: ЄT Δ, club of Hercules facing downward. 14mm, 1.39g. Ref: Metcalf 85; Sydenham 257.
What an excellent selection, @Orielensis! I like all three, but especially that bronze... what a fantastic pick bin find. Lovely, @Cucumbor. I picked up an ex x6 Cappadocian provincial as well! "Wanna see?" NERVA AR Didrachm. 6.69g, 22.1mm. Metcalf, Caesarea 45. Sydenham, Caesarea 153. CAPPADOCIA, Caesaraea-Eusebia, AD 96-98. O: AYTOKPAT NЄPOYAC KAICAP CЄBACTOC, laureate head right. R: YΠATOY TЄTAPTOY, Club set on ground. Ex stevex6 Collection
That’s my understanding from some general reading. I also recall reading that, at the same time, these eastern Provincial drachmas tended to have a lower silver fineness that was not compensated for.
You know as much about these as I do. I'm not sure how I ended up with two of these. Things like that happen when you have too many coins. As of today, I have sold/given the same number of coins that I have bought this year. I wonder if I will be able to stay on that number through the end of the year.
Amazing coins... no silver from me (there rarely is..) but I recently picked up a Hadrian from Cappadocia that I really like. It's a modest coin but one that I prize. Cappadocia, Tyana, Hadrian, AD 117-138, AE 24mm (9.58gm), dated year 20 (=AD 136/7). O: AYTO KAIC TPAI AΔPIANOC CEBACTOC. Bare head right. R: TYANEΩN TΩN Π P IEP ACY AYT. City-goddess seated left on rocks, holding ears of grain and grapes; beneath, river god swimming left; across field, ET-K. SNG Aulock 6538; SNG Cop. 316; RPC 2955.
@Clavdivs, this might be a modest coin, but, at least in my eyes, one with a fantastic portrait, especially for a provincial. Just look at how finely the nose is executed, and how Hadrian's brow and slightly turned down lips give him a pensive, ruminant expression very much fitting this emperor's character. The bit of corrosion doesn't destroy the coin's expressiveness, and maybe even enhances it. I can see and and understand why you prize it.
My guess is one or both were offered at a price too good to ignore. There are a few Cappadocian provincials that are pretty high on my want list. I was prepared to give up an arm for this Domna didrachm that the sold earlier this year that shows Septimius and the boys up on the mountain, but as it turned out, a leg and possibly more was also required... I didn't stick around to find out.
Thank you for your kind words @Orielensis. To me (and to many I am sure) the beauty in these coins is not always in their perfection but in their individuality... in many cases this is not limited to their manufacture, it can be enhanced by their circulation amongst our ancient ancestors. Having a coin "as struck.. and struck well" is amazing in itself but equally (in my mind) holding in your hand a coin that has purchased sustenance for families, been prized, been earned through work, been saved, or been lost adds to the history that we all love.
That's a cool drachm @zumbly , nice portrait of JD. The only provincial I have from that area is the "vanilla" Mt. Argaeus reverse on an Elagablus. But hey, I like vanilla.
Great coins! I really like seeing the plautilla. Plautilla is very rare from Caesarea for some reason. I only got mine because is was misattributed.
