Do you collect Roman Provincials?

Oh my, after spending a minute or two working on the Antoninus Pius coin, it's becoming clear that the previous owner, or someone before him, has simply dipped the coin in garden variety mud, or something similar, in an attempt at a ''desert patina".

Or at least that appears to be the case considering the fact that it just washes off with a little rinsing .

 

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Was it from a seller that stays with Z?

 

No it was from the seller who didn't like the idea of sending out my items haha.

 

Excuse the poor picture and the half finished job, but it's coming up nicely. Before and after 15 minutes or so of work:



I personally much prefer seeing the coin.

Antoninus Pius, Antioch, Syria, 25mm, 12.87g, McAlee 555i, RPC IV Online 6999 (temp)

 

thejewk, Your coin does look improved with the cleaning . I took the liberty of lightening up your photo & corrected the typo in my post (both our coins are McAlee 555i, not 555j as I originally posted ).

 

Thanks Al. When the job's done I might think about adding some Renaissance Wax.

Edit: or maybe not after doing a little searching around. Sounds like there are potential issues.

 

I personnaly think I’m ugly, but my wife tell me for 25 years I’m very attractive. So.....

 

Of course your coin is better off without that fake crud. Too bad it wasn't genuine dirt.

 

I have a few Provincials, but I am not a big fan of collecting Roman Empire with portrait coins.

I rather like the Provincials from the Roman Republic era... a little different (and they are not ALL "ugly".)


RR Macedon occupation Alexander - Club Coin chest Quaestor Chair wreath Aesillas Quaestor AR Tet Thessalonika Mint BC 90-70


THRACE

Thrace Thasos 146-50 BCE Roman provincial or Military mint AR Tet Dionysos Herakles Club Lion skin

 

Some of my all time favs are provincials

 

TIF, Your assessment of why people collect Imperial versus Provincial coin is right-on. I'd like to add one more factor into the mix, language. Most Roman provincial coins use the Greek language instead of Latin, & we're all familiar with that old cliche' It's Greek to me. Many collectors will tackle Latin before Greek because the Latin alphabet is easier to grasp than the Greek. Latin translations are easier to find than Greek translations, especially in guide books of ancient coins. I can remember learning Roman numerals in grammar school & there application in simple math, but we were never taught Greek numerals in elementary school.

 

Although I collect mainly republicans and imperials, I will not disregard the occasionnal provincial. Some are reall great


Augustus and Rhoemetalkes, Bronze Semi autonomous coinage of Thracia, c11BC-12AD
KAISAROS SEBASTOU, Bust of Augustus right
BASILEWS ROIMHTALKOU, Busts of Rhoemetalkes and his wife right
9.82 gr
Ref : Sear #5396



Nero and Poppaea, tetradrachm Alexandria mint, AD 63-64
NERO KLAY KAIS SEB TEP AY, radiate head of Nero right
TTOTTTTAIA SEBASTH, draped bust of Poppaea right, LI in right field
12.3 gr
Ref : RCV # 2002 v, Emmett # 129



Septimius Severus, Tetradrachm - Laodicea mint c. AD 202-210
AVT KAI CEOYHPOC· C E Laureate bust of Severus right
DHMAPX·EX·VPATOC·TO·G, Eagle facing, star between legs
11.89 gr
Ref : Sear #2261 var, Prieur # 1149_039



Caracalla, AE 30 Serdica, Thrace, AD 216
ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC AVTK M AVP CEV, laureate heroic bust left, seen from behind, with sword belt and Aegis on left shoulder
OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Hermes, naked, standing left, holding purse and caduceus
17,14 gr - 30/28 mm
Ref : Moushmov 4804 (obv), Varbanov 2372 (rev)
See Agora auction #62/102, same dies



Macrinus, Bronze - Nicopolis mint
AVT KM .... H MAKRINOC, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right
V M AGRIPPA NIKOPOLITWNPROC IC TR, Tyche standing left, holding cornucopia and rudder
14.26 gr
Ref : ANMG #1710



Trebonianus Gallus, AE 8 Assaria - SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch.
AYTOK K G OYIB TPEB GALLOC CEB, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right /
ANTIOXEWN MHTPO KOLWN, Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple; below, river god Orontes swimming left; above temple, ram advancing right, head left; Delta and Epsilon across field. SC at exergue
21.08 g, (30mm, 6h)
Ref : Sear # 4350, McAlee 1181; SNG Copenhagen 292 (same rev. die).

Q

 

Cucumbor, That's a wonderful selection of Provincials ! The needle sharp strike of your Septimius Severus Tet immediately caught my eye . The obverse is very similar in style to my example of Prieur #1140, see photo below. I wonder if they may be the work of the same celator ?

 

You describe very accurately why the provincials are very interesting, worth collecting. Amongst a lot of fantasist portraits of Roman emperors by "local celators" who never saw them and had to imagine them, some portraits are sometimes very realistic, (Vitellius, Galba in Spain, Caligula, Caracalla, Macrinus, Diadumenianus, in Asia, for example) more so than Portraits on coins minted in Rome, and often more affordable than Roman produced coins...

 

Your pictures of beautiful coins, confirm my comments !

 

Your pictures of beautiful provincial coins confirm my comments

 

Thanks @Al Kowsky !
Yes, it might well be the same celator, who knows....

I like very much the difference in style we see between Laodicaea and Antioch on those syro-phenician tets. A veristic "romanlike" style at Antioch vs an oriental, sort of modern art style at Laodicaea. Two examples with Caracalla and Geta :

Caracalla :


Prieur # 214A_001



Prieur # 1176_028

Geta :


Prieur #209_006 (same obverse die)



Prieur #1157_012

Q

 

Cucumbor, Those are four beautiful coins, & the two of Geta are quite rare. Your style observations on the two mints are accurate too, especially on the later issues from Laodicea ad Mare. The celators at Antioch were very accurate with their portraits, especially showing the physical maturity of their subjects. For comparison, observe your #209 with my #210, which was struck a couple of years later than your coin. On #210 Geta is sporting a full beard & mustache.




Years ago I was lucky to score a very rare Tet (only 3 cited by Prieur) of Sept. Severus, from Laodicea ad Mare, #1151, c. 208-209. The portrait on this coin is of medallic quality. It's one of my favorite provincial coins. See photos below.

 

That cuirass is really Something !
Thanks for sharing

Q