Pagan coin of The Great Persecution

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Jun 24, 2019.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    This anonymous small quarter follis was formerly attributed to the period of Julian II, but subsequent scholarship by Johan van Heesch has demonstrated it was issued c. 311-312 as part of The Great Persecution of Christians in the east by Diocletian, Galerius, and Maximinus II Daia.

    A series of anonymous coins featuring pagan subjects was struck at the cities of Antioch, Nicomedia, and Alexandria. This one was struck at Antioch, which issued five types, four featuring the Tyche of Antioch and Apollo (see this amazingly educational thread by David@PCC), and this one, featuring Jupiter and Victoria. They are found with a variety of officinae and control marks, which suggest the output was large and complex.

    The image of Jupiter on this issue may be modeled after the statue of Zeus Nikephoros of the Temple of Apollo at Daphne which Antiochus IV commissioned for his great festival of 167 B.C.

    The series is not listed in RIC.

    Post any coins you have of this series or anything you feel is relevant!

    Anonymous quarter follis under Maximian Antioch.jpg
    Anonymous issue under Maximinus II.
    Roman billon quarter follis, 1.23 g, 14.3 mm, 11 h.
    Antioch, AD 311-312.
    Obv: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter seated left, holding globe and scepter.
    Rev: VICTOR-IA AVGG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; ANT in exergue, Γ in right field.
    Refs: RCV 14932; Van Heesch 2; Cohen (Julian II) 53; Vagi 2955.
    Notes: Ex @dougsmit collection.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2019
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  3. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    I didn't know about the Jupiter obverse type until fairly recently, I have added it to "the list"!

    Here is the my Tyche/Apollo combo.


    [​IMG]
    Time of Maximinus II, Antioch Civic Issue

    O: GENIO ANTIOCHENI. Tyche seated facing, river-god Orontes swimming below.
    R: APOLLONI SANCTO. Apollo standing left, holding patera and lyre; Z in right field, SMA in exergue.
    15 mm, 1.4g
     
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  4. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Fascinating thread already @Roman Collector - here's one of Anubis struck in Alexandria, probably one of the latest depictions of Isis and Anubis because shortly thereafter the old gods were submerged by a tide of Christianity.

    anubis_coin.jpg
     
  5. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Mine, from the Workshop of Death!

    Maximinus II - Persecution Issue Jupiter 677.jpg
    ANONYMOUS CIVIC COINAGE
    AE Quarter-Follis. 1.09g, 16.1mm. Antioch mint, circa AD 312. RIC -; Vagi 2955. O: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter seated left, holding globe and sceptre. R: VICTOR-IA AVGG, Victory standing left, holding wreath; Δ in left field, Є in right field; ANT in exergue.

    The 'Festival of Isis' issues were actually struck at Rome, from the time of Diocletian through every Christian emperor up to at least Valentinian II, which makes the use of Egyptian themes and deities even more intriguing.
     
  6. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    I believe all of these issues 'persecution' as well as FOI were made for use in festivals. I don't see another reason for making these small denominations that were only intended to be circulated locally.
    As far as mintage numbers, I believe they are very small compared to other types from the period.
     
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  7. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I have a web site on these anonymous coins:

    http://augustuscoins.com/ed/MaximinusII/

    Here is one from my page:
    MaximinusIIanonTyche.jpg
    17 mm.
    No legend, either side.
    Veiled and turreted head of Tyche right
    Apollo standing left holding patera and lyre.
    The reverse is similar to the reverse of the previous type, suggesting it is from Antioch.
    Vagi 2957. van Heesch type 5, plate 11.8 (2 examples)
    [This type without legend was first published, as unique, in August 1986 in the sale catalog Elsen 91, lot 366]
    Vagi 2956, van Heesch type 4, plate 11.4 has the same designs on both sides, however with legends on both sides:
    GENIO CIVITATVS/APOLLOINI SANCTO, confirming the similarity with the previous reverse.
     
  8. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Fascinating, indeed !
    I have nothing to show here

    Q
     
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  9. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    Actually the coin below is a die match for your 2957 and DOES link it to the other APOLLOINI SANCTO's. If you haven't already I suggest you read my page on these.
    ri251.jpg
    Civic coinage of Antioch
    Summer 312 AD
    Antioch mint
    Obvs: GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Draped veiled and turreted bust right of Tyche of Antioch.
    Revs: APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo standing left holding lyre and patera. ε in right field, SMA in ex.
    AE 15x17mm, 1.50g
    Ref: Vagi -; Van Heesch -; McAlee 172a
    Note: Porus surface with deposits and crystallization. Possibly second known. This type was first recorded in 2010 with a new obverse legend.
     
  10. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  11. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..fascinating coins & story..i'm with Q on this rabbit hole tho..:)
     
  12. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    Here are a couple of mine. Also struck at Antioch during Maximinus II reign. Civic and anonymous. The first has Tyche seated with Apollo standing(reverse). The second has Jupiter seated with Victory standing(reverse).

    Maxtych.JPG MaApol.JPG MaxiVic.JPG MaxJupi.JPG
     
  13. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Some of ou know I have been working on a set by officina of the two common ones. I still lack The Jupiter type for officina E.
    Like this but without the delta which makes it shop nine:
    ru3750bb2173.jpg
     
  14. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    That is an interesting and useful page. I added a link and recommendation to it on my page.
     
  15. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Very cool coins. I've just the one:
    AD63ED0E-86C8-4CAF-A9DB-39AC914A3B0E.png
     
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  16. lrbguy

    lrbguy Well-Known Member

    I haven't done much with these but I do have the two common types, and this one to show which van Heesch groups as a type 6a at 16mm, 1.54g from Alexandria.
    Isis01-sm.jpg
    DEO SANCTO SARAPIDI, head of Sarapis wearing modius to right
    DEO SANCTO NILO, Nilus reclining facing left, holds reed in r hand, and cornucopia in l.
    ALE in exerga but without specified officina.
     
  17. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    as above but with B in reverse field
    ru3700bb0667.jpg
     
  18. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    @Ryro .. Is your officina "Digamma" ?
     
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  19. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Here is the description that I believe it came with:

    Maximinus Daia
    305 / 310-313 Follis 312, Antioch 1.75 g. Pseudoautonomous coinage of Antiochia ad Orontem. Statue of the city deity Antioch on river god Orontes, GENIO ANTIOCHENI / Apollo stands with Lyra to the left, APPOLONI SANCTO, SMA. RIC - Kampmann -
    Belageste, almost very beautiful
     
  20. jb_depew

    jb_depew Well-Known Member

    These are interesting little coins. I have just one example to share:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  21. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I have never seen one with that much robe detail on Apollo. It seems odd that the design is nothing like mine with robe detail.
    ru3850b02202lg.JPG

    My S officina is too worn to help.
    ru3825bb2866.jpg
     
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