The reverse of this bronze coin shows a woman seated on a throne with architectural design. Obverse has a young Emperor heading right. It's Roman provincial and weighs 12.8 g. I appreciate your identifying assistance. Thanks.
The reverse inscription should name the city, but I can't make out enough of the letters to identify it from the photo. Can you with the coin in hand?
It looks like Antoninus on the obverse legend, from what I can tell. May be Caracalla or Elagabalus. Just a guess.
The first three letters of the obverse legend are AVT(Greek equivalent to IMP). The portrait appears to be Severan in nature. My intuition is leaning towards Tyche seated right, with cornucopia on the reverse. I'm thinking - Syria or Cilicia, perhaps Geta or Elagabalus. Simply an amateur's limited educated guess...
I'll agree with Herodotus and add Gordian III and Diadumenian to the list of potential obv. Definitely a roman provincial here. Looks like the rx has some sort of seated deity with perhaps a scepter and cornucopia. It's tricky because it first struck me like Tyche but the deity is facing right... Other deities on provincials have similar images. Can you add more pictures?
I think I may have found it. You're lucky I love attributing coins so much... I believe that the reverse legend may represent NVCA KVΘΟΠΟ (Nysa-Scythopolis). If so(or a variation of)... Roman Provincial Syria, Decapolis Gordian III, Nysa-Scythopolis(Samaria), AD 238-244. O: AYT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC CE, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right R: NVC CKVΘOΠOΛ IEΡACV, Tyche-Nysa seated right, cradling the infant Dionysus, Spijkerman 58; Barkay 79; Sofaer 54
Fantastic. How do I owe you for all this effort. But indeed, it deserves as a coin. I could nearly make the Decapolis now with Nysa-Scythopolis. Spijkerman 58.BMC 10 BTW..How do they consider Samaria in Syria and not Judaea ?
The pleasure is all mine. I enjoy a challenge. As per your query... 'Roman Syria' Hadrian renamed Judaea 'Syria Palaestina' following the defeat of the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 A.D. Samaria was described as the region bordered by Judaea to the South and Galilee to the North. Josephus wrote: "Now as to the country of Samaria, it lies between Judea and Galilee; it begins at a village that is in the great plain called Ginea, and ends at the Acrabbene toparchy, and is entirely of the same nature with Judea; for both countries are made up of hills and valleys, and are moist enough for agriculture, and are very fruitful. They have abundance of trees, and are full of autumnal fruit, both that which grows wild, and that which is the effect of cultivation. They are not naturally watered by many rivers, but derive their chief moisture from rain-water, of which they have no want; and for those rivers which they have, all their waters are exceeding sweet: by reason also of the excellent grass they have, their cattle yield more milk than do those in other places; and, what is the greatest sign of excellency and of abundance, they each of them are very full of people. In the limits of Samaria and Judea lies the village Anuath, which is also named Borceos. This is the northern boundary of Judea."
Really Great. As we say: Always Learning. BTW.."Nysa Scythopolis" was formerly known as "Bet Shean". It is currently named "Beisan". After the Id of this coin, I could immediately identify another coin which was struck in the same locality. The coin was issued by Elagabalus. It has Dionysos standing and putting his hand on a small Satyr. Panther in left field. Delta I across fields. I shall post it tomorrow. Now it's nearly 3 AM here. Bed.. Cheers.
