A Marcianopolis AE

The coin that caught my attention today has an excellent portrait of Septimius Severus on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. It is a good size at 27mm, >11g AE and gives an excuse to ponder Roman history. A variant of this coin from Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior (today Devnya, Bulgaria) made its first appearance on CT about two years ago in a post by @nicholasz219.

The coin in that post is Varbanov 838 and this coin is 839, both issued by governor Flavius Ulpianus. On 838 the eagle on the reverse is holding a wreath, and the other is without wreath. Is that important? I guess there isn't a universal answer to that question.

Why is it called Marcianopolis?
Macianopolis was named Parthenopolis until some time after Trajan captured Dacia in 106 AD and renamed the town after his sister Ulpia Marciana - Trajan's capture of Dacia commemorated by this coin.

Trajan, AD 98-117, AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.26 g, 7h), "Dacia Capta" commemorative, Rome mint, struck circa AD 108-109
Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P Laureate bust right, slight drapery
Rev: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, DAC CAP in exergue, Dacian seated left on pile of arms, in attitude of mourning, foot on helmet; one round and one oblong shield; on left, two curved swords; on right, two spears
Ref: RIC II 98

Where is Moesia Inferior?
Moesia Inferior, today is within modern Bulgaria and Romania, with Marcianopolis (Devnya) on the southeastern end of the region as seen in this map:

Image Source: Plate 17 from Professor G. Droysens Allgemeiner Historischer Handatlas by R. Andree, 1886 (Public Domain)

What about the coin?
Flavius Ulpianus, named in the reverse legend, has been identified as the legate (governor) of Meosia Inferior from 210-(?)213 AD - there is some ambiguity in the evidence about whether he was still governor into 213. See:

Boteva, D. (1996). Legati Augusti pro praetore Moesiae inferioris A.D. 193-217/218. Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik, 110, 244-245.
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, Septimius Severus (193-211), AE (29mm, 11.89g), Flavius Ulpianus, consular legate (governor), struck AD mid-210 to early-211
Obv: AY K Λ CEΠ CEOYHPOC.
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: V ΦΛ OVΛΠIANOV MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN, eagle standing facing, wings gathered, head right
Ref: Varbanov 839 (similar to 838 but with no wreath on reverse)
Notes: for more information on this Coin from Marcianopolis
As always, additional references, context, comments, corrections, and coins are always appreciated.

Post coins of Marcianopolis, Septimius Severus, Dacia Capta or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.

 

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I love provincials from the Balkans! Here are my Septimius Severus coins from this city:

A husband/wife pair featuring Herakles and the Nemean lion:


Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
Roman provincial Æ 18.6 mm, 4.37 g, 7 h.
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211.
Obv: ΑV Κ CΕΠΤΙ CΕΥΗΡΟC Π, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: MAPKIA-NOΠOΛITΩ-N, Herakles standing left, wrestling the Nemean lion.
Refs: AMNG I 585 v.; Varbanov 710; Moushmov 397; H&J 6.14.14.5-6; Mionnet Suppl. 2, 126.



Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
Roman provincial Æ 16.8 mm, 4.33 g, 1 h.
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211.
Obv: IOVΛIA ΔO-MNA CEB, bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev: MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Herakles standing right, wrestling the Nemean lion.
Refs: AMNG I 606; Varbanov 673; Moushmov 419; SNG Copenhagen --; SNG Budapest --.

Two little assaria that share the same obverse die but different reverse types:


Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
Roman Provincial Æ assarion, 17.2 mm, 3.08 g, 1 h.
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis.
Obv: ΑV Κ Λ CΕ|CΕVΗΡΟ, laureate and draped bust right.
Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟ|ΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Homonoia wearing kalathos, standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae.
Refs: BMC 7; AMNG 590; Varbanov 734.


Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
Roman Provincial Æ assarion, 16.4 mm, 2.34 g, 1 h.
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis.
Obv: ΑV Κ Λ CΕ|CΕVΗΡΟ, laureate and draped bust right.
Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟ|ΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, eagle standing facing, head right.
Refs: Moushmov 391a var. (obv. legend); AMNG 593.

A tetrassarion with Cybele:


Septimius Severus, AD 193-211
Roman provincial AE 27.38 mm, 12.46 g, 1:00
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis. Magistrate Julius Faustinianus, AD 207-210
Obv: AV Λ CЄΠΤΙ CЄVHPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev: VI ΦAVCTINIANOV MAΡKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Cybele enthroned left, holding patera, resting left arm on drum, a lion reclines at each side of throne
Refs: AMNG Ia 565; Varbanov 780; Hristov & Jekov Marcianopolis 6.14.31.15; Moushmov 382.

 

Very nice new addition...my favorite Septimius provincial is from Marcianopolis.


Septimius Severus, Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis. AE Pentassarion (27mm, 9.94 g). Struck 201-202 AD. Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. / Tyche Soterios (Fortuna Redux) standing l., holding rudder set on ground and cornucopia.
From the Benito Collection

 

Great write up and excellent examples!
My example isn't so pretty, but is off putting, if not macabre:

Caracalla and Geta
Æ27 of Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior. AD 209-211. AY K M AY ANTΩNINOC AY K Π C ΓETAC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla, facing laureate and draped bust of Geta left / Y +Λ OYΛΠIANOY MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; lighted altar and Є (mark of value) to left, eagle above dolphin to right. H&J, Marcianopolis, 6.20.38.1-2; Varbanov 1085 (same obv. die as illustration). 11 gr, 27mm, 1h.

 

Nice full legend on that provincial!

I have a few from Marcianopolis:


MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis. Commodus
AE 25mm, 8.5 gm
circa CE 177-192
Obv: ΑΥ ΚΑΙ Λ ΑΥΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟС; bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ; the Three Graces standing facing, heads left, right, and right, respectively: the left holds amphora over dolphin, the center drapes arms over others, and the right holds wreath over amphora
Ref: Hristova & Jekov 6.10.26.4; RPC IV online 4319; Varbanov 702 corr. (direction of heads).


MOESIA INFERIOR. Marcianopolis. Elagabalus (218-222)
AE 17, 2.5 gm
Obv: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNINOC; laureate head right.
Rev: MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN; Telesphorus standing facing.
Ref: Varbanov 1422


MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis
Macrinus and Diadumenian, CE 217-218
AE pentassarion, 27 mm, 12.3 gm
Obv: AYT K M OΠEΛ CEV MAKPEINOC K M OΠE ANTΩNINOC; Laureate head of Macrinus left and bare head of Diadumenian right, confronted
Rev: VΠ ΠONTIANOV MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN; Artemis advancing right, reaching for an arrow in quiver at shoulder and holding bow, hound at foot, E in left field
Ref: Varbanov 1159 var. (obverse legend); Megaw MAR5.12d; Hristova/Jekov 6.24.13.1

 

Nice Sulla, a couple of mine probably the same arch.
Julia Domna with Caracalla, Marcianopolis. City gate or Triumphal arch, Septimius Severus, Geta, Caracalla and Julia Domna standing on top. AE 28, 11.41gm, Varbanov 1042.
Macrinus and Diadumenian, Thrace, Marcianopolis, Triumphal arch with for statues. 25.46mm, 11.91, 217-218 AD, struck under governor Furius Pontianus
obv. AVT K OPEL CEV MAKREINOC KM OPEL ANTWNEINOC
confronted heads of Macrinus, laureate, r., and Diadumenianus, bare-headed, l.
rev. VP PONTIAN - OV MARKIANO / POLEITW / N (OV ligate)
Triumphal arch with three doors, the door in the midth much higher, four figures
on postaments above. The outer two are Victories holding wreath in upraised
hand, the other two male figures, draped, the left holding up his r. hand, the
right one holding spear in his l. hand.
E in l. field (for pentassarion)
Varbanov (engl.) 1220
Hristova/Jekov (2013) No.6.24.46.2
Price/Trell p.51, fig. 85 var.

 

Your legate's name, Ulpianus, suggests there's some connection with Trajan's family... any idea what that might be? Or is it just coincidence?

I seem to have a thing for Commodus + Marcianopolis. First, one like @TIF's, although my middle Grace isn't as butthurt :


And another, with Minerva on Commodus's cuirass:

 

Wonderful coins, everyone. @Ancient Aussie, I know some dealers place Marcianopolis in Thrace, but I'm positive that it was in the southeast portion of Moesia Inferior, the next province north of Thrace, as shown on @Sulla80's map. Moesia Inferior and Thrace weren't combined into one province until the reign of Diocletian.

My only coin from Marcianopolis is also an issue of Macrinus & Diadumenian, under consular legate Pontianus. The two portraits are right up there among the very best of any Roman Provincial coins I own, I think:

Macrinus Augustus and Diadumenian Caesar, AE Pentassarion [5 Assaria], 217-218 AD, Marcianopolis Mint, Moesia Inferior [now Devnya, Bulgaria] (Pontianus, consular legate). Obv. Confronted heads of Macrinus, laureate, right, and Diadumenian, bareheaded, left, [AVT K OΠE]Λ CEV MAKPEINOC K M OΠEΛ ANTΩNEINOC [bracketed portion off flan][ = Imperator, Caesar, Opellius Augustus Macrinus, Caesar Marcus Opellius Antoninus ] / Rev. Hermes standing facing, head left, holding purse in extended right hand and caduceus in left hand; chlamys hanging over left arm; E [mark of value for “5”] in right field, VΠ Macrinus ΠONTIANOV MAP-KIANOΠOΛEITΩN (ΩN ligate) [ = Consular Legate Pontianus, (coin) of the people of Markianopolis]. AMNG I/I 740 [Pick, Behrendt, Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands Vol. I/I (Berlin, 1898) at pp. 240-241]; BMC 3 Thrace 35 [R.S. Poole, ed. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 3, The Tauric Chersonese, Sarmatia, Dacia, Moesia, Thrace, etc. (London, 1877) at p. 32]; Hristova & Jekov 6.24.10.3 [Nina Hristova & Gospodin Jekov, The Local Coinage of the Roman Empire - Moesia Inferior, I - III c. A.D., MARCIANOPOLIS (Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria 2006)]; Varbanov (Eng.) Vol. I, 1192 var. (E to left) [Ivan Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)]; Diadumenian.com /marcianopolis5.html, No. Mar5.33d. 25 mm, 12.89 g. Purchased from Kirk Davis, Cat # 75, Fall 2020, Lot 62; ex. Dr. Paul Rynearson (ca. 2003). (Coin is double die match to Lot 696, CNG Triton XII Auction, Jan. 5, 2009.)

 

A while back I wrote this fun article on my Micky D Marcianopolis coin from Roma:
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/roma-win-3-micky-ds-temple-of-fortune.379821/

It's a great coin, pretty expensive and maybe not worth the price, but everybody's got one of those feelings.

 

Here is a Marcianopolis eagle issued for Geta; the portrait is quite "provincial" on this one:



Geta Assarion Æ 16
(198-209 A.D.)
Moesia Inferior Marcianopolis
Π CЄΠTI ΓЄTAC bare head, draped right / MAPKIANOΠO[ΛITΩN], eagle standing with wings spread, head right.
Varbanov 1107 (R3) (?)
Hristova & Jekov 6.22.1.2 (?)
(1.94 grams / 16 mm)

 

Macrinus and Diadumenian, Marcianopolis

 

Many interesting coins of Marcianopolis!

maybe a little more than coincidence, as you highlight, his name, "Ulpianus", is a link with Trajan - as the name Ulpius became more popular in Rome during Trajan's reign (Marcus Ulpius Trajanus).

 

Sulla, Thanks for the interesting thread . You make a valid point that Roman provincial coinage from the far-off outposts rarely gets the attention it deserves. I have one Thracian provincial coin of Septimius Severus that I've posted before but will post again since it fits into this thread .

 

@Al Kowsky:
Spectacular!

 

Not in the best condition but interesting:

Philip II. As Caesar, 244-247 AD. Æ Pentassarion. MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis. Æ (27mm, 13.79 gm, 2h). Prastinus Messalinus, legatus consularis. Obv: Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust of Philip II right, facing draped bust of Sarapis left, wearing calathus. Rev: Hermes leaning to left, with right foot on ram’s head, drapery on knee; and tortoise, left below, incorrectly described as an overturned jug by Varbanov, and others, with E (mark of value) and caduceus leaning on a tree stump to right. H&J 6.44.10.3 (R5); Varbanov 2107 (R5); AMNG I, 1209. VF, dark green patina.
The identification as a tortoise and not an overturned jug is quite clear, not only from the sharpness of this image, but mythology tells us that Hermes created the first lyre by using a string tied over a tortoise shell.

 

Agree Donna, I have to stop copying and pasting without checking, by the way your Macrinus and son is one of the best examples I have seen of this type.

 

ELAGABALUS
AE 18
OBVERSE: AVT K M AVR ANTΩNINOC; Laureate head right
REVERSE: MAPKIANOPOLITWN; torch
Struck at Marcianopolis, 218-222 AD
2g, 18mm
Varbanov 1429
Ex JAZ Numismatics

 

That's quite an alluring shot of Hermes. Venus clearly has nothing on him.

 

Septimius Severus AE28 Marcianopolis / Dionysus by Faustinianus


SS and Julia Domna, Marcianopolis
Apollo AE27 by Ulpianus


Cybele with lions AE26 by Ulpianus


Serapis AE26 by Ulpianus


Tyche AE28 by Ulpianus


Caracalla and Domna
AE28 Nemesis by Quintillianus


AE28 Tyche by Quintillianus - I enjoy the way the last N of the reverse legend was placed in the left field so they could still have the dot separating the end and start of the legend.


My favorite is the Serapis head left with reversed E behind. This type is usually found facing right with the E normal. Still the legends around are correct. Here there were two letters left over for the field. What is Greek for Plan Ahead?


Dad made the boys appear together on this Cybele. I doubt either was pleased.


Geta alone only got the smaller 1 assarion denomination with a tripod and snake.

 

@Sulla80 Thank you for the mention and the excellent post. To me these coins are fascinating as well as the whole of the province of Moesia Inferior.

After Trajan conquered Dacia in 106, it appears that the provinces of Thrace/Moesia became a relatively sleepy place with military outposts and small supportive settlements around them. Then during the time of Severus like @DonnaML mentioned, Moesia Inferior was created and there is an explosion of coinage from the towns there, in particular Nikopolis ad Istrum and Markianopolis. Under Commodus, for example, Varbanov lists 69 issues. Under Septimius, that number rises to over 600 not including issues of Severus and Domna, Severus and Caracalla, etc.

My theory is that while most provincial towns remained relatively unimportant if they were provincial backwaters, the towns favored by the emperor could see a substantial increase in coin production. I think early support from the Balkan provinces during his campaign for emperor brought favor upon cities such as Nikopolis and Markianopolis whereas others such as Antioch in Syria who if not declared for, were in the unfortunate position of being in a province controlled by Pescennius Niger, were punished by heavy levies and restriction upon their coinage which would have a severe financial impact upon the city.

All of this supposes that attention was paid to the particular towns by the imperial household but given the jockeying by various towns (Nicaea and Nicomedia come to mind) for honors such as the neokoros designation, I do not think the concept is that far fetched. Certainly the stationing of an army can drive up coin production (see Second Punic War in Spain) but I also suspect something else was at work.

I’ve added several new coins of Markianopolis and Nikopolis since that post but I’ll spare everyone except a link:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=6295

Nick