My latest coin is a neat inexpensive bronze from Cappadocia. Proof that you don't need to spend 'flipping great wadges of cash'* to have interesting pieces in your collection. Domitian as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ19, 4.22g Caesarea, Cappadocia mint, 77-78 AD Obv: ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟϹ ΚΑΙ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ; Head of Domitian, laureate, r. Rev: ΚΑΙϹΑ/ΡƐΙΑϹ, ƐΤ Ι (in exergue); Mount Argaeus surmounted by crescent or wreath RPC 1683 (6 spec.). Acquired from Romae Aeternae Numismatics, October 2021. A somewhat rare provincial bronze of Domitian Caesar struck under Vespasian at Caeserea, Cappadocia depicting the famous Mount Argaeus. Dated year 10 under the legat M Hirrius Fronto Neratius Pansa. Strabo described the mountain as such: It's 'the highest of mountains whose peak is constantly covered with snow ...given good visibility, anyone who climbs this mountain - and not many do- are supposed to see both seas, the Pontus and the Issikos'. The above reverse perhaps does not relay the grandeur of the actual peak, possibly being a representation of a cult picture, or agalma, of the mountain - but it's a fascinating reverse type nonetheless! Feel free to post coins depicting natural elements or geography. *Random Blackadder reference.
Nice coin! Here is a rather scarce Mount Argaios coin minted shortly before the Romans completely took over in Cappadocia: Kingdom of Cappadocia, under Archelaus, 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.
Cool! I have only one Mount Argaeus. It doesn't have the smoothest surfaces, I'm sorry to say. Severus Alexander, AD 222-235. Roman Provincial AE 25.0 mm, 10.37 g. Cappadocia, Caesarea, AD 222/3. Obv: ΑV Κ Μ ΑVΡ ϹЄΟΥ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡ, laureate head, right; uncertain c/m behind. Rev: ΜΗΤΡΟΠ ΚΑΙϹΑΡΙ, agalma of Mount Argaeus surmounted by star, atop altar inscribed ЄTA (= year 1). Refs: RPC VI 6735; Sydenham 537-38; BMC 298; SNG von Aulock 6510.
Nice new pickup, I like that portrait of Domitian. Here’s another from Cappadocia: Julia Domna, Cappadocia, Caesarea, (AE 29.5mm., 19.16g). IOVΛIA ΔOMNA AVΓ Draped bust of Julia Domna right/ Rev. MHTPOΠO KAICAPIAC / ЄT IΔ Mt. Argaeus surmounted by star.
Great coins. I especially like the ones in which the mountain is clearly a model sitting on a table! (Call it an altar if you like). Here's my one example: Lucius Verus AR Didrachm 161-166 AD, Caesarea, Cappadocia. Obv. Bare head right, ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΟΥΗΡΟϹ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ / Rev. Mt. Argaeus (or cult image of same), surmounted by statue of Helios standing three-quarters left with long scepter in left hand and globe in right; flames to left and right on sides of mountain; animal [deer?] bounding left at bottom far left of mountain in front of large rock; tree in front of large rock at bottom far right; smaller rock dotted with trees[?] at bottom center; ΥΠΑ-ΤΟϹ Β [= COS II]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Online Vol. IV.3 7027 (temp.) [rev. var.] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/7027); Sydenham 352 [rev. var.] [Sydenham, E., The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia (London 1933)]; Metcalf, Caesarea 131a [rev. var.] [Metcalf, W.E., The Silver Coinage of Cappadocia, Vespasian-Commodus. ANSNNM (American Numismatic Society, Numismatic Notes & Monographs) No. 166 (New York 1996)]; Metcalf Hoard 694-718 & PL 39-40 [rev. var.] [see id.]; SNG von Aulock 6438 [rev. var.] [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia (Berlin 1962)]. 20 mm., 6.70 g., 6 h.
I've often wondered if the 'mountain on an altar' depiction is actually meant to represent the mountain in the background, seen over an altar. Is there any evidence to support either line of thinking?
I somewhat doubt that. This one has what is clearly a table with an eagle under it, with the mountain placed directly on top of it - if the mountain was in the background, I would not expect there to be no background behind the eagle. My guess is that there was a physical altar with a scale model of the mountain on display at some point.
I think you're right. I hadn't seen that issue, but it does seem to support the existence of a model.
@David Atherton I am always amazed at the pace at which you add new and interesting Flavian coins. Congrats on your newest addition! I didn't find it easy to locate a coin in my collection showing "natural elements or geography" and not Mt. Argaeus. This one shows the Temple on Mt. Eryx C. Considius Nonianus, 56 BC, AR Denarius (17mm, 4.0g, 12h), Rome mint Obv: Laureate and draped bust of Venus Erycina right, wearing stephane and earring; C • CONSIDI • NONIANI downward to left, S • C upward to right Rev: Temple on summit of rocky mountain surrounded by wall with towers on each side and gate in center; ERVC above gate Ref: Crawford 424/1; Sydenham 886; Considia 1
Mount Argaeus seems way too popular to have it missing from my album so I recently bought this snack in an auction. Almost the entire legends are gone, but the portrait and the mountain are OK Cappadocia, Caesarea, Antoninus Pius 20 mm, 7,12 g Obv: laureate head of Antoninus Pius, r. / Rev: ΚΑΙϹΑΡƐⲰΝ Τ Π ΑΡΓΑΙ ƐΤ ΚΑ, Mount Argaeus with tall conical top RPC IV 6838
