Three new Caracalla provincials- Thessaly, Philippopolis, and Antioch

I've added three new provincial coins of Caracalla over the past few months, and since I've been way behind on posting some newer additions, I figured I'd post all three together in the same thread. Since Caracalla spent much of his reign out on the road in the provinces, I always like adding coins of his from as many different mints and cities as I can find. I thought these were three great examples, which are all interesting for different reasons.

The first coin is a large bronze from Philippolis in Thrace. I've found it difficult to find nice quality Imperial bronzes of Caracalla and his father (as compared to, for example, the Antonine emperors), so I was excited to add this sestertius-sized provincial bronze from Thrace. I like the portrait style (Caracalla almost looks...happy), and I especially like the reverse, which has a nice rendering of Asklepios, the god of medicine and healing. I also enjoy that it has a clear reverse legend with the name of the city.


Caracalla, Thrace, Philippopolis, AE Tetrassarion (32 mm, 21.70 g), 209-211 A.D., AΥT K M AΥΡ ANTΩNEINOC Laureate head of Caracalla to right./ Rev. ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛEITΩN Asklepios standing facing, head turned to the left, resting right hand on grounded serpent-entwined staff and holding left arm over which hang folds of drapery before him.

It really is a nice-sized piece to have in hand.


The second coin is a tetradrachm from Antioch. I know that I didn't really need another Caracalla tet from Antioch, but I just absolutely loved this portrait, and I couldn't resist. Just a big, bold portrait of a very tough-looking emperor...I especially like the detail on his brow/forehead.



And a close-up of the obverse:

Caracalla, Syria, Antioch, BI Tetradrachm (26 mm, 13.95 g), 215-217 AD, ΑΥΤ Κ Μ Α ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟC C ЄΒ, Laureate head of Caracalla to right./ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing facing on club, head to right and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, star. McAlee 686

The last coin is from Thessaly, and has a particularly interesting reverse type. The reverse features Nike driving a "triga" led by 3 horses, and the 3 horses are actually used to signify the denomination (triassarion).

Caracalla, Koinon of Thessaly, AE Triassarion (23 mm, 8.56 g) 211-217 AD, AY K M AY ANTΩNINOC Laurate and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind/ Rev. KOINON ΘΕCCΑΛΩN Nike, holding wreath in right hand and reins in left, driving galloping triga right; below, Γ (denomination).

Here is the explanation from the Nomos listing with some more detail:

"The people of ancient Thessaly probably had some difficulties distinguishing between the various bronze denominations of their local coinage during the imperial period. To help simplify matters, the mint not only clearly inscribed the denomination in a central area of the reverse - the numeral Γ (= 3 Assaria) below the horses - but the coin also depicts Nike driving a triga instead of the more common quadriga or biga, which would have helped to distinguish it from the 4- and 2-Assaria pieces that were of similar size."

I thought this was pretty cool, don't think I've seen anything like this before. Are there any other coins that have the denomination indicated by part of the reverse design?

Would love to see some of your related coins: please post your Caracalla provincials, coins with Asklepios, trigas, provincial coins from Thessaly, Thrace, or Antioch, or anything else relevant!

 

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Those are great pick ups! That Caracalla/Asklepios is really nice!

Here is my best Caracalla provincial (though not a great picture):

Caracalla
198-217 AD
AE30
Stobi, Macedonia
Obverse: Head of Caracalla right "IMP C M AVR ANTONINVS"
Reverse: Victory standing right holding out a wreath, MVNICI STOBENSI

Here is our only example depicting Asklepios. It showed up in the mail last year from someone on CT but I don't know who...Regardless, it has an honored place in our collection.

Pergamon, Mysia
133-127 BC
AE15
Obverse: Laureate head of Asklepios right
Reverse: AΣKΛHΠIOY ΣΩTHΡOΣ, serpent-entwined staff.

 

Yes. It has been suggested that the dupondius of Nemausus has 2 heads on the obverse to signify it is a dupondius.

In Gaza under Hadrian the city started minting a complete set of 5 AE coins, like Rome : Sestertius, dupondius, as, semis and quadrans. On the sestertius there are 2 standing figures between 2 columns : IIII ; on the dupondius 2 standing figures : II ; on the as 1 standing figure : I . On the quadrans, like in Rome, no imperial portrait. I am sure they did it on purpose.

(not my coins, natürlich)

 

Wonderful additions to your collection, @Shea19! I especially like the Antiochene tet -- Caracalla really looks like a thug!!

This is my favorite Caracalla provincial, thanks to @PeteB of Akropolis Ancient Coins.


Caracalla, AD 198-217.
Roman Provincial tetrassarion, 14.78 g, 29.6 mm, 1 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, c. AD 198-205.
Obv: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNEINOC, beardless, laureate head of Caracalla, right.
Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAV | TAΛIAC. Asklepios cradling serpent-entwined staff, reclining left, head right, on winged, coiled, and bearded Glykon flying right.
Refs: BMC 3.145,34; Ruzicka 612; Varbanov II 5008; Moushmov 4235, Mionnet Suppl. 2, p. 384, 1084; Vaillant n. Gr. 1074.

 

Shea19, Great score on 3 handsome coins ! The hefty bronze from Thrace is a real prize . The Antioch Tet has a truly frightening portrait , & the bronze from Thessaly has an artistic reverse reminiscent of Republican denarii. Pictured below are a few of my Caracalla Tets.




Judaea-Caesarea Maritima, Caracalla, AD 198-217 (struck AD 215-217). Billon Tetradrachm: 14.69 gm, 26 mm, 12 h. Prieur 1660/1661 (obverse reverse) Rare.

 

Awesome coins @Shea19 ! Your Asclepius example looks like it would be wonderful in-hand. Any portrait where Caracalla doesn’t look angry or constipated is worthy of note! It looks fairly high relief as well?

Caracalla really does have some nice provincial coins. Here are my two favorites.


Galatia, Ancyra
Caracalla (AD 198-217)
AE Tetrassarion, Ancyra mint, struck after AD 212
Dia.: 28 mm
Wt.: 16.59 g
Obv.: ANTΩNINOC AYΓOYCTO-C; Laureate head of Caracalla right
Rev.: MHTPOΠOΛEΩC ANKYPAC •; Octastyle temple with shield in pediment
Ref.: BMC 33 var
Ex Lanz 163, 7 December 2016, 378


PHOENICIA, Berytus.
Caracalla (AD 197-217)
AR Tetradrachm, Berytus mint, struck AD 215-217.
Dia.: 28 mm
Wt.: 13.0 g
Obv.: AVT KAI ANTWNINOC CЄB; Laureate bust right.
Rev.: ΔHMAPΧ EΞ YΠATO Δ; Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head left wreath in beak; between legs, prow left.
Reference: Prieur 1292
From the DePew Collection.

 

Thanks so much for sharing this, very interesting!

On my coin, there is a gamma, which should signify that is worth 3 assarion, but the 3 horses probably made things much easier for everyone. I'm a little bit tempted to add some other denominations from Thessaly, would be an interesting set to have.

 

..you'll forgive me for posting a family pic to show my provincial Caracalla (bottom left)from Marcianopolis/Parthenopolis ..

 

Wow, that’s a beauty, RC! Love that Asklepios reverse, very nice with that reclining pose.

@furryfrog02 , I really like that big bronze from Stobi.

As usual, those tets are wonderful Al, I especially like the one from Carrhae.

I always enjoy group shots like those…that is an especially nice reverse on your Septimius denarius.

 

Those are some wonderful coins @Shea19 !

 

Ha, Amen to that, couldn’t agree more!

And your bronze from Galatia is truly as good as it gets, that’s a special coin.

Thanks John!

 

All three coins are gorgeous @Shea19

Four Caracalla coins from Antioch, Laodicaea, Serdica and the bosporan kingdom


Caracalla (04/02/211-08/04/217) - Tetradrachme de l'atelier d'Antioche, c. 211-212
ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝOC CΕ Β, Buste lauré de Caracalla à droite
.ΔHΜΑΡX[.E.Ξ.]YΠΑΤΟ.ΤΟ.ΤΟ.Γ, Aigle de face les ailes déployées, la tête à droite, tenant dans son bec une couronne. Entre ses serres la cuisse d'un animal de sacrifice.
13.65 gr
Ref : Prieur # 214A_001 (unique à ce jour avec la légende de revers à laquelle manque le C à TOC.TOG. Avec mes remerciements à Mr Michel Prieur pour les informations complémentaires), McAlee #674v, Sear #2649 var,
Provenance : VSO Burgan du 17/02/1994



Caracalla (04/02/211-08/04/217) - Tetradrachme de l'atelier de Laodicée du cinquième groupe, c. 212-213
ΑΥΤ.ΚΑΙ.ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝOC.CΕ. , Buste lauré de Caracalla à droite
.ΔHΜΑΡX.E.Ξ.YΠΑΤΟC.ΤΟ.Γ, Aigle de face les ailes déployées, la tête à gauche, tenant dans son bec une couronne. Entre les pattes une étoile
12.08 gr
Ref : Prieur # Prieur # 1176_028, Sear #2659 var
Provenance : vente Poindessault-Vedrines du 31/03/1997



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



Bosporan kingdom - Rhescuporis II & Caracalla, El stater, dated 513 (216-217 CE)
BACIΛΕωC ΡHCKOΥΠOΡIΔOC (anticlockwise). Draped and diademed bust of Rhescuporis II right, before, trident.
Laureate and draped bust of Caracalla right. ΓΙΦ at exergue (year 513)
7,63 gr – 18 mm
Ref : MacDonald # 556/3

Q

 

Thanks, that is a quite a group! The portrait on the Laodicea tet is incredible, but all 4 are beauties.