Being on holiday for the past week has not allowed me ample time to do much coining. I've had this beauty for over a week and just today removed it from the mailer it came in. It's nice to have an afternoon off during a vacation! Vespasian AR Tetradrachm, 14.19g Antioch mint, 69-70 AD RPC 1941 (2 spec.) Obv: AYTOKPAT KAIΣA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: (T) ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠ KAIΣ ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY; Laureate Head of Titus, r.; in r. field, B Acquired from Agora Numismatics, June 2017. A RPC group 2 tetradrachm attributed to Antioch, but style wise very similar to Alexandria. RPC speculates the Alexandria style tetradrachms were either struck in Alexandria and then shipped to Antioch, or less likely Alexandrian mint workers were sent to Antioch and produced the coins there. Kevin Butcher speculates these Alexandria style tetradrachms were ordered by the southern Syrian cities from the Alexandria mint for circulation in that part of the province. Of note, Galilee, Samaria, and Judaea were a part of the province of Syria at the time. Interestingly, these tetradrachms in which Titus' portrait is featured on the reverse may have been circulating in the very region where he commanded the legions fighting the Jewish War. Most likely they were struck during the massive military build up before the siege of Jerusalem, providing strong evidence of the important role Titus Caesar held at the time. This regnal year 2 type is more commonly seen with a star behind Titus' portrait on the reverse. This is the rarer variant lacking the star. Struck in superb 'Alexandria' style. Normally these come much cruder. Post your stylish tets!
That is a beauty David. The only I have even close is my Titus from Alexandria TITUS Billon Tetradrachm OBVERSE: AVTOK TITOY - laureate head right REVERSE: Bust of Serapis right, LB before Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, Year 2 = 79-80 AD 12.7g, 25mm Dattari 426, BMC 2741, RPC 2464
Very nice David. Great portraits with excellent centering, hard to beat. Easy to get hooked on these big chunks of silver!
Nice! I like the uncertainty around it as well. Well this is the best I can do for a near contemporary coin: Philip I Philadelphos, semi-autonomous city issue of Antioch AR, tetradrachm, 26mm, 12h; Antioch mint 46/5 BC or later Obv.: Diademed head left Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΑΠΠΟV ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟVΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΑΦΟV; Zeus Nikephoros seated left holding spear in left hand holding victory presenting laurel wreath in right; AYT monogram to inner left, date in exergue (off flan)
