Ancients: a call for unusual provincials

Ancientjoe- is that photoshop or your photography? Love the refelective effect.

 

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ha! i'm bidding on a Macrinus coin and i may already have one like yours..not in good shape tho. idk, there's not enough detail left on mine to hardly tell who'l on the obverse, but that snake is a dead ringer i believe..what do you think Bing?

 

I admired the engraving of the hair design and neat drapery on the obverse of this Tet which was struck in Antioch under Gordian III. Prieur 298.

 

..now it (the snake) doesn't look like Bings. i must love these coins and look at them thru rose colored glasses..sometimes

 

No, it is different.
Yours:

Mine

 

yeah, its different.. the rose coloring left my glasses and i seen reality again, thanks for responding tho.

 

Some of mine provincials

 

Well, since this thread has been revived, I'll post this coin again. I'll admit to not being an expert in Provincials, nor having seen a ton, but I don't recall seeing one with both Nemesis and Serapis on the reverse (plus this one is apparently unique):


Provincial Rome - Phrygia
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D.
Hieropolis, AE30, 30 mm x 12.36 grams
Obv.: AV K M AVP ANTΩNΕINO/C. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: ΙΕ POΠ ΛEITΩN. Nemesis, wearing polos, standing facing, head right, holding rein or halter. To right Serapis, enthroned left with Cerberus at feet.

This one is also unique according to the seller - the reverse legend is found on different types than this one. So even though the emperor sacrificing at the altar is not unusual, this legend with that design is (plus it's just a really big coin which is always fun...):


Provincial Rome - Cilicia
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D.
Tarsus, AE Tetrassarion, 35.12 mm x 19.1 grams
Obv.: AΥT KAI M AYP CEYEPOC ANTΩNEINOC. Bust right, in robes of demiourgos, Π left and right
Rev.: ANTΩNEINIANH CEYHP AΔPIA. Emperor standing left, sacrificing over altar, wearing toga, A/M/K left, Γ/B right, TAPCOY/ΛN in exergue
Ref.: (Levante 1058 (legends) & 1067 (Same obv. die, different rev. type))

 

Fun thread, @dougsmit ! I love provincials! In fact, I'm not sure I can narrow them down to about 10 or so. But I'll try; I don't want to overwhelm the whole thread!

Some people don't like provincials because they say the art work is crude. Well, sometimes it is:


Caligula AD 37-41
Roman provincial Æ 28 mm, 11.17 gm
Carthago Nova, Spain, AD 37-38
Obv: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANIC. IMP. P.M. TR.P. COS., laureate head of Caligula, right
Rev: CN. ATEL. FLAC. CN. POM. FLAC. II. VIR. Q.V.I.N.C., head of Salus (some attribute to Caesonia, wife of Caligula) right, SAL AVG across field
Refs: SGI 419; Heiss 272, 35; Cohen 247, 1; RPC 1, 185; SNG Cop 503

But a portrait coin of Caligula for less than a hundred bucks? One that may portray his wife, Caesonia, too? You bet!!

But sometimes the artwork is very well rendered, such as this big bronze from Marcianopolis depicting Septimius Severus and the goddess Cybele:


Septimius Severus. A.D. 193-211
Roman provincial AE 27.38 mm, 12.46 g, 1:00
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis; Magistrate Julius Faustinianus
Obv: AV Λ CЄΠΤΙ CЄVHPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev: VI +AVCTINIANOV 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

Coins offer interesting insights to paleography, too. Note the interesting use of + for the letter phi (Φ) in Faustinianus' name on the reverse of this coin.

And let me know if you see a more pleasing coin portraying Nike than this medium-sized bronze (a triassarion) from Tomis on the Black Sea coast:


Julia Domna AD 193-211
Roman provincial AE triassarion; 8.75 gm, 24.4 mm
Moesia Inferior, Tomis, AD 193-211
Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CЄ, bare-headed and draped bust, r.
Rev: ΜΗΤ ΠΟΝ ΤΟΜЄΩC, Nike advancing l., holding wreath and palm, retrograde Γ (=3) to left.
Refs: Varbanov 4857; AMNG 2811
Die match to lot 307, A Tkalek AG Antike Numismatik Auktion 41, 24 Oct 2003, which is the coin at Wildwinds: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/julia_domna/_tomis_Varbanov_4857.jpg

Provincial coins may depict mythological scenes and statues you won't see anywhere else, such as this tiny (15 mm) bronze from Philadelphia in Arabia Petrae (modern Jordan):


Elagabalus, AD 218-222
Roman provincial Æ 15.1, 4.38 g
Arabia Petraea, Philadelphia in the Syrian Decapolis, AD 218-222
Obv: ΑΥ ΚЄCΑΡ ΑΝΤWΝΙΝΟC, laureate bust of Elagabalus, right
Rev: ΦΙΛ ΚΟ CΥΡΙΑ, veiled and draped bust of Asteria right
Refs: SGI 3138; BMC 28.41,21; Rosenberger 49; Spijkerman 47; Sofaer-47

According to Eudoxus of Cnidus (as quoted by Athenaeus) and Cicero (in De natura deorum), Asteria was the mother by Zeus of the Tyrian Hercules. She only appears on coins of this city.

And here's one of the Latin-speaking colony Deultum in Thrace. It portrays Marsyas, the satyr who lost a contest--and his hide--to Apollo.


Tranquillina AD 241-244
Roman provincial Æ 24.1 mm, 8.06 g
Thrace, Deultum, AD 241-244
Obv: SAB TRANQVILLINA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right
Rev: COL FL PAC DEVLT, Marsyas as Silenus facing right, carrying wine skin over left shoulder and raising right arm
Refs: Moushmov 3757; Youroukova 425, 4/II; cf. SNG Cop 549

What's really cool about this coin is that its reverse depicts a statue of Marsyas in the Roman Forum. The statue of Marsyas came to symbolize the city's libertas and was associated as well with the notion of abundance and fruitfulness (ubertas). As depicted on the plutei of Trajan, the figure was depicted as Silenus (the companion and tutor to the wine-god, Dionysus/Bacchus), nude, with his right hand raised to signify the freedom of the state (as fitting a devotee of Bacchus, Liber, the god of liberty) and his left grasping a full wine skin around his neck. Augustus was scandalized that his daughter Julia sold her favors at the statue of Marsyas during her nocturnal revels (Seneca, On Benefits, VI.32) and deplored the fact that she once had placed a wreath of flowers on the statue (Pliny, XXI.9). The statue seems, then, to have been a place to pick up hookers, as well as meeting place for lawyers (Martial, Epigrams, II.64). It even may have been considered sacred, as someone who stole its chaplet was put in chains (Pliny, XXI.8).

Associated by Pausanias with Silenus, who actually calls him by that name, the Marsyas of the Forum--and thus of this coin--is better understood to be that figure rather than the flayed satyr of myth.

Other interesting statues depicted on provincials include this one of the Three Graces:


Julia Domna, AD 193-211
Roman provincial Æ triassarion; 23.3 mm 8.55 g
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211
Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CΕΒ, bare-headed and draped bust right
Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, statuary group of the Three Graces side by side
Refs: SGI 2313; AMNG 603; Moushmov 417

Or this one, depicting the Artemision in Neapolis:


Faustina Jr., AD 147-175
Roman provincial Æ 19.8 mm, 5.32 gm
Samaria, Neapolis, AD 161/162
Obv: ΦΑVCΤЄΙΝΑΝ CЄΒΑCΤΗΝ, bare-headed and draped bust, right
Rev: ΦΛ ΝЄΑC ΠΟΛЄωC CVΡ ΠΑΛЄ, cultus-statue, resembling Ephesian Artemis, standing facing, flanked by stags; her head-dress surmounted by small temple; across field, ϵΤ-Ϟ (= year 90 of the Era of Neapolis = AD 161/162)
Refs: SGI 1801v; BMC 67-69

You may read more about it in an article I posted here at Coin Talk.

You may find some oddball denominations in the provincial series, such as this 4-1/2 assarion piece from the city of Tomis, which was probably used for money changing (click to read more about this coin):


Gordian III, with Tranquillina, A.D. 238-244
Roman provincial Æ 4.5 assaria; 28.92 mm, 15.89 g, 7:00
Moesia Inferior, Tomis, A.D. 241-244; Magistrate Pontianus
Obv: AVT K M ANTΩNIOC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC // [C]ABINIA (TP)AN / KVΛΛINA, confronted laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right and diademed, draped bust of Tranquillina left
Rev: MHTPO ΠONTOV TOMEΩC, Nemesis standing facing, head left, holding arshin (rod) and sling, wheel at feet; Δ - < (denomination) in fields
Refs: AMNG I 3537; Varbanov 5701; Moushmov 2279; Cf. SNG Cop 305.

Or this gigantic 10-assarion piece from Side in Pamphylia celebrating the Neocorate of that city:


Cornelia Salonina, wife of Gallienus, AD 253-268
Roman provincial Æ decassarion; 18.56 g, 28.8 mm
Pamphylia, Side AD 253-268
Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛΩΝΙΝΑ CΕΒΑ, diademed and draped bust, r., I (=10) before.
Rev: CΙΔΗΤΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ, Apollo standing, facing, head l., holding patera and resting on scepter surmounted by flower(?).
Refs: BMC 163, 123 var.; SGI 4647 var.; SNG von Aulock 4861.
Notes: Die match to lot #80, CNG electronic auction 137, 12/04/2006.

I could go on and on ...

 

Wonderful thread!! So many unusual examples.... or just plain cool!!!

(Glad to see you're back @stevex6 !!)

I guess I'll add one I just purchased, unusual only because I can't find any reference why the reverse was chosen. It doesn't appear Asclepius is associated with a bull (unless he was a Veterinarian too) nor any info I can find of any special connection between Mysia, Parium and bulls

Anyway the reverse tickled me and I felt it was charmingly irresistible


Mysia, Parium. Severus Alexander. A.D. 222-235. Æ (21 mm, 5.43 g, 7 h). IMP CAES L SEP SEV ALEXANDER (S retrograde), laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander right / DEO AES SVB C G I H [PAR] (S retrograde), Asclepius seated right, examining hoof of bull standing left. SNG BN -; Roma E28, 284. Dark brown patina with green overtones, light porosity. Good very fine.

 

Old thread. He'll be back in about a week.

 

I have 3 provincials. They are all interesting coins.

Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Vespasian, 69-79 Diobol circa 70-71 (year 3), Æ 26.5mm., 9.15g. Laureate head r. Rev. Bust of Isis r.; in front, LΓ. RPC 2430 (this coin cited). Dattari-Savio Pl. 14, 382 (this coin).
Brown tone. Very Fine.
From the Dattari collection.
Naville Numismatics Auction #30, Lot 283, April 02, 2017.



Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Gallienus, 253-268 Tetradrachm circa 267-268 (year 15), billon 23mm., 9.51g. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Eagle standing l., holding wreath in beak; behind, palm. Geissen 2944. Dattari-Savio Pl. 273, 10547. Extremely Fine. From the Dattari collection.

Naville Numismatics 29 February 26 2017 Lot # 438

Trajan Silver didrachm, Ratto (1928) 2657; Sydenham 165 (refs. Ratto); Metcalf Conspectus 54b (same); RPC online 2987 (same); BMC Galatia p. 52, 49 var. (no drapery), VF/F, fine style high-relief bust, toned, well centered and struck, slight porosity, some marks, 6.259g, 21.6mm, 180o, Cappadocia, Caesarea mint, 98 - 99 A.D.; obverse AYT KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEBACT “GEPM”, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder; reverse “DHM EX” “UPAT” B (tribunus plebis, consul secundum), Eleutheria (Liberty) standing left, wearing chiton and peplos, pileus liberatis (freedom cap) in right hand, rod in left hand; extremely rare;

Ex: Forum Ancient Coins

Purchased November 2016 from Forum Ancient coins

 

I thought these were a bit different...

This is the FARTHEST EAST Temple ever in Rome, and it was passed back and forth with Parthia over time...


RI Philip II 244-249 Nisibis Mesopotamia-farthest EAST Temple


"Quinctilius Varus, GIVE ME BACK MY LEGIONS!"
(Quintili Vare, legiones redde!)...Augustus after 9 CE

RI Publius Quinctilius Varus 5-4 BCE AE20 8.0g Tetrachalkon Zeus Tyche Orontes Antioch Yr ZK RPC 4252 SNG Cop 92

 

well, since i erred on a coin and brought this thread back to life, here's a provincial of Caracalla with an error on it(missing an O on reverse in city name)

 

WOW !! Old is right...originally posted Oct, 2014 LOL

 

That's a keeper!

 

..ain't no thread like an old thread...i was looking at Macrinus coins on google and up popped Bings coin that looked very similar to one of my unattributed coins.and the rest is ..history in the making^^

 

Nice overview on Provincials RC!

Let's see... different huh. Sorry if you have seen these already.


Achaea. Corinthia, Corinth. Caracalla Æ24.
Obv: Laureate, draped bust of Caracalla left. Melikertes-Palaimon.
Rev: CLI COR / Melikertes-Palaimon reclining right on the back of a dolphin, pine tree in background.
24mm., 8.1 g.
BCD Corinth 930.


Arabia Petraea, Petra. Septimius Severus AE22
Obv: Laureate bust right.
Rev: Tyche seated l., on rock outcropping, extending hand and holding trophy.


Mysia, Pergamon. Alliance with Ephesos. AE34 of Commodus
Obv: laureate-headed bust of Commodus (short beard) wearing cuirass and paludamentum, r.
Rev: to l., Asclepius standing, facing, (head, r.), holding serpent-staff; to r., cult statue of Artemis of Ephesus standing, facing, wearing kalathos, having supports.
34mm and 20.8g.
Howgego 70, Caracalla laureate, and reported on 114 coins from Pergamum.
Howgego 811 meaning revalued to 6 assarii, and reported on
32 coins from Ephesus.


Pamphylia, Aspendos. AE14 Pseudo-autonomous
First century A.D.
Obv: Horse galloping right.
Rev: AΣΠEN-ΔIΩN, Warrior standing right, holding shield and hurling javelin.


Syria, Seleucia. Autonomous AE21. Legate C. Julius Commodus Orfitianus.
Syria, Seleucia. AE21. Legate C. Julius Commodus Orfitianus. Year 188 of the local era (157 AD).
Obv: EPI KOMODOU PR, female bust (Tyche of Seleucia) right, wearing turreted head-dress and veil, palm-branch behind head, border of dots.
Rev: CELEUKEWN THC IERAC KAI AUTONOMOY above and beneath thunderbolt, with fillet attached, on cushion placed on stool.
BMC 31

 

I really like your Volusian with the Juno Martialis reverse. An unusual type, only issued under Volusian and his father Treb. Gallus. I have one on a medallic flan. The flan broke in antiquity, but I still enjoy it.