Caracalla AR Drachm

Ah, the ARAB ADIAB one, very cool. That is a type I have always admired, I couldn't tell with the titles cut off the flan. Thanks doug, always helpful.

 

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Septimius Severus Caesarea, Cappadocia Silver Drachm - Mount Argaeus

I just bought this ex Harlan J. Berk sale Silver Drachm from Caesarea of Septimius Severus, I thought it would go nicely with the ex CNG Caracalla Drachm of Caesarea I have in my collection, a coin which I love. I got a really good deal on this one too, it was less than the Caracalla Caesarea Drachm by quite a bit. I also only have one other coin of Septimius Severus, a Denarius. I really like this one, not as much as I like the Caracalla one, but I still like it alot, a nice addition to my collection of Drachmai and the like I think.

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Roman Empire
Emperor Septimius Severus Silver Drachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia
Struck year 15 (207 AD)
Titles in Greek.

obv: Laureate head right.
rev: Mount Argaeus with star above, ET IE in exergue.

ex Harlan J. Berk

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What great coins!

I admire the Romans' allowing the coins to been inscribed in Greek in deference to their Hellenized population. (This is similar to coins from Alexandria and Antioch, for example.) This freedom of language (and of culture, including religion) reflects a practicality of a confident and secure Empire. Unfortunately, this tolerance would be diminished as the Third Century crisis developed.



(Picture of Mt. Argaeus from Wikipedia)

One can almost see the resemblance between the coin and the real mountain. :smile

I found this information helpful from FORVMANCIENTCOINS:

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=25089.30;wap2

guy

 

Very interesting stuff Bart! Thank you, I had never seen a picture of Mt. Argaeus or thought to look it up...... I see the resemblence... you notice on both the coins, there looks like a cave or something in the center of the mountain.... I still don't know what that is. I like how the Caracalla one has a Crescent Moon in the sky, kinda weakly struck, but it's there. Speaking of the the coins of the mountain though, I saw recently a didrachm for sale from Caesarea of Nerva, and the mountain was very skinny and tall.... the seller even had it mislabelled as being a club of Hercules.....
I can also understand and feel the same about your admiration for the Romans striking these and other coins in Greek so that it could be understood by more people, of course I imagine it was good propaganda too, since now your 'Hellenized population' can read the titles of 'Autocraticus Caeser' et cetera about the Emperor.... plus using local landmarks and dieties on the reverses of the coins would help to gain the trust of the people I would think...... speculation though, all of it.