Coins of Pisidian Antioch and Parlais struck at the same mint?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Sep 5, 2020.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I am struck by the similarity in artistic style, the subject matter of the reverse types, and fabric between the coins of Antioch in Pisidia and those of Parlais, which various numismatists have placed in Lycaonia or Pisidia, but Pisidia is almost certainly the correct attribution. Compare these:

    Domna Parlais Men standing right.jpg
    Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman provincial Æ 21.3 mm, 5.15 g, 7 h.
    Pisidia, Parlais, AD 193-196?
    Obv: IVLIA-DOMNA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: IVL AVG C-OL PARLAIS, Mên standing r., wearing Phrygian cap, left foot on bucranium, holding spear and pinecone; behind his shoulders, crescent.
    Refs: BMC 21.11, 3; SNG von Aulock 5137 (same obv. die).


    [​IMG]
    Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman provincial Æ 22.4 mm, 5.76 g, 5 h.
    Pisidia, Antioch, AD 196-211.
    Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: ANTIOCH GE-NI COL CAES, Genius of Antioch wearing kalathos or modius on head, standing facing, head left, holding branch and cornucopiae.
    Refs: BMC 19.181, 34-36; SNG BnF 1126-31; Lindgren I, 1211.


    [​IMG]
    Gordian III, AD 238-244.
    Roman Provincial Æ 35 mm, 26.72 g, 6 h.
    Pisidia, Antioch, AD 238-244.
    Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III, r., seen from rear.
    Rev: COL CAES ANTIOCH, S-R, Mên standing r., wearing Phrygian cap, foot on bucranium, holding sceptre and Victory (standing r., on globe, holding trophy), resting elbow on column; behind his shoulders, crescent; to l., rooster standing, l.
    Refs: RPC VII.2, — (unassigned; ID 3431); Krzyżanowska XXII/94; BMC xix.187, 70.


    Although Hans Von Aulock and David Magie each note uncertainty about the location of Parlais in antiquity (as discussed previously at CT here and here, respectively), the consensus seems to be that L. Roberts' placement of the city at Barla on the western shore of Lake Eğirdir is most likely. So, too, the Turkish Wikipedia article on Barla.

    If so, the cities were only 42.5 km away from each other as the crow flies. However, on foot it's easily twice that distance. Nonetheless, commerce and communication between the two Latin-speaking colonies must have occurred on a regular basis. Here are some maps to put its location into perspective:

    [​IMG]
    Antioch in Pisidia. From "Asia citerior," Auctore Henrico Kiepert Berolinensi. Geographische Verlagshandlung Dietrich Reimer (Ernst Vohsen) Berlin, Wilhemlstr. 29. (1903). David Rumsey Historical Map Collection.

    Capture.JPG
    Source: "Antioch of Pisidia" Google Maps.

    Parlais was never more than a tiny Roman colony, whereas Antioch seems to have been the larger and certainly the more numismatically prolific colony. I can't help but hypothesize that the coins of Parlais were struck by the mint in Antioch and transported to Parlais to be used there. Does anyone have any more information about this possibility?

    Post your coins of Pisidia or anything you feel is relevant!
     
    TIF, catadc, Pellinore and 10 others like this.
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  3. nicholasz219

    nicholasz219 Well-Known Member

    There is a significant amount of discussion that in some cases at least, cities may share a traveling celator or workshop. Dies or coinage could have also been produced by the same person working out of a central location. In the case of Antioch and Pisidia, two Latin towns in close proximity to one another, the similarity in subject matter, coin fabric and engraving styles are probably not just coincidences. It is suspected that towns in Moesia Inferior did the same thing because you see coinage from Markianopolis and smaller satellite towns sharing coin types that except for the town names on the reverse are largely identical. I think that the evidence points to small groups of towns banding together in economic union to share a celator and possibly minting facilities with the larger cities producing a proportionally larger share of the coinage. Markianopolis and the towns along the Black Sea coast such as Tomis seemed to use coinage of similar value as well so quite possibly the coinage of other towns may have circulated freely throughout the area.
     
  4. Edessa

    Edessa Well-Known Member

    Pisidia, Antiochia. Septimius Severus, AD 193-211. Æ23 (4.88g, 6h). Obv: L SEPT SE-V AVG IMP P; Laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Rev: ANTIOCH G-ЄNI COL CA[Є]; Genius (or god Mên?) wearing modius, standing facing, head left, holding branch and cornucopiae. Ref: Krzyznowska 39 var. (obverse legend, as Krz 43); Cf. SNG Cop 30. Ex Agora.

    zzzx.jpg
     
  5. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  6. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Intriguing write up and wonderful coins (though, this is all par for the course when we enjoy an RC write up). Man, I LOVE your content!
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    And a good opportunity to show off one of my favorite JD portraits. I just love her child like beauty. A truly innocent look for a woman whoes own son would begrudge her one of the greatest indignities a woman could be forced to endure.
    20190327_143818_F4BCC53E-DCE0-4F77-A7CE-06BBC50336F9-469-000000877D14383F.png
    Julia Domna (Augusta) Pisidia, Antiochia. AD.193-217. Æ (21mm, 5.20g). IOYΛIA ΔOMNA AVG. Draped bust right, hair in horizontal waves, large bun on back of the head. / ANTIOCH MENCIS COL. Mên standing right, with foot on bucranium, wearing Phrygian cap, holding long sceptre and Nike; behind his shoulders, crescent; at feet, cock standing left. Krzyzanovska II/5; SNG France 1133 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 39.
     
  7. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    Borders between Lykonia and Pisidia probably changed frequently but the similarities between Antioch and Parlais are undeniable.

    Pisidian Antioch. Septimius Severus. Æ24
    septmenpisidia2.jpg

    Parlais, Pisidia. Julia Domna. Æ20
    juliamen3.jpg
     
  8. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    Here are some coins for comparison.
    AE Julia Domna (193-217), Parlais, Pisidia. Obv. Draped bust left. Rev. Tyche standing facing, head left, holding cornucopia and rudder. IVL AVG COL PARLAIS. 20 mm, 4.55 gr.

    3208 Domna ct.jpg

    AE Julia Domna (193-217), Parlais, Pisidia. Obv. Draped bust right. IVLIA DOMNA. Rev. Tyche standing facing, head left, holding cornucopia and rudder. IVL AVG COL PARLAIS. 20 mm, 4.56 gr. Julia Domna as a dear old everybody's aunt!


    3207 Domna ct.jpg

    I have only this comparable coin of the same period from Antioch in Pisidia. The style is a bit odd if you compare it with @Edessa's.
    AE Septimius Severus (193-211). Antiochia Caesarea in Pisidia. Obv. Head l. with laurel crown. Rev. Mên (deity) with scepter and Nike. ANTIOCH COLONIA. 20.5 mm, 4.15 gr.

    3199 SepSev ct.jpg
     
  9. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Style really varies on these. Explanations?
    The above sums it up as well as I could imagine.

    pi0880bb2247.jpg pi0870b00313lg.jpg pk1140bb0056.jpg pk1150bb1250.jpg
     
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