Domna Provincial Triassarion variant (unlisted?)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Aug 27, 2018.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    A new acquisition. I can find AMNG II (Strack) 502 at acsearchinfo and CNG's archives listed also as Varbanov 297, but they have different breaks in the obverse and reverse legends; moreover, they don't have a mark of value in the exergue. No big deal, right? Except AMNG II and Varbanov have different catalog numbers for different dies in the collections the authors examined and I want to double check to see if Varbanov lists this exact variety. Strack doesn't.

    Does anyone have Varbanov? Would you be so kind as to look this coin up for me? Thanks! @John Anthony @Valentinian . Anyone have any other references in which this coin appears? It's not in Lindgren or BMC.

    Post anything you feel is relevant, of course!

    Domna Anchialos triassarion.jpg
    Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman provincial triassarion, 10.88 gm, 26.8 mm, 7 h.
    Thrace, Anchialos, AD 193-211.
    Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ-ΔΟΜΝΑ C, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: ΑΓΧΙΑΛ-ЄΩΝ, Demeter seated left, holding grain ears and scepter; Γ (mark of value = 3) in exergue.
    Refs: AMNG II (Strack) 503 var.; Varbanov II 297 var.; Moushmov 2840 var.

    Here's the listing in AMNG II:

    Domna Anchialos triassarion AMNG II.JPG

    The obverse inscription of mine is closer to AMNG II 503, but it doesn't match it exactly. Moreover, the reverse on mine matches neither 502 or 503 in the break in its inscription, but is closer to 503 in that Demeter isn't hunched forward and appears to sit on a cippus instead of a chair. However, AMNG doesn't list a coin with a mark of value in the exergue.

    These are the other examples I could find online; note this one matches the description for AMNG 502 exactly for both obverse and reverse:

    Domna Anchialos triassarion Gorny & Mosch.jpg
    Gorny & Mosch, Auction 204, lot 1696, March 5, 2012.

    And this one has the same obverse inscription as 502, but the reverse inscription is different from 502 and 503 and Demeter appears to be holding a torch, not a scepter; no Γ in the exergue, either:

    Domna Anchialos triassarion CNG.jpg
    CNG Auction 72, lot 1134, June 14, 2006.

    Anyway, I'd love to read comments, see similar coins, or to receive further information about this coin.
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2018
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  3. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    BMC Thrace, The Weber Collection, McClean Collection, and SNG Switzerland II, Righetti have none of Julia Domna from that city. But, it relevant that old sources were written before the Iron Curtain came down, which released a flood of coins from the Balkans. The common types of Marcianopolis, Nicopolis ad Istrum, and other cities of the region were rare before the 1990s. I don't have Varbanov.
     
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  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Thanks for looking! I really appreciate it.
     
  5. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Varbanov doesn't have different entries to account for legend breaks. Yours fits Varbanov 297 except for the mark of value, which is absent or undescribed on that one. There isn't an example of the type pictured in the book, unfortunately.
     
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  6. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Interesting -- AMNG II notes in the introduction to the coins of Domna from this city (just below her name) the following (my translation from German):

    "N. 503 and 505 similar in style to the barbarous coins of Severus; the remaining ones like those of the later period of his reign."

    Domna Anchialos triassarion AMNG II short.JPG

    So, this one appears to be an example of 503 (mine is clearly different in style):

    Domna Anchialos triassarion 503 CNG.jpg
    CNG electronic auction 425, lot 291, July 25, 2018.
     
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  7. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Great looking provincial Domna dabombna @Roman Collector!
    Here is one that I'd been struggling to ID but believe it to be a Thracian like yours (though mine appears to be holding a wreath and certainly is not in nearly the same shape)...
    CollageMaker Plus_201872917581658.png
     
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