For Romans in Syria?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by David Atherton, Jan 23, 2020.

  1. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    I've always wanted a nice example of this fairly common bronze As(?) struck in Syria for Vespasian. Oddly, despite the piece being a provincial issue, it has a Latin legend. One wonders for whom it was intended for. Perhaps Roman citizens living in Syria?


    RPC2009.jpg
    Vespasian
    Æ As, 14.85g
    Antioch mint, undated
    Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l.
    Rev S • C in laurel wreath
    RPC 2009 (15 spec.).
    Acquired from eBay, January 2020.

    In the mid 70s the Antioch mint struck a series of leaded bronze coins with Latin legends. Presumably the Antiochene series picked up where the Rome mint orichalcum 'Syrian' issue struck in 74 left off. They can be distinguished from the Rome issues by the local style, 12 o'clock die axis, and metal. This As likely dates between 76-78 and is very close in style to the contemporary Cypriot tetradrachms struck at Antioch.

    I really love the portrait style these coins tend to have. This 'bull-necked' Vespasian is a superb example of the Antiochene engravers' finest style.

    Do you have any provincials with Latin legends?
     
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  3. shanxi

    shanxi Well-Known Member

    magnificent portrait !!


    Gordianus_III_8.jpg
    Gordianus III
    Macedonia, Pella
    AE 24
    Obv.: IMP C M ANT * GORDIANVS, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r.
    Rev.: COL IVL A - VG – PELLA, Pan seated left on rock, right arm over head and holding pedum in left; syrinx (pan flute) in left field.
    AE, 24.4 mm, 9.52 g
    Ref.: SNG Copenhagen 286, Varbanov 3758
     
  4. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    What a great coin with beautiful style, a real work of art!
    You say 'leaded bronze coins', do you mean consisting of lead and bronze? How does that work out, is it greyish?

    Here is a coin type of Troas with texts in Latin script, in a lively style that I always loved. See also this thread. The reverse shows a horse commonly described as 'grazing' but our priceless member @Jochen1 wrote in the same thread that this mythological horse is not just feeding, it's discovering something, like water or a well - or a place that's suitable for founding a town. Once you know this, it is clear from the picture, too.

    3257 Val Troas ct.jpg
    AE Valerian (253-260), Alexandria Troas. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. IMP LICI VALERIAN. Rev. Horse t.r. COL AVG TRO. 20 mm, 4.26 gr. Bellinger A436.

    3320 Troas Gallienus co.jpg
    AE19 Gallienus, Alexandria Troas. Obv. Laureate and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Horse t.r. COL AVG / TRO. 18 mm, 3.44 gr.
     
  5. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    Struck at Antioch under Domitian, the following coin has SC in reverse and the legend is Latin.
    Domiti O.JPG Domiti SC       Antioch.JPG
     
  6. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    These Antioch Syria bronzes all have latin inscriptions, not only for roman citizins in Syria but for the Roman legions as well.

    P1140142vergelijk (2).jpg
     
  7. Parthicus Maximus

    Parthicus Maximus Well-Known Member

    Nice addition! Vespasian looks a bit like Nero with that neck.
    It is not exactly what you asked. But I think this Flavian from Syria fits in this thread.

    MA1838-1-600x600-1.jpg
    AΥTOKΡATOΡ ΔOMITIANOΣ ΣEBΣTOΣ/AMP
    Laureate head to the left
    IOYΛIEΩN TΩN KAI ΛAOΔIKEΩΝ
    Tyche standing left, holding wreath and
    cornucopiae; ship's prow behind

    Domitian 81-96
    AE21
    Year 141 (93-94)
    Struck at Laodicea ad Mare (Latakia)
    5,54g/21mm
    RPC II 2035
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2020
  8. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Nice score David :D. I sold the example pictured below several years ago at a Heritage auction. It was in the Richard McAlee collection & pictured in his book.

    Antioch, Vespasian, AD 69-79, 30 mm, 16.81 gm, MA 364c.jpg
    Antioch, Syria, Vespasian AD 69-79, AE 16.81 gm, 30 mm, McAlee 364c.
     
  9. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    173E8AA7-F9CB-427B-9FFE-908B2CFCC692.jpeg
    Vespasian, Syria, Antioch, 'Dupondius' (Bronze, 26 mm, 15.71 g). IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG Laureate head of Vespasian to left. Rev. Large S C within laurel wreath. McAlee 362b. RPC II 2009.
     
  10. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Lovely coin, @David Atherton ! Very nice style and toning. I have an Antiochene issue for Domitian:

    Domitian semis Antioch.jpg
    Domitian as Caesar, AD 69-81
    Roman provincial Æ semis; 6.93 g, 21.1 mm, 1 h
    Syria, Seleukis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem, AD 69-81
    Obv: DOMITIA-NVS CAESAR, laureate head left
    Rev: SC within laurel wreath
    Refs: SGI 872; BMC 20.181, 251; Cohen 746; RPC II 2017; McAlee 403a.

    In addition to Pella (as shown by @shanxi ) and Alexandria Troas (as shown by @Pellinore ), Deultum used Latin inscriptions:

    [​IMG]
    Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
    Roman provincial Æ 23.4 mm, 9.73 g.
    Thrace, Deultum, AD 222-235.
    Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust right.
    Rev: COL FL PAC DEVLT, Homonoia standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae.
    Refs: Varbanov 2337; Moushmov 2623; Jurukova 164; SNG Bobokov 535.

    As did Viminacium:

    [​IMG]
    Gordian III, AD 238-244.
    Roman provincial Æ 21.6 mm, 7.85 g, 1h.
    Moesia Superior, Viminacium, AD 242/3.
    Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: P M S C-OL VIM, Moesia standing facing, head left, extending hands to bull and lion standing at her feet on either side, AN IIII (year 4 = AD 242/3) in exergue.
    Refs: H&J, Viminacium, 15; AMNG I 84; Varbanov 119; BMC --.
     
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  11. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Very nice new coin! Great portrait!!

    It appears that these AE SC wreath Antiochene coins had Latin legend from Augustus through Nerva and then changed to Greek legend with Trajan and continued with Greek there afterwards.

    [​IMG]
    Vespasian, Ruled 69-79 AD
    AE26, Syria, Antioch Mint
    Struck 75-78 AD

    Obverse: IMP CAESAR – VESPASIAN AVG, laureate head left.
    Reverse: Large SC surrounded by laurel wreath of eight leaves.
    References: RPC 2009, McAlee 362c
    Size: 26mm, 11.1g


    [​IMG]
    Nerva, Ruled 96-98 AD
    AE27, Syria, Antioch Mint

    Obverse: IMP CAESAR NERVA AVG III COS, Laureate head of Nerva right.
    Reverse: Large SC within laurel wreath of eight leaves, I below.
    References: Butcher 193, McAlee 421(j), BMC 264
    Size: 27mm, 15.08g


    [​IMG]
    Trajan, Ruled 98-117 AD
    AE27 (orchalcum), Struck 102-114 AD, Syria, Antioch Mint

    Obverse: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙС ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟС СΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ, laureate head right.
    Reverse: S•C, BI below, all within laurel wreath of eight leaves, fastened with pellet at top.
    References: McAlee 487m, Wruck 192, RPC III 3595
    Size: 27mm, 19.5g


    Other coin denominations were hit or miss it appears... Or based on where it was struck.
    [​IMG]
    Titus (as Caesar), Ruled 79-81 AD
    AE19, Struck 76-77 AD, Syria, Antioch mint

    Denomination thought to be Hexachalkon. Minted in Rome for use in Syria/Antioch.
    Obverse: T•CAES•IMP•TR•POT•, Laureate head of Titus right.
    Reverse: ANTI-OCHIA, Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of Tyche right.
    References: RPC II 1997; McAlee 392
    Size: 19mm, 3.68g


    [​IMG]
    Pseudo-autonomous, Vespasian 69-79 AD AE Trichalkon, Syria, Antioch Mint
    Struck 77/78 AD (126 of the Caesarean era)

    Obverse: ANTIOX[ЄΩN], veiled and draped bust of Tyche right, wearing mural crown with three turrets.
    Reverse: Lighted and garlanded altar on stand; date: ЄT ςKP (Caesarean Era yr. 126 = 77/8 AD), in exergue; all within dotted border.
    References: RPC I 2020, McAlee 118
     
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  12. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Actually, the photo is pretty close to how it looks in hand. Sort of a dark bronze colour.
     
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  13. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Legends in Latin:

    Herennia Etruscilla
    , (249-251 A.D.)
    Wife of Trajan Decius

    AE 28 of Viminacium, 14.2 grams

    Obverse: HER ETRVSCILLA AVG, draped bust right, in staphane

    Reverse: PMS COL VIM, female figure (Provincia Moesia) standing, facing left, between bull and lion, AN XII in exergue

    Reference: BMC 32
    etruscilla1.jpg

    etruscilla2.jpg
     
  14. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    It is standard for cities that had full Colony status to use Latin legends and often included COL before the city name (COL VIM, COL NEM) but Antioch did not. Lesser cities used Greek. I believe the original Colonies were occupied by retired veterans but after a few generations, this may not have been as important.
     
  15. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    Patras.jpg Achaea. Achaea, Patras(Patrae). Sabina Æ20 Obv: SABINA AVG / Draped bust of Sabina, r., hair coiled and piled on top of head above triple stephane.
    Rev: COL A A PATREN / Man naked running l. to altar, looking back, holding box in his l. hand.
    BCD Peloponnesos 552.5

    gordianvim5.JPG
    Moesia, Viminacium. Gordian III. 238-244 AD. Æ30. Year 2 Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder.
    Rev: P M S COL VIM AN II, Moesia standing facing, head left; bull and lion at sides.

    septmenpisidia2.jpg
    Pisidia, Antioch. AE24 Septimius Severus. Cult Image of Men Pisidian Antioch. Æ24. Septimius Severus, laureate, head to r. IMP CAES L SEP S EVERVS PER AVG. Rev. PISIDICA ANTIOCH, Cult image of Men, frontal, head to r., holding a Victory on an orb (requiring a support under his elbow, as in statuary image), scepter in his r., at the foot of which is a cock; his left leg is bent to place on a bull's head; otherwise, he is identified by his Phrygian bonnet and the horns of a crescent moon on his shoulders.

    Clipboard3~5.jpg Pisidia, Antioch. Geta (Caesar, 198-209). AE18 Obv: L SEP GE COM CAES. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: ANTIOCH COl. Eagle standing facing, head left, with wings spread and wreath in beak.
    SNG AUL 4923

    AntiochPisidiaVolusian.jpg Pisidia, Antioch. Volusian AE24. Obv: IMP C VIB AP GAL V[OLVSSIANO], radiate draped bust right.
    Rev: ANTIOC CHLCO, standard between two vexilla, all topped by eagles, SR in ex.

    juliamen3.jpg

    Pisidia, Parlais. Julia Domna. Cult Image of Men
    Parlais, Pisidia. Julia Domna. 20mm and 4.0gm. Reverse IVL AVG COL PARLAIS. Men stg. facing, holding sceptre and pine-cone, foot set on bucranium.

    CoelaCommodus.jpg Thrace, Coela. Commodus AE20. Prow Commodus AE20, 3.51g; 20mm, 176-192 AD.
    Obv: CM COMMOC AV, bare-headed, draped, young bust right.
    Rev: AIL MV NIC COILA, star and cornucopia above.
    RPC Online 9386 temp.

    ValerianTroas.jpg Troas, Alexandreia. Valerian I Obv: IMP LIC VALERIANVS AV, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: COL AVGO TROA, eagle standing facing on bucranium, wings spread, head right.
     
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