Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria provincial help needed

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, May 18, 2019.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I am having a terrible time identifying the figure on the reverse of this pentassarion from Mesembria in Thrace! I've done a search at acsearchinfo, looked at Wildwinds, online Moushmov, Lindgren, Wiczay, Mionnet supplement 2, and the BMC catalog and nothing!

    Does anyone know which deity this is? Anyone have Varbanov or Karayotov? Anyone know of a reference for this coin? Any help appreciated! Thanks!

    Here's the coin:

    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Homonoia.jpg
    Gordian AD 238-244 and Tranquillina.
    Roman provincial Æ 28.6 mm, 11.36 g, 7 h.
    Thrace, Mesembria, AD 241-244.
    Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ-ΤΡΑΝΚVΛ|ΛΙΝΑ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, confronted.
    Rev: ΜΕCΑΜΒΡ-Ι-ΑΝΩΝ, Demeter standing left, wearing stephane, holding phiale and long torch.
    Refs: Varbanov 4190, citing Karajatov 83; SNG Copenhagen --; BMC --; Moushmov --; Lindgren --; Mionnet suppl 2 --; Sear --; Wiczay --.

    The only standing female deity I can find on coins of Gordian and Tranquillina from this city who holds a patera is Homonoia -- but she wears a modius and holds a cornucopia:

    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Homonoia Naumann.jpg

    Interestingly, the obverse die has some damage and is a match to the obverse die of this coin sold by Roma:

    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Apollo with patera Roma.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2019
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  3. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    @ RC. Notice the long boot ! Could this help ?
     
  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Hmm, I don't know who the reverse figure is and doubt I can research it better than you already have.

    I don't agree about the obverse die match though. Did you link the wrong coin? o_O

    I don't see any long boots. Can you point out what you're seeing?
     
  5. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Could it be Tranquillina herself? Blessing the union with a sacrifice to the gods from her patera?
     
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  6. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    You don't?

    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Homonoia.jpg Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Apollo with patera Roma.jpg

    I'm 100% sure they are an obverse die match.
     
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  7. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Oh. I was looking at the coin immediate above it in your OP :oops:. You're right, of course. Your coin's obverse is a match to the Roma coin... not to the second coin shown in your OP. I thought you had lost your mind. Turns out I had :D.
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  8. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I wonder if it's Demeter. Moushmov 4016 is a coin of Philip and Otacilia from this city with Demeter standing left, holding patera and long torch:

    Philip I and Otacilia Mesembria Moushmov.jpg

    But stylistically, that doesn't much resemble the reverse figure on my coin, though her accouterments are the same:

    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Homonoia.jpg
     
    Bing likes this.
  9. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    That long white thing under her right thin leg and foot.
     
  10. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I think that's the hem of her stola dragging on the ground.
     
    TIF likes this.
  11. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    O.K. That didn't happen to Homonoia. Just curious.
     
  12. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Yours is Varbanov 4201 (R5) - Homonoia, "but without kalathos." However, the obverse legend listed for it is AVT K M AN ΓOPΔIANOC TPANKVΛΛIN, so yours would be a variety with a different obverse legend. Unless, the legend in Varbanov is erroneous; unfortunately, that entry isn't illustrated.
     
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  13. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Thanks!
     
  14. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I'm not so sure Varbanov 4201 is correct. @Jochen has an example on his page attributed to 4201 and his depicts Homonoia with a cornucopia, not a scepter or long torch. Interestingly, his is an obverse die-match to my coin:

    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Homonoia Jochen.jpg

    Similarly, this page shows five examples of a coin listed as Varbanov 4201, and it has the same reverse as Jochen's:

    Capture.JPG
     
  15. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Yup, my bad, sorry. :shy: It should be Varbanov 4190 (R5) - "Demeter stg l., holding phiale and long torch."
     
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  16. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Thanks so much! :joyful: That has to be it. I can't find a single other example of this coin online. I've been looking all over, too.
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  17. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    The obverse die must have a bunch of damage. There appear to be cuds between the portraits on these examples:

    Mine:
    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Homonoia.jpg

    Jochen's:
    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Homonoia Jochen.jpg

    Roma Numismatic's example:
    Gordian III and Tranquillina Mesembria Apollo with patera Roma.jpg
     
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