HELP! Can ANYONE Identify the person on this Roman Tetradrachm?

It weighs 11.3 Grams, at first I thought it might be a tet of Caracalla, but it looks like no type I have ever seen (not that that means too much) but then I started looking harder and comparing it to other coins, and I started to think it could possibly be a Tet of Diadumenian, however I have never seen any of him with a Radiate bust... alot of the obv titles are worn flat except the Greek word for 'Antoninus' and I do not know if Diadumenian added that name to his when he became Caesar... I know very little about Diadumenian coinage.

It appears to be a Lion walking to the right under the legs of the Eagle on the reverse. There is alot of wear on what would be the front of the Lion, but I have seen other types with a Lion beneath and it looked quite similar.


ANY feedback at all on the person in the portrait on the obverse of this coin would be quite helpful, and GREATLY appreciated, Thank you.
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The photos are very large when you click on them and make them fullsize, so you should be able to get a very good view of this coin.

I am very interested to learn more about this coin, so any help would be great, ASAP.

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Found this on vcoins.

http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/maltergalleries/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=4131

 

I believe this is the info:

Diadumenian, mid May - 8 June 218 A.D., Hierapolis, Syria
obverse ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΟΠΕ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
reverse ∆ΗΜΑΡ Χ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC, eagle standing facing, wings spread, head right, wreath in beak, lion beneath.
Hierapolis mint
Prieur 945

Beautiful coin for a scarce caesar, congrats.

 

Please please PLEASE buy yourself a copy of this book: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=177631

If Roman provincial tetradrachms are to be your primary collecting interest, you would be remiss if you didn't own this. (Not to mention all the time we'd save looking them up. )

 

Thanks guys, and I know Ardatirion, I need to invest in some books.... Roman coins just have so many variations et cetera that I never can tell what book to get, but now I can't say you guys haven't told me the proper books. Still I appreciate your help, and alot of the time I just want the info so I know what to label my coin for my collection, or write it down for my records.


Hey Mat, my friend, whereabouts did you come across that info.....

 

Randy:
Definitely an interesting style Caracalla bust, but very different than the one in these pics..... but like it says, it has the lion beneath the eagle.... but maybe that is just the mark for Hierapolis, I have seen it on coins of Macrinus as well.

 

Coinproject.com

 

Would that be recommended over RPC? I know RPC is in progress but I believe 3 volumes are out, (unfortunately one in French).

 

So then Mat, you are fairly sure of that diagnosis.... that this coin IS in fact of Diadumenian..? because if so then I got a HECK of an amazing deal.... So I am looking for every and all opinions possible guys..... and / or pics, links to similar coins etc.

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/diadumenian/_hieropolis_AR4Drachm_Prieur_947.jpg

Here is a pic of Prieur 947, and even though it is beat up and in poor shape, the bust looks the same. I think you were correct sir.

 

Yes the portrait, lettering and such matched with the example I found. Plus if I was wrong I am sure Ardatirion would have said so

 

Good point! NICE!!! Mell I got my first Diadumenian coin then, and a Tetradrachm to boot!!! Not to mention a killer portrait.... might be missing some of the legends and have some wear, but still, beautiful! I bought it not knowing.... the seller had it labelled as being of Caracalla... I liked the portrait alot whomever it is.... I just wish the Lion beneath the Eagle on the reverse were a bit more prominent.

Now I have a Macrinus Tet and a Diadumenian Tet... cool....

 

The published volumes of RPC only cover up to Domitian, the French volume only issues of Gordian III from a part of Asia Minor (why? don't ask me!). Prieur's book is indispensable for Syro-Phoenician tetradrachms. Although, when possible, it is of course best to cite both. Think of it like citing a specialized reference for Roman Imperial (ie, citing both RIC and King for a quinarius).

Looks fine to me.

 

Thanks for your input Ardatirion With you and Mat seeming to agree on whom this coin has on it, I feel safe labelling it as a Diadumenian AR Tetradrachm of Heirapolis. And I am very happy to know that....


STILL any feedback from ANYONE, positive or negative, is welcome..... Any opinions... if you know.... then even just saying 'yes I agree, it looks like Diadumenian' or if you disagree, let me know why.... I want to figure this coin out well.

 

Cool coin Rex.
You might have found it in my gallery though (you commented upon it two years ago...)
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-34851

Q

 

HA! Cucumbor Well played my friend.... you have so many amazing tets I find it hard to recall them all, plus I am still new to coins of Diadumenian, I just much like his portrait styles and reverses.

And you are correct sir, that one of yours I commented on looks just like mine, only nicer
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The coin I bought was mislabelled as being of Caracalla, I was almost certain it was not Caracalla, but for some reason I had a feeling it was Diadumenian, so I bid a bit higher and watched a bit harder than I normally would... In fact, the coin ended up selling (to me) for less than Half of what my eBay 'Max Bid' was, So I got a heck of a deal, even with the wear..... I guess subconsciously I remembered your example.... or else I must have seen a similar portrait of him recently... I like the first explaination more

 

You've very lucky I guess, to get a Diadumenian for the price of a Caracalla :thumb:

Q

 

While I agree this is a pretty coin and a Diadumenian, it will suffer in marketability by lacking the few letters that would make it identifiable easily by everyone. I suspect that showing it to 100 dealers would find fewer than half calling it Diadumenian with the others split between Caracalla and Elagabalus simply because that name Antoninos is so bold, the Opelius is off flan and the type was one that did not use Diadumenian. Similarly, the lion would sell better with his head struck up rather than the tail. For such a pretty coin it sure made all the unpopular choices.

 

" For such a pretty coin it sure made all the unpopular choices. "

Hehe, just like that one kid from high school...... well I still just love the portrait, to me, the portraits are pretty much always more important than the titles, but yes I wish the beginning of the name, the identifiable part were there, or I'd not have needed to start this thread. I wish mine looked more like Cucumbor's example..... and I agree I wish the head of the lion were better struck, rather than the tail.... but eh, what can ya do.... I bought it because I love the portrait and the eagle.... having it end up being of Diadumenian and somewhat less common is just a bonus to me, since there is very, very little chance of me selling it.... at least not untill I am an elderly man and if I need cash.

 

You really don't need to be ashamed for the purchase of this coin Rex. The portrait is great and should it had shown the name of Diadumenian it would have been much more expensive.

Q

 

Indeed, thank you. I would likely have not been able to afford a nicer example, and I am quite happy with this one, the portrait has always been more important to me than the titles Thanks for the friendly advice mate.