The reverse of this bronze coin shows like a star within crescent (Maybe). The obverse has a Roman Emperor head-right, with a big nose. I remember having posted a nearly similar Emperor and nose 2 months ago. It turned to be Gordian III, to my surprise. The reverse of that coin had a sign of the Zodiac and was struck in Mesopotamia. I don't know if the following coin has the same identifications. It weighs 4.92 g. Thanks..
There is a Nikopolis ad Istrum coin of Caracalla with a similar reverse. I checked wildwinds' provincial section and could not find the type under Gordian. However, this is not an exhaustive search. The type apparently is usually associated with the goddess Selene. Also, there are other star and crescent coins issued by the mint at Hadrianopolis.
Here is the Caracalla example: Caracalla, as Caesar, Æ19 of Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior. AD 198-217. M AVR KAI ANTΩNINO, bare head right / NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICTPO, crescent and star. Varbanov -, cf. 2998 (diff. obv. legend). 2.59g, 19mm, 2h. Near Extremely Fine; smoothed. Charming young bust. from Coinarchives.com
Thanks a lot guys. Actually while searching under Gordian III, I found coincidentally that one of my previously posted coins was also struck in Mesopotamia- Singara. Fact is there's the Sign of Sagittarius there (Centaur) BMC 8. So far in Mesopotamia, and under Gordian III, we found out the Sign of Aquarius. I wonder if the astrological signs that we know were conceived in Ancient Mesopotamia?? Then out of curiosity, does the OP coin have any relation with astrological signs. The six-pointed star within a crescent was maybe originated also in Mesopotamia ? What meaning could it symbolize? Thanks again for your concern.
Gordian III, Carrhae. BMC 54. The crescent is the symbol for the moon-god Sin, and the star represents usually Venus (associated with Isthar or at Carrhae, Bath Nikkal), although occasionally the Sun (Shamash, or at Carrhae, Utu). Both Bath Nikkal and Utu are considered the children of Sin. The crescent and star motif originates in the 2nd millennium BC, although it becomes very popular beginning with the Neo-Assyrian period (The name of Carrhae is actually Harran, which was a major provincial capital under the Assyrians and later the last Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus retired there). It has a long, rich religious history. The symbol gained widespread use during the Hellenistic period.
