Hello ladies and gentlemen, I have this provincial, Severus Alexander with Apollo on reverse, the condition is good enough to be narrowed down to RPC number but I have some difficulties. Obverse inscription is M AV S AL EXANDRV Reverse [...]OL AVG TROA so most likely COL AVG TROA but not sure if it was something before COL. Fair enough but on RPC I can't find a match with the correct obverse/reverse inscriptions. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/3985 close enough but with obverse IM S ALEXANDER AVG https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/3976 obverse and reverse inscriptions different. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/4031 This one seems closer, especially the first specimen, Bellinger A334.3 . Could it be an error in RPC and the reverse inscription has the extra "ALEX" listed here?
Those coins from Alexandria Troas have ENORMOUS variations in spelling on their inscriptions. I'd just pick an RPC number that's close and call it RPC whatever (var.).
Thank you. I noticed the engravers weren't exactly sure about the emperor's name on these coins I am not a big fan of provincials, I think I'll stick to RIC but I have a few provincials I consider interesting.
Since @Roman Collector isn't going to tell you this, his new thread, https://www.cointalk.com/threads/im...s-provincial-help-needed.370051/#post-5130715 , is seriously worth a look. I just learned more than I ever knew about 3rd-c. ACE Roman provincials, and how crude and blundered the designs and legends could get, for official issues.
I saw that thread and yes, new and interesting things there. For the moment my ancient collection is rather small (105 coins + 1 Byzantine). The auction house I usually buy from is quite decent in providing details about the coins (city, emperor, period) otherwise I wouldn't know where to start in identifying provincials, especially the cities. I only have a total of 18 provincials, but I just picked interesting designs and interesting emperors (for me). On this one in the thread I liked the reverse. I think my favorite provincial coins are https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1132 for the reverse, especially https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/4261 my first Augustus https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/3230 "sestertius" sized and my only Otacilia Severa https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/2245 just find it interesting https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1711 Never seen a coin with 2 rulers on a side and 1 ruler on the other.
