One (damaged) obverse die -- eight different reverse types!

Roman Collector · May 26, 2019

In the course of researching this Roman provincial tetrassarion of Gordian III and Tranquillina from Mesembria, I noticed this particular die has a distinctive pattern of obverse die damage between and above the portraits. Although I haven't been able to find a single other example of my coin online or in various print resources, I noticed several coins of this city were struck with this same obverse die:

1. My coin (Demeter with phiale and long torch reverse):

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.

2. Homonoia standing with phiale and cornucopia. This one belongs to @Jochen1 :

3. Apollo standing left, holding phiale and branch. Sold by Roma Numismatics.

The rest of the examples are taken from the Corpus Nummorum Thracorum online. The photo quality of each example there varies considerably; therefore, I will show a listing and link to the specific coin.

4. Athena standing l., hand resting on shield and holding inverted spear.

5. Demeter standing l., holding corn ears and long torch.

6. Dionysus standing l., holding kantharos and thyrus.

7. Homonoia std. l., holding patera and cornucopia.

8. Asklepios standing l., holding serpent-staff in right hand.