Hi, all. Hope one of you Roman provincial gurus could help me with this. There appear to be only two other examples of this little bronze of Elagabalus online and I've checked acsearchinfo, CoinArchives, Wildwinds, and the Coin Project. None of the two examples provide attribution information apart from listing the catalogs which do not contain the coin. I do not have access to Varbanov, RPC, or to AMNG for Thrace. If anyone does, please be so kind as to look up this coin. Thanks! As always, please post comments, coins of Philippopolis, Elagabalus provincials, or whatever you feel is relevant! Elagabalus, AD 218-222. Roman AE 19.0 mm, 3.12 g, 6 h. Thrace, Philippopolis, AD 218-22. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ - ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC, laureate head, right. Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟ / Ρ - ΩΝ, Hera standing left, holding patera and scepter. Refs: Sear Greek Imp --; Moushmov --; BMCG --; SNG Cop --; Lindgren II --; Lindgren III --. Notes: Philippopolis became a Neocorate city during the reign of Elagabalus. It is a reverse die match to this coin, which went unsold in two auctions: Jean Elsen & ses Fils S.A., Auction 97, lot 487, Sept 13, 2008. Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 97, lot 815, May 22, 2000. It is the same TYPE as this one, but not a reverse die-match: Heritage Europe (formerly MPO Auctions), Auction 42, lot 220, May 21, 2014. Despite its similarity, it is NOT the same type as this one, where Hera is sacrificing over an altar, which is attributed to Varbanov 1780 at Wildwinds and by Roma Numismatics: Roma Numismatics Limited, E-sale 29, lot 291, August 27, 2016.
I'm not sure that Varbanov 1780 actually does have an altar. The picture in the book is not clear, but note the P in lower field would leave little room; while the example above with altar has the letters in upper field. So, did Varbanov use the wrong description and 1780 is actually without altar.
Thanks, @Victor_Clark . The photo in Varbanov's book looks like it has P in the lower left field and ΩΝ in the lower right field, doesn't it?
Then it almost certainly was struck with the same reverse die as mine and the other example that went unsold at Lanz and Elsen sales. I guess I'll call my coin Varbanov 1780, even though it doesn't quite feel right.