Featured Roman Provincial Coin Cities-- How many can we cover?

Oh, yeah! Mesembria! I have one of those:


Gordian III and Tranquillina
Roman provincial AE 25.8 mm, 11.44 g
Thrace, Mesembria, AD 241
Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ-ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΛΙΝ[Α], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, confronted
Rev: ΜΕCΑΜΒΡΙΑΝΩΝ, Apollo in long robe, standing left, holding plectrum in outstretched right hand and resting left on lyre set on column
Refs: Moushmov 3998; Varbanov 4175-4176.

 

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SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AE27
OBVERSE: AV K L CEPTI CEVHROC P, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: U FL OULPIANOU MARKIANOPOLITWN, Apollo standing facing, head right, bow in left hand, right hand over head, serpent-entwined tree before, altar or statue to left
Struck at Markianopolis, Moesia, 145-211 AD
12.5g, 27mm
Varbanov 824

MACRINUS
Pentassarion AE28
OBVERSE: AVT K OPEL CEVH MAKREINOC K M OPEL ANTWNEINOC - confronted busts
REVERSE: VP PONTIAN-OV MARKIANO/ POLIT, Coiled serpent with radiate head
Struck at Markianopolis, Moesia Inferior, Magistrate Pontianus; 217 - 218 AD
12.6g, 28mm
Hr & J (2012) 6.24.22.6

ELAGABALUS
AE 18
OBVERSE: AVT K M AVR ANTΩNINOC; Laureate head right
REVERSE: MAPKIANOPOLITWN; torch
Struck at Marcianopolis, 218-222 AD
2g, 18mm
Varbanov 1429
Ex JAZ Numismatics

 

While this city has been posted, I only just identified this coin last night (at least I think I have it right... feel free to correct me if you can make out the letters)

Roman Provincial - Moesia Inferior
Gordian III, r. 238-244 A.D.
Marcianopolis Mint, AE27, 26.61 mm x 10.9 grams
Obv.: M ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ, ΑVΤ Κ Μ in ex. Laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right, facing bust of Serapis left wearing kalathos on head
Rev.: ΥΠ ΜΗΝΟΦΙΛΟΥ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛ ΙΤΩΝ. Demeter standing facing, wearing kalathos, grain in right hand, long torch vertical behind in left hand

 

Macrinus and Diadumenian, Thrace, Marcianopolis, Triumphal arch with for statues. 25.46mm, 11.91, 217-218 AD Marcianopolis, Julia Domna with Caracalla 197-217 Triumphal arch.

 

MOPSUS Cilicia, Valerian 255-256 AD.
River god Pyramus, holding cornucopia, reclining left on river bridge consisting of five arches, triumphal arch at each end.

 

Here comes that fat kid again. Everybody's lapped him, but he's still lumbering along, sweating like a stuck pig.

E is for Edessa, a city in upper Mesopotamia, founded by Seleucus I c. 302 BC. It was the capital of the kingdom of Osroene from about 132 BC until it came under complete Roman rule around AD 242. The Romans, however, were a dominant presence much earlier. It was captured and sacked by Trajan and later by Lucius Verus. Caracalla was assassinated on the road from Edessa to Carrhae by one of his guards in AD 217. Edessa was also the center of the vigorously growing early Syriac Christian Church. It's really a fascinating ancient city and I recommend reading the wiki article in its entirety here.

In the same article I found this wonderful map that shows the ancient cities of southern Asia Minor and the northern Levant...



Here's a small bronze of Elagabalus from Edessa with Tyche reverse...

 

Since we're on M, I'll play nice and post a coin of Mopsuestia (go to Tarsus and take a right). It was evidently founded by a magician by the name of Mopsus, who incidentally gets some play in the Harry Potter universe.

This is a very interesting altar type that I sold to jwt last year, but he doesn't seem to be playing in this thread, so I'll post it for him...



Cilicia, Mopsuestia
AE20, 7.8g, 12h; 2nd century BC
Obv.: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev.: MOΨEATΩN; Lighted circular altar on tripod base with lion's legs, M − Π flanking.
Reference: SNG BnF 1958; BMC Lycaonia p. 103, 2 ff. var (flanking symbols).

 

I have a few M's:


Achaea. Messinia, Mothone. Geta as Caesar


Aeolis, Myrina. Ae14. Time of Trajan and Hadrian, 98-138 AD.


Caria, Mylasa. Geta AE38 Medallion. Cult statue of Artemis


Gaul, Massalia, Marseille. Æ12.

Obv: MAC / Laureate head of Apollo r.
Rev: NM / Dolphin on trident.
After 49BC.


Ionia, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Julia Mamaea AE26.


Ionia, Miletos. Gallienus AE21. Diogenous Dionysiou

Obv: AVT K ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHN, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right.
Rev: EΠI AP ΔIOΓE MIΛHCIΩN. Cult statue of Artemis facing, holding patera in right hand and bow with left.
Magistrate: Diogenous Dionysiou.
BMC 167.


Lesbos, Mytilene. AE20, ca AD 250-268


Lydia, Magnesia ad Sipylum. AE17


Pamphylia, Magydus. Macrinus AE24. Aphrodite


Thessaly, Magnetes. Antoninus Pius AE22

Obv: ΚΑΙСΑΡ ΑΝΤωΝƐΙΝοС / Laureate head of Antoninus Pius, r.
Rev: ΖƐΥС ΑΚΡΑΙΟС ΜΑΓΝΗΤωΝ / Nude Zeus Akraios standing, r., holding long sceptre and thunderbolt.
22mm., 7.4gm.
Cop 865 corr.

 

I love watching @ancientone pwning this thread .

 

Yeah!! Awesome collection of provincials. @Ancient Aussie has some fantastic architecturals too.

...

Just N Time

Nikopolis ad Istrum


MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum. Caracalla
Ovinius Tertullus, legatus consularis.
AE 28, 13.05 gm
Obv: AV K M AVP ANTΩNINOC; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: VΠA OOVI TEPTOVΛΛOV ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ΠΡΟC Ι; Apollo Sauroktonos standing right, holding laurel branch and leaning hand upon a tree stump with a lizard climbing up it.
Ref: H&J 8.18.7.1; Varbanov -.


MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum. Elagabalus
Æ 26 mm, 12.5 gm
CE 218/9, Novius Rufus, consular legate
Obv: ...ΠΗ ANTΩNEINOC΄ laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right
Rev: VΠ NOBIOV POVΦOV NIKO[ΛOΛITΩN ΠPOC IC TP]; Athena standing left before serpent coiled around olive tree to left; shield on ground behind her
Ref: Hristova & Jekov 8.26.4.7 (same as last illus. Specimen); Varbanov 3906 (same dies as illus.); Moushmov 1384


MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum. Elagabalus
AE 18 mm, 2.8 gm
Obv: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNINOC, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: NIKOΠOΛITΩ NΠPOCICTPO N, Priapus standing left, drawing back his cloak to expose his phallus, bowl of fruit balanced on phallus, right hand extended pouring from patera
Ref: Varbanov 3811, AMNG 2022

 

NICAEA
COMMODUS
Rare. AE Hemiassarion. 3.13g, 17.1mm. BITHYNIA, Nicaea, circa AD 177-192. RPC online 6024 (4 specimens). O: [ΑYΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡ] ΚΟΜ ΑΝΤωΝ, laureate head right. R: ΝΙΚΑΙЄΩΝ, Mask of Silenos in profile, back-section within a liknon (winnowing-fan).

NICOMEDIA
PLAUTILLA
Rare. AE Assarion. 3.68g, 19.4mm. BITHYNIA, Nicomedia, circa AD 202-205. RG 253 (same obv. die); Lindgren & Kovacs 172 (same obv. die). O: ΦOY ΠΛAYTIΛΛA CEBA-CTH, draped bust right. R: NIKOMHΔEΩN - ΔIC NEΩKO/PΩN, Triton swimming left, holding horn and trident.

NICOPOLIS
GETA
AE26. 10.82g, 26mm. MOESIA INFERIOR, Nicopolis ad Istrum, circa AD 209-201, magistrate Flavius Ulpianus. Varbanov 3304 (R5). O: AVT K P SE-P GETAS AV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: V FL OVLPIAN NIKOPOLITW PROC ICT, Cybele holding spear and tympanum, riding on back on lion right.
Ex George Spradling Collection

 

NIKOPOLIS AD ISTRUM.
City gate with arched building within, Septimius Severus 193-211 AD, 27.32mm,
13.39gm, Moushmov 931. NICOPOLIS. Elagabel. 218-222 AD, Cult statue within temple seen in perspective.
NICAEA, Macrianus, 260-261 AD, 25mm, 7.2gm, City walls of Nicaea seen in perspective.

 

NYSA-SCYTHOPOLIS



ROMAN REPUBLIC
Aulus Gabinius, Legatus Syriae
AE20. 7.29g, 20mm. SYRIA, Nysa-Scythopolis mint, 57-55 BC. Barkay 1; RPC I 4826; HGC 10, 384. O: Wreathed head of Gabinius right; [GA to left]. R: ΓABINIC OIEN NYΣH (of the People of Gabinian Nysa), Nike advancing left, holding wreath and palm.
Ex Korwin Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 307 (24 July 2013), lot 205
Notes:
Aulus Gabinius, the proconsular governor of Syria, who given 10,000 silver talents by Ptolemy XII to invade Egypt and restore him to the throne. Gabinius would later be brought to trial in Rome for this act. The reverse legend of the coin - ΓABINIC OIEN NYΣH (of the People of Gabinian Nysa) - speaks to his patronage of the city of Nysa-Scythopolis.

 

Maximinus, Ninica Claudiopolis AE31 / wolf & twins
Coins of this city tend to have several countermarks but they are often not well struck.

 

Provincial Rome - Thrace
Geta, r. 209-212 A.D.
Nicopolis ad Istrum mint, AE28, 28.6 mm x 10 grams
Obv.: AVT K Π CЄΠ ΓЄTAC AV. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: V ΦΛ OVΛΠIAN NIKOΠOΛI / ΠPOC IC. Eagle standing facing on garlanded altar, head right, with wreath in beak and wings spread, signum to left and right
Ex. Doug Smith Collection #1523

 

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AE 18
OBVERSE: AY K L C CEVHROC, laureate head right
REVERSE: NIKOPOLITWN PROC ICTR, Crescent and three stars
Struck at Nikopolis, 193-211 AD
3.4g, 17mm
Varbanov 2554

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AE 16
OBVERSE: AV K Λ CEVHPO, laureate head right
REVERSE: NIKOPOLITWN PROC ICTRO, crescent and one star
Struck at Nikopolis, 193-211 AD
3.1g, 16mm
Varbanov 2472, Legend D

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AE17 Assarion
OBVERSE: AV K L CEVHPOC, laureate bust right
REVERSE: NIKOPOL PROC IC, Draped bust of Serapis in modius, facing right
Struck at Nikopolis ad Istrum, 193-211 AD
2.6g, 15mm
Moushmov 927

 

I may have the provincial cities but you guys have the sweet condition specimens!

 

N:


Bithynia, Nicaea. Severus Alexander AE21


Bithynia, Nicomedia. Marcus Aurelius AE27.


Epirus, Nikopolis, AE18. Augustus / Head of boar


Lydia, Nacrasa. Trajan AE18


Mesopotamia, Nisibis. Julia Mamaea AE26 Aries


Samaria, Neapolis. Trebonianus Gallus AE27

 

JUDEA, NEAPOLIS, Elagabalus 218-222 AD, 21.5mm, 10.3gm, Mount Gerizim surmounted by temple and altar.

 

NISIBIS


RI Philip II 244-249 Nisibis Mesopotamia-farthest EAST Temple