Share your favorite provincials!

This has probably been done before but let's see some of the boards favorite provincials.


Thrace, Bizya. Marcus Aurelius AE25.
Marcus Aurelius, AE25 of Bizya, Thrace.
Obv: M AVRHLIOCOV HROC KAICAP, bare head right.
Rev: BIZY HNWN, Herakles standing facing, head r. holding club on ground and lionskin.


Ionia, Smyrna. Marcus Aurelius AE32. Alliance with Laodicea in Phrygia.
Obv: AY K M AY ANTWNINOC, Bust of Marcus Aurelius r., laur., wearing cuirass and paludementum.
Rev: ATTALOCCOFICTHCTAICPATPICI CMVP LAOD, Zeus Laodikeus holding eagle and scepter, Nemeses before him standing face to face.
32mm., 20g.
BMC 514

 

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As a fan of Septimius Severus, I'll offer one from each member of his immediate family.
Septimius Severus, Phillipopolis, AE28, Herakles with lion skin and club


Julia Domna, AR tetradrachm, Alexandria, Nike in quadriga


Caracalla Caesar, Tomis, 4 assaria, Dioscuri reclining


Geta Caesar, Nikopolis ad Istrum, assarion, Apollo Sauroktonos (lizard slayer)

 

Nice idea for a thread. My provincials are some of my favorite coins. It's almost always the interesting reverses that draw me to them.

The Three Graces:

COMMODUS
AE25
7.69g, 25mm
MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis, circa 177 - 192 AD
Hristova & Jekov 6.10.26.4 (this coin illustrated); RPC IV online 4319; Varbanov 702 corr. (direction of heads).
O: ΑΥ ΚΑΙ Λ ΑΥΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟС, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛƐΙΤΩΝ, the Three Graces standing facing, heads left, right, and right, respectively: the left holds amphora over dolphin, the center drapes arms over others, and the right holds wreath over amphora.
Ex Dr. George Spradling Collection
Ex Alexandre de Barros Collection

Dido overseeing the building of Carthage:

ELAGABALUS
AE28
12.6g, 28mm
TYRE, Phoenicia, circa AD 218-222
Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; Price & Trell 748 (for rev. type)
O: [IMP CAES] M AV ANTONIN[VS AVG], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: [TVRIORVM], Dido overseeing the building of Carthage; she stands on the right, holding a rule and a transverse sceptre, facing left towards an arched city gate flanked by two towers, palm tree to her right; above the gate a mason works; below, a worker digs with a pick, legend [∆ƐI-∆Ω] to his left and right; murex shell in upper field.
Ex TIF Collection (woot!)

Unusual agonistic personification, Synthysia:

MAXIMINUS THRAX
AE Hexassarion
20.44g, 38mm
CILICIA, Anazarbus, 235 - 238 AD.
Ziegler 663 (Vs2/Rs4; 2 ex.), SNG Levante 1480 (same obv. die).
O: AY K G IOY OYH MAZIMEINOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: ANAZ END MHTRO B-G CYNQYCIA OI KOYMENHC, (ME and NH ligate), female figure (Synthysia), holding bipennis over shoulder, standing left before bull standing left.

Pastoral/mythological type with horse and herdsman:

SEVERUS ALEXANDER
AE24
6.97g, 24.6mm
TROAS, Alexandria Troas, 222-235 AD
cf. Bellinger A341 (obv) & A338 (rev), possibly unrecorded with this obverse and reverse combination.
O: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust left, holding spear & shield decorated with head of Medusa.
R: COL AVG, horse grazing right, herdsman (Ordes?) behind holding pedum (shepherd's crook), tree to left, TROAC in ex.

 

VOLUSIAN
AE30
OBVERSE: AVTOK K G AFIN GAL OVEND OVOLOCCIANOC CEB, radiate and draped bust right
REVERSE: ANTIOXEWN MHTRO KOLWN D-e, SC below, Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple, the river-god Orontes swimming beneath her, ram leaping right above
Struck at Syria-Antioch, 251-253 AD
17.1g, 30mm
SNGCop 295


CARACALLA
AE23
OBVERSE: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
REVERSE: NIKOMHDEΩN ΔIC NEΩKOPΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia
Struck at BITHYNIA, Nicomedia, 198-217 AD
7.1g, 23mm
RG 234; WADD RG S546,234(1-3)

 

Does this count?

Roman Republic
Province of Macedonia
Thessalonika Mint
Quaestor Aesillas (BC 90-70)
AR Tetradrachm 28 mm x 16.50 grams
Obverse: Flowing hair bust of Alexander the Great, Greek legend, MAKEDONWN (Macedonians) TH mint mark behind bust
Reverse: Club of Hercules center, Coin Chest left field, Quaestor's chair right field. Surround be a wreath.
Ref:BMC 81-83; Dewing 1224-1225

 

Marc Antony and Octavia. Summer-autumn 39 BC. AR Cistophorus. Ephesus mint. Conjoined heads of Mark Antony, wreathed, and Octavia right / Dionysus, holding cantharus and thyrsus, standing left on cista mystica, flanked by interlaced serpents. RPC 2202; CRI 263; Sydenham 1198; RSC 3.

 

Yah, I am lousy at telling the diff between Provincials and Imperials ... am I missing something amazingly obvious? (I know that I like Provincials better than Imperials, for the reverses are usually far more cool than their Imperial counterparts, but I don't know what differentiates the two coin-categories?)

... yes, this is one of those stevex6-moments where you wonder where I've been during the past 5 or 6 years, eh? (*whatev* => no judging)

 

Ummm, errr ... *awkward*

Until I get a sweet response, I'll randomly post a coin ... yah, what could go wrong, right?

A-Pius

 

Love the posts!!!

I'm not sure I have a current favorite (I'm a bit 'fickle' about those judgements LOL), but I'll post a couple I like a lot. Although I have one on bid that's bound to be a favorite (if I win it) simply due to its strike and devices....


EDIT: Oops, I forgot a brief ID:

The first, of course, is an AE-22 from Antioch of Augustus---5-4 BC

The second an AE-34 of Elagabalus from Zeugma Commagene, Syria----circa 218-222 AD

 

Oh boy, I love provincials! The variety is so rich Most of my Roman coins are provincials.

Some favorites:


KINGS OF BOSPORUS, Sauromates II
Bosporan Era 495 (CE 198/9)
EL stater, 19 mm, 7.72 gm, 12h
Obv: BACIΛЄωC CAVPOMATOV; diademed and draped bust of Sauromates right
Rev: laureate head of Septimius Severus right; pellet to right; ЄЧV (date) below
Ref: Frolova p. 177 and pl. XXXIII, 9-10 (same dies as illustrations); Anokhin 576a; MacDonald 506/2
ex Dr. Lawrence A. Adams collection
ex Buddy Ebsen Collection


PHOENICIA, Tyre.
Julia Maesa, Augusta
CE 218-224/5
AE 27, 12.71g (11h)
Obv: IVLIA MAE - SA AV[G] Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Rev: TVRIORVM Dido (?) standing left on deck of galley sailing right, extending right hand and holding cornucopia in left; to left, helmsman bending left over rudder (?); to right, sailor extending right hand and holding curved staff in left; stern decorated with a shield and aphlaston, [two murex shells] in exergue
Ref: CNG e320, 12 Feb. 2014, lot 323 (same dies). Rouvier 2408


PHOENICIA, Tyre. Elagabalus
CE 218-222
AE29, 13.4 gm
Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Dido building Carthage; she stands to front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work, [below, a man digging with pick]; murex shell in upper field, palm tree to right
Ref: Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748


LYDIA, Sardes (... or maybe not)
Germanicus and Drusus
Struck CE 23-26?
restruck by Asinius Pollio, proconsul of Asia under Caligula, CE 37-38?
Æ26, 13.78 gm
Obv: ΔPOYΣOΣ KAI ΓEPMANIKOΣ NEIOI ΘEOI ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOI; Germanicus and Drusus seated left on curule chairs, one holding lituus.
Rev: ΓAIΩ AΣINNIΩ ΠΩΛΛIΩNI ANΘYΠATΩ; KOINOY/ AΣIAΣ within wreath
Ref: RPC 2995, Sear 365


EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus
year 4, CE 163/4
billion tetradrachm, 24 mm, 13.51 gm
Obv: ΛAVPHΛI OVHPOCCEB; bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust left
Rev: Radiate and draped bust of Serapis-Pantheos right, wearing calathus and horn of Ammon; trident behind shoulder; ∆/L in right field
Ref: Emmett 2360 (4), R1; Köln 2148; Dattari (Savio) 9420; K&G 39.77



EGYPT, Alexandria. Julia Mamaea
year 13, CE 233/4
tetradrachm, 24 mm, 14.36 gm
Obv: IOVMAMAIACEBMHTECEKCTPA; Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Rev: Serapis enthroned left, holding scepter, extending his right hand toward Cerberus seated at his feet; on throneback, Nike standing right, holding wreath and palm frond; L IΓ (date) to left, palm frond to right
Ref: Emmett 3226.13 (R4); Köln 2540; Dattari (Savio) 4517; K&G 64.119


I'd post all of my provincials but that might be deemed piggish . Here are galleries of my Roman Egyptian and other provincials.

 

Gorgeous coins everyone. Proof that provincials can go toe to toe with their imperial 'betters'.

 

Nice material/photos are outstanding! I saw the Bosphorus Sauromates EL coin, I missed out on all in CNG 100(got outbid!) It says Buddy Ebsen coll. was that the same Buddy Ebsen as star "Beverley Hill Billies"?

 

I think that would be a provincial coin in the purest sense! Struck by a Quaestor (actually I believe a Pro-quaestor since he was assigned to the province...). It were the Roman Republicans that created the Empire... I understand as Rome moved politically from a Republic to a Dictatorship (or in reality, Kings!), that provincial coinage were to be struck in bronze, and precious metals such as gold and silver are struck by the Empire. Having a silver provincial would be unique, and very cool!

 

Here is one of my favorite provincials, and it was issued under the Roman Republic...

This is my Eeyore...


Macedon as Roman Province, District of Bottiaia.
Gaius Publius Tamios, Quaestor
AE20, 7.6g, 12h; Macedonian mint, c. 148-146 BC.
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: ΓΑΙΟΥ / ΤΑΜΙΟΥ; Cow (no... it is Eeyore) standing right; monogram beneath.

 

Wow! Great coins coins all! Tif,your Sauromates II is amazing!

Stevex6, I generally think of provincials as coins starting with Augustus, not minted by roman authority, and having Greek legends, instead of Latin, that give the city name. RPC's definition is much better than mine:
http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/intro/whatisrpc/

I enjoy researching the history behind the many cities offered in provincials. Here are some of my harder to find issues:


Achaea. Elis, Elis. Septimius Severus AE18.
Peloponnesus.
Obv. - ΛCEPCEBHP.. Septimius Severus laureate, head rt.
Rev. - HΛEIWΝ Zeus standing rt. holding eagle in left hand and throwing lightning bolt with rt.


Epirus, Nikopolis, AE18. Augustus / Head of boar
Obv: AVGOVCTO CKTICTHC, Head of Augustus r., bare.
Rev: NΕIΚΟΠΟ(Λ) ΕW(C), Head of boar r.

RPC I says on p. 272: "C.M. Kraay pointed out (NC 1975, pp. 235-
47), many of the 'automomous' and Augustan coins, dated to the
reign of Augustus by Oikodominou, are in fact later, ranging from
a few of the reign of Augustus down to the third century (post-
humous coins were struck for Augustus in the reigns of Trajan,
Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, perhaps Commodus, perhaps Caracalla,
and Valerian)."

Nikopolis, Epirus was founded in 31 BC by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium the previous year.


Phrygia, Hierapolis in alliance with Ephesus. AE22 Pseudo-autonomous. Boule/Men.
Obv: IEPAPOLEITWN K EFECIWN, Veiled bust of Boule r.
Rev: NEWKOPWN OMON(OIA), Men in Phrygian cap standing r., head l., r. foot on bull's skull, holding pine cone and scepter.

BMC 187, pl. 52.5 and SNG Copenhagen 470, but seems to be from new dies on both sides.

Commemorating the harmony with Ephesus in Ionia, assigned to the time of Valerian/Gallienus.

Thanks to Curtis Clay for help with attribution.


Sarmatia, Tyra. Julia Domna AE24. Cybele
Obv: TVPA NWN. Bust of Domna r., draped.
Rev: IOVLADO MNA CE. Kybele seated r., wearing mural crown; in her r., patera; beneath l. elbow, tympanon; behind, delta.
BMC 2

 

I hope it never happens, but if someone ever held a gun to my head and told me I could only collect in ONE genre, I would have to choose Roman Provincial, where the best of Greek themes meet the best of Roman.

Mikey already posted this type from Zeugma, but I'll add an example that I happen to have at the moment. These types are distinctive for their primitive use of perspective, which occurs only very rarely on ancient coins...



Philip I “The Arab” AD 244-249
AE30, 13.7g, 6h; Zeugma in Commagene.
Obv.: ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΑΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ; Laureate draped bust right, from behind.
Rev.: ΖΕΥΓΜ-ΑΤΕΩΝ; Tetrastyle temple with peribolos enclosing the sacred grove of trees, statue of seated Zeus within temple, capricorn left in exergue.
Reference: BMC 29

 

Yes, interesting thread, and WOW ! some awesome coins

Finding a favorite among my provincial might be tricky, and I wouldn't want to be offending to any of my treasure. Why do we always have to choose, here or there ?


Nero and Poppaea, tetradrachm Alexandria mint, AD 63-64
NERO KLAY KAIS SEB TEP AY, radiate head of Nero right
TTOTTTTAIA SEBASTH, draped bust of Poppaea right, LI in right field
12.3 gr
Ref : RCV # 2002 v, Emmet # 129



Trajan, Bronze struck in Laodicea, c114-115 AD
AUTOKR NER TRAIANOC ARICT(KAIC CEB), laureate head of Trajan right
IOULIEWN TWN KAI LAODIKEWN BXR, Turreted bust of Tychee right, IOU in field
9.97 gr
Ref : Sear #1080



Plautilla, Bronze minted in Pautalia, Thrace
PHOYL TTLAVTILLA CEBA, diademed and draped bust right
HTE CIKI KLAPOV OVATTI TTAUTALIAC, river god seated left
12,4 gr
Ref : Ruzicka, Pautalia # 771a, G&M #134/1849, same obverse die
For further information about this type, see Curtis Clay's thread about Plautilla at Pautalia on Forvm : http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=49682.0



Macrinus, Bronze struck in Nicopolis
AVT KM .... H MAKRINOC, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right
V M AGRIPPA NIKOPOLITWNPROC IC TR, Tyche standing left, holding cornucopia and rudder
14.26 gr
Ref : ANMG #1710

A sister coin to @Bing's Volusian bronze of Antioch :


Trebonianus Gallus, AE 8 Assaria SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch.
AYTOK K G OYIB TPEB GALLOC CEB, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right /
ANTIOXEWN MHTPO KOLWN, Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple; below, river god Orontes swimming left; above temple, ram advancing right, head left; Delta and Epsilon across field. SC at exergue
21.08 g, (30mm, 6h)
Ref : Sear # 4350, McAlee 1181; SNG Copenhagen 292 (same rev. die).

And, to finish with, as I show it every time I'm given the opportunity :


Domitius Domitianus, Octadrachm, Emmet plate coin Alexandria mint, AD 296-297
ΔOMITI-ANOC CEB, Radiate bust of Domitius right
No legend, Serapis going right, LB in field (regnal year 2)
12.79 gr
Ref : Emmet, Alexandrian coins #4241/2, this example illustrated, Dattari # 10830, RCV # 12982 (2000), Sear # 4801 var (It's actually an hexadrachm in Sear)
Domitius Domitianus, stationed in Egypt, rebelled against Diocletianus in july 296 AD and was proclaimed emperor. He was defeated during spring 297 AD. Diocletian decided to close the alexandrian mint, so the coins of Domitianus are the last provincial coins from Alexandria. Also, Domitianus was the only ruler to strike octadrachms (in parallel with didrachms, tetradrachms and hexadrachms)

For more information, see, in english : http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Domitius Domitianus or "en français" http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=54339.0

Also, the following comment, about another specimen sold at CNG (Triton XI, Lot # 539) "For the most part, scholars agree that the larger coins featuring the radiate bust must be a double, and thereby call it an octodrachm. At half the weight, then, the smallest coins with the Nike on the reverse must be tetradrachms, though these coins have erroneously been called heretofore didrachms. The weights of these tetradrachms appear consistent with the final issues of pre-reform tetradrachms of the Tetrarchs. The middle denomination poses the largest challenge to this arrangement. By weight, it should be a hexadrachm. However, no such denomination was known to have been struck in Egypt, though tetradrachms earlier in the third century achieved this weight. The obvious problem here would be the confusion caused in circulating the same denomination in two different weights. As this type is the rarest of the group, it is possible that it was meant for a special occasion, or more remotely, a stalled attempt to reinstitute the pre-reform coinage on an earlier weight standard. Further investigation may shed more light on this subject.

Q

 

@Cucumbor ... Q-Dude... you always have such cool coins that you toss up. Always a fun read!

 

Hmmm, those posted by 'Q' could EASILY become my favorites!!!

 

Thanks guys

Q