Share your favorite provincials!

An incredible array of simply beautiful coins!! Even if you snuck in a few non-Greek imposters LOL

Hey Steve, was that a test???

 

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More nice coins! The first and last three coins are provincial, notice the Greek letters.

 

Ummm, I think this is my last batch of learning examples .... Provincials, or is there a fox or two in the ol' henhouse?!

 

Thanks ancientone .... I guessed most of the Imperials in my second batch (I must brush-up on what Greek looks like!!)

So Sabina is probably an Imperial? ... and maybe Titus and Tiberius as well? (it's kinda hard to read their legends)

Oh, and Valerian-I might also be disqualified, eh?

=> thanks again for the quiz (it was useful to search-through my hoard and try to learn this on the fly) .......

=> Roman dudes with Greek legends (gotcha)

 

Pamphylia, Aspendos. AE14 Pseudo-autonomous
First century A.D.
Obv: Horse galloping right.
Rev: AΣΠEN-ΔIΩN, Warrior standing right, holding shield and hurling javelin.




Moesia, Markianopolis. Pseudo-autonomous AE20. Bust of Markianopolis

Obv: MAΡKIA NOΠOΛIC, turreted and draped bust of Markianopolis right.
Rev: MAΡKIAN OΠOΛIT [ΩN], Cybele enthroned left, wearing kalathos, phiale in right, left elbow on drum, two lions at feet.



Crete, Koinon of Crete. Hadrian AE

Hadrian, AE of the Koinon of Crete. 117-138 AD.
Obv: AVT KAICAP ADRIANOC, laureate head right.
Rev: K-K to left and right of basket containing poppy and two grain-ears.
Svoronos 123; SNG Copenhagen 587.


Lydia, Philadelphia. Pseudo-autonomous AE18

Obv: CYNKL-HTOC Young male bust of Senate r., draped.
Rev: FILADE-LFEW Stag standing r.
BMC 28 var. or SNG Aulock 3063 var.

 

Okay sure, I'll give you a passing grade on those sweet examples (good job, ancientone)



Oh, but I thought they had to be of Roman dudes? (is the first one of a Roman dude?)

 

The Commodus-as-Hercules is Imperial.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 from this group are Imperial. Uh oh, Steve-O, teacher's gonna flunk you!

1 and 2 in this last group are Imperial.

 

Hey, I actually did quite well ... I guessed Commodus in the first group ... I guessed 5 of the 6 dawgs in the 2nd group ... and I nailed the 1 and 2 in the final grouping (sure, I also guessed Titus and Tiberius, but as I stated => it was difficult to read the legends)

So TIF (aka, the teacher's pet) => I actually did relatively well (ummm, once I figured-out what Greek looked like!!)



The funny part is => sure, I now have a bit more knowledge, but it probably won't alter my coin sniping decisions!!

=> just gimme dem pretty coins, wit da animules on 'em!!

 

I don't go into the Empire much, but here is a bad-boy Nero I captured from a fellow CT buddy!


Antioch, Syria
Nero Regnal year 8, Caesarian year 110, (AD 61/62)
AR Tetradrachm 25 mm x 14.05 grams
Obverse: NERWNOS KAISAROS SEBASTOU, Laureate bust right, wearing aegis.
Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, palm branch before, H/IP behind.
Ref: RPC4182

But, since it is AR... Is it truly Provincial or minted under the auspices of Empire??? However, it is a Tet, not a Roman denomination...

(I don't want to 'FLUNK')

 

Hmmm, now when I look through my Roman coins, I'm a bit torn which I like better: Imperial or Provincial?

Man, I have some very sweet examples of both .... I do realize that a lot of you (and me) like the Alexandrian examples, so I'm betting most of you are fans of provincials, eh?

Hmmm, but a few of my Imperials, including my Caracallas are among my coin-favs!!

=> either way, thanks again for your tutorial (CBT) => it was awesome and very informative (you dudes/dudettes rock!!)



Oh, and it's only taken me over 14,000 posts and 30,000 likes to finally figure-out what the difference is between the two types!! (I'm a fairly slow learner)

Tomorrow's lesson will be on Geography!!!

Ummm, isn't Syracuse in New York?

 

Not over yet.... Here is lesson#2.

 

Proposed definition for Provincial coins:
1. Coins inscribed or intended for use in a part of the Roman Empire but not to circulate throughout the Empire
2. Coins with Greek legends
3. Coins of denominations not equivalent with the ones used in Rome

Any ONE of the above will be enough to define a coin as Provincial.

Most (not all) Provincials have the city name on the reverse. Some cities with full colony status used Latin legends. Some cities had branch mints producing Roman denominations with Latin legends probably mostly for use paying soldiers or by Romans in the region. These are Imperials. A few cities had mints that produced both Imperials and Provincials. There is one (at least) coin of Pescennius Niger with Greek legends on one side and Latin on the other in a size that could be a drachm or a denarius. I'll worry about where to file it after I buy one. There are exceptions to every rule and we should not get too up tight when the rules we worship turn out to be turkeys.

https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=251902

 

Cool coins everyone! My few provincials.

Doug H.

 

Such fabulous coins, all.
I can see why some would 'specialize' in 'Provincial' coins and leave 'Imperial' to everyone else.
I may have better quality 'Provincial' coins, but the 'request' was for our 'favourite' provincial and because of the radiate serpent, this is mine.

Caracalla, Varbanov 5230

 

Love the serpent TC.


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

 

My favorite provincial....


Gallienus of Perge, Pamphylia. AD 253-268.
AVT KAI AV KAI PO LI GALLIHNO CEB, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind; I (mark of value) before
PERGAIWN, Elpis advancing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt.

SNG France 579 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock 4728 (same obv. die).
29mm, 17.93 grs.

 

Many wonderful coins are in this thread! I agree with others-- were I forced to collect only Provincial or Imperial, I'd go with Provincial.

 

Since this thread is still chugging along nicely, I'll throw in this newish acquisition that I like a lot and haven't yet shared.


TRAJAN DECIUS
AE28
19.77g, 27.8mm
SAMARIA, Caesarea Maritima, circa AD 249-251
Kadman 154; Rosenberger 129
O: IMP C C MES Q TRA DECI[VS AVG], laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: COL PR F AVG F C [CA]ES METR P, Altar of Apollo, with horns; behind, palm tree with dates on left, olive tree on right.
Ex NAC 59 (4 April 2011), 1420

Notes courtesy of CNG : Kadman (p. 262) notes: "...it must be remembered that according to the myths of the Greeks, Apollo was born under a date-palm and an olive tree. His mother, Leto, who was known in Egypt and Palestine as Lat and in Italy as Latona, was regarded as the fertility goddess of the date-palm and the olive. We may, therefore, assume with virtual certainty, that this altar was consecrated to Apollo."

 

Another great example of the fascinating varieties of reverses found on Provincials! Winner