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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TIF, post: 2276143, member: 56859&quot;]A couple of years ago I bought a mixed lot of unattributed Byzantine coins.&nbsp; They have mostly been neglected and I&#039;m trying once again to take an interest in them.</p><p><br /></p><p>These two scrappy coins of Justin I are somewhat intriguing.&nbsp; The reverse depicts Tyche of Antioch, sitting on a rock, with the river god Orontes swimming to the right at her feet.&nbsp; Neither coin is in great condition, which is typical, but you can make out the river god on the first coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]454185[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]454186[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Justin I </b></p><p>CE 518-527</p><p>AE Pentanummium, Antioch. Diameter of each is ~13 mm.</p><p>Obv:&nbsp; DN IVSTINVS PP AV; pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right</p><p>Rev:&nbsp; Tyche of Antioch, turreted, seated left within columned shrine with half submerged figure of river-god Orontes swimming at her feet; retrograde epsilon to left</p><p>Ref:&nbsp; SB 111, DOC 57</p><p><br /></p><p>There is another coin with Tyche reverse issued by Justin I and Justinian I, which would be year 527.&nbsp; It seems a reasonable that the Justin I Tyches were also struck that year.</p><p><br /></p><p>Why would a pagan god suddenly reappear on coins struck in a place which at that time was heavily Christian?&nbsp; I haven&#039;t found an answer but wonder if it was in response to the great earthquake of 526.&nbsp; Estimated at ~7 (surface wave magnitude), it is thought to have killed a quarter of a million people.&nbsp; Aftershocks continued for a year and a half.</p><p><br /></p><p>Perhaps this horrendous event caused primal fear, inciting the remaining people to beseech older deities for protection?&nbsp; Tyche was long revered in Antioch.&nbsp; She was the goddess of luck and these people must have desperately needed some good fortune after that earthquake.</p><p><br /></p><p>Do any of you know of any &quot;pagan&quot; gods on Byzantine coins issued later than CE 527?</p><p><br /></p><p>...</p><p><br /></p><p>Post your Tyches-- Greek, Roman, and Byzantine <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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