Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Three new Caracalla provincials- Thessaly, Philippopolis, and Antioch
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Shea19, post: 8054144, member: 90981"]I've added three new provincial coins of Caracalla over the past few months, and since I've been way behind on posting some newer additions, I figured I'd post all three together in the same thread. Since Caracalla spent much of his reign out on the road in the provinces, I always like adding coins of his from as many different mints and cities as I can find. I thought these were three great examples, which are all interesting for different reasons.</p><p><br /></p><p>The first coin is a large bronze from Philippolis in Thrace. I've found it difficult to find nice quality Imperial bronzes of Caracalla and his father (as compared to, for example, the Antonine emperors), so I was excited to add this sestertius-sized provincial bronze from Thrace. I like the portrait style (Caracalla almost looks...happy), and I especially like the reverse, which has a nice rendering of Asklepios, the god of medicine and healing. I also enjoy that it has a clear reverse legend with the name of the city.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1394967[/ATTACH]</p><p>Caracalla, Thrace, Philippopolis<i>, </i>AE Tetrassarion (32 mm, 21.70 g), 209-211 A.D., AΥT K M AΥΡ ANTΩNEINOC Laureate head of Caracalla to right./ <i>Rev.</i> ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛEITΩN Asklepios standing facing, head turned to the left, resting right hand on grounded serpent-entwined staff and holding left arm over which hang folds of drapery before him.</p><p><br /></p><p>It really is a nice-sized piece to have in hand.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1395002[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The second coin is a tetradrachm from Antioch. I know that I didn't really <i>need </i>another Caracalla tet from Antioch, but I just absolutely loved this portrait, and I couldn't resist. Just a big, bold portrait of a very tough-looking emperor...I especially like the detail on his brow/forehead.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1395065[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And a close-up of the obverse:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1395009[/ATTACH]</p><p>Caracalla, Syria, Antioch, BI Tetradrachm (26 mm, 13.95 g), 215-217 AD, ΑΥΤ Κ Μ Α ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟC C ЄΒ, Laureate head of Caracalla to right./ <i>Rev.</i> Eagle with spread wings standing facing on club, head to right and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, star. McAlee 686</p><p><br /></p><p>The last coin is from Thessaly, and has a particularly interesting reverse type. The reverse features Nike driving a "triga" led by 3 horses, and the 3 horses are actually used to signify the denomination (triassarion).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1394988[/ATTACH]</p><p>Caracalla, Koinon of Thessaly, AE Triassarion (23 mm, 8.56 g) 211-217 AD, AY K M AY ANTΩNINOC Laurate and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind/ <i>Rev.</i> KOINON ΘΕCCΑΛΩN Nike, holding wreath in right hand and reins in left, driving galloping triga right; below, Γ (denomination).</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is the explanation from the Nomos listing with some more detail:</p><p><br /></p><p>"The people of ancient Thessaly probably had some difficulties distinguishing between the various bronze denominations of their local coinage during the imperial period. To help simplify matters, the mint not only clearly inscribed the denomination in a central area of the reverse - the numeral Γ (= 3 Assaria) below the horses - but the coin also depicts Nike driving a <i>triga</i> instead of the more common <i>quadriga</i> or <i>biga,</i> which would have helped to distinguish it from the 4- and 2-Assaria pieces that were of similar size."</p><p><br /></p><p>I thought this was pretty cool, don't think I've seen anything like this before. Are there any other coins that have the denomination indicated by part of the reverse design?</p><p><br /></p><p>Would love to see some of your related coins: <b>please post your Caracalla provincials, <b>coins with Asklepios, trigas, provincial coins from </b>Thessaly, Thrace, or Antioch, or anything else relevant!</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Shea19, post: 8054144, member: 90981"]I've added three new provincial coins of Caracalla over the past few months, and since I've been way behind on posting some newer additions, I figured I'd post all three together in the same thread. Since Caracalla spent much of his reign out on the road in the provinces, I always like adding coins of his from as many different mints and cities as I can find. I thought these were three great examples, which are all interesting for different reasons. The first coin is a large bronze from Philippolis in Thrace. I've found it difficult to find nice quality Imperial bronzes of Caracalla and his father (as compared to, for example, the Antonine emperors), so I was excited to add this sestertius-sized provincial bronze from Thrace. I like the portrait style (Caracalla almost looks...happy), and I especially like the reverse, which has a nice rendering of Asklepios, the god of medicine and healing. I also enjoy that it has a clear reverse legend with the name of the city. [ATTACH=full]1394967[/ATTACH] Caracalla, Thrace, Philippopolis[I], [/I]AE Tetrassarion (32 mm, 21.70 g), 209-211 A.D., AΥT K M AΥΡ ANTΩNEINOC Laureate head of Caracalla to right./ [I]Rev.[/I] ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛEITΩN Asklepios standing facing, head turned to the left, resting right hand on grounded serpent-entwined staff and holding left arm over which hang folds of drapery before him. It really is a nice-sized piece to have in hand. [ATTACH=full]1395002[/ATTACH] The second coin is a tetradrachm from Antioch. I know that I didn't really [I]need [/I]another Caracalla tet from Antioch, but I just absolutely loved this portrait, and I couldn't resist. Just a big, bold portrait of a very tough-looking emperor...I especially like the detail on his brow/forehead. [ATTACH=full]1395065[/ATTACH] And a close-up of the obverse: [ATTACH=full]1395009[/ATTACH] Caracalla, Syria, Antioch, BI Tetradrachm (26 mm, 13.95 g), 215-217 AD, ΑΥΤ Κ Μ Α ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟC C ЄΒ, Laureate head of Caracalla to right./ [I]Rev.[/I] Eagle with spread wings standing facing on club, head to right and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, star. McAlee 686 The last coin is from Thessaly, and has a particularly interesting reverse type. The reverse features Nike driving a "triga" led by 3 horses, and the 3 horses are actually used to signify the denomination (triassarion). [ATTACH=full]1394988[/ATTACH] Caracalla, Koinon of Thessaly, AE Triassarion (23 mm, 8.56 g) 211-217 AD, AY K M AY ANTΩNINOC Laurate and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind/ [I]Rev.[/I] KOINON ΘΕCCΑΛΩN Nike, holding wreath in right hand and reins in left, driving galloping triga right; below, Γ (denomination). Here is the explanation from the Nomos listing with some more detail: "The people of ancient Thessaly probably had some difficulties distinguishing between the various bronze denominations of their local coinage during the imperial period. To help simplify matters, the mint not only clearly inscribed the denomination in a central area of the reverse - the numeral Γ (= 3 Assaria) below the horses - but the coin also depicts Nike driving a [I]triga[/I] instead of the more common [I]quadriga[/I] or [I]biga,[/I] which would have helped to distinguish it from the 4- and 2-Assaria pieces that were of similar size." I thought this was pretty cool, don't think I've seen anything like this before. Are there any other coins that have the denomination indicated by part of the reverse design? Would love to see some of your related coins: [B]please post your Caracalla provincials, [B]coins with Asklepios, trigas, provincial coins from [/B]Thessaly, Thrace, or Antioch, or anything else relevant![/B][/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Three new Caracalla provincials- Thessaly, Philippopolis, and Antioch
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...