I have these two Trebonianus Gallus tetradrachmai.... and a couple of questions.... first of all, what do the dots below the bust signify? also, I notice that the higher grade one, the one with two dots below the bust, has a much longer legend on the reverse around the eagle, what does this mean? and can someone tell me what exactly the reverse legend translates to? I have been collecting these coins for a bit now, and have no idea what the titles on the reverse say. Oh, also I was hoping to know the regnal year between the eagle's legs too if possible. Thanks.
ΔHMAΡX EΞOΥCIAC is Greek for the Latin title Tribunica Potestas (TRP) or power of the tribune. The longer legend adds UpiATO B or Consul II. The letter under the eagle is a workshop numeral (2 or 3 here). I wish I knew the dot codes under the bust but do not. Do the dots match the workshop numbers? There are similar coins of Philip and Decius with dots but lacking the Greek numeral under the eagle. I do not have a Gallus to compare.
Thank you, very helpful. I have seen the dots on coins of Gallus and Decius... but only seen them on a few of the Philipps tetradrachmai. I have this one of Philip II with one dot, I'm not sure of the consulship number. Do you know if the Gallus coins are from Antioch as well? *edit* Actually now looking at the first one, that you said has second consulship on the reverse... it also has the same greek figure for the consulship year as workshop number.... and that one also has two dots on the obverse. So in this case they do match it seems. and the second coin seems to be workshop three and have three dots on the obverse.
For what it is worth, the Eastern (Antioch) antoniniani of Gallus have dots on both sides making the concept that they might repeat the info but making us wonder why they used B on one side and two dots on the other. Antoniniani used more workshops and that would require a lot of dots so we see VI on both sides instead of "......" in this case. I'd say the dots make sense as a workshop indicator but can't say I "know" that is correct. RIC also mentions the fact that there are IIV, IV , VI and VII but no V. This leads some to believe that both VI and IV are variants of .... which exists that way also and that there were only four shops. I'm more inclined to look for another reason the shop V did not strike ants but I do not know the latest scholarship on the matter. IIV=... is a bit hard for me to swallow as is IIV=VII. Tell me if you know better.
I see... I'm new to all coins of Gallus. I much like your antoniniani with the numerals below, I had never seen that. The 'ADVENTUS' has always been one of my favorite reverses... great details on the emperors steed. Now, these workshops... are these the same as what I see referred to as 'Officina' ?
I have a copy of McAlee "The Coinage of Roman Antioch", but its packed away at the moment. I'll look these up for you when I dig it out.
Another quick question.... I know the 'LIA" on the reverse of Nero tetradrachmai from Alexandria is the regnal year but of course with me not yet mastering my greek numerals.... what regnal year is it?
Great, thank you. That was what I thought... but I was told this Hadrian coin to be year 11... and the part of the year that is visible doesnt quite look the same as on the Nero coin.... is it just me?
Your Hadrian spells out Eleven EN - Dekatoy while the other coin ised IA or I=10 + A=1. In Greek, there is no need to keep columns straight since they used a different symbol or one in the ones place and one in the tens place or one in the hundreds place. In each case L is a special symbol meaning year (note L is not a letter in Greek since they used lambda for that sound).
The one with two dots is McAlee 1177b, second issue AD 252-253. Three dots is McAlee 1173c, first issue AD 251. (sorry I'm late! )
