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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Shea19, post: 7951796, member: 90981&quot;]I recently added two provincial bronzes from Cilicia, which were both struck on very broad (35+ mm) flans.&nbsp; These two coins are now the biggest provincial bronzes in my collection, and I must say they really are fun to have in hand.</p><p><br /></p><p>The first coin just arrived from the most recent Nomos auction.&nbsp; It is a Themian Games issue, struck under Valerian from the Corycus mint in Cilicia. It has a fun reverse type for the games, which shows Dionysus holding a bunch of grapes and standing with a small panther in front of a huge elevated prize urn.&nbsp; The obverse is slightly double struck, which gives Valerian an interesting double-chin appearance in his portrait.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is the seller&#039;s photo of the coin:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1377711[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And a photo in hand next to an Imperial coin of Valerian for scale:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1377748[/ATTACH]</p><p>Valerian I, Cilicia, Corycus, (AE 36 mm, 20.02 g). ΑΥ Κ ΠΟ ΛΙΚ ΟΥΑΛΕΡΙΑΝ/ΟC Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I to right./ <i>Rev.</i> ΚΟΡΥ/ΚΙΩΤΩΝ ΑΥ ΝΑΥΑΡΧΙC Dionysos standing left, holding bunch of grapes (or kantharos) in right hand and thyrsos in left; at feet to left, panther; before him, prize urn inscribed ΘΕΜΙΑ and containing grain-ear and poppy set on tripod.</p><p><i>From the Vineyard Collection</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>The coin is from the Vineyard Collection, which is a collection of wine-themed coins that Nomos has been selling over the past few years (it&#039;s a great collecting theme, and I&#039;m really impressed by just how many wine-themed coins this person managed to accumulate over the years).&nbsp; Though it doesn&#039;t come from the most artistic dies, the huge 36mm flan more than makes up for it for me.</p><p><br /></p><p>The second coin is a hexassarion of Trajan Decius from Cilicia (Tarsus), which was also struck on a large flan (35mm).&nbsp; Though the surfaces aren&#039;t the best, it has a nice&nbsp; portrait of Decius, a big countermark, clear legends, and a good rendering of Athena on the reverse...definitely a lot of interesting elements to this coin.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1377709[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And next to an Imperial coin of Decius for scale:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1377710[/ATTACH]</p><p>Trajan Decius, Cilicia, Tarsus, 249-251 A.D., AE Hexassarion (Bronze, 35.5 mm, 23.29 g). ΑΥ ΚЄ Γ ΜЄϹ ΚΟΥ ΔЄΚΙΟϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ЄΥ ЄΥϹЄΒ / Π - Π Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius to right, seen from behind; on neck, countermark: eight-rayed star within circular incuse. <i>Rev.</i> ΤΑΡϹΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛЄΩϹ - Α / Μ Κ - Γ / Β Athena standing facing, head to left, holding spear in her right hand and placing her left on shield set on ground. RPC IX 1348.</p><p><br /></p><p>Though neither of the coins are the prettiest, they really are impressive pieces in hand, and I was very happy to win these. Cilicia is certainly well-known for big bronzes, and I&#039;m sure I&#039;ll be adding more of these to my collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>Would love to see some of your favorite big provincial bronzes--<b>please share your largest provincial bronzes, your coins from Cilicia, your Games issues, any favorites of Valerian or Trajan Decius, or anything else relevant!</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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