Flavian tetradrachms from Cyprus are fairly scarce. So, I was quite thrilled to have won this coin recently at auction. Vespasian AR Tetradrachm, 12.09g Antioch mint (for Cyprus), 75-76 AD RPC 1801 (17 spec.) Obv: AYTOKPATΩP OYЄCΠACIANOC KAICAP; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l. Rev: ЄTOYC NЄOY IЄPOY; Temple of Aphrodite at Paphos, in which conical xoanon; in exergue, H Ex Pegasi Numismatics VAuctions 36, 23 May 2017, lot 324 Antioch struck a small issue of tetradrachms and didrachms for Cyprus in the mid 70s AD. The reverse types are typically ethnic, such as this coin's depiction of the Temple of Aphrodite at Paphos struck in 75 or 76. The famous temple figures prominently in Flavian lore as the place where Titus Caesar received a favourable oracle from the priest Sostratus in the early part of 69 prior to Vespasian's bid for the purple. The island experienced a devastating earthquake in late 77 or early 78 that destroyed three of her major cities. The temple shown on this coin was destroyed as well, but soon after was lavishly rebuilt in a similar design. All that remains today of the famous shrine are a few columns. Feel free to post any Cypriot or temple coins.
Julia Soaemias, AD 218-222 Roman Provincial AE 21.4 mm, 12.48 g Samaria, Sebaste, AD 218-222 Obv: SVAEMIAS AVGVSTA SEB, bare-headed and draped bust, r. Rev: COL L SE BASTE, temple of the Capitoline Jupiter with four columns; Jupiter standing in center between Athena and Hera. Wreath within pediment Ref: Rosenberger-36 (die match) Caracalla & Julia Domna, AD 198-217 Roman provincial AE Pentassarion; 12.01 g, 25.5 mm Moesia Inferior, Markianopolis. Magistrate Quintilianus, AD 212-217* Obv: ANTΩNINOC AVΓOVCTOC IOVΛIA DOMNA, confronted busts of Caracalla and Julia Domna Rev: VΠ KVNTIΛIANOV MARKIANOΠOΛITΩN, tetrastyle temple with peaked roof, statue of Serapis within holding hand upraised & scepter, ϵ to left. Refs: Moushmov-508; AMNG-688; BMC 3, 30, 19 var.; SNG Evelpidis 812; Lindgren II 713 *From Selatie Stout, The Governors of Moesia, p. 101: "This governor is known only from coins of Antoninus Pius Augustus and Domna. These determine his date to be between 201, when Caracalla received the title Pius, and 217, when he died. The absence of coins of Severus and Geta make it probable that the date is between 212 and 217, during the sole reign of Caracalla."
I REALLY like the very ancient Xoanon reverse! I only have one coin with that device and it is very special... Killer capture! Wow David!
Yeah, it's a device you don't often see on coins. Today, the meteoric stone is housed in a museum near the ruins.
Very nice catch David, not easy to find. I think the Cyprus issues are very appealing. I've come up the underbidder on that type a couple times. Here's one I did manage to grab a while back. One of these days I'll take another photograph with proper lighting. Vespasian, 69-79 AD. AR Tetradrachm, 28 mm 12.94, Uncertain Cypriot mint, struck 75-76 A.D. O: Laureate head left, AVTOKPATΩP OVЄCΠACIANOC KAICAP R: Zeus Salaminios standing facing, holding patera in right hand, left hand resting on a short sceptre; eagle on left arm. ЄTOVC NЄOV IЄPOV H RPC 1801, Prieur 1561, BMC 21
Awesome coin David! I have an Augustus from Paphos with this reverse but it's not much to see. So here's a temple from Aelia Capitolina. Judaea, Aelia Capitolina(Jerusalem), Diadumenian AE24 Obv: M OPEL DIADV-MENIANVS C. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right – seen from behind. Rev: COL AEL CAP COMM / PF. Tetrastyle temple with Tyche-Astarte standing left, right foot on uncertain object, holding sceptre with left hand, uncertain object in r., statues of Nike on either side. 24mm, 7.97g.
Vespasianus (69-79) - AR Tetradrachm (uncertain mint, RY H = 8 (AD 75-6), 13.01 gr.) - Laureate head left / Temple of Aphrodite at Paphos, conical xoanon within (BMC 17) - a.VF / rare not my coin
what a cool reverse! so can one of you explain this xoanon thing> i don't think i understand it. is it a statue? or a meteor? or a thing that held a meteor?
Awesome coin!! So cool that the stone is still extant. (I've often wondered what became of the stone of Emesa.) Just picked up this Cypriot Ptolemaic: PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy III Euergetes. 246-222 BC. Æ Dichalkon (15.5mm, 3.17 g, 11h). Salamis (Cyprus) mint. Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right / Cult statue of Aphrodite Cypria standing facing on low basis. Svoronos 1008; SNG Copenhagen 647.
I highly recommend Marvin Tameanko's Monumental Coins: Buildings & Structures on Ancient Coinage. A wonderful book written with charm and passion.