FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Roman Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Henry G on November 29, 2019, 06:57:50 pm
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Hi everyone,
I just bought on an auction this coin from Marcus Aurelius, here's the description from the seller :
Marcus Aurelius, 161 - 180 AD
AE22, Cyrrhestica, Cyrrus Mint, 10.46 grams
Obverse: Laureate head of Marcus right.
Reverse: Zeus seated left on throne holding thunderbolt and scepter.
BMC15, Rare
However I cant find the reference BMC15 anywhere on internet for this coin. Maybe there are other references but I was not able to find it on acsearch or wildwinds.
I would like to know more about this coin and see if it is "that rare".
Thank you everyone
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RPC shows 3 specimens
https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/5769
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Thanks I have finally found it !
Would you say that this coin is scarce or rare?
Thanks.
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By coincidence, I just obtained one of each for Marcus Aurelius and his partner, Lucius Verus.
Did a Google search and found this link...
Roman commanders with plans to attack Armenia or the Parthian Empire, east of the Euphrates, often visited Cyrrhus. We know that Germanicus, Trajan, and Caracalla visited the city. The presence of legionaries and other soldiers, and the imperial visits, must have been beneficial to the urban economy; the two bridges were built in this age - in the second century, to be precise. The large theater (diameter 115 meter) was built at about the same time, while the hexagonal mausoleum, probably the tomb of a Roman centurion, belongs to the late second or early third century. The Historia Augusta mentions that the usurper Avidius Cassius was born in Cyrrhus.note
was taken by the Armenian Empire in the 1st century BC, then became Roman when Pompey took Syria in 64 BC. By the 1st century AD, it had become a Roman administrative, military, and commercial center on the trade route between Antioch and the Euphrates River crossing at Zeugma, and minted its own coinage.[1] It was the base of the Roman legion Legio X Fretensis.[2] The Sassanid Persian Empire took it several times during the 3rd century.[3]
The city has been excavated by the Lebanese Syrian Archaeological Mission of Cyrrhus.[5] Initial results indicate a square layout with Hippodamian grid road plan and a central main road with Colonnades typical of the Hellenistic east . The road layout seems to have survived until into the Islamic times. Remains in Cyrrhus include two Roman Bridge s in working order, a dilapidated theatre outside the town and foundations of a Basilica church and some city fortifications. In the 6th century a Byzantine citadel was built on the top of the hill behind the theatre.[6] with evidence of Greek and Egyptian influences in the design work.[7][8] This citadel is still largely unexcavated
Another is a thread here
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/zeus-kataibates.336651/
I don't know if they are rare, but nice to own and interesting stories
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By coincidence, I just obtained one of each for Marcus Aurelius and his partner, Lucius Verus.
Did a Google search and found this link...
Roman commanders with plans to attack Armenia or the Parthian Empire, east of the Euphrates, often visited Cyrrhus. We know that Germanicus, Trajan, and Caracalla visited the city. The presence of legionaries and other soldiers, and the imperial visits, must have been beneficial to the urban economy; the two bridges were built in this age - in the second century, to be precise. The large theater (diameter 115 meter) was built at about the same time, while the hexagonal mausoleum, probably the tomb of a Roman centurion, belongs to the late second or early third century. The Historia Augusta mentions that the usurper Avidius Cassius was born in Cyrrhus.note
was taken by the Armenian Empire in the 1st century BC, then became Roman when Pompey took Syria in 64 BC. By the 1st century AD, it had become a Roman administrative, military, and commercial center on the trade route between Antioch and the Euphrates River crossing at Zeugma, and minted its own coinage.[1] It was the base of the Roman legion Legio X Fretensis.[2] The Sassanid Persian Empire took it several times during the 3rd century.[3]
The city has been excavated by the Lebanese Syrian Archaeological Mission of Cyrrhus.[5] Initial results indicate a square layout with Hippodamian grid road plan and a central main road with Colonnades typical of the Hellenistic east . The road layout seems to have survived until into the Islamic times. Remains in Cyrrhus include two Roman Bridge s in working order, a dilapidated theatre outside the town and foundations of a Basilica church and some city fortifications. In the 6th century a Byzantine citadel was built on the top of the hill behind the theatre.[6] with evidence of Greek and Egyptian influences in the design work.[7][8] This citadel is still largely unexcavated
Another is a thread here
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/zeus-kataibates.336651/
I don't know if they are rare, but nice to own and interesting stories
Wow thanks Vincent. What a nice coincidence !!
The story of Cyrrhus and the thread about Zeus Kataibates is very interesting indeed.
Thanks to you I like my coin even more with these explanations about Cyrrhus and Zeus Kataibates :)
Does your coin look like mine (Marcus Aurelius or Lucius Verus) ? If so I've been told that the coins of Zeus Kataibates from Cyrrhus are relatively rare or scarce (Marcus Aurelius and surely Lucius Verus)
Once again thanks again for the story of this coin ;)
Have a nice day
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Henry, glad you found it interesting. I only have the sellers photo and the Marcus Aurelius coin has a large "B" in the field on the reverse. With bronze Roman Provincials one has to look over grade because most are just average collectable condition.
This period has a vast selection of cities to collect at a modest cost in bronze. I started a collection of this period and filling in now with these. Who knows what I will add next? Just for fun ...enjoy
If I can will post pics later.