Unusual Roman Provincial

[Jonathan C2]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a collector of Ancient Greek, particularly from the mainland and the Peloponnese. I do from time-to-time venture to other areas and this coin is an example of that excursion. I've been struggling to ID the piece and thought expert help was required! The coin is Roman provincial but I have not encountered the type before:

The piece is 4.08g and 20mm:

[Tom Mullally]

My first guess is Thessalian League, probably one of the younger Severans or Antonines as Caesar.

Tom

[Kurt E]

I read Severus Alexander for the obverse legend.

Kurt

[Jonathan C2]

Thanks for the replies, I see Severus Alexander (now that you point it out!). A bit of searching to go to nail this one down, will post up the results when/if I find it.

[OldMoney]

Yours is a scarce coin from the city of Ephesus in Ionia.

Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡ CЄΒ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟC

Rev: ΑΘΗΝΑ ΑΡΗΑ ЄΦЄCΙΩΝ

Karwiese 772; Winterthur 2952; plus several others including
those in Berlin and Vienna (and a number of private collections).

Here is another example:
http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=194801

Sometimes mistakenly recorded/referred to as an alliance issue
with Athens (which it is not!).

Walter Holt

[curtislclay]

What is the meaning of that ΑΡΗΑ after ΑΘΗΝΑ ?

[Jonathan C2]

Thanks very much Walter! I was starting to pull my hair out trying to find it!

[OldMoney]

Hi Curtis,
Great question, and one I had not really considered before.

Karwiese is of no assistance here as he offers no commentary,
only a simple subtitle of "Athena Area". No other reference.

I would guess that there is an association between ΑΘΗΝΑ
ΑΡΗΑ, and the Pergamene "ΑΘΗΝΑΣ ΑΡΕΙΑΣ".* My Liddell &
Scott tells me that Αρείας translates/equates to "warlike" or
perhaps "martial", and so Athena the Warrior, or something
similar to that (Athena Promachos perhaps?).

Walter Holt



* Historia Nummorum, p.536 (quoting Mionnet).

Also:
From Eckhel (Vol.II 1889; p.215): "Caput Palladis. ΑΘΗΝΑΣ ΑΡΕΙΑΣ.
Noctua stans. AE III. (Pellerin).
Aversam pleno explicat Pausanias narrans ^s), in Areopago
stetisse βωμον Αθηνας Αρειας, ον (Ορεστης) ανεθηκεν αποφυγων
την δικην, aram Minervae Areae, quam Orestes absolutus dedicavit.
Vocem Αρείας Amasaeus male vertit deprecatricis, cum potius sic ara
dicta videatur a loco, in quo stetit, απο το Αρειο παγο, a Martis colle."
s) L. I. p. m. 68.
(I hope I have transcribed the above correctly!)

[curtislclay]

"The obverse is fully explained by Pausanias when he states that there was an altar of Athena Areia in the Areopagus, dedicated by Orestes after being acquitted. Amaseus mistranslates the word Areia as 'pleader', since it seems more likely that the altar was given that name because of its location in the Areopagus, meaning 'hill of Mars'."