From my notes, based upon
BMC Vol. VI pp. 8, 24, 83-87 and discussions with
Curtis.
Coins produced at the Eastern
Mint at
Antioch (
Syria) for the first two years of
his reign (222 -223 AD). Coins from this
mint differ in respect to
fabric,
style, lettering, and
reverse types. Coins from the
Antioch Mint show the following characteristics:
- Star on the reverse field
- A's in Legends are unbarred especially on obverse (look like upside down V's)
- Will have a boy portrait as the coins were only minted for 222 - 223 AD.
- Slightly smaller flan
- Lettering more clumsy
- Use of unusual letter forms
- Obverse shows thin neck, compressed lips, and the annulet (pupil) is more prominent in eye (looks like eye is looking at you instead of away)
-Leaves of the laurel wreath are parallel to each other along center line
- More baser alloy.
The keys that I look for are first the
star on the
reverse, the different "A's" on the
obverse, and the thin neck.
The majority of
Severus Alexander coins from
Antioch fall into the following categories:
Obverse (Date)
Reverse (
star location)
IMP SEV ALEXAND
AVG (222) PM TRP
COS Fortuna (left)
PM TRP
COS Mars (left)
AEQUITAS AVG (left)
LIBERTAS AVG (left)
SALUS PUBLICA (left)
VICTORIA AVG (left)
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND
AVG (222) same as all above (left)
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND
AVG (223) PM TRP II
COS Fortuna (left)
PM TRP II
COS Mars (left)
AEQUITAS AVG (left)
LIBERTAS AVG (left)
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND
AVG (223)
LIBERALITAS AVG special issue (none)
AEQUITAS AVG (none)
CONCORDIA (none)
LIBERTAS AVG (none)
NOBILITAS (none)
PIETAS AVG (none)
PROVID DEORUM (none)
This chart covers most examples but newly attributed coins to the
Antioch mint are being found every day.