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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Greek Imperial| ▸ |Decapolis, Arabia & Syria||View Options:   | | | In 63 B.C., Syria was incorporated into the Roman Republic as a province following the success of Pompey the Great against the Parthians. The Decapolis means "the ten cities" in Greek, yet we don't really know how many cities there were, or where they were. In 106 A.D., under the Roman emperor Trajan, the Nabataean Kingdom and the cities of the Decapolis were incorporated into the newly established Provinces of Syria and Arabia. In 135 A.D., after the defeat of the Bar Kokhba Revolt, Roman Syria and Judaea were merged into the province Syria Palaestina. The province Coele-Syria was split from Syria Palaestina in 193. Syria became part of the splinter Palmyrene Empire for a brief period from 260 to 272, when it was restored to Roman central authority. In the 3rd century, with the Severan dynasty, Syrians even achieved imperial power. |
In 311, after the death of Galerius in late April or May, representatives from Nicomedia presented themselves before Maximinus, bringing images of their gods and requested that Christians not be allowed to live in their city. Late in 311, an embassy from Antioch, led by their curator Theotecnus, also requested permission to banish Christians from their city and its territory. Other cities followed with the same request. Maximinus support for Antioch's requests is advertised by this coin type. Fearing his co-emperors, however, Maximinus changed his mind. His edict in May 313 restored privileges and property to Christians. Later in 313, Licinius captured Antioch and executed Theotecnus.RT114684. Billon quarter follis, McAlee 170(c), Van Heesch 3(a), Vagi 2954, SRCV IV 14927, Nice gF, highlighting earthen deposits, flan crack, weight 1.281 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 315o, 3rd officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 312 A.D.; obverse GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Tyche of Antioch seated facing on rocks, turreted and veiled, stalks of grain in right; upper body of river-god Orontes below, standing facing in waist deep water, arms outstretched; reverse APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo standing facing, head left, pouring libations from patera in right hand, kithara (lyre) in left hand, Γ right, SMA in exergue;
Maximinus II Daia, May 310 - 30 April 313 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria, Civic Christian Persecution Issue
In 311, after the death of Galerius in late April or May, representatives from Nicomedia presented themselves before Maximinus, bringing images of their gods and requested that Christians not be allowed to live in their city. Late in 311, an embassy from Antioch, led by their curator Theotecnus, also requested permission to banish Christians from their city and its territory. Other cities followed with the same request. Maximinus support for Antioch's requests is advertised by this coin type. Fearing his co-emperors, however, Maximinus changed his mind. His edict in May 313 restored privileges and property to Christians. Later in 313, Licinius captured Antioch and executed Theotecnus.RT114689. Billon quarter follis, McAlee 170(f), Vagi 2954, Van Heesch 3(a), SRCV IV 14927, F, well centered, highlighting earthen deposits, edge a little ragged, weight 1.040 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 0o, 6th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 312 A.D.; obverse GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Tyche of Antioch seated facing on rocks, turreted and veiled, stalks of grain in rights, river-god Orontes swimming below; reverse APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo standing left, pouring libations from patera in right hand, kithara (lyre) in left hand, ς right, SMA in exergue;
Maximinus II Daia, May 310 - 30 April 313 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria, Civic Christian Persecution Issue
In 311, after the death of Galerius in late April or May, representatives from Nicomedia presented themselves before Maximinus, bringing images of their gods and requested that Christians not be allowed to live in their city. Late in 311, an embassy from Antioch, led by their curator Theotecnus, also requested permission to banish Christians from their city and its territory. Other cities followed with the same request. Maximinus support for Antioch's requests is advertised by this coin type. Fearing his co-emperors, however, Maximinus changed his mind. His edict in May 313 restored privileges and property to Christians. Later in 313, Licinius captured Antioch and executed Theotecnus.RT114690. Billon quarter follis, McAlee 170(a), Van Heesch 3(a), Vagi 2954, SRCV IV 14927, VF, highlighting earthen deposits, weight 1.174 g, maximum diameter 15.3 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 312 A.D.; obverse GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Tyche of Antioch seated facing on rocks, turreted and veiled, stalks of grain in right; upper body of river-god Orontes below, standing facing in waist deep water, arms outstretched; reverse APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo standing left, patera in right hand, kithara (lyre) in left hand, A right, SMA in exergue;
Nabataean Kingdom, Aretas IV, 9 B.C. - 40 A.D.
Aretas IV Philopatris was the greatest Nabataean king, ruling S. Palestine, most of Trans-Jordan, N. Arabia, and Damascus. During his reign, large religious centers - also serving as banks and trade clearinghouses - were established on the Hauran, in Petra, and at Avdat. Aretas was married to Huldu when he became king. Her profile was featured on coins until 16 A.D. After a short gap, the face of his second wife, Shuqailat, appeared on the coins. Aretas's daughter married Herod Antipas, tetrarch of the Galilee. When Antipas took another wife, Herodias, Aretas's daughter returned to her father, who went to war against Antipas and defeated him. The episode led to the beheading of John the Baptist. Antipas appealed to Tiberius, who dispatched the governor of Syria to attack Aretas. Paul mentions Aretas in connection with his visit to Damascus when he had to to be lowered from the wall in a basket to escape. Al-Khazneh, the treasury, one of the most elaborate buildings in Petra, is believed to have been Aretas' mausoleum.GB115065. Bronze AE 13, Al-Qatanani 149; Barkay CN 150i; Meshorer Nabataean 73A; Huth 78; BMC Arabia p. 10, 34; Schmitt-Korte II 44; Lindgren 2522, aF, off center on a small irregularly shaped flan, grainy and porous, weight 1.368 g, maximum diameter 12.6 mm, die axis 0o, Petra (Jordan) mint, 8/7 B.C. - 15/16 A.D.; obverse laureate head of Aretas right; reverse two crossed and filleted cornucopias, Nabataean letter O (ayin) between the horns, Nabataean H (het) lower left and right; from the estate of Curtis D. Barker, ex Littleton Coin Company;
Nabataean Kingdom, Aretas IV, 9 B.C. - 40 A.D.
Some writers maintain that the horn of plenty should be written, in the singular, cornucopiæ, and in the plural, cornuacopiæ. U.S. English dictionaries, however, typically spell the singular, cornucopia and the plural cornucopias.GB94739. Bronze AE 14, cf. Barkay CN 151b, Al-Qatanani 153t2, Meshorer Nabataean 76, Huth -, SNG ANS 6 -, BMC Arabia -, F, black patina, highlighting earthen deposits, tight flan squared by sprue cuts, weight 1.391 g, maximum diameter 13.7 mm, die axis 0o, Petra (Jordan) mint, 4 - 3 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Aretas with long hair right, Nabataean het (Aretas) right; reverse two crossed and filleted cornucopias, caduceus or scepter in center H (het) on shaft above cross, O (ayin) on shaft below; from the Ray Nouri Collection; $5.00 (€4.70)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Bostra, Provincial Arabia
The camel was the sacred animal and symbol of Dusares, the main Nabataean god. Camels were sacrificed to him. The Romans made the camel their symbol of Arabia.SH90321. Silver drachm, Sydenham Caesarea 204; Kindler Bostra pl. VI, 10 ff. var.; BMC Galatia p. 54, 65 var. (Caesarea, Cappadocia); SNG ANS 1159 var. (all var. bust), gVF, superb heroic portrait, weight 3.409 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, die axis 180o, Bostra (Bosra, Syria) mint, 112 - 117 A.D.; obverse AVTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANΩ APICTΩ CEB ΓEPM ΔAK, laureate, bare-chest bust right, with slight drapery on far shoulder; reverse ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠA TO Σ (holder of Tribunitian power, consul for the 6th time), Bactrian camel, with two humps, walking left on exergual line; ex Frascatius Ancient Coins, extremely rare with this bust; SOLD
Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Laodicea ad Mare, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Laodikea ad Mar (Latakia, Syria) has been inhabited since the second millennium B.C. It was on the Via Maris, a coastal road that ran south from Antioch to Damascus and Beirut. The city was renamed by Seleucus I Nicator in honor of his mother, Laodice and was a major port for the Seleukid Kingdom. Laodikea flourished under Rome and was second only to Antioch in the region. Herod the Great, king of Judaea, furnished Laodikea with an aqueduct, the remains of which stand to the east of the town. The Legio VI Ferrata was probably based in Laodicea.SH71299. Bronze AE 26, cf. RPC Online 8590; SNG Cop 349, BMC Galatia 66, SNG Munchen 912, SNG Hunterian II 3202 (all with date in right field, vice end of legend), Choice aEF, weight 9.345 g, maximum diameter 26.2 mm, die axis 0o, Laodicea ad Mare (Latakia, Syria) mint, 140 - 141 A.D.; obverse AYTO KAI TI ANTI AΔPI ANTΩNEINO, laureate and draped bust left, seen from behind; reverse IOYΛIEN TΩN KAI ΛAOΔIKEΩN HΠP, turreted and draped bust of Tyche left; ΦO before neck; SOLD
Uranius Antoninus, Usurper in Syria, 253 - 254 A.D.
A great rarity in superb condition!
Dikaiosyne is the Greek personification of justice and fair dealing. One of the most common reverse types of Alexandria, she always holds scales and cornucopia.RY28906. Silver tetradrachm, Baldus 28, Prieur 1077, EF, sharp except uneven strike with some weak areas, weight 7.925 g, maximum diameter 28.1 mm, die axis 0o, Emesa (Homs, Syria) mint, early 254 A.D.; obverse AVTOK COVΛ CEOVHPOC ANTΩNINOC CE, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC YΠ B (holder of Tribunitian power, consul for the second time), Aequitas (Dikaiosyne (Aequitas)) standing left, scales in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, S - C across fields; very rare; SOLD
Lucilla, Augusta c. 164 - 182 A.D., Wife of Lucius Verus, Nysa-Scythopolis, Decapolis
RY11676. Bronze AE 26, RPC Online IV.3 T6473 (5 spec.), Spijkerman 15 (4 spec.), BMC Galatia -, SGICV -, SNG ANS -, Lindgren -, SNG Cop -, VF, weight 11.89 g, maximum diameter 25.9 mm, die axis 0o, Nysa-Scythopolis (Beth-Shean, Israel) mint, 163 - 169/176 A.D.; obverse ΛOYKIΛΛA AYΓOYCTA, draped bust right, hair waived and knotted in chignon low at back; reverse NVC•T•CK• - •T•EΛEV•T•Π, Tyche standing right, foot on half-figure of swimming river god, scepter in right hand, scepter in left hand, Θ - ΛC (year 239) across fields; very rare; SOLD
Herennia Etruscilla, Augusta July 249 - April/August 253(?) A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Antioch was called "the cradle of Christianity" as a result of its longevity and the pivotal role that it played in the emergence of both Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity. The name "Christian" first emerged in Antioch. It was one of the four cities of the Syrian Tetrapolis, and its residents were known as Antiochenes. It was a metropolis of half a million people during Augustan times, but it declined to relative insignificance during the Middle Ages because of warfare, repeated earthquakes, and a change in trade routes, which no longer passed through Antioch from the far east following the Mongol conquests.RY06962. Billon tetradrachm, cf. McAlee 1168, Prieur 616, SNG Cop -, BMC Galatia -, aEF, well centered, flat areas on eagle, weight 10.760 g, maximum diameter 26.6 mm, die axis 180o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 249 - 251 A.D.; obverse EPENNIA ETOPOVCKIΛΛA CEB, draped bust right, crescent behind shoulders, wearing stephane, hair in horizontal ridges, plait looped up the back of her head; reverse ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC (holder of Tribunitian power), eagle standing facing on palm frond, head left, wings open, wreath in beak, S C (senatus consulto) in exergue; scarce; SOLD
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