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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Thrace & Moesia| ▸ |Serdica||View Options:  |  |  |   

Serdica, Thrace

Serdica was originally a Thracian settlement, probably named after the Celtic Serdi tribe. For a short time in the 4th century B.C., the city was possessed by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great. Around 29 B.C., Sofia was conquered by the Romans and renamed Ulpia Serdica. It became a municipium (the center of an administrative region) during the reign of Trajan. The city expanded, as turrets, protective walls, public baths, administrative and cult buildings, a civic basilica and a large amphitheater were built. When Diocletian divided the province of Dacia into Dacia Ripensis (on the banks of the Danube) and Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica became the capital of Dacia Mediterranea. The city expanded for the next century and a half, which caused Constantine the Great to call it "my Rome." Serdica was destroyed by the Huns in 447, but was rebuilt by Justinian and surrounded with great fortress walls whose remnants can still be seen today. Although often destroyed by the Slavs, the town remained under Byzantine dominion until 809. Serdica is today Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Roman| |Thrace| |&| |Black| |Sea|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |27|
Triptolemus was a demigod of the Eleusinian mysteries who presided over the sowing of grain-seed and the milling of wheat. His name means He who Pounds the Husks. In myth, Triptolemos was one of the Eleusinian princes who kindly received Demeter when she came mourning the loss of her daughter Persephone. The young goddess was eventually returned to her from the Underworld. Demeter, in her munificence, instructed Triptolemos in the art of agriculture and gave him a winged chariot drawn by serpents so that he might travel the world spreading her gift.
RP55003. Bronze AE 27, H-J Serdica 12.18.23.2 (R7), Varbanov III 2469, Mionnet I 371, F, weight 15.711 g, maximum diameter 27.4 mm, die axis 0o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, obverse AYT K M AYΠ CEY ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse OYΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Triptolemos nude except for billowing mantle, right hand raised, driving biga of winged serpents right; rare; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Roman| |Thrace| |&| |Black| |Sea|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |29|
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She was believed to lead soldiers into battle as the war goddess Athena Promachos. The Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis was dedicated to her, along with numerous other temples and monuments across Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. Her usual attribute is the owl and Nike is her frequent companion.
RP65167. Bronze AE 29, apparently unpublished and no examples found online; H-J Serdica -, Ruzicka Serdica -, Varbanov III -, Moushmov -, SNG Cop -, BMC Thrace -, VF, extremely rare and possibly unique, weight 15.248 g, maximum diameter 29.3 mm, die axis 45o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 198 - 217 A.D.; obverse AVT K M AVP CEVH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate head right; reverse OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKH,C (final C in exergue), Athena seated left, patera extended in right, long scepter in left hand, shield at side leaning against seat; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Serdica|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |30|
Serdica today is Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
RP68286. Bronze AE 30, H-J Serdica 12.18.38.-, Varbanov III 2477 (R4), Ruzicka Serdica 325, BMC Thrace -, SNG Cop -, SNG Milan -, aVF, weight 15.478 g, maximum diameter 29.6 mm, die axis 225o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 211 - 217 A.D.; obverse AYT K M AYP CEYH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate head right; reverse OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Tyche-Fortuna standing facing, head left, kalathos on head, rudder on globe held by tiller in right, cornucopia in left; SOLD


Septimius Severus, 9 April 193 - 4 February 211 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Septimius| |Severus|, |Septimius| |Severus,| |9| |April| |193| |-| |4| |February| |211| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |31|
RP34835. Bronze AE 31, Varbanov III 1948 (R6), F, weight 14.962 g, maximum diameter 30.9 mm, die axis 180o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, obverse AV K Λ CEΠ CEVHPOC Π, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse HΓ M CTA BAPBAPOY CEPΔΩN, Zeus standing left holding patera and scepter, eagle at feet; rare; SOLD


Gallienus, August 253 - September 268 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Gallienus|, |Gallienus,| |August| |253| |-| |September| |268| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |27|
Almost every ancient coin can inspire questions from a curious mind. The Greek reverse legend on this coin reads, OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC. CEPΔIKHC is Serdica, but what and why is OVΛΠIAC? After his victories over the Dacians, Trajan enhanced the status of a number of provincial towns in Moesia Inferior and Thrace, including Serdica, along with Pautalia, Nicoplis ad Mestum, Marcianopolis, and a few others. These towns were authorized to mint coins and given the additional name Ulpia, after Trajan's father.
RP38136. Billon AE 27, Varbanov III 2638, F, weight 10.196 g, maximum diameter 26.5 mm, die axis 0o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 260 - 268 A.D.; obverse AYT K ΓAΛΛIHNOC, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIK,HC (last two letters in lower right field), Nike advancing right holding wreath and palm; rare; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Serdica|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |18|
This is the first example of the type handled by Forum. H-J Serdica and Varbanov both share the same plate coin. Perhaps this type is rarer than the references estimate. This is the finest example of the only three specimens known to Forum.
RP90349. Bronze AE 18, H-J Serdica 12.18.48.1 (R3), Varbanov III 2454 (R5), Moushmov 4854, BMC Thrace -, SNG Cop -, SNG Hunterian -, Lindgren -, VF, green patina, obverse off-center cutting off right side of legend, light corrosion, weight 3.420 g, maximum diameter 18.4 mm, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 28 Jan 198 - 8 Apr 217 A.D.; obverse AVK M ANTΩNINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, eight point star, pellet off each point; scarce; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Roman| |Thrace| |&| |Black| |Sea|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |19|
Serdica is today Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
RP62288. Bronze AE 19, H-J Serdica 12.18.53.4 (R2), Varbanov III 2108 var. (obv. legend), VF, weight 4.401 g, maximum diameter 18.6 mm, die axis 180o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 198 - 217 A.D.; obverse AY K M ANTΩN or similar, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse CEPΔΩN, Lion walking right; scarce; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Roman| |Thrace| |&| |Black| |Sea|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |19|
Serdica prospered under Rome. Turrets, protective walls, public baths, administrative and cult buildings, a civic basilica and a large amphitheater were built. When Diocletian divided Dacia into Dacia Ripensis (on the banks of the Danube) and Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica became the capital of Dacia Mediterranea. The city was destroyed by the Huns in 447, but was rebuilt by Justinian and surrounded with great fortress walls whose remnants can still be seen today. Although also often destroyed by the Slavs, the town remained under Byzantine dominion until 809. Serdica is today Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
RP63223. Bronze AE 19, H-J Serdica 12.18.10.13 corr. (obv leg, R3), Varbanov II 2298 corr. (same), Moushmov 4914, F, green patina, scratches, weight 3.872 g, maximum diameter 18.9 mm, die axis 180o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, obverse AV K M A ANTΩNI (AV ligate), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse XEPΔΩN, Hermes standing left, nude but for drapery over left arm, purse in right, caduceus in left; rare; SOLD


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Serdica|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |29|
This obverse die was normally paired with a very similar type with Mars in nearly an identical pose. References list this Athena reverse only with obverse dies with CEVH in the legend and none with this laureate and cuirassed only bust. We have seen other examples of this die pair online described as the Mars type, but this appears to be Athena. The drapery and pose are feminine. Mars stands more aggressively with his feet further apart. Athena's drapery does not, however, match the other coins from her issue. This coin was likely struck during the Mars type issue and the reverse may be an engraver's erroneous rendering of Mars.
RP69761. Bronze AE 29, H-J Serdica 12.18.11.2 (R4) var. (this obv die, Mars reverse), H-J Serdica 12.18.4.- (R5) var. (...CEVH..., also draped), F, weight 16.128 g, maximum diameter 28.6 mm, die axis 45o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 28 Jan 198 - 8 Apr 217 A.D.; obverse AVT K M AVP CEV ANTΩNEINOC, laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Athena standing sightly left, head left, wearing crested helmet, resting right hand on grounded shield, reversed spear in left; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; SOLD


Geta, 209 - c. 26 December 211 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Roman| |Thrace| |&| |Black| |Sea|, |Geta,| |209| |-| |c.| |26| |December| |211| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||AE| |19|
Serdica is today called Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
BB60602. Bronze AE 19, H-J Serdica 12.22.52.3, cf. Varbanov 2515 (basket of fruits), aVF, weight 3.876 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 180o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, obverse Λ CEΠ ΓETAC, bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CEP-ΔΩN, basket of reeds or grain; SOLD




  




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REFERENCES|

Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (London, 1992 - ).
Corpus Nummorum Thracorum - http://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/
Hristova, N. & G. Jekov. The Local Coinage of the Roman Empire - Thrace, I - III c. A.D., Serdica. (Blagoevgrad, 2007).
Lindgren, H. Ancient Greek Bronze Coins: European Mints. (San Mateo, 1989).
Lindgren, H. Lindgren III: Ancient Greek Bronze Coins. (Quarryville, 1993).
Mionnet, T.E. Description de Médailles antiques grecques et romaines. (Paris, 1807-1837).
Moushmov, N. Ancient Coins of the Balkan Peninsula. (1912).
Poole, R.S. ed. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Thrace, etc. (London, 1877).
RPC Online - http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/
Ruzicka, L. Die Münzen von Serdica, Numismatische Zeitschrift Bd. VIII. (Vienna, 1915).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol. 1: Europe. (London, 1978).
Sear, D. Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values. (London, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 2: Macedonia and Thrace. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, SNG Grèce, Collection Réna H. Evelpidis, Part 1: Italie. Sicile - Thrace. (Athens, 1970).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Schweiz II. Münzen derAntike. Katalog der Sammlung Jean-Pierre Righetti im Bernischen Historischen Museum. (1993).
Varbanov, I. Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Vol. III: Thrace (Perinthus to Trajanopolis), Chersonesos Thraciae, Insula Thraciae, Macedonia. (Bourgas, 2007).

Catalog current as of Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
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