Coins and Antiquities Consignment Shop
  Welcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 or 252-497-2724 Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities Welcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Internet Challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958 Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!!

×Catalog Main Menu
Fine Coins Showcase

Antiquities Showcase
New & Reduced


Show Empty Categories
Shop Search
Shopping Cart
My FORVM
Contact Us
About Forum
Shopping at Forum
Our Guarantee
Payment Options
Shipping Options & Fees
Privacy & Security
Forum Staff
Selling Your Coins
Identifying Your Coin
FAQs
zoom.asp
   View Categories
Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |Roman Mints| ▸ |Serdica||View Options:  |  |  | 

Serdica, Dacia Mediterranea (Sophia, Bulgaria)

Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, probably named after the Celtic tribe Serdi that had populated it. Around 29 B.C., Sofia was conquered by the Romans and renamed Ulpia Serdica. When Emperor 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. Serdica was of moderate size, but magnificent as an urban concept of planning and architecture, with abundant amusements and an active social life. Dates of operation: 272 - 282, 303 - 308 and 313 - 314. Mintmarks: SD, SER, SERD, SMSD.

Galerius, 1 March 305 - 5 May 311 A.D.

|Galerius|, |Galerius,| |1| |March| |305| |-| |5| |May| |311| |A.D.||follis|
In Roman religion, every man has a genius, a presiding spirit. In De Die Natali, Censorinus says, from the moment we are born, we live under the guard and tutelage of Genius. Cities, organizations, and peoples also had a genius. On coins, we find inscriptions to the Genius of the Army, of the Senate, of the Emperor, etc. The legend GENIO POPVLI ROMANI dedicates this coin to the Genius of the Roman People. Genius' image is of a man with a cloak half covering the shoulders leaving the rest of his body naked, holding a cornucopia in one hand, and a simpulum or a patera in the other.
RT112738. Billon follis, RIC VI Serdica p. 499, 35; SRCV IV 14506, Cohen VII 40, Hunter V p. 62, 8 var. (3rd officina), Choice VF, well centered, green patina, light porosity, weight 5.735 g, maximum diameter 26.5 mm, die axis 180o, 2nd officina, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, late 307 - 308 A.D.; obverse GAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right; reverse GENIO AVGVSTI (to the guardian spirit of the Emperor), Genius standing half left, kalathos on head, nude but for chlamys over left shoulder, pouring offering from patera in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, star lower left, B right, •SM•SD• in exergue; $110.00 (€103.40)
 


Probus, Summer 276 - September 282 A.D.

|Probus|, |Probus,| |Summer| |276| |-| |September| |282| |A.D.||antoninianus|
Probus started as a simple soldier but advanced to general and was declared emperor after the death of Tacitus. Florian's murder left him as undisputed ruler. His leadership brought peace and prosperity but he was murdered by mutinous soldiers, enraged at being employed on public building projects.
RA111887. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 862, Cohen VI 655, SRCV III -, Hunter IV 303 var. (2nd officina), VF, much silvering remaining, weight 3.013 g, maximum diameter 23.8 mm, die axis 0o, 3rd officina, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 277 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate bust left in consular robe, eagle-tipped scepter in right; reverse SOLI INVICTO (to the invincible sun god), Sol in a spread quadriga facing, radiate, cloak billowing out behind, raising right hand commanding sunrise, whip in left hand, KA•Δ• in exergue; $90.00 (€84.60)
 


Caracalla, 198 - 217 A.D., Serdica, Thrace

|Serdica|, |Caracalla,| |198| |-| |217| |A.D.,| |Serdica,| |Thrace||tetrassarion|
Ex Kölner Münzkabinett, Auction 112 (19 October 2019), lot 123; ex Roma Numismatics, E-sale 80 (04 Feb 2022), lot 804.

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.
RP110638. Bronze tetrassarion, H-J Serdica 12.18.32.13, cf. Ruzicka Serdica 281 (obv. leg., etc.), Varbanov III 2434 (same), VF/aVF, superb portrait, dark brown patina, near centered, central dimples, weight 17.519 g, maximum diameter 30.1 mm, die axis 45o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, obverse AYT K M AYP CEY ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust to right; reverse OYΛΠIAC CEP,ΔIKHC (ending in exergue), river-god reclining to left, head facing, right hand on knee, left arm resting on inverted vase from which water flows; ex Roma Numismatics e-sale 80 (04 Feb 2022), lot 804; ex Kölner Münzkabinett auction 112 (19 Oct 2019), lot 123; very 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| |31|
Hermes was the messenger of the gods and the god of commerce and thieves. He was the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. His symbols include the caduceus and winged sandals.
RP39115. Bronze AE 31, H-J Serdica 12.18.10. 3 (R4), Varbanov III 2368-9 var. (bust type), aVF, good centering, weight 17.196 g, maximum diameter 30.7 mm, die axis 0o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 198 - 217 A.D.; obverse AVT K M AVPH CEVH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Hermes standing half-left, purse in right, caduceus in left; 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|
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.
RP91960. Bronze AE 29, Unpublished obverse legend variety; H-J Serdica 12.18.46.2 (R6) var., Ruzicka Serdica 365 var., Varbanov III 2464 (R5) var. (all ...AVP SEVH...), F, porous, edge crack, central depressions, weight 14.918 g, maximum diameter 29.0 mm, die axis 0o, Serdica mint, obverse AVT K M AVPH CEVH ANTΩEINOC, laureate bearded head right; reverse OVΛΠIAC CEP-ΔI-KHC (the last three letters in exergue), tetrastyle temple of Asklepios, statue of Asklepios standing in center holding snake entwined staff, coiled snake in pediment; rare; SOLD


Florianus, June or July - August or September 276 A.D.

|Florianus|, |Florianus,| |June| |or| |July| |-| |August| |or| |September| |276| |A.D.||antoninianus|
RIC V-1 only lists officinae A and B without KA. Rare and superb
SH80379. Silvered antoninianus, MER-RIC T4518 (8 spec.), BnF XII 1974, Venèra 2932, RIC V-1 112 var. (4th officina not listed), superb EF, very sharp, extraordinary coin!, weight 3.632 g, maximum diameter 21.9 mm, die axis 180o, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 2nd issue, Aug 276 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right; reverse PROVIDEN DEOR (the foresight of the gods), Providentia holding two standards standing left, Sol raising hand and holding globe in the right, star in between, Δ in exergue; very rare; SOLD


Tacitus, 25 September 275 - June 276 A.D.

|Tacitus|, |Tacitus,| |25| |September| |275| |-| |June| |276| |A.D.||aurelianus|
Although Ares was viewed by the Greeks primarily as destructive and destabilizing, worthy of contempt and revulsion, for the Romans, Mars represented military power as a way to secure peace, and was a father (pater) of the Roman people. In early Rome, he was second in importance only to Jupiter, and the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army.
RL98426. Silvered aurelianus, MER-RIC T3879 (1 spec., this coin); BnF XII p. 404 & pl. 95, 452 (also this coin); RIC V-1 -; Cohen VI -; Hunter IV -, Choice EF, well centered, near full silvering, toned, weight 3.49 g, maximum diameter 22.7 mm, die axis 0o, 2nd officina, Serdica (Sophia, Bulgaria) mint, 1st issue, Nov - Dec 275 A.D.; obverse M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CLEMENTIA TEMP (time of peace and calm), Mars standing left, wearing crested helmet and military garb, branch in extended right hand, vertical spear point up resting in crook of left arm, resting left hand on grounded oval shield behind, S in exergue; this coin is the only known specimen and plate coin for MER-RIC and BnF XII, otherwise unpublished in print or online; ex G.J.R. Ankoné collection; of greatest rarity; SOLD







CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE FROM THIS CATEGORY - FORVM's PRIOR SALES


REFERENCES|

Gautier, G. "Le monnayage d'argent de Serdica après la réforme de Dioclétien" in RN XXXIII (1991).
Gysen, P. "Nouvelles données concernant l'atelier de Serdica sous le règne de Probus" in RBN CXLVI (2000).
Zanchi, P. "Quelques nouveaux antoniniens de Serdica" in SM 120 (November 1980).

Catalog current as of Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Page created in 1.296 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity