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98Trajan 98-117 AD
AE 24mm
Antioch in Syria
Radiate draped bust right
SC within wreath, X below
Butcher 227mauseus
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UNITED STATES TOKENS, Hard Times. Belleville, New Jersey. “T. Duseaman, butcher”
CU Token (28mm, 10.84 g, 1h)
Belleville (New Jersey) mint. Struck 1837
AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE/ * BAS CANADA *
Bouquet
T. DUSEAMAN BUTCHER/ * BELLEVILLE *
Eagle standing left, with wings spread and head left, holding shield emblazoned with anchor; thirteens stars around
Rulau HT 204; Low 148; Corteau 71; Charlton LC-45; Breton 670
T. Duseaman never existed. This type was struck from a rejected die for the token of one Tobias Seaman, a butcher in Belleville. Mint workers added a U to the name and combined it with a damaged die from the Lower Canada series to produce this currency issue. Breton notes that the type is most often found in Canada, suggesting that it was deliberately produced at minimal cost for sale to Canadian brokers. Ardatirion
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UNITED STATES, Trade Tokens. Belleville, New Jersey. Tobias D. Seaman, butcher
CU Token. Belleville (New Jersey) mint. Dies by Gibbs. Struck 1837.
T. D. SEAMAN BUTCHER./ * BELLEVILLE *. Bouquet.
* A FRIEND */ TO THE CONSTITUTION, Bull standing right; c/m: minute D above.
Rulau HT 204B; Low 155
Ex Don Miller Collection; William Dunham Collection (B. Max Mehl, 3 August 1941), lot 2713
Tobias Seaman was apparently not primarily engaged as a butcher, finding more success as a hotelier. He was the proprietor of Mansion House in Belleville and, later, of the Mechanic's Hotel in Newark circa 1845-1851, and the South Ward Hotel thereafter. For a brief time he was also the owner of a stage line to New York and, "a horseman of great noteriety."(W. Shaw, History of Essex and Hudson Counties, New Jersey. New York, 1884. p. 890-a)Ardatirion
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(0138) ANTONINUS PIUS138 - 161 AD
AE 24 mm, 9.50 g
O ΑΥΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΤΙΤ ΑΙΛ Α∆ΡΙ − ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC CΕΒ (or similar), laureate bust right;
R: ΘΕΑCCΥΡΙ / ΑC ΙΕΡΟΠΟ (or similar) /A or D, all within laurel wreath
Hieropolis, Cyrrhestica, Syria
cf. BMC Syria p. 141, 19; RPC online 6976; SNG Hunterian II 2674; Butcher 17; SNG Cop 53 var. laney
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(0218) ELAGABALUS218-222 AD
AE 33 mm 21.73 g
O: AVT K M AV ··· ANTΩNEI[NOC CE] Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder
R: ANTIOXEΩN M ΚΟΛ ΔΕ SC Tyche of Antioch seated left on rock outcropping holding grain ears; below, river-god Orontes swimming left, head right; above, ram with head right springing left; D-E above S-C
SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem
Butcher 474a; SNG Copenhagen 251laney
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(0218) ELAGABALUSAE 25.5 mm; 11.79 g
O: laureate, draped bust right
R:Tyche of Antioch seated left on rocks, holding corn-ears and resting arm on rock, ; river-god swimming left below. In fields; D-E over S-C
Syria, Antioch; cf BMC Galatia etc. pg. 206, 459; L&K 2008; Weber 7969 ID from aeqvitas.com, Butcher 476laney
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(0218) ELAGABALUS218-222
Æ 25mm., 11.74g.
O: AVT K M AV ANTWNINOC Laureate head r. , with slight drapery.
R: ANTIOXЄΩNM()KO Tyche seated l. on rocks, holding grain ears; below, river god Orontes swimming l.;
Δ-Є and S-C across field
Syria, Antioch; cf Butcher 476
laney
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015a14. TrajanAE28. Beroea, Syria. 24.5mm, 10.56 g. Obv: AYTOKΡ KAIC NEΡ TΡAIANOC AΡICT CEB ΓEΡM ΔAK ΠAΡΘ, laureate head right. Rev: BEΡOI-AIωN H in three lines within wreath. BMC 10; Butcher 10; Hunter 5; RPC III 3432.lawrence c
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018a09. Antoninus PiusAE 19mm, 3.63 g. Antioch, Syria. Rev: AVT KAI T AIΛ AΔΡI ANTΩNEINOC CEBEVC, Laureate head left.
Rev: SC within wreath, eagle below. McAlee 561(g); Butcher 314; Paris 502.lawrence c
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018a10. Antoninus PiusAE 24. 22mm, 9.53 g. Hieropolis, Syria. Obv: AYTO KAI TI AIΛ AΔΡI ANTΩNEINOC CEB.., laureate head right.
Rev: ΘEAC CYΡI-AC IEΡOΠO and ς ("6") in three lines within wreath. BMC 22; Paris 1679; Butcher 19.lawrence c
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035p Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.), Syria, Hieropolis, BMC 19, AE-22, ΘEAC CYR/IAC IEROΠO and Δ in three lines within wreath,035p Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.), Syria, Hieropolis, BMC 19, AE-22, ΘEAC CYR/IAC IEROΠO and Δ in three lines within wreath,
avers:- AYTO KAI TIT AIΛ AΔRI ANTωNEINOC CEB, Laureate head right.
revers:- ΘEAC CYR/IAC IEROΠO and Δ in three lines within wreath.
exe: -/-//Δ, diameter: 22mm, weight: 9,52g, axis: 0h,
mint: Syria, Hieropolis, date: 138-161 A.D., ref: BMC 19, Paris F986, Butcher 17,
Q-001quadrans
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037a09. Philip I The ArabAE 28 of Samosata, Syria. 27.6mm, 15.36 g. Obv: AYTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: CAMOCATEΩN, Tyche seated left on rocks, holding grain-ears; Pegasus flying left below. BMC 59 (under Philip II in error); Butcher 33a.lawrence c
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041b02. VolusianAE 30mm of Antioch, Syria. Obv: AVTOK K Γ AΦIN ΓAΛ OVENΔ OVOΛOCCIANOC CEB, radiate and draped bust right. Rev: ANTIOXEΩN MHTΡO KOΛΩN Δ-e, SC below, Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple, the river-god Orontes swimming beneath her, ram leaping right above. BMC 665, Butcher 504clawrence c
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044 - Hadrian Denarius - RIC II.3 2959Obv:- IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO OPT AVG GER DAC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from front
Rev:- PARTHIC DIVI TRAIAN AVG F P M TR P COS P P, Trajan and Hadrian standing vis-à-vis, clasping right hands and each holding a volumen in left; ADOPTIO in exergue.
References:- RIC II.3 2959; RPC p. 449; RSC 4d; McAlee p. 217; Butcher p. 97, fig. 30, 13 (same dies?); RIC II –; BMCRE 1021
First eastern issue of Hadrian from Antioch (or Tyre?) mint. Struck August–December AD 117maridvnvm
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1794 AE Halfpenny Token. Coventry, Warwickshire.Obverse: PRO BONO PUBLICO. Lady Godiva riding side-saddle on horse to left; in exergue, 1794.
Reverse: COVENTRY HALFPENNY. Representation of Coventry's old town cross with COV CROSS in small letters at base.
Edge: PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF ROBERT REYNOLDS & CO.
Diameter 29.5mm | Axis 12
Dalton & Hamer: 249
RARE
This token was manufactured by William Lutwyche and the dies were engraved by William Mainwaring.
It was issued by Robert Reynolds & Co., who were ribbon weavers with a business in Coventry.
The original Coventry Cross stood at the place where Broadgate met Cross Cheaping, near Spicer Stoke, a very short row which led through from Broadgate to Butcher Row and Trinity church. Though it is likely that a cross had been standing in this place since the 13th century, the first actual record for the building of a cross was on 1st July 1423 when the Mayor, Henry Peyto, officially sanctioned that a new cross should be built. Although it was quite a substantial structure, within a century it was rather the worse for wear, and by 1506 discussions had begun about replacing it.
In 1541, the former mayor of London, Sir William Hollis, left £200 in his will toward the building of a new cross, and by 1544 the 57 foot high cross was completed. As well as being brightly painted, the cross was also covered with much gold and it was renowned for its fame and beauty. It was built in four sections, with statues in the top three storeys: the lower of these holding statues of Henry VI, King John, Edward I, Henry II, Richard I and Henry. Above these were Edward III, Henry II, Richard III, St Michael and St George. The top storey held statues of St Peter, St James, St Christopher and two monks, with representations of Liberty and Justice at the highest point. In 1608 repairs were carried out to the cross during which the figure of Christ was replaced with one of Lady Godiva. Possibly the obverse of this token is based on this statue since there is no record of there being any other Lady Godiva memorial statues before 1949.
After standing gloriously for two centuries, decay once more set into the cross and, in 1753 and 1755, the top two stages were removed to avoid the danger of collapse. By 1771 the cross was declared to be in too ruinous a state to retain, and it's demolition was authorised. The remains stood for a short while longer though, at least until after 1778 when a visitor to Coventry wrote that the decayed cross "...has no longer anything to please".
This token is dated 1794, but must depict the cross as it was in it's heyday before it was totally demolished and it's parts reused. Two of the statues from the cross now reside at St. Mary's Guildhall.
A modern replica of the cross was unveiled in 1976, it is situated about 100 metres away from the site of the original one.*Alex
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244Philip I 244-9 AD
AE 18mm
Zeugma
Obv Laureate bust right
Rev Tetrastyle temple on top of rocky hill, buildings at base and colonnades or steps up the sides
Butcher CRS 33a, BMC 47 (Philip II in error)
mauseus
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244Philip I 244-9 AD
AE 30mm
Zeugma
Obv Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right viewed from the rear, weak countermark of eagle standing right in oval applied to obverse
Rev Tetrastyle temple on top of rocky hill, buildings at base and colonnades or steps up the sides, Capricorn right below
Butcher CRS 31a, BMC 29, countermark GIC 340
mauseus
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247Philip II 247-9 AD
AE 30mm
Zeugma
Obv Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right viewed from the front
Rev Tetrastyle temple on top of rocky hill, buildings at base and colonnades or steps up the sides, Capricorn right below
Butcher CRS –
Not recorded with this bust type.
The coins of Zeugma would seem to be struck at the same location as those of Antioch, Cyrrhus, Hierapolis, Philippopolis and Samosata. It is likely that an obverse die duplicate may exist among the coinages of those cities
mauseus
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3416 COMMAGENE, Samosata. Hadrian 131-32 AD Reference.
RPC III, 3416; Butcher 11 (a); BMC - ; SNG Copenhagen -
Issue ΕΤ ΝΘ = year 59
Obv.
Two crossed cornucopias.
Rev. in field C - A / Θ -N . (CY 59) or Θ -Λ CY 39??
Two ears of corn
2.00 gr
13 mm
12hokidoki
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3435 SYRIA, Beroea Hadrian, laurel branch in laurel-wreathReference.
RPC III, 3435; Lindgren A1911B; Paris; Butcher pl 25, 12.; Paris 1605-1606
Obv. ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙ
Laureate head of Hadrian, right
Rev. Β-Ε
Laurel branch, all within laurel-wreath
2.15 gr
15 mm
12hokidoki
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3470 SYRIA, Chalcis ad Belum Hadrian, Laurel wreath ΔReference.
RPC III, 3470; CRS 437/15; Butcher Pl. 25, Chalcis 15a; Paris 1762/1763
Issue Δ
Obv. ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΑΙΑ-ΝΟС ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС
Laureate head of Hadrian, r., with drapery on far shoulder
Rev. ΦΛ ΧΑΛ/ΚΙΔΕωΝ / Δ
laurel-wreath
10.99 gr
23 mm
12hokidoki
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3472 SYRIA, Chalcis ad Belum Hadrian laurel wreath K EReference.
RPC III, 3472; Butcher 16; SNG Milan 6; SNG Hunterian 2712; BMC Galatia -; SNG München -; SNG Cop -; Lindgren
Issue K E
Obv. ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΑΙΑ-ΝΟС ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС
Laureate head of Hadrian, r., with drapery on far shoulder
Rev. ΦΛ ΧΑΛ/ΚΙΔΕωΝ / Κ-Ε
All within laurel-wreath
14.70 gr
22 mm
12hokidoki
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3473 SYRIA, Chalcis ad Belum Hadrian, laurel wreath K EReference.
RPC III, 3473/5; Butcher 16; SNG Milan 6; SNG Hunterian 2712 var (drapery only on far shoulder); BMC Galatia -; SNG München -; SNG Cop -; Lindgren
Issue K E
Obv. ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΑΙΑ-ΝΟС ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС
Laureate and cuirassed bust of Hadrian, right.
Rev. ΦΛ ΧΑΛ/ΚΙΔΕωΝ (FL CAL/KIDEWN) / KE in three lines (KE indicating year 25 of the era of Chalkis)
All within laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, closed at the top with a pellet.
14.192 gr
22.3 mm
45o
Note from FORVM
Trajan's last coinage struck at Chalcis ad Belum used the same reverse, also dated KE. The era of the city of Chalkis began in Autumn 92 A.D. Year 25 of the local era was Autumn 116 - Autumn 117 A.D. This reverse was used for Hadrian's coinage only for the short time after the mint learned he was the new emperor until the local New Year's day (29 August?). When the New Year began the date was changed to B referring to Hadrian's second regnal year (a new regnal year began on New Year's day, not the one year anniversary of rule).
Ex FORVM
from Butte College Foundation
ex Lindgrenokidoki
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3707 SYRIA Antioch. Hadrian. Chalkous Γ below.Reference.
RPC III, 3707/5; McAlee 543(c); Butcher 240
Obv. no legend
Laureate and cuirassed bust of Hadrian, r., with paludamentum, seen from front or rear
Rev. S • C
In laurel wreath beneath Γ
1.03 gr
10 mm
hokidoki
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3709 SYRIA Antioch. Hadrian. Chalkous Ɛ belowReference.
RPC III, 3709; McAlee 543(e); Butcher CRS 244.E
Obv. no legend
Laureate and cuirassed bust of Hadrian, r., with paludamentum
Rev. S • C
In laurel wreath. Ɛ
1.17 gr
10 mm
h
okidoki
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3740 SYRIA, Antioch. Pseudo-autonomous. under Hadrian. 128-29 AD Boule seatedReference.
RPC III, 3740; McAlee 126(c) (rare, same dies); Butcher 270; BMC Galatia 117; SNG Cop 117,
Obv. ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ ΤΗС ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕωС
Laureate head of Zeus, right
Rev. ΕΤ ΖΟΡ
Boule of Antioch seated, l., dropping pebble into voting urn; Γ (in field, r.)
4.18 gr
18 mm
12h
Note.
In the cities of ancient Greece, a bouleutai was a member of the boule, a council of citizens appointed to run daily affairs of the city. Originally a council of nobles advising a king, boulai evolved according to the constitution of the city; in oligarchies boule positions might be hereditary, while in democracies members were typically chosen by lot and served for one year.okidoki
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707a, Galba, 3 April 68 - 15 January 69 A.D.Galba AE As, 68-69 AD; cf. SRC 727, 729ff; 27.85mm, 12g; Rome: Obverse: GALBA IMP CAESAR…, Laureate head right; Reverse: S P Q R OB CIV SER in oak wreath; gF+/F Ex. Ancient Imports.
De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families
Galba (68-69 A.D.)
John Donahue
College of William and Mary
Introduction
The evidence for the principate of Galba is unsatisfactory. The sources either concentrate on the personality of the man, thereby failing to offer a balanced account of his policies and a firm chronological base for his actions; or, they focus on the final two weeks of his life at the expense of the earlier part of his reign. As a result, a detailed account of his principate is difficult to write. Even so, Galba is noteworthy because he was neither related to nor adopted by his predecessor Nero. Thus, his accession marked the end of the nearly century-long control of the Principate by the Julio-Claudians. Additionally, Galba's declaration as emperor by his troops abroad set a precedent for the further political upheavals of 68-69. Although these events worked to Galba's favor initially, they soon came back to haunt him, ending his tumultuous rule after only seven months.
Early Life and Rise to Power
Born 24 December 3 BC in Tarracina, a town on the Appian Way, 65 miles south of Rome, Servius Galba was the son of C. Sulpicius Galba and Mummia Achaica. Galba's connection with the noble house of the Servii gave him great prestige and assured his acceptance among the highest levels of Julio-Claudian society. Adopted in his youth by Livia, the mother of the emperor Tiberius, he is said to have owed much of his early advancement to her. Upon her death, Livia made Galba her chief legatee, bequeathing him some 50 million sesterces. Tiberius, Livia's heir, reduced the amount, however, and then never paid it. Galba's marriage proved to be a further source of disappointment, as he outlived both his wife Lepida and their two sons. Nothing else is known of Galba's immediate family, other than that he remained a widower for the rest of his life.
Although the details of Galba's early political career are incomplete, the surviving record is one of an ambitious Roman making his way in the Emperor's service. Suetonius records that as praetor Galba put on a new kind of exhibition for the people - elephants walking on a rope. Later, he served as governor of the province of Aquitania, followed by a six-month term as consul at the beginning of 33. Ironically, as consul he was succeeded by Salvius Otho, whose own son would succeed Galba as emperor. Over the years three more governorships followed - Upper Germany (date unknown), North Africa (45) and Hispania Tarraconensis, the largest of Spain's three provinces (61). He was selected as a proconsul of Africa by the emperor Claudius himself instead of by the usual method of drawing lots. During his two-year tenure in the province he successfully restored internal order and quelled a revolt by the barbarians. As an imperial legate he was a governor in Spain for eight years under Nero, even though he was already in his early sixties when he assumed his duties. The appointment showed that Galba was still considered efficient and loyal. In all of these posts Galba generally displayed an enthusiasm for old-fashioned disciplina, a trait consistent with the traditional characterization of the man as a hard-bitten aristocrat of the old Republican type. Such service did not go unnoticed, as he was honored with triumphal insignia and three priesthoods during his career.
On the basis of his ancestry, family tradition and service to the state Galba was the most distinguished Roman alive (with the exception of the houses of the Julii and Claudii) at the time of Nero's demise in 68. The complex chain of events that would lead him to the Principate later that year began in March with the rebellion of Gaius Iulius Vindex, the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis. Vindex had begun to sound out provincial governors about support for a rebellion perhaps in late 67 or early 68. Galba did not respond but, because of his displeasure with Neronian misgovernment, neither did he inform the emperor of these treasonous solicitations. This, of course, left him dangerously exposed; moreover, he was already aware that Nero, anxious to remove anyone of distinguished birth and noble achievements, had ordered his death. Given these circumstances, Galba likely felt that he had no choice but to rebel.
In April, 68, while still in Spain, Galba "went public," positioning himself as a vir militaris, a military representative of the senate and people of Rome. For the moment, he refused the title of Emperor, but it is clear that the Principate was his goal. To this end, he organized a concilium of advisors in order to make it known that any decisions were not made by him alone but only after consultation with a group. The arrangement was meant to recall the Augustan Age relationship between the emperor and senate in Rome. Even more revealing of his imperial ambitions were legends like LIBERTAS RESTITUTA (Liberty Restored), ROM RENASC (Rome Reborn) and SALUS GENERIS HUMANI (Salvation of Mankind), preserved on his coinage from the period. Such evidence has brought into question the traditional assessment of Galba as nothing more than an ineffectual representative of a bygone antiquus rigor in favor of a more balanced portrait of a traditional constitutionalist eager to publicize the virtues of an Augustan-style Principate.
Events now began to move quickly. In May, 68 Lucius Clodius Macer, legate of the III legio Augusta in Africa, revolted from Nero and cut off the grain supply to Rome. Choosing not to recognize Galba, he called himself propraetor, issued his own coinage, and raised a new legion, the I Macriana liberatrix. Galba later had him executed. At the same time, 68, Lucius Verginius Rufus, legionary commander in Upper Germany, led a combined force of soldiers from Upper and Lower Germany in defeating Vindex at Vesontio in Gallia Lugdunensis. Verginius refused to accept a call to the emperorship by his own troops and by those from the Danube, however, thereby creating at Rome an opportunity for Galba's agents to win over Gaius Nymphidius Sabinus, the corrupt praetorian prefect since 65. Sabinus was able to turn the imperial guard against Nero on the promise that they would be rewarded financially by Galba upon his arrival. That was the end for Nero. Deposed by the senate and abandoned by his supporters, he committed suicide in June. At this point, encouraged to march on Rome by the praetorians and especially by Sabinus, who had his own designs on the throne, Galba hurriedly established broad-based political and financial support and assembled his own legion (subsequently known as the legio VII Gemina). As he departed from Spain, he abandoned the title of governor in favor of "Caesar," apparently in an attempt to lay claim to the entire inheritance of the Julio-Claudian house. Even so, he continued to proceed cautiously, and did not actually adopt the name of Caesar (and with it the emperorship) until sometime after he had left Spain.
The Principate of Galba
Meanwhile, Rome was anything but serene. An unusual force of soldiers, many of whom had been mustered by Nero to crush the attempt of Vindex, remained idle and restless. In addition, there was the matter concerning Nymphidius Sabinus. Intent on being the power behind the throne, Nymphidius had orchestrated a demand from the praetorians that Galba appoint him sole praetorian prefect for life. The senate capitulated to his pretensions and he began to have designs on the throne himself. In an attempt to rattle Galba, Nymphidius then sent messages of alarm to the emperor telling of unrest in both the city and abroad. When Galba ignored these reports, Nymphidius decided to launch a coup by presenting himself to the praetorians. The plan misfired, and the praetorians killed him when he appeared at their camp. Upon learning of the incident, Galba ordered the executions of Nymphidius' followers. To make matters worse, Galba's arrival was preceded by a confrontation with a boisterous band of soldiers who had been formed into a legion by Nero and were now demanding legionary standards and regular quarters. When they persisted, Galba's forces attacked, with the result that many of them were killed.
Thus it was amid carnage and fear that Galba arrived at the capital in October, 68, accompanied by Otho, the governor of Lusitania, who had joined the cause. Once Galba was within Rome, miscalculations and missteps seemed to multiply. First, he relied upon the advice of a corrupt circle of advisors, most notably: Titus Vinius, a general from Spain; Cornelius Laco, praetorian prefect; and his own freedman, Icelus. Second, he zealously attempted to recover some of Nero's more excessive expenditures by seizing the property of many citizens, a measure that seems to have gone too far and to have caused real hardship and resentment. Third, he created further ill-will by disbanding the imperial corps of German bodyguards, effectively abolishing a tradition that originated with Marius and had been endorsed by Augustus. Finally, he seriously alienated the military by refusing cash rewards for both the praetorians and for the soldiers in Upper Germany who had fought against Vindex.
This last act proved to be the beginning of the end for Galba. On 1 January 69 ("The Year of the Four Emperors"), the troops in Upper Germany refused to declare allegiance to him and instead followed the men stationed in Lower Germany in proclaiming their commander, Aulus Vitellius, as the new ruler. In response, Galba adopted Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus to show that he was still in charge and that his successor would not be chosen for him. Piso, although an aristocrat, was a man completely without administrative or military experience. The choice meant little to the remote armies, the praetorians or the senate, and it especially angered Otho, who had hoped to succeed Galba. Otho quickly organized a conspiracy among the praetorians with the now-familiar promise of a material reward, and on 15 January 69 they declared him emperor and publicly killed Galba; Piso, dragged from hiding in the temple of Vesta, was also butchered.
Assessment
In sum, Galba had displayed talent and ambition during his lengthy career. He enjoyed distinguished ancestry, moved easily among the Julio-Claudian emperors (with the exception of Nero towards the end of his principate), and had been awarded the highest military and religious honors of ancient Rome. His qualifications for the principate cannot be questioned. Even so, history has been unkind to him. Tacitus characterized Galba as "weak and old," a man "equal to the imperial office, if he had never held it." Modern historians of the Roman world have been no less critical. To be sure, Galba's greatest mistake lay in his general handling of the military. His treatment of the army in Upper Germany was heedless, his policy towards the praetorians short sighted. Given the climate in 68-69, Galba was unrealistic in expecting disciplina without paying the promised rewards. He was also guilty of relying on poor advisors, who shielded him from reality and ultimately allowed Otho's conspiracy to succeed. Additionally, the excessive power of his henchmen brought the regime into disfavor and made Galba himself the principal target of the hatred that his aides had incited. Finally, the appointment of Piso, a young man in no way equal to the challenges placed before him, further underscored the emperor's isolation and lack of judgment. In the end, the instability of the post-Julio-Claudian political landscape offered challenges more formidable than a tired, septuagenarian aristocrat could hope to overcome. Ironically, his regime proved no more successful than the Neronian government he was so eager to replace. Another year of bloodshed would be necessary before the Principate could once again stand firm.
Copyright (C) 1999, John Donahue.
Published: De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families http://www.roman-emperors.org/startup.htm. Used by permission.
Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.
Cleisthenes
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708a, OthoOtho (69 A.D.)
John Donahue
College of William and Mary
Introduction
In January 69 Otho led a successful coup to overthrow the emperor Galba. Upon advancing to the throne, he hoped to conciliate his adversaries and restore political stability to the Empire. These ambitions were never to be realized. Instead, our sources portray a leader never fully able to win political confidence at Rome or to overcome military anarchy abroad. As a result, he was defeated in battle by the forces of Vitellius, his successor, and took his own life at the conclusion of the conflict. His principate lasted only eight weeks.
Early Life and Career
Marcus Salvius Otho was born at Ferentium on 28 April 32 A. D. His grandfather, also named Marcus Salvius Otho, was a senator who did not advance beyond the rank of praetor. Lucius Otho, his father, was consul in 33 and a trusted administrator under the emperors Tiberius, Gaius and Claudius. His mother, Albia Terentia, was likely to have been nobly born as well. The cognomen "Otho" was Etruscan in origin, and the fact that it can be traced to three successive generations of this family perhaps reflects a desire to maintain a part of the Etruscan tradition that formed the family's background.
Otho is recorded as being extravagant and wild as a youth - a favorite pastime involved roving about at night to snare drunkards in a blanket. Such behavior earned floggings from his father, whose frequent absences from home on imperial business suggest little in the way of a stabilizing parental influence in Otho's formative years. These traits apparently persisted: Suetonius records that Otho and Nero became close friends because of the similarity of their characters; and Plutarch relates that the young man was so extravagant that he sometimes chided Nero about his meanness, and even outdid the emperor in reckless spending.
Most intriguing in this context is Otho's involvement with Nero's mistress, Poppaea Sabina, the greatest beauty of her day. A relationship between the two is widely cited in the ancient sources, but the story differs in essential details from one account to the next. As a result, it is impossible to establish who seduced whom, whether Otho ever married Poppaea, and whether his posting to Lusitania by Nero should be understood as a "banishment" for his part in this affair. About the only reliable detail to emerge is that Otho did indeed become governor of Lusitania in 59, and that he assumed the post as a quaestor, a rank below that of praetor or consul, the minimum usually required for the office. From here he would launch his initial thrust towards the imperial throne.
Overthrow of Galba
Nero's suicide in June 68 marked the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and opened up the principate to the prerogatives of the military beyond Rome. First to emerge was Servius Sulpicius Galba, governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, who had been encouraged to revolt by the praetorians and especially by Nymphidius Sabinus, the corrupt and scheming praetorian prefect at Rome. By this time Otho had been in Spain for close to ten years. His record seems to have been a good one, marked by capable administration and an unwillingness to enrich himself at the expense of the province. At the same time, perhaps seeing this as his best chance to improve his own circumstances, he supported the insurrection as vigorously as possible, even sending Galba all of his gold and his best table servants. At the same time, he made it a point to win the favor of every soldier he came in contact with, most notably the members of the praetorian guard who had come to Spain to accompany Galba to Rome. Galba set out from Spain in July, formally assuming the emperorship shortly thereafter. Otho accompanied him on the journey.
Galba had been in Rome little more than two months when on 1 January 69 the troops in Upper Germany refused to declare allegiance to him and instead followed the men stationed in Lower Germany in proclaiming their commander, Aulus Vitellius, as the new ruler. To show that he was still in charge Galba adopted his own successor, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus, an aristocrat completely without administrative or military experience. The choice meant little to the remote armies, the praetorians or the senate and particularly angered Otho, who had hoped to succeed Galba. Otho quickly organized a conspiracy among the praetorians with promise of a material reward, and on 15 January 69 they declared him emperor and publicly killed Galba; Piso, dragged from hiding in the temple of Vesta, was also butchered. On that same evening a powerless senate awarded Otho the imperial titles.
Otho's Principate in Rome
It is not possible to reconstruct a detailed chronology of Otho's brief eight and a half weeks as princeps in Rome (15 January-15 March). Even so, Galba's quick demise had surely impressed upon Otho the need to conciliate various groups. As a result, he continued his indulgence of the praetorian guard but he also tried to win over the senate by following a strict constitutionalist line and by generally keeping the designations for the consulship made by Nero and Galba. In the provinces, despite limited evidence, there are some indications that he tried to compensate for Galba's stinginess by being more generous with grants of citizenship. In short, Otho was eager not to offend anyone.
Problems remained, however. The praetorians had to be continually placated and they were always suspicious of the senate. On the other hand, the senate itself, along with the people, remained deeply disturbed at the manner of Otho's coming to power and his willingness to be associated with Nero. These suspicions and fears were most evident in the praetorian outbreak at Rome. Briefly, Otho had decided to move from Ostia to Rome a cohort of Roman citizens in order to replace some of Rome's garrison, much of which was to be utilized for the showdown with Vitellius. He ordered that weapons be moved from the praetorian camp in Rome by ship to Ostia at night so that the garrison replacements would be properly armed and made to look as soldierly as possible when they marched into the city. Thinking that a senatorial counter-coup against Otho was underway, the praetorians stormed the imperial palace to confirm the emperor's safety, with the result that they terrified Otho and his senatorial dinner guests. Although the praetorians' fears were eventually calmed and they were given a substantial cash payment, the incident dramatically underscored the unease at Rome in the early months of 69.
Otho's Offensive against Vitellius
Meanwhile, in the Rhineland, preparations for a march on Rome by the military legions that had declared for Vitellius were far advanced. Hampered by poor intelligence gathering in Gaul and Germany and having failed to negotiate a settlement with Vitellius in early 69, Otho finally summoned to Italy his forces for a counterattack against the invading Vitellian army. His support consisted of the four legions of Pannonia and Dalmatia, the three legions of Moesia and his own imperial retinue of about 9,000. Vitellius' own troops numbered some 30,000, while those of his two marshals, Aulus Caecina Alienus and Fabius Valens, were between 15,000 and 20,000 each.
Otho's strategy was to make a quick diversionary strike in order to allow time for his own forces to assemble in Italy before engaging the enemy. The strategy worked, as the diversionary army, comprised of urban cohorts, praetorians and marines all from Rome or nearby, was successful in Narbonese Gaul in latter March. An advance guard sent to hold the line on the Po River until the Danubian legions arrived also enjoyed initial success. Otho himself arrived at Bedriacum in northern Italy about 10 April for a strategy session with his commanders. The main concern was that the Vitellians were building a bridge across the Po in order to drive southward towards the Apennines and eventually to Rome. Otho decided to counter by ordering a substantial part of his main force to advance from Bedriacum and establish a new base close enough to the new Vitellian bridge to interrupt its completion. While en route, the Othonian forces, strung out along the via Postumia amid baggage and supply trains, were attacked by Caecina and Valens near Cremona on 14 April. The clash, know as the Battle of Bedriacum, resulted in the defeat of the Othonian forces, their retreat cut off by the river behind them. Otho himself, meanwhile, was not present, but had gone to Brixellum with a considerable force of infantry and cavalry in order to impede any Vitellian units that had managed to cross the Po.
The plan had backfired. Otho's strategy of obtaining victory while avoiding any major battles had proven too risky. Realizing perhaps that a new round of fighting would have involved not only a significant re-grouping of his existing troops but also a potentially bloody civil war at Rome, if Vitellius' troops reached the capital, Otho decided that enough blood had been shed. Two weeks shy of his thirty-seventh birthday, on 16 April 69, he took his own life.
Assessment
To be sure, Otho remains an enigma - part profligate Neronian wastrel and part conscientious military commander willing to give his life for the good of the state. Our sources are at a loss to explain the paradox. Perhaps, like Petronius, he saw it was safer to appear a profligate in Nero's court? In the final analysis, Otho proved to be an organized and efficient military commander, who appealed more to the soldier than to the civilian. He also seems to have been a capable governor, with administrative talents that recalled those of his father. Nevertheless, his violent overthrow of Galba, the lingering doubts that it raised about his character, and his unsuccessful offensive against Vitellius are all vivid reminders of the turbulence that plagued the Roman world between the reigns of Nero and Vespasian. Regrettably, the scenario would play itself out one more time before peace and stability returned to the empire.
Copyright (C) 1999, John Donahue
Edited by J.P.Fitzgerald, Jr.
Cleisthenes
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Antioch ad Orontem 128 - 129 A.D.Civic dichalkon, Antioch ad Orontem, Syria, Ae 15.6~15.9mm. 3.31g. Dated Year 177 Caesarean era. (AD 128-129). Obv: ANTIOXEWN MHTPOΠOΛE, laureate head of Apollo left. Rev: ETOYC ZOP A, six string lyre, star above. Butcher 274; McAlee 128 (a).ddwau
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Antioch ad Orontes, Semi-AutonomousAE23, 10.77g, 12h, Denomination A; Antioch: after 47 BC
Obv.: Laureate head of Zeus right; countermark of Cleopatra VII.
Rev.: [A]NTIOΣEΩN [ME]TPOΠOΛ[EΩΣ]; Zeus seated left, holding Nike and scepter, thunderbolt above.
Reference: Butcher 20, SNG Cop 80
Notes: The attribution of the countermark to Cleopatra is conjectural, but seems to jibe with the historical and numismatic evidence. John Anthony
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Antioch in Syria, era of Hadrian, ca. 117 - 138 AD. AE 11 - 14mmAntioch in Syria, era of Hadrian, ca. 117 - 138 AD.
bronze uncia (1/4 obol)
Obv. no legend, laureate head right, border of dots;
Rev. large S C in wreath, Greek letter below, all within border of dots
Ref. , Butcher 239a - 248; Vagi 1379, RIC II 629bLee S
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ANTIOCH ON THE ORONTES ANTIOCH ON THE ORONTES - AE-22. 11.98 g. Denomination A. Year 9 (41-40 B.C.) Obv.: Laureate head of Zeus right. Rev.: ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ / ΤΗΣ / ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩΣ / ΚΑΙΑΥΤΟΝΟΜΟΥ Zeus seated left, holding Nike and scepter. Thunderbolt above. Symbols to left: Star over cap. Caesarean era date in exergue: Θ. Reference: Butcher: CRS 20; SNG COP 80.dpaul7
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Antioch, S C in wreath. AE25Marcus Aurelius, Antioch, S C in wreath. AE25, 9.58g. obv: AYRHLIOC KAIC CEBA EY CEYIOCYPATOC; laureate and draped bust left. rev: S C in laurel wreath, Δ below. Butcher 295. Ex areich, photo credit areichPodiceps
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Antioch, Syia, Municipal Coinage c.48-41BCAntioch, Syria. Municipal Coinage. AE22-23,weight 10.94 g. ca 48-41 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ to left and right of Zeus seated left, holding Nike and sceptre in left, thunderbolt above, date mark on thunderbolt in exergue. Hoover 1367; Butcher 14-17; McAlee 45-51.ddwau
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ANTIOCHA AD ORONTEM - SYRIA"Star of Bethlehem" bronze of Antioch
Anonymous Issue under Nero, AE Small Denomination, 56/57 (Caesarean Year 105), Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem ANTIOXEWN - Veiled, turreted head of Tyche right, countermark of star (of Bethlehem?) in left field - EPIKOUADRATOU Ram leaping right, looking back, star and crescent above
ET EP in exergue 16mm. Butcher Antioch 121; SNG Copenhagen 101
Michael Molnar, an astronomer, believes this coin depicts Jupiter's occultation of Aries in 6 B.C., the most probable "Star of Bethlehem."
dpaul7
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Antoninus Pius ZeugmaAntoninus Pius, 138 - 161 AD
AE Diassarion, Commagene, Zeugma Mint, 23mm, 10.26 grams
Obverse: Laureate head of Antoninus right.
Reverse: Tetrastyle temple on hill with structures at base and up either side and a path going up, A in right field.
RPC Online 5752
Butcher 12.Ancient Aussie
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Antoninus Pius, AE 22 of Hieropolis, Syria.Antoninus Pius, AE 22of Hieropolis, Syria
Obverse: AYTO KAI TIT AIΛ AΔΡI ANTΩNEINOC CEB, laureate draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: ΘEAC CYΡI-AC IEΡOΠO and B in three lines within wreath.
BMC 13; Paris 1670 ; Butcher 15.
21.9 mm., 9.0 gNORMAN K
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C. Hosidius C. f. Geta - AR denariusRome
²65 BC / ¹68 BC
diademed and draped bust of Diana, bow and quiver over shoulder
III VIR / GETA
attacked boar right, spear in shoulder, hound below
C HOSIDI C F
¹Crawford 407/2; Sydenham 903; Kestner 3317; BMCRR I Rome 3389; RSC I Hosidia 1, SRCV I 346
²Mark Passehl - Roman moneyer & coin type chronology, 150 – 50 BC
3,6g 16mm
ex Marc Walter
"Oineus, king of Kalydon in Aitolia, once had feasted the gods at an harvest festival but forgotten to butcher an animal for Artemis. The goddess was enraged and sent a big boar who wasted the fertile fields of the king. Oineus called for help and from all parts of Greece the heroes came to help him. There were the Curetes from Pleuron, the brothers of Althaia, the wife of Oineus. There were the Dioscurs Kastor and Polydeikes and their Messenian cousins Idas and Lynkeus. Theseus came from Athens, Iphikles, half-brother of Herakles, came from Thebens, Iason, Admetos, Peirithos, Peleus and Eurytion came from Thessalia, Telamon from Salamis, Amphiaraos from Argos, Ankaios and Atalante from Arcadia and much more. Herakles was prevented by his labours. On top of the heroes stood Meleagros, the son of Oineus and Althaia.
The hunt for the Calydonean boar ended very disastrous. Many heroes lost their lifes. Ankaios was the first killed by the boar. Peleus accidentally hit his father-in-law Eurytion with his spear. A second hunter too was killed by the boar.
The big catastrophe happened at the 6th day of the hunt. On this day Atalanta hit the boar with her arrow and Meleagros gave him the deathblow. Then he awarded head and skin of the boar to Atalante. But his uncles, brother of his mother Althaia, didn't tolerate that. They insisted on the rights of their clan. A dispute occured, they snatched the trophies from Atalante and then a fight began in which Meleagros slew his uncles. When Meleagros was born the fates predicted that he will live only as long as the log in the oven. Althaia pulled it out of the fire and hid it in a secret place. When she heard of the death of her brothers she enraged, got the log and threw it in the fire. When it was burnt Meleagros break down dead when he was dissecting the boar." - Jochen's Coins of mythological interestJ. B.
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CaracallaAE 21, Caracalla, Antioch, ca. AD 198-217, Obv: Caracalla right, AYT KAI MAP AY ANTWNEINOC CEB; Rev: SC with eagle below, all within wreath, gF. Butcher, 456.Molinari
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COMMAGENE , Zeugma. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161.Obv. AYTO KAI TIAN ADPIAN.., laureate head left.
Rev. Portico of two stories, behind which a peribolos containing grove enclosed by colonnades and tetrastyle temple; uncertain control numeral; all within wreath.
References: Butcher 14-21; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 6 var. (bust).
VF, brown patina. 24mm, 10.58 grams, Uncleaned with earth deposits.
Canaan
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Cr 433/2 AR Denarius M. Junius BrutusAR Denarius 54 bce Rome 4.09 gm 17.5 mm
o: BRVTVS, downwards behind head of L. Iunius Brutus r, border of dots
r: AHALA, downwards behind head of C. Servilius Ahala r, border of dots
Junia 30; Servilia 17; Sydenham 932
This type has always puzzled me. It clearly depicts the two anti-tyrants in the Junia family tree, L. Junius Brutus and C. Servilius Ahala. (Crawford uses the phrase "tyrannicides", but Brutus did not kill Tarquin and Ahala seems to have sucker-stabbed Maelius in anger.) Young Brutus, or whatever his name was when he was a moneyer, clearly chose to put them on his coins at the time when Pompey's prominence in the state was at its peak; Caesar was in Gaul or Britain, and could not help him. This decision as to coinage, therefore, seems to me extremely unhealthy. Roughly the same number of dies have been identified for both of Brutus's moneyer issues, so it is unlikely that this type is an indiscretion that was quickly withdrawn. So, was Brutus being played or deployed by Pompey against Caesar? Pompey was ostentatiously NOT claiming the dictatorship, so why "warn" him, especially when a "warning" from a 30-ish year old aspiring politician who maybe had held a staff officer's post would not likely impress Pompey, "the teenage butcher"? Worth, I think, exploring a bit.PMah
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Cyrrhestica. Cyrrhus. Philip I the Arab(244-249). AE28, 15.66 gr.
Obv. - ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev. - ΔΙΟC ΚΑΤ ΕΒ ΑΤΟΥ, hexastyle temple within which is a seated statue of Zeus Kataibates facing,
holding thunderbolt and sceptre, with eagle at his feet; bull(?) leaping right above temple, ΚΥΡΗCΤΩΝ in exergue.
BMC 30; Butcher 21a var; RPC VIII unassigned ID 7881.
(ex.Savoca auc.140, lot 847.) maxthrax
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cyrrhus001Elagabalus
Cyrrhus, Northern Seleucis
Obv: [AVT KA] M AVP ANTΩ[NЄINOC CЄB], laureate draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev: ΔΙΟC ΚATЄ-ΒΑΤ-ΟV →ΚΥΡΗCΤΩΝ, hexastyle temple within which seated statue of Zeus Kataibates left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; eagle at his feet, bull running left above temple .
26 mm, 14.71 gms
Butcher 20 (page 444); Roma Numismatics Limited, E-Live Auction 2, Lot 463.Charles M
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Domitian Struck by Vespasian AntiochDomitian, AE Semis, Issued under Vespasian, Syria, Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem 74 - 81 AD, Butcher 165 c.i.,
OBV: DOMITIAN-VS CAESAR, Laureate head left
REV: SC, Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves terminating in pellet
SRukke
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E. Cut in Modernity: Titus AR Denarius "Quartered for Science," ex Muona, Short Colls.Photo sources (edited): CNG (after) [LINK] & Archaeology Data Service UK (before) [LINK]
Roman Imperial. Titus AR Denarius (Sectioned, 17mm 2.65g, 6h). Rome, 80 CE.
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M. Laureate head right.
Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P. Curule chair.
Ref: RIC 108.
Published: Ponting & Butcher (2005), “Analysis of Roman Silver Coins…” (Archaeology Data Service, UK) coin No. M40 [LINK]; Butcher & Ponting (2014/2015), Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage… (Cambridge U. Press): pp. 139, 140 (Fig. 6.11 "Coin M40: Dendritic Structure"), 145 351, 356 (measured at 79% AR) [Preview on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Metallurgy_of_Roman_Silver_Coinage/aBVoBgAAQBAJ].
Prov: Ex Jyrki Muona Collection; Orfew / Andrew Short Collection; HJB BBS 212 (9 Sep 2020), Lot 511 (part); Marc Breitspecher (VCoins, May 2021); CNG Triton XXV – 6 (online, 11 Jan 2022), Lot 6953 (part).
Notes: See also my similarly sectioned Otho Denarius that was part of the same study (in another album): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=174650. Jyrki Muona (jmuona here) donated several dozen coins from his collection to a metallurgical analysis of Roman silver coins, published by Kevin Butcher and Matthew Ponting.
All of the coins were drilled for core samples, which allowed for much more accurate measurements of the silver content than the surface XRF studies that had come before. The results dramatically altered our understanding of the composition of silver coins, the history of debasement in the 1st century, the processes of surface enrichment, and the methods for their study. A number of the coins were additionally sectioned for "microscopy imaging." Photographs were shown of this coin ("M40") and the Otho denarius ("M16") to illustrate the microscopic features (e.g., "dendritic structures") of variability in metallic composition between surface and core.Curtis JJ
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EB0562 Severus Alexander / Atergatis on lionSeverus Alexander, AE 26 of Hieropolis, Syria.
Obverse: [AYT] K MAR AYR CE [ALEXANDROC], laureate head right.
Reverse: [QEAC] CYRIAC [IEROPOL]ITWN, Atergatis riding on lion walking left, holding long sceptre in right hand and tympanum in left.
References: Butcher 60.
Diameter: 26.5mm, Weight: 13.513 grams
EB
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EB0710 Hadrian / WreathHadrian 117-138, Antioch ad Orontem, Syria, AE 27.
Obverse: [ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙС Θ ΤΡ Π ΥΙ Θ ΝΕΡ ΥΙω ΤΡ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СΕΒΑС?], Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; Countermark: laurel-branch with four leaves in rectangular punch.
Reverse: Large SC within laurel wreath; ΓΔ below.
References: Cf. RPC III, 3694; BMC Galatia 298,299, p186; McAlee 536(b). For ΓΔ meaning, see NUMERICAL LETTERS ON SYRIAN COINS by Kevin Butcher; For counterstamp see ANS Museum notes 22, pl.8 #9.
Diameter: 27.5mm, Weight: 14.595g.EB
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ElagabalusAE 14, Elagabalus, Antioch, ca. AD 218-222. Obv: Elagabalus right; Rev: Delta Epsilon with star below, all within wreath, dark brown patina with red earthen highlights, some roughness, VF. Not in Lindgren I or III; Not in Sear, Not in Butcher. Lichocka Figure 3, Table VII, 56 (this coin illustrated).
Published in: Lichocka, Barbara, "Delta-Epsilon issues of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander," in Classica Orientalia: Essays Presented to Wiktor Andrzej Daszewski on his 75th Birthday (Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw), pg. 310, Fig. 3, Table VII, 56.Molinari
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Elagabalus, AD 218-222Æ20, 4.02g, 12h; Antioch.
Obv.: AVT K MAP AV ANTWININOC; Laureate head right.
Rev.: SC within wreath, delta-epsilon above, eagle below.
Reference: BMC 430v; Butcher 468 / 17-67-25John Anthony
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FH-G-037Syria, Antioch ad Orntem; Silanus Antioch; AD 12-13; bronze AE20
- Laureate head of Zeus right, round dot border.
- ANTIOXEΩN EΠI ΣIΛANOY
- ANTIOCEWN EPI SILANOU (“reign of Silanus Antioch”)
-Ram leaping right, looking back at star above; ΓM below
6.38gm / 20.67mm / Axis: 0
References:
Butcher 57
BMC Galatia 63
MacDonald, NC 1904, pp 113-117
Notes: Dec 11, 15 - Coin is pitted all over though full legend is legible. This is one of the well researched and reported Star of Bethlehem Commemorative coins. - Star of Bethlehem Coins – A Set of Serial Commemoratives By: T. B. Cartwright may be found here: http://www.beastcoins.com/Collections/Star-Of-Bethlehem/Star-Of-Bethlehem.htm
Jonathan P
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FH-G-038Syria, Antioch ad Orntem; Silanus Antioch; AD 13-14; bronze AE20
- Laureate head of Zeus right, round dot border.
- ANTIOXEΩN EΠI ΣIΛANOY
- ANTIOCEWN EPI SILANOU (“reign of Silanus Antioch”)
-Ram leaping right, looking back at star above; ΓM below
6.35gm / 20.12mm / Axis: 0
References:
Butcher 58
BMC Galatia 65
MacDonald, NC 1904, pp 113-117
Notes: Dec 11, 15 - Coin will improve much with proper cleaning. This is one of the well researched and reported Star of Bethlehem Commemorative coins. - Star of Bethlehem Coins – A Set of Serial Commemoratives By: T. B. Cartwright may be found here: http://www.beastcoins.com/Collections/Star-Of-Bethlehem/Star-Of-Bethlehem.htmJonathan P
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Geta Drachm from PetraSYRIA, Decapolis. Petra. Geta, as Caesar. AR Drachm (3.23 gm). P CEPT GE - TA CEB, laureate head right / DHMAPET VPAG, Tyche, turreted, standing left, holding baetyl and trophy. Butcher, "Two Notes on Syrian Silver of the Third Century AD," in NumChron 1989, -. In his study, Butcher was able to locate on seven specimens of this issue, six for Caracalla and one for Julia Domna.
Very rare
gb29400
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Imitating Trajan RIC 116Denarius, 103-111
Obv: IMP TPAIAN AVG GIR IAC P M TP P (rather than IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P)
Laur. r., dr. l. s.
Rev: COS V P P S P O R OPTI PR (instead of COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC)
Roma seated l., holding Victory and spear.
Interesting butchered legend.
3.30g, 18mm klausklage
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L. CensorinusL Censorinus Denarius. 82 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / L CENSOR, the satyr, Marsyas, standing left with wineskin over shoulder; behind him, column surmounted by draped figure (Minerva?). Syd 737, Cr363/1d.
In 82 B.C.
"Sulla defeats Samnite allies of Rome in the Battle of the Colline Gate, and takes control of Rome.
Gaius Marius the Younger is besieged at the fortress city of Praeneste in Latium. After a fierce resistance, Marius committs suicide.
Gnaeus Pompeius is ordered by Sulla to stamp out democratic rebels in Sicily and Africa, while the young Gaius Julius Caesar is acting as a subordinate of Sulla in the east.
After his campaigns in Sicily and Africa, Pompeius gets the insulting nickname of adulescentulus carnifex, the "teenage butcher".
Randygeki(h2)
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Macrinus - AntiochAE 19
217-218 AD
laureate head right
AVT K M O CE MAKPINOC CE
within wreath: Δ / S·C / E
McAlee 732(c); BMC Galatia p. 198, 386; Waage 566; Butcher 463; SGICV 2949; SNG Cop -
5,15g 19mmJ. B.
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MallusXXXXAs (?), a unique coin from Cilicia, Mallus. The flan is bevelled - not known from Mallus otherwise - suggesting Antiochian influence. Similar to Antiochus IV group 2 & 3 coins (sensu Butcher), which also have bevelled flans and resemble coins of Galba and Otho from Antioch. The general of the Eastern army, Vespasianus and the Syrian legate Mucianus swore allience with Otho at the time. This was done for tactical reasons most likely. 8.51 gr, max 25 mm, die-axis 12.
The coin is published in Tuukka Talvio´s Festschrift and a pdf of the article will be soon available as a Forum resource.
Another coin minted with same dies has appeared. Salem Alshdaifat has interpreted the legends partly differently, as they are less legible in that specimen. However, he has come to the same general conclusion about the attribution of the coin independently.jmuona
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Marc Aurel, Antioch, S C in wreath, AE25AE25, 9.58g
obv: AYRHLIOC KAIC CEBA EY CEYIOCYPATOC; laureate and draped bust left
rev: S C in laurel wreath, Δ below
Butcher 295areich
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Marinus/Diadumenian. Antiochia ad OrontemSyria, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia ad Orontem. Macrinus. A.D. 217-218. AE 20 (20.3 mm, 5.73 g, 6 h). AVT K M O CE MAKPINOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right, seen from behind / KAI M Ο ΔΙΑ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC C / S-C, bare-headed and cuirassed bust of Diadumenian right, seen from front. McAlee 742; Butcher 466. VF, black patina with red highlights. ecoli
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Mysia. PergamonSear 3971 var. (size); SNG France 1856-58 (Pergamon); SNG BN 1855; Butcher 12i
AE 17, struck 2nd to 1st centuries B.C., 17.51 mm. max, 4.14 g, 0°
Obv.: Bust of Asklepios right.
Rev.: Snake coiled around upright staff.
These anepigraphic coins were traditionally attributed to Pergamum. However, Kevin Butcher recently concluded that they are tesserae of either Antiochene or of north Syrian origin issued for use at the temple of Asklepios constructed on the slope of Mt. Silpius during the reign of Domitian (81-96 A.D.).Stkp
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Nerva. Eagle Tetradrachm of Antioch. Roman Empire. Nerva. 96-98 AD. AR Tetradrachm (13.99 gm, 26.6mm, 12h) of Antioch ad Orientum. 96 AD. Laureate head right, wearing aegis. ⭮AYT NEPOYAΣ KAIΣ ΣEB (Aυτοκρτορ Nεροϖασ Kαισαροσ Σεβαστοσ). / Eagle standing, facing, on thunderbolt, head right. ⟳ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY, palm to right, TA monogram to upper right. gVF. Bt. Herakles Numismatics, 2005. BMCRE p. 183 #267-8, pl. XXII #9; Butcher p. 18 #21.1; GIC 941v; McAlee 419; Prieur 149 (156 specimens); RPC III #3467; SNG Cop 7 (Syrian Cities) #182; Wruck 124.Anaximander
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Otho Denarius, Quartered for Science (Butcher & Ponting 2014), Ex-Muona Collection (M16)Temp. photo by Harlan J Berk
RIC. Otho (69 CE) AR Denarius (2.29g, 18mm, 6h, 94.4% Silver). Rome, c. 15 Jan - 8 Mar.
Obv: IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P. "Bare" head of Otho r. (wearing wig). Rev: SECVRITAS P R. Securitas standing, head l., holding wreath & scepter. Ref: RIC 8; Muona Group 1, Type 4B.
Published: Butcher & Ponting (2014: pp. 136 & 253) M16 (cross-section illustrated, metallurgy reported); Butcher, Ponting & Muona (2009: pp. 299, 300, 302, 303) Issue 1b, No. 9, M16 (same; LINK); Butcher & Ponting (2005/2015, Archaeology Data Service, UK) M16 (this coin illustrated [whole], metallurgy; SEARCH). Images: LINK.
Provenance: Ex-Jyrki Muona Collection; HJB 212 (9 Sep 2020) Lot 511 (part of, 9th coin of Otho); HJB BBS 215 (4 May 2021) Lot 153.
Notes: Jmuona, if you see this & have anything to add (e.g., when/how it entered your collection), I'd be delighted!Curtis JJ
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PHARONIC KINGS OF EGYPT, Nektanebo II, 360-343 BCAE
15 mm (4 mm thick), 4.4 gm
Obv: Ram leaping left, head reverted.
Rev: Scales of Ma'at; countermark with helmeted bust right.
Ref: Weiser 1
A few months ago a friend, upon hearing that I was collecting ancient coins, said he would like to have a coin issued by a pharaoh. Hmm. "I don't think there are any", I replied. I hadn't come across any in my whirlwind but voluminous searching, although I hadn't been searching for such a coin.
Turns out there are some. Nektanebo II, the last native pharaoh of Egypt, issued coins in bronze, gold, and perhaps silver. Prior to that, Egypt did produce some coins for the purpose of international trading-- imitations of Athens, Attica tets, for instance-- but Nektanebo appears to be the first pharaoh to issue coins for local use. Maybe.
Per auction house sales information from half a decade ago, it seems these bronzes were extremely rare. I wonder if a small horde was recently found because the prices have fallen and there are currently six specimens in retail e-stores and at least two more were auctioned off recently.
There is not universal agreement regarding the issuer, purpose, and location of circulation of these coins. Sellers tout it as the "sole pharonic issue"-- I'm sure that boosts desirability-- but it may not be accurate. Hope it is though.
CNG, in the description of this coin (one similar to mine),
Nekht-her-hebet, or Nektanebo II as he was known to the Greeks, was the nephew of Pharaoh Tachos (Djed-her). Placed in command of the Egyptian army in Syria during the Satrapal Revolt, he turned his troops against his own king and took Egypt by force. In 351-350 BC he repelled a Persian invasion but was driven from his throne in 344-343 BC by a second assault. He fled Egypt, found refuge in Ethiopia, and retained control of Upper Egypt for another few years. As the last pharaoh, Alexander sought to connect himself with Nektanebo after conquering Egypt, allowing the rumor that he was in fact his son to spread. Alexander’s connection to the pharaoh lasted, and for years the sarcophagus of Nektanebo II, now in the British Museum, was considered to be Alexander’s own.
The traditional attribution of this issue to Nektanebo, however enticing, has been increasingly contested. Finds of the coins have been consistently noted outside of Egypt. Kevin Butcher has placed the bronzes at Antioch circa 1st century BC, where the leaping ram imagery would fit well.
I wanted this coin for several reasons.
First, well… a pharaoh's coin? That's just cool.
Second, it depicts the Scales of Ma'at. Such a device was used in Jitterbug Perfume, a book by Tom Robbins, one of my favorite authors. In it, at a limbo-like way station, the newly dead have their hearts weighed against a feather. The heart must be light as a feather to move on. I was unaware until seeing this coin that the scene was taken directly from Egyptian mythology.
Third, it is for an almost-finished themed collection I've been working on.
Nektanebo II (translated from Egyptian "Nakhthorheb (meryhathor)" or "Nekht-her-hebet" or "Nekht-harhebi" ; alternate spelling Nectanebo), the last native Egyptian pharaoh, part of the 30th dynasty. His 17 year reign spanned from 360 to 343 BC.
Birth name: Nakht-hor-heb (mery-hathor) “Strong is His Lord Horus, Beloved of Hathor”
Throne name: Snedjem-ib-re Setep-en-inhur “Pleasing to the Heart of Re, Chosen of Onuris”
Additional biographic information about Nektanebo II
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/nectanebo1.htm
About Ma'at, the Scales of Ma'at, and the weighing of hearts:
http://www.egyptartsite.com/judgement.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maat
http://www.aldokkan.com/religion/hall_maat.htm
TIF
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Philip ArabAv. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛΙΠΠOC CEB
Laureate, draped cuirassed bust to right, seen from front
Rv. ΦΛ CAMOCATE WN MHTPOΠ KOM
City godess seated left on rock, turreted, veiled, holding ears of corn in right Hand and usually supporting eagle on right
wrist, Pegasus leaping left at her feet
AUB 34, BMC 44 , Butcher 31a(v2), 34mm 21,35g, -City Samosata-Priscus
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Philip ArabAv. AYTOK K M AIOY ΦIΛΙΠΠI CEB
Laureate, draped cuirassed bust to right
Rv. ΦΛA CAMOCATE WN
City godess seated left on rock, turreted, veiled, holding ears of corn in right Hand and usually supporting eagle on right
wrist, Pegasus leaping left at her feet
BMC 45(?), Butcher 31a(v1), 33mm 22,56g, -City Samosata- Priscus
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Philip Arab Av. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛΙΠΠOC CEB
Laureate, draped cuirassed bust to right, seen from front
Rv. ZEYΓMATEΩN
Tetrastyl temple containing seated statue of Zeus(?), facing, on rocky hill, buildings at base and colonnades or steps up the sides, capricorn right in exergue
BMC - , Butcher - (31a(v)), 32mm 13,92g, -City Zeugma-Priscus
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Philip ArabAv. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛΙΠΠOC CEB
Laureate, draped cuirassed bust to right, seen from front
Rv. ΔIOCKATEBATOY , in ex KYPHCTΩN
Hexastyle temple containing seated figure of Zeus Kataibates facing, eagle to left at feet.
Above temple, bull jumping right or left, head turned.
BMC - , Butcher - (21a(v)), 32mm 14,19g, -City Cyrrhus-Priscus
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Philip I, AD 244-249Æ32, 21g, 12h; Samosata, Commagene.
Obv.: AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: ΦΛ CAMOCATEWN MHTΡO KOM; Tyche seated left on rocks, with eagle perched on her arm; at feet, Pegasos left.
Reference: Butcher 31 / 17-124-35John Anthony
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Philip II, CyrrhusSYRIA, Cyrrhestica. Cyrrhus. Philip II. AD 247-249. Æ 29mm (15.88g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Zeus Kataibates seated facing below garlands, holding thunderbolt and scepter, eagle at his feet to left, within hexastyle temple with arched pediment; above, bull (Taurus) leaping right. Butcher 21 var. (bull leaping left); SNG Copenhagen 49 corr. (under Philip I, bull not described); BMC 34 corr. (bull described as ram; same rev. die [obv. not illustrated]). VF, brown patina.
Butcher notes that obverse dies of Philip for Cyrrhus are shared with Hierapolis, Zeugma, and Samosata and suggests that the coinage under his reign was struck at Antioch.
Ancient Aussie
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Philip II.Av. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛΙΠΠOC CEB
Laureate, draped cuirassed bust to right
Rv. ZEYΓMATEΩN
Tetrastyl temple containing seated statue of Zeus(?), facing, on rocky hill, buildings at base and colonnades or steps up the sides, capricorn right in exergue
BMC 35 , Butcher 31c, 33mm 16,42g, -City Zeugma-Priscus
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Philip II.Av. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛΙΠΠOC CEB
Laureate, draped cuirassed bust to right
Rv. ZEYΓMATEΩN
Tetrastyl temple containing seated statue of Zeus(?), facing, on rocky hill, buildings at base and colonnades or steps up the sides
BMC - , Butcher 32b, 28mm 8,55g, -City Zeugma-Priscus
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Philip II.Av. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛΙΠΠOC CEB
Laureate, draped cuirassed bust to right
Rv. ΔIOCKATEBATOY , in ex KYPHCTΩN
Hexastyle temple containing seated figure of Zeus Kataibates facing, eagle to left at feet.
Above temple, bull jumping right or left, head turned.
BMC - , Butcher 21c, 31,5mm 14,05g, -City Cyrrhus-Priscus
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Provincial, Antioch ad Orontes, Syria, AE29, ANTIOΞΕΩ METPO KOPΩΝAE29
Roman Provincial: Antioch ad Orontes, Syria
Severus Alexander
Caesar: 221 - 222AD
Augustus: 222 - 235AD
29.0 x 27.0mm 16.80gr 6h
O: AVT KAI MAP AV CE ALEΞANDROC; Laureate head, right.
R: ANTIOΞΕΩ METPO KOPΩΝ; Turreted, draped bust of Tyche, right.
Exergue: Δ, upper left; ε, upper right; S, lower left; C, lower right; small ram jumping over Tyche's head.
Butcher 493a
nomismaauctions
3/25/17 4/17/17Nicholas Z
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Provincial, Antioch, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria, AE20, NO LEGENDAE20
AE
Roman Provincial: Antioch, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria
Elagabalus
Augustus: 218 - 222AD
Issued: ?
20.50 x 19.00mm 3.56gr 11h
O: AYT KAI M A ANTΩNINOC; Radiate head, right; beaded border.
R: NO LEGEND; Large SC within wreath, badge at top; beaded border.
Exergue: Δ, above; eagle below.
Antioch, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria Mint
aVF
Butcher 470; BMC 430-1.
Damaris Numismatics Biweekly Auction 2, Lot 855
7/24/22 8/29/22Nicholas Z
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Provincial, Antioch, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria, AE30,ANTIOXεΩN MHTPO KOΛΩNAE30
AE
Roman Provincial: Antioch, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria
Trebonianus Gallus
Augustus: 251 - 253AD
Issued: ?
30.00mm 19.31gr 6h
O: AYTOK KΓ OYIB TPεB [ΓAΛΛOC CεB]; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
R: ANTIOXεΩN MHTPO KOΛΩN; Tyche in tetrastyle temple, river god Orontes, swimming left underneath.
Exergue: Δ, above left; ε, above right; SC, below.
Antioch, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria Mint
aVF
SNG Cop 292; SGI 4350; Butcher 507a; BMC 653 - 655.
Savoca Auctions/Claudia Savoca 135th Blue Auction, Lot 951.
6/12/22 8/12/22Nicholas Z
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Provincial, Antioch, Syria, AE23, NO LEGENDAE23
AE
Roman Provincial: Antioch, Syria
Marcus Aurelius
Caesar: 139 - 161AD
Augustus: 161 - 180AD
Issued: ?
23.00mm 10.25gr 0h
O: AYPHΛIOC KAI CEBA EY CEYIOC YPATOC; Laureate head, right; beaded border.
R: NO LEGEND; Large S/C within laurel wreath.
Exergue: H
Antioch, Syria Mint
Butcher 299.
Demos Auctions/Evren Gezen Auction 21, Lot 855.
6/25/23 8/26/23Nicholas Z
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Provincial, Hieropolis, Cyrrhestica, AE22, ΘεΑC CΥΡΙ ACIεΡΟΠΟAE22
Roman Provincial: Hieropolis, Cyrrhestica
Antoninus Pius
Caesar: 138AD
Augustus: 138 - 161AD
22.0mm 9.99gr 2h
O: [AVTO KAI TIT AIL AΔΡΙ ΑΝΤ] ωΝεΙΝΟC CεΒ; Laureate head, right.
R: ΘεΑC CΥΡΙ ACIεΡΟΠΟ; Legend broken into two lines; 'B' below, all within a laurel wreath.
Paris 1620; Hieropolis BMC 13; Butcher 15.
Kairos Numismatik Auction 5, Lot 250.
6/9/18 8/8/18Nicholas Z
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Provincial, Samosata, Commagene, AE21, ΦΛΑ CΑΜΟCΑΤεΩΝ AE21
Roman Provincial: Samosata, Commagene
Septimius Severus
Augustus: 193 - 211AD
Issued:
21.0mm 6.30gr 6h
O: Λ CεΗ CεΟΥΗΡΟC ΠεΡΤΙΝΑΖ Cε; Laureate bust, right.
R: ΦΛΑ CΑΜΟCΑΤεΩΝ ΤΗC ΜΗΤΠΟΠΟ; Turreted, veiled and draped bust of Tyche, right.
Samosata, Commagene Mint
VF; Very Rare.
BMC 32; Butcher 25.
Zeus Numismatics Budget Auction 4, Lot 654.
2/9/20 3/6/20Nicholas Z
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Provincial, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria, AE20, CεΛεΥΚεωΝ ΠΙεΡΙΑC SεΥS KAIΔΟCAE20
AE
Roman Provincial: Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Septimius Severus
Augustus: 193 - 211AD
Issued: ?
20.00mm 6.50gr 0h
O: AYTOKPA Λ A Cε CεYHPON ΠεΡΤ; Laureate bust, right; beaded border.
R: CεΛεΥΚεωΝ ΠΙεΡΙΑC SεΥS KAIΔΟC; Tetrastyle temple of Zeus Kaidos, pellet in pediment, cult statue or baetyl within.
Exergue: ΖΕΥC KACIOC
Seleucis and Pieria, Syria Mint
12/2/21 Not on Wildwinds.
Butcher 80; BMC Galatia 50.
Dara Museum Antiquities/E-Auction 3, Lot 1556.
11/6/21 5/17/22Nicholas Z
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Provincial, Seleucis & Pieria, Syria, AE21, CεΛεYKεΩN ΠIεPIACAE21
AE
Roman Provincial: Seleucis & Pieria, Syria
Septimius Severus
Augustus: 193 - 211AD
Issued: ?
21.00mm 7.20gr 11h
O: [AYT KAIC CεΠTI]M Cε-YHPOC ΠεP; Laureate head, right; beaded border.
R: CεΛεYKεΩN ΠIεPIAC; Tetrastyle temple, pellet in pediment, baetyl of Zeus Kasios within.
Exergue: ZεYC KACIOC, below. (Z, retrograde.)
BMC 50 var. (Legends.); Butcher 80 var. (Obverse legend.)
Sol Numismatic/Vasja Slavic Auction XXIV, Lot 421.
2/3/24 3/19/24Nicholas Z
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Pseudo-autonomous issue 77-78 ADBronze 19mm, 6.39g
OBV :: ANTIOXEΩN; Turreted and veiled head of Tyche right
REV :: lighted altar decorated with garlands, T digamma KP below altar
EX :: none
RPC II 2020; SNG Copenhagen 112; Butcher 168; BMC 97
Minted in Seleucis Pieria, Antioch.
19 mm., 6,39 g.Johnny
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R., Syria, Antioch ad Orontem, (13-14 A.D.), Dated (ΔM= Year 44, 13/14 A.D.), RPC 4269, BMC Galatia 65, AE-20, Ram, running, right, #1Syria, Antioch ad Orontem, (13-14 A.D.), Dated (ΔM= Year 44, 13/14 A.D.), RPC 4269, BMC Galatia 65, AE-20, Ram, running, right, #1
avers: No legend, Laureate head of Zeus right.
reverse: ΕΠΙ ΣΙΛΑΝΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ, Ram, running, right, looking back, star above, ΔM below.
exergue: *//ΔM, diameter: 19,5mm, weight: 6,71g, axes: 0h,
mint: Region: Syria, Province: Syria, City: Antioch ad Orontem,
date: ΔM= Year 44, 13/14 A.D., Reign: Augustus, Magistrate: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus Silanus as Governor of Syria,
ref: BMC Galatia 65, Butcher 58, MacDonald, NC 1904, RPC 4269,
Q-001quadrans
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R., Syria, Hieropolis, 035 Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.), BMC 19, AE-22, ΘEAC CYR/IAC IEROΠO and Δ in three lines within wreath, Syria, Hieropolis, 035 Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.), BMC 19, AE-22, ΘEAC CYR/IAC IEROΠO and Δ in three lines within wreath,
avers:- AYTO KAI TIT AIΛ AΔRI ANTωNEINOC CEB, Laureate head right.
revers:- ΘEAC CYR/IAC IEROΠO and Δ in three lines within wreath.
exe: -/-//Δ, diameter: 22mm, weight: 9,52g, axis: 0h,
mint: Syria, Hieropolis, date: 138-161 A.D., ref: BMC 19, Paris F986, Butcher 17,
Q-001quadrans
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RIC 0688 VespasianAR Denarius, 2.84g
Rome mint, 74 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR in exergue; Vespasian stg. r., with branch and sceptre, in quadriga r.
Rev: VESP AVG across field; Victory on prow r., with wreath and palm
RIC 688 (R). BMC 147. RSC 569. BNC 121. Hendin 1484 corr. (rev. legend).
Ex Nomos Obolos 4, 21 February 2016, lot 575. Ex GH Collection. Ex Superior Galleries, The Moreira sale, Part II, 10-11 December 1988, lot 2374.
A major feature of Vespasian's coinage is in its use of antiquarian styled types and recycled ones from previous eras. K. Butcher and M. Ponting in The Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage have shown that a big component of Vespasian's silver bullion consisted of recycled denarii from the republic and early empire. Vespasian's moneyers were removing the older worn coinage and replacing them with brand new coins and in the process keeping some of the familiar reverse designs that the Roman public had grown accustomed to.
With that in mind, this very rare coin which copies not only the reverse design from a denarius of Octavian, it also copies the obverse. The only change is with the reverse legend VESP AVG to indicate Vespasian's authority. Being undated, it is difficult to correctly place in the series. RIC assigns it to 74 AD based on the legends. D. Hendin to 71-72, just after Vespasian and Titus' joint triumph for the Jewish War.
This denarius is so rare I have only been able to locate six other examples, all of which are in public collections: BM 3 examples (one plated), Paris (BNC 121, obv die match with mine), Berlin (rev die match with mine), and ANA NY. Curtis Clay has kindly informed me of several other examples offered at auction: "Glendining, 1952, Ryan Part 5, part of lot 2147, not illustrated, 'only fine but rare.' Perhaps the same coin as Trau Sale, 1935, lot 625, pl. 8: a worn example. Stack's, Knobloch, May 1980, lot 300. VF, but small edge chip (the ANA NY coin). Leu, April 1982, lot 327, VF."
I think the RIC frequency rating of 'rare' really underestimates the rarity of the type.
Fantastic old cabinet toning on a large 20mm flan. David Atherton
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RIC 1339 VespasianAR Denarius, 3.07g
Uncertain Spanish mint, 69-70 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l.
Rev: LIBERTAS PVBLICA; Libertas stg. l., with pileus and rod
RIC 1339 (R2). BMC 360. RSC 259. BNC -.
Ex Pecunem 39, 4 January 2016, lot 874.
Late in 69 during the waning stages of the Civil War, Spain began striking coins for Vespasian. Some of these Spanish issues may be earlier than those struck at Rome. The Libertas reverse was copied from the Spanish coinage of Galba and both he and Vitellius issued left facing portraits in the province. The metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting of this issue shows Spanish silver was used in its production, however, the location of the mint is a mystery. The coin's style is different than those traditionally attributed to Tarraco(?), so another mint must have been active in the province. Also of note, the style is very similar to those of RIC's Uncertain western mint group 2 denarii. The reverse type of Libertas was used by the various contenders during the Civil War to show they were rescuing the Roman people from 'tyranny'.
A wonderful portrait in similar style to the Spanish issues of Vitellius. Very rare.David Atherton
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RIC 1359 VespasianAR Denarius, 3.29g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: ROMA PERPETVA; Roma seated l. on cuirass, holding Victory and parazonium
RIC 1359 (R2). BMC 423. RSC 423. BNC 380.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 504.
In the wake of the Flavian victory in the Second Battle of Cremona came a flurry of early denarius issues fleetingly struck somewhere in the western provinces. These issues contain some stylistic affinities with the contemporary Spanish issues, but more decisively, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish coins. It is very likely these early military denarii were also struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian. This ROMA PERPETVA reverse is a brand new innovation with no previous proto-types. Despite the obvious propaganda value this is the only appearance of this evocative legend in the Flavian numismatic canon. Note the engraver's double guide circles on the reverse.
This is the fourth known example of this extremely rare type - remarkably two reside in the BM (#423 a reverse die match) and another in Paris (#380 a double die match). I know of no other specimens. All the coins from these early military issues are exceedingly rare likely owing to the short window of time in which they were struck, perhaps for only a few weeks in late 69.David Atherton
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RIC 1361A VespasianAR Denarius, 3.29g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: S P Q R / OB C S in two lines within oak wreath
RIC 1361A (R3, this coin cited in the A&C). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 505. Privately purchased from Klassische Münzen 2008.
Many mints were operating during the civil war of 68/69 in the west and it is sometimes difficult to pin down certain issues to a specific one. A small military issue was struck at an uncertain mint somewhere in the western empire - Mattingly thought perhaps Aquileia. The issue contains some stylistic affinities with the Spanish series, but more importantly, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish coins. It is very likely these early military denarii were also struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian. The SPQR wreath reverse type symbolises the corona civica which was awarded to Vespasian by the Senate for rescuing the Roman people from civil war and bringing about peace. It echoes a similar reverse formerly struck for Galba.
Although this unique piece was recently assigned in the RIC Addenda & Corrigenda to uncertain/military mint group 3, stylistically the portrait has much more in common with the denarii of group 4 (heavy brow, upward gaze, crude style) and probably should be reassigned there.David Atherton
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RIC 1368 VespasianAR Denarius, 3.60g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: IMPER below; Vespasian riding l., r. hand raised
RIC 1368 (R2). BMC 419. RSC 221. BNC 378.
Ex Könker 304, 19 March 2018, lot 1085.
Fascinating coins often come out of civil war. In late October 69 the Second Battle of Cremona was fought between the legions of Vitellius and Vespasian. It resulted in the utter defeat of the Vitellian side and their slow retreat towards Rome. Not long afterwards the Spanish legions went openly for Vespasian, which up until that point had only been neutrally friendly toward him. Coins were quickly struck for Vespasian in the newly won province. Most of these are attributed to Tarraco and an unknown Spanish mint. Intriguingly, a small military issue was contemporaneously struck at an uncertain mint somewhere in the western empire - Mattingly thought perhaps Aquileia. The issue contains some stylistic affinities with the Spanish series, but more importantly, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish coins. It is very likely these early military denarii were also struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian.
Here we have an extremely rare denarius from that uncertain military issue showing Vespasian in military dress riding left in the act of addressing his troops. Clearly, this is a propaganda type that was produced to help consolidate the legions in a newly won province. The type occurs no where else and is unique to the series. The portrait bears no resemblance to Vespasian, which is further evidence of the coin's early mintage, perhaps pre-dating the other Spanish issues.
Struck in high relief on a large flan.David Atherton
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RIC 1373 VespasianAR Denarius, 3.01g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: MARS VLTOR; Mars adv. r., with spear and trophy
RIC 1373 (R3, this coin), BMC -. BNC -. RSC -.
Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 224, 14 September 2023, lot 107. Ex Curtis Clay collection. Ex CNG, MBS 43, 24 September 1997, lot 863.
In late October 69 the Second Battle of Cremona was fought between the legions of Vitellius and Vespasian. It resulted in the utter defeat of the Vitellian side and their slow retreat towards Rome. Not long afterwards the Spanish legions went openly for Vespasian, which up until that point had only been neutrally friendly toward him. Coins were quickly struck for Vespasian in the newly won province. Most of these are attributed to Tarraco and an unknown Spanish mint. Intriguingly, a small military issue was contemporaneously struck at an uncertain mint somewhere in the western empire - Mattingly thought perhaps Aquileia. The issue contains some stylistic affinities with the Spanish series, but more importantly, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish coins. It is very likely these early military denarii were also struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian. This unique Mars type with an unusual vertical obverse legend displays the typical portrait style of this rare military issue - small portrait with upward gaze in somewhat crude style. These denarii were likely struck in haste during the turmoil of late 69/early 70 as propaganda pieces by the pro-Flavian factions in the region. This specimen is the RIC reference coin, though not pictured in the plates.David Atherton
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RIC 1375A VespasianAR Denarius, 3.13g
Uncertain mint, 69-71 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: SECVRITAS P R; Securitas std. l., with sceptre
RIC 1375A (R2). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -.
Ex NAC 125, 24 June 2021, lot 512. Ex Harry Sneh Collection.
An uncertain mint in the western provinces produced this extremely rare denarius for Vespasian sometime near the end of the Civil War of 69 AD. These denarii contain some stylistic affinities with contemporary Spanish coins, but more decisively, recent metal analysis by K. Butcher and M. Ponting show the silver content is almost identical to that of the Spanish issues. It is very likely these early military denarii were struck in Spain in late 69 soon after the province went over to Vespasian. The upward gaze and unVespasian-like portraits are hallmarks of the issue.
This is the second know example of the denarius Securitas type struck for the series (this coin cited in the RIC A&C). The first one was discussed on the Forvm discussion board in 2007. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=38431.msg243240#msg243240 It later became the RIC plate coin for the newly discovered type.
Certainly a most appropriate and valuable propaganda type coming out of a Civil War!
David Atherton
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