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A bronze coin of Trajan from Heracleia Pontica showing Athena wearing a snakey aegis. Coin Type: Bronze AE21 of Trajan, 98-117 CE
Mint and Date: Heracleia Pontica, 98-117 CE.
Size and Weight: 21mm, 5.9g
Obverse: Laureate head right.
(AY) TPAIANOC KAIC CЄB ΓЄP ΔAK
Reverse: Bust of Athena right in crested helmet, wearing aegis with central gorgoneion and two snakes arising from the far edge.
HPAKΛЄΩTAN MATPOΠOΛЄITAN
Provenance: Sphinx Numismatics (Vcoins), April 2007.
Ref: RG 360,89; BM 45; Lindgren I,118 (double die match).
BW Ref: 021 032 108
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin
Note: This coin was bought as an unattributed Roman provincial coin, with a note saying "Trajan?". That much was certain, made clear by those parts of the obverse legend which were clearly visible. The full attribution was pinned down by Markus on the Forum Classical Numismatics Discussion Board, including a note that this coin appears to be a double die match with the Lindgren specimen. Curtis Clay says: "According to Icard, Heracleia Pontica is the ONLY city to use this Doric form MATROPOLEITAN rather than the Attic MHTROPOLEITWN on its coins."
The content of this page was last updated on 9 May 2007