I just received a coin today about which I am very excited. It is an unlisted tetra-style
Asklepios temple from
Serdica, issued under the Thracian governor T. Statilius Barbarus (196-98).
AE 28 13.70 gr
Septimius Severus Serdika,
Thrace Statilius Barbarus
Ob: AV K Λ CEΠTI / CEVHPOC Π
Laureate
head right
Rev: HΓHM CTAT BAPBAPOV OVΛΠIAC
Ex: CEPΔIKH
Asklepios standing with
serpent entwined staff in plainly adorned tetra-style temple, two steps
Cf. Ruzicka 35 (different
legend and
obverse die) This
obverse die seems to be
his # 8, which I could only find paired with C. Caicina Largus
reverse dies. This led me to believe that the dealer and I
had misread the
reverse legend. In addition, coins issued under Barbarus almost always have the
ethnic written as CEPΔΩN (but
cf. #29), with the longer CEPΔIKHC appearing commonly under Largus. But once I
had the coin in hand I realized that the
legend is as written above (or very close).
Cf. Hristova/Jekov 12.14.46.1 for
type, but not these legends.
A very pretty coin in hand, whose dies rival the best of other large cities (
Pautalia,
Philippopolis Nikopolis ad Istrum).
JPW
