Clearly the earliest variant of this
type, introduced not long after the beginning of 231, because of the nominative
rev. legend,
IOVIS PROPVGNATOR. The same
type was then continued with a dative
legend,
IOVI PROPVGNATORI. In mid-232 the dative
legend was continued, but
Jupiter was now shown holding an
eagle in
his extended left hand, and small changes were made in Alexander's other four concurrent
types too, marking off the beginning of
his final issue which lasted until
his death in March 235.
Reka Devnia figures indicate the relative duration of the three
Jupiter types: 9
denarii with the nominative
rev. legend, about 87
denarii with the same
type but dative
rev. legend, finally about 145
denarii continuing the dative
rev. legend but showing
Jupiter holding an
eagle.
On
sestertii, no specimens with nominative
rev. legend like your two occurred in the
Guelma hoard; 17 specimens with same
type but dative
rev. legend, and finally a paltry one specimen with
eagle added to the
type. The reason for the
rarity of this latest
Jupiter type on
sestertii is unknown; the other four contemporaneous latest
sestertius types were much commoner, for example
PROVIDENTIA AVG Annona holding
cornucopia, 116 spec. in the
Guelma hoard;
MARS VLTOR Mars running right, 81 specimens in the
hoard.
