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Kayseri, Turkey was originally named Mazaca. It was renamed Eusebia by Ariarathes V Eusebes, King of Cappadocia, 163 - 130 B.C. The last king of Cappadocia, King Archelaus, renamed it "Caesarea in Cappadocia" to honor Caesar Augustus upon his death in 14 A.D. Muslim Arabs slightly modified the name into Kaisariyah, which became Kayseri when the Seljuk Turks took control, c. 1080 A.D.RP110435. Bronze AE 20, Henseler 838b, 1272 (same dies); RPC Online VI T6848.3, Sydenham Caesarea 590a; SNG Hunt 2278 var. (legends); BMC Galatia p. 91, 332 var. (same), aVF, off center, porosity/pitting, weight 6.233 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 180o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 227 - 228 A.D.; obverse AY K CEOV - AΛEΞAN, laureate bare bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHT-P - K-AIC (Metropolis Caesarea), three stalks of grain tied together, ET - Z (year 7) divided across bottom; first ever specimen of year 7 of this type handled by FORVM; $40.00 (37.60)
Elagabalus, 16 May 218 - 11 March 222 A.D., Neapolis, Samaria, Syria Palestina
Neapolis, Samaria, the biblical Shechemis, is now Nablus, Israel. It is the site of Joseph's Tomb and Jacob's well. Jesus spoke here to a Samaritan woman. Neapolis is home to about half the remaining worldwide Samaritan population of 600.JD111094. Bronze AE 25, cf. Sofaer 93; Rosenberger 37; BMC Palestine p. 60, 94; RPC Online VI T8928 (4 spec.), aF, earthen deposits, porosity, off center, weight 10.652 g, maximum diameter 24.9 mm, die axis 0o, Neapolis (Nablus, Israel) mint, 16 May 218 - 11 Mar 222 A.D.; obverse AYT K M AYP - ANTWNINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse ΦΛ NEACΠOΛEΩ CYP ΠAΛ (Flavia Neapolis Syria Palestina), Mt. Gerizim comprised of two masses separated by a ravine, arched colonnade below, stairway up the left mass to temple (in perspective) on peak, road up to altar on right peak; ex Amphora Coins (David Hendin) with his signed photo authenticity receipt; $90.00 (84.60)
Geta, 209 - c. 26 December 211 A.D., Sillyum, Pamphylia
Sillyon (or Sillyum) was a relatively unimportant city but a significant fortress. According to one legend, it was founded as a colony from Argos; another holds that it was founded, along with Side and Aspendos, by the seers Mopsos, Calchas and Amphilochus after the Trojan War. Sillyon is first mentioned in c. 500 BC by Pseudo-Scylax. From 469 B.C., it became part of the Athenian-led Delian League. It is mentioned in the Athenian tribute lists from c. 450 B.C. and again in 425 B.C., and then disappears again from the historical record until 333 B.C., when Alexander the Great unsuccessfully besieged it. It was well-fortified and had a strong garrison of mercenaries and "native barbarians," so Alexander, pressed for time, abandoned the siege after the first attempt at storming it failed. The city was extensively rebuilt under the Seleucids, especially its theater. Later, when most of western Asia Minor was subject to the Kingdom of Pergamon, Sillyon remained a free city by a decision of the Roman Senate.RP112010. Bronze diassarion, SNG BnF 3 988, Waddington 3532, Lindgren III 675, BMC -, SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, SNG Pfalz -, SNG Leypold -, aF, tight flan, porous/rough, weight 13.235 g, maximum diameter 22.8 mm, die axis 0o, Sillyon (near Serik, Turkey) mint, as Augustus, 209 - c. 26 December 211 A.D.; obverse AVK ΠO - CE ΓETAC, laureate head right; reverse CIΛΛYEΩN, Dionysus standing facing, head left, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, cantharus in right hand, filleted thyrsus in left hand, panther at feet left; first specimen of the type handled by FORVM, Coin Archives records only one specimen of the type at auction in the last two decades; very rare; $90.00 (84.60)
Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Alabanda, Caria
The portrait countermarks of Caracalla and Geta (Howgego 39i & 39ii) are well-known on Alabandian Roman provincials from the standpoint of their occurrence, but not much is known on why they exist. Writing in Greek Imperial Countermarks (1985), Christopher Howgego notes simply, "It is impossible to read the letters on many of the countermarks. The countermarks are not found on the coins of Caracalla's sole reign (unlike cmk 52) and therefore probably belong to the joint reign of Caracalla and Geta." In part five of SNG Tόbingen, however, we find two Severan coins of Alabanda probably marked with the bust of Julia Domna (nos. 3343 & 3346), in a manner similar to the other Severan countermarks. Also intriguing is the possibility of Severus within the obverse punch on BMC Caria 46, who looks both laureate and bearded, in addition to a letter on either side of the portrait which may read "C E" rather than "G E." In light of this evidence, one wonders if the purpose of the literal Howgego 39 family of marks was tied to an imperial visit to Alabanda or the anticipation of one.RP112699. Bronze AE 26, BMC Caria, p. 8, 46 (same dies); SNG Tόb 3345, 3346 corr. (leg. arrangement); McClean 8442; countermarks: obv: Howgego 39ii; rev: Howgego -, F, green patina, scratches, areas flattened by countermarks, chipped patina on edge, scattered porosity on rev., weight 6.302 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 0o, Alabanda (Doganyurt, Turkey) mint, 28 Jan 198 - 8 Apr 217 A.D.; obverse ΑV Κ Μ ΑV Α [ΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC?], laureate, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; countermark: right-facing bust of Caracalla with sideways 'A' before (pointing inward), in a 6.5mm round punch; reverse AΛABANΔEΩN, kithara (lyre); countermark: eagle with wings open(?); the first example of this type handled by Forum; from the Michael Arslan Collection; added to the RPC Online V database; scarce; $100.00 (94.00)
Septimius Severus, 9 April 193 - 4 February 211 A.D., Thessalonika, Macedonia
This type normally has Nike left, but we do know of two specimens from auctions with Nike right, struck with the same dies. Under Commodus the same type was struck with Nike right. Perhaps this a mule struck with a leftover die.RP113162. Bronze AE 27, Touratsoglou 13 (V5/-) var. (Nike left), SNG ANS 855 var. (Nike left), Varbanov 4343 var. (same), SNG Cop -, Moushmov -, F, green patina, red-brown areas of corrosion, part of reverse leg. obscure/weak, weight 10.776 g, maximum diameter 26.7 mm, die axis 180o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, emission 2, 9 Apr 193 - 4 Feb 211 A.D.; obverse AV K Λ CEΠ CEYHPOC ΠE, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse ΘECCEAΛ-ONIKEΩN (clockwise from upper right), Nike (Victory) advancing right, raising wreath in extended right hand, palm frond in left hand over left shoulder; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 130 (2 Jul 2023), lot 1244 (part of); first specimen of this type handled by FORVM, Coin Archives records only two specimens of the type at auction in the last two decades; very rare with Nike right; $90.00 (84.60)
Cassandrea, Macedonia, 16 March 37 - 24 January 41 A.D.
Cassandreia was founded by Cassander in 316 B.C. on the site of the earlier city of Potidaea, at the isthmus of the Pallene peninsula. That Cassander named it after himself suggests he may have intended it to be his capital. If the canal which cuts the peninsula at this point was dug or at least planned in his time, he may have intended to develop his naval forces using it as a base with two harbors on the east and west sides. Cassandreia soon became a great and powerful city, surpassing the other Macedonian towns in wealth. Philip V of Macedon made it his main naval base. At the end of the Roman Republic, around 43 B.C., a Roman colony was settled by order of Brutus. In 30 B.C., Augustus installed additional settlers and renamed the city Colonia Iulia Augusta Cassandrensis. It was destroyed by the Huns and Slavs around 540 A.D.RP113318. Bronze AE 17, RPC Online I 1513; SNG ANS 233; SNG Evelpidis 1210; BMC 1; AMNG 45, VF, dark patina, earthen deposits, weight 3.152 g, maximum diameter 17.0 mm, die axis 135o, Cassandreia (Kassandreia, Greece) mint, time of Caligula, 16 Mar 37 - 24 Jan 41 A.D.; obverse Vexillum inscribed AVG, flanked by two standards, each topped with a crescent horns up; reverse CAS/SAN/DRE in three lines within wreath; ex Harlan Berk, ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection; $90.00 (84.60)
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Caesarea Maritima, Samaria, Syria Palestina
Determining the emperor on this Holy Land issue was no easy task. Ultimately, the crude, schematic, style of the eagle provided the solution. A strikingly similar eagle was found for Severus Alexander under RPC Online VI T8861, represented by two specimens at the time of this writing (Jan 2024). The obv. legends of both coins were worn or off flan, but the portrait on the London specimen highly suggested the last Severan ruler while the second coin (Wildwinds example) sported a different head, resembling the one found on our coin. And yet, we know both pieces listed on RPC Online must be related to one another by virtue of the rev. die they share. Kadman 72, attributed to Caracalla, most likely was also struck from the same die and with a head again very similar to the Wildwinds coin. Finally, a third bronze (SNG ANS 6 793) with a head like ours (and possibly die-identical to the Wildwinds specimen) can be found listed as "specimen #2" under RPC Online VI, T30574---for Elagabalus! But from examining the reverse legend, one can confidently conclude that the title of Metropolis is included, which was first awarded Caesarea Maritima under Severus Alexander. Whew!RP113710. Bronze AE 19, cf. RPC Online VI T8861 (2 spec.); BMC Palestine, p. 27, 118 ff.; Kadman 72 corr. (Caracalla); ANS SNG 6 793 corr. (same) (see notes), aF, rough stable surfaces, tight flan cutting off legends, weight 3.670 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 180o, Caesarea Maritima (Keisaria, Israel) mint, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.; obverse laureate head right, legend off flan/obscure; reverse S P Q R (P reversed) within wreath supported by standing eagle facing with head left and wings spread, legend off flan/obscure; ex Frank Sternberg AG Zurich; ex Glendining & Co. auction 5 March 1970, lot 467 (part of); extremely rare variety; $140.00 (131.60)
Mytilene, Lesbos, 521 - 478 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit
Counterfeiting began almost immediately after the first coinage was introduced. The official Mytilene coin was solid electrum, a mixture of gold and silver. This coin is plated with electrum over a base core, struck by a criminal counterfeiter in ancient times, intended for circulation as the official prototype. The low weight identifies this as is a plated coin.GA114610. Fouree electrum plated hekte, cf. Bodenstedt 9.1, HGC 6 933 (official Mytilene mint prototype, solid electrum), VF, rough spots, weight 2.086 g, maximum diameter 10.3 mm, die axis 180o, unofficial criminal mint, 521 - 478 B.C.; obverse forepart of winged lion left; reverse incuse head of cock left, rectangular punch to right; $220.00 (206.80)
Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.GS114664. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), F, rough, toned, oval flan, weight 3.590 g, maximum diameter 15.8 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $220.00 (206.80)
Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.GS114666. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), gF, toned, oval flan, a little rough, weight 3.724 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $180.00 (169.20)
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