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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Thrace & Moesia| ▸ |Deultum||View Options:  |  |  |   

Deultum, Thrace

The Roman Colony of Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria today) was founded during the reign of Vespasian on the west shore of Lake Mandren between Anchialus and Apollonia, and settled with veterans of Legio VIII Augusta. The town followed the usual Roman plan, with a very good water supply, sewers, and impressive baths with floor heating. It became one of the richest towns in the province. During the reign Mark Aurelius, Deultum was protected by large fortified walls and for centuries it served as an important communication point and a bulwark against barbarian raids. In 812 Khan Krum conquered Develt (its medieval name), banished the local residents to the north of Danube River, and resettled the town with Bulgarians.

Philip I the Arab, February 244 - End of September 249 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Philip| |I| |the| |Arab,| |February| |244| |-| |End| |of| |September| |249| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |22|
Colonia Flavia Pacensis (or Pacifica) Deultum was founded by Vespasian. The colony assumed his family name, Flavia, and on account of Vespasian's devotion to the goddess of Peace (to whom he built a temple at Rome); it was called Pacensis (or Pacifica).
RP77123. Bronze AE 22, SNG Deultum 1746-1749 (same dies); Jurukova Deultum 454, Varbanov II 3023(?); BMC Thrace -, gVF, nice patina, nice style, reverse die wear and crack, weight 6.695 g, maximum diameter 22.4 mm, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, Feb 244 - End Sep 249 A.D.; obverse IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, centration dimple; reverse CO-L FL PAC DEV,LT (LT in exergue), prow of galley left on waves, ram's head on point of ram, octopus and dolphin swimming left beside hull above waves; Pecunem Gitbud & Naumann auction 31 (3 May 2015), lot 313; rare; SOLD


Tranquillina, Augusta, May 241 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Tranquillina,| |Augusta,| |May| |241| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |25|
Tranquillina was the beautiful daughter of the faithful Praetorian Prefect Timisitheus and was married to Gordian III in May 241 A.D. Greatly loved by her husband, she survived his assassination, possibly due to her immense popularity with both the general population and the soldiery. The imperial coinage of Tranquillina is very rare. Provincial coinage of Tranquillina is more available.
RP38142. Bronze AE 25, Jurukova Deultum 394, Varbanov II 2933, VF, attractive green patina, weight 9.336 g, maximum diameter 25.0 mm, die axis 0o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, May 241 - 25 Feb 244 A.D.; obverse SAB TRANQVILLINA AVG, diademed and draped bust right; reverse COL FL PAC DEVLT, Minerva leaning left, looking right, in left raised shield, with right throwing spear; SOLD


Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |26|
Nemesis, the winged balancer of life, is the goddess of revenge, the avenger of crimes and punisher of wicked doers. She distributes fortune, good or bad, in due proportion to each according to what is deserved. The wheel of fate rests against her side. She often holds a lorum, a long scarf worn by Roman magistrates, to symbolize her authority as judge, and usually holds scales and cubit rule to measure each man's just deserts.
RP13513. Bronze AE 26, SNG Deultum 443-4 (same dies), Jurukova Deultum 126, SNG Evelpidis 933, Choice VF, extremely rare this nice, weight 9.757 g, maximum diameter 26.3 mm, die axis 180o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, c. 222 - 228 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse COL FL PA C DEVLT (Colonia Flavia Pacensis Deultum), Nemesis standing slightly left, head left, scales in right hand, cubit rule in left, wheel at feet left; SOLD


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |23|
The Roman Colony of Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria today) was founded during the reign of Vespasian on the west shore of Lake Mandren between Anchialus and Apollonia, and settled with veterans of Legio VIII Augusta. The town followed the usual Roman plan, with a very good water supply, sewers, and impressive baths with floor heating. It became one of the richest towns in the province. During the reign Mark Aurelius, Deultum was protected by large fortified walls and for centuries it served as an important communication point and a bulwark against barbarian raids. In 812 Khan Krum conquered Develt (its medieval name), banished the local residents to the north of Danube River, and resettled the town with Bulgarians.
RP111806. Bronze AE 23, Draganov Deultum 1382; Varbanov 2848 (R6); RPC Online VII.2 976; Jurukova Deultum 262, VF, flan crack, central depressions, weight 6.881 g, maximum diameter 22.7 mm, die axis 45o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, 3rd issue, 241 - 242 A.D.; obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse COL FL PAC, DEVLT ending in exergue, temple with four columns, seen in three-quarter view, enclosing Sarapis raising standing left, raising right arm, scepter in left hand; ex Savoca Numismatik auction 153 (22 Jan 2023), lot 158; ex Münzzentrum Rheinland auction 196 (21 Sep 2022), lot 177; Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger auction 37 (19 Feb 2022), lot 1384; SOLD


Tranquillina, Augusta, May 241 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Tranquillina,| |Augusta,| |May| |241| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |24|
Tranquillina was the beautiful daughter of the faithful Praetorian Prefect Timisitheus and was married to Gordian III in May 241 A.D. Greatly loved by her husband, she survived his assassination, possibly due to her immense popularity with both the general population and the soldiery. The imperial coinage of Tranquillina is very rare. Provincial coinage of Tranquillina is more available.
RP79970. Bronze AE 24, Jurukova Deultum 414; SNG Deultum 1526 (O148/R67); Draganov Deultum 1527a (O148/R67); Varbanov II 2957 (R4); Moushmov 3744; MPR II - 4 2083, aVF, well centered, some corrosion, cleaning scratches, weight 7.108 g, maximum diameter 23.7 mm, die axis 0o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, May 241 - 25 Feb 244 A.D.; obverse SAB TRANQVILLINA AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane, elaborate hairstyle with hair in ridges, and in plait looped below her ear and then up the back of her head; reverse COL FL PA-C, DEVLT (starting above, ending in exergue), she-wolf standing right, head turned back left, suckling the infant twins Romulus and Remus; SOLD


Macrinus, 11 April 217 - 8 June 218 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Macrinus,| |11| |April| |217| |-| |8| |June| |218| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||tetrassarion|
On RPC Online and elsewhere, we sometimes find our river god labeled Istrus (Danube) or its Bulgarian tributary, Oiskus (modern Iskar). Both waterways, however, never flowed close to ancient Deultum. As a Roman colony, it was founded under Vespasian near the mouth of the Sredetska (srai-DETS-kah) River (ancient name unknown), which empties into Lake Mandra. The presence of galleys on the city’s coinage suggests the colony was supported by maritime trade and fishing, at a time when the lake was suitably connected to the Black Sea. Coins depicting our river god must therefore refer to a local river, as in Sredetska, the closest to Deultum of several rivers that flow into the lake.

The magnificent Gordian III coin type featuring two river gods and a galley (RPC Online VII-2 823) grants even further certainty in linking Deultum's fortunes to Lake Mandra and beyond, via the Sredetska. The overturned urn of the older, bearded river god flows into a large bowl rather than forming a river, clearly symbolizing a standing body of water. His beardless counterpart grasping the ship's rudder has long been assumed to be Thalassa, the primordial goddess of the sea. However, the figure doesn’t appear very feminine on high grade coins and lacks Thalassa's important crab claw headgear. On RPC Online VI T772, we find probably the same deity reclining left with a flowing urn and holding a reed and the prow of a ship—all very river god like except for the missing beard. In reference to this puzzle in his 1695 work, Numismata Aerea Imperatorum, Vaillant wrote, "Rivers emptying themselves into the sea, are depicted on ancient medals under the figures of old men, with flowing beards, as though they were the fathers of other streams. But the personifications of those rivers which discharge their waters into other rivers, are represented without beards." Perhaps our spurt off the old river may also personify the short, heavily navigated inlet from Lake Mandra to the sea.
RP113329. Bronze tetrassarion, Draganov Deultum 125 (O20/R631) = SNG Bobokov 125; Jurukova Deultum 54 corr. (obv. leg.); Varbanov II 2141 corr. (rod vice reed), VF, glossy blue-black patina, earthen deposits, porosity/minor pitting, rev. lightly double-struck, mint dimples, weight 8.516 g, maximum diameter 25.6 mm, die axis 45o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, c. 11 Apr 217 - 8 Jun 218 A.D.; obverse IMP C M OPEL - SEV MACRINVS AV, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse COL FL PAC - DE,VLT (ending in exergue), river-god (ancient personification of the Sredetska River) reclining left, long reed transverse in right hand, resting left elbow on overturned urn from which water flows; ex CNG E-sale 537 (26 Apr 2023), lot 288; ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection, ex Herakles Numismatics (Apr 2003); SOLD


Diadumenian, Mid May - 8 June 218 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Diadumenian,| |Mid| |May| |-| |8| |June| |218| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |25|
Artemis is depicted here in the same pose as The Diana of Versailles, a slightly over life-size Roman marble statue from the 1st or 2nd century A.D., copying a lost Greek bronze original attributed to Leochares, c. 325 B.C. The sculpture has a stag at her side. The sculpture may have come from a sanctuary at Nemi or possibly from Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli. In 1556, it was given by Pope Paul IV to Henry II of France, a subtle allusion to the king's mistress, Diane de Poitiers. It is now in the Musée du Louvre, Paris.
RP79982. Bronze AE 25, Jurukova Deultum 80, SNG Deultum 162, Draganov Deultum 162 (O28/R284), Varbanov I 2169 (R4) corr. (running left), Moushmov 3573, SNG Cop -, VF, excellent portrait, well centered, nice sea green patina, light marks and scratches, areas of light corrosion, weight 9.948 g, maximum diameter 25.1 mm, die axis 180o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, as caesar, May 217 - mid May 218 A.D.; obverse C M OPEL ANTONINVS DIADV, bare-headed, draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse COL FL PA C DEVLT, Artemis (Diana) advancing right, drawing arrow from quiver with right hand, bow in left hand, dog bounding right at feet on far side; ex Apollo Numismatics ($125, summer 2008); rare; SOLD


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |23|
Andromeda was the daughter of Cepheus, an Aethiopian king, and Cassiopeia. When Cassiopeia's boasted that Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, Poseidon sent a sea monster (Cetus Aethiopicus) to ravage Aethiopia as divine punishment. Andromeda was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to sate the monster, but she was saved by Perseus. Later Andromeda and Perseus were married.
SH63219. Brass AE 23, Draganov Deultum 1241a (O109/R592); Varbanov II 2758 (R6); BMC Thrace -; SNG Cop -, aF, weight 6.276 g, maximum diameter 22.5 mm, die axis 180o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, 29 Jul 238 - 25 Feb 244 A.D.; obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse COL FL PAC DEVLT, Perseus (on right) standing left, helping Andromeda (on left) come down from a rock after saving her, Medusa's head and harpa in his left hand, his right foot on the sea monster, Cetus Aethiopicus, turned to stone; very rare; SOLD


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||AE| |24|
RP65137. Bronze AE 24, Draganov Deultum 1255 (O113/R638), Varbanov II 2772 (same dies, R5), SNG Cop -, BMC Thrace -, VF, nice green patina, weight 6.585 g, maximum diameter 23.5 mm, die axis 270o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG (AV ligate), laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse COL FL - PAC DEVL-T, river-god reclining left, cornucopia on right, left arm resting on inverted urn from which water flows; rare; SOLD


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||tetrassarion|
On RPC Online and elsewhere, we sometimes find our river god labeled Istrus (Danube) or its Bulgarian tributary, Oiskus (modern Iskar). Both waterways, however, never flowed close to ancient Deultum. As a Roman colony, it was founded under Vespasian near the mouth of the Sredetska (srai-DETS-kah) River (ancient name unknown), which empties into Lake Mandra. The presence of galleys on the city’s coinage suggests the colony was supported by maritime trade and fishing, at a time when the lake was suitably connected to the Black Sea. Coins depicting our river god must therefore refer to a local river, as in Sredetska, the closest to Deultum of several rivers that flow into the lake.

The magnificent Gordian III coin type featuring two river gods and a galley (RPC Online VII-2 823) grants even further certainty in linking Deultum's fortunes to Lake Mandra and beyond, via the Sredetska. The overturned urn of the older, bearded river god flows into a large bowl rather than forming a river, clearly symbolizing a standing body of water. His beardless counterpart grasping the ship's rudder has long been assumed to be Thalassa, the primordial goddess of the sea. However, the figure doesn’t appear very feminine on high grade coins and lacks Thalassa's important crab claw headgear. On RPC Online VI T772, we find probably the same deity reclining left with a flowing urn and holding a reed and the prow of a ship—all very river god like except for the missing beard. In reference to this puzzle in his 1695 work, Numismata Aerea Imperatorum, Vaillant wrote, "Rivers emptying themselves into the sea, are depicted on ancient medals under the figures of old men, with flowing beards, as though they were the fathers of other streams. But the personifications of those rivers which discharge their waters into other rivers, are represented without beards." Perhaps our spurt off the old river may also personify the short, heavily navigated inlet from Lake Mandra to the sea.
RP113331. Bronze tetrassarion, Draganov Deultum 1255–1257 (O113/R638) = SNG Bobokov 1255–1257; Jurukova Deultum 250; RPC Online VII.2 956; BM Acquisitions 1921 p. 159, 33, gVF, dark green patina, good detail, minor pitting, cleaning scratches, rev. off center, small edge splits, central mint dimples, weight 6.434 g, maximum diameter 22.9 mm, die axis 225o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, c. 241 - 242 A.D.; obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG (AV ligate), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse COL FL PAC DEVL,T (final letter in exergue), River-god (ancient personification of the Sredetska River) reclining left, holding cornucopia in raised right hand, resting elbow on urn from which water flows; ex CNG e-sale 537 (26 Apr 2023), lot 293; ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection, ex Herakles Numismatics (Apr 2003); SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Corpus Nummorum Online - http://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/
Draganov, D. The Coinage of Deultum. (Sofia, 2007).
Hill, G. "Greek coins acquired by the British Museum in 1921" in Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society, vol. 2, 1922, pp. 149 - 175.
Jurukova, J. Die Münzprägung von Deultum. Griechisches Münzwerk, Schriften zur Geschichte und Kultur der Antike 8. (Berlin, 1973).
Lindgren, H. Ancient Greek Bronze Coins: European Mints from the Lindgren Collection. (San Mateo, 1989).
Lindgren, H. Lindgren III: Ancient Greek Bronze Coins from the Lindgren Collection. (Quarryville, 1993).
Martini, R. Monetazione provinciale romana II: Collezione Winsemann Falghera. Glaux 8. (Milan, 1992).
Moushmov, N. Ancient Coins of the Balkan Peninsula. (1912).
Poole, R. ed. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Thrace, etc. (London, 1877).
RPC Online - http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Bulgaria I, The Bobokov Bros. Collection, Vol. I, Thrace & Moesia Inferior, Part 1: Deultum. (Bulgaria, 2005).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 2: Macedonia and Thrace. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain XII, The Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow, Part 1: Roman Provincial Coins: Spain-Kingdoms of Asia Minor. (Oxford, 2004).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Grèce, Collection Réna H. Evelpidis, Part 1: Italie. Sicile - Thrace. (Athens, 1970).
Varbanov, I. Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Vol. II: Thrace (from Abdera to Pautalia). (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005).

Catalog current as of Thursday, March 28, 2024.
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