| C330 RIC411 |
IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II MONET AVG |
Early 'Emesa' issues include several different styles suggesting branch operations or a moving mint employing local cutters. Individuality is seen in letter forms and portrait style. Most 'styles' include the Moneta type which seems to have marked the start of each new issue. This obverse die appears below; can you find it?
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| RIC412A var. | IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II MONETA.E AVG |
A very early form of the Moneta reverse reads MONETA.E AVG
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| RIC366b C61 |
IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II BONA.E SPEI |
Matching the early style MONETA.E AVG coin is the similarly punctuated dative case BONA.E SPEI. It seems obvious that the punctuation and spacing on these issues signifies something but I simply do not know what. Secret marks are common on many coin issues but the code of dots shape and placement used at Emesa remains a mystery.
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| RIC 364var. | IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II BONA. SPES. |
There are many variations of portrait style in the COSII series. This obverse also appears to be lacking the V of SEV. Die link studies will eventually tell if this is a branch mint coin or just the product of a different die cutter. Note triangular punctuation on the reverse. |
| RIC369 C68 |
IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II BONI EVENTVS |
Among the most common 'Emesa' types, BONI EVENTVS is found using all of the obverse legend varieties. 'Good Times' holds a plate of food and ears of grain (both symbols of plenty). This example shows traces of layout lines under the reverse legend used to insure alignment of the letters. |
| RIC 409var. | IMP CAE L SEP SE(V PERT AVG COS II) MIN(ER VI)CT. |
Minerva is shown on this rare coin holding spear with left hand on hip. Previously known Minerva types mention a shield clearly absent from this example.
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| unlisted | IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II MINERV ICTR |
Equally unusual is this Minerva holding an owl. The two specimens I have seen of this were die duplicates and the type is probably rare. This coin was discussed on my page for Minerva. |
| RIC428 C749 |
IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II VICTOR SEVER AVG |
Correcting the inappropriate use of the Pescennius Niger title (Iustus) discussed in the first two sections and showing the normal obverse ending in 'COSII' is the more common (but still scarce) 'VICTORSEVERAVG'. |
| RIC428 C749 |
IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II VICTOR SEVER AVG |
Some early reverses, including VICTOR SEVER AVG, is known with several different portrait styles. Whether this indicates the work of several different die cutters or branch mints is not certain. |
| RIC428 C749 |
IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II VICTOR SEVER AVG |
Another VICTORSEVERAVG is a real heartbreaker. At first it appears to be another overstrike (hopefully on Pescennius Niger as the coin shown in the first legend section) but actually it is just a slightly rotated double strike. |
| RIC428 note |
IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II VICTOR SEVER AG. |
Listed only by Mouchmov as part of the Reka Devnia Hoard but quoted by later catalogs is this reverse spelling variety. |
| unlisted with head left | IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II FORTVNA REDVCI |
A few coins are known from 'Emesa' with the portrait facing left. These are all of the long head style used early in 194AD. |
| unlisted with head right | IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II FELICITAS TEMPOR |
RIC 375 and Cohen 144 listed the basket of fruit variety with head left but missed the version with head right. |
| IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II |
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| IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II |
More coins coming to this space |