Classical Numismatics Discussion - Members' Coin Gallery
  Welcome Guest. Please login or register. Share Your Collection With Your Friends And With The World!!! A FREE Service Provided By Forum Ancient Coins No Limit To The Number Of Coins You Can Add - More Is Better!!! Is Your Coin The Best Of Type? Add It And Compete For The Title Have You Visited An Ancient Site - Please Share Your Photos!!! Use The Members' Coin Gallery As A Reference To Identify Your Coins Please Visit Our Shop And Find A Coin To Add To Your Gallery Today!!!

Member Collections | Members' Gallery Home | Login | Album list | Last uploads | Last comments | Most viewed | Top rated | My Favorites | Search
Image search results - "Tarsus"
00010x00.jpg
ROME
PB Tessera (18mm, 6.62 g, 12h)
Galley
TAP/COC
Rostovtsev, “ΔΩPEA CITOY TAPCΩ,” in NC 1900, p. 103; Rostovtsev –

Despite the Greek legend naming Tarsus, the fabric of this piece confirms that it is from the city of Rome.
Ardatirion
Balbinus.jpg
*SOLD*Balbinus AE 36

Attribution: SNG Paris 1627 (same dies), Tarsus, rare
Date: AD 238
Obverse: AVT KAIC KAI BALBEINON CEB, laureate and draped bust r.,
Ω / Π in l. and r. fields
Reverse: TA PCOY M HTPO Π O Λ C Ω C, Perseus stg. l. holding head of Gorgon Medusa in r. hand and a harpa in l. hand, A/K in l. field, M/B/ Γ in r. field
Size: 35 mm
Weight: 20.4 grams
Noah
normal_annius~0.jpg
019c. Annius VerusMarcus Annius Verus Caesar was born 162 or 163, a son of Marcus Aurelius and Empress Faustina the Younger. Annius was made caesar on 12 October 166 AD, along with his brother Commodus. Annius died on 10 September 169.

Coin: Annius Verus & Commodus. Caesars. CILICIA. Tarsus. Ae 17mm, 2.38 g. Obv: ΚΟΡΟΙ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟΥ Bareheaded and draped busts of Annius Verus and Commodus facing one another; below, caduceus and cornucopia crossed in saltire over star. Rev: ΤΑΡϹΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠ(ΟΛƐΩϹ), ΚΟΙΝΟϹ ΚΙΛΙΚΙΑϹ Decastyle temple, with eagle in pediment. RPC IV online 5035; SNG BN 1455-7. Naumann Auction 73, Lot 386.
lawrence c
annius.jpg
019c. Annius Verus & CommodusCaesars, 166-169 & 166-177, respectively. CILICIA. Tarsus. Ae 17mm, 2.38 g. Obv: Bareheaded and draped busts of Annius Verus and Commodus facing one another; below, caduceus and cornucopia crossed in saltire over star. Rev: Decastyle temple, with eagle in pediment. RPC IV online 5035; SNG BN 1455-7. Naumann Auction 73, Lot 386.

NOTE: Marcus Annius Verus Caesar was born 162 or 163, a son of Marcus Aurelius and Empress Faustina the Younger. Annius was made caesar on 12 October 166 AD, along with his brother Commodus. Annius died on 10 September 169,
lawrence c
02-Tarsus.jpg
02. Persian Empire: Province of Cilicia: City of Tarsos.Double shekel, ca. 351 BC.
Obverse: Baal of Tarsos seated, holding eagle, ear of wheat, bunch of grapes, and sceptre.
Reverse: Lion attacking bull.
10.51 gm., 24 mm.
S. #5650; series V in Myriandros Katisson (E.T. Newell).
3 commentsCallimachus
pupien.jpg
035a02. PupienusTarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey). Bronze hexassarion. 28.145g, 35.7mm. 180o. Obverse AYT KEC M ΛO∆ ΠOΠΛHNIOC CE, Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Pupienus to right, seen from behind, Π − Π divided across field; reverse TAPCOY MHTPOΠOΛ A / M K Γ B (the last four letters in the fields), Athena advancing right, head turned back left, Nike in right hand, spear in left hand, oval shield on left arm. SNG BnF 1636 (same dies); SNG Levante 1116; SNG Pfalz 1390; SNG Righetti 1678; BMC Cilicia p. 210, 244; RPC 2970. A FORUM coin.lawrence c
gord3.jpg
036a01. Gordian III238-244 AD. Provincial Ae. CILICIA. Tarsus. 37mm, 23.78 g. Obv: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB / Π - Π. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding shield and spear. Rev: TAPCOV MHTPOΠOΛЄ / A M K B Γ. Lion attacking bull right. Ziegler 756 var. (obv. legend); SNG BN 1705; SNG Levante 1141. Naumann Auction 85, Lot 395.lawrence c
gordianIII.jpg
036a03. Gordian IIIAE Medallion. Cilicia, Tarsus. Gordian III. 36.2 mm, 25.54 g.
Obv: AVT K ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CEB ΠΠ, radiate and draped bust right. Rev: TAPCEV MHTPOΠOΛEΩC AMK ΓB, lion attacking bull right. SNG BN 1697; SNG Levante 1133.
lawrence c
naumann1~0.jpg
036b01. TranquillinaCilicia, Tarsus. AE32mm, 19.61 g. Obv: CABINЄIAN TPANKVΛΛЄINAΝ CЄB / Π – Π, Draped bust right, w/stephane and on crescent. Rev: TAPCOV MHTPOΠOΛЄΩC A M K / Γ B. Dionysos stnd left, holding filleted thyrsus and pouring cantharus; panther left, head right. RPC VII.2 - (unassigned; ID 65803); SNG BN 1725; SNG Levante 1148 var. (arrangement of rev. legend). Naumann Auction 100, Lot 392.lawrence c
Lcnius1.jpg
1308b, Licinius I, 308 - 324 A.D. (Siscia)Licinius I, 11 November 308 - 18 September 324 A.D. Bronze follis, RIC 4, F, Siscia, 3.257g, 21.6mm, 0o, 313 - 315 A.D. Obverse: IMP LIC LICINIVS P F AVG, laureate head right; Reverse IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN, Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, eagle with wreath in beak left, E right, SIS in exergue.



De Imperatoribus Romanis : An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families

Licinius (308-324 A.D.)


Michael DiMaio, Jr.
Salve Regina University

Licinius' Heritage

Valerius Licinianus Licinius, more commonly known as Licinius, may have been born ca. 265. Of peasant origin, his family was from Dacia. A close friend and comrade of arms of the Emperor Galerius, he accompanied him on his Persian expedition in 297. When campaigns by Severus and Galerius in late 306 or early 307 and in the summer of 307, respectively, failed to dislodge Maxentius who, with the luke warm support of his father Maximianus Herculius, was acclaimed princeps on 28 October 306, he was sent by the eastern emperor to Maxentius as an ambassador; the diplomatic mission, however, failed because the usurper refused to submit to the authority of his father-in-law Galerius. At the Conference of Carnuntum which was held in October or November of 308, Licinius was made an Augustus on 11 November 308; his realm included Thrace, Illyricum, and Pannonia.

Licinius' Early Reign

Although Licinius was initially appointed by Galerius to replace Severus to end the revolt of Maxentius , Licinius (perhaps wisely) made no effort to move against the usurper. In fact, his first attested victory was against the Sarmatians probably in the late spring, but no later than the end of June in 310. When the Emperor Galerius died in 311, Licinius met Maximinus Daia at the Bosporus during the early summer of that year; they concluded a treaty and divided Galerius' realm between them. It was little more than a year later that the Emperor Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on 28 October 312. After the defeat of the usurper, Constantine and Licinius met at Mediolanum (Milan) where Licinius married the former's sister Constantia; one child was born of this union: Valerius Licinianus Licinius. Licinius had another son, born of a slave woman, whose name is unknown. It appears that both emperors promulgated the so-called Edict of Milan, in which Constantine and Licinius granted Christians the freedom to practice their faith without any interference from the state.

As soon as he seems to have learned about the marital alliance between Licinius and Constantine and the death of Maxentius, who had been his ally, Daia traversed Asia Minor and, in April 313, he crossed the Bosporus and went to Byzantium, which he took from Licinius after an eleven day siege. On 30 April 313 the armies of both emperors clashed on the Campus Ergenus; in the ensuing battle Daia's forces were routed. A last ditch stand by Daia at the Cilician Gates failed; the eastern emperor subsequently died in the area of Tarsus probably in July or August 313. As soon as he arrived in Nicomedeia, Licinius promulgated the Edict of Milan. As soon as he had matters in Nicomedeia straightened out, Licinius campaigned against the Persians in the remaining part of 313 and the opening months of 314.

The First Civil War Between Licinius and Constantine

Once Licinius had defeated Maximinus Daia, the sole rulers of the Roman world were he and Constantine. It is obvious that the marriage of Licinius to Constantia was simply a union of convenience. In any case, there is evidence in the sources that both emperors were looking for an excuse to attack the other. The affair involving Bassianus (the husband of Constantius I's daughter Anastasia ), mentioned in the text of Anonymus Valesianus (5.14ff), may have sparked the falling out between the two emperors. In any case, Constantine' s forces joined battle with those of Licinius at Cibalae in Pannonia on 8 October 314. When the battle was over, Constantine prevailed; his victory, however, was Pyrrhic. Both emperors had been involved in exhausting military campaigns in the previous year and the months leading up to Cibalae and each of their realms had expanded so fast that their manpower reserves must have been stretched to the limit. Both men retreated to their own territory to lick their wounds. It may well be that the two emperors made an agreement, which has left no direct trace in the historical record, which would effectively restore the status quo.

Both emperors were variously engaged in different activities between 315 and 316. In addition to campaigning against the Germans while residing in Augusta Treverorum (Trier) in 315, Constantine dealt with aspects of the Donatist controversy; he also traveled to Rome where he celebrated his Decennalia. Licinius, possibly residing at Sirmium, was probably waging war against the Goths. Although not much else is known about Licinius' activities during this period, it is probable that he spent much of his time preparing for his impending war against Constantine; the latter,who spent the spring and summer of 316 in Augusta Treverorum, was probably doing much the same thing. In any case, by December 316, the western emperor was in Sardica with his army. Sometime between 1 December and 28 February 317, both emperors' armies joined battle on the Campus Ardiensis; as was the case in the previous engagement, Constantine' s forces were victorious. On 1 March 317, both sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities; possibly because of the intervention of his wife Constantia, Licinius was able to keep his throne, although he had to agree to the execution of his colleague Valens, who the eastern emperor had appointed as his colleague before the battle, as well as to cede some of his territory to his brother-in-law.

Licinius and the Christians

Although the historical record is not completely clear, Licinius seems to have campaigned against the Sarmatians in 318. He also appears to have been in Byzantium in the summer of 318 and later in June 323. Beyond these few facts, not much else is known about his residences until mid summer of 324. Although he and Constantine had issued the Edict of Milan in early 313, Licinius turned on the Christians in his realm seemingly in 320. The first law that Licinius issued prevented bishops from communicating with each other and from holding synods to discuss matters of interest to them. The second law prohibited men and women from attending services together and young girls from receiving instruction from their bishop or schools. When this law was issued, he also gave orders that Christians could hold services only outside of city walls. Additionally, he deprived officers in the army of their commissions if they did not sacrifice to the gods. Licinius may have been trying to incite Constantine to attack him. In any case, the growing tension between the two rulers is reflected in the consular Fasti of the period.

The Second Civil War Between Licinius and Constantine and Licinius' Death

War actually broke out in 321 when Constantine pursued some Sarmatians, who had been ravaging some territory in his realm, across the Danube. When he checked a similar invasion of the Goths, who were devastating Thrace, Licinius complained that Constantine had broken the treaty between them. Having assembled a fleet and army at Thessalonica, Constantine advanced toward Adrianople. Licinius engaged the forces of his brother-in-law near the banks of the Hebrus River on 3 July 324 where he was routed; with as many men as he could gather, he headed for his fleet which was in the Hellespont. Those of his soldiers who were not killed or put to flight, surrendered to the enemy. Licinius fled to Byzantium, where he was besieged by Constantine. Licinius' fleet, under the command of the admiral Abantus, was overcome by bad weather and by Constantine' s fleet which was under the command of his son Crispus. Hard pressed in Byzantium, Licinius abandoned the city to his rival and fled to Chalcedon in Bithynia. Leaving Martinianus, his former magister officiorum and now his co-ruler, to impede Constantine' s progress, Licinius regrouped his forces and engaged his enemy at Chrysopolis where he was again routed on 18 September 324. He fled to Nicomedeia which Constantine began to besiege. On the next day Licinius abdicated and was sent to Thessalonica, where he was kept under house arrest. Both Licinius and his associate were put to death by Constantine. Martinianus may have been put to death before the end of 324, whereas Licinius was not put to death until the spring of 325. Rumors circulated that Licinius had been put to death because he attempted another rebellion against Constantine.

Copyright (C) 1996, Michael DiMaio, Jr.
Published: De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families http://www.roman-emperors.org/startup.htm. Used by permission.

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.

Cleisthenes
Licin1AEFolJupiAlex.jpg
1308c, Licinius I, 308-324 A.D. (Alexandria)Licinius I, 308-324 A.D. AE Follis, 3.60g, VF, 315 A.D., Alexandria. Obverse: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG - Laureate head right; Reverse: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVGG - Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on a globe and scepter; exergue: ALE / (wreath) over "B" over "N." Ref: RIC VII, 10 (B = r2) Rare, page 705 - Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, Scotland.


De Imperatoribus Romanis : An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families

Licinius (308-324 A.D.)


Michael DiMaio, Jr.
Salve Regina University

Licinius' Heritage

Valerius Licinianus Licinius, more commonly known as Licinius, may have been born ca. 265. Of peasant origin, his family was from Dacia. A close friend and comrade of arms of the Emperor Galerius, he accompanied him on his Persian expedition in 297. When campaigns by Severus and Galerius in late 306 or early 307 and in the summer of 307, respectively, failed to dislodge Maxentius who, with the luke warm support of his father Maximianus Herculius, was acclaimed princeps on 28 October 306, he was sent by the eastern emperor to Maxentius as an ambassador; the diplomatic mission, however, failed because the usurper refused to submit to the authority of his father-in-law Galerius. At the Conference of Carnuntum which was held in October or November of 308, Licinius was made an Augustus on 11 November 308; his realm included Thrace, Illyricum, and Pannonia.

Licinius' Early Reign

Although Licinius was initially appointed by Galerius to replace Severus to end the revolt of Maxentius , Licinius (perhaps wisely) made no effort to move against the usurper. In fact, his first attested victory was against the Sarmatians probably in the late spring, but no later than the end of June in 310. When the Emperor Galerius died in 311, Licinius met Maximinus Daia at the Bosporus during the early summer of that year; they concluded a treaty and divided Galerius' realm between them. It was little more than a year later that the Emperor Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on 28 October 312. After the defeat of the usurper, Constantine and Licinius met at Mediolanum (Milan) where Licinius married the former's sister Constantia; one child was born of this union: Valerius Licinianus Licinius. Licinius had another son, born of a slave woman, whose name is unknown. It appears that both emperors promulgated the so-called Edict of Milan, in which Constantine and Licinius granted Christians the freedom to practice their faith without any interference from the state.

As soon as he seems to have learned about the marital alliance between Licinius and Constantine and the death of Maxentius, who had been his ally, Daia traversed Asia Minor and, in April 313, he crossed the Bosporus and went to Byzantium, which he took from Licinius after an eleven day siege. On 30 April 313 the armies of both emperors clashed on the Campus Ergenus; in the ensuing battle Daia's forces were routed. A last ditch stand by Daia at the Cilician Gates failed; the eastern emperor subsequently died in the area of Tarsus probably in July or August 313. As soon as he arrived in Nicomedeia, Licinius promulgated the Edict of Milan. As soon as he had matters in Nicomedeia straightened out, Licinius campaigned against the Persians in the remaining part of 313 and the opening months of 314.

The First Civil War Between Licinius and Constantine

Once Licinius had defeated Maximinus Daia, the sole rulers of the Roman world were he and Constantine. It is obvious that the marriage of Licinius to Constantia was simply a union of convenience. In any case, there is evidence in the sources that both emperors were looking for an excuse to attack the other. The affair involving Bassianus (the husband of Constantius I's daughter Anastasia ), mentioned in the text of Anonymus Valesianus (5.14ff), may have sparked the falling out between the two emperors. In any case, Constantine' s forces joined battle with those of Licinius at Cibalae in Pannonia on 8 October 314. When the battle was over, Constantine prevailed; his victory, however, was Pyrrhic. Both emperors had been involved in exhausting military campaigns in the previous year and the months leading up to Cibalae and each of their realms had expanded so fast that their manpower reserves must have been stretched to the limit. Both men retreated to their own territory to lick their wounds. It may well be that the two emperors made an agreement, which has left no direct trace in the historical record, which would effectively restore the status quo.

Both emperors were variously engaged in different activities between 315 and 316. In addition to campaigning against the Germans while residing in Augusta Treverorum (Trier) in 315, Constantine dealt with aspects of the Donatist controversy; he also traveled to Rome where he celebrated his Decennalia. Licinius, possibly residing at Sirmium, was probably waging war against the Goths. Although not much else is known about Licinius' activities during this period, it is probable that he spent much of his time preparing for his impending war against Constantine; the latter,who spent the spring and summer of 316 in Augusta Treverorum, was probably doing much the same thing. In any case, by December 316, the western emperor was in Sardica with his army. Sometime between 1 December and 28 February 317, both emperors' armies joined battle on the Campus Ardiensis; as was the case in the previous engagement, Constantine' s forces were victorious. On 1 March 317, both sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities; possibly because of the intervention of his wife Constantia, Licinius was able to keep his throne, although he had to agree to the execution of his colleague Valens, who the eastern emperor had appointed as his colleague before the battle, as well as to cede some of his territory to his brother-in-law.

Licinius and the Christians

Although the historical record is not completely clear, Licinius seems to have campaigned against the Sarmatians in 318. He also appears to have been in Byzantium in the summer of 318 and later in June 323. Beyond these few facts, not much else is known about his residences until mid summer of 324. Although he and Constantine had issued the Edict of Milan in early 313, Licinius turned on the Christians in his realm seemingly in 320. The first law that Licinius issued prevented bishops from communicating with each other and from holding synods to discuss matters of interest to them. The second law prohibited men and women from attending services together and young girls from receiving instruction from their bishop or schools. When this law was issued, he also gave orders that Christians could hold services only outside of city walls. Additionally, he deprived officers in the army of their commissions if they did not sacrifice to the gods. Licinius may have been trying to incite Constantine to attack him. In any case, the growing tension between the two rulers is reflected in the consular Fasti of the period.

The Second Civil War Between Licinius and Constantine and Licinius' Death

War actually broke out in 321 when Constantine pursued some Sarmatians, who had been ravaging some territory in his realm, across the Danube. When he checked a similar invasion of the Goths, who were devastating Thrace, Licinius complained that Constantine had broken the treaty between them. Having assembled a fleet and army at Thessalonica, Constantine advanced toward Adrianople. Licinius engaged the forces of his brother-in-law near the banks of the Hebrus River on 3 July 324 where he was routed; with as many men as he could gather, he headed for his fleet which was in the Hellespont. Those of his soldiers who were not killed or put to flight, surrendered to the enemy. Licinius fled to Byzantium, where he was besieged by Constantine. Licinius' fleet, under the command of the admiral Abantus, was overcome by bad weather and by Constantine' s fleet which was under the command of his son Crispus. Hard pressed in Byzantium, Licinius abandoned the city to his rival and fled to Chalcedon in Bithynia. Leaving Martinianus, his former magister officiorum and now his co-ruler, to impede Constantine' s progress, Licinius regrouped his forces and engaged his enemy at Chrysopolis where he was again routed on 18 September 324. He fled to Nicomedeia which Constantine began to besiege. On the next day Licinius abdicated and was sent to Thessalonica, where he was kept under house arrest. Both Licinius and his associate were put to death by Constantine. Martinianus may have been put to death before the end of 324, whereas Licinius was not put to death until the spring of 325. Rumors circulated that Licinius had been put to death because he attempted another rebellion against Constantine.

Copyright (C) 1996, Michael DiMaio, Jr.
Published: De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families http://www.roman-emperors.org/startup.htm. Used by permission.

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.

Cleisthenes
Julian2VotXConstantinople.jpg
1409a, Julian II "the Philosopher," February 360 - 26 June 363 A.D.Julian II, A.D. 360-363; RIC 167; VF; 2.7g, 20mm; Constantinople mint; Obverse: DN FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, helmeted & cuirassed bust right, holding spear & shield; Reverse: VOT X MVLT XX in four lines within wreath; CONSPB in exergue; Attractive green patina. Ex Nemesis.


De Imperatoribus Romanis,
An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors


Julian the Apostate (360-363 A.D.)


Walter E. Roberts, Emory University
Michael DiMaio, Jr., Salve Regina University

Introduction

The emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus reigned from 360 to 26 June 363, when he was killed fighting against the Persians. Despite his short rule, his emperorship was pivotal in the development of the history of the later Roman empire. This essay is not meant to be a comprehensive look at the various issues central to the reign of Julian and the history of the later empire. Rather, this short work is meant to be a brief history and introduction for the general reader. Julian was the last direct descendent of the Constantinian line to ascend to the purple, and it is one of history's great ironies that he was the last non-Christian emperor. As such, he has been vilified by most Christian sources, beginning with John Chrysostom and Gregory Nazianzus in the later fourth century. This tradition was picked up by the fifth century Eusebian continuators Sozomen, Socrates Scholasticus, and Theodoret and passed on to scholars down through the 20th century. Most contemporary sources, however, paint a much more balanced picture of Julian and his reign. The adoption of Christianity by emperors and society, while still a vital concern, was but one of several issues that concerned Julian.

It is fortunate that extensive writings from Julian himself exist, which help interpret his reign in the light of contemporary evidence. Still extant are some letters, several panegyrics, and a few satires. Other contemporary sources include the soldier Ammianus Marcellinus' history, correspondence between Julian and Libanius of Antioch, several panegyrics, laws from the Theodosian Code, inscriptions, and coinage. These sources show Julian's emphasis on restoration. He saw himself as the restorer of the traditional values of Roman society. Of course much of this was rhetoric, meant to defend Julian against charges that he was a usurper. At the same time this theme of restoration was central to all emperors of the fourth century. Julian thought that he was the one emperor who could regain what was viewed as the lost glory of the Roman empire. To achieve this goal he courted select groups of social elites to get across his message of restoration. This was the way that emperors functioned in the fourth century. By choosing whom to include in the sharing of power, they sought to shape society.

Early Life

Julian was born at Constantinople in 331. His father was Julius Constantius, half-brother of the emperor Constantine through Constantius Chlorus, and his mother was Basilina, Julius' second wife. Julian had two half-brothers via Julius' first marriage. One of these was Gallus, who played a major role in Julian's life. Julian appeared destined for a bright future via his father's connection to the Constantinian house. After many years of tense relations with his three half-brothers, Constantine seemed to have welcomed them into the fold of the imperial family. From 333 to 335, Constantine conferred a series of honors upon his three half-siblings, including appointing Julius Constantius as one of the consuls for 335. Julian's mother was equally distinguished. Ammianus related that she was from a noble family. This is supported by Libanius, who claimed that she was the daughter of Julius Julianus, a Praetorian Prefect under Licinius, who was such a model of administrative virtue that he was pardoned and honored by Constantine.

Despite the fact that his mother died shortly after giving birth to him, Julian experienced an idyllic early childhood. This ended when Constantius II conducted a purge of many of his relatives shortly after Constantine's death in 337, particularly targeting the families of Constantine's half-brothers. ulian and Gallus were spared, probably due to their young age. Julian was put under the care of Mardonius, a Scythian eunuch who had tutored his mother, in 339, and was raised in the Greek philosophical tradition, and probably lived in Nicomedia. Ammianus also supplied the fact that while in Nicomedia, Julian was cared for by the local bishop Eusebius, of whom the future emperor was a distant relation. Julian was educated by some of the most famous names in grammar and rhetoric in the Greek world at that time, including Nicocles and Hecebolius. In 344 Constantius II sent Julian and Gallus to Macellum in Cappadocia, where they remained for six years. In 351, Gallus was made Caesar by Constantius II and Julian was allowed to return to Nicomedia, where he studied under Aedesius, Eusebius, and Chrysanthius, all famed philosophers, and was exposed to the Neo-Platonism that would become such a prominent part of his life. But Julian was most proud of the time he spent studying under Maximus of Ephesus, a noted Neo-Platonic philospher and theurgist. It was Maximus who completed Julian's full-scale conversion to Neo-Platonism. Later, when he was Caesar, Julian told of how he put letters from this philosopher under his pillows so that he would continue to absorb wisdom while he slept, and while campaigning on the Rhine, he sent his speeches to Maximus for approval before letting others hear them. When Gallus was executed in 354 for treason by Constantius II, Julian was summoned to Italy and essentially kept under house arrest at Comum, near Milan, for seven months before Constantius' wife Eusebia convinced the emperor that Julian posed no threat. This allowed Julian to return to Greece and continue his life as a scholar where he studied under the Neo-Platonist Priscus. Julian's life of scholarly pursuit, however, ended abruptly when he was summoned to the imperial court and made Caesar by Constantius II on 6 November 355.

Julian as Caesar

Constantius II realized an essential truth of the empire that had been evident since the time of the Tetrarchy--the empire was too big to be ruled effectively by one man. Julian was pressed into service as Caesar, or subordinate emperor, because an imperial presence was needed in the west, in particular in the Gallic provinces. Julian, due to the emperor's earlier purges, was the only viable candidate of the imperial family left who could act as Caesar. Constantius enjoined Julian with the task of restoring order along the Rhine frontier. A few days after he was made Caesar, Julian was married to Constantius' sister Helena in order to cement the alliance between the two men. On 1 December 355, Julian journeyed north, and in Augusta Taurinorum he learned that Alamannic raiders had destroyed Colonia Agrippina. He then proceeded to Vienne where he spent the winter. At Vienne, he learned that Augustudunum was also under siege, but was being held by a veteran garrison. He made this his first priority, and arrived there on 24 June 356. When he had assured himself that the city was in no immediate danger, he journeyed to Augusta Treverorum via Autessioduram, and from there to Durocortorum where he rendezvoused with his army. Julian had the army stage a series of punitive strikes around the Dieuse region, and then he moved them towards the Argentoratum/Mongontiacum region when word of barbarian incursions reached him.

From there, Julian moved on to Colonia Agrippina, and negotiated a peace with the local barbarian leaders who had assaulted the city. He then wintered at Senonae. He spent the early part of the campaigning season of 357 fighting off besiegers at Senonae, and then conducting operations around Lugdunum and Tres Tabernae. Later that summer, he encountered his watershed moment as a military general. Ammianus went into great detail about Julian's victory over seven rogue Alamannic chieftains near Argentoratum, and Julian himself bragged about it in his later writing. After this battle, the soldiers acclaimed Julian Augustus, but he rejected this title. After mounting a series of follow-up raids into Alamannic territory, he retired to winter quarters at Lutetia, and on the way defeated some Frankish raiders in the Mosa region. Julian considered this campaign one of the major events of his time as Caesar.

Julian began his 358 military campaigns early, hoping to catch the barbarians by surprise. His first target was the Franks in the northern Rhine region. He then proceeded to restore some forts in the Mosa region, but his soldiers threatened to mutiny because they were on short rations and had not been paid their donative since Julian had become Caesar. After he soothed his soldiers, Julian spent the rest of the summer negotiating a peace with various Alamannic leaders in the mid and lower Rhine areas, and retired to winter quarters at Lutetia. In 359, he prepared once again to carry out a series of punitive expeditions against the Alamanni in the Rhine region who were still hostile to the Roman presence. In preparation, the Caesar repopulated seven previously destroyed cities and set them up as supply bases and staging areas. This was done with the help of the people with whom Julian had negotiated a peace the year before. Julian then had a detachment of lightly armed soldiers cross the Rhine near Mogontiacum and conduct a guerilla strike against several chieftains. As a result of these campaigns, Julian was able to negotiate a peace with all but a handful of the Alamannic leaders, and he retired to winter quarters at Lutetia.

Of course, Julian did more than act as a general during his time as Caesar. According to Ammianus, Julian was an able administrator who took steps to correct the injustices of Constantius' appointees. Ammianus related the story of how Julian prevented Florentius, the Praetorian Prefect of Gaul, from raising taxes, and also how Julian actually took over as governor for the province of Belgica Secunda. Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, supported Ammianus' basic assessment of Julian in this regard when he reported that Julian was an able representative of the emperor to the Gallic provincials. There is also epigraphic evidence to support Julian's popularity amongst the provincial elites. An inscription found near Beneventum in Apulia reads:
"To Flavius Claudius Julianus, most noble and sanctified Caesar, from the caring Tocius Maximus, vir clarissimus, for the care of the res publica from Beneventum".

Tocius Maximus, as a vir clarissimus, was at the highest point in the social spectrum and was a leader in his local community. This inscription shows that Julian was successful in establishing a positive image amongst provincial elites while he was Caesar.

Julian Augustus

In early 360, Constantius, driven by jealousy of Julian's success, stripped Julian of many troops and officers, ostensibly because the emperor needed them for his upcoming campaign against the Persians. One of the legions ordered east, the Petulantes, did not want to leave Gaul because the majority of the soldiers in the unit were from this region. As a result they mutinied and hailed Julian as Augustus at Lutetia. Julian refused this acclamation as he had done at Argentoratum earlier, but the soldiers would have none of his denial. They raised him on a shield and adorned him with a neck chain, which had formerly been the possession of the standard-bearer of the Petulantes and symbolized a royal diadem. Julian appeared reluctantly to acquiesce to their wishes, and promised a generous donative. The exact date of his acclamation is unknown, but most scholars put it in February or March. Julian himself supported Ammianus' picture of a jealous Constantius. In his Letter to the Athenians, a document constructed to answer charges that he was a usurper, Julian stated that from the start he, as Caesar, had been meant as a figurehead to the soldiers and provincials. The real power he claimed lay with the generals and officials already present in Gaul. In fact, according to Julian, the generals were charged with watching him as much as the enemy. His account of the actual acclamation closely followed what Ammianus told us, but he stressed even more his reluctance to take power. Julian claimed that he did so only after praying to Zeus for guidance.

Fearing the reaction of Constantius, Julian sent a letter to his fellow emperor justifying the events at Lutetia and trying to arrange a peaceful solution. This letter berated Constantius for forcing the troops in Gaul into an untenable situation. Ammianus stated that Julian's letter blamed Constantius' decision to transfer Gallic legions east as the reason for the soldiers' rebellion. Julian once again asserted that he was an unwilling participant who was only following the desire of the soldiers. In both of these basic accounts Ammianus and Julian are playing upon the theme of restoration. Implicit in their version of Julian's acclamation is the argument that Constantius was unfit to rule. The soldiers were the vehicle of the gods' will. The Letter to the Athenians is full of references to the fact that Julian was assuming the mantle of Augustus at the instigation of the gods. Ammianus summed up this position nicely when he related the story of how, when Julian was agonizing over whether to accept the soldiers' acclamation, he had a dream in which he was visited by the Genius (guardian spirit) of the Roman state. The Genius told Julian that it had often tried to bestow high honors upon Julian but had been rebuffed. Now, the Genius went on to say, was Julian's final chance to take the power that was rightfully his. If the Caesar refused this chance, the Genius would depart forever, and both Julian and the state would rue Julian's rejection. Julian himself wrote a letter to his friend Maximus of Ephesus in November of 361 detailing his thoughts on his proclamation. In this letter, Julian stated that the soldiers proclaimed him Augustus against his will. Julian, however, defended his accession, saying that the gods willed it and that he had treated his enemies with clemency and justice. He went on to say that he led the troops in propitiating the traditional deities, because the gods commanded him to return to the traditional rites, and would reward him if he fulfilled this duty.

During 360 an uneasy peace simmered between the two emperors. Julian spent the 360 campaigning season continuing his efforts to restore order along the Rhine, while Constantius continued operations against the Persians. Julian wintered in Vienne, and celebrated his Quinquennalia. It was at this time that his wife Helena died, and he sent her remains to Rome for a proper burial at his family villa on the Via Nomentana where the body of her sister was entombed. The uneasy peace held through the summer of 361, but Julian concentrated his military operations around harassing the Alamannic chieftain Vadomarius and his allies, who had concluded a peace treaty with Constantius some years earlier. By the end of the summer, Julian decided to put an end to the waiting and gathered his army to march east against Constantius. The empire teetered on the brink of another civil war. Constantius had spent the summer negotiating with the Persians and making preparations for possible military action against his cousin. When he was assured that the Persians would not attack, he summoned his army and sallied forth to meet Julian. As the armies drew inexorably closer to one another, the empire was saved from another bloody civil war when Constantius died unexpectedly of natural causes on 3 November near the town of Mopsucrenae in Cilicia, naming Julian -- the sources say-- as his legitimate successor.

Julian was in Dacia when he learned of his cousin's death. He made his way through Thrace and came to Constantinople on 11 December 361 where Julian honored the emperor with the funeral rites appropriate for a man of his station. Julian immediately set about putting his supporters in positions of power and trimming the imperial bureaucracy, which had become extremely overstaffed during Constantius' reign. Cooks and barbers had increased during the late emperor's reign and Julian expelled them from his court. Ammianus gave a mixed assessment of how the new emperor handled the followers of Constantius. Traditionally, emperors were supposed to show clemency to the supporters of a defeated enemy. Julian, however, gave some men over to death to appease the army. Ammianus used the case of Ursulus, Constantius' comes sacrum largitionum, to illustrate his point. Ursulus had actually tried to acquire money for the Gallic troops when Julian had first been appointed Caesar, but he had also made a disparaging remark about the ineffectiveness of the army after the battle of Amida. The soldiers remembered this, and when Julian became sole Augustus, they demanded Ursulus' head. Julian obliged, much to the disapproval of Ammianus. This seems to be a case of Julian courting the favor of the military leadership, and is indicative of a pattern in which Julian courted the goodwill of various societal elites to legitimize his position as emperor.

Another case in point is the officials who made up the imperial bureaucracy. Many of them were subjected to trial and punishment. To achieve this goal, during the last weeks of December 361 Julian assembled a military tribunal at Chalcedon, empanelling six judges to try the cases. The president of the tribunal was Salutius, just promoted to the rank of Praetorian Prefect; the five other members were Mamertinus, the orator, and four general officers: Jovinus, Agilo, Nevitta, and Arbetio. Relative to the proceedings of the tribunal, Ammianus noted that the judges, " . . . oversaw the cases more vehemently than was right or fair, with the exception of a few . . .." Ammianus' account of Julian's attempt at reform of the imperial bureaucracy is supported by legal evidence from the Theodosian Code. A series of laws sent to Mamertinus, Julian's appointee as Praetorian Prefect in Italy, Illyricum, and Africa, illustrate this point nicely. On 6 June 362, Mamertinus received a law that prohibited provincial governors from bypassing the Vicars when giving their reports to the Prefect. Traditionally, Vicars were given civil authority over a group of provinces, and were in theory meant to serve as a middle step between governors and Prefects. This law suggests that the Vicars were being left out, at least in Illyricum. Julian issued another edict to Mamertinus on 22 February 362 to stop abuse of the public post by governors. According to this law, only Mamertinus could issue post warrants, but the Vicars were given twelve blank warrants to be used as they saw fit, and each governor was given two. Continuing the trend of bureaucratic reform, Julian also imposed penalties on governors who purposefully delayed appeals in court cases they had heard. The emperor also established a new official to weigh solidi used in official government transactions to combat coin clipping.

For Julian, reigning in the abuses of imperial bureaucrats was one step in restoring the prestige of the office of emperor. Because he could not affect all elements of society personally, Julian, like other Neo-Flavian emperors, decided to concentrate on select groups of societal elites as intercessors between himself and the general populace. One of these groups was the imperial bureaucracy. Julian made it very clear that imperial officials were intercessors in a very real sense in a letter to Alypius, Vicar of Britain. In this letter, sent from Gaul sometime before 361, the emperor praises Alypius for his use of "mildness and moderation with courage and force" in his rule of the provincials. Such virtues were characteristic of the emperors, and it was good that Alypius is representing Julian in this way. Julian courted the army because it put him in power. Another group he sought to include in his rule was the traditional Senatorial aristocracy. One of his first appointments as consul was Claudius Mamertinus, a Gallic Senator and rhetorician. Mamertinus' speech in praise of Julian delivered at Constantinople in January of 362 is preserved. In this speech, Claudius presented his consular selection as inaugurating a new golden age and Julian as the restorer of the empire founded by Augustus. The image Mamertinus gave of his own consulate inaugurating a new golden age is not merely formulaic. The comparison of Julian to Augustus has very real, if implicit, relevance to Claudius' situation. Claudius emphasized the imperial period as the true age of renewal. Augustus ushered in a new era with his formation of a partnership between the emperor and the Senate based upon a series of honors and offices bestowed upon the Senate in return for their role as intercessor between emperor and populace. It was this system that Julian was restoring, and the consulate was one concrete example of this bond. To be chosen as a consul by the emperor, who himself had been divinely mandated, was a divine honor. In addition to being named consul, Mamertinus went on to hold several offices under Julian, including the Prefecture of Italy, Illyricum, and Africa. Similarly, inscriptional evidence illustrates a link between municipal elites and Julian during his time as Caesar, something which continued after he became emperor. One concrete example comes from the municipal senate of Aceruntia in Apulia, which established a monument on which Julian is styled as "Repairer of the World."

Julian seems to have given up actual Christian belief before his acclamation as emperor and was a practitioner of more traditional Greco-Roman religious beliefs, in particular, a follower of certain late antique Platonist philosophers who were especially adept at theurgy as was noted earlier. In fact Julian himself spoke of his conversion to Neo-Platonism in a letter to the Alexandrians written in 363. He stated that he had abandoned Christianity when he was twenty years old and been an adherent of the traditional Greco-Roman deities for the twelve years prior to writing this letter.

(For the complete text of this article see: http://www.roman-emperors.org/julian.htm)

Julian’s Persian Campaign

The exact goals Julian had for his ill-fated Persian campaign were never clear. The Sassanid Persians, and before them the Parthians, had been a traditional enemy from the time of the Late Republic, and indeed Constantius had been conducting a war against them before Julian's accession forced the former to forge an uneasy peace. Julian, however, had no concrete reason to reopen hostilities in the east. Socrates Scholasticus attributed Julian's motives to imitation of Alexander the Great, but perhaps the real reason lay in his need to gather the support of the army. Despite his acclamation by the Gallic legions, relations between Julian and the top military officers was uneasy at best. A war against the Persians would have brought prestige and power both to Julian and the army.

Julian set out on his fateful campaign on 5 March 363. Using his trademark strategy of striking quickly and where least expected, he moved his army through Heirapolis and from there speedily across the Euphrates and into the province of Mesopotamia, where he stopped at the town of Batnae. His plan was to eventually return through Armenia and winter in Tarsus. Once in Mesopotamia, Julian was faced with the decision of whether to travel south through the province of Babylonia or cross the Tigris into Assyria, and he eventually decided to move south through Babylonia and turn west into Assyria at a later date. By 27 March, he had the bulk of his army across the Euphrates, and had also arranged a flotilla to guard his supply line along the mighty river. He then left his generals Procopius and Sebastianus to help Arsacius, the king of Armenia and a Roman client, to guard the northern Tigris line. It was also during this time that he received the surrender of many prominent local leaders who had nominally supported the Persians. These men supplied Julian with money and troops for further military action against their former masters. Julian decided to turn south into Babylonia and proceeded along the Euphrates, coming to the fortress of Cercusium at the junction of the Abora and Euphrates Rivers around the first of April, and from there he took his army west to a region called Zaitha near the abandoned town of Dura where they visited the tomb of the emperor Gordian which was in the area. On April 7 he set out from there into the heart of Babylonia and towards Assyria.

Ammianus then stated that Julian and his army crossed into Assyria, which on the face of things appears very confusing. Julian still seems to be operating within the province of Babylonia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The confusion is alleviated when one realizes that,for Ammianus, the region of Assyria encompassed the provinces of Babylonia and Assyria. On their march, Julian's forces took the fortress of Anatha, received the surrender and support of several more local princes, and ravaged the countryside of Assyria between the rivers. As the army continued south, they came across the fortresses Thilutha and Achaiachala, but these places were too well defended and Julian decided to leave them alone. Further south were the cities Diacira and Ozogardana, which the Roman forces sacked and burned. Soon, Julian came to Pirisabora and a brief siege ensued, but the city fell and was also looted and destroyed. It was also at this time that the Roman army met its first systematic resistance from the Persians. As the Romans penetrated further south and west, the local inhabitants began to flood their route. Nevertheless, the Roman forces pressed on and came to Maiozamalcha, a sizable city not far from Ctesiphon. After a short siege, this city too fell to Julian. Inexorably, Julian's forces zeroed in on Ctesiphon, but as they drew closer, the Persian resistance grew fiercer, with guerilla raids whittling at Julian's men and supplies. A sizable force of the army was lost and the emperor himself was almost killed taking a fort a few miles from the target city.
Finally, the army approached Ctesiphon following a canal that linked the Tigris and Euphrates. It soon became apparent after a few preliminary skirmishes that a protracted siege would be necessary to take this important city. Many of his generals, however, thought that pursuing this course of action would be foolish. Julian reluctantly agreed, but became enraged by this failure and ordered his fleet to be burned as he decided to march through the province of Assyria. Julian had planned for his army to live off the land, but the Persians employed a scorched-earth policy. When it became apparent that his army would perish (because his supplies were beginning to dwindle) from starvation and the heat if he continued his campaign, and also in the face of superior numbers of the enemy, Julian ordered a retreat on 16 June. As the Roman army retreated, they were constantly harassed by guerilla strikes. It was during one of these raids that Julian got caught up in the fighting and took a spear to his abdomen. Mortally wounded he was carried to his tent, where, after conferring with some of his officers, he died. The date was 26 June 363.

Conclusion

Thus an ignominious end for a man came about who had hoped to restore the glory of the Roman empire during his reign as emperor. Due to his intense hatred of Christianity, the opinion of posterity has not been kind to Julian. The contemporary opinion, however, was overall positive. The evidence shows that Julian was a complex ruler with a definite agenda to use traditional social institutions in order to revive what he saw as a collapsing empire. In the final assessment, he was not so different from any of the other emperors of the fourth century. He was a man grasping desperately to hang on to a Greco-Roman conception of leadership that was undergoing a subtle yet profound change.
Copyright (C) 2002, Walter E. Roberts and Michael DiMaio, Jr. Used by permission.

In reality, Julian worked to promote culture and philosophy in any manifestation. He tried to reduce taxes and the public debts of municipalities; he augmented administrative decentralisation; he promoted a campaign of austerity to reduce public expenditure (setting himself as the example). He reformed the postal service and eliminated the powerful secret police.
by Federico Morando; JULIAN II, The Apostate, See the Julian II Page on NumisWiki

Flavius Claudius Iulianus was born in 331 or maybe 332 A.D. in Constantinople. He ruled the Western Empire as Caesar from 355 to 360 and was hailed Augustus by his legions in Lutetia (Paris) in 360. Julian was a gifted administrator and military strategist. Famed as the last pagan emperor, his reinstatement of the pagan religion earned him the moniker "the Apostate." As evidenced by his brilliant writing, some of which has survived to the present day, the title "the Philosopher" may have been more appropriate. He died from wounds suffered during the Persian campaign of 363 A.D. Joseph Sermarini, FORVM.

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.




2 commentsCleisthenes
jovian.jpg
1410a, Jovian, 27 June 363 - 17 February 364 A.D.Bronze AE 3, RIC 179, aVF, Constantinople, 3.126g, 21.6mm, 180o. Obverse: D N IOVIANVS P F AVG, pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left; Reverse: VOT V MVLT X within wreath, CONSPG in exergue; scarce.

Flavius Jovianuswas born in 331 at Singidunum, modern Belgrade. His distinguished father, Varronianus, had been a tribune of the legion Ioviani and a comes domesticorum, perhaps under Constantius II, who had retired to private life shortly before Jovian's elevation to the purple. Jovian married a daughter of Lucillianus, perhaps named Charito, and by her produced at least two children.

Jovian himself was a protector domesticus under Constantius II and Julian and, under Julian, primicerius domesticorum. Various Christian sources maintain that Jovian's Christianity led to his deposition by Julian, though most modern scholars dismiss this as ex post facto Christian apologetic. Jovian, recalled to the ranks if he had ever been dismissed, marched with Julian against Sapor in 363, and on 27 June, the day after that emperor's death, was acclaimed Augustus.

Ammianus and Zosimus, among others, detail the difficult straits of the Roman army during its withdrawal from Persian territory, Ammianus from the perspective of a proud soldier confident even in defeat of the superiority of Roman arms, Zosimus, in a much shorter and confused version, concentrating on the predicament of Jovian's troops and on the dire effects to the empire of the peace terms agreed to with Sapor. These terms entailed the cessation to Persia of Roman territory beyond the Tigris -- the cities of Singara and Nisibis, however, to be surrendered on the condition of the safe passage of their inhabitants -- and the guarantee of the neutrality of Rome's ally Arsaces, King of Armenia, in the event of future hostilities between Roman and Persia. Ammianus asserts that in agreeing to these terms Jovian misjudged his tactical strength and wasted an opportunity presented by negotiations with Sapor to move his forces closer to supplies at Corduena, and that Jovian acted on the advise of flatterers to preserve the fighting strength of his forces in the event of an attempt by Julian's relative Procopius to seize the throne. Others present the treaty terms as unavoidable given the Roman predicament.

Jovian appears to have treaded cautiously with regard to religious matters during the early months of his reign. Eunapius says that Jovian continued to honor Maximus and Priscus, the Neoplatonist advisors of Julian, and, upon reaching Tarsus, Jovian performed funeral rites for Julian. Nonetheless, various Christians, most notably Athanasius, took the initiative in an effort to gain Jovian's favor and support. An adherent of the Nicaean creed, Jovian did eventually recall various bishops of homoousian disposition and restore to their followers churches lost under earlier emperors. But in spite of such measures, unity among various Christian sects seems to have been the foremost concern of Jovian, whose ipsissima verba Socrates Scholasticus purports to give: "I abhor contentiousness, but love and honor those hurrying towards unanimity" (Hist. Eccl. 3.25).

Jovian died at the age of thirty-two on 17 February 364 at Dadastana on the boundary of Bithynia and Galatia. The cause of his death was most probably natural and is variously attributed to overeating, the consumption of poisonous mushrooms, or suffocation from fumes of charcoal or of the fresh paint on the room in which he was sleeping. Ammianus' comparison of the circumstances of Jovian's death to those of Scipio Aemilianus suggest the possibility of foul play, as does John of Antioch's reference to a poisoned rather than a poisonous mushroom, while John Chrysostom -- in a highly suspect literary context of consolatio-- asserts outright that the emperor was murdered. Eutropius records that he was enrolled among the gods, inter Divos relatus est. Zonaras says he was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles and that his wife, Charito, was eventually laid to rest beside him.

Ancient authors agree that Jovian was of modest intellect but imposing physique and disposed to excessive eating and drinking.

By Thomas Banchich, Canisius College
Published: De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families http://www.roman-emperors.org/startup.htm. Used by permission.

Edited By J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.

Cleisthenes
0023-056.jpg
1633 - Mark Antony, DenariusStruck in a travelling mint, moving with Mark Antony in 41 BC
ANT AVG IMP III VI R P C, Head of Mark Antony right
Fortuna standing left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopiae in left; at feet, stork; below, PIETAS COS
3,82 gr - 20 mm
Ref : Crawford # 516/2, Sydenham # 1174, HCRI # 241, C # 77
Ex. Auctiones.GmbH

The following comment is copied from NAC auction # 52/294 about the very rare corresponding aureus :
The year 41 B.C., when this aureus was struck at a mint travelling in the East with Marc Antony, was a period of unusual calm for the triumvir, who took a welcomed, if unexpected, rest after the great victory he and Octavian had won late in 42 B.C. against Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi. Antony’s original plan of organising an invasion of Parthia was put on hold after he sailed to Tarsus, where he had summoned Cleopatra VII, the Greek queen of Egypt. She was to defend herself against accusations that she had aided Brutus and Cassius before Philippi, but it is generally agreed that the summons was merely a pretext for Antony’s plan to secure aid for his Parthian campaign. Their meeting was anything but a source of conflict; indeed, they found much common ground, including their agreement that it was in their mutual interests to execute Cleopatra’s sister and rival Arsinoe IV, who had been ruling Cyprus. In addition to sharing political interests, the two agreed that Antony would winter in Egypt to share a luxurious vacation with Cleopatra that caused a further postponement of Antony’s designs on Parthia. Thus began another of the queen’s liaisons with noble Romans, a prior having been Julius Caesar (and, according to Plutarch, Pompey Jr. before him). During the course of his stay in Egypt Cleopatra was impregnated, which resulted in twins born to her in 40 B.C. But this care-free period was only a momentary calm in the storm, for trouble was brewing in both the East and the West. Early in 40 B.C. Syria was overrun by the Parthians, seemingly while Antony travelled to Italy to meet Octavian following the Perusine War, in which Octavian defeated the armies of Antony’s wife and brother. The conflict with Octavian was resolved when they signed a pact at Brundisium in October, and Syria was eventually recovered through the efforts of Antony’s commanders from 40 to 38 B.C.{/i]

5 commentsPotator II
FlorianusAntConcordMil.jpg
1dn Florianus276

AE antoninianus

Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust, right, IMP FLORIANVS AVG
Victory & Flor, CONCORDIA MILITVM

RIC 116Q

Half-brother to Tacitus, he reigned only two months before his troops killed him rather than fight an army under Probus. Concordia Militvm did not really work out for him. Zosimus recorded, "An universal civil disturbance now arose, those of the east chusing Probus emperor, and those at Rome Florianus. The former of these governed all Syria, Phoenicia, Palestine, and Egypt; but the latter was in possession of all the countries from Cilicia to Italy; besides which the homage of all the nations beyond the Alps, the Gauls, Spaniards, Britons, and Africans was paid to him. When both therefore were ready for war, Florianus came to Tarsus, resolving to encamp there, leaving his victory over the Scythians at the Bosphorus unfinished, by which he gave them an opportunity of recovering themselves and returning home, though he had cut off their retreat. Probus protracted the time, because he came with less preparation for a battle. By these means it came to pass, that the weather, being exceedingly hot, a pestilential disorder broke out amongst the troops of Florianus, most of whom were Europeans, and consequently unaccustomed to such excessive heat, by which many were taken off. When Probus understood this, he thought it a proper time to attack the enemy. The soldiers of Florianus, attempting what exceeded their strength, fought some slight skirmishes before the city, but nothing being done worthy of notice, some of the troops of Probus deposed Florianus. Having performed this, he was kept in custody for some time, until his own soldiers said, that it was the will of Probus that he should share the empire. Florianus therefore assumed |32 the purple robe again, until the return of those who were sent to know the true resolution of Probus. On their arrival they caused Florianus to be killed by his own soldiers."
Blindado
MaximinusIIFollisGenio.jpg
1dy Maximinus II309-313

Quarter Follis

Laureate head, right, MAXIMINVS NOB C
Genius standing left, naked except for modius on head & chlamys over shoulder, holding patera & cornucopiae, SIS in ex, GENIO POPVLI ROMANI.

RIC 170b

According to Eutropius: Galerius, a man of excellent moral character, and skilful in military affairs, finding that Italy, by Constantius's permission, was put under his government, created two Caesars, MAXIMIN, whom he appointed over the east, and SEVERUS, to whom he committed Italy. He himself resided in Illyricum. . . . LICINIUS, a native of Dacia, was made emperor by Galerius, to whom he was known by old companionship, and recommended by his vigorous efforts and services in the war which he had conducted against Narseus. The death of Galerius followed immediately afterwards. The empire was then held by the four new emperors, Constantine and Maxentius, sons of emperors, Licinius and Maximian, sons of undistinguished men. Constantine, however, in the fifth year of his reign, commenced a civil war with Maxentius, routed his forces in several battles, and at last overthrew Maxentius himself (when he was spreading death among the nobility by every possible kind of cruelty,4) at the Milvian bridge, and made himself master of Italy. Not long after, too, Maximin, after commencing hostilities against Licinius in the east, anticipated the destruction that was falling upon him by an accidental death at Tarsus.
Blindado
2014-141-3_AE18_TarsusAlexanderTheGreatClubBowinBowcase-Forum.jpg
2014.141.3Alexander III, The Great, Tarsus

AE18; 5.60 g; 9h

Obverse: Head of Heracles right, wearing lion's skin, before Caduceus.
Reverse: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, between club and bow in case; above Caduceus, to left.
Ref: Price 3058; cf SNG Cop 1046-1047;
gordian_guy
22171.jpg
22171 Elagabalus/Wreath22171 Elagabalus/Wreath
Obv: AVT KA M AVP ANTWNEINOC,
laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev: TARCOU EV MHTROPOLE, GB in ex., DHMI in wreath of Demiourgos,
Mint: Cilicia, Tarsus 24.5mm 8.8g
Ziegler, Münzen 724–8, SNG France 1560–4, Levante 1080, vA 6024
Blayne W
rjb_tgal_tar_01_07.jpg
251bTrebonianus Gallus 251-3 AD
AE 32mm
Tarsus in Cillicia
Apollo standing right with bowl on altar
RPC IX 1390
mauseus
coin259.JPG
318. FlorianAfter Tacitus died, the army chose Florian to succeed him. His full name as Emperor was Imperator Caesar Marcus Annius Florianus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus. The Historia Augusta characterizes the succession as a dynastic coup in which the Senate was ignored, but since Florian like Tacitus issued coins inscribed SC, advertising the Senate's authority for minting them, the Historia Augusta's complaint may be factitious. Most of this biography is.

Florian had hardly assumed office when the armies and provinces of Phoenicia, Palestine, Syria and Egypt declared for Probus. Florian turned from pursuing the the Eruli north to return to Cilicia and confront Probus and his army. Florian appears to have had the larger army, but Probus, an experienced general, held back. After a few weeks of sporadic fighting, Florian was assassinated by his own troops near Tarsus. He had reigned about 88 days.

Florian's different nomen, Annius rather than Claudius, means that he cannot have been Tacitus's full brother as the Historia Augusta implies; but one passage identifies him as Tacitus's half brother by the same mother, which might be true. Some historians doubt, however, whether any blood connexion existed at all. Little can be said about Florian's reign. One inscription assigns him a consulate. Though neither reigned long, both Tacitus and Florian had a large and varied coinage, "lively with hope for a golden age neither emperor ever realized."



Florian, Antoninianus 276 AD 2.77g
Obv: Bust of Florian right 'IMP FLORIANVS AVG'
Rev: Victory presenting a wreath to Florian 'CONCORDIA MILITVM' 'T' in ex.
RIC 116
ecoli
1215_P_Hadrian_RPC3259_18.jpg
3259 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm 117-18 AD TycheReference.
RPC III, 3259.18; Prieur 759; SNG BN 1405-6; SNG Levante –;

Issue First group

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СΕ
Laureate head of Hadrian, r.; fillet border

Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕωС (around) ΤΑΡ/СΕωΝ (in field l.)
Tyche of the City, turreted and veiled, seated, l., on diphros, holding palm and cornucopia; at her feet, river-god Kydnos, crowned with sedge, swimming, right

10.26 gr
26 mm
12h

Note.
From the Michel Prieur Collection. Ex Garth Drewry Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 69, 8 June 2005), lot 1137
2 commentsokidoki
489_P_Hadrian_Prieur_763.jpg
3260 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm 117-18 AD TycheReference.
RPC III, 3260/14; Prieur --; SNG France 1404; SNG Levante –.

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CΕ
Laureate bust right, slight drapery

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Tyche seated left on throne decorated with sphinx, holding palm frond and cornucopia; at feet, half-length figure of river-god Cydnus swimming left; all within wreath.

10.38 gr
25 mm
12 h

From the Olav E. Klingenberg Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 88 (14 September 2011), lot 1004.
Note from CNG
Most of the references do not distinguish the silver issues of Hadrian from Tarsus, but it is clear there are two distinct denominations. The heavier, at about 14 grams, is the traditional tetradrachm. The lighter, at slightly over 10 grams, is most likely a tridrachm.
1 commentsokidoki
1036_P_Hadrian_RPC3261CF.jpg
3262 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm 117-18 AD TycheReference.
RPC III, 3262; Prieur 761

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕB
Laureate head of Hadrian, r.; fillet border

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Tyche of the City, turreted and veiled, seated, l., on diphros, holding palm; at her feet, river-god Kydnos, crowned with sedge swimming, right

10.08 gr
24 mm
12h
okidoki
1333_P_Hadrian_RPC3263_13.jpg
3262 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm 117-18 AD TycheReference.
RPC III, 3262/13; Prieur 761; M. Prieur coll.; SNG Levante 998 var. (obv. legend); SNG BN 1401; for c/m: Howgego 843.:
c/m: laureate and draped bust right of Caracalla (AMK) within oval incuse. Prieur 761 for coin & 777 for countermarked issue;

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕB
Laureate head of Hadrian, r.; fillet border

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Tyche of the City, turreted and veiled, seated, l., on diphros, holding palm; at her feet, river-god Kydnos, crowned with sedge swimming, right

8.74 gr
24.5 mm
12h

Note.
From the Michel Prieur Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 51 (15 September 1999), lot 951.
okidoki
1333_P_Hadrian_RPC3263_13~0.jpg
3262 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm 117-18 AD TycheReference.
RPC III, 3262/13; Prieur 761; M. Prieur coll.; SNG Levante 998 var. (obv. legend); SNG BN 1401; for c/m: Howgego 843.:
c/m: laureate and draped bust right of Caracalla (AMK) within oval incuse. Prieur 761 for coin & 777 for countermarked issue;

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕB
Laureate head of Hadrian, r.; fillet border

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Tyche of the City, turreted and veiled, seated, l., on diphros, holding palm; at her feet, river-god Kydnos, crowned with sedge swimming, right

8.74 gr
24.5 mm
12h

Note.
From the Michel Prieur Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 51 (15 September 1999), lot 951.
okidoki
860_P_Hadrian_RPC3263.jpg
3263 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Lion attacking BullReference.
RPC III, 3263; SNG France 1400; Prieur 764

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕ
Laureate head of Hadrian, r. with drapery on l. shoulder

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Lion, l., attacking bull kneeling, l.

9.78 gr
26 mm
12h
2 commentsokidoki
1375_P_Hadrian_RPC3264.jpg
3264 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Lion attacking BullReference.
RPC III, 3264/24; Prieur 765; vA 5986

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕ
Laureate head of Hadrian, r. with drapery on l. shoulder, and Balteus strap

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Lion, l., attacking bull kneeling, l.

10.16 gr
26 mm
12h
3 commentsokidoki
1374_P_Hadrian_RPC3265.jpg
3265 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Lion attacking BullReference.
RPC III, 3265/15; SNG France 1398-9; Prieur 766

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕ
Laureate and cuirassed (decorated with gorgoneion) bust of Hadrian, r.

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Lion, l., attacking bull kneeling, l.

9.73 gr
25 mm
12h
2 commentsokidoki
1335_P_Hadrian_RPC6266.jpg
3266 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Sandan Reference.
RPC III 3266/17; Prieur 767; SNG BN 1407-9.

Issue Second group

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕ.
Laureate head of Hadrian, r. with drapery on l. shoulder

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ.
Sandan, wearing tall headdress and long cloak, standing, r., on horned lion; he wears on his l. side bow-case and sword crossing the bow-case; his r. hand is raised and he holds bipennis and wreath in l.

10.20 gr
25 mm
12h

Note.
Sandan was a Hittite High God, and like all the High Gods, his feet were believed never to touch the earth. Riding on the back of a powerful mythical animal, as Sandan does here with a horned lion, was an often-used means of transportation for these Gods. Sandan's appearance on a 2nd Century AD Cilician coin shows the lasting impact of the Hittite occupation of Cilicia, which occurred 18 centuries before this coin was struck.
2 commentsokidoki
941_P_Hadrian_RPC3267.jpg
3267 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Sandan standingReference.
RPC III, 3267/8; Levante 996; Prieur 768

Issue Second group

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕ
Laureate head of Hadrian, r. with balteus and drapery on l. shoulder.

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Sandan, wearing tall headdress and long cloak, standing, r., on horned lion; he wears on his l. side bow-case and sword crossing the bow-case; his r. hand is raised and he holds bipennis and wreath in left.

9.94 gr
26 mm
12h

Note.
Sandan (or Sandon or Sandas) was an ancient Anatolian god associated with both war and the weather, and was known in the area of Tarsos from Hittite times (the second half of the 2nd millenium BC). The figure of Sandan on a lion first appears on the coinage of Tarsus in the 2nd century BC, but it was certainly much older. The shrine to Sandan in Tarsus existed at least until the 3rd century AD
6 commentsokidoki
1376_P_Hadrian_RPC3268.jpg
3268 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Sandan Reference.
RPC III, 3268/9; Prieur 769

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟⳞ ⳞΕ
Laureate and cuirassed (decorated with gorgoneion) bust of Hadrian, right

Rev. ΤΑΡⳞΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩⳞ
Sandan, wearing tall headdress and long cloak, standing, r., on horned lion; he wears on his l. side bow-case and sword crossing the bow-case; his r. hand is raised and he holds bipennis and wreath in left

9.97 gr
26 mm
12h
4 commentsokidoki
943_P_Hadrian_RPC.jpg
3269A CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Apollo standing vis à vis with Perseus Reference.
RPC III -, cf. 3269-70 (both with differing bust type). Prieur 770 var. (differing bust type).
same bust type as 3267

Issue Second group

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕ
Laureate head of Hadrian, r. with balteus and drapery on l. shoulder.

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Apollo, naked and on left, standing right, holding laurel branch in his left hand, left elbow resting on tripod snake inside, clasping right hands with Perseus, naked and on right, standing left, holding harpa in his left hand.

10.61 gr
27 mm
12h
3 commentsokidoki
470_P_Hadrian_RPC3278.JPG
3278 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian, Demos of TarsusReference.
RPC III, 3278/4; BMC 152; NG Levante 1003 = SNG von Aulock 5987; SNG France -

Obv. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΗС ΤΑΡСΟΥ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟ⊏ ⊏ΕΒΑСΤΟ⊏ (square sigmas)
laureate, right, with drapery on left shoulder.

Rev. ΔΗΜΟ⊏ ΤΑΡ⊏ΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩ⊏
Demos, wearing himation over left. arm and lower limbs, seated, left., on throne, holding wreath in right hand.

18.27 gr
25 mm
5h
okidoki
1394_P_Hadrian_RPC3279.jpg
3279 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian, Tyche of Tarsus rightReference.
RPC III, 3279; SNG France 1412

Obv. ΑΥΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΟΛΥΝΔΙΟϹ (sic)
Bare-headed draped bust of Hadrian, right

Rev. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΗϹ ΤΑΡ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ
Tyche of the City, turreted and veiled, seated, r., on rock, holding ears of corn and poppy-head; at her feet, river god Kydnos swimming, right

14.99 gr
27 mm
12h
okidoki
676_P_Hadrian_RPC3280A.jpg
3279A CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian, Tyche of Tarsus leftReference.
RPC III, 3279A; BMC -; SNG France -; Coll. Weber -; SNG Copenhagen 358 var. (Laureate obv. bust).

Obv. AYTO KAΙ AΔPIANOY CEB ΟΛΥNΔΙΟC.
Bare head right, slight drapery on far shoulder.

Rev: AΔΡΙΑΝΗC TAPCOY MHTPOΠOΛΕΩC.
Veiled and turreted Tyche seated left on a sphinx decorated diphros, holding bunch of grapes and grain ears; at her feet to left, river god Kydnos swimming left.

10.88 gr
26 mm
12h
okidoki
563_P_Hadrian_RPC3281.JPG
3281 CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian, Zeus Reference.
RPC III, 3281; SNG Cop 359; Levante SNG 1002

Obv. ΑΥΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СΕΒ ΟΛΥΝΔΙΟС (sic)
Laureate head of Hadrian, right, star below chin.

Rev. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΗС ΤΑΡСΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩС
Zeus seated, left, holding Nike on his extended right hand, left resting on sceptre.

12.45 gr
25 mm
6h
okidoki
1381_P_Hadrian_RPC3299.jpg
3299 CILICIA, Tarsus, Pseudo-autonomous under Hadrian, Tyche and ZeusReference.
RPC III, 3299/17; SNG Levante 1005; SNG France 1430-1

Obv. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΗϹ ΤΑΡϹΟΥ
Zeus seated, l., holding Victory and resting on sceptre

Rev. ΤΥΧΗ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Tyche of the City, turreted and veiled, seated, r., on seat decorated with foreleg and wing of sphinx, holding ears of corn and poppy-head; at her feet, river god Kydnos, crowned with sedge, swimming, r.

7.06 gr
25.4 mm
12h

Note.
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection.
okidoki
1235_P_Hadrian_Pseudo_RPC3300.JPG
3300 CILICIA, Tarsus, Pseudo-autonomous under Hadrian, Tyche and ZeusReference.
RPC III, 3300; SNG France 1424-1429; SNG Levante -; SNG Pfalz 133

Obv. ΑΔΡΙΑΝωΝ ΤΑΡϹΕωΝ
Zeus seated, l., holding Victory and resting on sceptre

Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Tyche of the City, turreted and veiled, seated, r., on seat decorated with foreleg and wing of sphinx, holding ears of corn and poppy-head; at her feet, river-god Kydnos,
crowned with sedge, swimming, r.; the whole in wreath

11.99 gr
27 mm
12h

Note.
ex Slg. Dr. Theodor Grewer
1 commentsokidoki
1224_P_Hadrian_Pseudo_RPC3303.jpg
3303 CILICIA, Tarsus, Pseudo-autonomous under Hadrian, Perseus standingReference.
RPC III, 3303/11; SNG BN 1437-41;

Obv. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΗϹ ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ
Head of bearded Heracles r., crowned with oak-leaves, club on l. shoulder

Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Perseus, wearing winged sandals, standing, l., holding cult statue of Apollo holding wolves in r. hand, chlamys and harpe in l.; at his feet, lion, l., attacking bull kneeling, l.; in field, l., ΒΟΗ/ΘΟΥ disposed either vertically, either horizontally

16.01 gr
30 mm
12h
3 commentsokidoki
1558_P_Hadrian_RPC3310.jpg
3310 CILICIA, Tarsus, Pseudo-autonomous under Hadrian, SandanReference.
RPC III, 3310/8; SNG France 1432

Obv. ΤΑΡϹΟΥ
Veiled and draped bust of ?, l.; above, star

Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕ
Sandan standing, r. on horned lion, with bow-case on l. shoulder, raising r. hand and holding wreath in left

3.41 gr
16 mm
12h
okidoki
1690_P_Hadrian_RPC--.jpg
3375A CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tetradrachm, SabinaReference.
RPC III, ; BMC 153 var., Prieur 771 var; SNG France 1413 var.

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟⳞ ⳞΕ, Π Π (in field, l. and r.)
Laureate and draped bust of Hadrian, right, with paludamentum; below, club

Rev. ⳞΑΒΕΙΝΑ ⳞΕΒΑϹΤΗ ΑΔΡΙ ΤΑΡⳞ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΟⳞ, in field, l. and r., Α Υ
Draped bust of Sabina, wearing stephane, right

12.80 gr
26 mm
6h
1 commentsokidoki
coin225.JPG
409. Maximinus II DazaCaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus, more commonly known as Maximinus Daia or Daza, was from Illyricum and was of peasant origin. He was born 20 November perhaps in the year 270. Daia was the son of Galerius' sister and had served in the army as a scutarius, Protector, and tribunus. He had been adopted by Galerius ; his name had been Daia even before that time. He had a wife and daughter, whose names are unknown, while his son's name was Maximus. When Diocletian and Maximianus Herculius resigned their posts of emperor on 1 May 305, they were succeeded by Constantius I Chlorus and Galerius as Augusti; their new Caesars were Severus and Maximinus Daia respectively. Constantius and Severus ruled in the West, whereas Galerius and Daia served in the East. Specifically, Daia's realm included the Middle East and the southern part of Asia Minor.[[1]]

Immediately after his appointment to the rank of Caesar, he went east and spent his first several years at Caesarea in Palestine. Events of the last quarter of 306 had a profound effect on the Emperor Galerius and his Caesar Daia. When Constantius I Chlorus died in July 306, the eastern emperor was forced by the course of events to accept Constantius' son Constantine as Caesar in the West; on 28 October of the same year, Maxentius , with the apparent backing of his father Maximianus Herculius, was acclaimed princeps. Both the attempt to dislodge Maxentius by Severus, who had been appointed Augustus of the West by Galerius after the death of Constantius in late 306 or early 307, and the subsequent campaign of Galerius himself in the summer of 307 failed. Because of the escalating nature of this chain of events, a Conference was called at Carnuntum in October and November 308; Licinius was appointed Augustus in Severus's place and Daia and Constantine were denoted filii Augustorum. Daia, however, unsatisfied with this sop tossed to him by Galerius, started calling himself Augustus in the spring of 310 when he seems to have campaigned against the Persians.[[2]] Although, as Caesar, he proved to be a trusted servant of Galerius until the latter died in 311, he subsequently seized the late emperor's domains. During the early summer of that year, he met with Licinius at the Bosporus; they concluded a treaty and divided Galerius' realm between them. Several yea rs later, after the death of Daia, Licinius obtained control of his domain. Like his mentor the late emperor, Daia had engaged in persecution of the Christians in his realm.[[3]]

In the autumn of 312, while Constantine was engaged against Maxentius, Daia appears to have been campaigning against the Armenians. In any case, he was back in Syria by February 313 when he seems to have learned about the marital alliance which had been forged by Constantine and Licinius. Disturbed by this course of events and the death of Maxentius, who had been his ally, Daia left Syria and reached Bythinia, although the harsh weather had seriously weakened his army. In April 313, he crossed the Bosporus and went to Byzantium, garrisoned by Licinius' troops; when the city refused to surrender, he took it after an eleven day siege. He moved to Heraclea, which he captured after a short siege; he then moved his forces to the first posting station. With only a small contingent of men, Licinius arrived at Adrianople while Daia was besieging Heraclea. On 30 April 313 the two armies clashed on the Campus Ergenus; in the ensuing battle Daia's forces were routed. Divesting himself of the purple and dressing like a slave, Daia fled to Nicomdeia. Subsequently, Daia attempted to stop the advance of Licinius at the Cilician Gates by establishing fortifications there; Licinius' army succeeded in breaking through, and Daia fled to Tarsus where he was hard pressed on land and sea. Daia died, probably in July or August 313, and was buried near Tarsus. Subsequently, the victorious emperor put Daia's wife and children to death.

Maximinus II Daza. 309-313 AD. ? Follis. Laureate head right / Genius standing left holding cornucopiae.
ecoli
56167.jpg
504. CONSTANTIUS IIFlavius Iulius Constantius, known in English as Constantius II, (7 August 317 - 3 November 361) was a Roman Emperor (337 - 361) of the Constantinian dynasty

Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine I and his second wife Fausta. Constantius was born in Sirmium (in Illyricum) and named Caesar by his father. When Constantine died in 337, Constantius II led the massacre of his relatives decended from the second marriage of his grandfather Constantius Chlorus and Theodora, leaving himself, his older brother Constantine II, his younger brother Constans and two cousins (Gallus and his half-brother Julian) as the only surviving adult males related to Constantine. The three brothers divided the Roman Empire among them, according to their father's will. Constantine II received Britannia, Gaul and Hispania; Constans ruled Italia, Africa, and Illyricum; and Constantius ruled the East.

This division changed when Constantine II died in 340, trying to overthrow Constans in Italy, and Constans become sole ruler in the Western half of the empire. The division changed once more in 350 when Constans was killed in battle by forces loyal to the usurper Magnentius. Until this time, Constantius was preoccupied with fighting the Sassanid Empire, and he was forced to elevate his cousin Gallus to Caesar of the East to assist him, while he turned his attention to this usurper.

Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history, in 351. Magnentius committed suicide in 353, and Constantius soon after put his cousin Gallus to death. However, he still could not handle the military affairs of both the Eastern and German frontiers by himself, so in 355 he elevated his last remaining relative, Julian, to Caesar. As Julian was hailed Augustus by the army in Gaul, Constantius saw no alternative but to face the usurper with violent force. As the two armies sought engagement, Constantius died from a fever near Tarsus on November 3, 361, and Julian was hailed Augustus in the whole of the Roman empire.

Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church, frequently taking the side of the Arians, and he called the Council of Rimini in 359.

Constantius married three times, first to a daughter of Julius Constantius, then to Eusebia, and last to Faustina, who gave birth to a posthumous daughter, Faustina Constantia, who later married Emperor Gratian.

CONSTANTIUS II. 337-361 AD. Æ 18mm (2.41 gm). Siscia mint. Struck 351-355 AD. D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP REPARATIO, soldier spearing falling enemy horseman who wears conical hat; at right, shield on ground; ASIS. RIC VIII 350. Good VF, green patina. Ex CNG
1 commentsecoli
Album-300_2.jpg
Abbasid Governors, Cilicia: Thamal al-Dulafi (ca. 923-933) AE Fals, ND, Tarsus (Album-300; SICA-2, 1633)Obv: Within double dotted circle, ثمل (Thamal)
Rev: Within double dotted circle, stylized star

References:

Stern, S. M., The Coins of Thamal and of Other Governors of Tarsus, Journal of the American Oriental Society (1960): 217-25
Quant.Geek
Album-300(1).jpg
Abbasid Governors, Cilicia: Thamal al-Dulafi (ca. 923-933) Æ Fals, ND, Tarsus (Album-300; Stern-2) Obv: Within circle, الامير ثمل (al-amir Thamal)
Rev: Within circle, large annulet in plain field


References:

Stern, S. M., The Coins of Thamal and of Other Governors of Tarsus, Journal of the American Oriental Society (1960): 217-25
Quant.Geek
tarsus.jpg
AE 26 Civic Issue of Tarsus in Cilicia after 164 BCObverse: City goddess (Tyche) seated right on a throne holding an ear of grain, at her feet swims the river god Kyndos.
Reverse: Jupiter Nikephoros seated right holding staff. TARSEWN (of the Tarsians) in the right field
The obverse symbolizes the city on the banks of the Kyndos river, holding the symbol of its prosperity. Tarsos was the birthplace of the Apostle Paul. In the Roman era the figure of Jupiter has replaced the ancient God, Sandan.
SNGLev979m(ref. Wildwinds), w.t 14.7 gms
daverino
Antioch.jpg
Antiocheia ad Kydnum, Cilicia, Tarsos under Antiochus IV 175-164 BCCilicia, Tarsos under Antiochus IV Ae 20 - 23mm. 7.84g. obv: Club in wreath. Rev: Cornucopia, ANTIOXEΩN TΩN ΠΡOΣ TΩI KΥΔNΩI, monogram rt & lt.
During the reign of Antiochos IV, 175-164 BC, Tarsus was renamed as ANTIOCHEIA PROS TO KUDNO, meaning Antiocheia on the Kydnos (= the modern Tarsos river), as proved by the coinage known from this period. Mint: Tarsos. . Ref: SNG Levante #916.
ddwau
Cilicia_-_Tarsos.jpg
Antiocheia ad Kydnum, Cilicia, Tarsos under Antiochus IV 175-164 BCCilicia, Tarsos under Antiochus IV Ae 20mm. 10.09g. obv: Club in wreath. Rev: Cornucopia, ANTIOXEΩN TΩN ΠΡOΣ TΩI KΥΔNΩI, monogram left and right.
During the reign of Antiochos IV, 175-164 BC, Tarsus was renamed as ANTIOCHEIA PROS TO KUDNO and reverted to Tarsus c. 164 B.C. Mint: Tarsos. Ref: SNG Levante #916. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=220490
ddwau
00913-AntoniniusPius.JPG
Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius
26 mm 13.37 gm
O: Zeus Nikephorus (with features of Antoninus Pius) enthroned left
R: Tyche of Tarsus seated right on throne decorated with sphinx, holding grain ears and poppy; at feet, river-god Cydnus swimming right
Provincial of Cilicia, Tarsus
2 commentsKoffy
apioprov.jpg
ANTONINUS PIUSAE 31. Tarsus ( Cilicia ) 131-161 AD. 17,31 grs. Laureate head right. AYT KAI TI AI AΔPI A ANTΩNINOC CEB EY, Π-Π across fields / Demos seated left on stool, holding wreath, star in field. ΔHMOC AΔPIA TAPCEΩN MHTROΠOLEWC.
SNG France 1442, SNG Levante 1013, BMC161



benito
apioprov~0.jpg
ANTONINUS PIUSAE 31. Tarsus ( Cilicia ) 131-161 AD. 17,31 grs. Laureate head right. AYT KAI TI AI AΔPI A ANTΩNINOC CEB EY, Π-Π across fields / Demos seated left on stool, holding wreath, star in field. ΔHMOC AΔPIA TAPCEΩN MHTROΠOLEWC.
SNG France 1442, SNG Levante 1013, BMC161


1 commentsbenito
Antoninus_Pius_1.jpg
Asia Minor, Kilikia, Tarsus, Antoninus PiusAntoninus Pius
Kilikia, Tarsus
Ae32
Obv.: laureate bust right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum,
[.... ]Σ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟΣ ΣΕ
Rev.: ΚΟΙΝΟΣ ΚΙΛΙΚΙΑΣ on architrave, [ΑΔΡΙΑΝΩΝ ΤΑΡ]ΣΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛ[ΕΩΣ], temple with ten columns, eagle in pediment
Ae, 22.7g, 32mm
Ref.: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale 1232
1 commentsshanxi
Salonina_2.jpg
Asia Minor, Kilikia, Tarsus, SaloninaSalonina
Tarsus, Kilikia
AE 28
Obv.: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑΝ CAΛΩΝΙΝΑΝ, diademed and draped bust right, set on crescent
Rev.: ΤΑPCΟV ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩC, Α [Μ] Κ – Γ/Γ, Artemis Phosphoros advancing left.
AE, 28.36mm, 11.70g
Ref.: SNG BN Paris 1836 var.
1 commentsshanxi
Balacros_as_Satrap.jpg
Balakros StaterCILICIA, Tarsos. Balakros. Satrap of Cilicia, 333-323 BC. AR Stater. (22mm., 10,26g.)
O: Baaltars seated left, his torso facing, holding lotus-tipped scepter in extended right hand, left hand holding chlamys at his waist; grain ear to left, B’LTRZ (in Aramaic) to right, Σ (retrograde). There is the possibility that instead of this being a retrograde Σ below the throne it is a sideways M, making the mint Mallos for this issue.
R: Lion left, attacking bull right above two lines of turreted wall (Tarsos); club above.
- Casabonne series 1; cf. SNG France 363

Tarsus, the principal city of Cilicia, was used as a mint by a succession of Persian satraps during the fourth century BC. When Alexander the Great took the city in 333, he appointed a satrap of his own. The new satrap, Balacrus, continued to strike coinage at Tarsus very much in the manner of earlier satraps. The obverse of this stater depicts the local god of Tarsus, who is usually associated with symbols of fertility (in this case, the grain ear). The reverse type is a borrowing from the coinage the previous satrap, Mazaeus (361-334 BC). It shows a lion-bull combat—a typical theme of both Persian and Greek art—above the city walls of Tarsus. Author David Hendin has suggested that the impressive circuit of walls shown on the reverse may be those of Jerusalem, which fell within the jurisdiction of the Satrap of Cilicia.
2 commentsNemonater
00021x0.jpg
Caracalla, Tarsus, CiliciaCaracalla, 198 – 217 AD
Æ29, Tarsus, Cilicia, 18.2 grams
Obverse:
Reverse: Artemis standing right with left knee on back of doe flailing on ground, left hand pulls head of doe back exposing neck, grasps dagger in right hand about to dispatch the animal. L in left field, D and K in right.

References:
SNG Tahberer 1508 (same dies)
Obverse die as SNG Levante 1056

Provenance:
Obtained from Steve Showers at San Francisco Bourse, about 1999, $120

Notes:
Submitted to David Sear many years ago. He was not able to find a published example and had never seen the reverse type before.
Ken Dorney
2214__Savoca_Coins,_Blue,__30th_Blue_Auction,_lot_1398.jpg
caracallaciliciatarsus001Caracalla
Tarsus, Cilicia

Obv: AYT KAI M AVP CЄOYHPOC ANTΩNЄINOC CЄB, across fields, Π - Π; laureate head left, star below.
Rev: [ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑΝΗC CЄYΗ ΑΔΡ ΜΗΤP] →TAPCOY, across fields Є(reversed) - Δ / K (reversed and between legs); Hercules grasping the giant Antaios around the waist and raising him from the ground; to right, upright club with lion skin.
34 mm, 20.34 grams

Mionnet III, page 632, no. 462; BMC 184; SNG Fitzwilliam 1740.
Charles M
Cilicia.JPG
CiliciaCilicia Trachea became the haunt of pirates, who were subdued by Pompey in 67 BC following a Battle of Korakesion (modern Alanya), and Tarsus was made the capital of the Roman province of Cilicia. Cilicia Pedias became Roman territory in 103 BC first conquered by Marcus Antonius Orator in his campaign against pirates, with Sulla acting as its first governor, foiling an invasion of Mithridates, and the whole was organized by Pompey, 64 BC, into a province which, for a short time, extended to and included part of Phrygia. It was reorganized by Julius Caesar, 47 BC, and about 27 BC became part of the province Syria-Cilicia Phoenice. At first the western district was left independent under native kings or priest-dynasts, and a small kingdom, under Tarcondimotus, was left in the east; but these were finally united to the province by Vespasian, AD 72. It had been deemed important enough to be governed by a proconsul.

ancientone
Gordian_III_Tarsus_Ex_Lindgren_1635_Triptych_E.jpg
Cilicia Tarsos, Gordian III Großbronze (36mm, 34g), Ex Lindgren & Kovacs 1635Roman Provincial. Cilicia, Tarsos, Gordian III AE Hexassarion (?) (36mm, 33.94 g, 6h), 238-244 CE.
Obv: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, holding spear and shield decorated with gorgoneion.
Rev: Gordian, laureate and in military dress, on horseback right, thrusting spear at lion running right below.
Ref: Lindgren & Kovacs 1635 (this coin); SNG Levante 1132; RPC VII.2 3060 (this coin = ex. 29 Online [LINK].
Prov: Ex Collection of Dr. Henry Clay Lindgren (1914-2005), published in Lindgren I (w/ Frank Kovacs, 1985), No. 1635; M.D.A. Collection (acq. Aug 2000; CNG EA 509 [9 Feb 2022], 360); Antioch Associates MBS 15 (1 Jun 1998), 150.

Notes: Heavy specimen. Of 29 Specimens in RPC Online (or the 60 total of similar types, RPC 3060-3064), only 1 is heavier (3060.6, but it has been modified -- mounted and tooled). I find no other heavier specimens in RPC among the other related large bronzes of Gordian III at Tarsos.
[ALT: Tarsus, Kilikia]
1 commentsCurtis JJ
q_037.JPG
Cilicia Uncertain Cilicia Uncertain -Tarsus? 4th Century BC
AR Obol

Obverse:Male head left;Triptolemos?
Reverse:Eagle standing left on lion

0.60gm 11.41mm

SNG France 474
maik
CONSERVATORI-Tarsos_Cilicia_Mazaios_AR_Stater-ED.png
Cilicia, Tarsos (under Mazaios) AR Stater, Ex-Athena Fund, Seventko, JB CollectionsGreek (Classical, Asia Minor). Cilicia, Tarsos. Mazaios (Satrap, 361-334 BCE). AR Stater (10.65g, 22.5mm, 12h)
Obv: "BLTRZ" (Baaltars, all legends Aramaic) to r. Baal seated left, holding eagle, grain ear, grapes, and scepter; "TR" lower left, "M" below throne. Rev: "MZDI" (Mazaios). Lion attacking bull left; monogram (ankh) below.
References: SNG Levante 106 (same dies); Casabonne Series 2, Group C.
Provenance: Ex-Athena Fund (c. 1988-1993); Sotheby’s NFA-Athena Fund Sale II (Zurich, 27 October 1993), Lot 808.1 (part of, this reverse illustrated); CNG MBS 29 (30 March 1994), Lot 252; Dr. Joseph M. Seventko Collection; ICG (AU53) #5571290112 (removed from slab, Feb 2021); Heritage Auctions 296 (New York, 30 July 2002), 11134; Calgary Coin Galleries (Roberto Kokotailo), 2004; J.B. (Edmonton, d. 2019) Collection; CNG e-Auction 455 (30 Oct 2019) 168
Notes: Presumably ex-"Tarsus Hoard" (unknown findspot, late 1970s). (See Bing 1988: 73 ff.; LINK.) This coin was part of several defining moments in the history of the ancient coin market of the past 50 years. Not only was it in a famous 1980s ancient coin investment fund but was later one of the first ancient coins encapsulated by TPGs (part of a major promotion with Heritage Auctions in 2002). See the "Provenance Chart" (LINK) for this coin.
3 commentsCurtis JJ
Gordian_III_Tarsus.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsos, Gordian IIIObverse: Bust right; radiate; draped; cuirassed. AYT K ANT GORDIANOS SEB P P. Reverse: Woman (Athena) standing; head left; wearing helmet and holding spear and shield; TARSOY MHTROPOLEWS A M K G B.

SNG FRANCE 2 1655 / COLL PARIS 1539.23
1 commentsSkySoldier
Tarsos.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsos. AE35. Philip I or II / ElpisBronze Medallion 35mm (21.94 grams) of Tarsus in Cilicia
AVT KAI IOV ΦIΛIΠΠON ЄVT ЄVC CЄ around, Π - Π in field, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
TAPCOV THC MHTPOΠOΛEΩC AMK, Elpis (Spes) standing left, holding flower and pulling on skirt, Γ B across fields.

Philip I or Philip II as Augustus, same obv. die as Ziegler, Smaller German Collections, pl. 42, 799 ("Philip II"); SNG Paris 1730 ("Philip I"); and SNG Aulock 6062 ("Philip I").

The light beard would speak for Philip I, yet the features look different and younger than other portrait dies at Tarsus that are definitely Philip I. -Curtis Clay


ancientone
Gordian_tarsos_herakles.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsos;Hercules standing r. AE 34Gordian III; Cilicia, Tarsus, 238-244 A.D. AE 34, 22.22g. Rev: Hercules standing r., head l., holding branch (?) in r. hand and bow with arrow in l. hand, lionskin over l. shoulder and falling from l. arm. Cf. SNG Levante 1127 (same Obv. die, different Hercules rev. type). Rare: this exact Hercules type not in Paris, Levante, BMC, Righetti, Winsemann Falghera, or Lindgren. Ex H.J.BerkPodiceps
tarsus_res.jpg
CILICIA, TARSUS2nd - 1st CENTURY BC
AE 21 mm 5.83 g
O: TURRETED BUST OF TYCHE
R: SANDAN, WITH BOW OVER SHOULDER AND HOLDING BRANCH, STANDING ON HORNED LION
CILICIA, TARSUS
SG 5670






laney
tyche_sandan_tarsos_res.jpg
CILICIA, TARSUS2nd - 1st CENTURY BC
AE 16.5 mm 3.99 g
O: TURRETED BUST OF TYCHE
R: SANDAN STANDING R ON HORNED LION-LIKE CREATURE
CILICIA, TARSUS

laney
sandan_lion_2bk.jpg
CILICIA, TARSUS2nd - 1st CENTURY BC
AE 16.5 mm 3.99 g
O: TURRETED BUST OF TYCHE, RIGHT
R: SANDAN STANDING R ON HORNED LION-LIKE CREATURE
CILICIA, TARSUS
laney
sandan_lion_1.jpg
CILICIA, TARSUS2nd - 1st CENTURY BC
AE 21 mm 5.83 g
O: TURRETED AND VEILED BUST OF TYCHE, RIGHT
R: SANDAN, WITH BOW OVER SHOULDER AND HOLDING BRANCH, STANDING ON HORNED LION
CILICIA, TARSUS
SG 5670
1 commentslaney
E382505B-0144-4CC6-906E-3221F2CCFAE5.jpeg
Cilicia, TarsusSNG France 1341
After 164 BC
Turreted and veiled head of Tyche right
Pyramidal monument, Pyre of Sandan, surmounted by an eagle
ecoli
tarsosLycias.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsus. AE18. Lycias Magistrate.Obv: Zeus seated left, holding Nike and scepter
Rev: Club tied with fillets, M to left, HTP monogram to right; ΛYΣIAΣ below; all within oak wreath
Lycias Magistrate.
ancientone
TarsosCrowns2.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsus. Elagabalus AE28. Demiourgos and Kiliarch CrownsAΥT KAI M AΥΡ ANTΩONEINOC C, Radiate bust right, seen from behind / TAPCOY THC MHTΡOΠOΛE, AMK in exergue, demiourgos crown over garlanded altar and kiliarch crown decorated with imperial portraits and Γ-B.ancientone
EtruscillaTarsos.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsus. Herennia Etruscilla, AE29Obv: EΡEΝΝΙΑΝ ΑΙΤΡΟΥCΚEΙΛΛΑΝ CE Diademed and draped bust of Herennia Etruscilla to right, resting on a crescent.
Rev: ΤΑΡCΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛEΩC, Α / Μ / Κ - Γ / Β Dionysos standing left, holding kantharos in right hand and thyrsos in left; at feet to left, panther.
RPC IX 1371.
ancientone
tars_pseudo.JPG
Cilicia, Tarsus. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Cilicia, Tarsus. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Circa 1st century AD. (Time of Tiberius?)
Æ26mm, 10.98 g, 12h. Uncertain magistrate.
Obv. - Tyche seated right on seat decorated with eagle, holding grain ears;
below, river-god Kydnos swimming right, MHTPO/ΠOΛEΩC - PI / ΠAΠЄ to right;
all within bead-and-reel border. Rev. - Zeus Nikephoros enthroned left; TAPC(EΩN) to right;
countermark under the throne on reverse, figure standing left within incuse oval.
SNG BN 1377-82; SNG Levante 983; RPC II 1729 var.;
countermark ref.: Howgego –; Naumann 98, lot 412.
Ex Naumann 128, lot.556
maxthrax
P3028740.jpg
CILICIA, Tarsus. Time of Hadrian or later. 98-117 AD or later .AE 26mmCILICIA, Tarsus. Time of Hadrian or later. 98-117 AD or late
Obv. Zeus seated left, holding Nike and sceptre.
Rev. City-goddess seated on throne, facing right, holding grain ear and poppy; at her feet, river-god Kydnos swimming
Ref. SNG Levante 1005
Lee S
2273337_1634544208.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsus. Trajan Decius AE27.Obv: AV KE Γ MEC KV ΔEKI TΡAIANOC, radiate draped bust right, Π-Π across fields.
Rev: TAΡCOV MHTΡOΠOΛEΩC, pyramid-shaped monument of Sandan surmounted by an eagle and covered by an arched canopy held by two attendants standing to left and right, AMK-ΓB across fields.
ancientone
coins16.JPG
Cilicia, Tarsus; SaloninaOn the rev., one can make out a gamma to the r. of Diana's shoulders (SNG calls her Demeter), and another gamma to the r. of her knees, meaning "presiding over three provinces, holder of three neocorates". Tarsus only acquired her third neocorate under Valerian; for Herennia Etruscilla, the second letter would have been a B=2 instead. So the gamma confirms the attribution to Salonina.ecoli
ball.jpg
Cilicia, Tarsus; Satrap Mazaios, (361-334 B.C.)AR Stater
O: Baal of Tarsos seated left, holding eagle, grain ear, grapes, and scepter; TR (in Aramaic) to lower left, M (in Aramaic) below throne.
R: Lion attacking bull, monogram below.
10.35g
25.1mm
Casabonne Series 2, Group C; SNG BN –; SNG Levante 106

Ex.Philip Ashton Collection
Ex Harlan J Berk Buy or Bid, #214, Lot #89
7 commentsMat
3213213.JPG
CILICIA. Tarsus (?). Ca. late 5th century BC. AR stater (21mm, 10.74 gm, 6h). NGC AUCILICIA. Tarsus (?). Ca. late 5th century BC. AR stater (21mm, 10.74 gm, 6h). NGC AU 3/5 - 5/5, die shift. Side-view of fortified city walls with three crenelated towers, soldiers (?) on patrol between towers / Forepart of bull kneeling right, ankh to lower right. BMC -. SNG France 2 -. SNG Levante -. Casabonne -.

The attribution to Tarsus is based on the style and fabric of the flan, as well as the ankh symbol on the reverse. This symbol was clearly important to the people of Tarsus as the Great King is sometimes depicted carrying it upward by the shaft (cf. SNG France 2, 209); or displayed by itself as on the obol issue cf. SNG France 2, 207; or sometime as a device decorating the fields as on the previous lot in this sale. Another connecting theme is seen on satrapal Tarsus staters of the 4th century BC with lion and bull above crenelated city walls.
Mark R1
IMG_1434.PNG
CILICIA: TarsusNew variety not in Potamikon :)Molinari
83200q00_Macedonian_Kingdom,_Demetrios_I_Poliorketes_Tarsus.jpg
Demetrios I Poliorketes; Tarsos; Prow r. apluster, B A above, AN (ligate) X below; AE11Macedonian Kingdom, Demetrios I Poliorketes, 306 - 286 B.C. Bronze AE 11, Newell p. 50, 40; SNG Alpha Bank -, SNG Cop -, Weber -, Cilicia, Tarsus mint, 1.649g, 11.8mm, 135o, 298 - 295 B.C.; obverse head of Demetrios right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with bull horns; reverse , prow right, apluster right behind, B A above, AN (ligate) X below; rare. Ex FORVM, photo credit FORVMPodiceps
18.jpg
Domitian, AD 81-96CILICIA, Tarsus.

AR Tetradrachm, 26mm (14.00 gm).

AYTO KAI ΘE YI ΔOMITIANOΣ ΣE ΓEP, laureate head of Domitian right / ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩΣ, Tyche seated right, holding palm branch, river-god swimming beneath, TAP in right field. Struck AD 93-95.

RPC II, 1727; Sear GIC, 865; Prieur, 750.
2 commentssocalcoins
EB0564_scaled.JPG
EB0564 Maximus Caesar / Kilikarch CrownMaximus Caesar, AE 33 of Tarsus, Cilicia, 235-238 AD.
Obv: Γ IOY OYH MAXIMOC KAIC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: THC MHTRO TARCOV around, EΠA RΞIK ΩN in three lines inside, Kilikarch (or Cilicarch) Crown decorated with 6 imperial heads topped by Nike standing left with wreath.
References: BMC 19 S208,238(1); SNG FRANCE 2 1615(1).
Diameter: 33mm, Weight: 14.816 grams.

"The Cilicarch (note spelling with added C, since it derives from "Cilicia") is the High Priest of Cilicia.
His most important function was as chief priest of the provincial temple or temples of the emperors.
The busts on his crown, which vary considerably from depiction to depiction, are those of the emperors and empresses who were honored in those provincial temples." - Curtis Clay in forumancientcoins.com discussion.
EB
gordiantarsus.jpg
GORDIAN IIIAE 35. Tarsus (Cilicia). 238-244 AD. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, holding shield decorated with gorgoneion and spear. ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC CΕΒ . In fields Π Π / Tyche of Tarsus seated left, holding pentastyle and tetrastyle neocorate temples. TAPCOV MHTΡOΠOLE. Accross fields AMK ΓB.
SNG Levante 1143 . SNG France - BMC Lycaonia - SNG Copenhagen - SNG von Aulock -.
benito
Gordian_Tarsus_Nike.jpg
Gordian III - Tarsos238-244 AD
radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right from behind
AYT K ANT ΓOP_ΔIANOC CEB
Π_Π
Nike standing on globe left, holding wreath and palm
TAPCOV M_H_TPOΠOΛEWC
A/M/K _ Γ/B
SNG France 1693; SNG Levante 1124
26,0g 36mm
ex Aurea
J. B.
Gordian_Tarsus.jpg
Gordian III - Tarsos238-244 AD
radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right from behind, holding spear and shield
AYT K ANT ΓOP_ΔIANOC CEB
Π_Π
turreted, veiled and draped bust of Tyche right
TAPCOV MHTPOΠOΛEΩC A
A/M/K _ B/Γ
SNG France 1706; SNG Levante 1145
24,4g 36,5mm
J. B.
Gordian_III_Elpis_SNG_France_1704.JPG
Gordian III Elpis SNG France 1704 Gordian III, Tarsus Cilicia, 238 – 244 AD, 36.2mm, 22.42g, SNG Levante 1130, SNG France 1704
OBV: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB, Π Π in fields, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian to right, holding spear and shield decorated with an aegis
REV: TAPCOV MHTPOΠOΛЄΩC, AMK BΓ in fields, Elpis (Spes) standing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt
SRukke
88.jpg
Hadrian, AD 117-138AR Tridrachm, 26.02 mm (8.93 gm).

AYT KAI ΘE TPA ΠAP YI ΘE NEP YI TPAI AΔPIANOC CE, Laureate head to right, with traces of cuirass, seen from front / TAPCEΩN MHTPOΠOΛEΩC, Sandan, right arm raised, quiver and sword over shoulder and holding bipennis and wreath, standing on horned lion to right. Tarsus mint.

Prieur, 768; SNG Levante, 996.

Ex A. Lynn collection.
socalcoins
collage10.jpg
Julia Domna, TarsusTarsus, CILICIA
AE 34mm; 15.85g

IOYΛIAN ΔOMNAN CEBACTHN
Draped bust right on crescent

ANTΩNIANHC CEYH AΔP MH
Athena advancing right, looking back, holding Nike, spear and shield
TAPCOY A over M over K - in left field/ Γ over B in right field

SGI 2441, SNG Von Aulock 6004
wildwinds example
1 commentsarizonarobin
Macedonian_Kingdom.jpg
Macedonian Kingdom Alexander III The Great, 336 - 323 B.C. lifetime Issue.Bronze AE unit. Cilicia, Tarsus mint, c. 327 - 323 , Issued during lifetime of Alexander the Great.
Obverse Herakles head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck.
Reverse AΛEΞAN∆POY, bow inside bow case, club, bunch of grapes and Θ right.

VF , Price 3029

From The Sam Mansourati Collection.
Sam
Price-3029.jpg
Macedonian Kingdom: Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BCE) Æ Hemiobol, Tarsus (Price 3029; Müller 1539; SNG Copenhagen 1058)Obv: Head of Herakles in lion's skin headdress to right
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY franked by bow in case and club; above club, grape bunch on stern and Θ
Dim: 19 mm, 7.32 g, 3 h
Quant.Geek
Price-3030.jpg
Macedonian Kingdom: Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BCE) Æ Hemiobol, Tarsus (Price 3030)Obv: Head of Herakles in lion's skin headdress to right
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY franked by bow in case and club; above club, grape bunch on stern and N
Dim: 17.5 mm, 6.84 g, 8 h
1 commentsQuant.Geek
141 files on 2 page(s) 1

All coins are guaranteed for eternity
Forum Ancient Coins
PO BOX 1316
MOREHEAD CITY NC 28557


252-497-2724
customerservice@forumancientcoins.com
Facebook   Instagram   Pintrest   Twitter