RPC V.3, — (unassigned; ID 68482)

 

Image of specimen #—

 

Coin type
Volume V.3
Number — (unassigned; ID 68482)
Province Syria Palaestina
Region Syria
City Anthedon
Reign Septimius Severus
Person (obv.) Caracalla (Augustus)
Obverse inscription ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ϹΕ
Edition Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Ἀντωνῖνος Σεβαστός Αὐτ(οκράτωρ) Καῖ(σαρ) Ἀντωνῖνος Σε(βαστός)
Translation Emperor Caesar Antoninus Augustus
Obverse design laureate head of Caracalla, right, seen from rear
Reverse inscription ΑΝΘΗΔ ΕΤ(ΟΥϹ) Θ [ ]
Edition Ἀνθηδόνος ἔτους θʹ --- Ἀνθηδ(όνος) ἔτους θʹ [---]
Translation of Anthedon, of year 9 [---]
Reverse design Tyche standing left, right foot on prow, left hand resting on sceptre, small bust on right extended hand, within temple with four columns with central arch
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 26 mm
Average weight 10.71 g
Specimens 3 (1 in the core collections)
Note The attribution of the type to Caracalla was questioned by Alla Kushnir-Stein (see the Sofaer catalogue). The catalogue, in a rather contradictory fashion states: "A second coin, apparently of the same die, is found in the Sofaer collection (No. 1). The portrait on this coin is clearly Caracalla, however the date is illegible." The portrait is indeed that of Caracalla, not Elagabalus. Therefore, the coins of Anthedon have years which are surely regnal rather than according to a local era. (Elagabalus: 3; Severus Alexander: 7 and 9), and the natural interpretation of what can be seen on Sofaer 1 is 'year 9'. There may well be other numerals on the part of the reverse which is not visible. Caracalla's sole reign did not have 9 years, so the date must refer to the reign of Septimius; however the portrait looks too mature and bearded for year 9, and so 19 perhaps seems more likely.
Feedback

Specimens of this coin type

# Specimen Museum Bibliography
— —     P: 44 illustrated in BMC pl. XL.14. Hill, BMC pp. xlvii-vii: "certainly Caracalla, and the date appears to be ΛΡ". he also says that it is "apparently identical with the piece published by Stark, Gaza, no. 8 on his plate of coins: rev. City-goddess, with foot on prow, holding bust in temple of four columns; in ex. ΑΝΘΗ ΕΤ []Λ". The reference is to K.B. Stark, Gaza und die philistäische Küste (Jena, 1852), where the relevant coin on his Münztafel is said to be taken 'nach einer Mionnetschen Schwefelpaste', so it must be the same as the Paris coin.
— —     ✸ IMJ Sofaer 1 ('Elagabalus'): "Date illegible; in the upper l. field a decorative sign resembling the Greek letter Θ appears. This symbol however, cannot be interpreted as the date of the coin according to the era of Anthedon and the portrait on the obverse. The attribution to Elagabalus is based on a similar coin from the A. Spaer collection (A. Kushnir-Stein and H. Gitler, pers. comm.). Cf. BMC Palestine pl. XL." But see comments above.
— —     Spaer coll.