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Roman Provincial: Cappadocia-Caesarea


Titus, AE24, 79-81, Judea Capta series, Cappadocia-Caesarea (?)
A_VTOKP TITO_S KAISAP
Laureate head right
IOVDAIAC EALwKVIAC
Trophy between bound and mourning Judea at left and shield at right
23mm x 24mm, 11.50g
Sear GIC, 784


Domitian, AR Drachm, 69-81, Cappadocia-Caesarea, Roman Style
KAI DOMITIANOC CEBACTOUUIOC
Laureate head right
OMONIA-CEBACTH
Homonia seated left, feet on stool, patera in right hand, scepter in left
17mm x 18mm, 2.61g
RPC 1639

Note: The reverse legend translates to Concordia Augusti. This specimen is in the Roman style versus the local Cappadocian style. Both occur in this issue. Many thanks to Curtis Clay for his assistance in attributing this coin.


Trajan, AR Tridrachm, 112-117 (sixth consulship), Cappadocia-Caesarea (Sear), Arabia Petraea-Bostra (SNG ANS)
AUTOKR KAIC NER TRAIANOC CEB GERM DAK
Laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder
DHMARX EX URA TO
Distyle temple containing simulacrum of Pergean Artemis (Diana), eagle in pediment
22mm x 25mm, 11.20g
Sear GIC 1067; SNG ANS 1160

Traditionally, this issue has been attributed to Cappadocia-Caesarea, but recent scholarship instead suggests Arabia Petraea-Bostra.


Trajan, AR Tridrachm, 98-99, Cappadocia-Caesarea (?)
AUTOKR KAIC NER TRAIANOC CEB GERM
Laureate head of Trajan right
DHMARX EX-UPAT B
Bust of bearded deity (Zeus?) right, wearing tall segmented headdress and elaborate robe, thunderbolt in left hand, mappa or short scepter in right
24mm x 26mm, 10.63g
BMC Cappadocia p. 52, 46 and pl. IX, 8 (same reverse die); Sydenham (The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia) 173; cf. Metcalf (The Silver Coinage of Cappadocia, Vespasian-Commodus) p. 148; cf. Walker (The Metrology of the Roman Silver Coinage, part 2), p. 99

Authenticated and graded by David Sear as an attractive VF, rare and interesting (December 6, 2005)

Sear notes from CoA: "This remarkable silver tridrachm type belonging to the opening phase of Trajan's reign has been the subject of considerable scholarly debate. Traditionally, it was assigned to Caesarea in Cappadocia (BMC and Sydenham) but in 1977 D. R. Walker reattributed it to an unidentified mint in Provincia Asia on the basis of its absence from any of the finds of Caesarean coinage. This reassignment was accepted by Metcalf in his 1996 publication on the silver coinage of Cappadocia from which the type was excluded. However, the reverse design has a distinctly oriental flavor and a further reattribution may be necessary at some future date."

Update from Richard McAlee on April 2, 2008: This type has now been reattributed to Syria-Phoenicia as far as area of circulation, but it was actually minted in Rome for use in Syria-Phoenicia. See the chapter on Trajan's coins in my new book, "The Coins of Roman Antioch".  Your example is from the same obverse die as the coin in my collection (the first of several illustrated in my book).


Hadrian, AR Hemidrachm, 120/1, Cappadocia-Caesarea
AYTO KAIC TPAI ADPIANOC C[EBACT]
Laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder
ET | D (year 4) across fields
Agalma of Mt. Argaeus surmounted by figure of Helios, globe in right hand, scepter in left
13mm x 15mm, 1.33g
Metcalf 84; Sydenham 258.1
Ex Nilus Coins, CICF show, 2003; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Auction XXIX, March 30, 1994, lot 976


Hadrian, AR Hemidrachm, 117-139,Cappadocia-Caesarea
AUTO KAIC TRAI ADRIANOC CEBACT
Laureate head right, drapery on left shoulder
(No legend)
Victory advancing right, wreath upward in right hand, palm in left over shoulder
14mm x 15mm, 1.32g
Metcalf 86b; Sydenham 260

Note: A bit unusual as one normally finds the Cappadocian hemidrachmae of Hadrian with a regnal date on the reverse, where this specimen seems to be lacking any reverse inscription.


Lucius Verus, 20mm, 163/164, Cappadocia-Caesarea
Bare head right, XI countermark on cheek
Mount Argaeus, star on summit, countermark in center
ET C in exergue (denoting regnal year 3)
20mm x 21mm, 8.47g
Howgego 740ii for obverse countermark, which should read XV for Legion XV Apollinaris. Reverse countermark unidentified.


Julia Domna, AR Drachm, 197/8, Cappadocia-Caesarea
IOULIA-DOMNA CE
Draped bust right, hair weaved in rows and tucked at back of head in weaved bun pattern
MHTROPOLE-KAICARIA (MH is ligate)
Aphrodite standing right, apple in left hand, drawing robe over right shoulder with right hand
ET | E across fields
18mm, 2.59g
Sear GIC, 2446; Sydenham 440


Severus Alexander, AE27, 226/227 (regnal year 5), Cappadocia-Caesarea
AY K CEOY-ALEXANDPO
Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, bust countermark at right
MHTPOP-KAICAPIA
Mount Argaeus on altar
ET E in exergue (denoting the regnal year)
26mm x 28mm, 11.09g
Sear GIC, 3366v

 

Last modified: May 08, 2008