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Note: The standard reference for the bronze coinage for this area is "Coinage in Roman Syria, Northern Syria, 64 BC-AD 253" by
Kevin Butcher, Royal Numismatic Society, Special Publication No. 34, London, 2004. It is 534 pages and 33 plates.
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Autonomous Issue during the time of Augustus, AE20, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
Diademed head of Zeus right, dotted border
ANTIOXEWN-EPIOUAROU
Tyche of Antioch seated right on rocks, river god swimming below
EK in right field
19mm x 20mm, 6.79g
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Tiberius, Orichalcum AE26, 31/32, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
TI CAESAR [AVG T]_R . P[OT] . XXXIII
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath
24mm x 28mm, 13.17g
Sear GIC, 291
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Tiberius, Orichalcum Medium Denomination, 31-32, Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
TI CAESAR AVG-TR POT XXXIII
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in circle within laurel wreath of six bunches of leaves terminating in upright leaf
Pellet in field to left of legend
21mm x 22mm, 8.31g
Butcher 65.v
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Anonymous Issue under Nero, AE Small Denomination, 56/57 (Caesarean Year 105), Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
ANTIOXEWN
Veiled, turreted head of Tyche right, countermark of star (of Bethlehem?) in left field
EPIKOUADRATOU
Ram leaping right, looking back, star and crescent above
ET EP in exergue
16mm, 4.38g
Butcher Antioch 121; SNG Copenhagen 101
Note: The reason this coin is perfectly round is because it was used for more than just a coin. The edges have been rounded and a V-shaped
groove cut into the entire edge of the coin, making it a perfect fit for an amulet to wear without piercing it, or for use in a machine
where a grooved roller/spacer would be needed. Given the historical allusions on this coin, I would guess it was set in an amulet in
ancient times.
Note: Michael Molnar, an astronomer, believes this coin depicts Jupiter's occultation of Aries in 6 B.C., the most probable "Star of
Bethlehem."
http://www.eclipse.net/~molnar/
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Nero, AE20, 41-54, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
IM . NER . CLAV-CAESAR
Laureate head right, serpent before
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath
20mm x 22mm, 8.68g
RPC I, 4310; BMC Galatia pg. 173, 184
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Nero, AE Medium Denomination, c.59-60, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
IM . NER . CLAV-CAESAR
Laureate head right, lituus before
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves
22mm x 23mm, 7.66g
Butcher 126.i
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Titus, Orichalcum Medium Denomination, 74-81, Group 2, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
T CAESAR IM_P PONT
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in pellet
21mm x 23mm, 8.32g
Butcher 165.b.i
Note: Issued under Vespasian
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Domitian, AE Medium Denomination, 74-81, Group 2, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
DOMITIAN_VS CAESAR
Laureate head left
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in pellet
19mm x 21mm, 6.17g
Butcher 165.c.i
Note: Issued under Vespasian
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Domitian, AE Medium Denomination, 74-81, Group 2, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
DOMITIANVS CAESAR
Laureate head left
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in pellet, pellet at 9 o'clock
21mm x 23mm, 8.36g
Butcher 165.c.v
Note: Issued under Vespasian. The N in the legend is retrograde.
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Domitian, AE Large Denomination, 81-83, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
[IMP DOMITIA_]NVS CAES-AVG
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
25mm x 26mm, 15.78g
Butcher 169.a.i
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Domitian, AE Large Denomination, 81-83, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad
Orontem, Officina 1
IMP DOMITI_ANVS CA_ES AVG
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
A below in wreath
29mm x 30mm, 14.14g
Butcher 170.a
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Domitian, AE Large Denomination, 81-83, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina
2
IMP DOMITIA_NVS CAES-AVG
Laureate head left
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
B below in wreath
27mm x 29mm, 15.61g
Butcher Antioch 171.a; Paris 335
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Nerva, AE Large Denomination, 97, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 3
IMP . CAESAR . NER_VA . AVG . III . COS
Laureate head right
S C
Legend within eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
G below in wreath
29mm x 31mm, 18.72g
Butcher 186.a
Note: This example is nearly 5.00g heavier than the listed 13.75g expected weight and has a
beveled flan
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Trajan, AE Large Denomination, 98-117, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 4
[AVOTKP KAI]C NEP TPAIANOC CEB GEPM DAK
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
D below in wreath
26mm x 27mm, 15.09g
Butcher 201.a
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Hadrian, AE Unit, 117-138, Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officinae 3 and 4
AYT KAIC Q TP P YI [Q NEP YIW TP
ADPIANOC CE]B
Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from front
S C
Legend in wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
GD below in wreath
25mm x 27mm, 14.88g
Butcher 231
Note: On p.358 Butcher notes officinae 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6 are paired, but proposes no conclusions as to why.
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Hadrian, AE Twelfth Unit (?), 117-138, Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 7
No legend
Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
S C
Legend in wreath of many leaves, terminating in circle
Z below in wreath
9mm x 10mm, 1.00g
Butcher 246
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Antoninus Pius, AE Large Denomination, 138-140 (?), Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 1 (?)
[AYTO] KAIC TITAIL ADPI AN[TWNEINOC CEBEY CEB]
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle with pellet
A (?) below in wreath
21mm x 22mm, 10.75g
Butcher 281
Note: Butcher lists the AE Large Denomination of Group 1 as 13.82g and Group 2 as 8.90g. This coin falls between the two, so
I'm calling this an undersized flan of Group 1. Also, the officina mark is not well struck, so it could be A or
D.
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Antoninus Pius, AE Large Denomination, 138-140 (?), Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 9
[AYTO KAIC TITAIL ADPI AN]TWNEINOC [CEBEY CEB]
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle with pellet
Q below in wreath
21mm x 23mm, 10.12g
Butcher 289
Note: Another example between the weight ranges for Groups 1 and 2. I'm putting this one with the in-between example of Butcher
281 and perhaps these are from an unlisted Medium Denomination for Group 1?
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Antoninus Pius, AE Large Denomination, 140-143 (?), Group 2, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 1
[AYTO KAIC TI T AIL] ADPI-ANTWNEINOC [CEBEY C]
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle with pellet
A below in wreath
22mm x 23mm, 7.58g
Butcher 292.i; Berlin
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Marcus Aurelius, AE Large Denomination, 140-143 (?), Group 2, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 5
AURHLIOC KAIC
CEBA-EUCEUIOC
UPATOC
Bare-headed, draped bust right, seen from behind
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle with pellet
E below in wreath
21mm x 23mm, 10.92g
Butcher 296.ii; Paris 491
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Antoninus Pius, AE Medium Denomination, 140-143 (?), Group 2, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 2
AYT_O KA T AI AD_[PI ANTWNEINOC CEBEY C]
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle with pellet
B above, * below in wreath
17mm x 19mm, 5.42g
Butcher 303.1v
Note: Variant for obverse legend - AYTO KAIC TI AIL ADP-ANTWNEINOC CEB EYC exepected.
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Antoninus Pius, AE Large Denomination, 145-147, Group 4, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 1
[AYT KAI TI AIL AD]PI ANTW_NEINOC [CEBEY C]
Laureate head right, in lower right field
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
A above, eagle with head left below, all in wreath
23mm, 7.37g
Butcher 315.i.a
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Antoninus Pius, AE Large Denomination, 145-147, Group 4, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 4
AYT KAI TI AIL ADP ANTW_NEINOC CEBEY C
Laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder, * in lower right field
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle with pellet
D above, eagle with head right below, * left of eagle, all in wreath
22mm x 24mm, 8.79g
Butcher 318.i.a
Note: Officina 4 not attested in Butcher for large denomination for Antoninus Pius. Also, Butcher notes the Group 4 issues
are usually badly struck with details missing, which this piece is luckily quite the opposite.
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Antoninus Pius, AE Large Denomination, 145-147, Group 4, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 4
AYT KAI TI AIL ADP ANTW_NEINOC CEBEY C
Laureate head right, * in lower right field
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
D above, eagle with head right below, all in wreath
22mm x 24mm, 7.30g
Butcher 318.i.a
Note: Officina 4 not attested in Butcher for large denomination for Antoninus Pius. The artifact in the reverse field above the
eagle is actually another eagle head, left behind from a double-strike. The flan is orichalcum (brass).
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Antoninus Pius, AE Large Denomination, 145-147, Group 4, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad
Orontem, Officina 5
[AYT] KAI TI AIL ADPI ANTW_NEI[NOC CEBEY C]
Laureate head right, * in lower right field
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
E above, eagle with head left below, all in wreath
21mm x 24mm, 8.07g
Butcher 319.i.a
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Antoninus Pius, AE Medium Denomination, 145-147, Group 4, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina
8
[AYT] KAI TAI AIL [ADPI ANTWNEINOC CEBEY C]
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of eight bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
H above, eagle with head left below, all in wreath
17mm x 18mm, 3.35g
Butcher 322.i.b
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Lucius Verus, AE Large Denomination, 161-169, Group 4, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Officina 6
AUTK LAUR HLOUHROC CEB
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath of ten bunches of leaves, terminating in circle
Palm branch right above, modified diagamma below, K | A across fields, all in wreath
22mm x 23mm, 9.28g
Butcher 430.b; No museum reference in Butcher (very rare)
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Caracalla, AE Large Denomination, 198-217, Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AVT . K . MAP . AV .-ANTWNINOC-. CE .
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath, terminating in circle with pellet
Eagle with head left below in wreath
21mm x 23mm, 7.67g
Butcher 456
Note: Butcher lists the obverse legend as AVT . K . M . AY .-ANTWNEINOC CEB
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Caracalla, AE Large Denomination, 198-217, Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AVT . K . MAP . AV .-ANTWNINOC-. CEB
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath, terminating in circle with pellet
Eagle with head right below in wreath
22mm x 23mm, 6.27g
Butcher 456
Note: Butcher lists the obverse legend as AVT . K . M . AY .-ANTWNEINOC CEB
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Caracalla, AE Large Denomination, 198-217, Group 1, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AVT K ANTWNINOC C_EB
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath, terminating in circle with pellet
Eagle with head right below in wreath
20mm x 23mm, 7.41g
Butcher 456
Note: Butcher lists the obverse legend as AVT . K . M . AY .-ANTWNEINOC CEB
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Caracalla, AE Medium Denomination, 198-217, Group 2, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AY K AN_[TWNI]NO_C
Radiate head left, legend clockwise from one o'clock
S C
Legend in laurel wreath
D below in wreath
14mm x 15mm, 2.89g
Butcher 462; BMC 442; Lindgren I, 2003 (in error for Elagabalus)
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Caracalla or Elagabalus, AE19, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AVT . N . M . AV . C . ANTWNI_NOC .
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel-wreath
D / E in upper and lower fields
19mm x 20mm, 5.35g
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Elagabalus, AE SC Denomination, 218-222, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AYT K M AYP C ANTWNINOC C
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath, terminating in circle
D in upper field, E in lower field
17mm x 19mm, 3.98g
Butcher 468
Note: This is an example of the rare variant showing the use of the name Severus in the legend, as determined with the letter
C after AYP.
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Elagabalus, AE SC Denomination, 218-222, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AYT KAI MA ANTW[NINOC CEB]
Radiate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath, terminating in *
DE in upper field, eagle with spread wings lower field
18mm x 19mm, 4.53g
Butcher 469
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Elagabalus, AE SC Denomination, 218-222, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AYT [KAI MA] ANTWNINOC CEB
Laureate head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath, terminating in circle with pellet
DE in upper field, eagle with spread wings lower field
18mm x 20mm, 4.99g
Butcher 470
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Philip I, AE31, 244-249, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AVTOK K M IOVLI FILLIPOC CEB
Radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding shield in left hand with design of emperor on horse, right hand raised, prancing on horse left,
lit altar before
ANTIOXEWN-MHTPO KOLWN
Turreted, draped and veiled bust of Tyche right, ram running right above
D / S in left field, E / C in right field, * below
30mm x 31mm, 18.57g
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Diadumenian, AE21, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia
ad Orontem. KAI
M O DI ANTWNINOC CE Bare head, draped, cuirassed bust right. D
| S . C | E in laurel wreath, * above. Sear GIC 3017v.
Volusian and Trebonianus Gallus, AE31, 251-253,
Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad
Orontem. AVTOK K G OVIB
TREB GALLOC KAI OVOLOVCCIANOC
CEB . Laureate, draped bust of Trebonianus
Gallus left, radiate, draped bust of Volusian right. ANTIOXEWN
MHTRO KOLWN Temple with four columns, Antioch seated, Orontes
swimming below, ram on top of temple. D in
upper left field, E in upper right field, S C in exergue. SNG Copenhagen
293.
Note from Curtis Clay:
(The inscription translates to) Imperator Caesar C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus
and Volusian the Augusti. The KAI in the middle is the Greek word for
"and", not "Caesar" abbreviated. The final word is normally
CEBB with two Bs meaning the plural Augusti, but the second B seems to be filled
in on the die or perhaps omitted in error on your coin. So both Gallus and
Volusian are Augusti on this coin, which was the usual condition throughout most
of the reign since Volusian was only Caesar for a month or two at the beginning
before being raised to joint Augustus with his father after Hostilian's
death. Gallus never held the position of Caesar or Designated Successor.
Valerian I, AE22, 253-260, Syria: Seleucis and
Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem. IMP CAE R ASLL OVNAHIIIR Radiate, draped, cuirassed
bust right. ANTIOC_H_IOCEA Three legionary standards. S | R in
fields. BMC Lycia 130, p. 199.
Note from Curtis Clay: According
to Krzyzanowska, BM 130 and 134-5 are all from the same obverse die as your
coin. The legend made no sense to the BM cataloguer G.F. Hill, and he
misattributed them to Volusian. Krzyzanowska seems to be right that
Valerian was meant. Compare (your coin) to the legend on her obverse VI
which seems surely to mean Valerian
- IMP CAE R ASLL
OVALEHIR.
Valerian I, AE22, 253-260, Syria: Seleucis and
Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem. IMP CAE R ASLL OVNAHIIIR Radiate, draped, cuirassed
bust right. ANTIO_CHOC Three legionary standards. S | R in
fields. BMC Lycia 130v.
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