Home Contents Search

 

Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem

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.


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

Roman Provincial, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Augustus, AE Semis, 4-5 AD
AVGVST •-TR POT
Bare head right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath
22mm x 25mm, 10.42g
McAlee 209; RPC 4261
Ex David Cannon Collection

Roman Provincial, Syria-Antioch, Autonomous Issue Under Augustus, AE Small Denomination, Actian Year 42 (11/12 AD), Group 2, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus Silanus as Governor of Syria
(No legend)
Laureate head of Zeus right
ANTIOXE_ΩN MHTPO_ΠOΛEΩΣ
Ram running right, looking back, * above, BM below
19mm x 21mm, 8.12g
Butcher 56; BMC Galatia 62; MacDonald, NC 1904, pp 110-112
Ex David Cannon Collection

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

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Autonomous Issue under Hadrian (117-138), AE Quarter Unit (?), Caesarean Year 177 (128/129), Group 2, Officina 2
ANTIOXEWN THC MHTPOΠOΛEWC
Veiled, turreted, draped bust of Tyche right
(No legend)
Ram running right, looking back, star and crescent above
B in left field, ET ZOP below
15mm x 19mm, 3.07g
Butcher 268; Paris 417
Ex Midwest "Coins of Christianity" Collection

Consignor notes: This reverse type is thought to reference the Star of Bethlehem.

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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

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.

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).

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

Diadumenian, AE Large Denomination, 217-218, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
KAI M O DI ANTWNINOC-CE
Bare head, draped, cuirassed bust right
S C
Legend in laurel wreath, terminating in *
D in upper field, E in lower field
21mm
Butcher 463b

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.

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

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

Philip I, AE31, 244-249, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem
AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛΛIΠOC 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
ANTIOXEΩN-MHTPO KOΛΩN
Turreted, draped and veiled bust of Tyche right, ram running right above, * below
Δ / S | E / C across fields
30mm x 31mm, 18.57g

Roman Provincial, Syria: Seleucis and Pieria-Antiochia ad Orontem, Philip I, AE Large Denomination, Second Issue, 247-249
AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛΛIΠOC CEB
Laureate, cuirassed bust left
ANTIOXEΩN-MHTPO KOΛΩN
Turreted, draped and veiled bust of Tyche right, ram running right above, * below
Δ / S | E / C across fields
30mm x 31mm, 19.07g
Butcher 498a

Notes in Butcher: The first issue, large denomination module average weight is 17.99g and the average for the second issue is 15.75g. It is possible this specimen was struck on a flan intended for the first issue, but left over and used later. It's quite heavy for either issue in any event.

Consignor notes: aVF. Adjustment marks.

Volusian and Trebonianus Gallus, AE31, 251-253, Syria-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
Tyche of Antioch seated within tetrastyle temple, Orontes swimming below, ram on top of temple
D in upper left field, E in upper right field
S C in exergue
30mm, 20.33g
McAlee 1184 (same obverse die); SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München 788 (same obverse die)

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.