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Caracalla, Tetradrachm, Laodicea-ad-Mare


maridvnvm

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Being an avid collector of eastern silver denarii of the Severan period, which includes Laodicea-ad-Mare I have found myself drawn to some of the Laodicean Tetradrachms over the years but have never pulled the trigger... until now.

Caracalla - Tetradrachm

Obv:- • AVT • KAI • - • ANTΩNEINOC - • CE •. Laureate head to right
Rev:- • ΔHMAPX • EΞ • VΠATOC • TO • Γ •. Eagle seen from front, wings spread, head left, laurel wreath in beak, standing on ground line; between legs, star-shaped light
Minted in Laodicea ad Mare, A.D. 212-213?

I have Prieur but have struggled a little with tyhe differentiation between these issues and think I have narrowed it down to one of  1173A or 1176 but am not 100% convinced. I have compared with many online examples as well which has been little to no help as online attribution seems almost random.

Thoughts/assistance?

GI_066o_img.JPG

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As far as I know, there are five different groups in the 117x series from Laodicea. The main distinction is the folds in the portrait of the emperor! In addition, there is then as a further (small) distinction the symmetry of the eagle. 

But if I am not mistaken it is:
Group 1 folds A
Group 2 folds B
Group 3 folds C
Group 4 folds D Eagle A
Group 5 folds D Eagle B

But I would have to ask my "friend" at cgb.fr again. 

By the way, this is a 1173a - guaranteed. 
 

image.jpeg.76904a48a649139b71b9d0393be00ad3.jpeg

 

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Excellent example.

I've always been fascinated by the difference in style at the various mints on those. Here are examples from Antioch, Laodicaea and Hierapolis.

Antioch :

4868cb2073834416961b49980d33636d.jpg

 

Caracalla (04/02/211-08/04/217) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier d'Antioche, c. 211-212
ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝOC CΕ  Β, Buste lauré de Caracalla à droite
.ΔHΜΑΡX[.E.Ξ.]YΠΑΤΟ.ΤΟ.ΤΟ.Γ, Aigle de face les ailes déployées, la tête à droite, tenant dans son bec une couronne. Entre ses serres la cuisse d'un animal de sacrifice.

13.65 gr
Ref : Prieur # 214A_001 (unique à ce jour avec la légende de revers à laquelle manque le C à TOC.TOG. Avec mes remerciements à Mr Michel Prieur pour les informations complémentaires), McAlee #674v, Sear #2649 var, 

 

Laodicaea :

812f574a185e4d688edaf9058b7bfdca.jpg

Caracalla (04/02/211-08/04/217) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier de Laodicée du cinquième groupe, c. 212-213
ΑΥΤ.ΚΑΙ.ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝOC.CΕ. , Buste lauré de Caracalla à droite
.ΔHΜΑΡX.E.Ξ.YΠΑΤΟC.ΤΟ.Γ, Aigle de face les ailes déployées, la tête à gauche, tenant dans son bec une couronne. Entre les pattes une étoile

12.08 gr
Ref : Prieur # 1176_028, Sear #2659 var

@maridvnvm this one might share the same obverse die to yours. It had been confirmed as Prieur 1176 by Michel Prieur himself (RIP)

 

Hierapolis :

dd54b5171aef48a5a9e05f373daa2d77.jpg

 

Caracalla (04/02/211-08/04/217) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier de Hierapolis, c. 215-217
ΑΥΤ•Κ•Μ•Α•ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟC CЄΒ, Buste lauré de Caracalla à droite, vu de dos
ΔΗΜΑΡΧ Є•Ξ•ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, Aigle de face les ailes déployées, la tête à droite, tenant dans son bec une couronne. Entre ses pattes, un lion avançant à droite.

25 mm - 14,17 gr - 2h
Ref : Prieur # 926, McAlee #674v, Sear #2649 var, 

Q

Edited by Qcumbor
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There is a sharp drop in portrait quality on all of the Severan coinage at the Laodicea ad Mare mint beginning with the Fourth Group (AD 209-211), as Prieur notes in his book. That is not the case with the other mints, as the posted coins by illustrate.  Despite that drop in quality, auction prices are still high for those coins. The coin pictured below, from the 4th Group, I sold at a Heritage auction 12 years ago for $545.00.

555272071_NGC2420230-002ExAWKCollection.jpg.4c347d90bb56b85ec3bcec9a9f0e4c32.jpg

For comparison the coin pictured below is from the Third Group (AD 208-209).

912296662_3988264-001Prieur1151AKCollection.jpg.ff8f7218dd8f737bb50fb3ad2c33e92c.jpg

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I vaguely remember reading a long time ago that many of the best engravers working at the Laodicea ad Mare mint were sent to the Antioch mint because their facility was much larger & their output was also. I always suspected the Tet pictured below was done by an engraver who came from the Laodicea ad Mare mint 🤔.

1532395443_NGC2407594-011McAlee659Prieur200.jpg.df6dd216a41240cd9369d412428d395e.jpg

Edited by Al Kowsky
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3 hours ago, maridvnvm said:

I will certainly have to look at examples of Septimius and Geta. I will take my time. I enjoy the hunt. I doubt my examples will be as nice as those illustrated by @Al Kowsky

They are indeed very interesting to collect, and Al has some truly amazing specimens

Septimius :

532476ce524b4cbba6cfda479f29c525.jpg

 

Septime Sévère (13/04/193-04/02/211) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier de Laodicée - troisième groupe c. 208-209

ΑΥΤ·ΚΑΙ·  ·CΕΟΥHPΟC·CΕ· Buste lauré et drapé de Septime sévère à droite vu par l'avant
·ΔHΜΑPX·ΕΞ·ΥΠΑΤΟΚ·ΤΟ·Γ· Aigle de face, les ailes déployées, la tête à gauche, tenant une couronne dans son bec. Entre les pattes, une étoile

11.89 gr
Ref : Prieur # 1149_039, Sear #2261 var, 

 

Domna :

cc3acad860d54fdfa920cad627e18d59.jpg

 

Epouse de Septime Sévère (13/04/193-04/02/211) - Augusta (194-217) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier de Laodicée - ca 215-217, officine O

IOYΛIA · · · AYΓOYCTA  Buste drapé et diadémé de Julia à droite, vu par l'avant 
ΔHΜΑPX· · ΕΞ OYCIAC· Aigle de face, les ailes déployées, la tête à gauche, tenant une couronne dans son bec. Entre les pattes, buste radié, drapé et cuirassé de Shamash à gauche. Sous la tête de l'aigle O

26 mm - 13,97 gr - 6h
Ref : Prieur # 995, 

 

Geta :

eb9f22a4a7de43e48184801c6547677b.jpg

Geta (Cesar 28/01/198 puis Auguste, automne 209-26/12/211) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier d'Antioche du deuxième groupe, c. 208
KAI CAP ΓΕΤΑC, buste lauré de Geta à droite
ΔHΜΑΡX.EΞ.YΠΑ.ΤΟ.B., Aigle de face les ailes déployées, la tête à droite, tenant dans son bec une couronne. Entre ses serres la cuisse d'un animal de sacrifice.

13,40 gr
Ref : Prieur #209_006 (5 - même coin d'avers), McAlee # 718 (V.rare - mêmes coins)

 

81366d33dece4bb8bd10f39388dfba0c.jpg

Geta (Cesar 28/01/198 puis Auguste, automne 209-26/12/211) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier de Laodicée du troisième groupe, c. 208-209
KAICAP ΓΕΤΑC, tête nue de Geta à droite
YΠA-TOC TO B, Aigle de face les ailes déployées, la tête à gauche, tenant dans son bec une couronne. Entre les pattes une étoile

13,73 gr
Ref : Prieur #1157_012

Q

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On 11/19/2022 at 9:49 PM, maridvnvm said:

Many, many thanks. I suspect that my coin is an obverse die match to the fantastic example shared by @Qcumbor and as such is 1176. I am very keen to hear more about this fascinating. series and to learn.

I'm supposed to say hello from CGB and congratulations on this beautiful specimen.

It is confirmed - your tetradrachm is Prieur 1176 from the fifth group (212-213 AD).

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It has always bothered me that the tetradrachms attributed to Laodicea bear no resemblance to the denarii attributed to that city. I suppose the fact that the denarius mint operated earlier allows for a complete change of staff and style.  This contrasts to the fact that the denarius mint at Alexandria was attribute to that city based on the unmistakable similarity of the style between the tetradrachms and denarii.  Did Prieur comment on this?  Anyone?  I have never owned a Laodicea tetradrachm.  

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