Caracalla, Tetradrachm, Laodicea-ad-Mare

[maridvnvm]

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?

[Prieure de Sion]

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. 
 

 

[Qcumbor]

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 :

 

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 :

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 :

 

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 November 19, 2022 by Qcumbor

[Al Kowsky]

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 Q 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.

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

[Spaniard]

Very informative thread!...An area I'm becoming more interested in and have already learnt a great deal in 4 posts!....Thanks

[Prieure de Sion]

21 hours ago, maridvnvm said:

Thoughts/assistance?

So - I have contact my CGB Partner - he will give my feedback of the correct Prieur Number of your Tetradrachm. And he will describe the groups for this Laodice Type for us.

[maridvnvm]

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.

[Al Kowsky]

Pictured below are two more Tets of Severus from Prieur's 2nd Group. Prieur 1140 is fairly common & appears frequently at auction, but examples in high grade can be expensive. Prieur 1141 rarely appears at auction & high grade examples are very expensive 😖.

 

[maridvnvm]

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

[Al Kowsky]

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 🤔.

Edited November 19, 2022 by Al Kowsky

[Qcumbor]

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 :

 

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 :

 

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 :

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)

 

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

[maridvnvm]

@Qcumbor those superb examples just reinforce my desire to complete a family set from these issues. Thank you all for sharing these. A fascinating insight into an area of eastern Severans that I have not delved into.

[kapphnwn]

Caracalla Ar tetradrachm Laodicea ad Mare 208-209 AD Obv Bust right laureate and draped Rv Eagle standing facing head left wings open Prieur 1153 This Coin Illustrated 13.90 grms 27 mm Photo by W. Hansen

[Prieure de Sion]

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).

[maridvnvm]

Many many thanks.

[dougsmit]

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.