Coins of the Palmyrene Empire

[Troyden]

Post your coins from that fascinating breakaway quasi-Empire. This is my first and so far only coin minted under Palmyrean rule. Because of the bust of Aurelian, it was obviously minted in the short period between Aurelian's ascension but before Palmyra broke any formal links with Rome.

Antoninianus of Aurelian/Vabalathus. 271/272 AD, Antioch, Officina A, catalogue: RIC 381, A.
Love the large silvering remaining.

Edited January 6, 2023 by Troyden

[shanxi]

Unusual good silvering !

My example is silmilar, but as is more common, without silvering.

Aurelianus + Vabalathus
Antoninian Antiochia
Obv.: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust right., Δ below
Rs.: VABALATHVS VCRIMDR, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
AE, 4.60g, 20.5mm
Ref.: Kamp. 109.3, RIC 381

 

 

Edited January 6, 2023 by shanxi

[Harry G]

Here are some of mine! I'm still after a Zenobia, and need to take some pics of my Aurelian/Vabalathus types

Aurelian/Vabalathus serrated antoninianus. Possibly used as a gaming piece?

 

Vabalathus - AETERNITAS AVG. Sole reign

 

Vabalathus - VENVS AVG. Sole reign

[Prieure de Sion]

This was my piece...

 

 

Lucius Domitius Aurelianus and Lucius Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vabalathus Athenodorus
Antoninianus of the Roman Imperial Period 270/275 AD; Material: BI; Diameter: 21mm; Weight: 4.10g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria; Reference: RIC V Aurelian 381; Obverse: Bust of Aurelian, radiate, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG for Imperator, Caesar, Aurelianus Augustus; Reverse: Bust of Vabalathus, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: VABALATHVS VCRIMDR for Vabalathus Vir Clarissimus Rex Imperator Dux Romanorum (Vabalathus, most illustrious (senatorial rank), king, Imperator, duke of Rome).

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Aurelianus/Vabalathus

AE antoninianus 3.7 grams, 22 mm

 

 

[dougsmit]

Unlike the rest of you, I consider the obverse to be Vabalathus since the mint considered him the senior ruler and placed the officina letters below the reverse portrait of Aurelian. 

 

Another coin to be added to that set is the Alexandrian tetradrachm double dtaed to the regnal years for each.   Vabalathus id here year four while Aurelian is year one. 

[hotwheelsearl]

A crummy example.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

That's an interesting perspective Doug, and probably, noting that the officina was under Aurelian's portrait, intended to be the reverse...

[Valentinian]

Palmyra. Altogether, there are very few coins attributed to the mint of Palmyra (as opposed to coins minted at Antioch or Alexandria). Some scholars have suggested they are not coins, rather tokens.

Palmyra, 2nd-3rd C.
15 mm. 2.65 grams.
Three busts facing: Baal with polos, the sun god Yarhobol on the left, and the moon god Ayblel on the right,
or, using Roman terms, Serapis in the middle, Sol on the left, and Selene on the right.
ΠAΛMVRA  = Palmyra (9:00 to 1:100)
Winged figure holding balance with two pans, over cippus. 

Very rare. Coins from Palmyra are not closely dated. Some have suggested it is not a coin, rather a siliqua weight, but it is not the correct weight to serve that function. 

[Jims,Coins]

Bronze Coin (AE Antoninianus) minted at Antioch during the reign of VABALATHUS between 271 - 272 A.D. Obv. VABALATHVS.V.C.R.IM.D.R.: laur., dr. and cuir. bust, r., (these were struck during the uneasy peace between Rome and Palmyra immediately following the accession of AURELIAN. The letters V.C.R.IM.D.R. seem to = VIR CLARISSIMUS REX IMPERATOR DUX ROMANORUM.) Rev. IMP.C.AVRELIANVS.AVG.: rad. and cuir. bust of AURELIAN r. RCS #3292. RICV #381 pg.308. DVM #1.

 

[Valentinian]

On 1/11/2023 at 2:23 PM, dougsmit said:

Another coin to be added to that set is the Alexandrian tetradrachm double dated to the regnal years for each.   Vabalathus id here year four while Aurelian is year one. 

Mine has years 5 (Є)  and 2 (B) instead of 4 and 1:

Aurelian and Vabalathus, 271-272
20 mm. 9.63 grams.
Tetradrachm of Roman Egypt struck at Alexandria.
Struck year 2 of Aurelian (LB) and year 5 of Vabalathus (LЄ).
AKΛ ΔOM AVPHΛIANOC CEB
Bust of Aurelian right

IAC OVABAΛΛAΘΟC AΘHNΟV...
Bust of Vabalathus right

Sear III 11721. Milne 4330. Emmett "270-271" 3914

[dougsmit]

Having two year dates for Alexandrian coins could suggest they were issued for a while or simply in September and October of that one year.  Have you seen anything regarding this?  I believe the two dates seem to be similarly scarce so my tendency is to believe they were not issued for a long period. 

[antwerpen2306]

@dougsmit I agree for the obverse. I have 2 coins.

I bought this coin in my club in Antwerp for 3,6 euro. Very expensive😄