Late and very late Roman "provincial" coins

[seth77]

Two very interesting issues from the same Holy Land mint, one of the most prolific mints at times in the Levant. Caesarea Maritima minted extensively for the Flavians and then it started getting a new momentum in the second quarter of the 3rd century to reach a climax during the reign of Decius and then dying down under Gallus and Volusian and totally disappearing under Valerian, possibly because the emperor moved East to Antioch (which was relatively close) and struck Imperial billon antoninianii extensively starting with around 254.

1. Herennius Etruscus as Caesar, AE18mm 5.56g brass copper unit, minted ca. 250.
MES Q EREN [ETRVSCO DECIO] CAES; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Etruscus, r., seen from front
[COL P F AV F C] CAES METROP; turreted bust of Fortuna, r., with drapery on shoulder
RPC IX 2104, BMC 188, Kadman II 173

 

2. Volusian as Augustus, AE23mm 10.81g brass double unit, minted ca. autumn 251
IMP CC VOLVSSIANVS PF AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Volusian, r., seen from rear
COL PF [AVG F C CA]ES MET PR S PAL; Roma seated l., on shield, holding Victory and spear
BMC 213, Kadman II 223, RPC IX 2128

 

They are both part of the end cycle of coinage minted locally at Caesarea, showing with 25 specs in RPC for Herennius vs 6 for Volusian the explosion of provincial coinage at this mint under Decius and the cooling down after 251. Other close-by mints, like the one at Nablus exemplified above had a complete opposite trajectory: (almost) no coinage for Decius vs an explosion of coinage under Gallus. These things very likely mark the unstable nature of the Empire during the crisis -- Nablus was a strong supporter of Philip, who actually raised the town to colonial status, so when Decius came to power the town was stripped of its status, only to slowly recover it under Gallus.

At Caesarea though another explanation is put forth by an Israeli researcher L. Levine (Some Observations on the Coins of Caesarea Maritima, Israel Exploration Journal Vol. 22, No. 2/3 (1972), pp. 131-140): Caesarea had a strong Christian community and the Decian persecutions of ca. 250 gave an upperhand to that part of the local elite who was following the traditional Roman cults to impose itself and affirm the traditional Roman religion as the identity of the city against the persecuted Christian community. And part of this persecution and affirmation of identity against the persecuted seems to have been conducted through the minting of a lot of issues honoring traditional Roman themes on the reverse, of which the Fortuna (Tyche) of the city and the personification of Rome itself are likely the most fitting representations.

The double unit type with Roma reverse was itself introduced by Decius and the scarcity of it in the name of Volusian indicates that it probably died down as the new administration was less inclined to push this kind of religious fervor and keep the level of persecutions against Christians.

[Severus Alexander]

2 hours ago, seth77 said:

These things very likely mark the unstable nature of the Empire during the crisis -- Nablus was a strong supporter of Philip, who actually raised the town to colonial status, so when Decius came to power the town was stripped of its status, only to slowly recover it under Gallus.

At Caesarea though another explanation is put forth by an Israeli researcher L. Levine (Some Observations on the Coins of Caesarea Maritima, Israel Exploration Journal Vol. 22, No. 2/3 (1972), pp. 131-140): Caesarea had a strong Christian community and the Decian persecutions of ca. 250 gave an upperhand to that part of the local elite who was following the traditional Roman cults to impose itself and affirm the traditional Roman religion as the identity of the city against the persecuted Christian community. And part of this persecution and affirmation of identity against the persecuted seems to have been conducted through the minting of a lot of issues honoring traditional Roman themes on the reverse, of which the Fortuna (Tyche) of the city and the personification of Rome itself are likely the most fitting representations.

The double unit type with Roma reverse was itself introduced by Decius and the scarcity of it in the name of Volusian indicates that it probably died down as the new administration was less inclined to push this kind of religious fervor and keep the level of persecutions against Christians.

Fascinating stuff, @seth77!!

[hotwheelsearl]

On 6/5/2022 at 5:35 PM, seth77 said:

Looks like spelling contests were likely a drag in Pisidia's Antioch.

You have no idea. Check out the bungled Volusians: