seth77 Posted June 16 · Member Share Posted June 16 (edited) This one came in my June order: AE26mm 12.85g orichalcum unit (as?), minted at Caesarea, ca. March 222(?) [ΑΥ] Κ Μ ΑΥΡΗΛI ΑΛƐΞΑΝΔ; bare-headed and draped bust of Severus Alexander, r., seen from rear; countermark ΜΗΤΡΟΠ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ; ƐΤ Ɛ; agalma of Mount Argaeus on altar inscribed with regnal year RPC VI 6728, Ganschow 733e-f This coin with the unlikely obverse legend is likely minted around the changing of the regime from Elagabal to Alexander in March 222. It gives Alexander the titulature of 'autokrator' (emperor) instead of 'kaisar' (Caesar), while the effigy is bareheaded, specific to the issues minted for him as Caesar and the reverse marks the fifth year (ƐΤ Ɛ) of Elagabal's reign. This can mean that an obverse die was hastily modified for the new political reality, before changing the bust type or the reverses minted for Elagabal. The countermark is unrecorded in Howgego, but known for the coinage of Severus Alexander as Caesar, see here for analogy. It seems that I have steadily been building a small collection of Alexander as Caesar provincial issues. Edited June 16 by seth77 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted June 16 · Supporter Share Posted June 16 Nice patina and interesting obv and rev. Nice addition to your collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted June 16 · Member Author Share Posted June 16 There is practically no patina, just the somewhat toned brassy metal. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted June 16 · Supporter Share Posted June 16 The difference background and lighting makes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted June 16 · Supporter Share Posted June 16 How odd! It makes me wonder if there was a short time before the assassination of Elagabalus where Sev Alex was raised to the rank of junior Augustus… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted June 17 · Member Author Share Posted June 17 10 hours ago, Severus Alexander said: How odd! It makes me wonder if there was a short time before the assassination of Elagabalus where Sev Alex was raised to the rank of junior Augustus… Either that or some degree of uncertainty regarding who the current emperor is. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted July 25 · Member Author Share Posted July 25 A new more regular Alexander as Caesar from Caesarea Cappadocia, this time with the full Caesar epigraphy of Κ Μ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΑΛƐΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ: Without the countermark to block his face, this one has a rather pleasing effigy of the young Alexander and a nice thick and shiny patina. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted July 26 · Supporter Share Posted July 26 ...i believe we had agreed in a pow-wow some time back these to be of Severus Alexander from Cappadocia (one with countermark too :))...i love the reverses of that place on coins 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted July 26 · Patron Share Posted July 26 This is the only Severus Alexander I have from this mint and here he has the titulature of an emperor. Severus Alexander, 222-235 CE. Roman Provincial AE 25.0 mm, 10.37 g. Cappadocia, Caesarea, 222/3 CE. Obv: ΑV Κ Μ ΑVΡ ϹЄΟΥ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡ, laureate head, right; uncertain c/m behind. Rev: ΜΗΤΡΟΠ ΚΑΙϹΑΡΙ, agalma of Mount Argaeus surmounted by star, atop altar inscribed ЄTA (= year 1). Refs: RPC VI 6735; Sydenham 537-38; BMC 298; SNG von Aulock 6510. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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