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Caesarea Germanica Æ - Elagabalus and Phosphorus Running w. Torches - Unlisted, I think.


Marsyas Mike

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Here is my latest attempt to identify the couple dozen ancients that I haven't been able to figure out.  Sometimes I go through the pile and try to figure 'em out.  

This one appears to be unlisted.  If anybody can add any information, I'd be very pleased.  At some point I might send it to RPC to see if they want to add it to their database.  I posted this years ago on Coin Talk, @Ed Snible and @Roman Collectorprovided some help (thanks, fellas!).  https://www.cointalk.com/threads/roman-provincial-id-help-needed-elagabalus-nude-guy.349306/#post-3813651

Since then, I think I figured out the reverse figure - Phosphorus holding two torches, cape blowing behind, apparently otherwise not attired (hope those torches aren't sparking!).  The reverse legend is pretty clear - it was issued by Caesarea Germanica.  Here's mine with my latest efforts at an attribution: 

CaesareaGermanicaBithynia-ElagabalusPhosphoros-Oct2019(0).jpg.4bfdbbc6f4e7e825f6b41c8a6d861aaa.jpg

Elagabalus  Æ 19 Caesarea Germanica, Bithynia  (c. 218-222 A.D.) [Μ ΑΥΡ?] ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟΑΥΓΟΥ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / [ΚΑ CΑ]ΡΕΙΑC ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΗC, Phosphorus advancing left, holding two torches Unlisted (see notes). (3.55 grams / 19 x 18 mm) eBay Oct. 2019 $3.00

Attribution: This appears to be unlisted.  See:

RPC VI 10926 (temporary) same (or similar) legends, Elagabalus, Caesarea  Germanica, athlete reverse  https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/10926

CNG E-Auction 188; Lot 211; 28.05.2008: Diadumenian, Caesarea Germanica, Phosphorus advancing right

I found an unlisted Phosphorus type for Diadumenian that looks an awful lot like mine, except Phosphorus is hurrying off in the opposite direction.  The obverse legend on mine would appear to be Elagabalus.  Here's a comparison photo with the Diadumenian:

CaesareaGermanicaBithynia-ElagabalusPhosphoros-Oct2019(0)COMP.jpg.7d799f99f30653d4d8d4203488431d6d.jpg

CNG auction:  https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=479622

Here's the RPC Elagabalus with the athlete reverse - the obverse inscription seems to match mine, thus my belief mine is for Elagabalus (but not a die-match, alas): 

CaesareaGermanicaBithynia-ElagabalusathleteRPC10926-RPCpic0.jpg.8db84c12ee7d2a3974148cc2d695b574.jpg

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/10926

Further compounding the mystery is what town are we talking about? - Wikipedia:

Germanicopolis (GreekΓερμανικόπολις) was an ancient town in Bithynia, also known as Caesarea in Bythinia (not to be confused with Caesarea Germanica, as such a former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular seehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanicopolis_(Bithynia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanicopolis_(Bithynia)

Kahramanmaraş (Turkish pronunciation: [kahɾaˈmanmaɾaʃ]), historically Marash (TurkishMaraşArmenianՄարաշ) and Germanicea (GreekΓερμανίκεια), is a city in the Mediterranean region of Turkey and the administrative centre of Kahramanmaraş province

Maraş was called Germanicia Caesarea (Ancient GreekΓερμανίκειαGermanikeia) in the time of the Roman and Byzantine empires, probably after Germanicus Julius Caesar rather than the German people. According to a 2010 Cumhuriyet article, the first ruins of Germanicia have already been unearthed in the Dulkadiroğulları quarters of the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahramanmaraş

Yeah, "not to be confused" is what I am not.  If that makes sense.  The coin sources say this is the one in Bithynia.  

Share your mysteries, your attribution journeys, your tired, your poor, your huddled masses of coins yearning to be identified (with apologies to Emma Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty). 😀 

Anything else from Caesarea Germanica would be good to see too (RPC lists only 24 types total).  

 

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