Roman Coins in Reverse - a Chronological Gallery

[Al Kowsky]

Family Photo from Antioch-Syria

1. Philip I, AD 244-249 (struck AD 246). Billon Tetradrachm: Officina #6, 13.55 gm, 27 mm, 6 h. MON(eta) VRB(is) issue. Prieur 310; McAlee 901f (this coin illustrated). Ex Michel Prieur Collection.

2. Otacilia Severa as Augusta, AD 244-249 (struck AD 247). Billon Tetradrachm: 13.54 gm, 27 mm, 8 h. Prieur 383 (this coin illustrated). McAlee 1096. Ex Michel Prieur Collection.

3. Philip II, AD 247-249 (struck AD 248/9). Billon Tetradrachm: 12.42 gm, 27 mm, 12 h. Prieur 467; McAlee 1044a (this coin illustrated). Ex Michel Prieur Collection.

Edited September 7, 2023 by Al Kowsky

[expat]

Philip II with his Father on reverse

Marcus Julius Severus Philippus (Philip the younger). Struck under Philip I

Philip II, AR antoninianus. 22.4 mm, 4.91 g.(Thick flan), Rome mint, 249AD.
IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. / LIBERALITAS AVGG III, Philip I, holding short sceptre, and Philip II seated left on curule chairs, extending right hands. RIC 230; RSC 17, Sear 9265.
Appears to be reverse die match to example held by American Numismatic Society

 

[lrbguy]

Beginning at the end.  The celebration of the Roman millenium in 248 gave rise to an iconic set of coins.  Here is a core set of the animal designs arranged by officina number, from the Roman numerals in the reverse exergue.

 

Philip leads off: Officina 1 -lion to R

 

 

Philip leads off: Officina 2 - she wolf and twins to L

 

 

 

Philip junior gets in a lick: Officina 3- gazelle to L

 

Let's not forget mother Otacilia: Officina 4 - hippopotamus to R

 

Then its back to Dad, Officina 5 - stag to R

 

And Philip brings it home: Officina 6 - Antelope to L

 

For these this is only the tip of the iceberg.  There is lots of variation in the positions of the animals, to say nothing of other approaches to the SAECULARES AVGG  reverse types. 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2023 by lrbguy
delete extraneous

[Qcumbor]

Philip the arab celebrating Rome millenium with a reverse referring to the origins :

Q

[ambr0zie]

My most interesting Philip I antoninianus is also from the series celebrating Rome's 1000th anniversary.

 My Otacilia antoninianus is a very plain Concordia reverse, so no reason to show it on a Reverses thread. 

I prefer the Antioch tetradrachm - also with a very common and classic reverse for this city, but I find it much more interesting and artistic. 

For Philip II the traditional "Prince of the youth" reverse 

[CPK]

5 hours ago, lrbguy said:

Open question for those who started this topic and created the timetable:

Considering the fact that there are empty slots for September 11 and 13,    and the fact that there is a large volume of potentially interesting reverses among the coins of Philip and his family, particularly in view of the push for special types honoring the anniversary of Rome in 248,

any chance we could bump Trajan Decius to Sept 11 and expand the time for Philip and family to cover the "void"?

What actually were/are you looking for on Sept 11-14?

What! I never noticed that gap until now. And there's one in November too. Not sure how that happened.

I guess I would say, let's just make those time periods a free-for-all for posting any interesting reverse type from any slot we've done so far.

So, for Sept. 11 through 14 post any interesting types up to and including Trajan Decius. 

For Nov. 12 through 15 post any interesting types up to and including the women of the Constantinian Dynasty.

I think this would be the easiest way to manage the time gaps, while at the same time giving everyone a chance to show off any new or additional coins they've gotten since the thread began.

Does this sound okay to everyone?

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, ambr0zie said:

My most interesting Philip I antoninianus is also from the series celebrating Rome's 1000th anniversary.

 My Otacilia antoninianus is a very plain Concordia reverse, so no reason to show it on a Reverses thread. 

I prefer the Antioch tetradrachm - also with a very common and classic reverse for this city, but I find it much more interesting and artistic. 

For Philip II the traditional "Prince of the youth" reverse 

Ozie, I think our Otacilia Severa tetradrachms are a double die match 😮. What do you think 🤔?

[Severus Alexander]

One of the more historically interesting reverses for Philip is his first issue from Antioch, "celebrating" that patched-up and unfavourable peace treaty he signed with the Sassanids in his rush to get back to Rome and consolidate his power:

"PAX FVNDATA CVM PERSIS"

For his millennium issues, I have a cippus on an As (pretty scarce):

For Philip II here's a purty serpent from Tomis!

I find these late Moesian issues very interesting because they're the last ones before this area was overrun by the Goths and their buddies.  Their relative commonality is due to the hoarding that took place at the time.

[Limes]

My only Philip. 

[Al Kowsky]

15 hours ago, ambr0zie said:

My most interesting Philip I antoninianus is also from the series celebrating Rome's 1000th anniversary.

 My Otacilia antoninianus is a very plain Concordia reverse, so no reason to show it on a Reverses thread. 

I prefer the Antioch tetradrachm - also with a very common and classic reverse for this city, but I find it much more interesting and artistic. 

For Philip II the traditional "Prince of the youth" reverse 

Prieur cites only 7 example of #383, & McAlee lists the coin as Rare. So finding a D.D. match of this coin type is extraordinary ☺️.

Edited September 8, 2023 by Al Kowsky

[Al Kowsky]

EGYPT, Alexandria. Philip II, AD 247-248 (dated Year 6, AD 248/9). Billon Tetradrachm: 23 mm, 12.35 gm, 11 h. Obverse: Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust of Philip seen from behind. Reverse: Homonoia (goddess of unanimity & oneness of mind) holding a double cornucopia & hand raised, date letters L S. Emmett 3593. Ex Morris Collection.

[John Conduitt]

I have two coins of Philip I and neither has a great reverse. This has the most interesting deposit 🤣

Philip I Antoninianus, 246

Rome, 5th officina. Silver, 23mm, 4.31g. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Annona standing left, holding cornucopia and grain ears over modius to left (RIC IV, 28c). Ex Ken Bressett. From the Dorchester (Dorset) Hoard 1936. Portable Antiquities Scheme: IARCH-5E5FEF.

[shanxi]

Philip I provincial coins

Philippus I.
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: A K M IOV ΦIΛIΠΠOC EVC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: LS, year 6 = AD 248/249, Nike advancing right with wreath and palm branch.
Billion, 12.1g, 22.4mm
Ref.: Geissen 2750

 

Philippus I
Macedonia, Thessalonika
AE 25
Obv.: AV KM IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC, Rad. dr. bust right
Rev.: ΘΕCCAΛΟΝΙΚΕΩΝ ΝΕΩK. ΠΥΘΙΑΛI, Agnoistic table surmounted by five apples, price urn, and amphora
AE, 25 mm, 8,9 g
Ref.: Varbanov 4667var.

 

Philippus I, the Arab
Moesia Superior, Viminacium
AD 244
Obv: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, Laureate and draped bust right.
Rev.: P M S COL VIM / AN V = year 244, Moesia standing facing, head left, extending hands to bull and lion standing at feet to either side.
AE, 19.63g, 28.4mm
Ref.: Varbanov 130

 

Philippus I.
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ, radiate and cuirassed bust left
Rev.: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟ Γ, eagle standing right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak.
Billon, 11.35g, 26x27mm
Ref.: Prieur 354

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by shanxi

[shanxi]

Philip II and Otacila Severa

Philip II (247-249)
Syria, Seleucis and Pieria: Antiochia ad Orontem
Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r.
Rev.: ANTIOXEΩΝ ΜΗΤPΟ KΟΛΩN / Δ - E / S - C,
Turreted, draped, and veiled bust of Tyche r. above, ram leaping r., head l. star below
(The ram is the sign of the zodiac for the month in which Antiochia was founded)
AE, 14.86g, 29.1mm
Ref: McAlee 1073/2

 

Philippus II
Samosata, Commagene, Syria
August 247 - late 249 A.D
Obv.: AVTOK K M IOVAI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB / laureate draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: CAMOCATEΩN / Tyche seated left on rocks, Pegasus below
BMC 56
AE, 16.92g, 28.1mm

 

Philippus II.
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC YΠATO Δ. Eagle standing head left, holding wreath in beak, ANTIOXIA SC
Ref.: McAlee 1045, Prieur 466
Billon, 11.79g, 25.9mm

 

Otacilia Severa
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: MAP ΩTAKIΛ CEOVHPAN CEB, Diademed and draped bust on crescent left
Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞOVCIAC VΠATOΓ, Eagle standing facing, head right, holding wreath in beak, ANTIOXIA SC
Billon, 11.67g, 26.2mm
Ref.: Prieur 381

[Al Kowsky]

4 hours ago, John Conduitt said:

I have two coins of Philip I and neither has a great reverse. This has the most interesting deposit 🤣

Philip I Antoninianus, 246

Rome, 5th officina. Silver, 23mm, 4.31g. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Annona standing left, holding cornucopia and grain ears over modius to left (RIC IV, 28c). Ex Ken Bressett. From the Dorchester (Dorset) Hoard 1936. Portable Antiquities Scheme: IARCH-5E5FEF.

Great pedigree on that coin ☺️!

[Al Kowsky]

54 minutes ago, shanxi said:

Philip II and Otacila Severa

Philip II (247-249)
Syria, Seleucis and Pieria: Antiochia ad Orontem
Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r.
Rev.: ANTIOXEΩΝ ΜΗΤPΟ KΟΛΩN / Δ - E / S - C,
Turreted, draped, and veiled bust of Tyche r. above, ram leaping r., head l. star below
(The ram is the sign of the zodiac for the month in which Antiochia was founded)
AE, 14.86g, 29.1mm
Ref: McAlee 1073/2

 

Philippus II
Samosata, Commagene, Syria
August 247 - late 249 A.D
Obv.: AVTOK K M IOVAI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB / laureate draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: CAMOCATEΩN / Tyche seated left on rocks, Pegasus below
BMC 56
AE, 16.92g, 28.1mm

 

Philippus II.
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC YΠATO Δ. Eagle standing head left, holding wreath in beak, ANTIOXIA SC
Ref.: McAlee 1045, Prieur 466
Billon, 11.79g, 25.9mm

 

Otacilia Severa
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: MAP ΩTAKIΛ CEOVHPAN CEB, Diademed and draped bust on crescent left
Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞOVCIAC VΠATOΓ, Eagle standing facing, head right, holding wreath in beak, ANTIOXIA SC
Billon, 11.67g, 26.2mm
Ref.: Prieur 381

shanxi, Your example of Prieur 381 rarely comes up for sale. I was interested in a nice looking example that will be auctioned by Heritage in two days until the bidding got out of control 😬, see the photo below.

The bidding on this coin reached $3,960.00 two days ago 😮! Some collectors get crazy when they see an NGC star * on a coin 🤣.

 

[John Conduitt]

I have two that go here from the same hoard.

Otacilia Severa (6th emission of Philip I) Antoninianus, 247
Rome, 4th officina. Silver, 22mm, 3.55g. Draped bust right, wearing stephane and set on crescent. Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopia (RIC IV, Philip I, 125c). Ex Ken Bressett. From the Dorchester (Dorset) Hoard 1936. Portable Antiquities Scheme: IARCH-5E5FEF.

[Octavius]

 Selection of coins of Philip...

 1 Antoninianus with reverse of Felicitas standing holding cornucopia...

2. Antoninianus with ADVENTVS reverse with Philip on horseback...

3. Antoninianus commemorating founding of Rome - Saeculares -   with Romulus and Remus being suckled by she-wolf...

4. Antoninianus of Philip II with Pax reverse...

5. Antoninianus of Philip II with him standing as PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS  ....

6.  Sestertius of Philip with Victory reverse....

7. sestertius of Philip with Pax reverse...

8. Sestertius of Philip with Fides Militum reverse -

9. Sestertius of Philip I with Fides standing...

10. Two  sestertii of Philip with Annona standing , holding cornucopia , modius at feet ....

11. Sestertius of Philip with reverse of AEQVITAS holding scales of justice and cornucopia....

[Qcumbor]

Family snapshot :

Q

[John Conduitt]

One more for the set. Probably a better reverse than his parents anyway...

Philip II Antoninianus, 246-247

Rome. Silver, 22mm, 4.55g. Bust of Philip II, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right, IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG. Sol, radiate, advancing left, raising right hand and holding whip in left hand, AETERNIT IMPER (RIC IV, Philip I 226). Found near Woodbridge, Suffolk.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Phillip II antoninianus, Princeps Juventis

 

Phillip I or II large AE Octossarion, Mesopotamia - Zeugma, Peribolos seen in perspective, grove of trees, Zeus within temple

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[DonnaML]

For Philip I and his family, I have almost as many different types, both Imperial and Provincial, as I do for some members of the Antonine dynasty. And I find almost all of the reverses interesting for one reason or another. Especially the ones depicting animals!

Here are an even 20 examples:

Philip I, AE 23 (Dupondius), Viminacium, Moesia Superior (Provincial capital) [nr. Kostolac, Serbia], Mar-Jul 244 AD [City Year 5].* Obv. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, IMP IVL PHILIPPVS PIVS FEL AVG PM [PM = Persicus Maximus] [= Emperor Iulius Philippus dutiful and fortunate Augustus, greatest conquerer of the Persians] / Rev. Moesia standing facing, head left; to left, bull standing right; to right, lion standing left; P M S C – OL VIM [Provinciae Moesiae Superioris Colonia Viminacium] around; in exergue, AN V [Year 5]. 23 mm., 8.11 g., 1 h. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. VIII Online 2383 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/2383) ; AMNG I/I 97 (p. 39) [Pick, Behrendt, Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands Vol. I/I  (Berlin, 1898)]; Varbanov 131 Varbanov 5781 [Varbanov, Ivan, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)]; H & J 25 [Hristova, Nina and Gospodin Jekov, The Local Coinage of the Roman Empire - Moesia Superior, VIMINACIUM (Blagoevgrad, 2004)]. Purchased from Nomos AG Obolos Auction 23, 12 Jun 2022, Lot 576.

 

*See http://www.viminacium.nl/English%20Philippus%20I.html (“AN V, used from february/march 244 until july 244”). See also https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Viminacium: “Viminacium, a Roman Colony founded by Gordian III in 239 A.D. and the capital of the Roman province of Moesia Superior, was located about 20 km to the east of modern Kostolac, Serbia. Coins are known of the emperors from Gordian III with dates AN I, Anno Primo, (year 1, autumn 239 - autumn 240 A.D.) to Valerian and Gallienus AN XVI, Anno Sexto Decimo, (year 16, autumn 254 - autumn 255 A.D.). The usual reverse legend on the colonial coinage is P. M. S. COL. VIM., abbreviating Provinciae Moesiae Superioris Colonia Viminacium. The usual reverse type is a female personification of Moesia standing between a lion and a bull, and sometimes holding standards inscribed VII and IIII. The bull and the lion were symbols of the Legions VII Claudia and IV Flavia Felix, which were quartered in the province.”

Philip I Billon Tetradrachm, 247 AD [Regnal Year 3], Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Eagle standing right, wings spread with left wing behind leg, head right and holding wreath in beak, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ƐΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ ΥΠΑ ΤΟ Γ [= Year 3]; in exergue in two lines: ΑΝΤΙΟΧΙΑ/ S C. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. VIII Online 29005 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/29005 ); Prieur 368, McAlee 908 (ill. p. 335) (Series 4, Group (b), Type 2). 26.5 mm., 10.40 g., 7 h.

Philip I AE Octassarion (8 Assaria), Second Issue, AD 247-249, Syria, Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right, ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Turreted and draped bust of Tyche right; above, ram leaping right with head turned back left; star below bust; ΑΝΤΙΟΧƐΩΝ - ΜΗΤΡΟ ΚΟΛΩΝ around; Δ – Ɛ [Delta – Epsilon] across upper fields; S - C across lower fields. 30 mm., 15.68 g. McAlee 990 (ill. p. 345) [Richard McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch (2007)]; RPC VIII Online (unassigned, ID 7493) (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/7493); BMC 20 Syria 526 [Warwick Wroth, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 20, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Syria (London, 1899) at p. 215]. Purchased from Kenneth W. Dorney, Feb. 2022.*

*Second Issue, Star below Tyche. Octassarion: See McAlee at p. 327:

“The aes coinage of Philip I and his family can be divided into two issues. The first issue, struck from 244 to c.247, is characterized by an obverse legend for Philip I which includes ‘MA.IOVΛ.’ (or, rarely, ‘MA. IOVΛI.’), a reverse legend ending ‘ΚΟΛΩ.’, and the absence of a star below the bust of Tyche on the largest denomination. The second issue, struck from c. 247 to 249, is characterized by an obverse legend for Philip I which includes ‘M. IOVΛI.’, a reverse legend ending ‘ΚΟΛΩΝ.’, and the presence of a star below the bust of Tyche on the largest denomination. The coins of the first issue are larger and heavier than those of the second issue, and are not as common as those of the second issue. It is apparent that Philip reformed the bronze coinage by reducing its weight, and that the mint marked the reformed coins with a star below the bust of Tyche.

The large denomination (eight assaria) consistently employs a bust of Tyche as the reverse type. . . . A scarce medium denomination (four assaria) was struck with reverse Apollo standing, and a very rare type with reverse Tyche standing. Both reverse types appear on the medium denomination aes of later emperors.”

Ram: See Butcher, Kevin, Coinage in Roman Syria: 64 BC-AD 253 (PhD Thesis, University of London, 1991) (available at https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10121055/1/Butcher_10121055_thesis.pdf) at p. 369:

 “The ram which appears as a type or subsidiary device on Antiochene coinage is thought to represent Aries, perhaps the zodiacal sign under which the city was founded (or subsequently refounded). On the reverses of civic bronzes it is usually accompanied by a star, or a star and crescent, strongly suggesting that it is indeed an astral symbol. Although the type is not known on Antiochene coinage before the reign of Augustus, this does not necessarily mean that it is late in date; the Tyche of Antioch, set up in the early third century BC, does not occur on coins until the first century BC.”

See also McAlee at p. 8: “Another symbol seen on both silver and bronze coins, and as a primary type on the reverse of some civic coins, is a ram, usually depicted as a leaping or running figure looking backwards. It is likely that the ram is a zodiacal symbol (Aries), perhaps referring to the time of year at which the city was founded.”

Δ – Ɛ (Delta-Epsilon): 

For the significance of those letters, see McAlee p. 270 n. 131 (footnoting McAlee 681), explaining that “the letters ΔЄ each have a dot to either side. They probably stand for ‘Δ ЄΠΑΡΧЄIΧΩN’ (of the four eparchies, thereby signifying that the coins were valid currency throughout the province of Syria.” See also the discussion at McAlee p. 265, using the presence of ΔЄ to narrow down the probable dates of the types bearing it: “All of Caracalla’s billon tetradrachms are dated COS IV (213-217), but most of them were probably struck during 215-217, when the emperor was present in person in the east and preparations for the Parthian campaign were underway. . . . The tetradrachms with ΔЄ are very similar to the Antiochene tetradrachms of Macrinus, Caracalla’s successor, so they must have been struck at the end of Caracalla’s reign, c. 216-217. The coins without ΔЄ were probably struck somewhat earlier, and are here dated to c. 214-215, although they may not have commenced until 215, when Caracalla arrived in Antioch. The coins with ΔЄ may have been produced for civilian use, as opposed to military pay. They were probably struck at the same time as the special wartime series of tetradrachms discussed below, which do not have the letters ΔЄ.”

McAlee’s full elaboration of his position regarding the significance of the Delta-Epsilon can be found at pp. 5-6 of his book. Note particularly the final paragraph, stating that the letters ΔЄ “first appeared on tetradrachms of Caracalla which were probably struck during 216-217 (nos. 681-682), at the same time as a special wartime series of tetradrachms (nos. 683-694) which did not have the letters ΔЄ”:

McAlee’s book was published in 2007. Barbara Lichocka takes a different position from McAlee on the significance of the Delta-Epsilon in her 2011 article "Delta-Epsilon issues of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander," at pp. 287-323 of the book Classica Orientalia: Essays Presented to Wiktor Andrzej Daszewski on his 75th Birthday (Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Nov. 2011). See pp. 293-295:

“The interpretation of the meaning of the letters on the reverse is controversial. A  fairly common reading has ΔЄ standing for Δημαρχικής Eξουσίας, equivalent of tribunitia potestas (see Westholm 1936: 135; 1937: 530; Hill 1972: 235 note 3, Elagabalus; Lichocka 1999: 176–177; Amandry 1993: 17; Parks 2005: 132; Pitsillides 2004: 40 No. 77).

Indication of tribunal power in abbreviated form, TR P, TR POT was common on Roman imperial coins, but ordinarily with a numeral to express successive resumptions of office. For the first year the numeral was omitted (see RIC IV/2: 27–42, 69, 71–80, 90–91). Although omission of the numeral on coins struck also after the first regnal year, for example, on the obverses of bronzes of Vespasian (RIC II: 66), has been noted, it should be emphasized that the title appeared always together with other titles of the emperor as part of the legend.

The composition of coins of the ΔЄ type is similar to the composition of Antioch coins of the SC type. D. Waagé noted the similarity in fabric and style of ΔЄ and SC types (Waagé 1949: 57). It could have been a conscious reference to issues which at least theoretically referred to the Senate’s decision, assuming of course that SC was meant to denote Senatus Consulto (Kraft 1962: passim; Butcher 2004: 235, 385; McAlee 2007: 288). H.R. Baldus believed this similarity of composition to be of significance for the interpretation of the letters ΔЄ, which are also present additionally on the SC coins and could have meant acceptance by local authority, e.g., Δ(όγμα) Ἐ(κκλησίας) or Δ(ήμῳ) Ἔ(δοξεν) (Baldus 1973: 446–447).

 E. Meyer’s opinion that the letters ΔЄ refer to the four Syrian eparchies of imperial cult (Meyer 1991: 69–70) was shared by K. Butcher (2004: 233–235; 2005: 148, note 27) and by R. McAlee (2007: 5–6, 266, 289). An inscription from Gerasa dated to AD 119/120 attests to the use of the Greek term “four eparchies” and mentions Antioch as their metropolis (“ἱερασάμενος τῶν τεσσάρον ἐπαρχειῶν ἑν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τῇ μητροπόλοι”, Meyer 1991: 69). Issues from Tarsus in Cilicia could favor the interpretation that ΔЄ stands for “four eparchies”. The title of metropolis of three eparchies, granted to the town in AD 198/199, was recorded on the town’s coins in partial abbreviation: TAPCON MHTPO TΩN Γ EΠΑΡΧΙΩΝ (Meyer 1991: 72). But was ΔЄ actually an abbreviated recording of “four eparchies” in Greek terms?. . . . [Discussion of appearance of Delta-Epsilon on bronze coins produced in Laodicea ad Mare omitted.]

The letters ΔЄ occurred in Antioch issues earlier than on coins of Laodicea ad Mare. In the times of Caracalla Antioch struck bronzes with the letters Δ beneath and Є above SC within a laurel wreath (e.g. SNG Copenhagen 232). Macrinus continued the type (e.g. SNG Copenhagen 233–235). Under Elagabalus a new composition appeared with the ΔЄ placed variably above or below a large SC, sometimes with an eagle or a ram as well (SNG Copenhagen 242–247; Butcher 2004: 384–385; McAlee 2007: 266, 288–289). Small letters ΔЄ can be seen on reverses of bronzes of another type: an eagle with open wings and holding a wreath in its beak (e.g. SNG Copenhagen 236–241).

A large ΔЄ in the field most likely meant the same as a small ΔЄ in different contexts, also in addition to the letters SC on coins struck in Antioch in the same period.

The striking similarity of the composition of ΔЄ and SC coins could suggest that ΔЄ issues were intended as competing, supplementing or replacing SC issues. Therefore, the letters ΔЄ need not indicate issues on behalf of four eparchies, but following the assumption proposed by H.R. Baldus, could evince the privileges or acceptance of local authority. Issues with the large letters ΔЄ, modeled on the SC type, could have manifested the special status of an entitled town or office.”

McAlee’s interpretation makes sense to me, but I am hardly qualified to judge. It does seem unlikely, in my opinion, that the Delta-Epsilon was simply an indication of the tribunician power of the emperor in the form of an abbreviation for ΔΗΜΑΡXKCH ЄΞOYCIAC: if so, the letters would have been entirely redundant on coinsthat already set forth the tribunician power in their legends.

S – C (Senatus Consulto): See the extensive discussion at McAlee pp. 3-5, stating "There seems to be no doubt that the letters SC on the aes coins of Antioch . . . meant 'Senatus Consulto' and served an analogous or identical function as on the coins of Rome." He goes on to state that “the letters SC on the coins of Antioch . . . mean[], in effect, ‘Roman currency” (as opposed to their meaning on earlier Imperial coins, signifying Senatorial authorization of a particular issue). His summary and conclusion can be found at McAlee p. 5:

And now Philip's SAECVULARES AVGG issues with animal reverses, and other types commemorating Rome's 1000th anniversary:

Philip I AR Antoninianus, ca. 247/48 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG/ Rev. Elephant walking left, bearing driver holding goad, AETERNITAS AVGG. RIC IV-3 58, RSC IV 17, Sear RCV III 8921. 23 mm., 4.2 g.  (Issued in connection with 1,000th anniversary of founding of Rome.)

 

Philip I AR Antoninianus, 248 AD, Rome Mint, 1^st Officina. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG/ Rev. Lion walking right, SAECVLARES AVGG; I in exergue.  RIC IV-3 12, RSC IV 173, Sear RCV III 8956 (ill.). 23 mm., 3.41 g.  (Games commemorating 1,000th anniversary of founding of Rome.) 

Philip I AR Antoninianus, 248 AD, Rome Mint, 2nd Officina. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG/ Rev. She-wolf standing left, suckling twins Romulus and Remus, SAECVLARES AVGG; II in exergue.  RIC IV-3 15, RSC IV 178, Sear RCV III 8957 (ill.). 22.75 mm., 4.72 g.  (Games commemorating 1,000th anniversary of founding of Rome.)  Purchased from Marc Breitsprecher; ex. Madroosi Collection (Joe Blazick). 

Philip I AR Antoninianus, 248 AD, Rome Mint, 5^th Officina. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG/ Rev. Stag walking right, SAECVLARES AVGG; V in exergue.  RIC IV-3 19, RSC IV 182, Sear RCV III 8958.  22 mm., 4.32 g.  (Games commemorating 1,000^th  anniversary of founding of Rome.)

 

Philip I AR Antoninianus, 248 AD, Rome Mint, 6^th Officina. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG / Rev. Antelope standing left, SAECVLARES AVGG; VI in exergue. RIC IV-3 21, RSC IV 189, Sear RCV III 8959.  22 mm., 3.54 g.  (Games commemorating 1,000th  anniversary of founding of Rome.)

 

Philip I AR Antoninianus, 248 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG / Rev. Stone cippus inscribed COS | III in two lines, SAECVLARES AVGG. RIC IV-3 Philip I 24(c), RSC IV 193, Sear RCV III 8961 (ill. p. 154).  23 mm., 4.15 g., 6 h. (Part of series issued in connection with games commemorating 1,000th  anniversary of founding of Rome.)*

*A cippus was a low stone column, usually square but sometimes round (as here), used for various purposes including as boundary stones and “to preserve the memory of some event.” See https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Cippus (noting “those cippi which commemorate the Secular Games”).

Philip I AE Sestertius, 248 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG / Stag walking right, SAECVLARES AVGG; S C in exergue. RIC IV-3 160a (p. 89), Sear RCV III 9012. 27x29 mm., 16 g.  (Games commemorating 1,000th  anniversary of founding of Rome.)

 

Philip I AR Antoninianus, 248 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG / Rev. Hexastyle temple with statue of seated Roma on pediment in center, holding long scepter in left hand and [unidentified object] in upraised right hand, SAECVLVM NOVVM [ = new century or era]. 22x25 mm., 2.90 g. RIC IV-3 25b, RSC IV 198, Sear RCV III 8963 (ill. p. 154). Purchased from CGB.fr., June 2023.*

 

*This type, together with the SAECVLARES AVGG types issued the same year, “belongs to the extensive series, in all metals, commemorating the celebration in AD 248 of the thousandth anniversary of Rome’s founding.” Sear RCV III p. 153. As Sear also explains (see id. p. 154), “This is a simplified depiction of the temple of Roma, part of Hadrian’s remarkable double-temple of Venus and Roma completed under Antoninus Pius in AD 141.

Philip I & Otacilia Severa, AE 26, 244-249 AD, Mesembria, Thrace [Nessebar, Bulgaria]. Obv. Confronted busts of Philip I, right, laureate, draped, and cuirassed, and Otacilia Severa, left, wearing diadem (or stephane), ΑΥΤ Μ ΙΟΥΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC Μ WΤ; in exergue (in two lines) ϹƐΒΗΡΑ-ϹƐ / Rev. Nemesis standing facing, head left, holding marked cubit rule with extended right hand and bridle* with left hand, wheel  at her feet left, ΜΕ-ϹΑΜ-ΒΡΙΑΝΩΝ. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. VIII Online 48407 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/48407 ); SNG Cop. 664 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 6: Thrace 1: The Tauric Chersonese-Thrace (Mesembria) (Copenhagen 1942); Varbanov 4254 [Ivan Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume II: Thrace (from Abdera to Pautalia) (Bourgas, 2005)]. [Obv. Die match: Naumann Auction 49, Lot 354, Jan. 8, 2017 (RPC VIII Online ID 48407, Specimen 17; see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/obv/333697/high.]  26 mm., 10.5 g. Purchased 11 Apr 2021 from Aeternitas-Numismatics, Leganés, Spain.

*Described by dealer as “cubit rule and ribbon,” with type described by some other dealers as “cubit rule and rod,” both of which are clearly incorrect: the “ribbon” is actually a bridle, and a cubit rule and rod are the same thing, except that the former has markings for measurement.

Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) AR Antoninianus, 246-248 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, wearing stephane, on crescent, M OTACIL SEVERA AVG/ Rev. Concordia seated left holding patera and double cornucopiae, CONCORDIA AVGG. RIC IV-3 125(c), RSC IV-3 4, Sear RCV III 9147 (ill. p. 173).  22x25 mm., 4.5 g. 

Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) AR antoninianus AD 248, Rome mint, 4^th Officina. Obv. Draped bust right, wearing stephane, crescent behind shoulders, OTACIL SEVERA AVG/ Rev. Hippopotamus standing right, jaws open, SAECVLARES AVGG; IIII in exergue. RIC IV-3 116(b), RSC IV-3 63, Sear RCV III 9160 (ill.). 23 mm., 4.52 g. (Games commemorating 1,000th anniversary of founding of Rome.)

 

Marcia Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I), Billon Tetradrachm, AD 247 [Regnal Year 3], Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch. Obv. Draped bust right, seen from front, wearing stephane, crescent behind shoulders, ΜΑΡ ΩΤΑΚΙΛ ϹƐΟΥΗΡΑΝ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Eagle standing right, head right, left wing behind left leg, wreath in beak, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ƐΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ ΥΠΑ ΤΟ Γ [Year 3] around; below eagle, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΙΑ; in exergue, S C. 27 mm., 11.62 g.  Prieur 383 [Michel and Karin Prieur, Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms (London, 2000)]; McAlee 1096 (ill. p. 363) [Group (b), Type 2 Eagle] [Richard McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch (2007)] (“Rare”); RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Online VIII, unassigned ID 28993 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/28993). Purchased from Kinzer Coins, Mt. Vernon, MO, May 2023; ex Aegean Numismatics, Mentor, OH (with Aegean coin ticket).*

 

*See McAlee p. 361, explaining that Otacilia Severa “was the first woman to be depicted on the tetradrachms of Antioch unaccompanied by a male ruler.” (The only empress to be depicted alone after Otacilia was Herennia Etruscilla, so there were only two in total.)

McAlee also points out (id.) that “all of Otacilia’s Antiochene coins are scarce or rare, and were struck in much smaller numbers than the corresponding coins of Philip I and II.” For example, ACSearch lists 22 examples of this particular type of Otacilia Severa tetradrachm (McAlee 1096, with the obverse legend reading ΩΤΑΚΙΛ instead of ΩΤΑΚΙΛI, and the eagle standing right with its left wing behind its leg), and a total of 543 examples of all types of Otacilia Severa tetradrachms from Antioch. Which may not seem like a small number, until one compares it to her husband: ACSearch lists more than 2,200 examples of all types of Philip I’s tetradrachms from Antioch.

Philip II, Caesar (son of Philip I) AR Antoninianus, 247 AD, Obv. Radiate head right, M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES/ Philip II standing left holding a globe and scepter, captive at his feet, PRINCIPI IVVENT.  RIC IV-3 219, RSC IV 57. 23 mm., 4.42 g.

 

Philip II, Caesar AR Antoninianus, 248 AD, Rome Mint, 3^rd Officina. Obv. Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPVS AVG/ Rev. Moose [North American term for northern European elk]* standing left, SAECVLARES AVGG, III in exergue. RIC IV-3 224, RSC IV 72, Sear RCV III 9275 (ill.). 22 mm., 4.33 g., 12 h. (Games commemorating 1,000th  anniversary of founding of Rome.)

 

* See Sear RCV III at p. 187: "The animal on reverse has traditionally been identified as a goat, but cf. John Twente in 'The Celator,' Jan. 2002, p. 38. There seems little likelihood of the common goat having been featured as one of the exotic animals in the arena, whereas the northern European elk (North American moose) would have been a most suitable candidate." 

Philip II, billon Tetradrachm, 248-249 AD, Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, AYTOK K M IOΥΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB / Rev. Eagle standing facing, head right, wings spread, holding wreath in its beak, ΔHMAΡX EΞ OYCIAC YΠA TO Δ [4^th consulship]; ANTIOXIA / S C in two lines below eagle.  Prieur 474 [Michel and Karin Prieur, Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms (London, 2000)]; BMC 20 Syria 560 [Warwick Wroth, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 20, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Syria (London, 1899) at p. 218]; McAlee 1042 (Series 5) (ill. p. 353) [Richard McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch (2007)]; RPC VIII No. 29020 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/29020).  27.15 mm., 14.00 g.  Ex CNG Electronic Auction 466, April 22, 2020, part of Lot 728.

Philip II, AE Tetrassarion, 247-249 AD, Moesia Inferior, Tomis [now Constanţa, Romania]. Obv. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, Μ ΙΟΥΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC ΚΑΙCΑΡ / Rev. Griffin seated left with right paw on top of wheel [representing Nemesis*], ΜΗ-ΤΡΟ-Π-ΠΟ, continued in exergue in two lines: NTOΥ ΤΟΜΕ/ΩϹ (ME ligate), Δ in right field [signifying the denomination, 4 assaria]. 27 mm., 12.22 g. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] VIII Online 28171 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/28171) [this coin is Specimen 7, used as primary illustration for type, see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/156187 ]; Varbanov 5781 [Varbanov, Ivan, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)]. Purchased from Herakles Numismatics, Jan. 2021; ex. I-Nummis, Paris, Mail Bid Sale 6, Nov. 7, 2008, Lot 399  (see https://www.coinarchives.com/a/openlink.php?l=239902|348|399|a3b582d0b87f863b39d084dd851a7a89). [“Scarce”: 11 specimens in RPC (including this coin), 6 examples in ACSearch (including this coin).]

 

*See https://www.getty.edu/publications/romanmosaics/catalogue/8/ : “The image of a griffin supporting one of its forepaws on a wheel appears in Roman art by the first century AD. The wheel, a symbol of the cyclical movement of human fortune, and the winged griffin are both distinctive attributes of Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance, who is also often represented with wings. In a first-century AD wall painting from the House of the Fabii at Pompeii, Apollo and two female figures are accompanied by a winged griffin with a wheel. This motif also occurs on coins of Alexandria dating to the reign of the emperor Domitian (AD 81–96). Scenes depicting Nemesis with a griffin are especially common during the second and third centuries AD and occur in many different media, including coins, gems, statues, and funerary and votive reliefs. The particular image of a griffin resting its paw on a wheel, typically seated at the foot of Nemesis, is so pervasive that it eventually became a symbol for the goddess herself. For example, a limestone mold of the second to third centuries AD from Egypt, possibly from Alexandria, shows a griffin and a wheel with the Greek inscription Nemesis.

Representations of the griffin with a wheel unaccompanied by Nemesis, as in the Getty mosaic, are particularly common in North Africa and the eastern periphery of the Roman Empire. The motif appears in the second and third centuries AD in Egyptian statuettes in faience [see image at https://www.getty.edu/publications/romanmosaics/assets/images/pics/pic_30_faience-egyptian-statuette.jpg], relief stelai from the amphitheater at Leptis Magna in present-day Libya; tomb paintings in Jordan; a votive marble statue from Erez, Israel, bearing a dedicatory inscription in Greek (dated AD 210–211); gems from Caesarea Maritima in Israel and Gadara in Jordan; and terracotta tesserae from Palmyra. While the worship of Nemesis was widespread across the Roman Empire, it was particularly prevalent in Egypt, where she had a pre-Roman cult, and in Syria and the surrounding regions, where she was associated with several important local deities, including the classical goddesses Tyche (personification of fortune) and Nike (personification of victory) and the Arabic deities Allath (goddess of war) and Manawat (goddess of fate).” [Footnotes omitted.]

Philip II, as Caesar, AE Pentassarion [5 Assaria], 247-249 AD, Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis [now Devnya, Bulgaria] Mint. Obv. Confronted busts of Philip II, bareheaded, draped and cuirassed, right, seen from behind, and Serapis, crowned with modius, draped, left; Μ ΙΟΥΛΙΟϹ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ ΚΑΙ - ϹΑΡ ΑΥΓ around,  with “ϹΑΡ ΑΥΓ” in exergue [ = “Marcus Iulius Philippus Caesar Augusti filius”]* / Rev. Bearded, crowned[?] serpent [often identified as the Oracle Serpent Glykon or possibly the Serpent Agathodaemon]* standing erect left in multiple coils; ΜΑΡ-ΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙ-ΤΩΝ around, with “ΤΩΝ” in exergue; “E” [ = 5 Assaria] in right field. 27 mm., 14.70 g. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] VIII Online 27865 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/27865);  AMNG I/I 1216 [Pick, Behrendt, Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands Vol. I/I  (Berlin, 1898) at p. 327]; Varbanov 2101 [Varbanov, Ivan, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)]. Purchased Sep 2022 from Numidas (Lukas Kalchhauser), Vienna Austria; ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 120, 18 May 2004, Lot 494.

 

*Translation taken from RPC VIII Online 27865. Note that the same type also exists with the slightly different obverse legend Μ ΙΟΥΛΙΟⳞ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟⳞ ΚΑΙⳞΑΡ [ = “Marcus Iulius Philippus Caesar”], i.e., without the “ΑΥΓ” for “AVG.” See RPC VIII Online 27863 at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/27873. Query whether the addition of the “ΑΥΓ” to the obverse legend on my type could possibly indicate that it was issued after the elevation of Philip II to Augustus by his father ca. AD 248, or whether that would have resulted in the Greek equivalent of AVGG, and the elimination of the “Caesar” altogether?

**Dealers (such as the dealer who sold me this coin) often identify the coiled, bearded serpent on the reverse of this and similar Roman Provincial types as the bearded, human-headed, and/or fish-tailed Serpent God Glykon, for whom a popular cult was invented in the 2^nd Century AD by the Greek prophet Alexander of Abonoteichos, who claimed that Glykon (apparently manifested by a hand puppet) was an incarnation of Asklepios. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycon (with the illustrations including a photo of RPC VIII Online 27863; see first fn.). See also the discussions of Glykon and coins portraying him at, e.g., https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-interesting-representation-of-glykon.383315/; https://www.cointalk.com/threads/new-coins-featuring-glycon-the-sock-puppet-god.396206/#post-8331188; https://www.cointalk.com/threads/glykon-the-snake-cult-of-alexander-of-abounoteichos.333661/.  However, neither RPC nor Pick identifies the serpent on this and similar types as being Glykon (I don’t have access to Varbanov). Moreover, the serpent on my coin has neither a humanoid head nor a fish tail (unlike some other numismatic representations of Glykon), nor any depiction of or reference to Asklepios. Therefore, the possibility remains that the serpent on this type could have been intended or perceived as the Serpent Agathodaemon, particularly given the association of the Agathodaemon with Serapis. See my thread discussing the Agathodaemon at https://www.cointalk.com/threads/finally-an-agathodaemon.383883/#post-7780217, including the following quotation from an article entitled “The Agathos Daimon in Greco-Egyptian Religion,” by João Pedro Feliciano, at https://www.academia.edu/27115429/The_Agathos_Daimon_in_Greco-Egyptian_religion:

 “[T]he Agathos Daimon (Greek: agathos daimôn; also agathodaimôn), the ‘good spirit,’ [was] a typically serpentine deity who originated as a genius loci in traditional Greek religion, and was also invoked during banquets. A variant of this deity was Zeus Meilichios (invoked in Orphic Hymn 73, to Zeus as the Daimon), an old serpentine aspect of Zeus associated with fortune. Roman religion had a cognate genius figure as well, evidenced by the traditional snakes found on Roman domestic shrines and lararia. The origins of the guardian serpent archetype may be traced to the fact that snakes could protect a house from vermin, such as rodents, and consequently became associated with guardian spirits early on; this notion of the beneficent ‘house snake’ is found in several different cultures.. . . . [Lengthy discussion of development of surrounding mythology omitted.]

A rich number of statues and bas-reliefs of Agathodaimon have survived, through which we can obtain a fairly accurate picture of his attributes. In the available corpus of material, Agathodaimon is primarily depicted as a serpent (bearded in most instances), or as a snake with a human head, that of Serapis with whom he was associated (as a result of either of their common solar aspects, or the fact that Serapis was a form of Zeus, and thus as Meilichios, was an aspect or variant of Agathos Daimon). His serpentine form is occasionally depicted as that of a cobra, but most of the time it is a viper-like animal.” (Emphasis added.)

Edited September 9, 2023 by DonnaML

[Al Kowsky]

Trajan Decius Family from Antioch-Syria

Trajan Decius, AD 249-251 (struck AD 249). Officina #1. Billon Tetradrachm: 10.60 gm, 27 mm, 12 h. Prieur 530, 1 cited; McAlee 1106a, Ex. Rare (this coin illustrated). RPC IX 1611, specimen #2.

Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius, AD 249-253. Officina #3, AD 249-251. Billon Tetradrachm: 11.37 gm, 27 mm, 11 h. Prieur 610; McAlee 1165c, Rare.

Herennius Etruscus, AD 251. Officina #5. Billon Tetradrachm: 10.88 gm, 25 mm, 7 h. Prieur 636; McAlee 1153e.

Hostilian as Caesar, AD 251. Officina #7. Billon Tetradrachm: 11.74 gm, 27 mm, 8 h. Prieur 652, 2 cited; McAlee 1160e, Ex. Rare. McAlee writes: "Hostilian's Antiochene provincial coins are the rarest of the third century."

[ambr0zie]

The most representative Decius reverse in my collection is this, especially for me (because I try to collect coins related to Dacia)

21 mm, 2,28 g.
Trajan Decius 249-251. AR antoninianus. Rome.
IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, bust of Trajan Decius, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right / DACIA, Dacia, draped in long robe reaching feet, standing left holding staff topped with a wolf's head (Draco).
RIC IV Trajan Decius 12b.

My favorite Antioch coin is also a Decius. 

For Etruscilla the classic Pudicitia reverse - but the denomination is rare. 

26 mm, 8,79 g.
Herennia Etruscilla 249-251. Æ as. Rome.
HERENNIA ETRVSCILLA AVG, bust of Herennia Etruscilla, diademed, draped, right / PVDICITIA AVG S C, Pudicitia, draped, veiled, seated left, drawing veil with right hand, holding sceptre in left hand.
RIC IV Trajan Decius 136c.

[Qcumbor]

Two reverses, but 22 coins in total for the complete Divi series set

Q