Cheap Roman Provincial coins

[antwerpen2306]

End of June, I bought three Roman Provincial coins in an auction.  Usually, I do no more collect thiss coins, but the price was so cheap I could not resist. I paid 20 + 12 +8 €= 40 € for 3 beautiful coins.  I think the price was so cheap because the auction house had identified the coins.

First the 20 € coin : Hadrianus, AE18, Berytus, 18.4 mm, 5.5 gr, 12 h. Minted between 128-138.

Obverse : IMPerator CAESar TRAIanus HADRIANUS AUGustus :  laureate and draped bust right

Reverse : COL / BER : between two legionary standards.

Ref : BMC997, SNGCop101, not in RPC.

The second is a Caracalla coin, 12 €, from Carrhae in Mesopotamia. Here Varrus died in a battle against the Parthe and Caracalle was murdered in 217.

AE14, 13.7 mm, 12.1 gr, 6 h. Minted between 198-217.

Obverse : IMPeratos AURelius Antoninus Pii Filius AUGustus : laureate head right

Reverse : COLonis AURelia METROPOLI ANTONINIANA : veiled and turreted bust of Tyche right

Ref : BMC31-35.

The last one, a coin of 8 €, was more difficult to identifying.

Phrygia, Synaüs, AE17, 17.2 mm, 3.4 gr, 12h, mint : Synaüs, end first-begin second century.

Obverse (right) : IERA CYNKLETOC : bust of the Roman Senate right.

Reverse (left) : (S)INAEI THEA ROME : bust of the goddess ROMA right.

I did not find a reference in RPC, SNGCop or BMC.

The name of the town was unknown to me and the location  is in Phrygia, but not indicated in my Putzger atlas.

Please show your 'expensive' Roman Provincial coins.

 

[expat]

27 minutes ago, antwerpen2306 said:

End of June, I bought three Roman Provincial coins in an auction.  Usually, I do no more collect thiss coins, but the price was so cheap I could not resist. I paid 20 + 12 +8 €= 40 € for 3 beautiful coins.  I think the price was so cheap because the auction house had identified the coins.

First the 20 € coin : Hadrianus, AE18, Berytus, 18.4 mm, 5.5 gr, 12 h. Minted between 128-138.

Obverse : IMPerator CAESar TRAIanus HADRIANUS AUGustus :  laureate and draped bust right

Reverse : COL / BER : between two legionary standards.

Ref : BMC997, SNGCop101, not in RPC.

The second is a Caracalla coin, 12 €, from Carrhae in Mesopotamia. Here Varrus died in a battle against the Parthe and Caracalle was murdered in 217.

AE14, 13.7 mm, 12.1 gr, 6 h. Minted between 198-217.

Obverse : IMPeratos AURelius Antoninus Pii Filius AUGustus : laureate head right

Reverse : COLonis AURelia METROPOLI ANTONINIANA : veiled and turreted bust of Tyche right

Ref : BMC31-35.

The last one, a coin of 8 €, was more difficult to identifying.

Phrygia, Synaüs, AE17, 17.2 mm, 3.4 gr, 12h, mint : Synaüs, end first-begin second century.

Obverse (right) : IERA CYNKLETOC : bust of the Roman Senate right.

Reverse (left) : (S)INAEI THEA ROME : bust of the goddess ROMA right.

I did not find a reference in RPC, SNGCop or BMC.

The name of the town was unknown to me and the location  is in Phrygia, but not indicated in my Putzger atlas.

Please show your 'expensive' Roman Provincial coins.

 

Nice pick ups. With regard to the third coin, and looking at legends of other Synaus issues, isn't the obverse legend more likely to be

IEPA  CYNKΛHTOC

[ambr0zie]

Provincial coins are a gold mine. What I find fascinating is the multitude of artistic styles, reverses, themes. With some experience you can recognize what is the city for a coin at a first glance. Portraits are sometimes crude, strangely executed  but there are examples where the artistry is comparable to Rome. 

Problems with them - they are discouraging. Usually when a person starts collecting, the most friendly coins are Roman Imperial. 

I see two major advantages for collecting Provincials 

- you can add rare emperors/empresses in your collection. Quick example: if one wants to have Tranquillina in the collection, it's virtually impossible to have an Imperial. Not a difficult task if you want a Provincial
- large variety of reverses. Personally I am at a stage in collecting when I am no longer willing to buy expensive coins with reverses that I already have in my collection. I want variety. This means I haven't added a new emperor for a while and most likely I will not add a new one too soon. For provincials the options are surely there.

I was also "afraid" of provincials as these can be discouraging to attribute when the wear level is advanced. I had the opportunity to collaborate with an auction house a while ago. My main task was to attribute Provincial coins. I was not very happy with this initially, but the options were - take it or leave it. First 100 coins - I was starting to wonder if I am really up to this. Next 100 - everything started to become logical and clear. After this it was easier and easier. 

Here are some interesting provincial coins that did not kill my wallet:

Trajanopolis, Caracalla - 13 euros 

Ephesos, Marcus Aurelius - also 13 euros 

Kyzikos, Augustus - 20 euros

 

Pergamon, Drusus & Germanicus - 16 euros. Not the most beautiful coin but pretty difficult to find Imperials with them 

Aizanis, Claudius - 18 euros 

 

Seleuceia Pieria, Trajan - 10 euros 

Magnesia ad Sipylum, Domitia - 10 euros 

Laodicea ad Mare, Macrinus - 19 euros 

Apameia pseudo-autonomous, time of Severans, reverse with Marsyas playing aulos - 5 euros 

Tarsos, Maximinus Thrax, The Three Graces reverse (my largest coin and one of my favorite Provincials - 37 mm 26 grams) - 16 euros 

[antwerpen2306]

@expatyour richt, but I don't know write Greek letters here

@ambr0zieyou have very nice coins, especially the Pergamon coin Congrats 😄 You are right with your commentary, for this kind of coins you need experience. Once you have it, you can make very good deals. In the beginning, I collected Roman and Roman Provincial coins, but after a short time, when I had a little more money, I bought also Greek coins. Finally now, I limited myself to Magna Greek coins and Roman Republican and eventually the the first and second dynasty, but when it is nice and cheap, then the charm is too big...

 

[ambr0zie]

@expat has a point there but not only that.

@antwerpen2306, your coin is not from Synaus. It is from Stratonicea Hadrianopolis in Lydia,  reign of Trajan

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/1774

Obverse -     ΙΕΡΑ ϹΥΝΚΛΗΤΟϹ, bust of Senate

Reverse - ΙΝΔΕΙ ΘΕΑ ΡΩΜΗ, bust of Roma. 

Comparison with RPC plate coin. The reverse legend is clearly the same. 

Edited August 11, 2023 by ambr0zie

[LONGINUS]

Excellent post, @antwerpen2306!

Well-worn provincials are not only budget friendly but the variety of colors and sizes make them fun to collect.

 

These are from Seleucia Pieria, Antioch.

[seth77]

'Provincials' show how vast, varied and colorful the Roman Empire actually was and how many local, regional and provincial cultures it encapsulated at one time or another. Some towns only had one issue, like Phigalia in the Peloponnesus:

Caracalla 202-5, cf. BCD Peloponnesos 1656.1 - 5EUR

 

While other major metropolitan centers and provincial economic powerhouses minted multiple denominations in multiple issues throughout many Imperial reigns, like Viminacium in Moesia Superior, Tomis in Moesia Inferior, Serdica or Pautalia in Thracia, Nicomedia in Bithynia, Caesarea Cappadocia, Antioch in Pisidia, Alexandria Troas, Antioch in Syria or Caesarea Maritima:

Domitian reminding everyone the Jewish triumph, ca. 92-3 - 28EUR:

 

Severus Alexander, possibly close to the beginning of his rule as Augustus in 222, but the type was used extensively all through to Decius - 10EUR:

Edited August 11, 2023 by seth77

[AncientOne]

Some scarce coins/cities can be found at reasonable prices.

 

Cilicia, Ninica-Claudiopolis. Geta Æ24

Obv: POP SEPTIMIUM GETAM CAESAREM / laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right, seen from behind.
Rev: COL NINICA CLAVΔIOPO within wreath.

 

Phrygia, Grimenothyrae. Æ15 Time of Trajan.

Obv: ΕΠΙΜ Λ ΤΥΛΛΙ; head of Heracles, r.
Rev: ΓΡΙΜΕΝΟΘΥΡΕΩΝ; Hermes standing facing, head l., holding purse in his r. hand and caduceus in his l.
Magistrate: Lucius Tullius Per— (epimeletes).
RPC III, 2488.

 

Caria, Trapezopolis, Pseudo-autonomous Æ15. AD 138-161.

Obv: TΡAΠEZOΠOΛEITΩN, helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: ΔIA ΠOΛI AΔΡACTOY, humped bull butting right.
Magistrate Po. Ai. (or Poli?) Adrastos.
RPC IV.2, 942 (temporary)

[Marsyas Mike]

Interesting thread - I'd agree with @ambr0zie and others that Provincials are a good area to collect on a budget to get those hard-to-find persons.  Here is a new one - Nero from the Phrygian sticks:

Nero Æ 22 Tiberius Iulios Proclus, Mag. Prymnessus, Phrygia  (c. 63-68 A.D.)  Ν[ΕΡΩΝ]Α ΚΑΙΣΑΡΑ ΠΡΥΜΝΗΣΣΕΙΣ, laureate head  right / ΕΠΙ ΤΙ ΙΟ[ΥΛΙΟΥ] ΠΡΟΚΛΟΥ, Dikaiosyne standing left holding scales and two ears of corn (7.16 grams / 22 x 20 mm) eBay Aug. 2023 RPC I 3207; Von Aulock, Phrygien II, 1022-1031

Provenance: VCoins: David Connors Ancient Coins & Artifacts SKU: zx4047; $65.00 Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Leu Numismatik Web Auction 26; Lot 2280; 08.07.2023 Coin Talk member ancientone posted Jul 30, 2017

Here's some Flavian bargains, most were not described in lots: 

Here's all three of them, Vespasian, Titus and Domitian.  The fellas on the reverse are rather hard to see...I didn't say this was a pretty one.  

Vespasian  Æ 24 Ilium, Troas           (69-79 A.D.) ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ ϹƐΒ[ΑϹ ΟΥƐϹΠΑϹΙΑΝΟϹ], laureate head right / [ΤΙ]ΤΩ ΚΑΙ[ϹΑΡΙ] ΔΟΜ[ΙΤΙΑΝΩ ΚΑΙ...Ι]ΛΙ, laureate heads of Titus left, Domitian right between, statue of Athena Ilias RPC II 893; BMC 46; Bellinger T127; SNG Cop. 392. (7.75 grams / 24 x 19 mm ) eBay April 2023  $15.00 BO

Provenance: Roma Numismatics Ltd E-Sale 59; Lot 622; 11.07.2019

Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Coin no. 12 of RPC II, 893 American Numismatic Society 1944.100.43936

Die-Match Obverse:  Roma Numismatics Ltd  E-Sale 108; Lot 719; 13.04.2023 Lot number: 719

This was described as:  "69-79 AD Roman Empire AE Dupondius Vespasian Coin"  Actually, it is an As/"Large AE"  issue from Ephesus / Asia Minor.  It is pretty rough, but as far as I can tell, quite scarce: 

Vespasian Æ Large (As?) (77-78 A.D.) Ephesus / Asia Minor Mint  [IMP CAESAR VESPA]SIAN  AVGVS[TVS], laureate head right / [PONT MAX TR PO]T P P · COS · VIII [CENS], [S] C in fields, Ceres seated left, holding two corn-ears and torch. RPC II 1472; RIC II 1498/1499. (11.99 grams / 28 x 26 mm) eBay June 2022 

Notes:  OCRE list RIC 1498 and RIC 1499 with identical descriptions but no examples for either; RPC Online references RIC 1498 only and Kraay 3. RPC has single example with SC in exergue; this one has it in the fields (C is behind Ceres; S not visible). Dots and line over VIII reverse not noted in references but visible here.

Another one, a Vespasian of sorts, is this one, Vespasian the Younger (or Vespasian II or Vespasian, Jr.) - a guy I'd never heard of.  This one came in an undescribed lot of miscellaneous ancients.  Vespasian the Younger was an adopted son of Domitian.  He didn't make it very long, and as far as I can tell, this issue from Smyrna is the only issue for him:  

Vespasian the Younger Æ 16 Smyrna, Ionia (c. 94-95 A.D.) ΟΥƐ[ϹΠΑϹΙ]ΑΝ[ΟϹ] ΝΕΩΤΕΡΟϹ, bare-headed bust right / [ΖΜ]ΥΡΝ[Α]ΙΩΝ, Nike walking right holding wreath and palm branch over shoulder RPC II 1028; BMC 319; Klose, XLII, 1; plate 31, V1/R1. (3.02 grams / 16 mm) eBay June 2022 Lot

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I sampled the $7 'uncleaned' (not uncleaned) provincials from dirtyoldcoins.  One was a pretty pleasing Augustus Antioch as, the other a worn 3rd c. coin, and the last a BD-covered coin, a Tyche 3rd century, which would have been Fair even without the BD.

The $1.50 as-sized bulk lots still can't be beat, but that was back around 2000.  Very few had BD and most were above VG.

It wasn't cheap, but I got a huge Balbinus Tarsus coin for cheaper than an imperial would be.

[antwerpen2306]

@ambr0zie you are right, I had first the same transcription for the reverse, reading the alpha as a delta, but had then problems to translate. I do not know very much of this coins, I have only about 20, most from Alexandria, but here I have a problem with the translation of 'INDEI'. Maybe it is a reference for INDI, the ancient name of the town. Thank you for the correction.

[ambr0zie]

You're welcome. I always like attributing provincials, when the condition is good enough to allow this. Yours is a nice coin. 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

This Aurelian/Vabalathus was cheap, for a nice one - $50.

This was $207, but it's 36 mm. and a much cheaper Balbinus than a Sestertius.

 

[antwerpen2306]

so, I have corrected the identification of the coin

Lydia. Stratonicea Hadrianopolis.

Nominaal : AE17 pseudo-autonome uitgifte.

Voorzijde : INDEI QEA RWMH : buste van Roma met diadeem en muurkroon naar rechts.

Keerzijde : IERA CUNKLHTOC : buste met onbedekt hoofd van de Romeinse Senaat naar rechts.

Afmetingen : 17 mm , 3,4 gr , as 12 uur .

Referenties : SNGvanAulock3182, RPC III,1774.

Periode : AD 98 – 117.

Staat : vz : zeer fraai+, kz : zeer fraai+.

Muntatelier : Stratonicea Hadrianopolis.

Aankoop : Zeus Numismatics, lot 278, 240623.

 

 

[ambr0zie]

My advice is to copy the legends I provided. Transforming the Greek letters into Latin alphabet is not very useful. 

Also you can use the picture I modified - swapping the reverse with the obverse. 

[antwerpen2306]

your right, I have no Greek alphabet on my computer and I use a system with most Greek letters, but not all, so I don't have the sigma C, I used the picture from the auction, because I don't like to make photo's if not necessary....I have made this for about 2000 coins from Antiquity to the end of the 19° century and I try now to do it with the fewest effort 😄 Once more thank you for the correct identification

[dougsmit]

https://czech.mml.ox.ac.uk/static/polytonic-greek-inputter.html

This may be useful for cut and paste.  ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ

[hotwheelsearl]

On 8/13/2023 at 3:05 PM, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

This Aurelian/Vabalathus was cheap, for a nice one - $50.

This was $207, but it's 36 mm. and a much cheaper Balbinus than a Sestertius.

 

How about an Aurelian/Vabalathus for $15!?!

Obviously not as good as yours, but I'll take it.

[lrbguy]

11 hours ago, dougsmit said:

This may be useful for cut and paste.  ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ

I checked the link and the letter xsi (Ξ)is present in upper and lower case. Keyboard link is the "c"

In short, the whole Greek alphabet is covered for upper and lower cases.  Thanks for the heads-up on that link, Doug.

[antwerpen2306]

Ευχαριστώ,