Reading Roman Provincials

[Sulla80]

Homonoia - as imagined by openAI's ChatGPT 4.0 edited to include the tetradrachm of Gallienus.

 

How is it that the word EYTYXHC has not yet appeared in this forum?....it must not be that common on ancient coins....yet the Roman Equivalent "FELIX" has 348 hits in searching NF. 

Roman Egypt, Alexandria, Gallienus, 253-268, BI tetradrachm (24mm, 10.38g, 11 h), RY 3 = 255/6

Obv: Α Κ Π ΛΙ ΟΥ ΓΑΛΛΙΗΝΟϹ ΕΥ ΕΥϹ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right

Rev: L Γ, Homonoia seated left, raising her right hand and holding double-cornucopiae in her left

Ref: Dattari (Savio) 5204. Emmett 3735.3. K&G 90.16. RPC X online ID 75324.

 

Expanding the Greek Legend:

ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ PVBΛIOC ΛICINIOC OYAΛEPIANOC ΓAΛΛIHNOC EYTYXHC EYCEBHC

in Latin

IMPERATOR CAESAR PUBLIVS LICINIVS VALERIANVS GALLIENVS FELIX PIVS

in English:

Emperor Caesar Publius Licinius Valerian Gallienus Fortunate and Pious (or Dutiful)

 

Here are a few useful words for translating:

• ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ (AUTOCRATOR, abbreviated: AVT or AVTOK) = EMPEROR
• ΚΑΙΣΑΡ (KAISAR), KAICAP (K. or KAI.) = CAESAR
• ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, CΕΒΑCΤΟC (ΣΕΒ., CΕΒ.) = AVGVSTVS
• ΔΗΜΑΡΧΙΚΗC ΕΞΟΥCΙΑ (ΔΗΜΑΡΧ.ΕΞ.) = TRIBVNICA POTESTAS (TR.P.)
• ΥΠΑΤΟC, ΥΠΑΤΟC Β, ΥΠΑΤΟC Γ, etc. = CONSVL (COS. II, COS. III etc.)
• ΥΠΑΤΟC ΑΠΟΔΕΔΕΔΕΙΤ ΜΕΝΟC = CONSVL DESIGNATVS (COS. DES.)
• ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟC (OE. YI.) = DIVI FILIVS (DIVI F.)
• APICTOC (API.) = OPTIMVS
• ΕΠIΦΑΝΗC (ΕΠIΦ.) = NOBILISSMVS (NOB.)
• EYCEBHC (EYC.) = PIVS (P.)
• EYTYXHC (EY., EYTY.) = FELIX (F.)
• ΘΕΟΣ, ΘΕΟC, ΘΕω = DIVVS, DIVO

And here is a useful page from Barry P. Murphy for reading dates on Roman Provincials and Greek Coins

Dates on Roman Provincial Coins :http://bpmurphy.ancients.info/misc/rpcdates.htm

 

Post words that are useful in reading Greek legends on provincial coins and coins as examples

Edited April 14 by Sulla80

[Roman Collector]

Very helpful to those who have not studied Greek! Informative and concise post! Thanks!

Here's a fun one:

Gordian III, with Tranquillina, 238-244 CE.
Roman provincial AE 4.5 assaria, 28.92 mm, 15.89 g, 7:00.
Moesia Inferior, Tomis, 241-244 CE.
Obv: AVT K M ANTΩNIOC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC // CABINIA TPAN / KVΛΛINA, confronted laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right and diademed, draped bust of Tranquillina left.
Rev: MHTPO ΠONTOV TOMEΩC, Nemesis standing facing, head left, holding arshin (rod) and bridle, wheel at feet; Δ - < (denomination) in fields.
Refs: RPC VII.2, 1701; AMNG I 3537; Varbanov 5701; Moushmov 2279; Cf. SNG Cop 305.

The unabbreviated Greek inscription would read: 

ΑVΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΚΑΙCΑΡ MAPKOC ANTΩNIOC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC // CABINIA TPANKVΛΛINA -- MHTPOΠOΛEΩC ΠONTOV TOMEΩC.

Translated into English, this means:

Emperor Caesar Marcus Antoninus Gordianus // Sabinia Tranquillina -- Of the City of the Sea, Tomis. 

Edited April 14 by Roman Collector
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