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Cappadocia - Roman Province


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Posted (edited)

Hello! I would like to invite You to discussion about Cappadocia as Roman Province. I’m trying to build really profesional collection of it. Here is also link to my collection of Cappadocian coins.

https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21237/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-in-the-shadow-of-mount-argaeus-cappadocia-roman-province

best regards!

Edited by Sebastian
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I think you get a good discussion going on whether either of the two drachms of Tiberius stand a better chance of having been the "Tribute Penny" of the Gospels that the usual denarius of Tiberius commonly cited as the one.

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Posted (edited)
12 minutes ago, kevikens said:

I think you get a good discussion going on whether either of the two drachms of Tiberius stand a better chance of having been the "Tribute Penny" of the Gospels that the usual denarius of Tiberius commonly cited as the one.

Yeah. Problem is that in gospel is exactly the word „denari” which suggest a Roman denarius but the truth is that cappadocian drachm was much more popular in Judea than a Roman denarius. 

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Posted (edited)

Beautiful collection, @Sebastian! I think that many coins from Cappadocia have very fine portraits.
I remember your Caligula from the recent auction of Kölner Münzkabinett, April 2024... I had it on my watch list, too. I also recognize the Claudius didrachm. It’s interesting to see who bought these coins 🙂

I own 2 coins from Cappadocia.

 

augustus1.jpeg.d22607bb713b990189f57939c57dda20.jpeg

Nero Claudius Germanicus and Divus Augustus under Tiberius or Caligula. Drachm (18mm - 3.68g). 33/34 AD or 37/38 AD. Mint: Caesarea-Eusebia, Cappadocia.
Obv: GERMANICVS CAES TI AVG F COS II IMP, for Germanicus Caesar Tiberii Augusti Filius Consul Secundum Imperator (Germanicus Caesar, son of Augustus Tiberius, Consul for the second time, Imperator). 
Rev: DIVVS AVGVSTVS.
RPC I. 3623D, RIC I (second edition) Gaius/Caligula 62. Ex YOTHR store (ma-shops)

 

image.jpeg.83698787b58d8c3b44760ff09bf972ba.jpeg


Trajan (98-117). Drachm. 3,40g and 19mm.
Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙС ΝЄΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟС СЄΒ ΓЄΡΜ ΔΑΚ.
Rev: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ЄΞ ΥΠΑΤO ς. Bust of Artemis (?) left, holding spear and patera.
RPC III 3026; Sydenham 198.

 

Edited by Salomons Cat
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A great collection @Sebastian - all lovely coins.  Almost all of my coins are from BCE e.g.

AriarathesPhilometorosCappadocia.jpg.4fb58b26ca8d9edab1a63270b3818fba.jpg

Greek Coins, Kings of Cappadocia, Ariarathes VII Philometor (Circa 116-100 BC). Drachm (4.15g, 17mm). Dated RY 9 (107/6 BC), from the Bono Simonetta Collection
Obv: Diademed head right. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑIΡAPAΘOY / ΦΙΛΟMHTOPOΣ Athena standing left, holding Nike and spear, and resting hand upon shield; monogram to inner left, Λ to inner right, Θ (date) in exergue.
Ref: Simonetta 5; Parthica 2007, Ar. VII 13/2 (this coin); HGC 7, 831.

But I do have a couple Imperials that I enjoy e.g. this Vespasian + Titus Didrachm ex @PeteB (http://akropoliscoins.com/)

VespasianandTitusDidrachm.jpg.049a66118000cf56e8af424ed96a9550.jpg

 

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That's a gorgeous collection and well curated!

I have no Roman coins from Cappadocia, but I have some from earlier.

258_Full.jpg.39c40f01c392a0d2b0136fad4944cbc8.jpg

Paphlagonia, Sinope. Ariarathes I of Cappadocia
Circa 325 BCE
AR Drachm 5.53 gm, 17mm
Persic standard
Obv.: 'm in Aramaic, head of the nymph Sinope to left, her hair bound in a sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; to left, aphlaston.
Rev.: 'ariyrth' in Aramaic, sea-eagle with spread wings standing on a dolphin to left.
HGC 7, 434; SNG BM Black Sea 1459; SNG Stancomb 761

 

Here's my complete collection of Ariarathids.

And here are a few photos I took 15 years ago in the region.

IMG_5629-Edit-Edit.jpg.d123f085dce8f992e03fb94ae3a9c884.jpg

IMG_5470-Edit.jpg.c00f7e8d221c4aebe9e07d4f1c06049a.jpg

IMG_5322-Edit.jpg.2a148f6f3fcb4a182de6b4279d03c71b.jpg

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9 hours ago, kirispupis said:

That's a gorgeous collection and well curated!

I have no Roman coins from Cappadocia, but I have some from earlier.

258_Full.jpg.39c40f01c392a0d2b0136fad4944cbc8.jpg

Paphlagonia, Sinope. Ariarathes I of Cappadocia
Circa 325 BCE
AR Drachm 5.53 gm, 17mm
Persic standard
Obv.: 'm in Aramaic, head of the nymph Sinope to left, her hair bound in a sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; to left, aphlaston.
Rev.: 'ariyrth' in Aramaic, sea-eagle with spread wings standing on a dolphin to left.
HGC 7, 434; SNG BM Black Sea 1459; SNG Stancomb 761

 

Here's my complete collection of Ariarathids.

And here are a few photos I took 15 years ago in the region.

IMG_5629-Edit-Edit.jpg.d123f085dce8f992e03fb94ae3a9c884.jpg

IMG_5470-Edit.jpg.c00f7e8d221c4aebe9e07d4f1c06049a.jpg

IMG_5322-Edit.jpg.2a148f6f3fcb4a182de6b4279d03c71b.jpg

Fantastic images, i like last one the most - horse is in a perfect spot

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A happy couple.

Tranquillina. Caesarea Cappadocia Æ (22mm 6.67g) CΑΒ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΛΙΝΑ AVG Diademed and draped bust right / MHTP KAI B NE six grain ears bound together, date ET-Z (243-244) across fields. Sydenham Caesarea 618, SNG von Aulock 6534.


Gordian III. Caesarea, Cappadocia.Æ (22mm, 6.51g). AV KAI M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / MHTΡ KAI B NE, six ears of corn bound together, in lower field date ET-Z (243-244) across fields. BMC 346-349, SGI 3778.
tranqcap.jpg.6d78b98927ca6a05f9d263dd3f4650da.jpggordcap.jpg.b7f829f1fd51c99ac9dafad0adeceb6f.jpg

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17 hours ago, Sebastian said:

Yeah. Problem is that in gospel is exactly the word „denari” which suggest a Roman denarius but the truth is that cappadocian drachm was much more popular in Judea than a Roman denarius. 

Yes, archaeology suggests that any kind of Roman denarii were rare, even unknown, to Judaea before the Jewish uprising. The authors of the Gospels writing in Koine Greek for a Gentile audience 40 or more years after Jesus of Nazareth lived may simply have assumed that the coin in use circa 30 AD in Judaea was the same silver coin they were familiar with at a later date. Looking closely at a drachm of Tiberius next to a denarius of that emperor clearly show the similarity of the two to each other in fabric, fineness, weight and design.

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That's a fantastic subcollection, @Sebastian I'm glad you posted the link to it!

I have only one coin featuring Mt. Argaeus.

SeverusAlexanderCaesareaMountArgaeus.jpg.ca8a357ad688879081767fd14f97cc32.jpg
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.

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Posted (edited)

Caesarea Cappadocia is one of the great mints of the East with a steady output of coinage, at times larger than Rome itself.

Julia Paula 219
4553355_1695568342.jpg.4e8a1653f8d7ad9aa17d738f753da375.jpg

Elagabal 219-20
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Alexander Caesar c. 221

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Imperator Alexander Caesar c. 222
4809730_1699023954.jpg.da2c111fbf4e99468350b1bbe4d84c99.jpg

Edited by seth77
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  • Sebastian changed the title to Cappadocia - Roman Province

Wow - that is a wonderful collection of Cappadocians you've put together @Sebastian.  I only have a few, but I recently blundered on a hemidrachm that was listed Vespasian (eBay), but as it turns out is Titus (my attribution notes below).  It is worn, but the portrait looks more Titus, I think:  

image.jpeg.5ee9c3c3e4bf4dbf5b4e2f421c9938f2.jpeg

Titus  Hemidrachm Caesarea, Cappadocia (c. 80-81 A.D.) ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑ[ΤΩΡ ΤΙΤΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹΕ]ΒΑϹ, laureate head right / Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm RPC II 1661; Ganschow 83; Metcalf, Caesarea 19; Sydenham, Caesarea 116. (1.74 grams / 14 x 13 mm) eBay March 2024 $16.50

This is Titus, not Vespasian, the visible part of the obv. legend and a die-match suggests this: 

Titus:  ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΤΙΤΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹΕΒΑϹ

Vespasian:  ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΟΥΕϹΠΑϹΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒΑ

Die-Match Obverse:  Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 350; Lot 380; 06.05.2015

Here's the obverse die-match, in much better shape:

image.jpeg.a7469e5a2e278e89166d91b49e1fa725.jpeg

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Thank You All for Your reactions and answers in this topic. It’s good to know that so many people are interested in wonderful coinage of this province. 
I’ve started write a book about this time in Cappadocia. Every chapter contain one cappadocian coin, article about this coin and a short novel from a time when a coin was struck. I’m writing in polish but I would like to translate it to English. 
Best!

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Excellent collection @Sebastian

The only Mount Argaeus coin I've ever possessed is this one

c6321633440a45d8b4edbef3d2f5c945.jpg

Plautilla, drachm - Cappadocia, Caesaraea - Eusebia), AD 205.
ΦΟΥΛΟΥΙ ΠΛΑΥ ΑΥ, draped bust right
ΜΗΤΡΟ ΚΑΙCΑ, Agalma of Mt. Argaeus with star. In ex., CΤΙΓ : regnal year 13 of Sept. Severus, 205 AD
2.69 g, 19mm
Ref : Sydenham -; SNG Copenhagen -; Sear 2775v.
Sydenham-Malloy, p. 152, no. 496b
cf. Lanz auction # 117/956
thanks to Curtis Clay for additionnal information

 

Q

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I have a Julia Domna drachm, 17 mm, 2.6 gr. A rare version, not on Wildwinds with the shorter obverse legend, and I found it referenced only in Mionnet. Soon after I got mine, a nicer example was sold by Munzzentrum Rheinland, auction 192, lot 309. 

image.jpeg.7d618fdc873fa7703a753f1840affd81.jpeg

 

And a Julia Maesa AE28, 10 gr, which I got to clean. After cleaning the reverse - it's surprising there's nothing after "T". Obverse is still waiting it's turn.

image.jpeg.cd2be1255841f0bc9cd71467b15e1778.jpeg

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Hello!

Today, two wonderful coins have joined my Cappadocian collection. The first is a drachm of Septimius Severus (193-211), proudly presenting the victorious Nike on the reverse. The coin was minted in the second year of the emperor's reign 193/194 A.D. Nike proclaims the victory of Septimius in the civil war, and above all over the defeated Pescenius Niger and the coming of peace in the empire. By the way, Severus' face is somewhat reminiscent of the defeated Niger, who minted a large part of his denarii in Cappadocian Caesarea.

2363041_1637083938.jpg

The second coin is a real rarity of the collection. Didrachm of Diadumenian minted in 217 A.D. We know only about four specimens of this coin, and the portrait of the young Caesar is one of the best preserved on this type. This coin is most often referred to a drachm. In my opinion, this is a mistake, because the weight of the coin (4.89g) suggests rather the equivalent of a didrachm.

959887_1577438067.jpg

https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21237/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-in-the-shadow-of-mount-argaeus-cappadocia-roman-province?page=0

Edited by Sebastian
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My new drachm of Trajan (98-117) struck in Caesarea, Cappadocia (114-116) RPC III 3066.2, Sydenham, Caesarea -

Only two specimens of this type are known. Attention is drawn to the magnificent bust of Emperor Trajan in paludament and armor. On the reverse of the coin, Nike walks victoriously, announcing Trajan's successive victories in the east. It is after this campaign that the empire will reach its greatest size.

https://www.colleconline.com/en/items/339248/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-trajan-98-117-r4

 

5532412_1715087897.jpg

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Posted (edited)

A new, excellent coin in my Cappadocian collection!

 Nero's didrachm minted in Caesarea (63-65 A.D.) RPC I 3652, Sydenham, Caesarea 68, Ganschow, Münzen 61a

I was looking for such a wonderful specimen for a long time – 24.5mm!! – It's actually the size of a tridrachma. Two wonderful portraits, and Divus Caludius strongly resembled Nero's biological father 🙂

https://www.colleconline.com/en/items/339608/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-nero-54-68
 

486_2.jpg

Edited by Sebastian
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