Troas-Alexandria

Roman Provincial: Troas-Alexandria

	Roman Provincial, Troas-Alexandria, Vespasian, AE Semis, 69-79 IMP VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head right VICTORIA-AVG Victory advancing right, wreath in right hand 19mm x 20mm, 4.92g RPC 896 Ex Sayles & Lavender, VCoins, 2009; Ex David Cannon Collection Notes from John Lavender: Both RPC 896 (the coin on our site) and RPC 897 have traditionally been attributed to Apameia in Bithynia, on conjectural evidence, but this attribution has recently been revised in favor of Alexandria Troas, based on three pieces of much more convincing evidence: 1) the Latin legends indicate the coins were struck at a Roman colony, only three of which existed in the region where the coins are found (Apameia in Bithynia, Parium in Mysia, and Alexandria Troas). 2) the cult of Apollo Smintheus (cp. the reverse of RPC 897) was centered at Alexandria Troas, and on one of the known examples of RPC 897 the words APOLLO ZMIN are legible. 3) an example of RPC 897 (i.e., Smintheus reverse) was reportedly found at Alexandria Troas. It has long been understood that both coins are the product of the same mint. Thus, if RPC 897 is from Alexandria Troas, which the evidence strongly supports, then so is RPC 896 (our coin). I was able to trace all of the known existing specimens of both RPC 896 and RPC 897, and there are only four coins that are not in museum collections.
	Roman Provincial, Troas-Alexandria, Caracalla (197-217), AE As, 198-210, Type 47 ANTONINV_S PIVS AVG Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind COL- AVG TR_O Eagle flying right, holding severed head of sacrificial bull in talons 25mm, 9.81g Bellinger A262; Yale, Copenhagen 152
	Roman Provincial, Troas-Alexandria, Volusian (251-253), AE As, 3rd Century AD, Type 48 IMP C VIBIA FIN IOLVSSIANV Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind COL-AVG TRO Eagle facing, head left, wings spread, holding severed head of sacrificial bull in talons 22mm x 24mm, 5.07g Bellinger A423; Paris, Hunter 296, 52
	Gallienus, AE As, 3rd Century AD, Troas-Alexandria IMP LICI-GALLIENV Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind COL AVG Horse feeding right TRO in exergue 19mm x 20mm, 4.91g Bellinger A451 Ex Keith Emmett Collection; Ex Colosseum Coin Exchange, June 1986
	Anonymous Issue (Possibly Gallienus alone), AE As, 3rd Century AD, Troas-Alexandria, Northwest Asia Minor (Turkey), near Troy COL-TROA Turreted, draped bust of Tyche right, legionary vexillum with AVG behind COL AVG Horse feeding right TRO in exergue 21mm x 23mm, 6.72g Bellinger A486
	Anonymous Issue (Possibly Gallienus alone), AE As, 3rd Century AD, Troas-Alexandria, Northwest Asia Minor (Turkey), near Troy CO_L TROA Turreted, draped bust of Tyche right, legionary vexillum with AV/G on banner behind C_OL AV TRO Eagle flying right, severed head of sacrificial bull in its claws 20mm x 21mm, 4.50g Bellinger A490 'The eagle carrying a bull's head, which is a common occurrence from now [Commodus Caesar] on, must refer to a foundation legend, like that told of Antioch on the Orontes, of an eagle carrying part of a sacrificial animal to the spot where the new city was destined to rise.' A. R. Bellinger, Troy: The Coins, Princeton 1961, reprint Sanford Durst 1979, p. 106.

Valerian I, AE As, 253-260, Alexandria Troas, Northwest Asia Minor (Turkey), near Troy. IMP LIC VALERIANVCA Laureate, draped bust right, seen from behind. COL AVG | TRO Horse feeding right. Bellinger A436.

Anonymous Issue (Possibly Gallienus alone), AE As, 3rd Century AD, Alexandria Troas, Northwest Asia Minor (Turkey), near Troy. CO_L TROA Turreted, draped bust of Tyche right, Legionary vexillum with AVG behind. COL AVG Horse feeding right TRO in exergue. Bellinger A486.

Anonymous Issue (Possibly Gallienus alone), AE As, 3rd Century AD, Alexandria Troas, Northwest Asia Minor (Turkey), near Troy. CO_L TROA Turreted, draped bust of Tyche right, Legionary vexillum with AVG behind. COL AVG | TRO Horse feeding right, tree behind. Bellinger A487.

Anonymous Issue (Possibly Gallienus alone), AE As, 3rd Century AD, Alexandria Troas, Northwest Asia Minor (Turkey), near Troy. CO_L TROA Turreted, draped bust of Tyche right, Legionary vexillum with AVG behind. COL AVG | TRO She-wolf standing right, suckling Remus and Romulus. Bellinger A495.