Roman Provincial Coins

Roman provincial coins were issued by Greek cities during the period of the Roman empire. They are distinguished from western Roman coins by their Greek inscriptions. Although the obverse, or principal side, of Greek imperial coins usually bore a portrait of a member of the imperial family, the reverse, or back side, displayed a local type, often representing a monument, cult, or myth important to the issuing city. Such coins are sometimes our only surviving evidence for the appearance of these monuments and often provide cult information not known from other sources.

Augustus (27 B.C.-A.D. 14)
Bronze AE 22 from Antiocheia, Syria
(modern Antakya, Turkey)

Obverse: Head of Augustus, wearing laurel wreath, right.
Legend:
Reverse: legend in five lines:


5-4 B.C.
(64.66.4)
 

Septimius Severus (A.D. 193-211)
Bronze AE 45 from Saitta, Lydia
(modern Sidas Kale, Turkey)

Obverse: Bust of Septimius Severus, wearing laurel wreath, cuirass, and paludamentum, right.
Legend:
Reverse: The god Mên, in Phrygian dress, with crescent horns at his shoulders, standing r., facing the goddess Kybele, wearing a long chiton and a turreted crown, seated l. on a throne.
Legend:
Exergue:

A.D. 198-211
(2004.5)
 

Gordian III (A.D. 238-244)
Bronze AE 32 from Seleukeia-ad-Kalykadnon, Cilicia
(modern Selefke, Turkey)

Obverse: Bust of Gordian III, wearing laurel wreath, cuirass, and paludamentum, right.
Legend:
Reverse: Two Nikai, each wearing a long chiton, standing facing one another, together holding a shield on a three-legged table; on the shield, the Greek legend
Legend:

A.D. 238-244
(73.8)
 

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