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Orbis Collectibles

Bizye, Philippus Arabs, Medallion — Apollo (CN type 1553)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 244–249

Issuing entity

Thrace

Medallion in bronze struck at Bizye in Thrace under Philippus Arabs, dated AD 244–249. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 1553 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of Philip the Arab, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ Μ ΙΟVΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ ΑVΓ. Reverse: Apollo, Asclepius and Hygieia; in the centre, nude Apollo standing left, legs crossed, holding laurel-branch, left hand over serpent coiling around omphalos; at his feet, left, Telesphorus; to left, Asclepius standing right, holding serpent-staff in right hand; between them Telesphorus; to right, Hygieia standing left, feeding serpent from patera; in the background, Tyche, enthroned, holding rudder and cornucopia and Zeus holding thunderbolt. Legend: ΒΙΖVΗΝΩΝ.

Measured specimens give a mean weight of 26 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 38 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Jurukova, Die Münzprägung von Bizye, Berlin 1981, p. 71, nr. 129; Tachev, Monetosečeneto na Bizija (The Coinage of Bizye), Sofija 2019, p. 238, nr. 4, pl. 30; Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values II 2. Thrace (from Abdera to Pautalia), Bourgas 2005, p. 129, nr. 1507; Linked type corpus.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
4

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Denomination
Medallion
Recorded diameter
38 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
26 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Bizye
Region
Thrace
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Philippus Arabs

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of Philip the Arab, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Apollo, Asclepius and Hygieia; in the centre, nude Apollo standing left, legs crossed, holding laurel-branch, left hand over serpent coiling around omphalos; at his feet, left, Telesphorus ; to left, Asclepius standing right, holding serpent-staff in right hand; between them Telesphorus; to right, Hygieia standing left, feeding serpent from patera; in the background, Tyche, enthroned, holding rudder and cornucopia and Zeus holding thunderbolt.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ Μ ΙΟVΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ ΑVΓ
Reverse legend
ΒΙΖVΗΝΩΝ

Identification

Period
Roman Imperial Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/1553
Type corpus identifier
CN type 1553

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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