Skip to content
Orbis Collectibles

Apollonia ad Rhyndacum, Marc Aurel, bronze coin — River-god reclining left (CN type 19787)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. AD 169–175

Issuing entity

Mysia

Coin in bronze struck at Apollonia ad Rhyndacum in Mysia under Marc Aurel, dated c. AD 169–175. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 19787 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Cuirassed and draped bust of bearded Marcus Aurelius, right. Legend: ΑV Κ Μ ΑVΡ(Η) ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟϹ. Reverse: River-god (Rhyndacos) reclining left, left arm resting on vessel; right hand resting on stern; below, two fish swimming towards each other. Legend: ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΑΤΩΝ ΡVΝΔΑΚΟϹ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 20.59 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 33 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Fritze et al., Die antiken Münzen Mysiens. 1: Adramytion - Kisthene, Berlin 1913, p. 80, nr. 247; Heuchert, RPC IV: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. IV: From Antoninus Pius to Commodus (AD 138–192). online (temporary), http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/, nr. 431; Linked type corpus, RPC IV.2, 431.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
3

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

Historical context

Apollonia ad Rhyndacum, situated in Mysia in northwestern Anatolia, was an ancient town located opposite the delta of the Rhyndacus river. Marcus Aurelius acceded to the imperial throne in 161 following the death of Emperor Antoninus Pius, serving alongside co-emperor Lucius Verus. Despite being remembered as a Stoic philosopher and the final emperor of the Pax Romana, his reign until 180 was marked by major warfare, including the Marcomannic Wars against Germanic peoples.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
33 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
20.59 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Apollonia ad Rhyndacum
Region
Mysia
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Marc Aurel

Design

Obverse type
Cuirassed and draped bust of bearded Marcus Aurelius, right.
Reverse type
River-god (Rhyndacos) reclining left, left arm resting on vessel; right hand resting on stern; below, two fish swimming towards each other.
Obverse legend
ΑV Κ Μ ΑVΡ(Η) ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΑΤΩΝ ΡVΝΔΑΚΟϹ

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/19787
Type corpus identifier
CN type 19787

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
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

Varieties

  • Apollonia ad Rhyndacum, Marc Aurel, bronze (CN type 13041)

    Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
Can you source one of these? Submit a reference