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Orbis Collectibles

Byzantion, Marc Aurel, 6 unit — Artemis advancing left (CN type 21876)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. AD 178

Issuing entity

Thrace

6 unit in bronze struck at Byzantion in Thrace under Marc Aurel, dated c. AD 178. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 21876 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of bearded Marcus Aurelius, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ. Reverse: Artemis (Phosphorus) advancing left, holding torch in each hand. Legend: ΒVΖΑΝΤΙΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΑΙ ΠΟΝΤΙΚΟΥ ΗΡ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 15.3 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 29 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: 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. 25213; Pick, Die Personen- und Götternamen auf Kaisermünzen von Byzantion 27, 1895, p. 35, nr. 12; Linked type corpus, RPC IV.1, 25213.

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

This civic coin was struck at Byzantion in Thrace, an ancient Greek city founded by colonists from Megara in the 7th century BC. The issue dates to the reign of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161 to 180. A member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty and a Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors during the Pax Romana, presiding over a period marked by major military conflicts in the East and against Germanic tribes.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Denomination
6 unit
Recorded diameter
29 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
15.3 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Byzantion
Region
Thrace
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Marc Aurel

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of bearded Marcus Aurelius, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Artemis (Phosphorus) advancing left, holding torch in each hand.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΒVΖΑΝΤΙΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΑΙ ΠΟΝΤΙΚΟΥ ΗΡ

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/21876
Type corpus identifier
CN type 21876

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

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