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Orbis Collectibles

Olbia, Caracalla, bronze coin — Zeus enthroned right (CN type 23786)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 197–217

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Coin in bronze struck at Olbia under Caracalla, dated AD 197–217. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23786 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of youthful Caracalla, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤWΝЄΙΝΟϹ ϹЄΒΑ. Reverse: Zeus enthroned right, left hand outstretched, right resting on sceptre. Legend: ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛЄΙΤWΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 4.78 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 22–23 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 557; Anochin, Monety antičnych gorodov Severo-Zapadnogo Pričernomor'ja, Kiev 1989, nr. 390; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 2895-2903.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
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

Pontic Olbia was founded on the Southern Bug estuary in the 7th century BC by colonists from Miletus, growing into a major Black Sea trade emporium. Caracalla, born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, became co-emperor under his father Septimius Severus in 198 and ruled alone from 211 until his assassination in 217. This bronze coin was produced by the city of Olbia under the Roman Empire during Caracalla's imperial era between AD 197 and 217.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
22–23 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
4.78 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Olbia
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Caracalla

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of youthful Caracalla, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Zeus enthroned right, left hand outstretched, right resting on sceptre.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤWΝЄΙΝΟϹ ϹЄΒΑ
Reverse legend
ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛЄΙΤWΝ

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/23786
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23786

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

Research required

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