Skip to content
Orbis Collectibles

Olbia, Caracalla, bronze coin — Nude warrior with helmet standing left (CN type 23788)

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 23788 (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: Nude warrior with helmet standing left, erecting trophy with his right hand. Legend: ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛЄΙΤWΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 6.66 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 23 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 558; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 2904-2909; Pick, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. 1. Halbbd. I 1, Berlin 1898, pl. 12, pic. 2.

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 an ancient Greek settlement on the Southern Bug estuary, established by colonists from Miletus in the 7th century BC and serving as a key Black Sea commercial emporium. Caracalla, the son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna, was proclaimed co-emperor in 198 and ruled until his assassination in 217. This civic bronze coin was struck at Olbia under Roman imperial rule during the reign of Caracalla, dated AD 197–217.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
23 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
6.66 g (mean of 1 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
Nude warrior with helmet standing left, erecting trophy with his right hand.
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/23788
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23788

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

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