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Orbis Collectibles

Olbia, Severus Alexander, bronze coin — Eagle standing facing (CN type 23797)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 222–235

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Coin in bronze struck at Olbia under Severus Alexander, dated AD 222–235. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 23797 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of Severus Alexander, right. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ *ΑV*Ρ ϹЄΟ*V Α*ΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ. Reverse: Eagle standing facing, head left, wings spread, holding wreath in beak; between eagle's legs, altar. Legend: ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛΙΤWΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 7.96 g (mean of 8 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 23–25 mm (from 8 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 563; Anochin, Monety antičnych gorodov Severo-Zapadnogo Pričernomor'ja, Kiev 1989, nr. 395; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 2936-2956; Linked type corpus; Linked type corpus.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
5

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

Historical context

This bronze piece was struck at Olbia, an ancient Greek foundation on the Southern Bug estuary originally established in the 7th century BC by colonists from Miletus. It was issued under Severus Alexander, Roman emperor from 222 until 235 AD, who took power at the age of 13 following the murder of Emperor Elagabalus. Severus Alexander was the final ruler of the Severan dynasty, and his eventual assassination in 235 marked the onset of the Crisis of the Third Century.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
23–25 mm (from 8 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
7.96 g (mean of 8 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Olbia
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Severus Alexander

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of Severus Alexander, right.
Reverse type
Eagle standing facing, head left, wings spread, holding wreath in beak; between eagle's legs, altar.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ Κ Μ *ΑV*Ρ ϹЄΟ*V Α*ΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛΙΤWΝ

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/23797
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23797

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

  • Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 563
  • Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 395
  • Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 2936-2956
  • external concordance
  • external concordance

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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