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Orbis Collectibles

Olbia, Severus Alexander, bronze coin — Zeus enthroned right (CN type 23800)

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 23800 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Draped bust of Julia Mamaea, right. Legend: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΜΑΜЄΑ. Reverse: Zeus enthroned right, holding thunderbolt and sceptre. Legend: ΟΛΒΙΟΠΟΛΙΤWΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 5.11 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 21 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Anochin, Antičnye monety Severnogo Pričernomor‘ja, Kiev 2011, nr. 566; Abramzon and Frolova, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Russland. Staatliches Historisches Museum Moskau. Münzen des nördlichen Schwarzmeergebietes, Berlin-Boston 2019, nr. 2979-2985; Linked type corpus.

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

Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was Roman emperor from 222 until 235 AD, representing the final ruler of the Severan dynasty. His mother, Julia Avita Mamaea, was a Syrian noblewoman who acted as one of his principal advisers throughout his thirteen-year reign. Both Alexander and his mother were killed in 235 by mutinous troops. During his reign, civic coinages honouring Julia Mamaea were produced by provincial cities across the Roman world, including Olbia.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
21 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
5.11 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Olbia
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Severus Alexander

Design

Obverse type
Draped bust of Julia Mamaea, right.
Reverse type
Zeus enthroned right, holding thunderbolt and sceptre.
Obverse legend
ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΜΑΜЄΑ
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/23800
Type corpus identifier
CN type 23800

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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