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Orbis Collectibles

Abydos, Caracalla, bronze coin — Demeter standing left (CN type 3480)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 198–217

Issuing entity

Troas

Coin in bronze struck at Abydos in Troas under Caracalla, dated AD 198–217. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 3480 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of youthful Caracalla, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Border of dots. Legend: ΑV ΚΑΙ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟϹ. Reverse: Demeter standing left, resting her right hand on sceptre, left hand on hip; in front of her, female figure (Artemis?) standing right, holding bow (?) in right hand, coat flying over her head. Legend: ΑΒVΔΗΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 7.64 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 24–25 mm (from 1 recorded specimen).

Published references cited by the corpus: Mionnet, S.T.5. Description de médailles antiques grecques et romaines avec leur degré de rareté et leur estimation 5, Paris 1830, p. 506-507, nr. 62.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
3
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
1

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 issue was struck at Abydos, an ancient settlement founded around 670 BC on the Asian coast of the Hellespont. Abydos lay within the historical region of Troas, also known as the Troad, in northwestern Anatolia. The coin dates to the reign of Caracalla, born Lucius Septimius Bassianus and named Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who ruled the Roman Empire from 198 to 217 AD, initially alongside his father Septimius Severus.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
24–25 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
7.64 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Abydos
Region
Troas
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Caracalla

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of youthful Caracalla, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Border of dots.
Reverse type
Demeter standing left, resting her right hand on sceptre, left hand on hip; in front of her, female figure (Artemis?) standing right, holding bow (?) in right hand, coat flying over her head.
Obverse legend
ΑV ΚΑΙ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΑΒVΔΗΝΩΝ

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/3480
Type corpus identifier
CN type 3480

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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