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Orbis Collectibles

Abydos, Severus Alexander, bronze coin — Zeus enthroned left (CN type 3499)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 222–235

Issuing entity

Troas

Coin in bronze struck at Abydos in Troas 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 3499 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of Severus Alexander, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑV Κ Μ ΑV ϹЄ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ. Reverse: Zeus enthroned left, right hand outstretched, left resting on sceptre; in front of him, goddess standing right, holding patera. Legend: ЄΠ ΑΡ ΑV ΠΡΟΚΛΟV ΑΒVΔΗΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 19.06 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 33 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Calomino, RPC VI: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. VI: From Elagabalus to Maximinus Thrax (AD 218–238). online, nr. 3927; Kraft, Das System der kaiserzeitlichen Münzprägung in Kleinasien: Materialien und Entwürfe, Berlin 1972, p. 154, pl. 49, pic. 5; Linked type corpus, RPC VI, 3927.

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

Severus Alexander, born Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, ruled as Roman emperor from 222 until 235 AD, becoming the final ruler of the Severan dynasty after succeeding his slain cousin Elagabalus. His thirteen-year reign ended when he was assassinated during campaigns against Germanic tribes. This civic coin was produced under his authority at Abydos, an ancient city on the Asian coast of the Hellespont in modern Turkey.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
33 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
19.06 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Abydos
Region
Troas
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Severus Alexander

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of Severus Alexander, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
Zeus enthroned left, right hand outstretched, left resting on sceptre; in front of him, goddess standing right, holding patera.
Obverse legend
ΑV Κ Μ ΑV ϹЄ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ
Reverse legend
ЄΠ ΑΡ ΑV ΠΡΟΚΛΟV ΑΒVΔΗΝ

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/3499
Type corpus identifier
CN type 3499

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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