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Germe, Elagabal, bronze coin — Nude Apollo standing (CN type 3608)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 218/219

Issuing entity

Mysia

Coin in bronze struck at Germe in Mysia under Elagabal, dated AD 218/219. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 3608 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of Elagabalus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤΟΚΡ Κ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ. Reverse: nude Apollo standing, r., crossing legs, holding right hand on over head, resting left arm on decorated pillar surmounted by lyre; to l., laurel-tree entwined by serpent (Python). Legend: ϹΤΡ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟV ΓΕΡΜΗΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 12.1 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 28–29 mm (from 2 recorded specimens).

Published references cited by the corpus: Ehling, Die Münzprägung der mysischen Stadt Germe in der römischen Kaiserzeit, Bonn 2001, p. 143, nr. 179-180, annot. 218/219 n. Chr.; Calomino, RPC VI: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. VI: From Elagabalus to Maximinus Thrax (AD 218–238). online, nr. 3826; Linked type corpus, RPC VI, 3826.

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

Germe, also recorded as Germa, was a town in the ancient region of Mysia situated in northwestern Asia Minor between the Rhyndacus and Macestus rivers. This civic bronze piece was struck in AD 218/219 under the Roman emperor Elagabalus, born Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. A member of the Severan dynasty from Emesa, Syria, who served as high priest of the sun god Elagabal, he was elevated to the Principate as a teenager in 218 and governed until his death in 222.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
28–29 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
12.1 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Germe
Region
Mysia
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Elagabal

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of Elagabalus, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
Reverse type
nude Apollo standing, r., crossing legs, holding right hand on over head, resting left arm on decorated pillar surmounted by lyre; to l., laurel-tree entwined by serpent (Python).
Obverse legend
ΑVΤΟΚΡ Κ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ
Reverse legend
ϹΤΡ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟV ΓΕΡΜΗΝΩΝ

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/3608
Type corpus identifier
CN type 3608

Documentation checklist

Denomination
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Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
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Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
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Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

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Catalogue references

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