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AE32, Macedonian Peltae, Mamaea, emperor on horseback
23.7.2020
..from Ancient Roman coins.
Hi, id pls. 20.2g.
fig. 1
Click on the images to enlarge
Rome, 25.7.2020
Dear,
significant elements concerning the coin above are summarized below:

AE321, Peltae in Phrygia2, 222-235 A.D., RPC VI 5644 (temporary), BMC XXV 30 var. (page 351)

Short summary (worn or illegible parts of the legend are indicated in red):
D. IOVΛIA - ΜΑΜƐΑ ϹƐ3, Julia Mamaea, draped bust right.
R. Π-ƐΛΤΗΝⲰΝ ΜΑΚ ΑΡ - ΦΑΥϹΤƐΙΝΟΥ4. O V5 below the horse. Emperor on horseback advancing r. holding spear.

A search on the web for coins of the type of figure gave rise to the following results:

  1. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/5644 Province Asia, Subprovince Conventus of Apamea, Region Phrygia, City Peltae, Reign Severus Alexander, Person (obv.) Julia Mamaea (Augusta), Magistrate Phaustinos (arch(on?)), Obverse inscription: ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΜΑΜƐΑ ϹƐ Obverse design: draped bust of Julia Mamaea, r. Reverse inscription: ΠƐΛΤΗΝⲰΝ ΜΑΚ ΑΡ ΦΑΥϹΤƐΙΝΟΥ. Reverse design Emperor on horseback advancing, r., holding spear. Metal Æ. Average diameter: 32mm. Average weight 21.63g. Axis: 6, 7. Reference KM 284,12.
  2. https://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=14232 Peltai (AD 222-235) AE 32 - Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD. AE32 (13.90g). Phaustinos, archon. ΑV Κ Μ ΑV СЄV ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟС, laureate head right / ΠЄΛΤΗΝωΝ ΜΑΚ ΑΡΧ Φ / ΑVСΤЄΙΝΟV, Severus Alexander on horse rearing right, holding spear. aVF. Extremely rare. City/Mint name: Peltai. References: RPC VI online 5643.1 = BMC 30. Valuation: Naumann Auc. 58 (10/2017), lot 348 (EUR 150 + comm). Photo courtesy of: Numismatik Naumann - www.numismatik-naumann.at
    Date added: Dec 30, 2017.
I conclude observing that physical, general and style characteristics of the coin above do not differ from those of the coins of the same type found in the web. In the present conservation state, the figure coin, if authentic, is worth, in my opinion, about thirty euros.

Best regards.
Giulio De Florio

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Note:

(1) AE32. I collect in the table below the physical characteristics of the coins above:

Riferimenti Peso(g.) Asse di conio (ore) Diametro(mm)
Link1 21,63 32 6-7
Link2 12,09 32 -
The diameter of the coin under exam is unknown; anyway its weight (20.2g) falls within the variation margins of the coins found in the web.
(2) Peltae, a Macedonian colony, identifiable with the ruins near Çivril in today's Turkey (see map), is an ancient episcopal seat of the Roman province of Phrygia Pacatiana in the civil diocese of Asia.. It was part of the patriarchate of Constantinople and was suffragan, that is part of its capital Laodicea in Phrygia's metropolitan Archbishopric. The diocese is documented in "Notitiae Episcopatuum" of the patriarchate of Constantinople up to the twelfth century. Mint site during imperial age from Antoninus Pius to Volusianus. From Septimius Severus onwards, the coins usually bear the name of the first municipal magistrate (v. BMC XXV, pag. lxxxvii).
(3) IOVΛIA - ΜΑΜƐΑ ϹƐ, which can be expanded into IOVΛIA - ΜΑΜƐΑ ϹƐβαστιάς, equivalent to Latin "IVLIA MAMAEA AVGusta". Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, originally called Alexianus, was born around 208 A.D., son of Julia Mamaea and of Gesius Marcianus. In 221 Severus Alexander, under pressure from his grandmother Julia Maesa, was adopted by his cousin Emperor Elagabalus, who gave him the title of Caesar. After Elagabalus'death (early 222), Alexander was immediately recognized as emperor by the Praetorian guards and confirmed by the Senate the following day. Alexander led the empire intelligently and well, and the state conditions improved, but the emperor was too influenced by his mother (the coin under consideration, struck in the name of his mother, is an example of the mother's influence), and this was felt by the troops. For the first nine years the empire was not troubled by wars, but in 232 Severus Alexander had to fight the Sasanian Ardashir who had recently ousted the Arsacid kingdom in Parthia and who was now threatening Syria and Cappadocia. The campaign met only a partial success and Alexander had to go back soon to West, where riots on the Germanic borders required his presence. Anyway, before the battle began, the soldiers proclaimed Maximinus, one of their commanders, as emperor and killed Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea in their camp near Mainz on 22 March 235 A.D.
(4) Π-ƐΛΤΗΝⲰΝ ΜΑΚ ΑΡ - ΦΑΥϹΤƐΙΝΟΥ. Expanding the legend we get "ΠƐΛΤΗΝⲰΝ ΜΑΚεδóνων ΑΡχοντος - ΦΑΥϹΤƐΙΝΟΥ", ethnic genitive which means "[coin struck in the name] of the Archon of the Macedonian Peltae, Phaustinos" who held the position of Archon (supreme local magistrate) at the time of Severus Alexander in 222-235 A.D. A coin with the same reverse (except that the horse moves back) was also beaten in the name of Severus Alexander (see link2).
(5) O V. No explanation was found for these two letters.
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