Sale: Triton V, Lot: 1767. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002.  Sold For $4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Emisa. Uranius Antoninus. 253-254 AD. Æ 32mm (21.42 gm). Struck in year 565 of the Seleukid era or 253/254 AD. AVTOK COVLP ANTWNINOC CE, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; viewed from behind / EMICWN KOLWN, hexastyle temple containing the conical stone of Elagabal (ornamented with a facing eagle), shaded by two umbrellas; pediment ornamented with crescent; date EXF in the exergue. BMC Galatia etc. pg. 241, 24; Delbrück, "Uranius of Emesa," NumChron (1948), pg. 12, 2d; Baldus 38-42 (pl. IV, dies I/5). Good VF, dark brown patina with tan highlights. Extremely rare. ($5000)

Ex Triton I (2-3 December 1997), lot 712; Hess-Leu Auktion 45 (12-13 May 1970), lot 620 (realized CHF 4730).

Uranius Antoninus is unknown from the ancient literary sources, although Zosimus perhaps confuses this usurper with two usurpers he names as Antoninus and Uranius during the reign of Severus Alexander. He established his government at Emisa in Syria, probably in response to repeated Persian attacks rather than as a challenge to Rome. In any event, it appears he was finally subdued when Valerian marched to recover the East.