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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 
286, Lot: 256. Estimate $150.
Sold for $130. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MESOPOTAMIA, Carrhae. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Lot of two (2) bronze coins. 1. (16mm, 3.19g, 6h). Radiate head of Caracalla left / Eight-rayed star above filleted crescent set on base. BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Hunterian -; SNG Milan 4 (same dies). VF, dark green patina with some specks of red. Very rare. 2. With Geta as Caesar (18mm, 4.37g, 6h). Confronted busts of Caracalla right, laureate and draped, and Geta left, bareheaded and draped / Eight-rayed star above crescent. BMC 45; SNG Copenhagen -. Near VF, brown patina. Typical crude style for these Greek legend issues.


The provincial bronze coinage of Carrhae begins under Marcus Aurelius (not allowing for the possibility that a rare pseudo-autonomous issue dates prior to his reign). Probably some time around the mid-210s AD, judging from the portraits of Caracalla, the city begins to strike more finely engraved bronzes with Latin legends. The Latin legend bronze coinage under Caracalla is not only far more abundant than the crude but charming Greek legend types, but is wholly lacking in originality.