SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 10.76 g, 11h). Near EF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 636. Estimated: $ 750

Roman Provincial, Billon, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 2 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 10.76 g, 11h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Eagle standing facing on ground line, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; S C across field, ЄMICA in exergue. Baldus 7 (dies V/6); RPC IX 1870; Prieur 1025; Nurpetlian, Orontes 49. Deeply toned with some silvering remaining. Near EF. Extremely rare, only two recorded in RPC.

Uranius Antoninus is unknown from the ancient literary sources, although Zosimus perhaps confuses this usurper with two usurpers he names as Uranius and Antoninus during the reign of Severus Alexander. The little that is known about him comes entirely from his coinage. He came to power in the East in AD 253 during a period of great crisis and upheaval for the Roman Empire. At this time, the Sasanian king Shapur I made many incursions into Roman territory, even capturing the great city of Antioch, apparently just to show that he could: his armies burned and pillaged the communities in their path and took people and plunder back to their own territory. It may be that Uranius Antoninus came to power in order to defend his community from attack rather than out of any anti-Roman antipathy. He issued coins from the mint at Emesa, some of which feature the sacred stone of El-Gabal, which might indicate that Uranius was part of the Emesene royal family of priest-kings. The coins are dated in accordance with the Seleucid dating system, which is reflective of the region’s historical status as part of the Seleucid Empire. As with many usurpers, Uranius Antoninus’ reign did not last long, and he fell from power before Valerian I came eastwards in AD 254.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Three – Lot 588-888 will be held Tuesday morning, 19 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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