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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,587 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Another major usurper against Rome. The story of the Palmyrene empire is a complicated one - it was ruled by Odaenathus (worth a read) for some time, but remained in the Roman Empire. Vaballathus took over and issued coinage showing his and Aurelian's likeness, but later dropped Aurelian from the coinage and took the title Augustus - this is when the Palmyrene empire is really independent of Rome. This coin shows Vabalathus on one side (the feminine looking bust, people often describe his portraits on tetradrachma like this) and Aurelian on the other.   109th rarest on the 207 list, the only other person from the empire to issue coinage was Zenobia, his mother, who is 192nd rarest. Not too shabby for £13 as it was unidentified (these are usually much much pricier) but more than id expect for a regular tetradrachm in this shape, so someone else mustve noticed (though its alright, because this will be my nicest Aurelian, too). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
I had no idea there were tetradrachmas available for Vabalathus. Cool coin! I have an example of his that was minted in Antioch. Yours was minted in Alexandria....that's a very large portion of the empire. How far did Vabalathas' influence spread across the empire before Aurelian defeated him?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Talking of Vabalathus  Date: C, 270-272 AD Rev: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Vabalathus right Size: 19 mm Weight: 2.70g Ref: RIC V 381 Condition: Uneven flan and surfaces but SCARCE |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Nice! I'm working on slowly trying for a 'one of each emperor' collection of Alexandrian coins and haven't got a Vabalathus/Aurelian.
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
You did it again Ben, you must have a great collection already with all kind of emperors/usurpers
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
very nice...at first glance I thought it was an alexandrian tet. could have been minted there I suppose?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1570 Posts |
You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Great coin Ben for an awesome price!! Lots of legend and bust detail!  I have been wanting to get one like yours from the Alexandria mint. And I really want a Zenobia, but the prices I have seen make me wince. Here is the Vabalathus I have.   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Pish, I was thinkig about that one is I couldnt get this one, but it went way past my budget for such a coin early on.
A lot of coins dont look like what they are...I try to keep them under my hat till I can get an example. This is a good one because the bust doesn't even look male. The next coin coming (still negotiating) is a corker, int hat respect, as even I hadnt heard of it nto that long ago.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Look forward to seeing it Ben.
TJ that is a great coin.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,587 |
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Posted 02/03/2014 2:33 pm
