Gordian III / Abgar X From Edessa, Mesopotamia.

I also like the provincials, there seems to be more different reverse type than what is encountered on Roman imperial types. This is a excellent example depicting the emperor with a client king.

that's my favorite one so far TIF....I dig those provincials also. it looks like a Parthian, roman hybrid...guess it kind of is really. here a interesting write up about Edessa and the abgar dynasty.

http://www.iranicaonline.org/articl...d-century-ad

Thanks for the link, Chris :)

Thanks for that info, ralfellis. And to CCF!

Not sure if I'll part with this one. Still sorting through the lot and learning about them.

At some point I will post a list of the ones I would be willing to trade/sell.

Interesting coin, nice pick up!

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Yes, it is Gordian III, like most of these coins. Most of them came from a cache discovered at Dura Europos, which is why many are of the same era. It is also how they arrived in Europe, because Turkey would not allow it.




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Incidentally, some of the coins of Wael have the legend 'Alh Alul', and nobody appears to know what it means. I believe the correct translation is Alh Algl, and it refers to Lord Alagabal (Lord Elagabal). The same sacred stone that was venerated by Emperor Elagabalus - the Elagabal.

The reason for thinking so, is that the 'cubic betyl' on some of the coins of King Wael is not a betyl at all, it is a wooden box that contained the betyl. Thus the box was the original 'bethel', or house of god - a box containing the lithic cultic figure. (Hence the name betyl for a stone.)

So this box was simply a copy of the Ark of the Covenant - a box containing sacred stones. The evidence for this is the inscription from Sogmatar, indicating that an Ark of the Covenant was sited at the sacred hill there in the 2nd or 3rd century.


Ralph