Asia Minor Coins - Photo Gallery

Ancient Greek and Roman coins from Asia Minor


Coin ID #9724

Germanikopolis (AD 198-217) AE 27 - Caracalla

Caracalla, 198-217 AD. AE27 (14.32g, 6h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right / Cityscape: two civic buildings between two towers. VF, glossy green patina. Extremely rare and highly interesting type.

Richmond (“The Town of Germanicopolis-Gangra in Paphlagonia” NC 1929, pp. 310-2) describes the central structures on the reverse as two distinct buildings, perhaps the city’s forum and basilica, with a narrow alley running between. Robertson, however, suggests that they may represent a single gatehouse, an idea initially dismissed by Richardson due to the uncharacteristically pitched roofs. The current specimen lacks what seems to be a curved wall seen on the latter two specimens referenced above, but exhibits an even more pronounced break between the central structures. They cannot form a gate, and must therefore represent two civic buildings, the smaller of which is shown in perspective. The type can thus be interpreted as a cross-section of the city; the two side towers represent two opposite entrances, with a circular wall around (on at least some specimens), and depicting in the center what must have been among the most important civic buildings.

File information
Filename:2910202.jpg
City/Mint name:Gangra-Germanikopolis
Keywords:roman / bronze
References:A. Robertson, “A rare Greek Imperial coin of Gangra in Paphlagonia,” Studies Trell p. 77, fig. 1 = RG 60 = SNG Hunterian 2180 var. (rev. legend); cf. RG 61 = Price & Trell 259, fig. 517
Valuation:CNG Elec. Auc. 291 (11/2012), lot 202 ($2,750 + comm)
Photo courtesy of:Classical Numismatic Group - www.cngcoins.com
Filesize:159 KiB
Date added:Jan 03, 2013
Dimensions:800 x 389 pixels
Displayed:578 times
URL:http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=9724
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