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CNG Feature Auction 120

Lot nuber 661

SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. Æ (31mm, 18.35 g, 1h). Dated SE 565 (AD 253/4).


CNG Feature Auction 120
Lot: 661.
 Estimated: $ 1 500

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 1 300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. Æ (31mm, 18.35 g, 1h). Dated SE 565 (AD 253/4). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Baetyl of El-Gabal, flanked by parasols, within hexastyle temple; crescent in pediment, ЄΞΦ (date) in exergue. Baldus 38-42 (OI/R5); Delbrueck Series I, 2; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Hunterian 3174 (same dies); BMC 24 (same dies). Brown patina with red earthen highlights, light roughness. Near VF. Rare usurper.

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 253 AD 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 120 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 11-12 May 2022. CNG 120 – Session Two – Greek Coinage (Part 2) through Roman Provincial Coinage will be held Wednesday afternoon, 11 May 2022 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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