Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire

Zenobia, mother of Vabalathus. Antoninianus, Emesa (?) late April – early Summer 272, billon 3.17 g. S ZENOBIA AVG Diademed and draped bust r. on crescent. Rev. IVNO REGINA Juno standing l., holding patera in extended r. hand and sceptre in l.; at her feet, peacock standing l.; above, star and in exergue, H. C –. RIC 2 var. (no star). Göbl, Aurelian, 360b8 (Antiochia). Carson, Q. Tic VII, 1978, 3. CBN 1267a.
Very rare. Dark tone and good very fine
Ex Empire Coins sale 4, 1986, 465. From the George C. Hopkins collection.
Decades of political and economic instability had caused the central government to lose the West to Gallic usurpers and to forfeit control of the East to the rulers of Palmyra. Initially the Romans had entrusted the defense of its provinces in the East to Odenathus, the king of the desert oasis of Palmyra, who had effectively battled the Sasanian king Shapur I. But with the murder of Odenathus in 267 the kingdom fell into the hands of a more ambitious character, his former wife Zenobia, who associated with her rule her son Vabalathus. Zenobia's poor relations with Rome were brought to a head in 268 when Gallienus sent an unsuccessful expedition against her. No progress was made under the subsequent emperors Claudius II and Quintillus, under whom Zenobia won control of virtually the whole of the Roman East. When Aurelian came to power in 270 he did much to repair the breach, for he knew firsthand the weak position of Rome. Late in his accession year, Aurelian even jointly issued coinage with Vabalathus at imperial mints in the East and at the provincial mint in Alexandria, and finally he had to approve the royal titles that had been demanded by Zenobia and Vabalathus. The stalemate lasted until Aurelian settled affairs in Europe and could lead an army against them, which he did at the end of 271 or the spring of 272. His campaign was a great success, and it resulted in the capture of Zenobia and Vabalathus. This rare portrait coin of Zenobia can be attributed to the brief period between her claim of the title of Augusta and her capture by the armies of Aurelian. The mint for these coins has been a topic of debate, though all seem to agree that they were struck in Syria, presumably at Antioch or Emesa, and that production did not begin until the late spring of 272, shortly before Aurelian besieged Palmyra and took his royal captives back to Rome for display in a great triumph.