Bertolami Fine Art
Auction 87 14-15 Dec 2020
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Zenobia (Usurper, 267-272), Antoninianus, Antiochia, March-May AD 272; BI (g 2,86; mm 21; h 12); S ZENOBIA AVG, draped bust r. set on crescent, Rv. IVNO REGINA, Juno standing l., holding patera and scepter; at feet on l., peacock; on l. field, star. RIC 2 corr (no star); Carson, Q. Tic VII, 1978,4.
Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. Traces of silvering, good extremely fine.
Citing from Classical Numismatic Group: "While a nominal ally of Rome, Odenathus, ruler of the wealthy eastern trade center of Palmyra and husband of Septimia Zenobia, took advantage of Rome's internal and external conflicts to expand his territories. The circumstances surrounding the assassination of Odenathus around 267 are uncertain, but we do know that Zenobia soon after took the title of Augusta and bestowed on her infant son Vaballathus the title of Augustus. Zenobia continued to expand the Palmyrene kingdom, seizing control of Egypt in 269 and, with it, the Roman grain supply. To further bolster her position, Zenobia claimed to be the descendent of such illustrious figures as Cleopatra VII of Egypt and legendary Queen Dido of Carthage. When Aurelian rose to the purple in 270, he pragmatically acquiesced to Zenobia and Vaballathus' rule in the east while he concerned himself with stabilizing the situation in the west. By 272, he was prepared to campaign against the usurpers. Palmyra was sacked, and both Zenobia and Vabalathus were captured as they tried to make their way to Persia. Zenobia was brought to Rome and paraded in Aurelian's triumph in 274. According to a later tradition, Aurelian, impressed by her beauty and dignity, later freed her and granted her a villa in Tibur, where she spent the rest of her life."
Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. Traces of silvering, good extremely fine.
Citing from Classical Numismatic Group: "While a nominal ally of Rome, Odenathus, ruler of the wealthy eastern trade center of Palmyra and husband of Septimia Zenobia, took advantage of Rome's internal and external conflicts to expand his territories. The circumstances surrounding the assassination of Odenathus around 267 are uncertain, but we do know that Zenobia soon after took the title of Augusta and bestowed on her infant son Vaballathus the title of Augustus. Zenobia continued to expand the Palmyrene kingdom, seizing control of Egypt in 269 and, with it, the Roman grain supply. To further bolster her position, Zenobia claimed to be the descendent of such illustrious figures as Cleopatra VII of Egypt and legendary Queen Dido of Carthage. When Aurelian rose to the purple in 270, he pragmatically acquiesced to Zenobia and Vaballathus' rule in the east while he concerned himself with stabilizing the situation in the west. By 272, he was prepared to campaign against the usurpers. Palmyra was sacked, and both Zenobia and Vabalathus were captured as they tried to make their way to Persia. Zenobia was brought to Rome and paraded in Aurelian's triumph in 274. According to a later tradition, Aurelian, impressed by her beauty and dignity, later freed her and granted her a villa in Tibur, where she spent the rest of her life."