Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 97 26 May 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Zenobia BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 5 (Vabalathus) = AD 272. CEΠTIMIA ZHNOBIA CEB, draped bust of Zenobia to right, wearing stephane / Draped bust of Selene to right; crescent moon to right, L Є (date) behind. Köln -; Dattari (Savio) 5513 (same dies); BMC 2398; Emmett 3913.5; CNG e492, lot 313 (hammer: 1,400 USD). 7.79g, 20mm, 12h.
Near Very Fine. Very Rare; and even more so with a fully legible legend.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
The wife of the ruler of Palmyra, Septimia Zenobia came to power as regent for her son Septimius Vabalathus in AD 267 after the murder of her husband Septimius Odenathus, who had been entrusted with the defence of the Roman provinces in the east by the Emperor Gallienus. A strong character and very ambitious, Zenobia expanded her sphere of influence through the capture of the province of Egypt (hence the production of coins such as the present specimen) and the expulsion of the Roman prefect Tenagino Probus and his forces in 269, a campaign aided in its success in part due to the turmoil inside the Roman Empire after the death of Gallienus.
The Roman east remained under the control of the kingdom of Palmyra under the subsequent emperors Claudius II and Quintillus, and when Aurelian came to power in 270 he pragmatically chose to acknowledge Zenobia and Vabalathus in order to allow himself time to first deal with various barbaric incursions and usurpers. After having subdued the uprisings in the west, Aurelian marched on her with an army in 272. Their forces met outside Antioch, resulting in a battle that routed Zenobia's army, which fled to Emesa. Zenobia and her son attempted to escape through the desert with the help of the Sassanid Persians, but were captured by Aurelian's horsemen and subsequently taken to Rome to be displayed during the emperor's triumphant return to the city.
Near Very Fine. Very Rare; and even more so with a fully legible legend.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
The wife of the ruler of Palmyra, Septimia Zenobia came to power as regent for her son Septimius Vabalathus in AD 267 after the murder of her husband Septimius Odenathus, who had been entrusted with the defence of the Roman provinces in the east by the Emperor Gallienus. A strong character and very ambitious, Zenobia expanded her sphere of influence through the capture of the province of Egypt (hence the production of coins such as the present specimen) and the expulsion of the Roman prefect Tenagino Probus and his forces in 269, a campaign aided in its success in part due to the turmoil inside the Roman Empire after the death of Gallienus.
The Roman east remained under the control of the kingdom of Palmyra under the subsequent emperors Claudius II and Quintillus, and when Aurelian came to power in 270 he pragmatically chose to acknowledge Zenobia and Vabalathus in order to allow himself time to first deal with various barbaric incursions and usurpers. After having subdued the uprisings in the west, Aurelian marched on her with an army in 272. Their forces met outside Antioch, resulting in a battle that routed Zenobia's army, which fled to Emesa. Zenobia and her son attempted to escape through the desert with the help of the Sassanid Persians, but were captured by Aurelian's horsemen and subsequently taken to Rome to be displayed during the emperor's triumphant return to the city.