Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 521 3 Aug 2022
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ARABIA, Bostra(?). Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ (16mm, 2.99 g, 8h). Laureate head right / Laureate head of Zeus Ammon right. RPC IV.3 Online 7143; Sydenham, Caesarea 349. Dark brown patina, roughness. Near VF. Very rare.
RIC and Sydenham attributed this small series to Caesarea but admits "Bronze coins with Latin legends are most unusual at Caesarea; but a somewhat similar issue occurs under Hadrian." (RIC III, p. 313). The Legion III Cyrenaica was stationed in Bostra and specimens of this type have been found there, thus the reattribution to that city. Additionally, coins with both Latin and Greek inscriptions are common at Bostra, indicating one set of coins were intended for the local population and one for the legion. The reattribution to Bostra is not certain but the evidence seems to point to an Arabian origin more than Cappadocian. For what it's worth, the Hadrian coin mentioned by RIC has been reattributed to Cyrene, the other likely candidate for this series.
RIC and Sydenham attributed this small series to Caesarea but admits "Bronze coins with Latin legends are most unusual at Caesarea; but a somewhat similar issue occurs under Hadrian." (RIC III, p. 313). The Legion III Cyrenaica was stationed in Bostra and specimens of this type have been found there, thus the reattribution to that city. Additionally, coins with both Latin and Greek inscriptions are common at Bostra, indicating one set of coins were intended for the local population and one for the legion. The reattribution to Bostra is not certain but the evidence seems to point to an Arabian origin more than Cappadocian. For what it's worth, the Hadrian coin mentioned by RIC has been reattributed to Cyrene, the other likely candidate for this series.