Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 121 6-8 Oct 2022
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EGYPT, Alexandria. Zenobia. Usurper, AD 268-272. Potin Tetradrachm (20mm, 6.87 g, 12h). Dated RY 5 of Vaballathus (AD 272). Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Elpis advancing left, holding flower and lifting hem of skirt; L Є (date) across field. Bland, Coinage 56; Köln 3065; Dattari (Savio) 5511; K&G 108.1; Emmett 3911.5. Brown patina, earthen deposits, minor roughness. VF. Rare.
While a nominal ally of Rome, Odaenathus, 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 Odaenathus around 267 are uncertain, but we do know that Zenobia soon after took the title of Augusta and bestowed on her infant son Vabalathus 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 descendant of such illustrious figures as Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the legendary Queen Dido of Carthage.
When Aurelian rose to the purple in 270, he pragmatically acquiesced to Zenobia and Vabalathus' 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.
While a nominal ally of Rome, Odaenathus, 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 Odaenathus around 267 are uncertain, but we do know that Zenobia soon after took the title of Augusta and bestowed on her infant son Vabalathus 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 descendant of such illustrious figures as Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the legendary Queen Dido of Carthage.
When Aurelian rose to the purple in 270, he pragmatically acquiesced to Zenobia and Vabalathus' 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.