Agora Auctions, LLC
Numismatic Auction 109 7 Feb 2023
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Phoenicia, Tyre. Time of Septimius Severus. A.D. 193-211. AE 25 (24.8 mm, 11.44 g, 12 h). Dated CY 321 (A.D. 195/6). TYPOY MHTPOΠΟΛEWC, laureate bust of Melqarth-Hercules right, wearing lion's skin tied around neck / KOINON ΦOINIKHC, octastyle temple; AKT (date) in exergue. Rouvier 2246; BMC 362. Good Fine, red surfaces, porosity. Scarce.
BMC (p. cxxxvi) notes that AKT in the exergue is generally believed to be the date (CY 321) but suggests the possibility that it instead refers to the Actian Games. This seems unlikely in the context of this coin. Games issues are almost always depicted with games themes: agonistic crowns, prize tables, athletes, or the like. Additionally, there are no known coins of Septimius Severus from Tyre depicting the games, there is only one extremely rare coin of Caracalla known with the legend AKTIA, and as expected, has an agonistic crown on the reverse.
BMC (p. cxxxvi) notes that AKT in the exergue is generally believed to be the date (CY 321) but suggests the possibility that it instead refers to the Actian Games. This seems unlikely in the context of this coin. Games issues are almost always depicted with games themes: agonistic crowns, prize tables, athletes, or the like. Additionally, there are no known coins of Septimius Severus from Tyre depicting the games, there is only one extremely rare coin of Caracalla known with the legend AKTIA, and as expected, has an agonistic crown on the reverse.