Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, time Nero Claudius Caesar , Pseudo-Autonomous issue, AE Trichalkon, CY 105 = 56/7 AD, “Star of Bethlehem”

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Description

Roman Provincial, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, Q. Ummidius Durmius Quadratus, legatus augusti pro praetore, Pseudo-Autonomous issue, AE Trichalkon (bronze, 5.48g, 18.1mm), CY 105 = 56/7 AD, “Star of Bethlehem”
Obv: Ī‘ĪĪ¤Ī™ĪŸĪ§Ī•Ī©Ī Turreted and draped bust of the city-goddess to right
Rev: Ī•Ī Ī™ ĪšĪŸĪ„Ī‘Ī”Ī”Ī‘Ī¤ĪŸĪ„ / ET EP Ram leaping right, head to left; above, star within crescent
Ref: McAlee 102; RPC I 4290 Rarity/Choice: Common, Good VF (light deposit otherwise nicely struck on obscure patina)
Note: Seleucis and Pieria, a region within the vast Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, covered parts of what is now Syria and Turkey, its heart being the bustling city of Antioch. Renowned for its cultural vibrancy, economic significance, and religious plurality, Antioch served as the capital of this region. On the obverse of the coin, we see a turreted and draped bust representing the city-goddess of Antioch, facing right. The turreted crown symbolizes the city’s fortified walls, while the draped bust embodies its divine and protective essence. On the reverse side, a ram leaps rightward, symbolizing strength, fertility, and prosperity, common motifs in Seleucid imagery. Above the ram, a star within a crescent shines, often identified as the “Star of Bethlehem,” a potent symbol in Christian tradition associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. This coin offers valuable insights into the culture, governance, and religious imagery of Antioch during the Hellenistic era, highlighting its prosperity, religious diversity, and its early connection to Christianity through the depiction of the iconic “Star of Bethlehem.” Additionally, it’s worth noting that at the time this coin was struck, the region was under the influence of the Roman Empire, with Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, commonly known as Nero, reigning as Emperor of Rome.

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