In this paper I discuss the use of iconography on the coins minted at Antipatris during the Severan Age. This coinage has been chosen largely due to the mint only operating during a single period under Roman Emperor Elagabalus, c.218-222... more
In this paper I discuss the use of iconography on the coins minted at Antipatris during the Severan Age. This coinage has been chosen largely due to the mint only operating during a single period under Roman Emperor Elagabalus, c.218-222 CE. The iconography on the coins differs from the 'norm' as represented by coinage from other provincial cities, in that it shows a clear connection to the worship of a river god. This is an uncommon theme in the area of Syria- Palestine, leading me to consider the background of the city and its common worship and iconography, alongside parallels with coins minted in Rome. This mint has hitherto received little attention. While there have been publications of handfuls of these coins, there has not been a comprehensive collection and publication of the coins of Antipatris. This paper draws conclusions between the iconographical representations on the coins themselves, discussing how the city of Antipatris came to choose these images as well as possible motivations for the minting.
