Researcher in numismatics Dr.Alsadeek Alsadouk

The Macedonian Club Across Two Ancient Mints

These two silver tetradrachms, struck around the mid-2nd century BC, were minted in different cities yet share one powerful symbol: the Macedonian club, the emblem of Heracles and a lasting symbol of Macedonian identity.

The first coin was minted at Amphipolis in Macedon (158–149 BC) under early Roman rule. It features Artemis Tauropolos on the obverse, while the reverse displays the Macedonian club within an oak wreath, preserving the heritage of Macedon even after the Roman conquest.

The second was minted at Herakleia ad Latmon in Ionia (c. 150–142 BC), on the western coast of Asia Minor. It bears the helmeted head of Athena on the obverse, while the reverse depicts the club of Heracles, accompanied by an owl and enclosed within an oak wreath as part of the city’s renowned stephanophoric coinage.

Although both coins prominently feature the club, they were not struck at the same mint. Amphipolis represented the heartland of Macedon, whereas Herakleia ad Latmon was an Ionian city that incorporated the Heraclean club into its own civic coinage. Together, they illustrate how a single symbol could unite different cities while expressing distinct local identities and artistic traditions.

During Greek, a Silver Stater issued for Orthagoreia (Macedonia) Dating 350 BC – 200 BC depicting a beautiful Head of Artemis like a three quarter facing right and quiver over shoulder, and on revers a Macedonian helmet with star of eight points on crest, facing; dotted border. Note : Orthagoreia (or Orthagoria) was

an ancient Greek town and colony situated on the northern Aegean coast of Thrace

To those who disagreed with my previous post in instagram about the skin color of Emperor Septimius Severus, this historical painting portrait supports the information I presented based on the available historical evidence and scholarly sources. I will not respond to comments driven by racism or personal attacks, because serious historical discussion should be grounded in evidence, reason, and mutual respect—not emotion or preconceived assumptions. Every person has the fundamental right to live with dignity, free from discrimination based on skin color or origin. History should remain a field of open, evidence-based inquiry and respectful debate.

Was Septimius Severus “black”? Let’s look at the evidence not modern assumptions.

he Born in Leptis Magna in Roman North Africa, Septimius Severus (AD 193–211) is often claimed online to have been “black.” The historical evidence, however, is more nuanced.

His family was of Punic (Phoenician) ancestry on his father’s side, with Italian Roman ancestry on his mother’s side. Ancient writers never explicitly described him as having sub-Saharan African features. Surviving marble busts, paintings, and especially his official coin portraits consistently depict him with Mediterranean facial characteristics and the distinctive curly beard fashionable among Roman emperors.

Roman coins were official state propaganda and were intended to present an idealized but recognizable image of the emperor. Across hundreds of issues struck throughout his reign, none portray him with features that would support the modern claim that he had a “black face.” While coins are stylized and cannot determine skin tone, they remain one of the most consistent official representations of his appearance.

Did Septimius Severus have coins minted in Africa

Coins were struck for him at the mint of Alexandria, producing provincial tetradrachms and bronze issues. There is also evidence for a temporary mint operating at Leptis Magna during his reign, likely connected with his famous visit to his hometown around AD 203. These Libyan issues are rare and highly sought after by collectors.

His reign also saw extensive coin production at imperial mints including Rome, Laodicea ad Mare, and other provincial cities across the empire.

The key point is that being born in Roman Africa did not automatically determine ethnicity in the way modern racial categories do. Roman North Africa was home to a diverse population that included Punic, Berber, Roman, Greek, and other Mediterranean peoples.

For collectors and historians alike, the evidence suggests that Septimius Severus should be understood in the context of the multicultural Roman Empire rather than through modern racial labels.

You what you say?

Rare roman denarius (3.47 g), 56 BC.Rome. On observe C MEMMI C F before, QVIRINVS behind, laureate head of Quirinus right .Unabridged legend: Gaius Memmius Gaius Filius

Translation: Gaius Memmius, son of Gaius. On Reverse scripted : MEMMIVS AED CERIALIA PREIMVS FECIT, Unabridged legend: Memmius Aedile Ceriala Preimus Fecit Translation: Memmius, Aedile, initiator of the games of Ceres.

Ceres seated right, holding torch and grain ear; at her feet, serpent.

#Quirinus was a deity of war of #Sabine origin who was assimilated with Romulus, Rome's founder. It seems that here Memmius is either referencing a Sabine family origin, or else claiming descent from Romulus. The reverse legend states that it was an ancestor of the moneyer who in 202 BC as (plebeian) aedile held the first festival to the goddess #Ceres , the Cerealia. The festival was held annually for several days in April since being first instituted, and included races in the Circus Maximus and theatrical events.

Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.

Hadrian and the Army of Mauretania

Hadrian and the Army of Mauretania – EXERCITVS MAVRETANICVS

This Roman bronze coin honors Emperor Hadrian’s connection with the Army of Mauretania. The obverse features a draped bust of Hadrian facing right, shown from behind, with the Latin legend HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP, expanded as Hadrianus Augustus, Consul Tertium, Pater Patriae—“Hadrian Augustus, consul for the third time, father of the nation.”

The reverse depicts Hadrian riding to the right with his hand raised in a gesture of greeting or command, facing three or more soldiers. The inscription EXERCITVS MAVRETANICVS SC expands to Exercitus Mauretanicus. Senatus Consultum, meaning “Army of Mauretania. By decree of the Senate.” This type belongs to Hadrian’s celebrated provincial travel series, commemorating his inspection and recognition of the Roman armies stationed throughout the empire, emphasizing military loyalty, imperial presence, and the close relationship between the emperor and his legions.

Sestertius of Hadrian issued (27 BC – AD 215) minted in rome. On Obverse Bust of Hadrian, laureate, draped, left, viewed from rear or side. Scripted : HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS , Translation: Hadrianus Augustus. Hadrian, emperor (Augustus). Reverse Ship left; Minerva Promachus, Triton, or Pegasus as figurehead. Scripted: FELICITATI AVG COS III P P. With (S C).

Roman Coins of Two Maximinus Emperors: Maximinus I Thrax & Maximinus II Daia. Although they shared the name Maximinus, these two Roman emperors belonged to very different eras of the Empire. Maximinus I Thrax (AD 235–238), the first true soldier-emperor, issued coins characterized by powerful military portraits, bold features, and themes celebrating strength, victory, and the army during the turbulent beginnings of the Third-Century Crisis. In contrast, Maximinus II Daia (AD 308/310–313), a ruler of the Tetrarchic period, struck coins with the more stylized and uniform imperial portraiture typical of the late Roman Empire, often depicting Jupiter, Sol, Hercules, and other traditional deities. While Thrax’s coinage reflects an age of military upheaval and rapid change, Daia’s issues represent the structured but politically complex Tetrarchic system. For collectors, these coins offer a fascinating comparison between two distinct chapters of Roman history, and despite the similarity in names, their dates, styles, and mint origins make them easy to distinguish once closely examined.

Extremely barbarous imitation tetradrachm, probably struck in Illyria or the Lower Danube region, after a tetradrachm of Philip V of Macedon minted at Pella. Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. Reverse: scripted by in Greek Letters [A]ΛEΞANΔPOY; Zeus seated left on a low throne, holding a long scepter and an eagle with closed wings; club in left field, symbol(s) beneath the throne.

Exceptional Reverses of owl on Athena’s tetradrachm / Drachm from Greek ( 475-465 BC) to Egypt/ #Palestine (Gaza) to Yemen ( #Himyarite -30 BC and 14 AD) to south Arabia with Musnad script and to Turkish city #Troas with Script (ΣIΓE) Translation: Sigeion - Troas ( Turkey) between 375 BC - 325 BC.

Hadrian. AD 117–138. AR Cistophorus (10.93 g), struck in Asia Minor after AD 128, at an uncertain mint. Obv. Bare head of Hadrian facing right. Rev. Cult statue of #Artemis_Ephesia standing facing, extending her hands, flanked by stags and thymiateria .

Excessively Rare and Greek Silver Distater of Paphos (Cyprus), Struck Under the King Nikokles, Circa 325-309 BC,( 21.27 g 6), Persic standard. Head of Aphrodite to left, wearing an elaborate tiara composed of a mural crown with four towers enclosing a polos ornamented with palmettes and annulets, a disc earring with a triple pendant and a pearl necklace; behind her neck, Π-ΒΑ. Rev. ΝΙΚΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ / ΠΑΦΙΟΝ Apollo, wearing a laurel wreath and nude but for a cloak over his shoulders, seated left on omphalos, holding an arrow in his right hand and a bow, the bottom of which rests on the ground, in his left; to left, laurel branch; to right, behind Apollo’s hand, Ο . only four genuine examples are known of this exceptional coin. Attractively toned and with particularly fine representations of both Aphrodite and Apollo. Some very minor metal faults, otherwise, nearly extremely fine. #Paphos #Nikokles #Ptolemy_I

Rare decadrachm of Alexander the Great , auctioned by NAC in Zurich with a start of 80,000 CHF, minted in Babylon in the last 2 years of Alexander's reign, scripted (ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟY) with some monogram.

This extremely rare gold double decadrachm of Agathocles was struck during the chaotic wars between Syracuse and Carthage around 310–304 BC. The coin reflects Agathocles’ desperate but ambitious African campaign after Carthage nearly destroyed his power in Sicily. Facing blockade and military collapse, he invaded North Africa to force the Carthaginians to retreat from Syracuse. The coin’s imagery — a portrait with an elephant scalp and a winged Athena — symbolizes military power, African conquest, and his attempt to present himself like the great Hellenistic rulers after Alexander the Great.

The main scholarly issue surrounding this coin is uncertainty about where and when it was minted. Some historians believe it was produced in Syracuse, while others think it may have been struck in North Africa during the campaign because coin dies could easily travel. Another debate concerns the portrait and symbolism: whether the image represents Africa, Alexander, or a political imitation of Ptolemy I Soter. The design closely copies Ptolemaic coinage but changes important details, suggesting Agathocles wanted to associate himself with the Diadochi and elevate his legitimacy during a period of instability and propaganda warfare.

The Ptolemaic Gold Oktadrachm of Ptolemy II Philadelphos minted in Alexandria ( 27.93 g) depicts Arsinoe II, the sister and wife of Ptolemy II Philadelphos. Their marriage symbolized both dynastic power and divine legitimacy, following Egyptian royal traditions of sibling unions. After Arsinoe’s death, Ptolemy II honored her as a goddess, placing her portrait on valuable gold coinage to promote the cult of the “Sibling Gods” (Theoi Adelphoi). The coin therefore served not only as currency, but also as royal propaganda expressing the unity, wealth, and sacred authority of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Ptolemaic Gold oktadrachm of Ptolemy IV Philopator, whose full name means “Ptolemy, lover of his father,” ruled Ptolemaic Egypt from 221 to 204 BC. He was the fourth monarch in the Ptolemaic dynasty, succeeding his father Ptolemy III Euergetes.