Roman Provincial, Byzantium, Thrace 222-235 AD Byzantion Thrace Julia Mamaea AE dolphin tunny fish Fronto VF

Roman provincial, Byzantion in Thrace, coin in the name of Julia Mamaea, 222 to 235 AD, magistrate Marcus Aurelius Fronto.

Obverse: draped bust to right. Legend IOYΛIA MAMAIA AYΓ, Julia Mamaea Augusta.

Reverse: dolphin to right between two tunny fish, the upper one to right and the lower one to left. Legend EΠI ΦΡONTΩNOC BYZANTIΩN, under Fronto, of the Byzantines.

References: Byzantion 1773; Varbanov 1946.

Julia Mamaea was the mother of the emperor Severus Alexander and in practice shared in the government from 222 onwards. In 235 mother and son were killed together by mutinous troops, which brought the Severan dynasty to an end. Byzantion lay on the Bosporus, the strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and lived to a large extent from fishing. That shows on the coinage: for centuries the city put tunny on its money, at times with a dolphin between them, as on this piece. The reverse legend names the magistrate under whom the issue was struck, Marcus Aurelius Fronto. On a large bronze of the same city his name appears in full beside that of Aelia Feste. Byzantion struck the same dolphin with tunny for Julia Mamaea under the magistrates Aemilius Severus and Marcus Aurelius Soterichos as well, each time with a different name in the legend, and it is that name which separates the varieties.

vanzandwijkmunten: because one coin is never enough.

About me

Coins have been part of my life for almost thirty years. It started with the things I found in the ground as a boy, and it never stopped. First the searching, then the reading and figuring out, and the collecting. Dealing came much later, and even though it is how I make my living now, I still enjoy looking at every piece the way a collector does.

Everything you see here has passed through my own hands. I describe and photograph each piece myself. There is no team behind me. You always deal with me.

Your purchase is guaranteed

Every shipment goes out registered with track & trace, and I pack everything myself. If something goes wrong along the way, I cover the cost. That risk is mine, not yours.

I ship on two fixed days a week, Monday and Thursday. The track & trace is added to your order so you can follow your parcel online.

Three things that are possible with me

• Not able to pay in one go right now? Paying in parts is possible, and I can reserve a piece for you with a down payment.
• Several pieces in mind? Send me a message through MA-Shops with the item numbers and I will see what I can do for you.
• Looking for something and not sure whether I have it? Just send a message. I do not have everything online. Tell me what you are after and I will keep an eye out for you and let you know as soon as I have something.

Practical

For payments within Europe I recommend an IBAN transfer (SEPA), which saves you the extra costs of third parties.

Would you rather see a piece in hand first? That is possible by appointment. Send me a message telling me which piece it is and we will arrange something.

If you are unsure about a coin, feel free to ask for extra photos or for a detail you cannot see clearly on the scan.

Kind regards, Vincent

vanzandwijkmunten: Because one coin is never enough

Shipping