v31_0138 - SIRIA, SELEUCIA E PIERIA - ANTIOCHIA - AUGUSTO Bronze, (MB, Æ 21)

SYRIA - SELEUCIA and PIERIA - ANTIOCHIA - AUGUSTUS

(7 BC - 14 AD)

Autonomous civic coinage

Antioch was founded in 300 AC. by Seleucus I. It was the capital of the Seleucid kingdom before becoming that of the Roman province of Syria. Syria was annexed by Pompey in 64 AC. Three different eras seem to have been used during the 1st century AC: the Seleucid era which begins in 311 AC; the Antioch or Pompeian era which begins in 64 AC after the end of the Seleucid dynasty; the Caesarean era which begins in 48-47 AC after the arrival of the dictator in Syria. Tetradrachms in the name of Philippe Philadelphe were minted between 56 and 16 BC. A monetary reform of bronze was carried out by Quinctilius Varus in 5 BC. Under Augustus we have four different mints. A very important civic coinage was minted until the end of the 2nd century AD..