m e s o p o t a m i a

The area between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in modern Iraq and southeastern Turkey. North of Babylonia.

r e f e r e n c e s

Anthemusia

Carrhae

Edessa (Antiochia of the Callirhoe)/Kingdom of Osrhoene
An independent kingdom from the end of the Seleucid period; under alternate Parthian and Roman rule for a time, it became a Roman province in 195 A.D.

Wael (Parthian client king)

Ma'nu VIII, Philoromaios

Abgar VIII, the Great

Abgar VIII, the Great (179 - 214 AD)
AE 14
180 - 192 AD
SGIC 5735v.
14 mm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bearded bust of Commodus (?). Greek legend.
Reverse: Bearded bust of Abgar right, wearing diademed tiara decorated with cross. Greek legend.

Abgar VIII, the Great (179 - 214 AD)
AE 20
193 - 211 AD
SGIC 5738
20 x 18 mm.
4.39 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bearded bust of Septmius Severus. Greek legend.
Reverse: Bearded bust of Abgar right, wearing diademed tiara. Greek legend.

Abgar VIII, the Great (179 - 214 AD)
AE 15
211 - 214 AD
SGIC 5741v.
14 mm.
1.61 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bearded bust of Abgar right, wearing diademed tiara. Greek legend.
Reverse: Bearded bust of Ma'nu, right. Greek legend.

Abgar IX, Severus

Period of Abeyance (216 - 242 AD)

Macrinus (217 - 218 AD)
AE 21
SGIC 2975
19 x 21 mm.
4.38 gm.
Die position=5h
Obverse: Bust of Roman emperor Macrinus, right. Greek legend.
Reverse: Veiled and turreted bust of city goddess, all within palm wreath. Greek legend.

Abgar X

Abgar X (242 - 244 AD)
AE 25
242 - 244 AD
SGIC 5746
25 x 24 mm.
8.94 gm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Radiate bust of Roman emperor Gordian III, right; star before. Greek legend.
Reverse: Bearded bust of Abgar right, wearing diademed tiara; star behind. Greek legend.

Abgar X (242 - 244 AD)
AE 24
242 - 244 AD
SGIC 5745
24 mm.
8.53 gm.
Die position=5h
Obverse: Laureate bust of Roman emperor Gordian III, right; star before. Greek legend.
Reverse: Bearded bust of Abgar right, wearing diademed tiara; star behind. Greek legend.

Hatra
Hatra withstood Trajan's siege in 117 A.D. and was conquered (and perhaps completely destroyed) by the Sasanian king Shapur I in 241 A.D.

Anonymous (circa 200 - 240 AD (?))
AE 25
SGIC -; Lindgren/Kovacs AML -; Slocum ANSMN 22 - (similar to Series 3 types)
25 mm.
9.14 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Bust of sun god, Shamash, left.
Reverse: Inverted 'SC' within wreath.

Nisibis

Rhesaena

Trajan Decius (249 - 251 AD)
AE 27
242 - 244 AD
BMC 28
27 x 25 mm.
14.42 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Radiate bust of Roman emperor Trajan Decius.
Reverse: Two city goddesses or Tyches confronting one another, altar between; eagle above.

Seleukeia

Singara

b a c k  t o  a n c i e n t  c o i n s