Beschreibung
Erhaltung: ss / ss- | Abkürzungen
Katalognummer: Laodikea ad Mare
Durchmesser: 19,00 mm
weight 3,13gr. | silver Ø 19mm.
obv. Draped bust of Julia Domna right, hair waved and coiled at back,
surrounded by the legend IVLIA AVGVSTA
rev. Laetitia, draped, standing left, holding wreath in extended right
hand and rudder in left hand, surrounded by the legend LAETITIA
The site of Laodikea ad Mare (modern Latakia, Syria) in Phoenicia has been inhabited since the 2nd millennium BC. By the Phoenicians it was known as Ramitha. The Greeks called it Leuke Akte (White Coast). The city was refounded by Seleukos I Nicator (301-281 BC), who renamed it in honour of his mother Laodiké. It was a major port for the Seleukid Kingdom. Pompeius the Great created the new Roman province of Syria in 64 BC. The Romans modified the name to Laodikea ad Mare. In 193, Laodikea was sacked by the governor of Syria, Pescennius Niger, in his revolt against Septimius Severus. In 194, Septimius Severus reorganized Syria into five new provinces. One of these, Coele-Syria, including all of northern Syria, briefly had its capital in Laodikea before reverting to Antiochia. Septimius sought to punish Antiochia for having supported Pescennius Niger. Septimius Severus endowed Laodikea with four colonnaded streets, baths, a theater, a hippodrome, numerous sanctuaries and other public buildings in the city. The city was a key strategic seaport for Roman Syria. To support Severus extensive military activities in the East, an imperial mint was opened at Laodikea. For a short time it became the second mint after Rome. In 202 the imperial mint at Laodikea was closed.
Cohen 101 | RIC 641 | BMC 277, 604 | Sear 6590
atttractive toning
vf/vf-
