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Lot 81. Vabalathus AE Antoninianus

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Very rare Vabalathus as Augustus
Vabalathus AE Antoninianus

Time left:
Bidding closed (Sunday, October 19th, 19:40:30 CEST)
Current time: Monday, November 25th, 00:34:33 CET

Price realised: CHF 900.00 (3 bids)
Approx. EUR 966.77 / USD 1'007.18 / GBP 803.79

High bidder: Bidder 3

eAuction #30, Lot 81. Estimate: CHF 1'000.00

Vabalathus (268-272 AD), as Augustus. AE Antoninianus (20-21 mm, 3.54 g), Antioch (Antakya), March-May 272 AD.
Obv. IM C VABALATHVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev. IVENVS AVG, Hercules standing right, with lion’s skin draped over left arm, holding club set on ground in right hand, Apples of the Hesperides in left.
RIC V, 4.

Very rare. Very fine.

Vabalathus was the son of Odenathus, ruler of Palmyra, and the famous queen Zenobia. He became king of Palmyra in 267 after the murder of his father, with Zenobia ruling in his name due to his young age. Under Odenathus and in the early years of Vabalathus' reign, Palmyra, with the placet of Rome, dominated the eastern half of the Empire since Gallienus, Claudius and Aurelian were too busy fighting barbarian invasions and usurpers in the west. In 272, however, Aurelian decided to launch a campaign against Palmyra in order to regain control of the eastern provinces, resulting in a short war in which Palmyra was destroyed. Zenobia - who had previously seized the title Augustus for her son - and Vabalathus were captured to be paraded in the emperor's triumph, but the young king died during the journey to Rome.

It is during the short period of the war between Rome and Palmyra that our coin bearing the name of Vabalathus Augustus was issued.



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