Syria, Seleucis & Pieria. Antioch. Pseudo-Autonomous Bronze (Time of Nero, AD 54-68) – Apollo / Laurel Branch – RPC I 4289

Pseudo-autonomous civic bronze struck at Antioch on the Orontes during the early reign of Nero. A popular small denomination featuring the city’s patron god Apollo, dated to Year 104 of the Caesarean Era (AD 55/6).

The obverse shows a finely detailed draped bust of Apollo right, wearing a tainia (sacred fillet), within a dotted border. The reverse bears the civic ethnic ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ ΔΡ surrounding a laurel branch with seven leaves – the sacred symbol of Apollo at nearby Daphne.

This is the exact type catalogued as RPC I 4289 and McAlee 104, the standard reference for Antiochene civic coinage under Nero.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Culture / Region: Roman Provincial – Syria, Seleucis and Pieria

• Mint: Antioch ad Orontem

• Issue: Pseudo-autonomous civic issue, time of Nero

• Date: Year 104 of the Caesarean Era = AD 55/6 (early in Nero's reign, AD 54-68)

• Denomination: AE Dichalkon / Hemiassarion

• Metal: Bronze

• Weight: 3.77 g

• Diameter: 17 mm

• Die Axis: ∼12h (typical for issue)

• Obverse: Draped bust of Apollo right, wearing tainia; dotted border

• Reverse: ΑΝΤΙΟΧ-ΕΩΝ ΔΡ, laurel branch

• Patina: Dark glossy brown-black with earthen highlights, as found

• Grade: VF – sharp Apollo portrait, full legends, attractive surfaces

• References: RPC I 4289; McAlee 104; SNG Copenhagen 105; BMC 71

NOTES FOR COLLECTORS:

Antioch retained the right to strike local bronze without the emperor's portrait – hence "pseudo-autonomous." These small coins circulated daily in Syria's largest city. The laurel branch reverse directly references Apollo's sanctuary at Daphne, just outside Antioch.

A well-centered example with the full ΔΡ date visible – most are off-flan. Perfect for a Nero portrait set, a Roman Syria collection, or an Apollo thematic set.