Ancient Coinage of Cyprus


Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean

Browse the Cyprus page with thumbnail images.

.
CIVIC AND SEMI-AUTONOMOUS COINAGE
Dressel 134Cyprus. Uncertain mint. Ca. 500-480 BC. Silver stater (9.89 gm). Bull kneeling left, solar symbol above / Incuse square with irregular surface. TextImage
ORC 6612Cyprus, (Kourion?) AR Hemiobol (0.34g). ca 525 BC. Male head left / Incuse. TextImage
ORC 6615Cyprus, Uncertain Mint (Tamasos?) AR Diobol. ca 550 BC. Bearded head left / Incuse. Unpublished?. TextImage
RPC 3916Cyprus AE17. Time of Augustus, ca 25 BC. Capricorn right, star above / scorpion, star to right. TextImage
RPC 3916, 2Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14, AE 18mm, Cyprus, 2.66g. Capricorn right, star above / Scorpion. RPC 3916.TextImage
AUGUSTUS
RPC 3906Augustus AE16 Hemiobol of Paphos, Cyprus. DIVI F IMP CAESAR, head right / A PLAVTIVS PRO COS, temple of Aphrodite at Paphos, containing conical xoanon, semicircular courtyard. TextImage
RPC 3907Augustus, AE16 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck 21-20 BC. Magistrate A. Plautius. IMP CAES DIVI F, bare head right / A PLAVTIVS PROCOS, Zeus standing left, holding patera, resting on short sceptre, eagle perched on his wrist. RPC 3907; BMC 4; Tziambazis 6.TextImage
RPC 3909Augustus and Gaius Caesar. AE27 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck AD 1. 7.56 g. AVGVST TRIB POT PONT (NT ligate) MAX, laureate head of Augustus right. / C CAESAR AVG F PRINC IVVENT), bare head of Gaius Caesar right. RPC 3909; Parks 6.34 (this coin); Amandry, Julio-Claudien I 3b.TextImage
CLAUDIUS
RPC 3927Claudius, AE35 of Koinon of Cyprus. AD 41-54. 26.37 g. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP, laureate head left / KOINON KYΠΡI-ΩN (all N retrograde) in three lines within laurel wreath. Parks issue 11a; BMC 14; RPC I 3927.TextImage
RPC 3929Claudius, AE26, (7.22g) Cyprus, TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP, laureate head left. / KOINON KYΠΡI-ΩN in three lines within laurel wreath. RPC 3929; BMC 12. TextImage
RPC 3932Claudius, AE as of the Koinon of Cyprus, 43-44 AD. Magistrate Cominius Proculus, TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P, laureate head left / EΠI KOMINIOY ΠΡOKΛOY ANΘYΠATOY around KYΠΡI-ΩN. RPC 3932; Parks 11b; Waddington 4846; McClean 9185. TextImage
RPC 3932
overstrike
Claudius, AE as, Cyprus Mint, AD 43-44. Magistrate Cominius Proculus. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P, Laureate head left. / (clockwise from top right) EΠI KOMINIOY ΠΡOKΛOY ANΘYΠATOY around KYΠΡI-ΩN in two lines. Overstruck on another bronze, not a Cyprus issue, which had the forepart of a bull right on the reverse. The coin shows the bull and traces of the original legend. TLA 131120. Type: RPC I, 3932; Waddington 4846; Paris 795-796; McClean 9185; Parks 11b; Bank of Cyprus 13.TextImage
VESPASIAN
RPC 1801Vespasian AR Tetradrachm of Salamis, Cyprus. AYTOKΡATΩΡ OYECΠACIANOC KAICAΡ, Laureate head right, oval countermark of head of Julia Domna left / ETOYC NEOY IEΡOY H, Zeus Salaminos standing facing, holding patera, sceptre and eagle. RPC 1801; BMC 77; Parks 16b; Salamis hoard 8040-8051.TextImage
RPC 1803Vespasian, AE Tetradrachm, Cyprus, dated year 8. AD 75-76. AYTOKΡATΩΡ OYECΠACIANOC KAICAΡ, laureate head left. / ETOYC NEOY IEΡOY, temple of Aphrodite at Paphos, with conical xoanon in the centre. Date letter H below. RPC II 1803; BMC 18-19; Paris 799-800; Berlin 18201042.TextImage
RPC 1804Vespasian AR Tetradrachm of Salamis, Cyprus. AYTOKΡATΩΡ OYECΠACIANOC KAICAΡ, laureate head left / ETOYC NEOY IEΡOY Θ, Zeus Salaminos standing facing, holding patera, sceptre and eagle. RPC 1804; BMC 26-28; Parks 16d; SNG Cop 77; McClean 9383. TextImage
RPC 1820Vespasian Brass AE26mm (dupondius), OVECΠACIANOC CEBACTOC, laureate head right / KOINΩN KYΠΡIΩN EOYC Hi, Zeus Salamis standing, holding patera, sceptre and eagle. RPC 1820; BMC 22-23; Parks 13b; Paris 803; SNG Cop 76; SNG Fitz. 5368.TextImage
TRAJAN
BMC 40Trajan AE Sestertius or Drachm of Cyprus. AVTOKΡ KAIC NEΡ TΡAIANΩ AΡIΣTΩ CEB ΓEΡM ΔAK, laureate draped bust right / ΔHMAΡC EX YΠATOΣ KOINON KYΠΡIΩN, Zeus Salaminios standing, holding patera, eagle on wrist, and sceptre. BMC 40; Parks 20b; Weber 7752-7753; SNG Cop 83. TextImage
ANTONINUS PIUS
With M. Aurelius (136-161 AD)
The differences often lie in the obv. legends and legend breaks
See a table of these AE coin types to aid identification
BMC 42Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, Caesar, AE 35mm of Cyprus. ca 136-161 AD. AYT K T AIΛ AΔΡI ANTΩ-NINOC CEBEY, laureate, draped bust of Antoninus Pius right / M AVΡEΛIOC KAI-CAΡ VIOC CEBAC, bare-headed and cuirassed bust of Aurelius right. BMC 42; SNG Righetti 1736; Parks 21; SNG Cop 87; SNG Fitz 5372.TextImage
BMC 43Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, AE32 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck circa 138-161 AD. AYT K T AIΛ AΔΡI AN-TΩNINOC CEBEY, laureate, draped bust of Ant. Pius right. / M AVΡHΛIOC KAI-CAΡ VIOC CEBAC, bare-headed, draped bust of Aurelius right. BMC Cyprus 43.TextImage
BMC 45-46Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, AE32 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck AD 138-147. AYT K T AIΛ AΔΡ A-NTΩNINOC CEBEY, laureate head right. / M AYΡHΛIOC KAI-CAΡ YIOC CEBAC, bare-headed, draped right. BMC 45-46.TextImage
BMC 47Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius AE32 of Cyprus. AVT K T AIΛ A-ΔΡ ANTΩNINOC CEB E, laureate head of Pius right / M AVΡHΛIOC KAICAΠ VIOC CEBAC (no legend break), bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Aurelius right. BMC 47.TextImage
BMC 48-50Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, AE34 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck circa 138-161 AD. 29.66 g. AYT K T AIΛ AΔΡ ANTΩNINOC CEBE (no legend break), laureate head right. / M AYΡHΛIOC KAICAΡ YIOC CEBAC (no legend break), bare-headed, draped bust right. BMC 48-50.TextImage
BMC 52Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, AE32 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck ca 138-161 AD. 25.3 g. AY K T A AΔΡI-ANTΩNINOC C, radiate and laureate head right / M AYΡHΛIOC-KAICAΡ YIOC CEBAC, bare-headed, draped bust right. BMC 52; Paris 822; BMC G0892; Vienna 21617.TextImage
BMC 1923-11-5-37Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, AE30 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck circa 138-161 AD. 26.9 g. AYT K T AI AΔΡ AN-TΩNINOC CEBE, laureate head right. / M AYRHLIOC KAICAR YIOC CEBACTO (no legend break), bare-headed, draped bust right. BMC 1923-11-5-37; RPC Temp 5849.TextImage
Paris 2430Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, AE32 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck circa 138-161 AD. AYT K T AIΛ AΔΡ-ANTΩNINOC CEBE, laureate head right. / M AYΡHΛIOC-KAICAΡ YIOC CEBAC, bare head right, slight drapery on left shoulder. Paris 2430; Vienna 21611-21613; BMC -.TextImage
Paris 2433Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, AE32 of the Koinon of Cyprus. Struck circa 138-161 AD. 25.3 g. AYT K T AI AΔΡ-ANTΩNINOC C, laureate, cuirassed bust right. / M AYΡHΛIOC KAI-CAΡ YIOC CEBAC, bare-headed, draped bust right. Paris 2433; BMC -.TextImage
FAUSTINA I
Lindgren III 940Faustina I and Galerius Antoninus. AE27 of uncertain mint in Cyprus. 9.84 gr. ΘEA ΦAYCTEINA, draped and veiled bust right / ΓAΛEΡIOC ANTΩNINOC AYTOKΡATOΡOC ANTΩNINOY YIOC, bare-headed, draped bust right. Parks 22; Overbeck, Galerius 14; Lindgren III 940; Cohen 2; Vagi 1517.TextImage
MARCUS AURELIUS
ORC 849Marcus Aurelius AE24 (as), possibly of Cyprus. AVT K M AVΡ ANTΩNINOC CEB, Laureate head right / OMONOIA CEBACTΩN, Aurelius and Verus standing facing, clasping hands, S C at sides.TextImage
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
BMC 54 varSeptimus Severus, AE32 of the Koinon of Cyprus. AD 193-211. AVTOK KAI Λ CEΠ CEOVHΡOC, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / KOINON KYΠΡIΩIWN, temple of Aphrodite at Paphos, with central conical cult stone; garland between the two central upper columns; two side-wings, each surmounted by a dove and containing column with large capital; semicircular courtyard in front. Obv. legend var of BMC 54-55; Parks 23; Mionnet III, 33; SNG Cop 89.TextImage
SNG Cop 89Septimius Severus AE32 of Cyprus. Uncertain mint, AD 193-211. 20.98g. AVTOK KAIC Λ CEΠ CEYHΡOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / KOINON KYΠΡIΩN, Temple of Paphian Aphrodite within which cone, crescent and star on top of temple, roofed wing on each side within which candelabrum stands, dove on roof of each wing, paved semicircular court before temple. Parks 23; BMC 54-55; SNG Cop 89; Mionnet III, 33.TextImage
CARACALLA
Bellinger 382Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Cyprus. AVT KAI ANTΩNINOC CE, laureate head right / ΔHMAΡC EX YΠATOC TO Δ, eagle standing facing on grain ear, wings spread, head left with wreath in its beak. Prieur 1578.TextImage
TextImage
TextImage
BMC 60Caracalla AE33 of the Koinon of Cyprus. AD 198-217. 19.09 g. M ANTΩNINOC AYΓOYCTOYC, laureate head right. / KOINON KYΠΡIΩN, Temple of Paphian Aphrodite with cone within, crescent and star on the roof of the central section, roofed wing on each side, each surmounted by a dove and with a candelabrum within each, semicircular court before temple. BMC 60-62; Parks 25; Weber 7758; SNG Fitz 5375; SNG Cop 92; Lindgren 1663.TextImage
BMC 60 (2)Caracalla, AE32 of the Koinon of Cyprus, AD 198-217. 16.85 g. M ANTΩNEINOC AYΓOYCTOC, laureate head right. / KOINON KYΠΡIΩN, Temple of Aphrodite at Paphos with paved semicircular court before, candelabras in side sections, each with doves sitting above, star in crescent above central roof. BMC 60; SNG Cop 92; Weber 7758-7760; Parks 25; SNG Fitz. 5375; Paris 828-830; Lindgren 1663; Dura Hoard 8-9, 241; Hunter 6-7; Prowe III 1487.TextImage
BMC 63Caracalla AE 31mm of Cyprus. Radiate, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / KOIN-ON KVΠΡIΩN, temple of Aphrodite Paphios with three bays, each surmounted by dove; in central bay, conical stone surmounted by ornate top and flanked by stars; semi-circular forecourt. Parks 25; SNG Cop 92v.TextImage
Lindgren 1664ACaracalla and Geta, AE30 of Cyprus Mint. M ANTΩNEINOC AYΓOYCTOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed right / Π CEΠ ΓETAC KAICAΡ or AYTO KAIC Π CEΠTIMIOC ΓETAC, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Parks 28; Hill 15 in NC 1924M BMC G0894.TextImage
Parks 28Caracalla and Geta AE27 of the Koinon of Cyprus. AD 198-217. 13.5g. Struck AD 209-211. M ANTΩNEINOC AYΓOYCTOC (first C retrograde), laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right / AYTO KAIC Π CEΠTIMIOC ΓETAC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bearded bust of Geta right. Parks 28; Tziambazis 34; Amandry CPM 16.TextImage
Prieur 1578Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Cyprus. Laureate head right / ΔHMAΡC EX VΠATOC TO Δ, eagle standing facing on grain ear, head left, wreath in beak.TextImage
SNG Cop 92Caracalla AE30 of Cyprus. AD 198-217. M ANTΩNINOC AVΓOYCTOYC, laureate bust right / KOINON KYΠΡIΩN, Temple of Paphian Aphrodite within which cone, crescent and star on top of temple, roofed wing on each side within which candelabrum stands, dove on roof of each wing, paved semicircular court before temple. SNG Cop 92; Parks 25; Weber 7758-7760; BMC 60-63; SNG Fitz. 5375; Lindgren 1663; Hunter 6-7; Prowe III, 1487.TextImage

Amathus
Kition
Lapethos
Marion
Neopaphos
Paphos
Salamis
See also: Entry for Cyprus on the Digital Historia Numorum
END OF PAGE