Ancient Coinage of Syria, Apameia


Apameia or Apamea ad Orontem or ad Axium; Syria, Seleucis and Pieria. Part of the Roman Empire after conquest by Pompey in 64 BC.
Not to be confused with Apamea, Phrygia or Apamea Bithynia.

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ALEXANDER I BALAS
Houghton 441 Alexander I Balas AE20 or 4 Chalkoi, civic issue, Apamea ad Orontem, dated year 163 = 150-149 BC. Diademed head of Alexander Balas right / AΠAMEΩN ΓXΡ, Zeus standing left holding Corinthian helmet and sceptre, ΩΔ monogram to left. Houghton 441, SNG Cop 276.TextImage
Houghton 443 Alexander I Balas AE 20mm. Apameia, Syria, civic issue, dated year 163 (150-149 BC). Diademed head of Alexander right / AΠAMEΩN, Zeus standing left with Corinthian helmet and sceptre; date ΓXΡ and NI monogram to left. Houghton CSE 443.TextImage
ANTIOCHOS VI
Houghton SNR71-68 Antiochos VI, Seleukid Kingdom, AR Drachm. Apameia mint, dated year 169 = 144-143 BC. Radiate head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΔIONYΣOY, Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and resting hand on bow set on ground, &Omega monogram below legs, symbol in outer field, date ΘXΡ in ex. TextImage
CIVIC AND SEMI-AUTONOMOUS COINAGE
BMC 1
Sear 5864		Apameia, Syria, AE16. Dated Seleucid Year 163 = 150-149 BC. Turreted head of Tyche right / AΠAMEΩN ΓXΡ, warrior standing left, head right, holding spear and shield. BMC 1; Mionnet V, 535. TextImage
BMC 4
Sear 5866		Apameia, Syria, AE 18mm. Dated Seleucid Year 239 = 74-73 BC. Wreathed and veiled head of Demeter right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY ΣE, ear of grain between poppy heads, date ΘΛΣ below. BMC 4; Nurpetlian 3.2 (this coin). TextImage
BMC 5Apameia, Syria, AE, 8.33 gr. Seleukid era, dated Year 243 (70-69 BC). Laureate head of Zeus right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY above and beneath elephant standing right. ΓMΣ in right field, MNA below. BMC 5; SNG Munich 792; Vienna GR21654; Sear 5867.TextImage
BMC 6Apameia, Syria. AE20, Dated local year 272, 41-40 BC. 7.32 g. Helmeted head of Athena right. / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm branch. Date BOΣ in left field. Sometimes with MH or AN below. BMC 6; Paris 933 (with MH); de Luynes 3457; SNG Hunterian 3129 (with AN); SNG Munich 799.TextImage
BMC 9Apameia, Syria. AE23. 30-29 BC. Dated local year 283. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy. / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, thyrsos. Date ΓΠΣ downwards in left field, A-N across lower fields. BMC 9; Paris Y23879.241.TextImage
BMC 14Apameia, Syria, AE 22mm. Dated Pompeian Year 8 = 59-58 BC. Diademed head of Zeus right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY KΛ, Elephant standing right, date H before. BMC 14; Lindgren I 2036.TextImage
BMC 15Apameia, Syria. AE21, semi-autonomous issue. 43-42 BC. 9.44 g. Dated local year 24. Helmeted head of Athena right. / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm branch. ΔK in left field, AN in exergue. BMC 15; Paris 963; SNG Glasgow 3128; SNG Munich 798.TextImage
Lindgren 1175Apameia, Syria AE 14mm. Seleucid Year 238 = 75-74 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY bunch of grapes on a stem. ΣE, in left field. Dates can be ZΛΣ (Lindgren III 1175); ΘΛΣ (Winterthur 5155; Lindgren I 2035) BΛΣ (ANS-1961.154.56). TextImage
Lindgren 2034Apameia, Syria, AE 17mm. Pompeian Year 16 = 51-50 BC. Turreted and veiled head of Tyche right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Nike walking left, holding an untied wreath, date ςI in left field. AN below. Paris 960a and 961; Lindgren I 2034; SNG Munich 803-805; Ashmolean-Bouchier 1930; Ashmolean-Christ Church 2060.TextImage
Nurpetlian 4Apameia ad Orontem, Syria. AE19, dated local year 277 (36-35 BC). Draped bust of Demeter right, wreathed with corn. / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY ZOΣ downwards to right and left of three corn ears. AN below. Nurpetlian Orontes 4; RPC I 4356 (this coin).TextImage
Paris 929Apameia, Syria, AE22. Year SE 242 = 71-70 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY KΛ, Elephant standing right, date BMΣ before, ΔI below. Paris 929; Berlin Fox 1873; ANS-1944.100.66123.TextImage
Paris 932eApameia ad Orontem, Syria. AE19, dated local year 282 (31-30 BC). 5.76 g. Draped bust of Demeter right, wreathed with corn. / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY BΠΣ downwards to right and left of three corn ears. AN below. Paris 932e; Nurpetlian Orontes 5; RPC I 4357.TextImage
Paris 937Apameia ad Orontem, Syria. AE19, dated local year 275 (38-37 BC). Draped bust of Demeter right, wreathed with corn. / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY EOΣ downwards to right and left of three corn ears. ςI below. Paris 937; SNG Cop 297; Nurpetlian Orontes 1-3; Berlin 18257268.TextImage
RPC 4335Apameia, Syria, AE20, Dated 40-39 BC. Bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AYTONOMOY, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Date B in left field, MH below. Paris 932b; Hoover HGC 9, 1423; RPC I 4335; Ashmolean-Milne 1923.TextImage
RPC 4336Apameia, Syria, AE21, Dated local year 3 (39-38 BC). Bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AYTONOMOY, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Date Γ in left field, EI in exergue. Paris 935; RPC I 4336; Hoover HGC 1423.TextImage
RPC 4337Apameia, Syria, AE20, Dated 38-37 BC. Bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AYTONOMOY, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Seleukid era date EOΣ in left field, MH in exergue. Paris 932c; HGC 9, 1424; RPC I 4337.TextImage
RPC 4338Apameia, Syria, AE 21mm. Seleucid Year 276 = 39-38 BC. Helmeted bust of Athena right / AΠAMAEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AYTONOMOY, Nike walking left with wreath, date ςOΣ to left, AN in exergue. Paris 938; RPC I 4338; Nurpetlian 49 (this coin). TextImage
RPC 4339Apameia ad Orontem, Syria, dated local year 277, 36-35 BC. Bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AYTONOMOY, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Seleukid era date ZOΣ in left field. RPC 4339 (this coin); Hoover HGC 1424.TextImage
RPC 4342Apameia, Syria. AE unit, 27-26 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY to left and right of Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm. ςΠΣ downwards to left. RPC 4342; Hoover 1422; Paris 932f and 947-948; SNG Cop 299 (with AN below); SNG Hunterian 3133; Vienna GR21657.TextImage
RPC 4345, NOApameia, Syria, AE20, Dated local year 293 (20-19 BC). Bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Date Γ9Σ, NO in exergue. RPC I 4345 var. Nurpetlian 88 (this coin).TextImage
RPC 4347Apameia, Syria, AE23mm. Year 283 = 30 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, thyrsos, date ΓΠΣ in left field, MH below. BMC 8; Nurpetlian 61-73; SNG Fitz 9428; Ashmolean 1464; SNG Munich 796-797; Paris 943.TextImage
RPC 4351, ΔIApameia ad Orontem, Syria, AE25, dated local year 293, 20-19 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, thyrsos. Date Γ9Σ in left field. Δ-I across lower fields. Nurpetlian 25 (this coin); RPC 4351 (Δ-I not listed); Hoover HGC 1425.TextImage
RPC 4351, XPApameia ad Orontem, Syria, AE25, dated local year 293, 20-19 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, thyrsos. Date &Gamma9Σ in left field. X-P across lower fields. Nurpetlian 26 (this coin); RPC 4351 (X-R not listed); Hoover HGC 1425.TextImage
RPC 4352, XPApameia ad Orontem, Syria, AE25, dated local year 295, 18-17 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, thyrsos. Date E9Σ in left field. X-P across lower fields. RPC 4352; Hoover HGC 1425.TextImage
RPC 4353, MAApameia ad Orontem, Syria, AE20, dated local year 304, 9-8 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, thyrsos. Date ΔT in left field. M-A across lower fields. RPC 4353; BMC 13; SNG Cop 301; Paris 956.TextImage
RPC 4353, NOY
SG 5870		Apameia, Syria, Seleukeia and Pieria, Apameia, dated local era 304, 9-8 BC, AE22. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY to left and right of thyrsos. Date ΔT in left field, NO-Y across lower fields. RPC 4353; Berlin 28321; Sear Greek 5870.TextImage
RPC 4354
Sear 5869		Apameia, Syria, AE22. Dated Year 303 = 1 AD. Head of Dionysus right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, cornucopiae, date ΓT to left, MA below. BMC 11, RPC 4354; de Luynes 3458.TextImage
RPC 4364
Paris 944		Apameia, Syria. Year 282 (31-30 BC). AE 17mm. Turreted and veiled head of Tyche right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Athena standing left, holding Nike and spear, shield at her side. Date BΠΣ in left field, AN below. RPC 4364 var (date); Paris 944; Nurpetlian 19 (this coin).TextImage
RPC 4369Apameia, Syria, AE 22mm. Seleukid Year 326 = AD 14-15 AD. Turreted and veiled head of Tyche right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Athena standing left, holding shield, date ςKT in left field. SNG Hunterian 3149; Lindgren III 1178; University of Beirut 209. TextImage
RPC 4370Apameia, Syria, AE20, Dated 5-4 BC. 8.14 g. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Demeter standing left, holding grain-ears and torch. HT in left field, MA or ME below. RPC 4370; Paris 958; SNG Cop 302; Lindgren III 1177; Uni Beirut 207-208; Vienna GR21662.TextImage
RPC 4371Apameia, Syria, AE19. Year 308 = 5-4 BC. Diademed head of Zeus right / AΠAMEΩN THΣ EIΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Tyche seated left on rocks, holding corn ears, date HT AN below. RPC 4371. TextImage
RPC 4377Apameia, Syria, AE18, struck under Claudius. Dated year 1 of his reign. AD 41. Head of Zeus right, hair bound in a taenia. / KΛAYΔIEΩN AΠAMEΩN, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Date ETO A in left field. RPC I 4377; Paris 965a; Uni Beirut 210.TextImage
RPC 4378Apameia, Syria, AE19, struck under Claudius. Dated year 2 of his reign, AD 42. 6.13 g. Head of Zeus right, hair bound in a taenia. / KΛAYΔIEΩN AΠAMEΩN clockwise from lower left, Tyche seated left on rock, holding corn-ears, river god swimming left at foot left. ETO-B in lower left and upper centre fields. RPC I 4378; Paris 965; SNG Hunterian 3153; Utrecht GR1949.68.TextImage
TIBERIUS
RPC 4374Tiberius AE25 of Apameia, Syria. Dated local year 326 = AD 14-15. 9.93 g. No legend, laureate head right. / AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. ςKT in left field. RPC 4374 corr. (bare head).TextImage
CLAUDIUS
RPC 4376Claudius AE18 of Apameia, Syria. Year 1 of Claudius = 41 AD. Laureate head of Zeus right / KΛAYΔIEΩN AΠAMEWN ETO A, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. TextImage
Download: Jack Nurpetlian PhD Thesis: Coinage in late Hellenistic and Roman Syria: the Orontes Valley (1st century BC-3rd century AD)
Entry for Syria, Apameia on the Digital Historia Numorum
Search for Apamea in the British SNG Volumes' Database at the Fitzwilliam Museum