From Aelia Capitolina to Nysa-Scythopolis: Proposed Reattribution of a Group of Provincial Tetradrachms

Abstract

The attribution of provincial tetradrachms with Dionysian motifs to Aelia Capitolina is generally
accepted today and some 40 types and variants of these large and impressive coins are assigned
to the city. Moreover, new and unpublished tetradrachms with Dionysian motifs appearing
in the antiquities market are in most cases automatically ascribed to Aelia Capitolina. The
following paper discusses the roots of this ascription, questions its soundness and suggests a
new attribution for these coins.