A Lost Sheep from Damascus Brought Back to the Fold

Abstract

RPC 4804, a bronze ostensibly struck in Damascus in 65/6 CE was condemned as an altered
coin from Antioch, based on similarities in diameter and iconography. I argue that the coin is
authentic for a variety of reasons that include newly confirmed examples struck with one obverse
die and two reverse dies and iconography befitting provincial coins of Damascus. Confirmed
examples are twice the weight of the similar Antiochene type and the coin’s legend matches
a Damascene bronze with the portrait of Nero. Thus, RPC 4804 can be confirmed as one of a
four-coin series from Damascus with the ZOT date.