Tripolis minted Roman coins, all radiate "antoniniani,"
for a limited time during the reigns from Aurelian (AD 270-275) through
Diocletian and Maximian (284-305). The mint was probably closed about
286. The Tripolis coins of Aurelian and Tacitus are not clearly mintmarked,
but after Tacitus, Tripolis coins are marked "TR" in the reverse field.
The mint city is normally identified with the Tripolis south of Antioch
(lower right on the map). However, one scholar, F. Redö, argued
the coins were minted at a different Tripolis (in Phrygia, in Asia Minor,
center left on his map reproduced here) and argues that it was also
the city of the enigmatic mint with mintmark "SPQR" in the exergue under
Gallienus and Claudius II.| Reverse legend (obverse legend variety, if applicable) |
RIC number and page. Other references |
Reverse type description
(as given in RIC) mintmark, including field marks |
IMAGE of obverse and reverse [click on the images for enlargements] |
| CLEMENTIA TEMP |
#213, p.348 |
Emperor stg r holding scepter, receiving.
globe from Jupiter stg. l, holding scepter * over KA |
no image [See Diocletian 328 below for the reverse type.] |
| CLEMENTIA TEMP |
#214 KA variety |
Mars stg. or walking l, holding
olive branch and spear and shield. "R" * in field left, KA in exergue |
|
| CLEMENTIA TEMP |
#214 IA variety Plate X.154 |
Mars stg. or walking l, holding
olive branch and spear and shield. "R" * in field left, IA in exergue IA coins are slightly larger in diameter than KA coins. K is 20 in Greek] and "10 parts copper and 1 of silver" [I is 10 in Greek]. Therefore the very rare "IA" coins probably indicate a short-lived and ill-fated coin reform. They certainly would have been regarded as different by the issuer and users, and deserve two different reference numbers. |
|
| VIRTVS AVGG or VIRTVS AVGG<dot> IMP C M AVR CARINVS NOB C |
#209, p.165 as Caesar |
Prince standing right, holding sceptre
and receiving globe from Jupiter (or Carus) standing left, holding
sceptre. [See #329 below for this reverse, but with obverse as Augustus.] |
no image [See Carinus 329 for the reverse type] |
| VICTORIA AVG IMP M AVR CARINVS PF AVG |
#328, p.179 as Augustus |
Emperor standing left, holding sceptre
and receiving wreath from Victory, standing right, holding palm |
no image [See Diocletian 330 for the reverse type] |
| VIRTVS AVGG or VIRTVS AVGG<dot> IMP C M AVR CARINVS PF AVG |
#329, p. 179 as Augustus |
Emperor standing right, holding sceptre
(sometimes eagle-tipped), receiving Victory (with or without globe)
from Jupiter (or Carus) standing let, holding sceptre. This example has the globe, but not Victory on it. * in upper field, TR in lower field, XXI in exergue. |
|
| IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG [note: two G's] |
#327 p.257 |
Jupiter standing right holding globe
and sceptre, facing Hercules standing left, holding Victory,
club, as lion's skin XXI with palm left ro right in exergue |
no image [see Maximian 624 for the type (below)] |
| IOVI CONSERVATORI AVG [note: one "G"] |
#328 Hunter 75, plate 54.75 (Fine) |
Emperor standing right, holding sceptre,
receiving Victory on glove from Jupiter standing let, holding sceptre. XXI in exergue |
|
| IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG [note: two G's] |
#329 |
Emperor standing right, holding sceptre,
receiving Victory on glove from Jupiter standing let, holding sceptre. <palm>XXI in exergue [The object held by the emperor is described by RIC as a "sceptre", but this may be the same object described by RIC and below as a "parazonium" (a short sword worn at the waist) under Maximian #626.] |
|
| IOVI CONSERVATORI AVG [note: one "G"] |
#330 |
Victory r holding palm, presenting
wreath to emp holding globe and scepter XXI in exergue |
|
| IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG |
#331 |
Victory r holding palm, presenting
wreath to emp holding globe and scepter XXI<palm> in exergue |
|
| VICTORIA AVG |
#332 |
Victory r holding palm, presenting
wreath to emp holding globe and scepter XXI in exergue |
no image [See the next type for the reverse type.] |
| VICTORIA AVG [same as above except PF omitted in the obverse legend |
#333 |
Victory r holding palm, presenting
wreath to emp holding globe and scepter XXI in exergue |
|
| IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG (as Diocletian 327) |
#624, p.294 Hunter 62, 63, plate 56.63 (EF, sl. o/c) |
Emp stg r holding globe and scepter,
facing Hercules stg l holding Victory, club and lion's skin XXI<palm> in exergue or <palm>XXI |
|
| IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG (as Diocletian 331) |
#625, p.295 |
Victory walking right holding palm,
presenting wreath to Jupiter left holding globe and scepter XXI<palm> in exergue |
|
| IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG (as Diocletian 329) |
#626. p.295 |
Emperor standing right, holding parazonium,
receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter. XXI or <palm>XXI or XXI<palm> in exergue. [This may be the same type as Diocletian 329, with the "sceptre" there called a "parazonium" (a short sword worn at the waist) here.] |
no image [See Diocletian 329 for a similar reverse type.] |