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Coin of the Month

September 2025: A Previously Unknown Tyche from Hadrianopolis

The Coin of this Month is presented by Sonja Kitzberger, Landesmuseum Württemberg


At first glance, this bronze coin from the coin cabinet of the Landesmuseum Württemberg (Württemberg State Museum) in Stuttgart does not appear unusual, but it is, indeed, unique. Minted for Emperor Caracalla, it originates from Hadrianopolis in Thrace, now modern-day Edirne in western Turkey. The reverse of the coin depicts Tyche enthroned with a cornucopia and a rudder, as she can be seen hundreds of times on coins from cities and provinces of the Roman Empire. And yet, from this period and this place, she is something very special: The goddess makes this coin the only known example of a previously unknown type.

The image of the Roman emperor Caracalla from the Severan dynasty is very common on coins minted in Rome's eastern provinces. As a child, in AD 197, both he and his brother Geta were elevated to the rank of Augustus, or co-emperor, by their father Septimius Severus and depicted on coins throughout the empire. At the time of his sole reign between AD 211 and 217, some 15 years later, his official portrait had already undergone several stages of ageing before finally showing the face of a bearded man with curly hair, large lips and a furrowed brow, as depicted on this coin. In reality, however, the man depicted here did not reach the age of thirty. The Greek legend ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ ϹΕV ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ (Aut[okrator] K[aisar] M[arkos] Aur[elios] Seu[eros] Antoneinos) on the obverse provides us with the title and name of the Roman ruler, whilst AΔPIANOΠOΛEITΩN (Hadrianopoleiton) on the reverse identifies the place of minting. Ancient Hadrianopolis, now a large Turkish city, dates back to an indigenous Thracian settlement. Here, in the 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian founded a Roman city. This marked the beginning of coin minting at the site, which reached its peak under Caracalla and subsequently under Gordian III.

Many varieties of coins for Caracalla are known from Hadrianopolis, most of which have a regional connotation. Tyche, goddess of fortune and fate, who brings wealth and prosperity, is often portrayed as a city's patron deity, and thus also features on the coins from Hadrianopolis. Similar to other provincial Roman coinages, she is usually depicted sitting on rocks, holding ears of grain or even accompanied by a small river god, thus describing the topographical features of the coin-minting city. In contrast, the depiction of the goddess Tyche with rudder and cornucopia on the coin presented here appears standardised and formulaic. Only the headdress in the shape of a small harvest basket, a so-called kalathos, refers to fertile environs as a local peculiarity. Otherwise, this enthroned Tyche corresponds to a common type that had been known for a hundred years in both provincial Roman and Imperial coinage, where it was known as Fortuna. The attributes of the goddess clearly illustrate the qualities ascribed to Tyche, but reveal little about Hadrianopolis. Nevertheless, her depiction on this coin clearly refers to the city, which she is supposed to favour with good fortune, represented by her rudder, and provide with prosperity from her cornucopia.

The Stuttgart coin is the only evidence to date of this type representing Tyche of Hadrianopolis from the reign of Caracalla. Although, individually, the motifs on the obverse and reverse are very common, their combination is unique.



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