Antioch Ancient Bronze Coin with Possible Cleopatra VII Countermark | 47–46 BC

Antioch Ancient Bronze Coin with Possible Cleopatra VII Countermark | 47–46 BC

Own a Coin from the World of Caesar and Cleopatra

Struck at Antioch in ancient Syria in 47–46 BC, this bronze coin brings together Greek religious imagery, Roman rule, and a possible connection to Cleopatra VII. Its original design features Zeus, while a separately applied portrait countermark adds another chapter to its ancient history.

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Own This Piece of History

Origin: Antioch, Syria, under Roman rule
Date: 47–46 BC, Year 3 of the Caesarian era
Metal: Bronze
References: McAlee 47; RPC I 4219

Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus facing right, with an oval countermark depicting a head facing right, identified on the accompanying tag as female and possibly representing Cleopatra VII.

Reverse: Zeus seated left, holding Nike, the goddess of victory, and a scepter. The headdress of Isis appears in the inner left field, with Γ, the Greek numeral for Year 3, below. The Greek inscription names Antioch and proclaims its status as a metropolis, sacred, inviolable, and autonomous.

Why This Coin Matters

This coin was struck during the lifetime of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra VII, when Antioch’s civic coinage continued to express its Greek identity under Roman rule. Zeus dominates both sides, while the reverse inscription proudly announces the city’s titles and privileges.

Its countermark adds particular interest. Countermarks were small designs stamped onto existing coins, often to authorize or revalidate their circulation. Numismatist Richard McAlee proposed that this portrait represents Cleopatra VII and marked coins circulating in Syro-Phoenician territories granted to her by Mark Antony.

That interpretation remains uncertain. The Cleopatra connection is a scholarly attribution, rather than a confirmed portrait identification. If correct, the countermark represents a later chapter in the coin’s use, separate from its original striking in 47–46 BC.

Perfect For

• Collectors interested in Cleopatra VII, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony.

• Ancient Greek and Roman provincial coin enthusiasts.

• Collectors who enjoy countermarked coins and evidence of ancient circulation.

• History lovers exploring the eastern Mediterranean during the late Roman Republic.

What You’ll Receive

• One authentic ancient bronze coin of Antioch, attributed as McAlee 47 / RPC I 4219.

• The accompanying identification tag shown.

• Backed by the Kinzer Coins lifetime authenticity guarantee.

Continue the Story

Explore the overlapping worlds of Greek cities, Roman power, and Ptolemaic Egypt through a coin that continued to acquire new meaning after it left the mint.

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• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin.

• Lifetime authenticity guarantee.

• 30-day return policy.

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