Edessa was a city in Upper Mesopotamia, founded on an earlier site by Seleucus I Nicator ca. 302 BC. It was also known as Antiochia on the Callirhoe from the 2nd century BC. It was the capital of the semi-independent kingdom of Osroene from c. 132 BC and fell under direct Roman rule in ca. 242.
It became an important early centre of Syriac Christianity. It fell to the Muslim conquest in 639, was briefly re-taken by Byzantium in 1031, and became the center of the Crusader state of the County of Edessa during 1098–1144. It fell to the Turkic Zengid dynasty in 1144 and was eventually absorbed by the Ottoman Empire in 1517.
It became an important early centre of Syriac Christianity. It fell to the Muslim conquest in 639, was briefly re-taken by Byzantium in 1031, and became the center of the Crusader state of the County of Edessa during 1098–1144. It fell to the Turkic Zengid dynasty in 1144 and was eventually absorbed by the Ottoman Empire in 1517.
Modern location: Urfa, Turkey
(1)
Gordian III
An
AE
AE33
struck 242 A.D.
in
Edessa (Mesopotamia)
Obverse: AYTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: AYTOK ΓOPΔIANOC ABΓAPOC BACIΛЄYC - Abgar standing left, presenting Nike to Gordian III, who sits to right on sella castrensis set on a small platform.
Diameter:
33 mm
Die Orientation: 10 H
Weight: 18.6 g
Die Orientation: 10 H
Weight: 18.6 g
Gordian III with Abgar X Phraates.
BMC 138; SNG Copenhagen 223. Rare.
(2)
Gordian III
|
Abgar X Frahad bar Manu
An
AE
unit
struck 241-244 AD
in
Edessa (Mesopotamia)
Obverse: radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right from behind; star right AVTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CEB
Reverse: bearded draped bust of Abgar X Frahad bar Manu right wearing diademed tiara; star left; ABΓAPOC BACIΛEVC
Diameter:
23.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 9.8 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 9.8 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Cop 227
(3)
Gordian III
|
Abgar X Frahad bar Manu
An
AE
unit
struck 241-244 AD
in
Edessa (Mesopotamia)
Obverse: radiate and cuirassed bust right from behind wearing paludamentum; AVTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CEB
Reverse: Abgar X on horse right draped with diademed tiara; ABΓAPOC BACIΛEVC
Diameter:
32 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 15.4 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 15.4 g
No notes for this coin
BMC 141 (same obv. die); CNG e405, 355 (same)
(4)
Macrinus
.jpg)
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 217-218 AD
in
Edessa (Mesopotamia)
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: eagle facing, head right, wreath in beak, shrine below; ΔHMAP·X·EΞ VΠATOC
Diameter:
24 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 15.1 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 15.1 g
No notes for this coin
Prieur 860 (same obverse die)