COMMAGENE .Zeugma. Caracalla.(198-217).Tetradrachm.

Obv : AVT K M A ANTΩNЄINOC C-ЄB.
Radiate head right.

Rev : ΔHMAPX ЄΞ VΠATO Δ.
Eagle standing facing, head right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; Z-Є/V flanking head and between legs.
Prieur 817; Bellinger 130.

Condition : The coin is in good condition with sharp details visible on both the obverse and reverse sides. The patina has a silvery tone, giving the coin a clean and preserved look, with minor spots of wear, particularly on the high relief areas. The surface is relatively smooth, and the overall appearance suggests that the coin has been well-maintained. The eagle on the reverse remains detailed, while the facial features on the obverse are also well-preserved, indicating a light but even aging process.Wxtrelemy fine.

Material : Silver.
Axis : 12h

Weight : 14.01 gr
Diameter : 25 mm

The Kingdom of Commagene was a small Hellenistic kingdom located in modern-day southeastern Turkey, with its capital at Zeugma. The region was a cultural melting pot, blending Persian, Armenian, Greek, and Roman influences. During the early centuries of the Roman Empire, Zeugma became an important city, especially due to its strategic position on the Euphrates River. However, the region was often caught in the crossfire of larger imperial conflicts, particularly those involving the Romans and the Persians.

Caracalla, the Roman emperor who ruled from 198 to 217 AD, is often remembered for his military campaigns and conflicts with the Parthians and other eastern forces. One of his major confrontations was with the Sassanian Empire, which had recently replaced the Parthians as the dominant power in Persia. Caracalla saw the Sassanians as a significant threat to Roman hegemony in the East and launched a series of campaigns to weaken them. His strategy involved both direct military confrontation and political manipulation.

One of the key reasons for Caracalla’s war against Persia was his desire to solidify Roman power in the eastern provinces and to deal with the growing influence of the new Sassanian dynasty, which had revived Persian imperial ambitions. In 216 AD, Caracalla initiated an aggressive campaign against Persia, hoping to extend Rome’s influence deeper into the region. His approach was characterized by bold military tactics but also by attempts to use diplomacy and treachery. According to some accounts, Caracalla sought to marry the daughter of the Persian king Artabanus V as part of a political alliance, but the negotiations failed, and conflict ensued.

Caracalla’s eastern campaigns were not universally successful, but they did demonstrate his ambition to restore Roman dominance over its eastern territories. His actions against Persia were part of a broader Roman effort to contain the power of the Sassanian Empire, which would go on to become one of Rome’s most formidable rivals for centuries. Caracalla's assassination in 217 AD cut short his ambitions, but his conflicts with the Persians were indicative of the long-standing tensions between the Roman and Persian empires that would persist through the reigns of his successors.

Zeugma itself, located near the Euphrates, was an important military outpost during this period and would have been affected by the shifting power dynamics between Rome and Persia. The city, known for its magnificent mosaics, was eventually abandoned as the Roman-Persian conflicts continued, leaving behind a rich archaeological legacy that tells the story of this vibrant and contested region.