MESOPOTAMIA. Hatra. Pseudo-autonomous issue, Early-mid 2nd century. (Bronze, 25 mm, 10.61 g, 12 h). Aramaic inscription HTR' DŠMŠ Radiate bust of the sun god Shamash to right. Rev. Inverted S C; above, eagle standing to right, head left, with wings displayed; all within laurel wreath. Slocum Series 1. SNG Copenhagen 232. Walker Type A. Choice for the issue. Reddish-brown patina. Very fine.

The obverse of this coin depicts the Sun god Shamash, the principal deity of the small caravan town of Hatra located near modern-day Mosul in Iraq. The Aramaic name of Hatra, HTR, means "enclosure" and refers to the 37 acre temple precinct or enclosure within the city where the temple to the god Shamash is located. Despite threats and some destruction by ISIL in 2014-2015, most of the ruins still remain. The most esoteric feature of these coin, of course, is the reverse, which is copied from the contemporary Roman period assaria minted at Antioch. It is not known if there was a specific reason why the Latin letters S C were engraved inverted, but it was a consistent feature of the coinage.