Apameia (AD 193-211) AE 36 - Septimius Severus

Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. AE36 (22.99g). Agonotheten Artemas. AVT∙K∙Λ∙CЄΠT - CЄOVHPOC ΠЄP-TI, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / [ЄΠI AΓO]NOΘЄ TO V APTЄMA, in ex. AΠAMЄΩ/N, Noah and his whife standing in enclosing square chest (Latin, arca; Greek, kibotos) with raised lid on which perches a raven (?) right, facing left; floating on waves and inscribed with NΩE; to left, standing figures, as above but full-length, of Noah and spouse, gazing upwards, latter outermost, and raising right hands, elbows bent, in salutation to dove flying right above them, grasping olive-branch in claws. Unpublished (?). Four times holed in antiquity. VF.

The coin is a testimony for the mutual recognition and respect between the Jewish community and the city of Apameia Kibotos, which integrated the Jewish myth of Noah's ark into her own traditions: Noah got ashore with his 'Kibotos' ('chest') at Apameia; the Jewish people of Apameia were descendants of Noah.