Leucas ad Chryoroas mint?

[electrum!]

One of the challenges of collecting provincials (at least of my subject era) is learning about these ancient places that minted coins. It is also one of the real frustrations! Case in point: I am looking at possibly purchasing a bronze of Tiberius, and the seller gives this mint as where it was struck: "Leucas ad Chryoroas mint, aka Balanea-Claudia Leucas". This place is said to be in the province of Syria.

I have been unable to find such a place in Syria. There is an island in the Greek Ionian Sea Leukas. But that's not anywhere near Syria! So again I come here for help. Can anyone give me some general background on this place? Why does it have two very different names? The "Leucas" is common to both, but to what does Balanea-Claudia refer? I have a coin of Tiberius from Commagene which is also in Syria but have never heard of this new place.

And before you ask the coin does not have any inscriptions on it; very worn. So it won't be any help there. Except that it is 25 mm. and has a quadriga on the reverse. Thanks in advance for any help! Breck

[electrum!]

Since no one has yet replied to this thread, I'll take the opportunity to add something that just occurred to me. If anyone has access to Roman Provincial Coins (the big book not Butcher's!), Vol. 1, could you see if this place in Syria is mentioned? If something like this Leucas is in RPC then I'd better just "trade in" a few trinkets and buy it! Thanks, BB

[curtislclay]

RPC 4461, Balanea-Claudia Leucas, should have date ThetaN above quadriaga = 59 = 22/3 AD. A scarce coin, RPC lists four specimens.

[electrum!]

RPC 4461, Balnea-Claudia Leucas, should have date ThetaN above quadriaga = 59 = 22/3 AD. A scarce coin, RPC lists four specimens.

Hi Curtis! Thanks for the info. Interesting to know it is scarce. However, without access to the RPC I cannot get any info on this place from it via the number you kindly provided. Can you give me some "particulars" on this Balnea-Claudia Leucas? Where it is located (or WAS located) in Syria? What does the "Claudia" in the place name imply? It is a strange type of place name with a hyphenated first name and then the "Leucas".

Thanks, Breck

[curtislclay]

Breck,

Balanea (I left out one A), on the Syrian coast south of Gabala, was "later refounded by Claudius as Claudia Leucas." (RPC p. 639) So under Tiberius the mint name is still simply BALANEWTWN. It is indicated as Balanaea on Map 7, p. 629, in Sear's Greek Imperial Coins.

[electrum!]

Ah! good!! This stuff is in RPC. More reason to buy it. Breck