PHOENICIA. Caesaraea ad Libanum. Severus Alexander, as Caesar, 222. Diassarion (Bronze, 25.5 mm, 9.99 g, 12 h). AVR AΛEΞANΔROS CAISAR (sic!) Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander to right. Rev. COL CESARIA LIBA[... / ...] Astarte standing front, wearing kalathos, holding long scepter in her right hand, being crowned by military figure standing to left behind her. Rouvier -. RPC VI online -. SNG Hunterian -. Unpublished and unique, a coin of great interest. Porosity and light roughness, otherwise, very fine.


The reverse type is unknown in the coinage of Caesarea ad Libanum, yet the figures appear standing in a temple on several coins of Elagabalus and his Caesar. They likely represent a group of statues that were set up in the local temple of Astarte.