SYRIA, DECAPOLIS. Nysa-Scythopolis (?). Pseudo-autonomous issues, 1st century BC. AE (Bronze, 23 mm, 11.66 g). Bare head to right, wearing pearl necklace; behind, B; before, Θ above A. Rev. Male deity, holding scepter (or trident?) in his left hand and uncertain object in his right, standing atop a deity emerging below between four horses (?). Apparently unpublished. Weakly struck on the reverse, otherwise, good fine.


We do not know where this enigmatic piece was minted. Stylistically, the head recalls a strangely barbarized issue struck in CY 19 (= 46/5 BC) under the proconsul Aulus Gabinius at Nyso-Scythopolis (RPC I 4828). However, there are significant differences, notably the illegible letters on the obverse and the previously unattested reverse (unfortunately only weakly struck). The attribution therefore remains uncertain.