EX PRETERITUS

Provincial Coinage

Provincial mints are those not classed as issuing imperial coinage. These abounded earlier in many city states, and later by roman colonies at the fringes of the empire. The most important one regarding finds in this region, is Viminacium in the province of Moesia Superior. This mint produced sestertius sized bronzes between the years 239 - 255, when elsewhere in the empire the quality of coinage was dropping and getting smaller. Dating them is easy, as the year of production is in the exergue. The design of these coins are usually without variation throughout the the life of the mint. The reverse usually shows Moesia personified, with arms stretched out over the heads of a bull and a lion, the symbols of the two legions stationed in the province, with the legend PMS COL VIM. The exergue reads AN with the year, eg: ANXII (year 12 = 250-251 AD). These coins are common finds. They are usually in poor condition and have a weak patina.
Other common provincial coins found in the region are from Stobi in Macedonia, Moesia Inferior and Nicaea in Bithynia (northern Turkey).

Table of Dates for Moesian Superior coinage