Die Cutters at Work: New Light on the Coinage Struck for the Syrian Koinon

The only coins in the name of the koinon of Syria that can be documented today are small pieces of orichalcum from the early reign of Trajan (AD 98–99) which were most probably struck at the mint of Rome for circulation in the East. This article presents a recently discovered specimen from a reverse die with a completely re-engraved legend, on which the original lettering (beneath KOINON CYPIAC) can still be read: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ЄΞ ΥΠΑΤ Β. A parallel to this is adduced from another specimen of the same type from different dies, and the implications of the new evidence for our understanding of the issue as a whole are discussed.