Death Workshop of Antioch

 
For a period of a about sixty years, during the 3rd and 4th century, in the mint of Antioch, there was a peculiar way of showing the ninth workshop. This started during the reign of Probus when the mint of Antioch opened nine workshops and continued until after the death of Constantine I. The 9th workshop was theta Θ. However, the engravers during these years used delta Δ (Greek for 4) and epsilon Є (Greek for 5) which add up to nine. The reason was probably because theta is the first letter of Greek word Thanatos; who was the personification of death. The picture below shows a mosaic from the Villa Borghese in which dead gladiators have a theta below their names to show that they are deceased.

Below are some coins avoiding the death workshop.This is not a comprehensive page of the types, as there are many examples.

Probus A.D. 276-282 Ӕ Antoninianus    21mm    3.8g IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG; Radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the rear. CLEMENTIA TEMP; Carinus standing right, holding scepter, receiving Victory from Jupiter; E Δ between. In ex. XXI RIC Vii Antioch 922
Carus A.D. 283 Ӕ Antoninianus    22mm     3.9g IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. VIRTVS AVGGG; Carus standing right, receiving victory on globe with ✶ above from Jupiter; E Δ between them. In ex. XXI RIC Vi Antioch 125
Carinus A.D. 283 Ӕ Antoninianus    20mm     3.3g IMP C M AVR CARINVS P F AVG; Radiate and cuirassed bust right. VIRTVS AVGG; Carinus standing right, receiving victory on globe with ✶ above from Jupiter; E Δ between them. In ex. XXI RIC V Antioch 325
Numerian A.D. 283 Ӕ Antoninianus   19x21mm    3.4g IMP C M AVR NVMERIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. VIRTVS AVGG; Emperor standing right in military dress, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter (or Carus) leaning on scepter; E Δ in center. In ex. XXI RIC Vii Antioch 466
Diocletian A.D. 284 Ӕ Antoninianus   21mm      4.2g IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. VICTORIA AVG; emperor standing left holding globe and scepter, receiving wreath from Victory standing right; in center Є Δ In ex. XXI RIC Vii Antioch 326
Diocletian A.D. 293- 295 Æ Antoninianus   22mm   4.3g IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. CONCORDIA MILITVM; Diocletian standing right receiving Victory from Jupiter standing left with long scepter; E Δ in center. In ex. XXI RIC VI Antioch 322
Diocletian A.D. 285 Æ Antoninianus    21mm   3.8gm IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG, Jupiter standing right, holding globe and sceptre, facing Hercules standing left, holding victory, club and lion's skin; between them crescent over E Δ. In ex. XXI RIC Vii Antioch 323
Diocletian A.D. 299- 300 Ӕ follis     26x27mm    9.0g IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder & modius on head, with patera from which liquor flows; Δ-E across fields. In ex. ANT RIC VI Antioch 52a
Maximianus A.D. 299-300    Æ follis    27x28mm    12.3g IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.              GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae; Δ-E across fields. In ex. ANT RIC VI Antioch 52b
Galerius A.D. 300- 301 Æ follis 25x26mm     9.2g GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; Laureate head right. GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI; Genius standing facing, head left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys across left shoulder, liquors flowing from patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left, in left field Δ over K, in right Є over V. In ex. ANT RIC VI Antioch 55b
Anonymous pagan civic coinage ca. A.D. 312 Æ quarter nummus   15x16mm    2.0g GENIO ANTIOCHENI; Statue of the Tyche of Antioch on rock, below the river god Orontes. APOLLONI SANCTO; Apollo, stg.l. holding patera and lyre, in right field E over Δ In ex. SMA Mint of Antioch Vagi 2954; Van Heesch 3a
Constantine I A.D. 327- 328 AE nummus 19mm 3.1g CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; diademed head right. PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG; campgate, two turrets, no doors, star above; Δ-E across fields. In ex. SMANT RIC VII Antioch 78
Helena A.D. 328- 329 Æ Nummus   20mm    2.7g FL HELENA AVGVSTA; diademed and draped bust right. SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE; Securitas standing left, lowering branch, raising robe with right hand; wreath in left, ΔE in right field. In ex. •SMANT RIC VII Antioch 82
VRBS ROMA A.D. 330- 333 Æ nummus 18mm 2.5g VRBS ROMA; Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars. In ex. SMANTΔE RIC VII Antioch – Not in RIC…workshop is normally across the fields.