No.21.  Rhesaena. Severus Alexander.  Æ 24. A.D. 222-235. 9.72 g. 

Obv:  ALEXANDROC CE.. A CEB . Laureate bust left.  
Rev:  RHCAINHCI-WN LEG III G . Turreted Tyche sitting on a 
rock holding corn-ears, river-god at her feet.  

Ref: BMC -; Mionnet 187 var. 

Rhesaena, a Roman colony from the time of Septimus Severus, 
was settled by veterans of the Legio Tertia Gallica, the 
third legion of Gaul, hence the reverse legend LEG.III.G. 
Minting in the region was normally expacially abundant 
during periods of military activity when large amounts of 
soldiers passed by.  Despite the city’s status as a colony 
and contrary to common practice, the obverse legend of all 
other coins from the city, is in Greek. Even more unusual 
is the reverse legend which begins in Greek, but changes to 
Latin towards the end. 

Contributed by Henrik Agndal, May, 2003.