Antoninus Pius – Hand-Struck Copper Coin Replica (Philippopolis, Thrace)

Philippopolis is Plovdiv, Bulgaria today. A Neolithic settlement dating around 4000 B.C. establishes Plovdiv as among the world’s oldest cities. It was a walled Thracian city called Eumolpias when it was conquered by Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. He renamed it Philippopolis. When it regained independence, the new Thracian name was Pulpudeva. In Latin it was sometimes called Trimontium (City of Three Hills). An important crossroads in the Roman Empire, it became the capital of Roman Thracia.

The Orpheus Flower (Silivryak) – is a true miracle of nature. It has survived over two million years thanks to its incredible lifestyle. The plant has a profound anabiotic dry-resistance. Years ago, studies have proved that it is … almost immortal.
Once it has been dried for more than 30 months, and then again aroused with water, the Orpheus flower rises and continues its normal growth. When botanists from different countries ask their Bulgarian colleagues for planting seeds of this flower, they send them a herbarium.
The biological meaning of antibiosis is an experience of physical and physiological drought and winter when, due to low temperatures, water in the soil is practically unusable for plants. This incredible ability for surviving has been developed since ancient times.
There are many legends about the mystic flower.
The most popular of them tells about the love of Orpheus and the nymph Evridika. Gods divided the two lovers and the Rhodope singer decided to descend into the underground kingdom. He hoped he would make Hades and his wife, Persephone, bring him back from the shadow world. The singer’s attempt to escape Evridika from the underground kingdom has failed. So she remained forever in the darkness.
Sorrowful because of his irretrievably lost love, Orpheus turned his back on all human joys and again he only lived with his songs, praying soon to go to his beloved. The tender flower was born from the tears of Orpheus for his beloved Evridika.
The flower has impressed also ancient Romans – they depicted it on one of the coins during the time of the Roman emperor Antonius Pius (138-161 ancient city of Philippopolis). On the coin is depicted the Rhodope, sitting on a rock holding the mythic flower in her right hand.
Design:
Obverse side
Laureate, draped, bearded bust left
Legend:
AYT ANTΩNEINOC CEB EYCEB

Reverse side
Nymph Rhodope seated on a rock right holding Orpheus’ flower in right hand, another flower on exergue line in left field
Legend:
ΗΓΕΜ Μ ΠΟΝΤ CABEINOY ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΠΟ around, ΡO-ΔOΠΗ across

A perfect choice for Numismatists, Historians, Military Veterans, Collectors.