Mesopotamia, Rhesaena
Trajan Decius 249-251 CE
AE 27.39m 13.01g
Obverse: Laureate and cuirassed bust left
Reverse: Eagle within temple seen in perspective 3/4 left; river god swimming below
BMC 18
Ex John Jencek
Rhesaena existed at the northern border of modern day Syria with Turkey, thus sitting on the northern border of then Mesopotamia. It was located on the road between Carrhae and Nikephorion.
It is believed to have become a Roman colony under the reign of Septimius Severus. Veterans of the Legio III Gallica were settled here.
The eagle within the temple may be a sign of the Roman government, or it may reference Zeus/Jupiter, or both. The river god is likely Chaboras, which is today the Khabur River. The temple depicted was likely an actual temple, but no excavations have uncovered it.
243 CE
Gordian III wins a significant victory at the Battle of Resaena against the Sasanians.