Commagene, Samosata
31 BCE – 38 CE
AE 18mm 6.68g
Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev: Lion advancing right. CAMO-CATωΝ.
Butcher 1
Samosata was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Commagene and is occupied by the modern day city of Samsat, Turkey. It was founded by the King of Sophene, Sames I. The name of the city means “the joy of” or “happiness of”.
In 73 CE it was incorporated along with the rest of Commagene into the Roman Empire. Roman legions were later placed there to protect the empire from the Sassanids, but that didn’t prevent Shapur I from sacking it in 260.