The history of Gaza began in 3300 BC. Gaza has been ruled by the Canaanites, Egyptians, Philistines (from which the name Palestine comes), Alexander III, the Syrian Seleukid kings, the Hasmoneans, Romans, Mamluks and Ottomans. It enjoyed prosperity under the Romans, forcibly "Chrisianised" by the Roman Catholic "Saint" Porphyrius, AD 396-420, then conquered by the Muslim general Amr ibn al-'As in AD 637. It was taken by the Mamluks before becoming a properous regional capitol under the Ottoman Ridwan dynasty in the 16th century. The city and region of Gaza is currently being destroyed and depopulated by the Israeli government.
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A list of dates seen on Roman Provincial coins of Gaza
| Rosenberger 26 | Gaza, Palestine. AE20, civic issue. 100-70 BC. 4.93 g. Laureate head of Zeus right. / ΓAZAIΩN ΔHMOY, double cornucopiae. Rosenberger 26; HGC 10, 585. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 15 | Gaza, Palestine. c. 4th c. BC. AR Obol.Head of Athena right/ Owl standing right, head facing; AOE and Mem, for Marnas, the chief god of Gaza. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 18 | Philisto-Arabian, Gaza. Circa 375-333 BC. AR Obol (0.45 gm). Female head right / Facing owl with spread wings. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 20 | Gaza, Athens imitative hemiobol. Helmeted head of Athena right / AOE to right of owl standing right, head facing. | Text | Image | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 36 | Philisto-Arabian, Gaza AR Obol. ca 375-333 BC. Janiform head, bearded male on left, female on right / Forepart of horse right. Mildenberg 19, Rosenberger 1. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 905-906 | Gaza, AE19 civic issue, dated local year 166 (147-146 BC). Turreted head of Tyche right. / ΔHMOYC ΓAZAIΩN CΞΡ, Zeus standing left, holding wreath in raised right hand. SNG ANS 905-906 (905 = this coin); Dessau 1110 (ditto); Rosenberger 28; Hoover HGC 584; Sestini, litt. num. VIII, 118. | Text | Image |
| SNG Cop 913 | Gaza, Palestine, AE. Time of Hadrian. 131-132 AD. MEINWC, Minos standing left, holding long branch and spear / GAZA EPI BUP (or BEP, both denoting the date), Tree. SNG Cop 913; Yashin 310-314. | Text | Image |
| Sofaer 10 | Gaza, AR obol, ca 450-333 BC. 10 mm, 0.66 g. Laureate and bearded male head (Ba'al Arwad) right. / A-Θ-E around owl standing front, wings spread; olive spring and crescent to upper right, all within incuse square. Gitler & Tal XIV.29O; Sofaer 10 (Gaza). | Text | Image |
| Sofaer 36 | Gaza, Palestine, AE civic issue. Dated local year 10, 52-51 BC. Bearded male head right, Bes or Herakles?. / ΓAZA LI and Marnas symbol, Apollo or Marnas, naked, standing left, holding branch and resting elbow on column. Sofaer 36-38; Rosenberger 31. | Text | Image |
| AR Obol | Gaza, Palestine. Circa 420-332 BC. AR Obol. Imitating Athens. Head of Persian satrap right, in bashlyk with high peak and earflaps / AΘE, owl standing right, olive branch over shoulder. | Text | Image |
| Athens imit.drachm | Gaza ancient Athens imitation, drachm, head of Athena right / AΘE, owl standing right, head facing. | Text | Image |
| Athens imit. obol | Athens AR Obol, Contemporary imitation, perhaps from Gaza or Syria. Head of Athena right / AΘE, Owl standing right, head facing, two olive leaves behind. | Text | Image |
| Athens imit. obol | Gaza ancient Athens imitation, obol, head of Athena right / AΘE, owl standing right, head facing. | Text | Image | Text | Image | Text | Image | Text | Image | Text | Image |
| Rosenberger - | Philisto-Arabian, Gaza, Palestine, AR Drachm. ca 375-333 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right; four dots and palm tree in right field. | Text | Image |
| RPC 4894 | Augustus AE of Gaza, Palestine. AD 5-6, 9.23g. Dated Year 66 of the local era. K-AI across fields, bare head right / Tyche, turreted, standing left, holding branch and two corn-ears. Gaza symbol in left field, date L Ξς over ΓA in right field. Rosenberg 44; BMC 10-11; RPC 4894. | Text | Image |
| RPC 4896 | Augustus AE15 of Gaza, Palestine. ca AD 10, 3.48g. Bare head right / Γ-A to left and right of lighted and garlanded altar. Rosenberg 45; RPC 4896. | Text | Image |
| RPC 2201 | Vespasian AE22 of Gaza. Year 130=69/70 AD. ΣEBAΣTOC, laureate head right / ΓAZ, Tyche standing left holding branch and two corn ears, L PΛ to right. BMC 12-13; Rosenberger 49; Yashin 300; RPC II 2201. | Text | Image |
| RPC 2202 | Vespasian AE18 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 130=69-70 AD. CEBACTOC, laureate head right / ΓAZ, Herakles standing left, holding object resembling corn-ears and leaning on club. RPC II 2202; Rosenberger 49; SNG ANS 912. | Text | Image |
| BMC 14 | Hadrian, AE32 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated Year 3 of his visit, local year 192, AD 131-132. AYT KAI TΡAI AΔΡIANOC CE, laureate, draped bust left. / ΓAZA MAΡNAC Γ EΠI BYΡ and symbol of Marnas around and beneath distyle temple with Artemis standing right, drawing bow, and Marnas standing left, holding bow and vertical rod. BMC 14-15; Sofaer 51-52; RPC III 4023. | Text | Image |
| BMC 24 | Hadrian, AE26 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated Year 3, AD 131-132. AYT KAI TΡA AΔΡIANOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the back / EIω ΓAZA around, Γ EΠI ByP (date) below, Io standing right, clasping hands with Tyche, standing left, holding cornucopiae, Gaza symbol in lower centre. BMC 24; RPC III 4024; Leo Hamburger auction 1932, lot 179. | Text | Image |
| BMC 29 | Hadrian AE 22mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated year 3 of the visit, and year 192=131/132 AD. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Tyche standing left, holding cornucopiae; to left, heifer; GAZA G (date) EPI BYR (date). BMC 29; RPC III 4025. | Text | Image |
| BMC 31 | Hadrian, AE24 of Gaza, Palestine. 117-138 AD. Struck 131/2 AD. AYT KAI TΡA AΔΡIANOC, Laureate bust right / ΓAZA Γ EΠI BYP, Tyche standing left; heifer standing at her feet left. BMC 31; RPC III 4025. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberg 6cf | Hadrian AE24 of Gaza in Palestine. Laureate bust right / City-Goddess standing left, holding a sceptre and a cornucopiae, cow and swastica to sides. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 915 | Hadrian, AE32 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated Year 3, AD 131-132. AYT KAI TΡAI AΔΡIANOC CE, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the back / EIω ΓAZA Γ EΠI ByP (date), Io standing right, clasping hands with Tyche, standing left, holding cornucopiae, Gaza symbol in lower centre. SNG ANS 915; RPC III 4024. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 922v | Hadrian AE 29mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 197; Epidemia 8 (137 CE). Laureate and draped bust right / Artemis standing right, drawing arrow and holding bow, and Marnas standing left; Marnas sign between; all within distyle temple set on two-tiered base; Epidemia date, Marnas symbol, and CY date in ex. | Text | Image |
| Sofaer 53 | Hadrian, AE31 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated Year 4, local year 193, AD 132-133. AYT KAI TΡAI AΔΡIANOC, laureate, draped bust right. / ΓAZA MAΡNA Δ EΠI ΓYΡ n, distyle temple with Artemis standing right, drawing bow, facing Marnas standing left, holding branch and bow. Sofaer 53; De Saulcy 8; RPC III 4028. | Text | Image |
| Hendin 865 | Hadrian AE 24mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 192; Epidemia 3 (132 CE). Laureate and draped bust right / Dated local year 192; Epidemia 3 (132 CE). Laureate and draped bust right / Tyche standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae; lowing heifer standing at feet left; CY date in upper left field; Marnas symbol in lower right. | Text | Image |
| Hendin 865v | Hadrian AE 24mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 192; Epidemia 3 (132 CE). AYT KAI TΡA AΔΡIANOC CE, laureate and draped bust right / ΓAZA Γ EΠI BYΡ, Tyche standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae; lowing heifer standing at feet left; Marnas symbol in right field. Rosenberger II 61, SNG ANS 917. | Text | Image |
| BMC 72 | Antoninus Pius, AE28 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 220. AD 159-160. (from top right) ANTωNINOC AYTOKΡATωR, laureate head right / KC ΓAZA, turreted and veiled bust of Tyche right. BMC 72. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberger 84 | Antoninus Pius AE 17 of Gaza, AV..A..T.. ANTON.., laureate head right / ΓAZAIΩN, Herakles standing facing, holding club and lionskin. | Text | Image |
| BMC 65 | Antoninus Pius AE 28mm of Gaza, Palestine. Year 207 = 146/7 AD. AYTO KAI (...) ANTWNINOC, laureate head right / ΓAZA, veiled, draped and turreted bust of Tyche right, letter mem to right, date ZC to left. | Text | Image |
| BMC 70 | Antoninus Pius AE27 of Gaza, Palestine. Year ZIC = 217 = 156/7 AD. ANTΩNINOC CEBA, laureate draped bust right / ΓAZA ZIC, turreted and veiled bust of Tyche right, Phoenician letter m below chin. Rosenberger 76. | Text | Image |
| BMC 56 | Antoninus Pius AE 30mm of Gaza, Palestine. Struck in 203 (era 61 BC)=142/143 AD. AV TOK .. AΔI ANTWNEINOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ΓAZA Turreted, veiled and draped bust of Tyche right; ΓC (date) behind. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberger 70cf | Antoninus Pius AE 30mm of Gaza. ..ACTOC ANTWNINOC C, laureate draped bust right / ΔIC ΓAZA, turreted, veiled and draped bust of Tyche right; in field right: "mem;" date = Year 214 = 153-154 AD. | Text | Image |
| Hendin 867 | Antoninus Pius AE 28 of Gaza, Palestine. AV T.. ANTWNEINOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ΓAZA Turreted, veiled and draped bust of Tyche right; ΘC (date) behind. | Text | Image |
| Hendin 867v | Antoninus Pius AE 29mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 208 = 147/8 CE. Laureate and draped bust right / Veiled bust of Tyche right, in mural crown; date to left; Marnas symbol in right. Rosenberger II 71. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberger 100 | Marcus Aurelius AE 30mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 231 = 170/1 CE. Laureate and draped bust right / Tyche standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae; lowing heifer standing at feet left; Marnas symbol in right field; date in legend. Hendin -. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberg 102 | Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AE21 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 228 (AD 167-168). ANTΩNINOC OYHΡOC CEBACTO, Laureate, confronted heads of Marcus Aurelius on left and Lucius Verus on right / ΓAZA HKC, Apollo standing facing, head left, holding patera over lighted altar to left, and long branch. Gaza-symbol (mem) to left. Rosenberger 102; BMC 97-98 var (Gaza symbol reversed) SNG ANS 933 var. (ditto). | Text | Image |
| SGI 1713 | Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AE21 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 228 (AD 167-168). ANTΩNINOC OYHΡOC CEBACTO, Laureate, confronted heads of Marcus Aurelius on left and Lucius Verus on right / ΓAZA HKC, Apollo standing facing, head left, holding patera over lighted altar to left, and long branch. Gaza-symbol (mem) to left. Sear SGI 1713; BMC 97, SNG ANS 933. | Text | Image | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 932 | Marcus Aurelius und Lucius Verus, AE21 of Gaza, Palestine. 168-169 AD. ANTΩNINOC OYHΡOC CEBACTOI, Laureate, confronted heads of Marcus Aurelius on left and Lucius Verus on right / Θ KC ΓAZA, Apollo standing facing, head left, holding patera over lighted altar to left, and long branch. Gaza-symbol (mem) to right. BMC 98, SNG ANS 932; Rosenberger, 103var. (Date in right field). | Text | Image |
| Mionnet V, 159 | Faustina II, AE16 of Gaza, Palestine, dated year 228 (AD 167-168). CEBACTH, draped bust right / ΓAZA, date HKC at top left, Herakles standing right, leaning on club, lionskin over arm; Marnas letter to left. Mionnet V, 159 corr.; Rosenberger 105 var; SNG ANS 936 var (reverse legend). | Text | Image |
| Mionnet V, 163 | Faustina II and Lucilla. AE26 of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 227. AD 167-168. AN ΛOYKIΛΛA ΦAYCTINA, draped bust of Faustina II right, facing draped bust of Lucilla left / ΓAZA HKC, Distyle temple with Artemis standing right within, drawing arrow from quiver at her shoulder, facing Marnas, standing left. Marnas symbol in centre field. Mionnet V, 163; BMC 100 var (position of rev legend); SNG ANS 937-938 var (ditto and date). | Text | Image |
| Mionnet Supp. VIII, 57 | Faustina II and Lucilla. AE of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 229. AD 169-170. AN ΛOYKIΛΛA ΦAYCTINA, draped bust of Faustina II right, facing draped bust of Lucilla left / ΓAZA OKC, Artemis standing right, drawing arrow from quiver at her shoulder, stag at her side. Marnas symbol in left field. Mionnet Supp. VIII, 57; SNG ANS -; BMC -; Hamburger auction 1932, 181. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 936 | Faustina II, AE16 of Gaza, Palestine, dated year 228 (AD 167-168). CEBACTH, draped bust right / Date HKC in right field, Herakles standing right, leaning on club, lionskin over arm; Marnas letter to left. SNG ANS 936. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberger 112 | Lucius Verus AE19 of Gaza, Palestine. OYHΡOC KAICAΡ, bare head right / ΓAZ AKC, Tyche standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae, stag at side. | Text | Image |
| SNG ANS 941 | Commodus AE 23mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated RY 248? (187/8 AD). Laureate head right / EIW ΓAZA, Io and Tyche of Gaza standing facing each other, clasping hands; Punic mem (= Marnas, patron deity of Gaza) and date in exergue. Cf. Rosenberger II 129. | Text | Image |
| BMC 118 | Septimius Severus AE 27 mm of Gaza. AD 260. Laureate and draped bust of Septimius Severus right / ΓAZA ΞC, Tyche standing left with sceptre and cornucopiae; to left, forepart of ass standing left; monogram to right, BMC 118; Mionnet 169. | Text | Image |
| Prieur 1687 | Caracalla, AR tetradrachm of Gaza, Palestine. 14.35 g. AYT K M ANTΩNEINOC, laureate head right / ΔHMAΡX EΞ YΠATOC TO Δ, eagle standing right, head and tail left, wings spread, wreath in beak. Sign of Marnas in circle between legs. Prieur 1687; Van Hoof Syria hoard 175. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberger 153v | Gaza, Palestine. Caracalla. Ad 198-217. AE (17mm, 3.85 G, 12h). Dated local year 261 (AD 200-201). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Tyche standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae; at feet to left, heifer standing left; AΞC (date) and Marnas symbol to right. Rosenberger 153/4 var. (denomination). | Text | Image |
| BMC 138 | Geta, AE16 of Gaza, Palestine, AD 198-209. 1.98 g. Dated local year 264 (AD 203-204). CEΠ ΓETAC, bare-headed, draped bust right. / ΔΞC ΓAZA, Herakles standing facing, looking left, holding lionskin and resting right hand on club. BMC 138; Meshorer 190. | Text | Image |
| Rosenberger 163 | Geta AE 23mm of Gaza, Palestine. Dated local year 263 = 202/3 CE. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Distyle temple; statues of Artemis and Marnas within, Marnas symbol between them, date to left. Rosenberger 163; Sofaer 187. | Text | Image |
| Sofaer 188 | Geta, AE21 of Gaza, Palestine. AD 198-209. 8.47 g. Dated local year 260 (AD 199-200. Λ CEΠ ΓETAC, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right. / EIω ΓAZA, date ΞC below, Io standing right, clasping hands with Tyche, standing left. Marnas symbol between them. Sofaer 188; Rosenberger 160. | Text | Image |
| Sofaer 191-192 | Geta AE13 of Gaza, Palestine, AD 198-209. 12.5 mm, 2.39 g. Dated local year 264 (AD 203-204). CEΠT ΓETAC, bare-headed and draped bust right. / ΓAZA ΔΞC, large Marnas symbol. Rosenberger 165; Sofaer 191-192; BMC 139. | Text | Image |
| Prieur 1695 | Macrinus, AR tetradrachm of Gaza, Palestine. AD 217-218. AY K M OΠ CE MAKΡINOC CE, laureate head right / ΔHMAΡX EΞ YΠATOC T Δ, eagle standing front, wings spread, head left, tail left, wreath in beak. Sign of Marnas within circle of dots between legs, six-pointed star in upper right field. Prieur 1695. | Text | Image |
| Prieur 1697 | Diadumenian, AR tetradrachm, Gaza, Palestine. 13.13 g. AD 217-218. M OΠ ANTωN KAI, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right / ΔHMAΡX EΞ YΠATOC T A, eagle standing right, head and tail left, sign of Marnas within circle between legs, six-pointed star in upper right field. Prieur 1697. | Text | Image |
| Prieur 1698 | Diadumenian, AR tetradrachm of Gaza, Palestine. AD 217-218. 25 mm, 13.34 g. M OΠ ANTωN KAI, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right / ΔHMAΡX EΞ YΠATOC T A, eagle standing facing on club, head and tail left, wings spread, wreath in beak; symbol of Marnas at upper right, star between legs. Prieur 1698 (same dies). | Text | Image |
