Shea19

One of my favorite Roman portraits: Maximinus I (Thrax), AR Denarius (20 mm, 3.04 g), Rome, 236-237. MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I to right/ Rev. VICTORIA GERM Victory standing front, head to left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond with her left; German captive at feet. RIC 23 An early Max Thrax denarius with a resemblance to Sev Alexander (made before they knew what the new emperor looked like): Maximinus I, AR Denarius, Rome, 236 A.D., (20 mm, 2.90 g). IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I to right, seen from behind. Rev. SALVS AVGVSTI Salus seated left, feeding serpent, rising from altar, out of patera held in her right hand and leaning with her left elbow on throne. RIC 15.

My two favorites of Sev Alexander: Severus Alexander, AR Denarius, 232 A.D., Rome, (19 mm, 3.29 g), IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander to right./ Rev. SPES PVBLICA Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left. RIC 254 Severus Alexander. AR denarius (20.6 mm, 3.18 g). Rome mint, struck A.D. 232. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander right / IOVI PROPVGNATORI, Jupiter standing right, hurling thunderbolt and holding eagle. RIC 238 This denarius of young Sev is slightly double-struck, so it looks like he has two noses: And a denarius and sestertius of his supervisor (with matching Felicitas reverses): Julia Mamaea, AR Denarius. Rome, 228 A.D. (20mm, 2.13g), IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust to right / FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas standing facing, head to left, legs crossed, holding caduceus and leaning on column. RIC IV 335 (Alexander) Julia Mamaea, AR Sestertius (30mm, 20.27g), Draped bust r., wearing stephane./ Rev. Felicitas standing l., holding caduceus and leaning on column. RIC 676.

Link: Valerian provincial Valerian I, Cilicia, Corycus, (AE 36 mm, 20.02 g). ΑΥ Κ ΠΟ ΛΙΚ ΟΥΑΛΕΡΙΑΝ/ΟC Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I to right./ Rev. ΚΟΡΥ/ΚΙΩΤΩΝ ΑΥ ΝΑΥΑΡΧΙC Dionysos standing left, holding bunch of grapes (or kantharos) in right hand and thyrsos in left; at feet to left, panther; before him, prize urn inscribed ΘΕΜΙΑ and containing grain-ear and poppy set on tripod.From the Vineyard Collection

Link: Crossed cornucopiae Tiberius, Dupondius (AE, 30 mm, 16.44 g), Commagene, circa 19-20 AD. TI CAESAR DIVI AVGVSTI F AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Tiberius to r./ Rev. PONT MAXIM COS III IMP VII TR POT XXII Winged caduceus between two crossed cornucopiae. RIC 90. RPC I 3869

Elagabalus (with and without “horn”) Julia Maesa

This Macrinus tetradrachm struck shortly after Caracalla’s death is probably my favorite coin in my collection. It has a Macrinus obverse legend, but the portrait is pretty clearly of Caracalla. I believe this was originally intended to be a tetradrachm of Caracalla, but he was killed before the obverse legend was engraved. In a rush to get new coins minted (those soldiers needed to get paid!), they just kept the existing portrait and added in the obverse legend of Macrinus…ending up with a coin that has a portrait of Caracalla next to the name of the man who had him assassinated. (pretty clearly a Caracalla portrait…and ΜΑΚΡЄΙΝΟC is on the right side of the legend) Macrinus, Mesopotamia, Edessa, 217-218 AD., BI Tetradrachm (28 mm, 13.00 g). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of "Macrinus" to right, seen from behind. AY•K•M•ΟΠЄΛ•CЄΥ•ΜΑΚΡЄΙΝΟC CЄ/ Rev.ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ЄΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC Eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to r. and holding wreath in beak; between the eagle's legs, shrine. My favorite denarius of Big Mac (I love that beard!): And a few tetradrachms (Emesa, Tyre, Hierapolis) My only coin of his son:

Just realized that I forgot to post my favorites of Plautilla and Geta: Plautilla, AR Denarius (18mm; 3.56 gm). Laodicea mint. Circa 202-203 AD. Draped bust of Plautilla right./ Rev. Concordia seated l., holding patera and double cornucopia. RIC IV 372 (Caracalla) Geta, as Caesar, AR Denarius (19 mm, 3.23 g), Rome, 200-202. Bare-headed and draped bust of Geta to right/ Rev. PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Geta, as prince of the youth, standing l. in military attire, holding baton in his r. hand and spear with his l.; behind, trophy. RIC 18. Geta, as Caesar, AR Denarius circa 203-208 A.D., (18.9mm., 3.48g.), P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, Bare-headed and draped bust of Geta to r. / Rev. PROVID DEORVM Providentia standing l., holding wand over globe in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand. RIC 51.

Caracalla is definitely my favorite emperor to collect…I just love that angry scowl of his. There’s a lot of variety in how he’s depicted at the different mints, but it’s been said that he is almost always shown looking very angry or very constipated…usually a little bit of both. My two favorite portraits of Caracalla are these tetradrachms from the Tyre mint in Phoenicia…one because he looks so over-the-top comically angry, and the other because of the realistic look: Caracalla, Phoenicia (Tyre), Tetradrachm (27mm, 15.23 g). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. / Eagle standing facing on club r., head and tail l., holding wreath in beak; murex shell between legs.From the Michel Prieur Collection. Caracalla, Tetradrachm, Phoenicia (Tyre), (27mm., 13.70g) Laureate head r./Rev. Eagle standing facing on club r., head and tail l., holding wreath in beak; murex shell between legs. A couple of tets from Antioch: Two denarii from Rome: And a big bronze from Philippopolis:

Thanks! I love this one, one of my favorites! And I know this is a “portrait” thread, but this is also one of my favorite reverse types…the reverse has a strong resemblance to this statue of Athena Promachos.

These are my favorite Julia Domna portraits: Julia Domna, Cilicia, Isaura, AE Tetrassarion (29 mm, 15.06 g), circa 205-211 AD. IOYΛIA ΔOMNA CЄBAC Draped bust of Julia Domna to right./ Rev. MHTPOΠOΛЄΩC ICAY-PΩN Athena Promachos advancing right, wearing aegis over her shoulders, holding spear in her left hand and brandishing thunderbolt with her right. Julia Domna, AR Denarius, (19mm, 3.73g), IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG Draped bust of Julia Domna to right./ Rev. MATRI – DEVM Cybele, standing front, head left, holding drum in right hand and sceptre in left, resting left elbow on column; at feet, lion seated left. RIC 382 Julia Domna, AR Denarius (20 mm, 3.77 g), Rome, circa 214 AD, IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG Draped bust of Julia Domna to right. /Rev.VESTA Vesta standing front, head to left, holding palladium in her right hand and long scepter in her left. RIC 390 (Caracalla) Julia Domna, Phyrgia, Prymnessus., AE Diassarion (23 mm, 6.84 g). ΙΟΥΛΙΑ CЄΒΑCTH Draped bust of Julia Domna to right./ Rev. ΠΡΥΜΝΗCCЄΩΝ Kybele seated left, holding patera in her right hand and leaning left on tympanon; at feet to left, lion.

I’ve always really liked the portraits on Septimius’ provincial bronzes…here are some of my favorites: Septimius Severus, Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis. AE Pentassarion (27mm, 9.94 g). Struck 201-202 AD. Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. / Tyche Soterios (Fortuna Redux) standing l., holding rudder set on ground and cornucopia.From the Benito Collection Septimius Severus, Macedon, Stobi, (AE, 25 mm, 9.31 g). IMP CSP SEVERV Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus to right./ Rev. MVNICI STOBENS Victory advancing r., holding wreath and palm.; in r. field, pellet-in-crescent

My 2 favorite portraits of Lucius Verus: Lucius Verus, AR Denarius (17 mm, 3.08 g), Rome, 161-162. Bareheaded bust of Lucius Verus to r./Rev. Providentia standing front, holding globe in her r. hand and cornucopia with her l. RIC 482 (Marcus Aurelius). Lucius Verus, Rome, AR Denarius, (19 mm, 3.44g), L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head to right / PAX AVG TR P VI COS II, Pax standing to left, holding olive-branch and cornucopia. RIC III 555 (Aurelius)

My favorite portrait is this surprised-looking Marcus: Divus Marcus Aurelius. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.24 g). Consecration issue. Rome mint. Struck under Commodus, 180 AD. Bare head of Divus Marcus Aurelius right / Rev. CONSECRATIO, eagle standing right on globe. RIC III 273 (Commodus).From the Phil Peck ("Morris") Collection Another favorite portrait of Marcus Aurelius: Marcus Aurelius, AR Denarius. 166 A.D., Rome., (19 mm, 3.2g), Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to right./ Rev: Pax standing left, holding branch and cornucopia. RIC 159 Marcus and Lucius together: Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Seleucis and Pieria, Laodicea ad Mare. 161-169 AD, AE Diassarion (25 mm, 9.08 g), Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to r./ Rev. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus to r., RPC online IV.3 9010

My only quadrans: Claudius, AE Quadrans, Rome. (18mm, 2.66g), TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG., Hand left, holding scales; PNR below.: Rev: PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT. Large S C. RIC 85.

Link: Roma seated in a temple Maxentius, AE Follis (25 mm, 6.13) Aquileia, 308-309. IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG Laureate head of Maxentius to right./Rev.CONSERV VRB SVAE / AQS Roma seated facing within hexastyle temple, holding globe in her right hand and scepter in her left; at her side, shield; in pediment, crescent. RIC 121(a)

My favorite portraits of A. Pius and the Mrs. : Divus Antoninus Pius (Died 161 A.D.), AR Denarius. Rome. Struck under Marcus Aurelius. (19mm, 3.26 g), DIVVS ANTONINVS, Bare head right of Divus Antoninus Pius to right/ Rev: CONSECRATIO. Eagle, with head left, standing right on altar. RIC 430 (Aurelius). Diva Faustina Senior, AR Denarius (17mm, 3.30 g). Rome mint. Draped bust right, wearing pearls bound on top of her head / Ceres standing left, holding grain ears and torch. RIC III 378 (Pius). I also really like the portrait style on this one (though it really could use a better photo): Antoninus Pius, AR Denarius (19mm, 3.83 g). Rome mint. Struck AD 150-151. Laureate head right / Bonus Eventus, naked, standing left, holding patera and two grain ears. RIC III 196. From the Phil Peck (Morris) Collection.

Should be some great Hadrians coming our way in this thread. My favorite Hadrian portrait is this denarius…he looks much tougher than usual. Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, 133-135 AD ,(18mm, 3.02g),HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head to right / SALVS AVG, Salus standing to right, feeding snake coiled round altar. RIC II.3 2048 I really like his Alexandrian portraits as well: Hadrian, Alexandria, BI Tetradrachm, 136-137 AD (24.5mm., 13.20g). Laureate head of Hadrian r./ Rev. Demeter wearing peplos standing l. holding corn-ears and sceptre Hadrian, Alexandria, BI Tetradrachm (24 mm, 12.68 g), RY 22 = 137/8. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙC ΤΡΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right./ Rev. ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ / L ΚΒ Pronoia standing front, head to left, holding Phoenix in her right hand and scepter in her left. RPC III 6252

Link: (I was happy to end up with two coins from this collection…I was outbid on many more 😎) Jovian, 363-364 A.D., AE follis (21 mm, 3.79 g), Sirmium. D N IOVIA-NVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Jovian to right. Rev. VOT / V / MVLT / X in four lines within laurel wreath; in exergue, ASIRM. RIC 118. From the collection of Dipl.-Ing. Adrian Lang.

Some beautiful Trajans already in this thread! This one is my favorite Trajan portrait: Trajan, AE Dupondius, circa 105-111, (28mm., 13.22g.) Radiate head right/ Rev. Trophy of arms, two shields at base; S-C across fields. RIC 586. A couple others: Trajan, AR Denarius (18 mm, 3.23g), Rome, 107-111. Laureate head of Trajan to right./ Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm frond. RIC 128. Trajan, Alexandria, BI Tetradrachm (24.4mm., 12.72g). 116-117 AD, Radiate bust r., with aegis, in front, star./ Rev. Dikaiosyne standing facing, head l., holding scales and cornucopia;in l. field, LK. RPC 4916.

Here are my only two coins of the brothers (I’m a little surprised that I don’t have more of them): Commemorative Series, Follis (19 mm, 3.20 g), Siscia, 330-333. VRBS ROMA Draped bust of Roma to left, wearing crested Attic helmet. Rev. She-wolf standing left, head facing, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; above, two eight-pointed stars; in exergue, ΓSIS. RIC 222. From the collection of Dipl.-Ing. Adrian Lang. Maxentius, Follis, (Silvered Bronze, 25 mm, 7.36 g), Ostia, 308- 312. Laureate head of Maxentius to right./ Rev.AETERNITAS AVG N /MOSTA, The Dioscuri standing facing, each with a star above their caps, holding bridle of horse in right hand and scepter in left; between them, she-wolf standing left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus. RIC 16

A surprisingly handsome-looking Nerva: Nerva, Antioch, circa 96-98, AE “As” (25.5mm., 14.34g). Laureate head right/ Rev. Large S C; below, Θ ; all within wreath. McAlee 421i. RPC 3487. And then a more traditional-looking Nerva: Nerva, AR Denarius (17 mm, 3.45 g), Rome, 97. Laureate head of Nerva r. /Rev. LIBERTAS PVBLICA Libertas standing left, holding pileus in right hand and scepter in left. RIC 19

Link: Ceres Diva Faustina Senior, AR Denarius (17mm, 3.30 g). Rome mint. Draped bust right, wearing pearls bound on top of her head / Ceres standing left, holding grain ears and torch. RIC III 378 (Pius).

Link: Two Victories Magnentius, Treveri(Trier), 352 AD, (AE, 23.3 mm, 4.55g), Bare-headed bust of Magnentius to right, A behind/ Two Victories holding wreath with inscription VOT / V / MVLT / X; TRP in exergue

Hadrian, Alexandria, BI Tetradrachm (24 mm, 12.68 g), RY 22 = 137/8. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙC ΤΡΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right./ Rev. ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑ / L ΚΒ Pronoia standing front, head to left, holding Phoenix in her right hand and scepter in her left. RPC III 6252. Next: bird (other than eagle)

Link: Marcus with Lucius Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Seleucis and Pieria, Laodicea ad Mare. 161-169 AD, AE Diassarion (25 mm, 9.08 g), Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to r./ Rev. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus to r., RPC online IV.3 9010