Coinmaster

In general I fully agree. On medieval coins like on the examples above, I think there's a specific meaning, and... it seems not about the eyes or head at all! PS: In this article I explain the symbolic meaning of another old riddle on coins, the letter 'E'. https://www.academia.edu/45493646/_2021_De_letter_E_op_middeleeuwse_munten_verklaard

Oh wow, happy with this! http://www.dirtyoldbooks.com/CC/The-Complete-Coinage-of-Severus-Alexander.html (more at: http://www.dirtyoldbooks.com/CC/, but not free of charge) Any other suggestions are welcome!

Indeed a lot of pointing, thank for sharing! I found a reference to a book from Frederik Friedensburg. He wrote in 1922 three books about 'Die Symbolik der Mittelaltermunzen'. In this book on page 131-132 the pointing to the eyes supposed to be about the praying for salvation. I'm not convinced, although the picture that is referred to (from the Albani psalters) is striking!

Hi all, for an article I'm doing research about a strange symbol on medieval coins: the pointing finger. I've seen descriptions that the finger is pointing to ears, eyes, head and forehead or face, and written about several explanations. I found some interesting things, but first I'd like to ask you what you think. Have you seen this before? On what coins? How old is this symbol? Perhaps also on Roman coins? Many thanks for your input! PS: Below some examples, but more are most welcome!

Fully agree with @DonnaML. For those interested in stars, planets, comets and solar eclipses on coins, see: 1. http://www.faintich.net/primer.htm (I have this book, it's very interesting) 2. https://www.academia.edu/45119396/_2021_Zonsverduisteringen_op_munten_1100_1300_ (my own article)

Very nice coin! I don't believe in 'control marks'. Usually stars on coins refers to the sun or other stars, planets or comets. I wrote an article about solar eclipses on coins. It's in Dutch, but you'll get the picture. I used historical data from NASA about the exact moments of partial or full solar eclipses that was seen at that time. Anyway, your star isn't related to a solar eclipse, but I think there is a link with a (bright) star, planet or comet that could be seen as a sign from some Roman deity. https://www.academia.edu/45119396/_2021_Zonsverduisteringen_op_munten_1100_1300_

A beautiful collection and overview @DonnaML, many thanks for sharing! What is on your wish list now? And how come you're interested in the Republican era instead of the emperors? PS: This (free) publication might interest you: https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at/produkt/arma-et-nummi/30586?product_form=482.

Nice coin! Do you perhaps know these references?

@Limes, I wonder, is there somewhere an overview of Roman coins with (only) the conquests/battles? Indeed an interesting topic. 👍🏻

I didn't know this story, but found this online article: https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2020/01/26/what-really-happened-to-the-athena-parthenos/ Very interesting! For example, I also didn't know Constantine the Great did not name his city Constantinopolis, but Nova Roma! So Byzantium became Nova Roma, that transformed into Constantinopolis, which in turn was renamed in 1930 into Istanbul - which is now the largest city of Europe (about 16 million people).

Great! Don't forget to atmention me please! I recently started a Roman denarii collection, so I haven't got much to show yet, but this forum provides great inspiration. I do know a bit about coins, especially 12th/13th century. See for instance: https://www.academia.edu/92848193/_2022_Utrechtse_bisschoppen_op_munten_1178_1267_ and: https://www.academia.edu/53388550/_2021_Een_muntreeks_van_graaf_Floris_III_van_Holland_1157_1190_Inventarisatie_en_catalogus (this one took me 6 years of research)

These are all great stories!! Thanks for sharing.

This coin and its story is just.. insane! You must be very pleased with this crown juwel in your collection, congrats! Thanks for sharing.

Mars it is Donna! Great analysis. You must have a collection that many museums would be envious about!

Beautiful coins Donna, congrats! Thanks for sharing!!

Very difficult indeed. Perhaps Hendrik IV (1056-1106)? https://nnc.dnb.nl/dnb-nnc-ontsluiting-frontend/#/numis/object/1032930

Haha! But that would be Hungarian! https://www.getblend.com/blog/hungarian-difficult-to-learn/

Arent Pol studies these coins (for over 30 years now) and can tell you more, please send him an e-mail via: a.pol@arch.leidenuniv.nl. Great find, congrats!

Hi all, besides the sometimes beautiful portraits on Roman coins, I think the stories they tell are as interesting/relevant for a collector as well. Like the conquest-coins of Trajan (https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/trajan_s-major-conquests--ancients-today.html), the travel-coins of Hadrian (https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinweek-ancient-coin-series-travels-with-hadrian/ + https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/2789/Ancient-Hadrian-coins/ + https://followinghadrian.com/hadriantravels/) or in general the buildings on Roman coins (http://www.romancoins.info/VIC-Buildings.html). I'm curious about the coins you bought because of the stories behind it. Show and tell please, thanks! I really like this coin from Nero, with the ships of grain from the Ostia harbor with the message: because of me you all have bread to eat! Unfortunately beyond my budget... (source: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-6445 and see also: https://www.ostia-antica.org/portus/portus-intro.htm).

RPC = Roman Provincial Coinage Found online this one: A. Burnett, M. Amandry, P.P. Ripollès, I. Carradice, Roman Provincial Coinage, Supplement II, British Museum Press y Bibliothèque nationale de France 2006 https://www.uv.es/=ripolles/Web_PP/rpc_s2.pdf Feel free to add other PDFs! 😉

Hi all, besides RIC-references, sometimes there is a reference to the 'BMCRE': Mattingly, H. & R.A.G. Carson. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. (London, 1923 - 1963). These are the volumes: Vol. 1: Augustus to Vitellius. (London 1923) Vol. 2: Vespasian to Domitian. (London 1930) Vol. 3: Nerva to Hadrian. (London 1936) Vol. 4: Antoninus Pius to Commodus. (London 1940) Vol. 5: Pertinax to Elagabalus. (London 1950) Vol. 6: Severus Alexander to Pupienus. (London 1963) I found the first four online (downloadable as PDF Text so you can search with certain words): Vol. 1: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69977 Vol. 2: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69978 Vol. 3: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69979 Vol. 4: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69980 Perhaps vol. 5 & 6 are also online available somewhere?

Nice to see a Droysen map is used to illustrate Trajan victory in Dacia: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Trajan/

Perhaps this website is also helpful: https://www.mittelaltermuenzen.com/the-coins Plus my recent article: https://www.academia.edu/92848193/_2022_Utrechtse_bisschoppen_op_munten_1178_1267_ Let me know if you have any questions. 👍🏻

Very nice indeed! I wonder why there was need for 'test cuts' on both sides. In my opinion this coin could also be used as an offering and therefor be mutulated, to transform it for this other purpose. This is also a practice in early medieval times. Of course test cuts is another possibility, but I would argue not the only one. Anyway, great coin!

Oh wow, this coin is insane and must has cost you a kidney or your marriage!! Incredible museum piece, congratulations!