Ryro

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Gat dang!!! How did I miss this thread???

It seems we have so many eager contributors in having a hard time keeping up...

I doubt if there is a more beeeeautiful example of that coin on earth! Huge coingrats @DonnaML

Here's mine and some other Gauls:

I'll chip in a couple of their mythical animals...

Griffin:

The Ketos Monster:

Rando a gogo says:

Philip V

184 - 179 BC

Silver tetrobol, 17mm, 2.46 grams

Obverse: Macedonian shield with MA KE above and below club on central boss.

Reverse: Macedonian helmet left with monograms to either side, monogram to left of trident to right of cheek guard.

SNG Copenhagen 1283 // SNG Ashmoleon 3280.

Purchased from Kenneth W. Dorney Auction 12 Feb 2022

@Roman CollectorI don't know where you get your wonderful ideas, but may this thread never die!

Here's the Fred Flintstone of our morning programming:

30 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

That's a lovely Faustina I denarius, @Ryro, and that's indeed Juno on the reverse. That Lucilla's nice, too. That's definitely Vesta on that Lucilla -- as opposed to the figure on my coins -- because she holds a Palladium. Paul Dinsdale* writes, "Vesta is usually portrayed holding palladium, with either a simpulum, a sceptre, or a torch. The palladium is a primary attribute, and is not borne by other personifications; we may therefore state that any figure😍 holding a palladium should be identified as Vesta. The sceptre and the torch are also borne by other personifications, and so are secondary and not determinative of type."

I STILL need to get one of those Caligula asses with the Vesta reverse, but you know how it is ...

Thank you for the kind words and for the earworm!

I KNEW you'd set me straight on the difference. I must've missed that part in your SPECTACULAR write up while enjoying those coins😍

If you like that one check out this barbarous one:

Caligula (Gaius)

AE AS Rome Mint 37-38 CE 27mm, 8.30 gr Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, bare head left REVERSE: VESTA S C, Vesta enthroned left, long scepter transveres in left RIC: 38, Sear 1803, Cohen 27, BMC I 46

Note: Possible Barbarous

Do you, or anybody, have a barbarous Faustina?

Next: a coin that made you see coins differently

21 minutes ago, Kamnaskires said:

Very avian Nike, there!

Doh!

I've led us astray. 

Next: Zeus holding Nike not an eagle

Next: horse galloping over something

I mean, it's alright...

That, my friend, is hours and hours of fun🤩 Coingrats!

We look forward to the write ups🤓

Next: another ATG Drachm 

Sounds like the winde up pitch for an Ides coin. 

But I do enjoy gnarly edged weapons!

The harpa that severed Medusa's head!

Next: a beautiful double or triple stamp (where the coin was struck by the hammer and anvil more than once)

Agreed. I've had fun there and seen some wonderful things...

Usually I scroll by just looking at the coins but now and again comment and it is a lively group!

The bull is one of Zeus's main mascots:

Next: bent but beautiful

Another excellent and informative post @Roman Collector!!!

Oh that's Vesta for sure😉 Just being a PITA. Not to be confused with Pietas!

One of my favorite portraits is a Faustina AETERNITAS... Denarius. Though, the description says Juno. I always get ripped up with all the Roman amalgamations of gods.

Diva Faustina I AR Denarius. Struck under Antoninus Pius, Rome, AD 141. DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust left / AETERNITAS, Juno standing left, raising right hand and holding sceptre.
Reference:RIC 344
Very Fine, 2,8 gr, 17 mm

Here is a Lucilla Vesta for comparison. Who I must say looks remarkably similar. Or could this identification also be AETERNITAS?

LUCILLA Sestertius, RIC 1779, Vesta

OBVERSE: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust right
REVERSE: VESTA, S-C, Vesta standing left, holding palladium and sacrificing with simpulum over lighted altar to left 
Struck at Rome, 161-161 AD
30.4 mm, 21.89g AD ex @Bing CT

And I do not think there is a more popular Vesta then the one of her taking a load off, seated, on the Caligula reverse:

Caligula,

37-41 AD., AS Rome mint.
Av.  bare head left

Rv. Vesta seated left, holding patera

quality is fine to very fine with a dark green patina,  weight is 9,96gr.   

Take a load off Vesta...

I don't recall seeing the Roman eagle before @DonnaML, but LOVE IT!!!

I'll pile on with my teeny tiny Bes pen (tastes like curses) and first scarab:

This is a wonderful set of books for beginners that is very affordable. I started out with just the first two books (I didn't have interest in byzantine nor non classical cultures).

And I know it's cliche but you can find a LOT just googling when you read something you aren't sure about. 

Ps, Roman Provincial (Greek Coins after Rome took over, roughly 100 BCE), Roman Empire (after the republic fell usually given the date Octavius was pronounced Augustus 27 BCE) or a Byzantine (boring! I kid, I kid. Not for me, but these are coins usually considered to come after the western empire fell, 476) is.

24 minutes ago, ominus1 said:

...i'd reckon late Roman republic/early imperial would be as good as place to start as any...then move backward, forward and outward to other cultures 

 

L. Rubrius Dossenus denarius, c87BC laureate Jupiter Bust right with scepter behind obverse, lighting bolt in triumphal quadriga, with victory holding wreath  flying over reverse. 18mm, 3.40gms

I like this idea. I think most either start in LRBs (Late Roman Bronzes) due to affordability. Or trying to collect the twelve Caesars Suetonius mentions. 

I wish I had the foresight to start in Roman Republic and Greek (Sicily in particular).

 Here's some reasons why:

And Sicily is famous for having the most artistically beautiful coins of the ancient world:

My best advice though, is to look at lots of ancient coins and see what speaks to you. Is it all about the history? If so you can save a lot of money buying worn coins. Which have their own appeal. There really is magic in holding coins that have been passed around and used in commerce. . Or are you drawn to the pretty coins? Not easy to save on many of those. 

What do you like?

*Edit-Ps, and stay the #♡€& away from Macedonian shield coins! (He screamed with love in his voice)

Hi Steve!

Some very exciting stuff. Thanks for all the years of work you have put into the site! I would like to take advantage of your Sicily provenance explorer but am not finding it on the site. Could you help or provide a link, please?

next: another strange looking deity 

Next: another boy

Today's rando.... drum roll please....

Ahh, it's Napoleon with the love of his life Josephine. The man was such a creep that despite all they'd been through, when she (its always the woman's fault when conception doesn't take place, of course) couldn't give him an heir. He divorced her for a young pretty princess who had no love for him nor qualms about remarrying while he was imprisoned in the island. 

Napoléon FRANCE,PremierEmpire. 1804-1814. AR Medal (35mm, 24.11 g, 12h). On the Coronation Festival at the City Hall of Paris. By N.G.A. Brenet. Dated AN XIII (1804/5). NAPOLEON JOSEPHINE ., jugate busts of Napoleon, laureate, and Josephine, draped and wearing tiara and necklace, right; BRENET below /

Ex: Monnaies d’Antan

Though a supposed Hannibal portrait coin is on my want list, I've not got one yet. And we're over six, soooo

Next: A portrait that is up for debate whom it is depicting