Post it and pick it!

[Prieure de Sion]

Quote

Posted 12 hours ago

6h rule...

 

 

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Caligula

Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 39/40 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 36mm; Weight: 28.39g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC I (second edition) Gaius/Caligula 46; Provenance: Ex Stephen Album Rare Coins USA; Obverse: Head of Caligula, laureate, left. The Inscription reads: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG P M TR P III P P for Caius Caesar Divi Augusti Pronepos Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate Tertia, Pater Patriae (Gaius Caesar, great-grandson of the divine Augustus, Augustus, high priest, holder of tribunician power for the third time, father of the nation); Reverse: Legend in four lines in oak-wreath. The Inscription reads: S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS for Senatus Populusque Romanus Patri Patriae, Ob Cives Servatos (The senate and the Roman people to the father of the nation, the saviour of the citizens).

 

Next: a picture (taken by you) in a city you visited and a coin minted in that city (well everything except Rome)....

[akeady]

Selinunte/Selinos - one of several temples; most are a jumble of fallen stones, some have been re-erected.

Next - Sicily

[Roman Collector]

One of my most beautiful coins just happens to be from Sicily!


Philistis, wife of Hieron II.
Greek AR 5 litrae.
Syracuse 270-230 BCE, 4.46 gm, 18.1 mm.
Obv: Diademed and veiled head, l., palm branch behind.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑΣ ΦΙΛΙΣΤΙΔΟΣ, Nike driving biga to left, E in l. field.
Refs: SNG ANS 893; SNG III (Lockett) 1017; Forrer 196.

Next: Non-Roman queen or empress.

Edited June 23, 2023 by Roman Collector

[DonnaML]

Not an ancient coin, but definitely a non-Roman Queen and Empress:

Great Britain, 1837-1897, AR Official Royal Mint Diamond Jubilee Medal to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of Victoria's Reign (large), in red leather case of issue. Obv. Bust left, crowned, veiled, and draped, VICTORIA ANNVM REGNI SEXAGESIMVM FELICITER CLAVDIT XX IVN. MDCCCXCVII. / Rev. Young head of the Queen, left, dividing inscription LONGITVDO DIERVM IN DEXTERAEIVS ET IN SINISTRA GLORIA; below, 1837 upon laurel branch tied with ribbon. By G.W. de Saulles, after T.Brock/W. Wyon. 56 mm, 82.5 g. BHM 3506 [Brown, Laurence, British Historical Medals Vol. II, 1837-1901 (Seaby 1987)]; Eimer 1817a & Pl. 200; Wollaston pp. 89-90 & ill. 40.

Next, another coin or medal that weighs at least 82.5 grams.

Edited June 25, 2023 by DonnaML

[expat]

Composition     Silver (.925)
Weight     129.59 g
Diameter     61 mm
Thickness     4.7 mm
Shape     Round
Technique     Milled

NEXT: Coat of arms

[JayAg47]

How about a medieval style COA I made for the pre-Christian Roman empire.

It features: Lupa Capitolina, the She-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of the city Rome, underneath them are fig leaves, and over them is Caesar's Comet, signifying the rebirth of the republic under Augustus. The eagle above them holds Jupiter's thunderbolt to denote land supremacy, and Neptune's trident for naval supremacy. Flanked by Mars Ultor, god of war, holding a sword to signify the braveness of the Romans, and Venus Genetrix, who's draped and looks lustfully at Mars while holding laurel wreath, she was the patron goddess of the Julio-Claudians, and denotes the fecundity of the Roman empire.

Anyway for a coin: I've always liked the Spanish COA.

Next: a baby/toddler as a main theme, either on the obverse or reverse. 

[expat]

From the 1999 Millenium Canada 25 cents

NEXT: 100 BCE or older

[ambr0zie]

Lydia. Thyateira circa 200-100 BC.
Bronze Æ 14 mm, 3,38 g.
Autonomous issue, after 200 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right (no magistrate's name) / ΘYATEIΡHNΩN,
bipennis (double axe).
BMC 6-7; SNG Cop 571; Duesseldorf 8410; Walcher 2714; SNG von Aulock 3199; SNG Leipzig 1267A;
Weber 6921-6922; Mionnet Supp. VII, 569; Mionnet IV, 851-852; Hunter 1; SNG Tuebingen 3835-3837;
Waddington 5337-5338; SNG Munich 573; GRPC Lydia 8.

Next - axe. 

[Dafydd]

 

This is a coin we see frequently and features many subjects including an Axe.

Next a pirate usurper.

Ref Julius Caesar RSC 49 denarius
Julius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius. CAESAR in exergue, elephant right, trampling on serpent / Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat. Cr443/1; Syd 1006; BMCRR (Gaul) 27.Ref Julius Caesar RSC 49 denarius

Edited June 25, 2023 by Dafydd
typo

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Ahenobarbus, 41-40 BC.

Next: Titus

[Dafydd]

 

Titus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate bust right / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, wreath on curule chair. RIC 108; RSC 318. 3.06g, 18mm, 6h.

Next, another Titus.

[Roman Collector]

Titus.


Titus as Caesar, 69-79 CE.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.27 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h.
Rome, 76 CE.
Obv: T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN, laureate head right.
Rev: COS V, Eagle standing front on garlanded altar, thunderbolt in claws, wings open, head left.
Refs: RIC.191a; RIC2.861; BMCRE 191; CBN 166; RSC.59a; RCV 2438.

Next: Someone with a famous brother.

[DonnaML]

Domitian Caesar (son of Vespasian), AR Denarius 76 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, bearded, CAESAR AVG F • DOMITIANVS (Counter-clockwise beginning at 5:00) / Rev. Pegasus stepping right with left foreleg raised, wings curling to right, COS IIII above (with line above IIII to signify numerals) [Domitian COS IIII = AD 76; see table at Sear RCV I p. 308]. 19 mm., 3.43 g. RIC II.1 Vespasian 921 (2007 ed.), old RIC II 238 (1926 ed.), RSC II 47, Sear RCV I 2637 (ill. p. 485), BMCRE 193. Purchased from cgb.fr, March 2022.*

*See Sear RCV I 2637 at p. 485 fn.: “The reverse type is copied from the coinage of Augustus (see [RCV I] no. 1629).”
 

Next, another denarius of Domitian with something or someone other than Minerva on the reverse.

[Alwin]

DOMITIAN, as Caesar (69-81)
Denarius
Rome, 80
S 2676 - C 397 v. - RIC 266 (Titus)
CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right
PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, Altar, lighted and garlanded.

Next: Altar

[ambr0zie]

Pontus, Amasia. Geta (Caesar, 198-209). Ӕ. Dated CY 208 (208/9). 30mm, 13,72 g Obv: Π CЄΠTI ΓЄTAC KЄCAP. Bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right / Rev: AΔP CЄY ANT AMACIAC MH NЄ ΠP ΠO / ЄT CH. Altar of Zeus Strateus, on the altar a dead bull with its legs up; on the bull, an eagle, standing facing, head left, with wings spread, holding a crown in its beak; tree to left. RG 96.

Next - bull 

[Broucheion]

Hi All,

HADRIAN (11 Aug 117 - 10 Jul 138 CE)
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT (MEMPHITES NOME) Year 11 (126/127 CE)
Æ DICHALKON - (NOME COIN)

Size: 14 mm
WEight: 2.04g
Broucheion Collection R-2014-12-21.001

Obv: Hadrian laureate head facing right. No legend. Dotted border.
Rev: Apis Bull, standing facing left. Above: MЄMΦI; In right field: IA over L. Dotted border.
Refs: Emmett-1281.11; Geissen-Unlisted; Dattari 6300-6301; Weber & Geissen pl xii, #119; Milne-1243; FaM-1362; SNG Copenhagen-1118; BMC-23-24; Mionnet-80; Mabbott-3748; Feaurdent-3540.

Next: Another Nome coin from Roman Egypt.

- Broucheion

[DonnaML]

I have exactly one Nome coin. They're not really offered that often.

Hadrian, AE Nome Obol, Year 11 (126/127 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint (for Arsinoite Nome). Obv. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder, AΥΤ ΚΑΙ - ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ϹΕΒ / Rev. Head of Egyptian Pharaoh right, no beard [identified with Amenemhat III, under Greco-Roman name of Pramarres], wearing nemes [royal striped headdress] with uraeus [sacred cobra, worn by deities and pharaohs] at forehead; APCI (= Arsi[noites]) to left, date L IA (Year 11) to right. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 6296 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/6296 ; Emmett 1211.11 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; BMC 16 Alexandria, Nomes 72-73 at p. 357 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892)]; Sear RCV II 3831 (ill.); Köln 3381/82 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band II (Hadrian-Antoninus Pius) (Cologne, 1978, corrected reprint 1987)]; K&G N6.6; Milne 1229 at p. 30 (var. with beard; see p. 139 col. 2 bottom) [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]. 19.4 mm., 5.32 g. (Purchased from Zuzim Inc., Brooklyn, NY Jan 2021; ex. Fontanille Coins, Auction 96, July 2017, Lot 7, sold as “the finest example [that dealer] ha[d] seen.”)*

[Dealer's photo with obv. on right & rev. on left.]

*The Nomes (from Greek: Νομός, "district") were the 60-70 administrative divisions of Egypt under the Ptolemies and Romans; the Egyptian term for a nome was “sepat.” See https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Nomes. The Arsinoite Nome (known as “Arsinoites”), the capital of which was the city of Arsinoe, corresponded to the area of the Fayum Oasis or Basin, Lake Moeris, etc., west of the Nile and southwest of Cairo. See https://www.trismegistos.org/fayum/fayum2/gen_intro.php. It encompassed, among other things, the pyramid of Amenemhet III near the town of Hawara, north of the lake (the site of the famous necropolis where the Fayum mummy portraits were discovered). See id., see also the discussion, with photos including one of the Hawara pyramid, by “@jochen1” at https://www.cointalk.com/threads/amenemhet-iii.370249/#post-5138482. 

The Nomes coins were small bronze issues minted in Alexandria, each with the head of the reigning emperor on the obverse, and the name (in full or abbreviated, as with this coin) of a different Nome written in Greek on the reverse, together with an image ostensibly bearing some relationship to a deity or to cult worship associated with that Nome. They were issued under Domitian, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius Caesar. See Numiswiki, supra. See also Emmett at p. xv for a discussion of the Nomes coinage, noting that Hadrian issued “the most nome coins in terms of numbers of coins issued, numbers of different reverse types and numbers of nomes.” Indeed, Emmett specifically singles out this type from among Hadrian’s extensive series of bronze Nome obols and dichalkons issued in Year 11, as one of “only two interesting reverse types that appear on Hadrian’s obols: that of a bust of an Egyptian King on his Arsinoite nome obol”; it is the only Nomes type bearing such an image. Id. Emmett makes no attempt to identify which “King.” However, RPC III 1749 expressly identifies the reverse image as “head of Premarres (Amenemhet III),” who reigned in the 12^th Dynasty, from 1842-1797 BC. (The more common spellings seem to be “Pramarres” and “Amenenhat.”).  The evidence available online appears to support that identification.

Thus, Emmett states that “[t]hese coins depict the local cult-worship of each nome,” with “Horus and Isis . . . the god and goddess most often represented in their various forms on the reverses of the nome coins.” Id. But the entry for Nomes in Numiswiki, supra, argues that the fact that the Nomes coins were minted in Alexandria “robs them of the interest they would otherwise have possessed as calculated to throw light on local cults,” and that the purpose of the Nomes coinage should be regarded as “primarily commemorative.” See also BMC Alexandria 16 at pp. xcviii-c, discussing the issue at length, citing various examples, and concluding that it seems “certain that the Nome types were not only selected at Alexandria, but that the selection was independent of local worship unconnected with Alexandria. Thus the series loses much of its interest as its mythological value is small and uncertain,” except for Nomes near Alexandria. (Id. at p. c.)

But regardless of the significance of the reverse image on other Nome coins, a strong argument can be made that the image on the reverse of this type of the Nome coinage of Hadrian, bearing the name of the Arsinoite Nome -- unquestionably the image of a pharaoh, given the presence of the nemes and uraeus -- was, in fact, directly connected to cult worship in that Nome, which was the center of the cult of the deified Amenemhat III.

It would seem farfetched to conclude that it could be purely a coincidence that the Arsinoite Nome was the only one for which a Nome coin was issued depicting a pharaoh, and that the very same Nome was the center of the cult of Amenemhat III, as the site of his pyramid, up to and into the Greco-Roman period, until the rise of Christianity. The available evidence strongly suggests that it was not a coincidence. See Uytterhoeven, Inge, and Ingrid Blom-Böer. “New Light on the Egyptian Labyrinth: Evidence from a Survey at Hawara.” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, vol. 88, 2002, pp. 111–120,. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3822339 , accessed 5 Jan. 2021, stating as follows on its first page:

See also https://www.trismegistos.org/fayum/fayum2/747.php?geo_id=747 -- trismegistos is “a platform aiming to surmount barriers of language and discipline in the study of texts from the ancient world, particularly late period Egypt” -- for a lengthy discussion of the archaeological excavations at Hawara, including at the pyramid of Amenemhat III. The discussion specifically notes that “the fullest topographical description [of the location] in the Graeco-Roman period is found in P.Hawara Lüdd. XIX (85 BC): ‘the necropolis, which is in the Souchos village Hawara in the exo topoi in the area on the north side of the Moeris canal in the meris of Herakleides in the Arsinoite nome.’" (Emphasis added.) Thus, the location of the tomb of Amenemhat III within the Arsinoite Nome is not in question.

The website states as follows:

“Hawara owed its fame to Pramarres, the 12th Dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat III, who built his funerary complex at Hawara around 1800 BC. The Labyrinth, south of the pyramid, was evidently the main cult centre of the deified pharaoh (photo). The cult is attested by Ptolemaic dedications, such as I.Fayum I 34 and 35 (both 1st cent. BC) and the demotic stele Stewart 1983 Nr. 81 (Ptolemaic period).”

The website also discusses how well-known the necropolis near the pyramid was, as far away as Alexandria (where this coin was minted), specifically because of its connection with the deified Amenemhat III. Note the reference to a will executed between 117 and 138 AD, i.e., during the reign of Hadrian:

“Hawara, ideally located at the desert edge and easily accessible from the metropolis by the Bahr Yussuf, was a logical choice as necropolis for the nome capital. For some it was a privilege to be buried in the sacred area near the tomb and temple of the deified Amenemhat. Thus an anonymous metropolite, who lived at Tebtynis, explicitly mentioned in his last will that he wanted to be buried 'near the Labyrinth' (SB VIII 9642 l.4; 117-138 AD). At least part of the Hellenized elite buried at Hawara must have lived in the metropolis, e.g. the gymnasiarchs Tiberius Iulius Asklepiades and Dios and their wives. The specification ᾿Αρσινοείτης added to the occupation of the wool merchant Apollinarios (SB I 3965/III 7084; 2nd century AD) and the mention of the agora; τῶν ἱματοπωλῶν on the mummy label of Diodoros (SB XVIII 13654; Roman period) suggest that these too were inhabitants of Arsinoe.

Hawara also attracted persons from other places in the Arsinoite nome. Thus the body of an undertaker of Alexandrou Nesos had to be placed in a family tomb at Hawara (P.Hawara Lüdd. IV; 220 BC). The unpublished account P.Ashm. I 30 lists deceased from the village Mendes, from Ptolemais Hormou and even from Meidoum in the Memphite nome. There may even be a relation between the place of origin of the dead and the cult places of Pramarres in the Fayum (e.g. Alexandrou Nesos and Tebtynis).

Indeed, even people from outside the Fayum found their last resting place at Hawara, as is attested by the correspondence between the undertakers of Alexandria with those of Hawara (SB I 5216; 101, 68 or 39 BC) and by the mummy label of Pantagathos, sent "to the Arsinoite nome" (SB I 3967).”

(Emphasis added.)

The conclusion that the image of a pharaoh on the reverse of this coin of the Arsinoite Nome was intended to represent the deified pharaoh Pramarres, i.e. Amenemhat III -- regardless of the fact that the coinage was minted in Alexandria -- appears inescapable. The type is historically significant, given that there is no other Egyptian pharaoh represented on Roman Alexandrian coinage.

Next, another obol from Roman Alexandria -- from a Nome or not; doesn't matter.

[Edessa]

Roman Egypt, Alexandria, Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Obol (20mm, 4.82g, 11h). Athribites Nome. Dated RY 11 (AD 126/127). Obv: AVT KAI TPAI A∆PIA CEB; Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder. Rev: ΑΘΡ-IB, female figure standing left, holding a hawk, crowned with skhent, in her extended right hand, and holding a fold of her chiton with her left hand; L IA (date) in right field. Ref: Köln 3385; Dattari (Savio) 6215; K&G N7.4; Emmett 1226.11; RPC 6466. "From a private British collection". Ex Naville Numismatics 79 (12 Feb 2023), Lot 288.

Next: Your favorite coin from Roman Alexandria.

[Sulla80]

This Regnal Year 7 coin of Gallienus is one of my favorites: Alexandria standing left, wearing turreted crown, holding bust of Sarapis and scepter

Next - more from Egypt (Roman or Ptolemaic)

[ambr0zie]

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Tyre. Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-221 BC. Bronze Æ 24 mm, 10,62 g
Diademed head of Zeus Ammon to right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle with closed wings standing to left on thunderbolt; club to left.
CPE B468; Svoronos 708; SNG Copenhagen 495.

Next - Zeus on obverse

[Phil Davis]

Crawford 98A/1a, 211-210 BC. One of my favorite Jupiter/Zeus portraits.

Next: Another victoriatus

Edited June 27, 2023 by Phil Davis

[Curtisimo]

Hard to follow up to such a beautiful example as @Phil Davis just showed but here is my humble example.

Next: A Roman coin from before 200 BC.

[ambr0zie]

Roman Republic. Anonymous 215-212 BC. Rome
Sextans Æ
29 mm, 16,32 g
Head of Mercury right, wearing winged petasus; •• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley right; •• (mark of value) below.
Crawford 41/9; Sydenham 107; BMCRR 72.

 

Next - a coin showing Mercury or Hermes. 

[Prieure de Sion]

1 hour ago, ambr0zie said:

Next - a coin showing Mercury or Hermes. 

 

Lucius Aurelius Commodus Caesar Augusti Filius
Reign: Pseudo-autonomous; time of Marcus Aurelius or Commodus; Mint: Antiochia ad Pisidiam, Pisidia; Date: 166/180 AD; Nominal: Bronze; Material: AE; Diameter: 13mm; Weight: 1.60g; Reference: RPC IV.3 7373; Reference: Krzyżanowska 144 II.2; RPC Online: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/7373; Rare: Specimens 2 (2 in the core collections); Provenance: N&N Numismatics London, Great Britain (Auction XI, Lot 349); Pedigree: –; Special: RPC Online Plate coin

Obverse: Bust of Hercules/Heracles (bearded) wearing lion skin around neck, left; Inscription: ANTI; Translation: City of Antiochia; Reverse: Draped bust of Mercury/Hermes (head assimilated to portrait of youthful Commodus), right; to left, caduceus; Inscription: COLO; Translation: Colonia [Antiochia]

 

Next: a Roman Provincial Silver Coin from Cappadocia

[akeady]

Here's a coin of Nero with Claudius as well.

Ruler:	Nero (Augustus)
Region, City:	Cappadocia, Caesarea
Coin:	Silver Didrachm NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI - Laureate head of Nero r., early coiffure. D[IVOS CLAVD AVGVST GER]MANIC PATER AVG - Laureate head of Claudius r.
Mint:	(58-60AD)
Wt./Size/Axis:	7.44g / - / -
References:	RPC 3631 RIC 613 BM 413 Syd 69
Provenances:	HJB
Acquisition:	eBay 22/2/2008
Notes:	Sep 20, 08 - The photos are from the eBay listing, I have to shoot it myself.

Next - more Roman Provincial Silver