Alphabet game GAME OVER

[Steve]

Diadumenian, AE19
Antioch, Syria

217-218 AD

Diameter: 19.4 mm

Weight: 3.2 grams

Obv: KAI O DIA ANTWNINOS, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed
bust right

Rev: Large SC within wreath, star over delta-epsilon above,
eagle below

Megaw ANT18; MacAlee 754; Hunter 247; BMC 412
Ex-stevex6

[Steve]

The Duke of Milan, Bernabo and Galeazzo II Visconti, AR Grosso or Pegione

1355-1378 AD

Diameter: 25 mm

Weight: 2.50 grams

Obverse: Dragon with maiden in its mouth between B G; above (an eagle) a aquiletta R/S

Reverse: Ambrose on the throne

Ex-stevex6

 

... cheers, coiners!!

 

Edited September 11, 2022 by Steve

[DonnaML]

My paltry collection of four Domitians, the last of which also features his wife Domitia on the reverse:

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).”

Domitian (son of Vespasian), AE Quadrans [1/4 As] 84-85 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. African Rhinoceros with two horns advancing right with head down/ Rev IMP DOMIT AVG GERM (clockwise around starting at 1:00), S C across. RIC II-1 Domitian 249 (2007 ed.), Sear RCV II 2834, Cohen 673. (Legend starting at 1:00 rather than 7:00 is rarer variety, with only 4 examples at OCRE -- none at British Museum; see http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.2_1(2).dom.249 -- and 8 at acsearch.)  16.5 mm., 2.56 g. [Issued after Domitian’s assumption of Germanicus title in late 83 AD, but before the Consular date XI was added to his quadrantes in 85. It was possibly distributed as a token and/or souvenir to the crowds at the Colosseum, which Domitian completed in 82 by adding its uppermost story. See Martial’s  Liber De Spectaculis (http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/martial_on_the_games_of_domitian_01_text.htm) re exhibition of rhinoceros at Colosseum, and re practice of distributing tokens to crowd. See also T.V. Buttrey, “Domitian, the Rhinoceros, and the Date of Martial's ‘Liber De Spectaculis,’" The Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 97 (2007), pp. 101-112, at https://www.jstor.org/stable/20430573?seq=1.]

Domitian (son of Vespasian) AR Denarius 88-89 AD. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TRP VIII/ Rev. Minerva advancing right w/javelin & shield, IMP XIX COS XIIII CENS PPP. RIC II-1 667 (2007 ed.), old RIC II 137 (1926 ed.), RSC II 252, BMCRE 151. 17.78 mm., 3.42 g. Ex: Gorny & Mosch.

Domitian and Domitia, AE 22.7, 93/94 AD, Cilicia, Anazarbus. Obv. Laureate head of Domitian to right, AYTO KAI ΘΕ YI ΔOMITIANOC CE ΓEP around from upper right / Rev. Draped bust of Domitia left, date IB P (= Year 112, = 93/94 AD)* across fields, star behind head, KAICAPEΩN ΔOMETIA CEBACTH around from lower left. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. II 1749; RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/1749 ; SNG Levante 1367 [Levante, E., Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Switzerland I, Levante-Cilicia (Zurich, 1986)] (see https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=40245); BMC Vol. 21 Lycaonia, Anazarbus 9 p. 32 [Hill, G.F., A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Greek Coins of Lycaonia, Isauria, and Cilicia (London, 1900)]. 22.7 mm., 10.09 g.  (Purchased from Zuzim Inc, Brooklyn, NY Jan. 2021; exported from Israel 2016 pursuant to IAA [Israel Antiquities Authority] Export License No. 531619, April 17, 2016.) (Double die-match to RPC II 1749, specimen no. 16; see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/1749.)

*Year 1 of era was 19 BCE, date of founding of Anazarbus after visit of Augustus.
 

[DonnaML]

My even paltrier number of two coins with Diadumenian:

Macrinus Augustus and Diadumenian Caesar, AE Pentassarion [5 Assaria], 217-218 AD, Marcianopolis Mint, Moesia Inferior [now Devnya, Bulgaria] (Pontianus, consular legate). Obv. Confronted heads of Macrinus, laureate, right, and Diadumenian, bareheaded, left, [AVT K OΠE]Λ CEV MAKPEINOC K M OΠEΛ ANTΩNEINOC [bracketed portion off flan][ = Imperator, Caesar, Opellius Augustus Macrinus, Caesar Marcus Opellius Antoninus ] / Rev. Hermes standing facing, head left, holding purse in extended right hand and caduceus in left hand; chlamys hanging over left arm; E [mark of value for “5”] in right field, VΠ Macrinus ΠONTIANOV MAP-KIANOΠOΛEITΩN (ΩN ligate) [ = Consular Legate Pontianus, (coin) of the people of Markianopolis].  AMNG I/I 740 [Pick, Behrendt, Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands Vol. I/I  (Berlin, 1898) at pp. 240-241]; BMC 3 Thrace 35 [R.S. Poole, ed. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 3, The Tauric Chersonese, Sarmatia, Dacia, Moesia, Thrace, etc. (London, 1877) at p. 32]; Hristova & Jekov 6.24.10.3 [Nina Hristova & Gospodin Jekov, The Local Coinage of the Roman Empire - Moesia Inferior, I - III c. A.D., MARCIANOPOLIS  (Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria 2006)]; Varbanov (Eng.) Vol. I, 1192 var. (E to left) [Ivan Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)]; Diadumenian.com /marcianopolis5.html, No. Mar5.33d.  25 mm, 12.89 g. Purchased from Kirk Davis, Cat # 75, Fall 2020, Lot 62; ex.: Dr. Paul Rynearson (ca. 2003). (Coin is double die match to Lot 696, CNG Triton XII Auction, Jan. 5, 2009.)

Diadumenian Caesar, AE Tetrassarion (4 Assaria), 217-218 AD, Nicopolis ad Istrum [Nikyup, Bulgaria] Mint, Moesia Inferior, Statius Longinus, Consular Legate. Obv. Bareheaded bust of Diadumenian right, draped and armored, seen from behind, M OPEL DIADOV-MENIANOC K (OV ligate) [ = Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus, Caesar] / Rev. Artemis, wearing short chiton, walking right, holding bow in left hand and drawing arrow from quiver in right hand, hound jumping behind her left foot, VΠ CTA ΛONΓINOV NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC I / CTPΩ in exergue [ =  Consular legate Longinus, (Governor) of the residents of Nikopolis on the (river) Istros].  AMNG I/I 1843; Varbanov I 3743 at p. 308; Hristova-Hoeft-Jekov 8.25.13.3 [Hristova, H., H.-J. Hoeft, & G. Jekov. The Coins of Moesia Inferior 1st - 3rd c. AD: Nicopolis ad Istrum (Blagoevgrad, 2015)].*

*Obverse die matches the die classified as Obverse Die No. 9 in table entitled “Nicopolis ad Istrum - 4 assaria - die matches” (see http://www.diadumenian.com/Die tables nicopolis 4 assaria.html). It is an obverse die match to the two coins depicted at http://www.diadumenian.com/Nicopolis artemis longinus.html, the second of which was sold at Gorny & Mosch, Giessener Münzhandlung Auction 121, 2005 Lot number: 300. Coin is also an obverse die match to, inter alia, the coins depicted at https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=17248 and http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?zpg=28570 .
 

[DonnaML]

I already posted one coin of Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus under "C" for his co-moneyer L. Licinius Crassus, but here's another:

Roman Republic, Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, AR Denarius Rome 128 BCE [Crawford], 131 BCE [Mattingly], or after 122 BCE [BMCRR]. Obv. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet and single-drop earring, stalk of grain [Br. Corn] upright behind, monogram (*) for value (XVI asses) in right field beneath chin / Rev. Victory driving galloping biga right, holding reins in left hand and whip in right; below, man with tall conical cap holding spear right, fighting lion (Crawford) or hound (BMCRR, Sydenham, Babelon) left; above, ROMA; in exergue, CN•DOM. Crawford 261/1, RSC I [Babelon] Domitia 14, BMCRR 1025, Sear RCV I 137 (ill.), RBW Collection 1056, Sydenham 514. 18 mm., 3.85 g., 3 h. [Footnotes omitted, explaining, inter alia, why the "lion" interpretation is preferable to the "hound"].

[Edessa]

Domitian, as Caesar. AD 81-96. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.56g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck AD 76. Obv: CAESAR AVG F-DOMITIANVS; Laureate head of Domitian right. Rev: COS IIII; Pegasus standing right, raising left foreleg. Ref: RIC II.1 921. NGC Choice Very Fine, pleasant light toning. Ex Pegasi Auction 18 (1 Apr 2008), Lot 429. Ex Heritage Auction 232210 (9 Mar 2022), Lot 62232.

[Deinomenid]

D is for Dionysios I

 

Tudeer 105b

Time of Dionysios I, 405-400 BC. Unsigned dies in the style of Kimon and Euainetos. Charioteer, holding kentron in right hand and reins in both, driving fast quadriga to left; above, Nike flying to right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in both hands; dolphin to left in exergue / Head of Arethusa to left, hair bound by ampyx and net-like sphendone, wearing double-pendant earring; [ΣYPAKOΣIΩ] and four dolphins around. Fischer-Bossert, Coins 105 (V36/R72); Gulbenkian 299 (same dies); BMC 207 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1408 (same dies); SNG ANS -; HGC 2, 1346. 17.69g, 25mm

Edited September 11, 2022 by Deinomenid

[Roman Collector]

D is for Deultum!


Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
Roman provincial Æ 19.7 mm, 5.54 g.
Thrace, Deultum, AD 222-235.
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: C F P D, lion walking right.
Refs: Moushmov 3624; Varbanov 2382; Mionnet Suppl 2, 511 (pl. V. 7); BMC --.

[Steve]

Ummm, and how 'bout a few Deer?? (sure, you've seen 'em before, but here they are again) ... man, you've gotta love the animal coins, right?

Edited September 11, 2022 by Steve

[DonnaML]

I already posted two Roman Republican coins depicting the Dioscuri under "A" (C. Antestius) and "C" (Mn. Cordius Rufus), but here are five more that either depict or symbolize the Heavenly Twins:

Roman Republic, L. Memmius, AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 109-108 BCE. Obv. Male head to right (Apollo?), wearing oak wreath, star (*) [= monogrammed XVI; mark of value] beneath chin / Rev. The Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux), cloaked, with stars above their heads, standing facing between their horses, each holding a spear and the bridle of his horse, with each horse raising its outside front hoof; L•MEMMI in exergue. Crawford 304/1, RSC I Memmia 1 (ill. p. 65), Sear RCV I 181 (ill. p. 107), BMCRR II Italy 643, RBW Collection 1145 (ill. p. 237). 19 mm., 3.95 g. Purchased Jan. 6, 2022 at Roma Numismatics E-Sale 93, Lot 897. Ex. Andrew McCabe Collection; ex. Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 7, 27 May 2014, Lot 1944; ex. Aureo & Calico, Auction 159, 3 March 2004, Lot 1056.*  [Footnote omitted.]

Roman Republic, C. Servilius M.f., AR Denarius 136 BCE. Obv. Head of Roma right wearing winged helmet, wreath behind neck, ROMA beneath with * [XVI monogram] to left / Rev. Dioscuri on horseback galloping in opposite directions, heads turned back to face each other, both twins holding their spears downwards behind horses, C. SERVEILI M F in exergue. RSC I Servilia 1, Crawford 239/1, Sydenham 525, Sear RCV I 116 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 540. 19.35 mm., 3.89 g. [Sear says that this is the first Republican denarius with “ROMA” legend on obverse, and the second to use the monogram * for XVI .]


Roman Republic, C. Fonteius, AR Denarius, 114-113 BCE. Obv. Laureate, Janiform head of the Dioscuri, control mark N under left chin [mark of value * (= 16) under right chin is worn off], one dot beneath head / Rev. Galley left with three rowers, gubernator (pilot) at stern, rudder beneath stern, apotropaic eye on side, three-pronged ram with wolf’s head above extending from prow, banners/streamers extending from stern, C • FONT above (N and T in monogram), ROMA below. Crawford 290/1, RSC I Fonteia 1 (ill.), Sear RCV I 167 (ill.), Sydenham 555. 20 mm., 3.90 g. Ex: Auctiones GmbH, eAuction 67, Lot 55, 15 March 2020; Ex: CNG Auction May 2012, Lot 293; Ex: Bruce R. Brace Collection.*  [Footnote omitted.]

Roman Republic, Mn. Fonteius, AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 108-107 BCE. Obv. Jugate and laureate heads of Dioscuri right, stars above their heads; below their chins to  right, * [= XVI; mark of value] / Rev. Galley right depicted in three-quarters perspective at prow, with long projecting rostrum, full-length oars on front side with overlapping horizontal shields above, and partial view of foreshortened oars on back side*; pilot seated in stern beneath aplustre; above, MN • FONTEI [MN and NTE ligate]; below galley, control-letter B. 20 mm., 3.91 g., 4 h. Crawford 307/1b, BMCRR I 1205; RSC I Fonteia 7 (ill. p. 48); Sear RCV I 184 (ill. p. 107). Purchased from Roma Numismatics E-Sale 98, 16 Jun 2022, Lot 1029.** [Footnotes omitted.]

 

Roman Republic, Mn. Fonteius C.f., AR Denarius, Rome Mint 85 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo* right, MN. FONTEI behind (MN and NT in monograms), C.F below chin, thunderbolt below neck / Rev. Cupid or winged Infant Genius seated on goat  right, caps (pilei) with stars of the Dioscuri above, thyrsus of Bacchus below; all within laurel-wreath. RSC I Fonteia 10 (ill.), Crawford 353/1c, Sydenham 724a, Sear RCV I 271 (ill.), BMCRR Rome 2478. 20 mm, 3.93 g.

PS: If we're still on "D" tomorrow, I'll try to get to "D is for Diana." As far as D is for Dog is concerned, those are mostly Diana's anyway, but any that aren't can be saved for "H is for Hound"!

Edited September 11, 2022 by DonnaML

[Broucheion]

Hi All,

D is also for 'Diobol'.

 

PTOLEMY I SOTER (306/305-283 BCE), UNCERTAIN MINT 12, IN COELE SYRIA, 294-293 BCE
Ar DIOBOL OF ALEXANDRIAN TYPE, 294-293 BCE

Size: 12 mm
Weight: 1.26 g
Die Axis: 1:00
Broucheion Collection P-1998-12-04.001

Refs: Lorber CPE-255; Svoronos-194 var (type in silver instead of gold); SNG Copenhagen-44 var (type in silver instead of gold); Sear-7759 var (type in silver instead of gold); BMC 6.060, #15 var (gold hemidrachm); Gitler & Lorber (2002), #2a (A Spaer coll., Jerusalem) and #2b (THIS). Note: a third, unpublished specimen is also in the Broucheion collection (P-2008-05-14.002).

Obv: Ptolemy I head facing right, wearing diadem. No scaly aegis tied by snakes. Plain border.
Rev: Εagle on thunderbolt facing left, wings spread. Legend to left: To right: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ. In left field: Α. Plain border.

Provenance: CPE Plate Coin. Also published in "Small Silver Coins of Ptolemy I" by Haim Gitler & CC Lorber in INJ, pp 34-42, vol 14, 2000-2002 (this is coin #2b). Bought from Brian Kritt (04 Dec-1998 at NYINC show). Ex-David Hendin: FPList 34, Lot#249 (Winter 1988 @$250) and FPList 28, Lot#216 (Summer 1986 @$350).

Notes from CPE: "This silver diobol is known in three examples, all from the same die pair. Despite a control link to the coinage of Alexandria (CPE 133-137), this is almost certainly not an Egyptian issue. The Egyptian mint ceased to produce small change in silver many years before the introduction of the Ptolemy/eagle types, as this need was met by bronze coinage. The crude rendering of Ptolemy’s ear falls far short of the artistic standards of Alexandria. The name of Ptolemy is not visible on any of the three known specimens and may have been omitted from the die. The provenances point to an origin in Coele Syria and the small denomination is consistent with the monetary traditions of Samaria and Judaea in particular. Jerusalem can probably be ruled out, since it was already active producing the Yehud coinage. The issue of diobols may be compared to the initial Ptolemaic emission at Sidon and the second at Tyre (CPE 241-242, 244-245), which also employed Alexandrian controls."

- Broucheion

Edited September 11, 2022 by Broucheion
Typo

[shanxi]

Didia Clara

Didia Clara
AR-Denar, Rome Mint
Obv.: DIDIA CLARA AVG, Draped bust right.
Rev.: HILAR TEMPOR, Hilaritas standing left, holding cornucopia and palm frond.
Ag, 2.66g, 18.5 mm
Ref.: RIC IV, 10, CRE 295 [R]

Edited September 11, 2022 by shanxi

[Qcumbor]

D for Diocletian

Diocletian, Follis - Alexandria mint, 2nd officina, c. AD 304-305
IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Laureate bust of Diocletianus right
IOVI CONS CAES, Jupiter standing left, holding victory and spear. B in right field S | P in lower field, ALE at exergue
11.21 gr
Ref : Cohen # 173, RCV # 12805 (180), RIC VI # 41

 

D

[shanxi]

Deultum

Julia Mamaea (222-235).
Thrace, Deultum
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, Diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: COL FL PAC DEVLT, Artemis advancing right, holding bow and drawing arrow from quiver; at feet, hound advancing right.
AE, 8.95g, 23.7mm
Ref.: Varbanov 2341

 

[Qcumbor]

D for drachm

Hadrien (11/08/117-10/07/138) - Drachme de l'atelier d'Alexandrie, AD 131-132

ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CEB, Buste lauré et drapé à droite, vu par l'arriere

Le Nil assis sur un rocher à gauche, Un hippopotame dessous. L IϚ  dans le champ à gauche (16° année de règne)

23.87 gr

Ref : Emmett #1017/16 (R1), Kampmann # 32.516,

 

Q

[Qcumbor]

And D for Domitius Domitianus

Domitius Domitianus, usurpateur en Egypte (296 - 297) - Octodrachme de l'atelier d'Alexandrie - AD 296-297

ΔOMITI-ANOC CEB, Buste radié de Domitius à droite

Serapis allant à droite, branche de palmier dans le champ à gauche, LB dans le champ à droite (2° année de règne)

12.79 gr

Ref : Emmett #4241/2 (cet exemplaire) (R1), Kampmann # 126.2, RCV # 12982 (2000),

 

Q

[Roman Collector]

D is for Dionysopolis!


Gordian III, AD 238-244.
Roman provincial Æ Pentassarion, 12.49 g, 26.6 mm, 7 h.
Moesia Inferior, Dionysopolis, AD 238-241.
Obv: AVT K M (below)/ANTWNIOC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III, right, facing draped bust of Serapis, left, wearing modius.
Rev: ΔΙΟΝVCΟΠ-ΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Hygieia standing left, feeding serpent from a patera; E in lower left field.
Refs: Varbanov 559; AMNG I 395 var.; BMC 3, p.24, 4; Mionnet Suppl 2, 82; Moushmov 133; SNG Budapest 31; Jekov 49; SNRIS Dionysopolis 12.

[Prieure de Sion]

D ...? There are so many D in my mint. Lets begin the race.... 🏍️

 

Is see a Dolphin on the Reverse...

Taras Phalantos

Nomos of the Magna Graecia Period 280/272 BC

Material: Silver

Diameter: 21.50mm

Weight: 6.46g

Mint: Tarentum, Calabria

Reference: SNG ANS 1142

 

  

 

I see the bust of Divus Rhescuporis II or III...

 

Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander

Stater of the Cimmerian Bosporus Empire Period 228/229 AD

Material: Silver-Gold Elektron (Whitegold)

Diameter:20mm

Weight: 6.86g

Mint: Pantikapaion, Kingdom of the Bosporus

Reference: MacDonald 583

 

 

 

Has anybody say Divus... here is Divo Septimius Severus...

 

Lucius Septimius Severus Pertinax

Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 211 AD

Material: Silver

Diameter: 18mm

Weight: 3.13g

Mint: Rom

Reference: RIC IV Caracalla 191c

 

 

 

Lets talk about Diadumenianus...

 

Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus

Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 217/218 AD

Material: Silver

Diameter: 20mm

Weight: 3.69g

Mint: Rome

Reference: RIC IV Macrinus 102a (Rare variant without victory wreath)

 

 

 

And if we talk about Names... dont forget Domitianus...

 

Titus Flavius Domitianus, Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus

Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 82 AD

Material: Silver

Diameter: 19mm

Weight: 3.18g

Mint: Rome

Reference: RIC II Part 1 (second edition) Domitian 96

 

 

 

 

And for the last, Diocletianus...

 

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus

Argenteus of the Roman Imperial Period 295 AD

Material: Silver

Diameter: 18mm

Weight: 3.36g

Mint: Nicomedia, Bythnia

Reference: RIC VI Nicomedia 22a

 

 

I come back... if E will go on... 😉 

 

 

 

 

[expat]

17 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said:

D ...? There are so many D in my mint. Lets begin the race...

 

 

I come back... if E will go on... 😉 

 

 

 

 

Midnight tonight Spanish time will be E.

That is a nice selection you put up there, fits in nicely with the superb examples posted by everyone .

[Broucheion]

Hi All,

D is for the (underrepresented) Alexandrian Dinar.

AYYUBID EGYPT, SALAH AL-DIN IBN AYYUB (1169 - 4 March 1193),
EGYPT, ALEXANDRIA (AL-ISKANDARIYA) 580 AH (1184 CE), Au DINAR

Size: 20 mm
Weight: 4.38 g
Axis: 11:30
Brocheion collection I-2015-09-09.001

Obv: Album #785.2 (with a rarity rating of S), and is listed in Balog's Book on Ayyubid Coins as #53; Lane Poole's Catalog of the Khedivial Collection #1316-1318; Mitchiner 810.
Rev: Both mint and date of minting are very clear and legible on the reverse.
Refs: Refs: ALBUM-785.2 (S); Balog (Ayyubid Coins) #53; Khedivial Collection 1316-1318; Mitchiner-810; Balog's Book on Ayyubid Coins as #53.

Comments from the seller: "Salah al-Din (Saladin) the sultan who established the Ayyubid dynasty and ruled Egypt and Syria in the period 564-589 AH (1169-1193 AD). His full name being, Al-Nasir Salah al-Din Yusuf and better known in the western world as Saladin. The coin cites al-Nasir as the Abbasid Caliph at the time. Both mint and date of minting are very clear and legible on the reverse. The Ayyubids were one of the great Islamic dynasties. The dynasty was founded by al-Nasir Salah al-Din Yusuf I (Saladin) in AH 564/1169 AD and ruled in Egypt and Syria until falling to the Mamluks in the mid 7th century AH. The Ayyubids are of Kurdish origins. Saladin and his brother Shirquah were recruited among others by the Zangid Nur Al-Din. Shirquah gained control over Egypt from the Fatimids, and died almost immediately, leaving his nephew Salah El-Din Ibn Ayyub as his successor and soon was recognized by his troops. Saladin (probably the most respected figure of the middle ages by both friends and foes) was the real founder of the Dynasty. With his victory at Hittin in 583 AH/ 1187 AD, the holy city of Jerusalem was liberated from the crusaders and great event in Muslim history. He extinguished the last Fatimids of Egypt and replaced the Isma'ili Shiism by a strongly Orthodox Sunni religious and educational policy.”

- Broucheion

Edited September 11, 2022 by Broucheion

[expat]

Monday in Spain is here.

Eagerly Expecting Exciting Entertainment with your E's.

 

[Spaniard]

E....................

Elagabalus. 218-222 AD. AR Denarius (3.22 gm, 19mm). Rome mint. Struck 219 AD.
Obv.: laureate and draped bust right.
Rev.: Providentia standing left with legs crossed, leaning on column to right, holding rod over globe in right hand and cornucopia in left.
RIC IV 23; RSC 144p

[John Conduitt]

Esuprasu Unit, 40-47

Corieltauvi tribe. Silver, 14mm, 1.08g. Wreath design, pellet on either side of wreath, crosses in wreath. Horse right with star below tail, (I)ISVP above; (ASV below) (S 406; VA 924.01). Portable Antiquities Scheme: CCI-42661

[Deinomenid]

Euarchidas, one of the signed engravers of Syracuse.

Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 17.32 g, 11 h), dies signed by Phrygillos and Euarchidas, circa 415-405. [ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ] Head of Arethusa to left, her hair in ampyx inscribed [ΦΡΥ] and sphendone, wearing single-pendant earring; around, four dolphins. Rev. Charioteer driving quadriga galloping to left, holding kentron in his right hand and reins in his left; above, Nike flying right, crowning the charioteer; below horses [ΕΥΑΡΧIΔΑ]; in exergue, grain ear. SNG ANS 279 (same dies). SNG München 1061 (same dies). Tudeer 54. Rare. The obverse struck somewhat off center and with a graffito on the reverse,

[DonnaML]

I know we're already on E, but it isn't midnight here yet, and I did want to post some Dianas, so I beg your indulgence:

Roman Republic, C. Allius Bala, AR Denarius, 92 BCE, Rome mint. Obv.: Diademed female head (Diana?)* right, wearing necklace; BALA behind, control mark "R" below chin / Rev.: Diana in biga of stags right, holding sceptre and reins in left hand and flaming torch in right, with quiver over shoulder; control-mark (grasshopper) below stags; C•ALLI in exergue; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 336/1b; RSC I Aelia [Allia] 4 (ill.), Sear RCV I 221 (ill.), Sydenham 595, BMCRR 1742-1771 [no control-letter "R"]. 17 mm., 3.88 g.**

 

* Varying identifications of obverse head: Crawford ("female head r., wearing diadem"); RSC I ("female head (Diana?)"); BMCRR (same); Sear RCV I ("female deity").

** Moneyer otherwise unknown. See BMCRR p. 238 n. 2: "This type may refer to the annual festival in honor of Diana held on the Aventine, where her temple stood, and at which torch races occurred. . . . C. Allius Bala was apparently the first moneyer to introduce a symbol as a mint-mark in conjunction with a letter."

Roman Republic, A. Postumius A.f. Sp.n. Albinus (Aulus Postumius Albinus, son of Aulus [mint magistrate ca. 96 BCE], and grandson of Spurius [Consul 110 BCE]), AR Serrate Denarius, 81 BCE. Obv. Draped bust of Diana right, with bow and quiver over shoulder, figure of stag’s head at end of bow (horns to left), bucranium above [off flan] / Rev. Roman priest standing facing on rocky ground (on Aventine Hill), head left, with right arm extended holding aspergillum, sprinkling heifer [Harlan, RRM I*], bull [Crawford & Sear], or ox [RSC] which he is about to sacrifice, a lighted altar between them, A POST - AF - SN • ALBIN [AL in monogram] around. RSC I Postumia 7, Crawford 372/1, Sydenham 745, Sear RCV I 296 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 1 at pp. 1-7, BMCRR 2836. 18.54 mm., 3.85 g.  Ex. Spink & Sons Ltd. (before 2000 because of address on Spink coin tag; probably before 1974 given citation to Sydenham but not Crawford.)

* See Michael Harlan, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins, 81 BCE-64 BCE (2012) (“RRM I”) (using this coin-type as the cover illustration for his book). At pp. 3-4, Harlan argues that in the legend which, as Crawford acknowledges, is the basis for the reverse of this coin -- namely, the sacrifice to Diana on the Aventine Hill founding her temple there ca. 500 BCE, establishing Rome as the caput rerum for all of Italy [and symbolizing the victory of Sulla over the rebel Italians in 82 BCE] -- the sacrificed animal was a heifer with wondrous horns, not a bull or an ox.  (Citing Livy, The History of Rome, Book 1, ch. 45 [available at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0145%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D45].) 

Roman Republic, Ti. Claudius Ti.f. Ap.n. Nero [Tiberius Claudius Nero, son of Tiberius and grandson of Appius], AR Serrate Denarius, 78 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust of Diana right with hair in topknot, bow and quiver over shoulder, figure of stag’s head at end of bow (horns to left), S • C [Senatus Consulto] before / Rev. Winged Victory driving galloping biga right, with horses’ heads straining forward, holding wreath in right hand and palm frond and reins in left hand, control number CXXXIIII beneath horses; in exergue, TI•CLAVD•TI•F [VD ligate] / [A]P•N [AP ligate] in two lines. Crawford 383/1, RSC Claudia 5, Sear RCV I 310 (ill.), Sydenham 770, BMCRR 3096-3113 [Control number CXXXIIII not included], Harlan, RRM I Ch. 8, pp. 36-39 [Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins, 81 BCE-64 BCE (2012)]. 18 mm., 4.01 g., 6 h.*

*The moneyer belonged to the patrician Nerones branch of the Claudii, and was the paternal grandfather of the Emperor Tiberius. Harlan, supra at p. 36. See also https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Claudius_Nero_(grandfather_of_Tiberius_Caesar).  Later on, according to Harlan, he served under Pompey in the pirate wars of 67 BCE, with his area of command the Spanish waters as far as the Pillar of Hercules. This coin was part of a large issue in two series, with control numbers in the first series running from I to CLXV, and in the second series using the letter A coupled with numbers 1 to CLXXXII. It is believed that this issue (like the large issue of Naevius Balbus in the previous year (Crawford 382/1, also showing Victory at the reins of a chariot, albeit a triga) represents money minted for the use of Quintus Caecilius Metullus Pius (the issuer of Crawford 374/1 in 81 BCE, with an elephant reverse) in Sulla’s Spanish war against Sertorius in 79 BCE. Id. Sear agrees; see Sear RCV I at p. 130.  

In 1904, Grueber posited in BMCRR that Diana’s appearance on the obverse of this coin was a reference to the Sabine origin of the gens Claudia, given Diana’s own Sabine origin. Crawford rejected this view, but Harlan agrees with Grueber; see RRM 1 at p. 37. He also notes that the inspiration for Diana’s portrayal on this coin must have been her depiction on the obverse of the coin of Aulus Postumius in 81 BCE (Crawford 372/1, with a reverse showing a heifer about to be sacrificed by a priest to Diana on the Aventine Hill): “the goddess is depicted in the very same style on both coins: her hair is tied in a knot on top of her head and the unmistakable attributes of bow and quiver are over her shoulder making the identity of the goddess certain. Claudius’ coin continues the theme of caput orbis terrarum [Rome as head of the world] so clearly expressed by Postumius. Diana, whose appearance on Roman coinage during the 70s was far more common than any other decade of Republican coinage, was emblematic of the extension of Roman imperium.” Id. 

Roman Republic, C. Postumius, AR Denarius, Rome 74 BCE. Obv. Bust of Diana R. w/ bow and quiver, figure of stag’s head at end of bow (horns to left) / Rev. Hound running R., hunting spear below, “C POSTUMI TA” [TA in monogram] in exergue. RSC I Postumia 9, Crawford 394/1a, Sear RCV I 330, Harlan, RRM I Ch. 18 at pp. 109-112, BMCRR Rome 3238. 18 mm., 3.83 g.

Roman Republic, C. Hosidius C.f. Geta, AR Denarius, 68 BCE. Obv. Draped bust of Diana R., wearing crown and stephane[?], with bow and quiver over shoulder, GETA before, III VIR behind/ Rev. Wild boar of Calydon r., pierced in shoulder by spear and attacked by hound beneath, C. HOSIDI C F in exergue. RSC I Hosidia 1 (ill.), Crawford 407/2, Sear RCV I 346 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 32 at pp. 189-194, BMCRR Rome 3388. 18 mm., 3.91 g.

Roman Republic/Imperatorial Period, P. Accoleius Lariscolus, AR Denarius, Sep-Dec. 43 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust of Diana Nemorensis right, head closely bound with fillet, and hair arranged in close locks above her forehead; behind, P • ACCOLEIVS upwards; before, LARISCOLVS downwards / Rev. Triple cult statue of Diana Nemorensis (Diana-Hecate-Selene) facing, supporting on their hands and shoulders a beam, above which are five cypress trees, the figure on left (Diana) holding bow, that on right (Selene?) holding poppy or lily, with Hecate in the center. Crawford 486/1, RSC I Accoleia 1 (ill. p. 9), BMCRR I 4211, Sear CRI 172 at p. 109 [David Sear, The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC (1998)], Sear RCV I 484 (ill. p. 161), RBW Collection 1701 (ill. p. 363). 19 mm., 3.32 g., 10 hr. Purchased May 2022; ex Classical Numismatic Group [CNG] Electronic Auction 491, 5 May 2021, Lot 349 (from the Lampasas Collection); ex CNG Electronic Auction 409, 8 Nov. 2017, Lot 535; ex CNG Sale 76/2, 12 Sep. 2007, Lot 3242 (from John A. Seeger Collection).*

 

*See John Melville Jones, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (Seaby, London 1990) (entry for “Diana,” at p. 97) explaining that in Roman religion Diana was not only generally equated with the Greek goddess Artemis as the divine huntress, but “was also equated with Luna (the Greek Selene) and Hecate [the Greek goddess associated with night, magic, necromancy, the underworld, etc.]. A triple Diana, combining these three forms, appears once on Roman coins, on a denarius of P. Accoleius Lariscolus (43 BC) which shows her as she was worshipped at Aricia near Lake Nemi, the home of the mint magistrate’s family. This Diana Nemorensis is portrayed in the form of a triple statue on the reverse of the coin, the head of the goddess being the obverse type (an earlier interpretation of the type as a representation of the Nymphae Querquetulanae is less satisfactory).” (For that earlier interpretation, see RSC I at p. 9, stating that the referenced Nymphae “preside over the green forests and it was to them that the groves of the Lares on Mount Coelius were consecrated.”) 

Crawford follows the Diana Nemorensis interpretation, stating that “the types refer to the Aricine origin of the moneyer.” (Crawford Vol. I p. 497.) However, he rejects the theory of Andreas Alföldi that the type was also connected to the fact that Octavian’s mother Atia, who died during her son’s consulship in 43 BCE, was born in Aricia, stating that Lariscolus’s “appointment as moneyer will have taken place in 44 and hence have owed nothing to Octavian.” (Id.) However, in Sear CRI at p. 107, David Sear argues the contrary in the latter part of his discussion of this type:

 

I identify the figure on the left as Diana holding a bow, and the figure on the right as Selene holding a poppy (or lily), following the description by Jochen1 at Coin Talk, in his thread at https://www.cointalk.com/threads/diana-nemorensis.344409/#post-4859090 . The standard authorities generally identify the object held by the figure on the left as a poppy rather than a bow, and the one held by the figure on the right as a lily rather than a poppy, without specifying which goddess is which. In fact, on my specimen, the flower on the right does seem to resemble a lily more than a poppy. I am not aware of any tradition identifying Luna/Selene with either. Although I believe that lilies do open at night.

Gordian III AR Denarius, 241-242 AD, Rome mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Rev. Diana standing facing, head right, holding flaming long torch right with both hands, DIANA LVCIFERA. RIC IV-3 127, RSC IV 69, Sear RCV III 8673 (ill.). 20 mm., 2.7 g., 6 h.

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by DonnaML