Alphabet game GAME OVER

[expat]

1 hour ago, DonnaML said:

I am going to post some A's, without turning to any of Apollo, Alexander the Great, or Augustus! Perhaps I'll save them for the next turn of the alphabet wheel if and when we get there.

Athena, on a Corinth stater:

An Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypon) Tetradrachm from the Seleucid Empire in Syria:

Roman Republic, C. Antestius, AR Denarius 146 BCE. Obv. Head of Roma right wearing winged helmet with peaked visor (ornamented with griffin’s head?), pearl necklace, and earring of pellets in form of bunch of grapes, C • ANTESTI upwards behind [partially off flan, ANTE ligate], X [mark of value, 10 asses]* beneath chin / Rev. Dioscuri holding spears, on horseback galloping right; puppy running right below horses’ hooves, with both forefeet raised; in exergue, ROMA; minor flan flaws on reverse. Crawford 219/1e, RSC I Antestia 1, BMCRR I 859, Sear RCV I 95/1 (ill.), Sydenham 411. 19 mm.. 3.76 g., 3 h.  Ex CNG Auction 378, July 13, 2016, Lot 408; ex. RBW [Richard B. Witschonke] Collection; ex BCD Collection [see old coin ticket], purchased by RBW from BCD March 1985; ex. ASW [Alan S. Walker, currently Dir. of Nomos AG]. [Footnotes omitted.]

Roman Republic, M. Aurelius Cota [Cotta], AR Denarius 139 BCE. Obv. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with stylized representation of gryphon’s head, earring with three pellets, and necklace of pendants; hair arranged in three symmetrical locks; to right below chin, COTA; behind, mark of value X [after re-tariffing, so = 16 asses] / Rev. Hercules in biga of centaurs right, holding reins in left hand and club in right hand; centaurs each carry branch in left hand; below, M•AVRELI (AVR ligate); in exergue, ROMA. 19 mm., 3.78 g. “Removed from a ring mount; otherwise very fine.” Crawford 229/1b; BMCRR I 916-917 (& Vol. III Pl. xxvi. 2); RBW Collection 959 (ill. p. 201); RSC I Aurelia 16; Sear RCV 1 106. Purchased from Dix Noonan Webb Auction 253, 13 April 2022, Lot 1240; ex. Spink Numismatic Circular May 1984, No. 2625 at p. 125 (ill. p. 137).

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. [Footnote omitted.]

Roman Republic, Manius Acilius Glabrio, AR Denarius, 50 BCE (Harlan and BMCRR) or 49 BCE (Crawford), Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head of Salus right, wearing necklace and earring, with hair collected behind in knot ornamented with jewels, SALVTIS upwards behind head / Rev. Valetudo [an alternate manifestation of Salus]* [Harlan says portrayal is of a statue of Valetudo] standing left, holding snake with right hand and resting left arm on column, MN•ACILIVS [downwards on right] III•VIR•VALETV [upwards on left] [MN and TV monogrammed].  RSC I Acilia 8, Crawford 442/1a, Sydenham 922, Sear RCV I 412 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 30 at pp. 229-238, BMCRR Rome 3945. 17.5 mm., 3.98 g. [Footnote omitted.]

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). [Footnote omitted.]

And finally for the A's, Queen Anne's official Coronation Medal, which includes a depiction of Athena:

England, Anne, Official AE Coronation Medal, 1702, by John Croker. Obv. Bust left, draped. ANNA D:G: MAG BR: FR: ET. HIB: REGINA. / Rev. Pallas Athena, standing right, hurls thunderbolt at two-headed monster [= “domestic faction” or France & Jacobites and/or Spain?]* wielding club, VICEM GERIT. ILLA . TONANTIS.; in exergue, INAVGVRAT XXIII AP MDCCII. 34 mm. Eimer 390 & Pl. 48; MI ii, p. 228/4 & Pl. cxv, no. 4; Wollaston p. 8, no. x & ill. 10. Purchased from Hedley Betts, Jan. 2020.

*See https://stuarts.exeter.ac.uk/isaac-newton-and-queen-annes-coronation-medal/: “The reverse depicts Anne as Pallas Athene, striking down a double-headed monster. Recent scholarly consensus has been that the monster is a Hydra representing domestic faction. But [the Master of the Mint, Isaac] Newton, in his own notes on the design, describes it as a symbol of ‘any Enemy with which Her Majesty hath or may have War’. In other words, the monster presents the double threat posed by Louis XIV and James Francis Edward Stuart, the Old Pretender. The motto looks back to William and Mary. By describing Anne as a ‘Thunderer’, Newton explains that he was alluding to the coronation medal of 1689, which likewise portrayed William as a thundering Jupiter. In a sentence, Newton explains that the coronation medal ‘signifies that her Majesty continues the scene of the last reign’.”

And here are two B's, Bacchus and Balbinus:

Roman Republic/Imperatorial Period, C. Vibius Varus, AR Denarius, 42 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Bacchus (or Liber)* right, wearing earring and wreath of ivy and grapes / Rev. Spotted panther [leopard]** springing left towards garlanded altar on top of which lies a bearded mask of Silenus or Pan,*** and against which leans a thyrsus with fillet (ribbon); C • VIBIVS in exergue, VARVS upwards to right. Crawford 494/36, RSC I Vibia 24, Sear RCV I 496, Sear Roman Imperators 192 (ill. p. 116), Sydenham 1138, BMCRR 4295. 17 mm., 3.60 g.  Purchased from Edward J. Waddell, Ltd., Nov. 2020; ex Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 83, May 20, 2015, Lot 83; ex Frank Sternberg Auction 17, Zurich, May 1986, Lot 519.  [Footnotes omitted.]

 

Balbinus AR Denarius, April-June 238 AD, Rome mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG / Rev. Bearded Genius of the Senate, togate, standing front, head left, holding olive branch in extended right hand, and short transverse scepter in left hand, PM TRP COS II PP.  RIC IV-2 5, RSC III 20, Sear RCV III 8489 (ill.). 20 mm., 2.65 g. (Purchased from Kirk Davis April 2020; ex: Kirk Davis, Cat # 74, Fall 2019, Lot 83).

That Antestius with head of Roma looks like it was struck this morning. Incredible

[kapphnwn]

The letter A without this guy 

Ar Denarius of Augustus Northern Peloponnesian mint 21 BC Obv Head right bare Rv Rostral crown laurel leaves intertwined with the prows of galleys. RIC 473 3,49gms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen

The reverse on this coin is a clear reference to the victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. 

[expat]

It is now Thursday here in Spain so start posting with C related subjects. Any overlappers from A/B expected and accepted.

[John Conduitt]

One last A...

Ashoka the Great Karshapana, 268-232BC

Mathura?, India. Silver, 13mm, 3.30g. Five punched symbols: Sun, three-armed symbol, Ashoka's symbol, and other two symbols. Banker's mark (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 511).

[AncientOne]

Caria, Cidramus, Cult

Caria, Cidramus. Vespasian Æ20

Obv: ΟΥƐϹΠΑϹΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ. Laureate head of Vespasian, r. Rev: ΠΑΜΦΙΛΟϹ ϹƐΛƐΥΚΟΥ ΚΙΔΡΑΜΗΝΩΝ. Cult statue of Artemis, veiled and with polos on head, standing facing. Magistrate Pamphilos Seleukou. RPC II, 1259

 

[John Conduitt]

Charles I Group F Sixpence, 1649-1640

Tower. Silver, 26x22mm, 2.91g. Sixth Briot bust, type 4.3, left, inner circles; CAROLVS(.) D(.) G(.) MAG! BRI! FRA! ET. HIB! REX; mintmark triangle. Square topped garnished over cross moline; CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO (S 2817). From the Ewerby (Lincolnshire) Hoard 2016, buried in 1643 during the English Civil War.

[Roman Collector]

B is for Bostra:

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
Roman provincial Æ quadrans 15.4 mm, 2.13 g, 6 h.
Arabia Petraea, Bostra, after AD 141.
Obv: ΘЄΑ ΦΑVϹΤ, veiled and draped bust, right.
Rev: NT BO, three ears of barley bound together; all within wreath.
Refs: RPC IV.3, 6365 (temporary); Sear 1538 (as Nicopolis-Emmaus); BMC 27.169, 2 (as Nicopolis-Emmaus); Rosenberger 11-12; Spijkerman 15; Kindler 11; SNG ANS 1183-85.

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
Roman provincial Æ quadrans, 16.6 mm, 3.60 g, 6 h.
Arabia Petraea, Bostra, after AD 141.
Obv: ΘЄΑ ΦΑVϹΤЄΙΝΑ, veiled and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΤVΧΗ ΝЄΑϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΗ ΒΟϹΤΡΑ, turreted Tyche standing facing, head left, holding spear, resting left hand on hip, and resting foot on swimming river-god.
Refs: RPC IV.3, 6702 (temporary); BMC 28.27, 7-9; Spijkerman 11; Kindler 8b; Rosenberger 8.

[kirispupis]

Coele-Syria or Chalkis ad Libanon

Just received this one yesterday for my new "Kingdoms after Alexander" collection.

Coel-Syria. Chalkis. Ptolemaios as Tetrarch, son of Mennaeus
85-40 BCE 20.79mm 4.49g
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right, with countermark of head right
Reverse: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ / ΤΕΤΡΑΡΧΗ, eagle flying right, holding wreath in beak; monogram above tail
HGC 9, 1441
Ex Marcel Burstein
Ex Colosseum Coin Exchange 31 (February 1988), lot 20
Ex Marc Breitsprecher

[Edessa]

Plantagenet. Henry III, AD 1216-1272. AR Penny (18mm, 1.28 g). Class Vb. Canterbury mint; Willem, moneyer. Struck AD 1251-1272. Obv: Crowned head facing, holding scepter in right hand. Rev: Long cross; three pellets in each quarter. North 992; SCBC 1368. Very Fine, toned. From the Ross Schraeder Collection. Ex CNG eAuction 186, Lot 253.

[Octavius]

 For C, Ae As of Claudius with Constantiae Augusti reverse...

[shanxi]

Claudius for C

 

 

Claudius
Alexandria, year 4, AD 43-44
Billon Tetradrachm
Obv.: TI KΛAΥΔI KAIΣ ΣEBA ΓEΡMANI AΥ[TOKΡ], laureate head right, date LΔ before
Rev.: MEΣΣAΛINA KAIΣ ΣEBAΣ, Messalina as Ceres standing facing, head left, two small figures in right, two stalks of grain in left
Billlon, 22.9x24.1mm
Ref.: Geißen 81, Dattari 125

Edited September 8, 2022 by shanxi

[John Conduitt]

There are a lot of Roman Cs.

Constantius I as Caesar Follis, 303-305
Trier. Bronze, 25mm, 8.60g. Laureate, cuirassed bust right; CONSTANTIVS NOB C. Genius standing left, tower on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae, S-F across fields; GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI; mintmark PTR (RIC VI, 602a). From the Rauceby (Lincolnshire) Hoard 2017, comprising 3,097 nummi and 2 radiates buried as part of a ceremony; Portable Antiquities Scheme: LIN-F6D516

[Spaniard]

C= Castulo

Spain - Castulo, Cazlona (Jaen), Ae Semis - 19 mm / 3.45 gr.
Obverse..Beardless male head right Pinocchio type., diademed with letter Ka before.
Reverse...Bull standing r.,L crescent above; on exergue line city name..'CaSTeLE'.

[John Conduitt]

Constantine I Follis, 309-311
Londinium. Bronze, 24mm, 4.32g. Laureate and cuirassed bust right; IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG. Sol standing left, holding globe and raising hand;  SOLI INVICTO COMITI; T F; PLN in exergue (RIC VI, 121a). Ex Ken Bressett; from the Little Orme’s Head (North Wales) Hoard 1873 of 5,000 coins found in an urn in Penrhyn Bay.

[Steve]

Nice!! ... great examples, coiners!!

 

Ummm, I'm arriving at the party a bit late (I kinda missed the "A" & "B" rounds)

 

... oh, but here are a handful of C-etc Roman Republican moneyers ... 

 

=> c hosidius, c licinius, c piso lf frugi, c serveil, and c postumus (Larry dog) 

 

Edited September 8, 2022 by Steve

[Prieure de Sion]

Pedanius Costa and Marcus Iunius Brutus on Military Mint in Asia Minor (?) 43-42 BC
Av: Laureate head of Apollo, right. Border of dots. Inscription: COSTA LEG
Rv: Trophy with two spears and figure-eight shield. Border of dots. Inscription: BRVTVS IMP
Brutus and his legate Costa were in Asia Minor, preparing the campaign against the followers of Caesar.

[Steve]

How 'bout a few sweeties from Calabria Tarentum?? (great coins)

[Steve]

Hmmm, Campania is another great feeding-ground for cool coins ... right? (right)

 

 

[Prieure de Sion]

This will be a never ending story...all antiquity is made up of words with C....it might be one of the most used letters... 😂

[shanxi]

1 hour ago, Prieure de Sion said:

This will be a never ending story

No, it will end on saturday 

and here are two more

Colchis

Colchis, Dioscurias
Late 2nd century BC
Obv.: Caps of the Dioscuri surmounted by two stars
Rev.: ΔIOΣKOYPIΔOΣ around Thyrsos
AE, 1.45g, 13.6mm
Ref.: SNG Stancomb 638, SNG BM 1021, SNG Cop. 102

 

Cyrenaica and Crete, CRETE, Cnossus

Cyrenaica and Crete, CRETE. Cnossus.
Pseudo-autonomous issue, L. Lollius, magistrate, circa 37-34 BC.
Obv.: Draped bust of Artemis Diktynna to right, wearing stephane and with her quiver and bow over shoulder; to right, Γ.
Rev. L•LOL/[L]I-[VS] Stag standing right; below, IB.
Bronze, 27 mm, 11.65 g, 1 h
BMC 12. RPC RPC I, 909j-8 (This coin)

 

 

Edited September 8, 2022 by shanxi

[kirispupis]

I wonder how many Greek coins we're seeing under "C" right now will reappear under "K"?

Chalkidian League

Macedon. Chalkidian League.
Olynthos AR Tetrobol / Kithara 432-348 BCE
13mm 2.26g
Obverse: Head of Apollo right
Reverse: X-A-Λ-KIΔ-EΩN, kithara
SNG ANS 527
Ex Marc Breitsprecher

[expat]

2 hours ago, Steve said:

Nice!! ... great examples, coiners!!

 

Ummm, I'm arriving at the party a bit late (I kinda missed the "A" & "B" rounds)

 

... oh, but here are a handful of C-etc Roman Republican moneyers ... 

 

=> c hosidius, c licinius, c piso lf frugi, c serveil, and c postumus (Larry dog) 

 

Nice selection and welcome to the party.

[John Conduitt]

3 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

This will be a never ending story...all antiquity is made up of words with C....it might be one of the most used letters... 😂

Not just antiquity...

Cromwell's Commonwealth (between Charles I and Charles II).

Commonweath Shilling, 1651
Tower. Silver, 32mm, 5.8g. English shield within laurel and palm branch; mintmark sun; THE. COMMONWEALTH. OF. ENGLAND. English and Irish shields, value .XII. above, beaded circle, date at top; .GOD. WITH. VS. (S 3217). The first English coin with legends in English.

[shanxi]

Commodus

 

Commodus
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: M A KOM ANTω CEB EYCEB, Laureate head right.
Rev.: ΠPONOIA, Pronoia standing left, right hand raised, holding scepter in left., L - Λ= year 30 = AD 189/190
Billon, 12.49g, 23.6mm
Ref.: Geißen 2249, Dattari 3879

Edited September 8, 2022 by shanxi

[AncientNumis]

Missed the first couple of letters, so I’ll start with one coin for each of those.

 

A: Athena (Akarnania, Leukas Stater - this is my most recent acquisition, perhaps I might do a little write-up about it soon! 🙂 

B: Bacchus (Vibius Varus Denarius) - my only RR Denarius but I still love it a lot! 

C : Commodus (Sestertius) plus a bonus pic of the coin at the colosseum! I got this one from the super generous Lordmarcovan in a giveaway a while ago 😄

Alright, those are some coins for now! I’ll try to post some more as this continues, it seems like a really fun thread idea 🙂