Qcumbor Posted October 20, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 20, 2022 2 hours ago, Limes said: Good portraits of Commodus on denarii are very difficult to come by, well done ! Q 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limes Posted October 20, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 20, 2022 2 minutes ago, Qcumbor said: Good portraits of Commodus on denarii are very difficult to come by, well done ! Q Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_collector Posted October 20, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 (edited) Nice to see so many nice portraits in one thread. Thanks, @David Atherton Here are a few fine Faustina portraits in my collection. 🙂 Edited October 20, 2022 by happy_collector 18 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted October 20, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted October 20, 2022 @David Atherton, I love that Vespasian portrait. I have no Vespasian bronzes, and this coin is obviously on a much smaller flan, but it's still by far my favorite among my own small number of Vespasian portraits: I've always liked this Titus portrait, perhaps because it resembles his father so much: Galbas's portraits may not be generally considered on the same level as the Flavians, but I'm impressed with this one: Going back in time, here's my Tiberius denarius: My favorite Trajan portrait: I can't decide on a Hadrian or Marcus Aurelius, but here are Pupienus and Balbinus: Finally, even though I just posted this yesterday in another thread, and I have no idea how much he actually looked like this, there's something about this portrait of Maximinus Thrax on a sestertius that seems very real: 19 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted October 20, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted October 20, 2022 Here's a few of my favorites from my collection: Note: The Probus medallion is NOT in my collection but it shows that even in the latter 3rd century some talented artists were still around. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwheelsearl Posted October 20, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 I always thought it interesting that the breakaway Gallic empire somehow hired the most talented celators for their coinage; I find that often times Gallic coins of this era are much higher quality than portraits from back in Rome. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted October 20, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 1 minute ago, hotwheelsearl said: I find that often times Gallic coins of this era are much higher quality than portraits from back in Rome. Now since you mentioned it, I must agree. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted October 20, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 20, 2022 Some outstanding artwork you are all displaying. Regardless of die and strike quality, the skill of the engravers shine through. This is about the best I have 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted October 20, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 20, 2022 This thread got me looking through my small collection...This one popped out as really nice... Licinius II 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etcherdude Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 This is my best portrait. 17 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romancollector Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 (edited) At the moment, this is my only coin of Vespasian. I do think it has a nice portrait, perhaps not as realistic as those of the Rome mint, but it is certainly artistic. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.39 g). Antioch mint. AD 72-73. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, Laureate head left / VICTORIA AVG, Victory standing right on globe, holding wreath and palm branch. RIC II 1547. RPC II 1921 (this coin in RPC online). Ex Viggo Collection of Flavian Imperial Coins from provincial mints. Ex Dr. Martina Dieterle Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 125 (24 June 2021), lot 518. Ex Helios Auction 4 (14 October 2009), lot 292. Ex Gorny & Mosch (14 October 2002), lot 500. Edited October 21, 2022 by Romancollector 15 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 14 hours ago, Qcumbor said: I agree that portrait of TII is in excellent style! Mine doesn't match my TI (more "ordinary" style) but I haven't been motivated to replace it: 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 39 minutes ago, Romancollector said: At the moment, this is my only coin of Vespasian. I do think it has a nice portrait, perhaps not as realistic as those of the Rome mint, but it is certainly artistic. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.39 g). Antioch mint. AD 72-73. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, Laureate head left / VICTORIA AVG, Victory standing right on globe, holding wreath and palm branch. RIC II 1547. RPC II 1921 (this coin in RPC online). Ex Viggo Collection of Flavian Imperial Coins from provincial mints. Ex Dr. Martina Dieterle Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 125 (24 June 2021), lot 518. Ex Helios Auction 4 (14 October 2009), lot 292. Ex Gorny & Mosch (14 October 2002), lot 500. Antiochene denarii could be quite artistic indeed. Mine is from the same obverse die. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.59g Antioch mint, 72-73 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l. Rev: VICTORIA AVG; Victory stg. r., on globe, with wreath and palm RIC 1547 (R2). BMC 498. RSC 588. RPC 1921 (2 spec.). BNC -. Ex Nomos Obolos 7, 9 July 2017, lot 313. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Romancollector said: At the moment, this is my only coin of Vespasian. I do think it has a nice portrait, perhaps not as realistic as those of the Rome mint, but it is certainly artistic. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.39 g). Antioch mint. AD 72-73. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, Laureate head left / VICTORIA AVG, Victory standing right on globe, holding wreath and palm branch. RIC II 1547. RPC II 1921 (this coin in RPC online). Ex Viggo Collection of Flavian Imperial Coins from provincial mints. Ex Dr. Martina Dieterle Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 125 (24 June 2021), lot 518. Ex Helios Auction 4 (14 October 2009), lot 292. Ex Gorny & Mosch (14 October 2002), lot 500. I don't entirely disagree with you but in my opinion, the mint at Antioch consistently produced some of the best portraits and finest engravings of anywhere in the Roman World (including the Imperial mints.) Your Vespasian is a good example - lacking, perhaps, some of the realism of the Imperial portraits, but nonetheless showing a remarkable skill and style. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapphnwn Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 Many fine examples of Roman portraiture pictured above. However i would humbly submit this coin Sestertius of Galba 68 AD Obv Head left laureate Rv Concordia seated left RIC 339 26.40 grms 32 mm Photo by W. Hansen What I like about this portrait is how the artist manages to convey something of the strength of this individual Galba is depicted with a keen penetrating eye and a severe frown. (Though the artist does depict his rather full lips) The skin seems to be drawn taut over the skull to the point that one can see something of the underlying boney structure. This image would have been even more striking as it is the complete antithesis to the image of Nero. 16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 4 hours ago, Severus Alexander said: That one is exceptional IMO Q 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amarmur Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 I enjoy this portrait of Constantine the 2nd. 3rd century coins often have similar looking portraits across the emperors but this one just stood out to me. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwheelsearl Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 I think this portrait of Licinius is the most veristic and individualistic I have. Lucy isn't just Emperor X, he looks like a specific guy, weird Uncle Steve who always has a beer in one hand at gatherings, or something. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wittwolff Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 The third century got some really nice portraiture too, here some of my favorites from my collection: Severus Alexander Denarius with quite unusual high relief an nice portrait of the young man: Antiochian Tetradrachm from the reign of Emperor Phillip: Here a fine female example - Empress Herennia Etruscilla Still my favorite - Military bust Antoninian from the reign of Gallienus: And here a quite fine Postumus portrait: 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 An unusually nice portrait of Gratian.. 11 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 3 that would have great profiles if not for the wear, Lucilla, Trajan and Antoninvs Pius 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 My favorite portret is this beautiful Maximinus Thrax denarius I recently bought. Very happy with it! 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted October 21, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2022 Here are a couple more of my favorite portrait coins. Even though the quality is nowhere near that of the first century portraits, they're still nice in their own way: 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 45 minutes ago, CPK said: Here are a couple more of my favorite portrait coins. Even though the quality is nowhere near that of the first century portraits, they're still nice in their own way: How do you do it? How do you get these realistic pictures of the coins? I don't mean the background or the floating. The coins look so natural - and especially the colors are so realistic. Respect! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.