The Dioscuri-coins of the Roman Republic

[antwerpen2306]

About one third of my Roman Republican coins are of the type Dioscuri, it is the type I prefer.

First a denarius : Crawford 53/2 : after 211 BC,Mint : Rome, 18 mm, 3.95 gr, 12h. The value is indicated by X = 10 asses. Number of dies : 100/125.

 

 

The quinarius has the same images, the value is a half denarius : V = 5 asses. Number of dies : 100/125.

Crawford 44/6, 16.5 mm, 1.98 gr, 6 h, Mint : Rome, from 211 BC

The sestestius is also the same, but the value is indicated by IIS : 2 1/2 as

Crawford 44/7, 11 mm, 1.1 gr, 9 h, Rome, 211 BC, number os dies : 11/125.

 

Please, show your Dioscuri

 

[antwerpen2306]

sorry, I forgot to show the sestertius.

[Roman Collector]

What a fun reverse type to study in depth, @antwerpen2306! Those are some attractive coins in your collection. This is my only coin with this reverse design.


L. Cupiennius, 147 BC.
Roman Republican AR denarius, 3.89 g, 17.7 mm, 3 h.
Rome, 147 BC.
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma, right; cornucopiae behind; denominational mark X before.
Rev: Dioscuri galloping right; L·CVP (VP ligatured) below; ROMA in exergue.
Refs: Crawford (RRC) 218/1; RSC Cupiennia 1; Sydenham (CRR) 404; RCV 94.

[shanxi]

A different depiction

C. MALLEOLUS, A. ALBINUS SP. F. and L. CAECILIUS METELLUS.
Denarius (Late 90s BC). Rome.
Obv: ROMA, Laureate head of Apollo right; behind star; X (mark of value) below chin.
Rev: A ALBINVS S F, The Dioscuri standing left, each holding spear and wearing pilos surmounted by star, watering horses; crescent in left field.
Ag, 3.62g, 18mm
Ref.: Crawford 335/10a, RSC Postumia 5a

[Sulla80]

These are wonderful coins - I do not yet have a sestertius - here's a quinarius:

Roman Republican, Anonymous. 211-208 BC. AR Quinarius (15mm, 2.21 g, 3h). Rome mint. Helmeted head of Roma right; V (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri, each holding spear, on horseback right. Crawford 44/6; King 1; Sydenham 169; RSC 3. VF, find patina, flan crack at 6 o'clock.
From the Dr. Lawrence D. Sporty Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 258 (22 June 2011), lot 280.  Dr. Sporty is a psychiatrist in Santa Ana, California.  (as an interesting aside - this coin shows the inherent risk in investing in ancient coins: 2011 it sold for $240, in 2017 it sold for $170;  in 2019 it sold for $111)

Edited December 26, 2022 by Sulla80

[antwerpen2306]

@Roman CollectorA few years ago, I ve decided to limit my collection of ancient coins to Greek coins from Italy ans Sicily and the Roman Republic. I always loved these Dioscuri-coins, so this is my first objective and now about 1/3 is Dioscuri. You have there a nice Cupiennius'coin, I have it twice, the second was to cheap to not buy, I will show them later.

@shanxia coin I do not have yet, but I hope later. Problem with this number is that there are a lot of denarii, I have 335/1b.It is not a common one with 68 and 85 dies for 2 varieties.

@Sulla80wonderful quinarius, I have this coin 2 times, maybe I put them together tomorrow to compare the style, what do you think ?

[Sulla80]

8 hours ago, antwerpen2306 said:

@Sulla80wonderful quinarius, I have this coin 2 times, maybe I put them together tomorrow to compare the style, what do you think ?

I look forward to seeing them!  I like these early depictions of Roma, although my collection leans more 1st century BC.   My notes on this coin include the following:

https://www.sullacoins.com/post/quinarius-from-a-time-of-massive-recoinage

 

Edited December 27, 2022 by Sulla80

[ominus1]

...every collection should have a coin or two of the Dioscuri ...  @DonnaML has some really kool ones...and  ole @Alegandron was my mentor on mine wif the Doggo type...^^

 

Roman Republic 146BC, C. Antestius  Helmeted Roma right obverse with dog control mark behind with bankers marks, Dioscuri twins reverse, 18mm, 3.82gms

[Qcumbor]

5 hours ago, antwerpen2306 said:

Please, show your Dioscuri

You asked 😉 

Sestertius :

 

Denarius :

Q

[DonnaML]

Dioscuri? -- I love those guys! I have more than you can shake a stick at!

A couple from my top Roman Republicans list for this year:

L. Memmius:

Mn. Fonteius:

Others:

C. Antestius:

C. Servilius:

C. Fonteius:

Mn. Cordius Rufus:

Also, Mn. Fonteius C.f, caps with stars representing Dioscuri:

Finally, a Faustina II sestertius with a reverse depicting Felicitas (or Faustina as Fecunditas) standing left, between four girls (two standing at each side), and holding two infants in her arms, each with a star over its head (representing the Dioscuri); the two infants are Marcus Aurelius's and Faustina II’s twin sons b. 31 Aug 161 AD: Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus (the older twin, d. 165 AD) and Commodus, the ninth and tenth children of the royal couple.

[kapphnwn]

This is possibly one of the earlier example.

Anonymous Ar Denarius Rome 214-213 BC Obv Helmeted head of Roma right Rv Dioscuri on horseback charging right with couched lances.  Crawford 44/5 4.82 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This coin replaced the badly debased and discredited Quadrigatus. 

[DonnaML]

42 minutes ago, kapphnwn said:

Anonymous Ar Denarius Rome 214-213 BC

Is it no longer believed that the denarius began in 211?

[Alegandron]

One of my favorites, hard to find.


RR 
Anon 210 BCE
AE 23 Quincunx 
6.96g 
Apollo P behind 
Dioscuri
Luceria 5 pellets 
Cr 99-4 Syd 309 S 910

[Alegandron]

RR AE Aes Grave Sextans 270 BCE 37mm 55.28g Dioscuri R and L

[Alegandron]

8 hours ago, ominus1 said:

...every collection should have a coin or two of the Dioscuri ...  @DonnaML has some really kool ones...and  ole @Alegandron was my mentor on mine wif the Doggo type...^^

 

Roman Republic 146BC, C. Antestius  Helmeted Roma right obverse with dog control mark behind with bankers marks, Dioscuri twins reverse, 18mm, 3.82gms

And yours is one of my favorites!

[ominus1]

...when it came to the Seleucids on the Dioscuri, it was hats off 😛

[CPK]

12 hours ago, Roman Collector said:

What a fun reverse type to study in depth, @antwerpen2306! Those are some attractive coins in your collection. This is my only coin with this reverse design.


L. Cupiennius, 147 BC.
Roman Republican AR denarius, 3.89 g, 17.7 mm, 3 h.
Rome, 147 BC.
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma, right; cornucopiae behind; denominational mark X before.
Rev: Dioscuri galloping right; L·CVP (VP ligatured) below; ROMA in exergue.
Refs: Crawford (RRC) 218/1; RSC Cupiennia 1; Sydenham (CRR) 404; RCV 94.

 

You and me both!

 

[Alegandron]

RR Anon AR denarius Roma 211-206 BCE ROMA incus Dioscuri single horn-helmet Sear-- Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE

[Alegandron]

Roman R epublic
AR Sestertius
After 211 BCE
12mm 1.0g
Rome mint
Roma r IIS (2 As and a Semis) - When a Sestertius was 1/4 Denarius and 10 Asses = a Denarius.
Dioscuri riding stars above, in ex ROMA
Sear 46 Craw 44-7 RSC 4

[Alegandron]

Roman Republic 
Anon after 211 BCE 
AR Quinarius 2.12g 
Helmeted hd Roma - 
Dioscuri riding 
Craw 68-2b RSC 3 
ex Clain-Stefanelli

[Alegandron]

RR Anon AR Quinarius 211-210 BCE 16mm 2.14g SE Italia mint Roma V ROMA Dioscuri H Cr 85-1a SYD 174 RSC33b ex RBW

[shanxi]

Another variation:

Denarius, 136 BC, Rome
Obv: TRIO, Helmeted head of Roma right; X (mark of value) below chin.
Rev: CN LVCR / ROMA, The Dioscuri galloping right.
Ag, 17.4x19.6mm, 3.87g
Ref.: Crawford 237/1a.

[antwerpen2306]

Thanks for the nice pictures.

I use often this guide https://stevebrinkman.ancients.info/anonymous/. It is impossible to see the details on the photos in Crawfords book. Here a very good description is given. 

As promised, the 3 quinarii to compare.

 

 

mine                                                                     Sulla80                                                       mine

I bought this second one a few ago in Italy from a local for 20 €. The first I bought by Roma Numismatics for a lot more.

My next denarius is Crawford 75/1b with a branch.

 there are 4 varieties for this number and only  some small details differ. There are  20/25dies for all this varieties. The mint is maybe in Sicily. The period 209/208 BC.

The next one also is maybe minted in Sicily in 209/208 BC.

It is Crawford 79/1 with a wheel on the reverse. number of dies : 40/50. It is a serrate.

 

 

[jdmKY]

I’ve got a couple of Imperatorial Dioscuri

Mn Cordius Rufus, 46 BC

L Servius Rufus, 43 BC

[SteveJBrinkman]

On 12/26/2022 at 8:22 AM, antwerpen2306 said:

About one third of my Roman Republican coins are of the type Dioscuri, it is the type I prefer.

The early denarii and its fractions with the dioscuri on the reverse have been my passion for a number of years.

 

On 12/26/2022 at 8:22 AM, antwerpen2306 said:

The quinarius has the same images, the value is a half denarius : V = 5 asses. Number of dies : 100/125.

Crawford 44/6, 16.5 mm, 1.98 gr, 6 h, Mint : Rome, from 211 BC

I think I would classify this very nice quinarius as Crawford 47/1 based on the visor style and especially the overall reverse style.  Probably contemporary with Cr. 44/6 but from a different mint.  Crawford's plate  examples of this are of rather aberant variations.

For some reason I can't post an image of my 47/1 so will post this and try in a subsequent post.