Sulla80 Posted March 25, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 25, 2023 (edited) Profile portraits of rulers or members of the imperial family are a standard subject on coins. Although this coin is nice overall it was certainly this portrait of Khoshrau II from his 38th Regnal year, his last year of reign, that made it irresistible: The number 38 is found on the back of this coin: to the left side of the coin inside the circles. hstsyh is the mint mark at the left side of the reverse inside the circles. To the left of the king's head, on the obverse, in Pahlavi script is a phrase that loosely translates to : "May his glory grow" referring to the king. The mint is on the reverse and inside the circle YZ on the coin for Yazd mint. Sasanian Kings, Husrav (Khosrau) II, AD 591-628, AR Drachm (31mm, 4.04g, 9h), YZ (Yazd) mint, dated RY 38 (AD 628 last year he reigned) Obv: Bust right, wearing mural crown, korymbos set on crescent Rev: Fire altar with ribbons; flanked by two attendants; star and crescent flanking flames Ref: SC Tehran 4026-8; Sunrise – Post your coins with beautiful portraits, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining. Edited March 26, 2023 by Sulla80 18 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted March 25, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 25, 2023 I hope this is a beard and not his teeth I like the Alexandrian portraits of the second century. Two examples: A realistic looking Lucius Verus: Alexandria Billon-Tetradrachm Obv.: Λ AYPHΛIOC OYHPOC CEB, laureate head right Rev.: APMENIA, Trophy of arms, at base of which Armenian captive seated right, head left, wearing pointed cap, hands tied behind back, L - E = year 5 (164/165). Billon, 13.88g, 21,8mm Ref.: RPC IV.4, 14502 (temporary) A Faustina II which looks like the role model for several Renaissance paintings: Faustina II Alexandria Billon-Tetradrachm Obv.: ΦAYCTIN CEBACTH, draped bust right Rev.: L ΙΓ (year 13), Dikaiosyne seated left, holding scales and cornucopia Billon, 13.46g Ref.: RPC online 13660, D 3239, Geissen 1949, M 2040 19 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted March 25, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 25, 2023 That is a great portrait @Sulla80! And great thread idea. Though I just posted him in the post it pick it thread, he's in the mind and Awesome! Here's my favorite bronze Herakles portrait And maybe my favorite portrait to date is Athena: 19 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordoba Posted March 25, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 25, 2023 My favorites: Antimachos and his cool kausia. Antiochos and the Artuqid rendition of his portrait 17 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted March 25, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted March 25, 2023 Some of my favorite portraits. AUGUSTUS (27 BCE-14 CE) Denarius. Lugdunum. 19mm 3.77g Obv: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE. Laureate head right. Rev: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT / C L CAESARES. Caius and Lucius Caesar standing facing; two shields, two sceptres; lituus and simpulum above. RIC² 209 KINGS of PERGAMON. Eumenes I Struck circa 255/0-241 BCE AR Tetradrachm 29mm, 16.89 g, 1h In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint Laureate head of Philetairos right Athena enthroned left, elbow resting on shield to right, crowning dynastic name; transverse spear in background, grape bunch to outer left, A to inner left, bow to right. Westermark Group V (unlisted dies); SNG BN 1618 Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Balakros, satrap of Cilicia under Alexander III. Circa 333-323 BCE Facing bust of Athena, draped, wearing triple-crested helmet and necklace / Baaltars seated to left, holding lotus-tipped sceptre; grain ear and grape bunch to left, B above ivy leaf to right, T below throne. SNG Levante Suppl. 21; SNG BnF 368; SNG von Aulock 5964. 10.79g, 26mm, 6h 15 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayAg47 Posted March 25, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 25, 2023 This coin of Nerva will always be my favourite. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted March 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 26, 2023 Hard to pick a favorite, but here goes: Seleucid Empire. Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.15g). Phoenician standard. Tyre mint. Dated SE 166 (147/6 BC). Obv: Diademed and draped bust right. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ-ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Eagle standing left on prow left; palm frond in background; to left, club surmounted by Tyre monogram; to right, CΞP (date) above monogram. Ref: SC 1835.4c; HGC 9, 883. NGC Ch AU★, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5. From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation. Ex Stacks Bowers January 2023 NYINC Auction (13 Jan 2023), Lot 20113. 21 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted March 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 26, 2023 Postumus (260-269). Æ Sestertius (31.5mm, 23.88g, 6h). Treveri, AD 261. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Fides standing facing, head l., holding two signa. RIC V 124. ex LAC I always wondered why Postumus Sestertii generally had better portraits than the double Sestertii (and also had the special bust types). Perhaps they were donatives; whether it be to the army or civilian distributions? 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted March 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 26, 2023 @Sulla80...That's a beautiful example!...Really nice detail & a nice 4 grams... I've always liked this rendition, it shows a different style of beard... Khusro II AR Drachm. Bust right, wearing mural crown with frontal crescent, two wings, and star-in-crescent, ribbons and crescents on shoulders; monogram behind head, stars flanking crown, double border, star-in-crescents in margin. Fire altar with ribbons; flanked by two attendants; date in Pahlavi to left, mint to right. SK (SISTAN, Zarang) mint, dated RY 37 (AD 628). Göbl II/3, Pl. no. 212. 4.14g, 33mm, 2h.Extremely Fine. 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
septim Posted March 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 26, 2023 AE 35 - Septimius Severus (193 - 211) from Magnesia ad Maeandrum/Ionia AV: AY K Λ CEΠ – CEOYHPOC Π - Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right RV: EΠI ΓPA – M – E – YTYXIΩNOC, Γ Zeus seated left, legs crossed, cult statue of Artemis Ephesia in extended right hand, holding scepter in left hand; MAΓNHTΩ/N in exergue. diameter: 34,5 – 36 mm weight: 28,34 g 13 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor jdmKY Posted March 26, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted March 26, 2023 This has always been one of my favorite portraits. It’s a denarius of Hostilius Saserna, 48 BC, with a Gallic warrior on the obverse and a Gallic war chariot in action on the reverse. There is speculation that the portrait is Vercingetorix, but the is no consensus. While it seems unlikely that an enemy of Rome would be portrayed on a coin, Caesar had a great deal of respect for the Gallic warriors. I’ll personally stick with the idea that it is Vercingetorix as it makes for a more intriguing story. 19 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapphnwn Posted March 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 26, 2023 This to me is probably my most interesting Greek portrait. Tetradrachm of Philetairos Pergamon 269-263 BC Obv Head right diademed Rv Athena seated left holding shield before her. Westermark O III/R2 16.99 grms 29 mm Photo by W. Hansen This has to be one of the most iconic images in Greek numismatics. The cheek and the neck are rendered as two featureless planes which contrasts with the treatment of the hair which is almost electric in its treatment. The facial features which includes a very small eye, seem to be crowded into one small area. The end result is an image of almost shocking brutality. This is an image of a man who should not be trifled with. 16 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulla80 Posted March 26, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted March 26, 2023 (edited) Wow - some serious portraits in this thread... Lucius Verus, Hercules, Antimachos, Eumenes, Nerva, Alexander Balas, Postumus, Khusro II, Septimius, Vercingetorix, and Philetairos leaping off of the coin... I will admit that with my home base in the Roman republic, the Hostilius Saserna is hard not to favor @jdmKY! I'll add another favorite portrait that is not seen often: Pylaimenes II or III - King of Paphlagonia, named for a hero of the Trojan War. Kings of Paphlagonia, Pylaimenes II/III Euergetes (Circa 133-103 BC), AE20 4.98g Obv: Bust of Pylaimenes right, as Herakles, with club over shoulder and lion skin around neck Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΠΥΛΑΙΜΕΝΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ, Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm frond Ref: SNG BM 1552; SNG von Aulock 149 Edited March 26, 2023 by Sulla80 14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted March 27, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 27, 2023 I think I've posted most of my best portraits either in the Emperors of Rome portrait thread or elsewhere...so instead of repeating those I'll post one of my favorite world coin portraits. IMO these "Mayflower tokens" feature the nicest coin portraits of Queen Victoria: 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted March 27, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 27, 2023 15 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maridvnvm Posted March 27, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 27, 2023 I was in the process of building a small collection of Greek coinage amongst which I was looking for a range of decent portraits. The following is a small selection of what I managed to obtain. All have now long parted from my trays. Philetairos, AR tetradrachm Kyme, Aeolis, AR Tetradrachm Ptolemy VI Philometor, Tetradrachm Seleukos I, tetradrachm Demetrios Poliorketes, Silver tetradrachm 16 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_v_a_n Posted March 27, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 27, 2023 18 hours ago, kapphnwn said: This to me is probably my most interesting Greek portrait. Engravers from Pergamon are the greatest artists. Theirs portraits of rulers believed to be realistic and emotional. That is why I believe this portrait of Alexander The Great is highly realistic and those priceless. This portrait really looks close with Azara herm. 14 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cazador Posted March 28, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 28, 2023 7 hours ago, I_v_a_n said: Engravers from Pergamon are the greatest artists. Theirs portraits of rulers believed to be realistic and emotional. That is why I believe this portrait of Alexander The Great is highly realistic and those priceless. This portrait really looks close with Azara herm. Yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cazador Posted March 28, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 28, 2023 15 hours ago, maridvnvm said: I was in the process of building a small collection of Greek coinage amongst which I was looking for a range of decent portraits. The following is a small selection of what I managed to obtain. All have now long parted from my trays. Philetairos, AR tetradrachm Kyme, Aeolis, AR Tetradrachm Ptolemy VI Philometor, Tetradrachm Seleukos I, tetradrachm Demetrios Poliorketes, Silver tetradrachm The Ptolemy is fantastic! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted March 28, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 28, 2023 Nice coins all! Here are a few of my favorite portraits. I have several recent additions that I could add to this list but I am way behind on photos 😕 12 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_v_a_n Posted March 28, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 28, 2023 6 hours ago, El Cazador said: Yours? Yes 🙂 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted March 28, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 28, 2023 (edited) What a fabulous eye candy thread! (I hope to see more of you portrait lovers in our Roman portrait thread... feel free to post a few of your favourites that we've already covered... we're currently at Carus.) ^Antiochos III Edited March 28, 2023 by Severus Alexander 8 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted March 28, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted March 28, 2023 Great thread! The subject of which portrait to post poses a dilemma that I have to face up to, so, chin up, I'll just have to put the old nose to the grid stone and decide after eyeing all of the wonderful examples here! I've always liked Eukratides and his pith helmet. And then there is Sabina, dear Sabina! And let's not forget the enigmatic archaic smile! Finally, to put the "best" face forward, from Syracuse: 7 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted March 28, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted March 28, 2023 1 hour ago, Severus Alexander said: What a fabulous eye candy thread! (I hope to see more of you portrait lovers in our Roman portrait thread... feel free to post a few of your favourites that we've already covered... we're currently at Carus.) ^Antiochos III I have always liked your exceptional portraits sub-collection. In regards to your Greek examples the Danaos tetradrachm is a real stand out! 1 hour ago, Severus Alexander said: Your medusa looks downright annoyed while staring down the horseplay going on the reverse here. 🙂 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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