Show Us Your Palms

[LONGINUS]

Greetings, forum friends,

Judaeans were my first love when it comes to ancient coin collecting — I’ve acquired quite a few over the years.

Here are some of my favorites. 

Palm Sunday Blessings to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Roman Collector]

Enviable collection, @LONGINUS, and a great idea for a Palm Sunday thread!

Palm fronds are often used as a design element, such as on these prutot:


Antonius Felix, Procurator under Claudius, AD 52-60.
Judean Æ Prutah, 2.42 g, 17.2 mm.
Caesaria mint, AD 54.
Obv: ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΙΝΑ (Julia Agrippina, wife of Claudius) within a wreath tied at the bottom with an X.
Rev: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟC ΚΑΙCΑΡ ΓΕΡΜ, two crossed palm fronds, LΙΔ (year 14) below.
Refs: Hendin 651; Meshorer TJC 342.


Porcius Festus, Procurator under Nero, AD 59-62.
Judean Æ Prutah, 2.51 g, 16.2 mm.
Caesarea mint, AD 58-59.
Obv: NЄPѠNOC in 3 lines, surrounded by wreath.
Rev: Palm branch surrounded by KAICAPO, LЄ (year 5).
Refs: Hendin 653; Meshorer TJC 345.

Or a palm frond may be used as a mark in the field, such as on the obverse of this coin:


Philistis, wife of Hieron II.
Greek AR 5 litrae.
Syracuse 270-230 BCE, 4.46 gm, 18.1 mm.
Obv: Diademed and veiled head, l., palm branch behind.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑΣ ΦΙΛΙΣΤΙΔΟΣ, Nike driving biga to left, E in l. field.
Refs: SNG ANS 893; SNG III (Lockett) 1017; Forrer 196.

Palm fronds are often attributes of various personifications and goddesses.

Hilaritas:


Faustina II, AD 147-175/6.
Roman Æ as, 9.72 g, 25.7 mm, 5 h.
Rome, AD 148-152.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust wearing band of pearls around the head, right.
Rev: HILARITAS S C, Hilaritas standing right, adjusting veil and holding long palm.
Refs: RIC 1396b; BMCRE 2151-52; Cohen 115; RCV 4725.

Nike/Victoria:


Julia Domna AD 193-217.
Roman provincial AE triassarion, 8.75 gm, 24.4 mm, 6 h.
Moesia Inferior, Tomis, AD 193-211.
Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CE, bare-headed and draped bust, r.
Rev: ΜΗΤ ΠΟΝ ΤΟΜΕΩC, Nike advancing l., holding wreath and palm, retrograde Γ (=3) to left.
Refs: Varbanov 4857; AMNG 2811.

Venus Victrix:


Julia Domna, AD 193-217
Roman oricalchum sestertius, 21.41 g, 28.8 mm.
Rome, AD 194, issue 4.
Obv: JULIA DOMNA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, r.
Rev: VENERI VICTR SC, Venus, naked to waist, standing r., holding apple and palm, resting l. elbow on column.
Refs: RIC-842; BMCRE-488; Cohen-195; Sear-6631; Hill-113.

Even birds can hold them!


Mysia, Pergamon, 200-133 BC.
Bronze Æ 15.7 mm, 3.55 g, 12 h.
Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet ornamented with star.
Rev: AΘΗ-ΝΑΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, owl standing facing on palm, with wings spread,TK monogram left and ΠΛ right.
Refs: SNG Copenhagen 388 (same); c.f. SNG von Aulock 1375-6, BMC 197-199, SNG France 1920-2, SNG BN 1913-6 (various monograms).

 

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by Roman Collector

[Ocatarinetabellatchitchix]

Some palms, but clearly not the same period of time than yours Ray…

 

Pax with a palm below the star

 

and two different Victories, from Trier and Cologne, with a palm in their left hand.

[Ryro]

[Jims,Coins]

MARCUS AMBIBULUS (9-12 A.D.) under Augustus

13. BCH #636. AE Prutah. GCVS #5607.

Obv. Ear of barley curved to right, KAICAPOC (of Caesar).

Rev. Eight-branched palm tree bearing two bunches of dates, date in field LA0 (Year 39) struck 9 A.D. AJC II, Supp. V, 3.

VALERIUS GRATUS (15-26 A.D.) under Tiberius

14. BCH #646. AE Prutah. GCVS #5619

Obv. TIB KAI CAP (Tiberius Caesar) in a wreath tied at base with an X.

Rev. Palm branch curves to right flanked by IOY AIA and date LE (Year 5). Struck 17 A.D. AJC II, Supp. V, 18.

PORCIUS FESTUS (59-62 A.D.) under Nero

16. BCH #653. AE Prutah.

Obv. Legend in a wreath tied at bottom with an X, NEP/WNO/C (Nero).

Rev. Palm branch surmounted by KAICAPO and date LE (Year 5) struck 58 A.D. AJC II, Supp. V, 35.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[shanxi]

Two palms

Mysia, Pergamon
AE17, 200-133 BC
Obv.: Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet with star
Rev.: Owl with spread wings standing on palm, ΑΘΗΝΑΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ above and below, MH monogram left
AE, 2.55g, 16.2mm

 

Severus Alexander
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: A KAI MAP AYP CEY AΛEΞANΔPOC EVC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust
Rev.: LI (year 10 = 230/231), Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia; palm frond to right
Billon, 12.62g, 24mm
Ref.: Dattari 4377 (var. (legend)), Milne 3042

[Qcumbor]

Beautiful palms DR !

 

 

Not mine anymore :

 

Q

[ambr0zie]

Vespasian, Cappadocia 

Platform for the eagle on a Decius, Antioch 

 

Pontos. Amisos 

 

Domna sestertius (yes, the palm is the main point of interest on this type of coins)

 

Control mark:

 

Zeugitania 

 

Used as an equestrian tool 

[Qcumbor]

ooops, sorry, I forgot those :

Q

[Celator]

Ostur
1st c. BC
AE Semis
Obvs: OSTVR below acorn.
Revs: Two palm branches.
19x20mm, 6.88g
CNH 390.4

[Edessa]

Judaea, Herodians. Herod I, the Great. AE 8 Protot (24mm, 8.43g, 1h). Jerusalem mint, struck 40-44 BC. Obv: Ornate helmet; palms flanking. Rev: Tripod; in l. field, LΓ and in r., monogram. Ref: Meshorer 44; Hendin 1169; RPC 4901. Green patina, Very Fine. Ex Naville Numis, Live Auction 72 (27 Mar 2022), Lot 228.

[DonnaML]

Here are a few palms that are significant elements of the design (rather than merely part of the mint-mark, or something held by a small figure of Victory or clutched by an eagle):

Roman Republic, L. [Lucius] Calpurnius Piso Frugi, AR Denarius, 90 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right (control marks H behind and F below) / Rev. Naked horseman galloping right holding palm frond in upraised left hand (control marks G above and H below), L• PISO FRUGI beneath. Crawford 340/1, RSC I Calpurnia 11, Sear RCV I 235/1, BMCRR 1938-2129 [this combination of two-letter control marks is not recorded in BMCRR; cf. BMCRR 2120 (H, F on obv. paired with C, A on rev.)]. 17 mm., 4.02 g.

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.* [Footnote omitted.]

Augustus AE (Brass or Orichalcum) Dupondius, 9-3 BCE, Colonia Augusta Nemausus [Nîmes] (Gallia Narbonensis province) Mint. Obv. Heads of Agrippa left and Augustus right, back to back, with Agrippa wearing combined laurel wreath and rostral crown, and Augustus wearing oak wreath, IMP above heads and DIVI F below [Imperator Divi Filius] / Rev. Crocodile right standing on two palm branches, chained to palm-shoot standing behind it, with tip of shoot leaning to right; wreath above and to left of palm-shoot, with long ties extending behind shoot to right, COL - NEM to left and right of palm-shoot. “Type III” of Augustus & Agrippa/Crocodile coin (see https://multicollec.net/1-mo-h/1h04).  RIC I 158 (p. 52), RPC I 524 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/search/browse?volume_id=1&number=524), Sear Greek Imperial Coins 157 (D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (1982)], Sear RCV I 1730 (ill.). [See Sear RCV I at p. 337: Commemorates conquest of Egypt in 30 BCE; influenced by Augustus’s settlement of veterans of Egyptian campaign in Nemausus after colony was founded in 27 BCE.] 28 mm., 12.09 g.

Valerian I, Billon Antoninianus, AD 255-256 [Sear RCV III p. 269], Antioch Mint [or, “uncertain Syrian mint”; see id.]. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG / Rev. Two Victories affixing shield inscribed S•C to palm tree between them, VOTA ORBIS. RIC V.1 294, RSC IV 280 var. [no cuirass on RSC coin], Sear RCV III 9996 (ill. p. 269); Göbl MIR 1682e [R. Göbl et al., Moneta Imperii Romani, Band 35: Die Münzprägung des Kaiser Valerianus I / Gallienus / Saloninus / (253/268), etc. (Vienna, 2000)]. Purchased from Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 98, 16 Jun 2022, Lot 1411.  

Edited April 3, 2023 by DonnaML

[Sol_Invictus]

So many lovely coins in this thread!  Here are a few modest ones:

Judea, Portius Festus, 58-59 AD, AE Prutah, 18mm, ~3 grams

Obv: Palm-branch surrounded by KAICAPO and date.

Rev: NEP/WNO/C, legend in wreath tied at bottom.

ex. David Connors

 

Carthaginian Sicily, 330 - 320 BC, AE15, Uncertain mint in Sicily. 15mm, 15.0 grams.

Obv: Palm tree with two date clusters.

Rev: Pegasos flying to the left

ex. Roma Numismatics.

[thenickelguy]

Not the most exciting but I got  these

Pontos, Amisos  ca. 100BC (Coast of Southern Black Sea Turkey) AE20 
Obverse Aegis (skin of a slain gorgon) with facing head of Gorgon at center Reverse Nike walking right, holding palm over shoulder with both hands.

 

Mysia Pergamon Athena Owl circa 133-27 BC (Owl on palm branch)

JUDAEA Procurator Antonius Felix 52-59 AD era

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Pupienus, 238 C.E.

Obverse: Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right

Reverse: Victory holding wreath and palm. Celebrating his unexpected victory over Maximinus Thrax.

Edited April 3, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[JeandAcre]

This is Way off, but it has some thematic resonance with Palm Sunday, at least.

Magdeburg.  Archbishop Wichmann von Seeburg, 1152-1192.  (My only 12th-century, full-module bracteate.)

St. Maurice, patron saint of the archdiocese, holding patriarchal cross and palm frond, a symbol of martyrdom.

+SC-S MAVRITIVS DVX 

...Aksumite coins have lots of wheat stalks, but no palm branches!

Edited April 3, 2023 by JeandAcre

[Curtisimo]

Nice group @LONGINUS! Happy Palm Sunday. 🙂 

Here are a few more for the thread.

[John Conduitt]

Simon Bar Kokhba Revolt, 132-133

Judaea. Bronze, 17.5mm, 5.92g. Grape bunch on tendril with branch and small vine leaf; שנת אחת לגאלת ישראל (year one of the redemption of Zion). Seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates; כ ה זנ רה א לע (ELAZAR HaKOHEN, Eleazar the Priest) (Meshorer 224).

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

2 hours ago, John Conduitt said:

 

Simon Bar Kokhba Revolt, 132-133

Judaea. Bronze, 17.5mm, 5.92g. Grape bunch on tendril with branch and small vine leaf; שנת אחת לגאלת ישראל (year one of the redemption of Zion). Seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates; כ ה זנ רה א לע (ELAZAR HaKOHEN, Eleazar the Priest) (Meshorer 224).

Those are quite hard to come by. Congrats on the coin.

[LONGINUS]

Thanks, folks for your comments and superb images!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

[expat]

Wonderful display of examples posted here, and a great thread idea.

Here is Lucilla with palm as design element

[Sulla80]

Skepsis - Troas - https://www.sullacoins.com/post/aristotle-s-library-and-a-coin-of-troas

Carthage: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/rome-africa

Roman Republican Q Sicinius Une palme et un caducée sous une couronne  https://www.sullacoins.com/post/julius-caesar-v-pompeians

"you would have lost Asia, citizens, if the fortune of the Roman people had not providentially brought Gnaeus Pompeius at that critical moment in time into those regions. His arrival checked Mithridates, puffed up by his unusual victory, and slowed down Tigranes, who was threatening Asia with a large number of troops."

Cicero, On Pompey's Command, 45

and speaking of Tigranes - a palm in the hands of Tyche: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/tigranes-ii-the-great

Edited April 5, 2023 by Sulla80

[mc9]

Here i have a very little Greek palm tree,

8.22 mm ; 0.67 gr

Edited April 10, 2023 by mc9

[Octavius]

 Vespasian, sestertius IVDAEA CAPTA with palm tree...