Monuments on Roman coins

[Coinmaster]

Hi all,

I have an interest in monuments on ancient coins and was wondering if anyone has this book: https://www.academia.edu/10540330/N_T_Elkins_Monuments_in_Miniature_Architecture_on_Roman_Coinage_Numismatic_Studies_29_New_York_American_Numismatic_Society_2015.

Is this a good one for identifying these kind of coins?

Please share any online publications about this great topic and share your proud possessions (no spous pictures, only coins please)!

 

[David Atherton]

I have the book and highly recommend it! Probably the definitive work on the subject. 

This is one of my favourite architectural types in the collection. 

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=168103

 

 

[shanxi]

2 hours ago, Coinmaster said:

and share your proud possessions (no spous pictures, only coins please)!

Nice explanation of the coin details!!

This is the first roman coin depicting a "monument"

C. Minucius Augurinus
AR Denarius, 135 BC, Rome
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma right, below chin, X, behind, ROMA.
Rev: C•A – VG Ionic column surmounted by statue, holding staff in r. hand; on either side, togate figure. Togate figure on left holding loaves in both hands, togate figure on right holding lituus. Column decorated with forepart of lion on either side at the base and two bells at the top, grain ears behind each of the lions.
Ag, 18mm, 3.69g
Ref.: Sydenham 463, Crawford 242/1.

This column is the first architectural structure on a Roman coin (the first building comes 57 years later). It honors L. Minucius Augurinus, who, as prefect, introduced price controls on grain and thus fought a famine.

 

And here you can find many depictions:

https://www.academia.edu/44937435/ARCHITECTURE_ON_ANCIENT_COINS_2021

Edited May 9, 2023 by shanxi

[JayAg47]

One of my favorite coin, featuring Trajan's Column.

[Limes]

I'll be sure to add this book to my wantlist, thanks! And is that coin shown in the book? 

Architecture on Roman coins is fascinating, and I am a big fan of such coins and books. So far, I have two books on this topic: The monuments of ancient Rome as coin types, by Philip Hill. And Monumental coins, by Marvin Tameanko. The first book offers an overview of many coins with various architecture, but only briefly gives some explanation. The book by Tameanko offers indepth research, but only for a limited number of coins. 

EDIT: here's a link to a site, that gives some information on various monuments of Rome. 

Here are some of my favorite coins with structures on the reverse:

(a poor mans version of this fascinating issue)

This coin shows the central structure of the circus (with some ornamentation). Since coins showing the circus itself are too expensive for me, this will do.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Limes

[David Atherton]

21 minutes ago, Limes said:

And is that coin shown in the book?

Yes.

[Prieure de Sion]

8 hours ago, shanxi said:

Nice explanation of the coin details!!

This is the first roman coin depicting a "monument"

C. Minucius Augurinus
AR Denarius, 135 BC, Rome
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma right, below chin, X, behind, ROMA.
Rev: C•A – VG Ionic column surmounted by statue, holding staff in r. hand; on either side, togate figure. Togate figure on left holding loaves in both hands, togate figure on right holding lituus. Column decorated with forepart of lion on either side at the base and two bells at the top, grain ears behind each of the lions.
Ag, 18mm, 3.69g
Ref.: Sydenham 463, Crawford 242/1.

This column is the first architectural structure on a Roman coin (the first building comes 57 years later). It honors L. Minucius Augurinus, who, as prefect, introduced price controls on grain and thus fought a famine.

 

And here you can find many depictions:

https://www.academia.edu/44937435/ARCHITECTURE_ON_ANCIENT_COINS_2021

Cool PDF … I find the Nero inside.

  
  

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 62/68 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 32mm; Weight: 24.03g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC I (second edition) Nero 178

 

Obverse: Head of Nero, laureate, right, with aegis on neck. The Inscription reads: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P for Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestas, Imperator, Pater Patriae (Nero Claudius, Caesar, Augustus, victor over the Germans, high priest, tribunician power, Imperator, father of the country); Reverse: View of the harbor at Ostia; Statue of Neptune set on pharos, above; Tiber reclining left, below. The Inscription reads: AVGVSTI S POR OST C for Augusti Portus Ostiensis, Senatus Consultum (To the venerable port of Ostia. Decree of the Senate).

  

 

Comments:

Bird's eye view of the harbour of Ostia. At the top, pharos surmounted by statue of Neptune left, holding sceptre in left hand; at the bottom, reclining figure of Tiber left, holding rudder in right hand and dolphin in left hand; to left, crescent-shaped pier with portico of fourteen pillars, terminating with figure sacrificing at altar before building; to right, crescent-shaped row of fourteen breakwaters or slips terminating with figure seated on rock; within the central harbour, seven ships (three left, one centre, three right). While Julius Caesar recognized the value of expanding Rome's port facilitites at Ostia, it was Claudius who began actual building in 42 AD. As part of the construction, one of Caligula's pleasure galleys was scuttled and filled with cement; above it was constucted a lighthouse surmounted by a statue of Neptune. Although the actual date of completion is not certain, it must have occurred shortly before this sestertius was minted. A further expansion of the facilities was required under Trajan and Hadrian. By the fourth century, however, its importance began to diminish as a result of silting. Soon the region became a breeding ground for malaria and was abandoned.

 

[Coinmaster]

12 hours ago, David Atherton said:

I have the book and highly recommend it! Probably the definitive work on the subject. 

This is one of my favourite architectural types in the collection. 

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=168103

Many thanks David! And indeed a wonderful lighthouse. Did you know this site? https://ancientcoinage.org/lighthouses-of-alexandria.html

[Coinmaster]

12 hours ago, shanxi said:

And here you can find many depictions:

https://www.academia.edu/44937435/ARCHITECTURE_ON_ANCIENT_COINS_2021

Many thanks Shanxi! This one is also informative: https://www.academia.edu/80229265/MYTHOLOGY_FROM_ANCIENT_COINS_2022.

[Coinmaster]

12 hours ago, JayAg47 said:

One of my favorite coin, featuring Trajan's Column.

Oh yes, that one is definitely on my wish list, thanks! I think you'd like: https://www.timetravelrome.com/2019/05/21/romes-great-lost-columns-seen-on-coins/ and https://www.nationalgeographic.com/trajan-column/index.html.

[Coinmaster]

11 hours ago, Limes said:

Here are some of my favorite coins with structures on the reverse

That's a wonderful collection, thanks for sharing! Plus thanks for the book tips, that's really helpful.

[David Atherton]

1 hour ago, Coinmaster said:

Did you know this site? https://ancientcoinage.org/lighthouses-of-alexandria.html

No I didn't. Thank you!

[kapphnwn]

Septimius Severus Ar Denarius 206 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv Arch of Septimius Severus RIC 259 Elkins 140 3.47 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This is an image of what the structure may have looked like upon completion

This what the structure looks like today

[Coinmaster]

I wish my budget was a bit higher..!

(currently in auction: https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=3461&l=3983477)

[Prieure de Sion]

Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus
Reign: Commodus; Mint: Alexandria, Troas; Date: 180/191 AD; Nominal: Bronze; Material: AE; Diameter: 23mm; Weight: 6.33g; Reference: RPC IV.2 3172; RPC Online: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/3172; Rare: Specimens 4 (1 in the core collections); Provenance: Sol Numismatics Maribor, Slowenia (Auction X, Lot 126)

Obverse: Laureate head of Commodus to right; Inscription: IMP CAI M AV COMMODO [AVG] [ANTONINVS?]; Translation: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Augustus Antoninus; Reverse: Temple with four columns in perspective enclosing statue of Apollo Smintheus standing on short column, right, having quiver at shoulder, holding patera over lighted tripod and bow; Inscription: COL AVG TROAD; Translation: Colonia Augusta Troad (Troas)

 

 

 

The reverse shows the temple of “Apollo Smintheus”. Homer refers to Apollo in the Iliad as Smintheus. The etymology of the non-Greek word is not certain. It is derived from the Cretan or Phrygian word sminthos for “mouse” or “rat” and can be translated as “mouse exterminator”. To what extent Apollo Smintheus can be equated with Apollo as a plague god is unclear. Mice or rats may indicate plagues, which according to Greek mythology emanated from Apollo. But the epiklese was also chosen for the expulsion of mice that had ravaged the vineyards. The temple of Apollo Smintheus is the only one of its kind in the Troas region due to its architectural design in the Hellenistic period. The sanctuary of Smintheus was one of the most important cult centres in antiquity. The reliefs on the temple take up themes from Homer’s Iliad epic. It was probably built in the Hellenistic period around 150 BC. The temple housed a large marble statue of the god, of which only a leg section has survived. At the feet of the statue, according to tradition, sat a mouse, which may symbolize the role of this god. On the grounds of the sanctuary, besides the temple, there are ruins of buildings that were necessary for the organisation of everyday life, even in a sanctuary. For example, a bath.

More information and pictures you can find here: https://www.antike-orte.de/apollon-smyntheion

 

Part of my private Collection

[LONGINUS]

Great post, @Coinmaster!

 

Although this coin does not offer an image of a well known monument it does feature a Roman architectural monument in symbolic form. 

 

 

Edited May 10, 2023 by LONGINUS

[Limes]

22 hours ago, kapphnwn said:

Septimius Severus Ar Denarius 206 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv Arch of Septimius Severus RIC 259 Elkins 140 3.47 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This is an image of what the structure may have looked like upon completion

This what the structure looks like today

Terrific coin @kapphnwn! I have some dreamcoins, and this coin absolutely is one of them. 

[Romancollector]

I recently acquired a dream architectural coin...however, I will wait to post it until it arrives.

For now, I will post this as my contribution.

Denarius of Octavian - rv. rostral column