Coinmaster Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 9, 2023 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)! 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 9, 2023 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 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted May 9, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 9, 2023 (edited) 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 10 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayAg47 Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 9, 2023 One of my favorite coin, featuring Trajan's Column. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limes Posted May 9, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 9, 2023 (edited) 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 11 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 9, 2023 21 minutes ago, Limes said: And is that coin shown in the book? Yes. 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 9, 2023 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. 10 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted May 9, 2023 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 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted May 9, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted May 9, 2023 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted May 9, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted May 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 9, 2023 1 hour ago, Coinmaster said: Did you know this site? https://ancientcoinage.org/lighthouses-of-alexandria.html No I didn't. Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapphnwn Posted May 9, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 9, 2023 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 13 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted May 10, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted May 10, 2023 I wish my budget was a bit higher..! (currently in auction: https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=3461&l=3983477) 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted May 10, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 10, 2023 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 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor LONGINUS Posted May 10, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 10, 2023 (edited) 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 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limes Posted May 10, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 10, 2023 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romancollector Posted May 10, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 10, 2023 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 6 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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