Roman Coins in Reverse - a Chronological Gallery

[ambr0zie]

I missed a category but I hope I am excused as it's difficult to post coins directly from the beach. But here are mine from the current time frame. All with interesting reverses. 

One of my major targets because of the animal reverse plus mythological link 

C. Hosidius C. f. Geta 68 BC. Rome. Denarius AR17 mm, 3,96 g
Obv: Diademed head of Diana draped right, bow and quiver at her shoulder GETA before, III. VIR behind. 
Rev.: The wild boar of Calydon right, pierced by spear and attacked by dog. C. HOSIDI. C.F. in exergue.
Crawford 407/2
The classical myth of the Calydonian boar served to illustrate the need for paying proper respect to the gods and the consequences for not 
doing so. King Oeneus of Aetolia had forgotten to accord proper rites to the goddess Diana (Artemis), and for this sacrilege she sent a chthonic 
beast, the wild boar of Calydon, to ravage the Aetolian hinterland. The boar was the bane of the people, destroying vineyards and crops and 
forcing everyone to take shelter behind their city walls. With starvation ensuing, a hunt was organized, and most of the illustrious heroes of 
Greece's heroic age took part (with the exception of Hercules who fought his own chthonic beast, the Erymanthean boar). Amongst all these 
male heroes was one female, the heroine Atalanta, and she won the signal honor of being the first to wound the boar, having pierced its side 
with an arrow. For this she was awarded its hide. Although the precise meaning is lost to us, it can be assumed that Hosidius employed the type 
of the Calydonian boar to illustrate a claimed descent from one of the heroes involved in the hunt, perhaps from Atalanta herself.

 

Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus 54 BC. Rome

Denarius AR

20 mm, 2,74 g

[LIBERTAS], bust of Libertas to right / Consul L. Junius Brutus, between two lictors, preceded by

accensus, all walking to left; [BRVTVS] in exergue.

Crawford 433/1; BMCRR Rome 3862; RSC Junia 31

 

Q. Cassius Longinus (55 BC) AR Denarius. 21 mm, 4,05g

Q CASSIVS VEST, veiled head of Vesta right / Curule chair within circular temple of Vesta between urn

and vota tablet inscribed AC.

RSC Cassia 9; B.M.C. 3871; Syd. 917; Craw. 428/1

[Pellinore]

I must say, I'm quite impressed by the beauty and heady spirit of the Roman Republican coins you are showing here. Especially those large photographs that @akeady has been posting are very alluring. Also DonnaML's coins, and not less those of many other contributors are great works of Roman art. One would be honored to possess such a coin for some decades or years.

I can't contribute much here, for I have only one Republican denarius. I showed it before, but with this emphasis on the reverse it fits in right here.

 

 

 

2003. AR denarius, Rome. M. Volteius M. f. 75 BC. Obv. Head of young Hercules right, wearing lion’s skin headdress. Rev. Erymanthian Boar charging right, VOLTEI·M·F in exergue. 17mm., 3.64g. Crawford 385/2; Sydenham 775; Volteia 2.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The other coins are Celtic imitations, both issued by the Eravisci, a Celtic or Pannonian tribe that lived in what’s now Hungary, between Budapest and Esztergom on the Danube.

 

2928 B. Danubian Celts, Eravisci. About 60-50 BC. AR denarius. Imitating a Roman Republican denarius of L. Roscius Fabatus, issued in 64 BC. Obv. Head of Juno Sospita to the right in goatskin headdress, branch behind, C. before chin. Rev. Abstract representation of a female figure (right) confronting an uncoiling snake (left). At the right, a modius with measure > a large dot with three small dots. In exergue, FABATI > unreadable lettering (RARAV…). Freeman, Essays Hersh, 14-16. BMC Celtic S247. 19 mm, 3.13 gr.

2930 B. Danubian Celts, Eravisci. About 60-50 BC. AR denarius. Imitating C. Naevius Balbus and L. Papius. Obv. Diademed head of Venus right. Rev. Griffin leaping to the right. IRAVSCI below. R. Freeman, ""A group of Eraviscan denarii,"" Essays Hersh dies 13/I, pl. 29, 18. 17 mm, 3.39 gr.

 

 

 

[kapphnwn]

Ar Denarius of C. Hostidius Geta 68 BC Obv Bust of Diana Right bow and bow case behind. Rv Boar standing right being harried by hound. Crawford 407/1 3.99 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen 

This I think is one of the more attractive issues struck during this period. The reverse features a boar at bay, already pierced by one spear and being harried by a hound. We know very little about Geta thus it is difficult to assess the meaning behind these types. One interesting theory is the image on the reverse depicts the hunt for the Calydonian boar, a fearsome animal the object of a hunt that predates the Trojan War. It is thought that many cities on the italian Adriatic were founded by the victor of that hunt Diomedes. If this is true then Geta in an effort to further his political ambitions may be hinting at the origins of his family  

[Edessa]

Roman Republic. C. Memmius C.f. 56 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.87g, 4h). Rome mint. Obv: C.MEMMI C.F. - QVIRINVS; Laureate and bearded head of Quirinus to right. Rev: MEMMIVS AED CERIALIA PREIMVS FECIT; Ceres seated right, holding a torch in her left hand and corn ears in her right; before, snake. Ref: Memmia 9; Crawford 427/2; Sydenham 921. Good Very Fine, irridescently toned, small area of flat strike at top on obverse. From the Tony Hardy Collection. Ex CNG 61 (25 Sept 2002), Lot 1479.

[akeady]

Here are a few I haven't noticed already...

Cr. 408/1 of 67 BC was a large issue - the moneyer, Caius Piso L.F. Frugi was the son-in-law of Cicero and the son of the moneyer of Cr. 340/1.   The types here - Apollo on the oberse and horseman on reverse - are the same as those of the earlier issue, but the design is executed in greater relief.

Here's Cybele and a curuls chair on a denarius of M. Plaetorius of 67 BC - Cr. 409/2.

The Muses -  here they all are, accepting that the muse of Cr. 401/7d is Erato!   Some scope for upgrading and a few legend varieties to pursue!

Sibyl and a tripod - Cr. 411/1b of 65 BC:

I got the following coin at a Chris Rudd auction four years ago - as they specialise in Celtic coins, I was suprised to see this.   From the Mesagne Hoard and sold by the real Leu in 2002, it's probably in better condition than any other RR coin I have.   Cr. 412/1 of 64 BC.   The reverse of the denarius of L. Roscious Fabatus refers to a local custom in Lanuvium (where Juno Sospita on the obverse was worshipped) where young women would go into a cave blindfolded bearing cakes for a serpent.   If they were chaste, the serpent would eat the cakes; if not, he wouldn't.   The maiden on my example seems to have no head, which is probably a bad sign 😛

This next coin - a denarius of M. Aemilius Lepidus of 61 BC (Cr. 419/2) is badly struck and I only bought it for the back story - from the description:

"From the Red Ox Collection and the collection of the Czech musician Adolf Picek (circa 1885-1978), and formerly in the possession of an Italian banker, whose life was saved by Mr. Picek in the Battles of the Piave River on the Italian Front in 1917-1918 and who presented his savior with 'four socks of old coins' in reward."

Well done, Mr. Picek.

There's already a lovely example of Cr. 419/1 above, but mine is slightly different and I like the obverse a lot, so I'll sneak it in too - M. Aemilius Lepidus of 61 BC:

This is also above, but I stuck mine in just to say that the temple depicted here was in Sicily, but there is now a Norman castle likely built on its location - Cr. 414/1 of 57 BC:

This, Cr. 426/1 of 56 BC of Faustus Cornelius Sulla has an interesting reverse with Sulla seated and Bocchus, king of Mauretania handing him an olive branch while Jugurtha, king of Numidia is kneeling with hands bound.   Faustus was the son of the dictator and the reverse apparently reproduces the signet ring Sulla had made of the scene.

Skipping on, here's a denarius of C. Memmius of 56 BC (Cr. 427/2).   Quirinus on the obverse was apparently originally a Sabine god, but in early Roman times it was claimed that Romulus, who had mysteriously disappeared during a storm while making a religious sacrifice had returned to heaven and was to be known thereafter as Quirinus.   It was indeed fortunate that Romulus/Quirinus appeared to Julius Proculus to clarify this and allay suspicion that Romulus had been murdered by a senate faction.   The reverse links the aedile Memmius to the first holding of the games of Ceres.

Here's Cr. 428/2 of 55 BC - Libertas and Temple of Vesta with an urn and voting tablet inscribed A C for Absolvo Condemno.   It refers to a trial of the Vestal Virgins inb 113 BC conducted by the great-grandfather of the moneyer, Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla.   In short, a Vestal Virgin was struck by lightning, which clearly meant the gods were displeased - one of the Virgins was convicted of not being entirely virginal and walled up alive.   However, the people were unhappy with the acquittal of two others and Ravilla was appointed to pursue the other two, who were in due course convicted too.   Interestingly, Ravilla's investigative strategy was the ancient equivalent of "Follow the money" - his saying was "Qui bono fuerit?" (Who profited?).

I will stop here - Cn. Plancius of 55 BC - Cr. 432/1.   This coin was difficult to photograph, being dark.   It belonged to the Friedinger-Pranter Collection and was bequeathed to the Caritas charity and auctioned by Lanz in 2013.

I was unable to upload both sides of the coin, so here's the reverse with a Cretan goat, with bow and quiver.

ATB,
Aidan.

Edited July 14, 2023 by akeady

[Limes]

Now that's a fantastic collection of Muses, @akeady!

My only addition in this category: 

 

[DonnaML]

I just realized that the next time-period starts in another half-hour, so let's see if I can get in some of my choices from the 69-50 BCE period before then. Again (with some exceptions) I've tried to avoid picking reverses that have already been posted and written about in detail.

I'll start with posting just one coin, because the footnotes are so long that I'm afraid that no one will ever get past them!  But I hope that they may prove illuminating to anyone else interested in this particular issue.

There's something about the high relief that very much appeals to me.

1. Roman Republic, C. [Caius/Gaius] Calpurnius Piso L.f. [son of Lucius] Frugi [son-in-law of Cicero, married to Tullia], AR Denarius, 67-59 BCE [see fn. for discussion of date range], Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right in high relief, hair long and in ringlets; behind, control symbol ɸ (Greek letter phi) (Crawford obverse die 32; Hersh 1976* obverse die O-33) / Rev. Naked horseman galloping right wearing shaped conical cap, holding reins but carrying no palm branch or other object; above, control symbol sword [Crawford] or knife [Hersh 1976] with curved blade [Crawford reverse die 43, Hersh 1976 reverse die R-1038]; beneath horse, C• PISO• L• F• FRVG [with VG blurred on die]. Crawford 408/1a [Apollo laureate rather than wearing fillet]; BMCRR Rome 3774 [this die combination]; Hersh 1976 at p. 32, Corpus No. 89 [this die combination]; RSC I Calpurnia 24j [Apollo laureate/horseman wearing conical cap & carrying no palm branch or other object]; Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins 63 BCE - 49 BCE (2d ed. 2015) (“Harlan RRM II”), Ch. 7 at pp. 54-59; Sear RCV I 348; Sydenham 846. 18 mm., 3.86 g. 6 h.  Purchased 13 March 2021 from cgb.fr. [Double die-match to Ira & Larry Goldberg Auction 80, Lot 3048, 03.06.2014 (see https://www.acsearch.info/image.html?id=2012900), previously sold by LHS Numismatik AG, Auction 100, Lot 398, 23/04/2007. ]**

* Hersh, Charles A., “A Study of the Coinage of the Moneyer C. Calpurnius Piso L.f. Frugi,” The Numismatic Chronicle, Seventh Series, Vol. 16 at pp. 7-63 (1976). See https://www.jstor.org/stable/42664788?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.**The basic design of this type -- the head of Apollo on the obverse, and a naked horseman racing on the reverse, with nearly 500 known different die combinations and configurations of control symbols, objects held by the horseman, etc. -- is the same as the design of the massive issue of the moneyer’s father Lucius, dating to 90 BCE (Crawford 340/1), with more than 1,000 known die combinations, issued to aid in funding the Social War. Both issues “recall the Ludi Apollinares [the annual games held in honor of Apollo], converted into a permanent festival as a result of the proposal of C. Calpurnius Piso, [urban] Pr[aetor] [in] 211,” an ancestor of our father-and-son moneyers. See Crawford Vol. I p. 344; see also Hersh 1976 p. 8 (the design of Crawford 408 is a “direct reference” to the annual Ludi Apollinares proposed by the moneyer’s ancestor); Harlan RRM II at p. 56 (explaining that the Ludi Apollinares were made permanent in the same year, 211, in which Hannibal broke off his assault on Rome without ever joining battle, an outcome ascribed to Apollo’s divine intervention).

Varying dates for the son’s issue (Crawford 408/1a-1b) [this coin], according to different authorities, include the following:

67 BCE (Crawford, RSC I, RBW Collection, Sear RCV I [but see Sear RCV I at p. 138, citing Crawford’s date but noting the “hoard evidence which would seem to indicate a period of issue closer to 60 BC”]);

64 BCE (BMCRR);

63 BCE (Hersh 1976 at p. 8);

61 BCE (Charles Hersh and Alan Walker, “The Mesagne Hoard,” Museum Notes (American Numismatic Society), 1984, Vol. 29 pp. 103-134 (1984) [“Hersh & Walker 1984”], at Table 2, No. 27);

59 BCE (Harlan RRM II at Ch. 7 p. 57).

The different theories over the years for the date of this issue have been based primarily on various known events in the life of the moneyer (“Caius”) -- including the basic premise that Caius must have been moneyer prior to his appointment as quaestor in 58 BCE and his death in 57 BCE -- and in the life of his father-in-law Cicero, as well as on stylistic evidence and, perhaps most persuasively, on hoard evidence.

For example, Crawford’s proposed date of 67 BCE was the year when Caius’s relative Gaius Calpurnius Piso was consul and when Caius himself -- born either in 89 BCE (Harlan RRM II p. 57) or 87 BCE (Hersh 1976 p. 8 )-- was betrothed to Cicero’s only daughter Tullia, then 9 years old. (See Harlan RRM II p. 54, quoting Cicero’s letter to Atticus from late 67 BCE: “We have betrothed little Tullia to [C]aius cloelius, son of Lucius.”)  

But Harlan argues that Caius was far too young in 67 BCE, at only 22 or 20, to serve as a mint magistrate. And Hersh 1976’s comprehensive die study points out (at p. 8 ) that Caius and Tullia “were married in 63 BC, when Cicero was consul,” and, therefore, proposes that Caius “probably was a moneyer during 63 BC,” during Cicero’s consulship.

However, perhaps most persuasively, Hersh & Walker 1984 dates the issue based on the evidence of the Mesagne Hoard of 5,940 denarii, which was discovered in 1979/1980, and buried ca. 58 BCE (see p. 103). The hoard contained 198 coins of Caius (id. p. 112), in the top five of all the issues in the hoard, right behind the 199 coins from the still-circulating issue of his father Lucius (id. pp. 108-109). Crucially, “[i]n the Mesagne hoard the coins of [Caius] . . . were in almost mint condition, where not marred by corrosion during burial,” unlike the heavily-circulated coins from older issues. Therefore, “[Caius], who was Cicero's son-in-law, must have been a moneyer in ca. 60 B.C.,” given that “he died in 57 B.C., after his term as quaestor in 58 B.C. had been completed.” (Id. p. 133.)  Thus, in the article’s chart of assigned dates based on the Mesagne Hoard, Hersh & Walker settle on 61 BCE as the date for the issue.  (See id. Table 2, No.27.)  Harlan theorizes, however, that Caius’s “most immediate need to remind the voters of his family traditions” -- i.e., by issuing coins with the same basic design as the huge and still-circulating issue of his father Lucius from 90 BCE -- “came just prior to his election as quaestor for 58, and I, therefore, date the coin to 59.” Harlan RRM II at p. 57.

Harlan’s date has not been adopted by other authorities, so far as I know. Surprisingly, even Hersh & Walker’s well-supported date of 61 BCE, proposed almost 40 years ago, has been ignored by more dealers than have followed it. Instead, Crawford’s 67 BCE date continues to be widely used. Even the highly-regarded RBW Collection catalog, published in 2014, uses 67 BCE as the date for the 23 coins of C. Calpurnius Piso L.f. Frugi it includes -- not mentioning the 61 BCE date in Hersh & Walker 1984, or even the 63 BCE date proposed in Hersh 1976, despite citing and relying upon the latter study. At least David Sear’s RCV I (Millennium Edition), although placing the issue in 67 BCE, notes at p. 138 that the hoard evidence places the issue “closer to 60 BC” (see above).

In any event, Caius’s term as quaestor was preoccupied with his father-in-law’s exile, and he did not live long thereafter. See Hersh 1976 at p. 8: “While in office [Caius] devoted his efforts to trying to obtain the recall of Cicero from banishment in Macedonia, whither he had gone following the legislation sponsored by his enemy, Publius Clodius Pulcher. At the end of his quaestorship [Caius] was allotted the provinces of Pontus and Bithynia, but he remained in Rome to continue his efforts on Cicero’s behalf. He died during the early summer of 57 B.C., before the return of Cicero to Italy on 5 August 57 B.C., following his recall.” See also Harlan RRM II at p. 59, quoting at length from Cicero’s tribute to his son-in-law in his Brutus, written eleven years later in 46 BCE. Cicero stated, among other things, “I have never known anyone with greater zeal and industry -- although I might easily say, anyone even with more talent, who surpassed my son-in-law [C]aius Piso. . . . [H]e seemed to fly not to run. . . . I do not think that there was anyone who could compare with him in self-control and piety and in every other virtue.”

Now to the coins themselves. As noted above, the two basic types of Crawford 408 are 408/1a (laureate head of Apollo) and 408/1b (Apollo’s hair tied with a taenia or fillet). Thus, my coin is classified as part of Crawford 408/1a, the smaller of the two types. Crawford tallies 53 obverse dies and 59 reverse dies for type 1a, with type 1b nearly three times as large -- 144 obverse dies and 175 reverse dies. (See Crawford pp. 419 & 435, and Table XLIII at pp. 420-434, listing all the dies of both types known to Crawford in 1974.)

Two years after Crawford, the die study in Hersh 1976 listed 57 obverse dies and 62 reverse dies for the Crawford 1a type (variously denominated Section I and “Linkage Group A” by Hersh), and 147 obverse dies and 170 reverse dies for the Crawford 1b type (Linkage Groups B & C or Sections II & III under the Hersh classification; the slight differences between those two types are irrelevant to my “Group A” coin). (See Hersh 1976 p. 10.) 

Crawford’s table attempted to classify the various die combinations by treating the differences in the horsemen on the reverses as the controlling factors, whereas Hersh’s study of all the die interlinkages “revealed that the obverses, not the reverses, were the regulating element of the issue. Whether the Apollo head was laureate or whether it was bound instead by a taenia or fillet was the key factor and the varied attributes of the horseman on the reverse dies were merely unimportant, if interesting, variations of the main type, probably used as an auxiliary control.” (Hersh 1976 pp. 9-10.)  

The die study in Hersh 1976 reached the conclusion that more than one officina was involved in the production of this moneyer’s denarii:

Hersh also discusses, at pp. 9-10 and 11, the artistic aspects of the different types, apparently produced by different officinae.

First, at pp. 9-10, Hersh discusses the artistic aspects in terms of the different “Sections” (my laureate Apollo coin is in Section I). Obviously, he was fond of the issue!

Then, at p, 11, he discusses the coins’ artistry again, this time in terms of laureate Apollo heads vs. heads bound with a taenia, with my coin belonging to the former type:

“As

Even if the laureate head/Section I/Group A coins are not struck in as high a relief as the taenia/fillet type, I should note that my example, at least, is struck in higher relief than any other Roman Republican coin I own. But I do agree with Hersh’s high opinion of the artistic merit of the laureate Apollo.  It’s certainly more notable than the artistry of my Lucius Piso Frugi example.

At pp. 17-25 of Hersh 1976, the author individually lists and describes each known obverse die and reverse die. Just to give an idea of the complexity, this is the key, at p. 21, to the coding of the various attributes of the reverse dies:

 

My coin, as noted above, is Hersh Obv. Die O-33 (= Crawford Obv. Die 32). Here is the portion of the obverse die table showing Obv. Dies O-23 through  O-34, with O-33 being the control-symbol ɸ (the Greek letter phi). Note that O-33 is linked to only one other reverse die besides my R-1038 die:

And here is the portion of the reverse die table including my Hersh Rev. Die R-1038 (= Crawford Rev. Die 43). Hersh calls the control-symbol a curved knife, while Crawford calls it a curved sword. To me, it looks more like a sword. Just as my obverse die links to only one other reverse die besides mine, my reverse die links to only one other obverse die besides mine:

The “CX” shown for R-1038, as explained in the key reproduced above, refers to the horseman wearing a conical cap -- although the cap on my coin seems to have a visor, and doesn’t look much like Hersh’s drawing of a conical cap! -- and not carrying anything.  Out of the 62 reverse dies in Hersh’s Group A/Section I (i.e., those linked to the Apollo laureate head obverses), my coin’s reverse die is one of only five on which the horseman carries nothing (no palm branch, whip, etc.). On three of those five, the horseman is winged. So there is only one other reverse die (R-1006) on which the horseman carries nothing and has no wings to aid him instead! 

At pp. 26-60, Hersh 1976 also individually describes each of the 486 known die combinations, in a “Corpus of the Coins of C. Calpurnius L.F. Frugi.” A number of additional varieties have been discovered since Hersh 1976; see Hersh & Walker 1984 at pp. 20-23, listing several found in the Mesagne Hoard; RBW Collection p. 302 (note following no. 1459). (As mentioned above, there are more than 1,000 die combinations known for the Apollo/horseman issue of the moneyer’s father Lucius [Crawford 340] -- i.e., more than twice as many as for Caius’s issue. There has never been a die study published for Crawford 340; the one referenced at Crawford p. 340 as “forthcoming,” to be co-authored by R. Grassby, never came forth.)  

My die combination for Crawford 408/1a is No 89 in the Hersh 1976 Corpus, at p. 32:

Hersh lists only four other specimens of my die combination, one at the British Museum (already noted above in my coin description), one at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, one at the Vatican, and one in the author’s personal collection. All are presumably double-die matches, since it appears that only one die was made matching each description in Hersh 1976.  In addition (unless it is the same coin owned by Hersh as of 1976), one other example of Hersh’s Corpus No. 89 is listed on acsearch. It was sold by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Auction 80, Lot 348, on 03.06.2014, for $1,400, and was previously sold by LHS Numismatik AG, Auction 100, Lot 398, on 23/04/2007, for $1,100. See https://www.acsearch.info/image.html?id=2012900:

The coin is clearly a double-die match to mine. My example is clearly not as nice -- it’s considerably more worn -- but I paid only a rather small fraction of those auction prices! More importantly, I’m very, very happy with mine. 

I suppose that the line going up from the top of Apollo’s head to the edge on both coins is a die-break or some other die flaw. I also assume that the teardrop-shaped object hanging down from the back of Apollo’s head on both coins is supposed to be some kind of hair-tie or ribbon. It’s not mentioned in any description of the die, but appears to resemble the object in a similar position in my example of Crawford 340, from Lucius’s issue.

Edited July 15, 2023 by DonnaML

[Octavius]

 In this next time period is my all time favorite reverse of Roman coins ...

Plautius Plancus, c. 47 BCE with Medusa on obverse and The Aurora on the reverse. Just the name "Aurora" conjures up the image of a vivid, fiery sun bursting through the crisp dawn. This is depicted as the Dawn with four horses riding straight at the viewer.

 

Here are a couple more of the same since I think this reverse image is so beautiful...

 

Hostilius Saserna denarius , c 48 BCE with Gallic warrior, possibly Vercingetorix, and reverse has Gallic warrior , nude, in biga brandishing spear.

I think this reverse is especially important because it gives us timely and direct insight upon how the Gauls or Celts fought.

Aulus Licinius Nerva, c. 48 BCE. Reverse of this one depicts Roman horseman, probable ancestor to Licinius, with only one arm, yet dragging fallen foe by his hair. I can only imagine all the stories told over dinner at that family's home!

[DonnaML]

Some more of my favorites from the 69-50 BCE period:

2.  Roman Republic, L. Roscius Fabatus, AR Serrate Denarius, 64 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat's skin, control-symbol to left, [L.] ROSCI in exergue/ Rev. Maiden standing right with basket over shoulder, feeding serpent erect before her, control-symbol to left, FABATI in exergue. RSC I Roscia 3, Crawford 412/1 (see also Crawford Vol. II Plate LXVIII, control-symbol pair 106* & pp. 790-792), Sear RCV I 363 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 3 at pp. 21-27, BMCRR Rome 3507 (control-symbol pair 106). 16mm, 3.93g., 3h. (Depicts annual ceremony at Juno Sospita festival in Lanuvium, in grotto under temple; see RSC I at p. 85.)

 

*    Flaming oil lamps/candle-holders (not identified as such in BMCRR or Crawford). If one looks closely, one can see the small flames burning inside each object. For example, on the reverse:

3.  Roman Republic, L. Cassius Longinus, AR Denarius, 63 or 60 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Veiled and diademed head of Vesta left, control-letter “A” before her, kylix (two-handled cup) behind her / Rev. Togate figure standing left, dropping a voting tablet favorable to proposed legislation, inscribed “V” (Vti Rogas [= “as you propose”]) into a cista before him, LONGIN III•V downwards behind him. Crawford 413/1, RSC I Cassia 10 (ill.), Sear RCV I 364 (ill.), Sydenham 935, Harlan, RRM II Ch. 6 at pp.49-53, BMCRR 3929 (control-letter “A”); see also id. 3930-3936 (other control letters). 3.96 g., 19 mm., 6 h.  Formerly in NGC slab, Cert. No.4280866-009, Graded Ch. XF, Strike: 4/5, Surface 4/5.*

 

*Crawford & RSC date the coin to 63 BCE, Harlan dates it to 60 BCE based on hoard evidence (see Ch. 6 at p. 49), and Sear notes the different dates but offers no opinion (see Sear RCV I at p. 141).

Crawford identifies the moneyer as the L. [Lucius] Cassius Longinus who was proconsul in 48 BCE (see Vol. I p. 440), and was the brother of Gaius Cassius Longinus, Caesar’s assassin. Harlan argues against this identification on the ground that the assassin’s brother would have been too young (in his early 20s) to be the moneyer of this coin, and concludes that the moneyer was someone otherwise unknown. (See pp. 50-51.)  Regardless of the specific identity of the moneyer, all authorities note that he omitted express mention of his nomen, Cassius (from the gens Cassia), and his praenomen, L. (for Lucius) from the coin, mentioning only his cognomen, Longinus, on the reverse. He was the only Republican moneyer from the gens Cassia to do so. Instead, he disclosed his praenomen and nomen by means of the control-letters on the obverse: the only control-letters used spell out his praenomen and nomen, as L CASSI (with one S reversed). See Sear RCV I at p. 141, Crawford at p. 440, Harlan at pp. 49-50. (See Crawford 362/1 at p. 377 for a discussion of the other known example of a moneyer spelling out his name via control-letters, the denarius of C. Mamilius Limetanus).  Harlan suggests that this moneyer’s reason for omitting his praenomen and nomen from the coin may have been to avoid confusion with another Lucius Cassius Longinus, praetor in 66 BCE, who had been condemned as a participant in the so-called Catiline conspiracy, exposed in 63 BCE, only two years earlier (according to Harlan’s dating of the coin).  See Harlan at p. 50.

The “III•V” at the end of the reverse inscription stands for “IIIVIR” or triumvir. See the Numiswiki entry for IIIVIR, at https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=IIIVIR: “On coins of the Roman Republic IIIVIR is used as a shortened abbreviation for IIIVIR AAAFF, which abbreviates "III viri aere argento auro flando feiundo" or "Three men for the casting and striking of bronze, silver and gold," a moneyer or mint magistrate.”

The veiled depiction on the obverse of this coin is generally taken to be a portrayal of Vesta despite the absence of an inscription to that effect. Note the kylix cup behind her head, similar to the bowl in Vesta’s hands on Crawford 512/2, as well as the similarity of the portrait to the specifically identified portrait of a veiled Vesta on Crawford 428/1, issued by Quintus Cassius Longinus in 53 BCE -- also with a voting scene on the reverse. (But see the equally similar veiled portrait specifically identified as Concordia on a denarius issued by Lepius Paullus in 62 BCE, Crawford 415/1.) 

Crawford assumes without discussion that the obverse portrait depicts Vesta, and concludes that her portrayal on the obverse, taken together with the voting scene on the reverse, constitute a reference to the election in 113 BCE of another member of the Cassius gens, Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla, as a special prosecutor to retry two acquitted Vestal Virgins (one of the three originally charged was convicted the first time) on allegations of breaking their vows. They were convicted on retrial and buried alive as punishment. See Crawford p. 440; Harlan at p. 182-183 (discussing the voting scene on the reverse of Crawford 428/1).  

In BMCRR, on the other hand, Grueber concluded that the reverse type commemorated the passage in 137 BCE of the Lex Cassia tabelleria, proposed by the same Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla, as tribune of the plebs, to curb the power of the nobility by expanding the recently-instituted secret ballot law to trials held before the people.  (See BMCRR Vol. I p. 494.)  If one thing is clear, it is that unlike Crawford 328/1, the reverse of this coin cannot refer to the retrial of the Vestal Virgins itself, since the scene on this reverse depicts a legislative vote (determined by votes of Vti Rogas [= “as you propose”] or Antiquo [= “I vote against it”]), rather than a trial, as depicted on the reverse of Crawford 328/1 (determined by votes of Absolvo [= “I absolve”] or Condemno [= “I acquit”]).

Harlan adopts neither view, arguing as follows (see pp. 52-53):

“We should ask if we want to assign this depiction of voting to the passage of one specific law. By the time this coin was minted it was not the specifics of Longinus’ law that people recalled, but that voting tablet laws represented the liberation of the people from the oppression of the nobility [Quotation from Cicero’s speech Pro Sestio, concerning the voting tablet law of 137 BCE, omitted.] . . . . Our moneyer’s coin reminded the people how his family had traditionally championed the people’s interests over the nobility’s and how their interests have been furthered through constitutional means rather than violent revolution which threatens the interest of all citizens. The recent involvement of a Cassius Longinus in Cataline’s attempt to effect change through violent revolution was not representative of the true values of the Cassii Longini.”

4.  Roman Republic, M. Nonius Sufenas*, AR Denarius, 59 BCE (or 57 BCE according to Hersh and Walker & Harlan), Rome Mint. Obv. Bearded head of Saturn right, with long hair; behind head, harpa with conical stone (baetyl)** beneath it* and S•C upwards above it; before, SVFENAS downwards / Rev. Roma seated left on pile of shields, holding scepter in right hand and sword in left hand; behind, Victory left, crowning Roma with wreath and holding palm-branch extending behind her over right shoulder; around to left from 4:00, PR•L• - V• - P•F; in exergue, SEX•NONI [The two parts of the reverse legend, together, stand for Sex. Noni[us] pr[aetor] L[udi] V[ictoriae] p[rimus] f[ecit, meaning Sex. Nonius, praetor, first held the games of Victory.].*** Crawford 421/1, RSC Nonia1(ill.), BMCRR 3820, Sear RCV I 377 (ill.), Sydenham 885, Harlan, RRM II Ch. 13 at pp. 104-111[Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins 63 BCE - 49 BCE (2d ed. 2015)], RBW Collection 1517. 19 mm., 3.95 g.

*”The moneyer is doubtless M. Nonius Sufenas, Pr. 55.” Crawford Vol. I p. 445. But see Liv Mariah Yarrow, The Roman Republic to 49 BCE: Using Coins as Sources (2021), Fig. 3.53 at p. 158, suggesting that in the alternative, the moneyer was “perhaps his son.” M. Nonius Sufenas’s “father, Sextus Nonius Sufenas, was Sulla’s nephew, making the moneyer Faustus’ first cousin once removed.” Id. (Faustus was Sulla’s son.) See also Harlan RRM II at pp. 109-110.

After his term as moneyer, Nonius Sufenas is mentioned in one of Cicero’s letters to Atticus in July 54 BCE: “Now for the news at Rome. On the fourth of July, Sufenas and Cato were acquitted, Procilius condemned. Clearly our stern judges care not one whit about bribery, the elections, the interregnum, treason, or the whole Republic. Cicero, Ad Atticum, 4.15.4; see Harlan RRM II at pp. 104-106 for a proposed identification of the election which was the subject of the prosecution, namely the consular election of 56 BCE.

** See Harlan RRM II at p. 107: "The head of Saturn clearly identified by the harpa and the conical stone beside his head is on the obverse of the coin. The harpa recalls the castration of his father Uranus that resulted in the birth of Venus and the conical stone recalls that Saturn swallowed a stone thinking it was his infant son Jupiter whom he was trying to keep from growing up to replace him.
Saturn, always identified by the harpa, appeared five times on Republican denarii." Harlan suggests (id. pp. 107-108) that, as on other coins on which Saturn appears, his image was intended to signal the moneyer’s past or present position holding office as urban quaestor, and, as such, “responsible for the treasury located in Saturn’s temple.”

***This reverse legend, as illustrated by the reverse image, “records the first celebration by an ancestor of the moneyer of the Ludi Victoriae of Sulla.” Crawford Vol. I pp. 445-446.  (That ancestor was the aforementioned Sextus Nonius Sufenas, Pr. 81 BCE, the moneyer’s father [or grandfather] and Sulla’s nephew.)

5.   Roman Republic, L. Marcius Philippus, AR Denarius, 56 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Diademed head of Ancus Marcius [fourth King of Rome] right, lituus behind, ANCVS below / Rev. The Aqua Marcia aqueduct, represented as an arcade of five arches surmounted by an equestrian statue right [portraying Quintus Marcius Rex, builder of that aqueduct], with horse rearing; flower below horse; PHILIPPVS on left, AQVAMAR [MAR in monogram] within the arches. Crawford 425/1, RSC I Marcia 28, Sydenham 919, Sear RCV I 382 (ill.), Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins 63 BCE - 49 BCE (2d ed. 2015) (“RRM II”), Ch. 15 at pp. 122-128. 18 mm., 3.92 mm., 7 h. Purchased from Bertolami Fine Arts Ltd ., 22 Nov. 2020.*

 

* The moneyer, Lucius Marcius Philippus (triumvir in 56 BCE, praetor in 44, suffect consul in 38 BCE) was the stepbrother of Gaius Octavius [later Augustus] (age seven at the time of this issue). The moneyer’s father, also named Lucius Marcius Philippus (consul in 56 BCE), was Octavius's stepfather by virtue of marrying the widow Atia, who was the mother of Octavius and Julius Caesar's niece (the daughter of Caesar’s sister Julia and her husband M. Atius Balbus). See Sear RCV I at p.145, Harlan, RRM II at pp. 122, 127-128.

The gens Marcia, to which the moneyer belonged, was named after Ancus Marcius, depicted on the obverse -- the legendary fourth king of Rome, who was the founder of that gens, and, therefore, the moneyer’s ancestor. (The lituus probably represents the king's augurship.)  Quintus Marcius Rex, the horseman depicted by the equestrian statue atop the Aqua Marcia aqueduct on the reverse, and the builder of that aqueduct in 144 BCE when he was praetor, was a distant cousin of the moneyer. However, he was not actually the moneyer’s ancestor, because Quintus belonged to the Reges branch of the gens Marcia, rather than the moneyer's Philippi branch of that gens. The two branches had separated by the end of the third century. Harlan, RRM II at pp.122-126. See id. for details on the size of the aqueduct and its reputation (according to Pliny) of having the coolest and most healthful waters of all Roman aqueducts. See Pliny, Naturalis Historia, 31.41.

The flower beneath the horse may refer to the conception of Mars by the fertilization of Juno by a flower. (See the discussion at Crawford Vol. I p. 308 of a similar motif on Crawford 293, issued in 113/112 BCE by an earlier L. Marcius Philippus, Consul in 91 BCE.)

6.   Roman Republic, C. Memmius C.f., AR Denarius, 56 BCE [Crawford], 57 BCE [Harlan], Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head of Quirinus right [deified aspect of Romulus and/or Italian deity worshipped on Quirinal Hill; see footnote], hair long, beard in formal ringlets, C•MEMMI•C•F downwards to right, QVIRINVS downwards to left; banker’s mark or test mark to left of Quirinus’s eye, in shape of bird? inside flower or star/ Rev. Ceres seated right, holding torch in left hand and corn ear in right hand; at her feet, snake rearing with head right; MEMMIVS •AED• CERIALIA•PREIMVS•FECIT [translated as “Memmius as aedile first held the games of Ceres” (Harlan RRM II pp. 99-100)] downwards from upper left; old graffiti resembling an “X” to right of Ceres.  Crawford 427/2, RSC I Memmia 9 (ill.), Sear RCV I 388 (ill.), BMCRR 3940; Sydenham 921; Harlan RRM II, Ch. 12 at pp. 95-103; RBW Collection 1532; Jones, J.M., A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (1990) [entry for “Quirinus” at p. 264]. 19.5 mm., 3.71 g.*

 

* Earlier authorities identified the moneyer as the son of Gaius Memmius, praetor in 58 BCE, and his wife Fausta, Sulla’s daughter. See Grueber, BMCRR p. 495 n. 1. More recent authorities have argued that Fausta was too young to have a son who was moneyer in the 50s, and have concluded instead that the moneyer was the Gaius Memmius who was tribune of the plebs in 54 BCE (see Crawford p. 451: “The moneyer is presumably Tr. Pl. 54”), and was a nephew of Pompey the Great -- namely, the son of Gaius Memmius and Pompeia Strabonia, Pompey’s sister. Harlan RRM II p. 95. (The Gaius Memmius who was married to Fausta’s daughter was a first cousin of the one who was the moneyer’s father [id.], not his father’s brother as Crawford states [p. 451], given that the two had the same praenomen.)

Regarding the portrayal of Ceres on the reverse -- a portrayal used as an illustration to the Wikipedia article on Ceres! -- and the reverse legend claiming that an ancestor of the moneyer founded the Ludi Cereales (games of Ceres), see Sear RCV I at p.146: “The initial staging of the games of Ceres by the aedile Memmius, commemorated on the reverse, is an event unrecorded in history but presumably predating 210 B.C.” See also RSC I at p. 66 (“This relates to the institution at Rome of the Ludi Cereales”); Crawford at p. 451 (The “reverse … allude[s] to the first celebration of the Ludi Cereales in or before 211”).

As Harlan explains (RRM II p. 100), the founding of the Ludi Cereales would have had to be before 210 if the coin’s historical claim is correct, because “the names of both plebeian aediles are known for all the years from 210 to 198” -- with no Memmius among them -- and the Ludi Cereales are known to have been celebrated by 202 BCE. However, as Harlan also points out (id.), “[w]e actually have no idea when the first Cerealia was held, nor do we have any other mention of Memmius, the aedile, who, on the coin’s evidence, becomes the first known Memmius,” given that our earliest written mention of the gens Memmia is of Gaius Memmius, legate in 174 and praetor in 172.”  The coin is our only evidence of any earlier political activity by the family. Harlan goes on to discuss the general frustration of ancient authors such as Livy and Cicero over “the tampering of aristocrats with ancient events in order to credit the deeds of others to their own family.” (Id.) Thus, we will never know the truth. “But the willingness of some historians to accept the statement on this coin as historical fact is “indicative of the influence that coinage could exert not only on on the Romans of its own time, but still can exert on us today.”  (Id. at p. 101.)

As for the snake depicted at the feet of Ceres, see Jones, J.M., A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (Seaby, 1990), entry for “Snake” at p. 291: “Since snakes live in the earth they also frequently form a part of cults which are connected with the earth. So . . . Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, is sometimes represented in a chariot drawn by serpents, or with snakes by her side.” (Note that although a search of Republican coin types for Ceres and snake or serpent yields only this type and the M. Volteius denarius with Ceres in a biga of snakes, the same search in OCRE for Imperial coinage yields results for Vespasian, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius.)  Ceres’ Greek equivalent, Demeter, was also traditionally portrayed with snakes. See https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/a7/d2/c9a7d29a39c7daaddc721848af2170af.jpg:

Regarding Quirinus, the deity portrayed on the obverse, see Jones, supra, entry for “Quirinus” at p. 264: Quirinus was an “Italian deity believed by the Romans to be of Sabine origin (although this is doubtful), and worshipped on the Quirinal Hill at Rome. According to Roman mythology, Romulus, forty years after he had founded rome, disappeared from the earth and became identified with Quirinus. The cult of Quirinus resembled that of Mars and was supervised by a Flamen Quirnalis.”  Jones specifically mentions this coin type, stating that in 56 BCE, “the mint magistrate C. Memmius issued a denarius with a laureate head on the obverse accompanied by the legend QVIRINVS; it is possible that this is to be explained in some way as alluding to the identification of Romulus and Quirinus, but more likely that the family of Memmius was of Sabine descent.” Contra Grueber, BMCRR Vol. I p. 496, stating that the portrayal of Quirinus referred to “the ancient origin of the Memmia gens, which claimed to be descended through Romulus from the Trojan Mnestheus” (a claim later mentioned by Virgil; see Aeneid  5.117), and, therefore, must have been intended to evoke the Romulus-Quirinus assimilation. See also RSC I at p. 66 (adopting Grueber’s viewpoint).

At p. 451, Crawford rejects the viewpoint of Grueber and RSC, and makes an argument (presumably the basis for Jones’s position) that because the head on the obverse is explicitly identified as Quirinus (rather than Romulus), “it therefore seems self-evident that the type is irrelevant to the assimilation of Quirinus and Romulus.” Instead, as Crawford continues on p. 452: “Quirinus was “regarded by the Romans as a Sabine deity (wrongly of course. . .; the fact that the Sabines were mostly in the tribe Quirina may have helped the error along) and the choice of type perhaps reflected the moneyer’s claim to possess a Sabine origo.”

Harlan’s position is somewhere in the middle. He argues that “neither of the explanations given by Crawford or Grueber has taken adequate consideration of the real place Quirinus held in the national consciousness of the people” because of his status as the deified Romulus, an importance not dependent on particular claims of descent from Romulus given that all Romans looked to Romulus as an ancestor (Harlan, RRM II at p. 102).  He cites as examples Cicero’s Republic (in which the dramatis persona Scipio expresses surprise that men of the time of Romulus, who were no longer primitive, would have believed a tale of a man becoming a god, but notes that there must have been such conspicuous talent and virtue in Romulus that people believed the story) (id.), and the fact that the Roman people “ever after continued to celebrate Romulus’ return to heaven, and acted out the events of his disappearance each year on the fifth of July.” (Id.) 

In other words, my reading of Harlan’s view -- which appears to me to be reasonable -- is that on the one hand, most people who saw an image identified as Quirinus would be very familiar with the Romulus-Quirinus assimilation myth, and would recognize Quirinus as the deified Romulus even without any express reminder. On the other hand, Harlan also apparently believes that Crawford is correct that Quirinus, who was thought of as a Sabine god, was more likely to be associated with the claimed Sabine origin of the gens Memmia, than with any supposed descent of that family from a Trojan ancestor of Romulus -- a meaning two steps removed from the portrayal of Quirinus. So, according to Harlan, the image would have had not one, but two probable meanings (intended and/or perceived) -- with the third, more indirect, suggested meaning less likely.  

Finally, at p. 103, Harlan addresses the juxtaposition of Quirinus/Romulus on the obverse with Ceres on the reverse (as well as the juxtaposition, on the moneyer’s other issue of that year [see Crawford 427/1] of Ceres on the obverse and a military trophy on the reverse):

“Romulus’ legacy to his people had been a love of military pursuits and his people worshipped their founder as a god of war. Why then on Memmius’ coin is Quirinus, a god of war, coupled with the celebration of the first games of Ceres, the goddess of grain who loves peace? Why, on the scond coin, is the military trophy on the reverse and the head of Ceres on the obverse? . . .  The answer lies in the Roman character as Cicero traced its development in his Republic. [Summary follows of Cicero’s discussion of Roman state following death of Romulus (see De Re Publica 2.25-7), including his successor Numa’s division of conquered lands for cultivation, establishment of games and religious celebrations, etc., thereby tempering the warlike spirit instilled by Romulus and allowing abundance to flourish] . . . .  Memmius’ coins reflect the duality of the Roman character: a nature suited to the pursuit of war, but tempered by religion and clememcy; and so, our moneyer has balanced Quirinus with the games of Ceres and on the second coin, Ceres is balanced with a military trophy. The fruits of peace are enjoyed because of the arts of war and Memmius has extolled his family’s role in providing both to the Roman people.”

7.  Roman Republic, Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito, AR Denarius 55 BCE [Harlan: 54 BCE], Rome mint. Obv. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars with slight beard, right, with trophy over far shoulder, P•FONTEIVS•P•F•CAPITO•III•VIR counter-clockwise around / Rev. Helmeted and caped Roman soldier on horseback galloping right, thrusting his spear down at helmeted Gallic warrior crouching beneath horse, holding his shield up with left hand to try to fend off horse, and thrusting sword with his right hand at unarmed captive to left; the captive’s Gallic helmet [and shield, off flan] sailing off to lower right; MN•FONT•TR•MIL clockwise above. Crawford 429/1, RSC I Fonteia 17, Sear RCV I 392 (ill.), Sydenham 900, Harlan RRM II Ch, 22 at pp. 174-175 [Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63 BCE-49 BCE (2^nd Revised Edition 2015)]. 17.8 mm., 3.97 g.  (Purchased from Zuzim Inc., Brooklyn, NY, Aug. 2020. Ex: Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 54, Feb. 28, 2019, Lot 558 [see https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785]; Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 100, May 29, 2017, Lot 329 [see https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088]; Ex: Gerhard Hirsch Auction 168, Nov. 22-24, 1990, Munich, Lot 434. Formerly in NGC slab, Cert. No. 4629554-001, Graded Ch. AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface 4/5.)*

 

*The moneyer is usually identified as either (1) the Publius Fonteius who became the adoptive father of the famous Publius Clodius Pulcher when the latter changed his patrician status to plebeian; or (2) a friend of Cicero named Fonteius, mentioned in a letter to his brother Atticus.  However, both Crawford (Vol. I at p. 453) and, at greater length, Harlan (Ch. 22 at pp. 171-173) point out the lack of evidence for either theory.  The scene on the reverse of this coin is believed to record the exploits of the moneyer’s ancestor, the military tribune Manius Fonteius (identified as such in the reverse legend), who may have been on the staff of Marcus Fonteius, governor of Narbonese (Transalpine) Gaul from 76-73 BCE. See RSC I at p. 49, Crawford Vol. I at p. 453, Harlan RRM II at pp. 174-175.

8.   Roman Republic, Aulus Plautius, AR Denarius, 55 BCE, Rome mint. Obv. Turreted head of Cybele right, A. PLAVTIVS before, AE[D CVR S C] behind [portion in brackets off flan] / Rev. “Bacchius the Jew” [ = Aristobulus II of Judaea?],* in attitude of supplication, kneeling beside saddled camel (dromedary - one hump) standing right, extending olive-branch with right hand and holding camel’s bridle with left hand, his cape flowing behind him; BACCHIVS in exergue, IVDAEVS on right. RSC I Plautia 13, Crawford 431/1, Sydenham 932, Sear RCV I 395 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 18 at pp. 145-149, BMCRR 3916. 18x20 mm., 4.25 g.  (Purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 211th Buy or Bid Sale, May 2020, Lot 183.) 

* See Sear RCV I at p. 148: “Aulus Plautius strikes as curule aedile. The problematic interpretation of the reverse type appears to have been most successfully resolved by [Michael] Harlan in RRM [see Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63 BCE-49 BCE (2^nd Revised Edition 2015), Ch. 18 at pp. 146-148] . . . who identifies the kneeling figure as Aristobulus [= Judah Aristobulus II of the Hasmonean Dynasty, d. ca. 49 BCE], the Jewish high priest, then held captive by Pompey in Rome.” 

9.  Roman Republic, Cn. Plancius, AR Denarius, 55 BCE, Rome mint. Obv. Female head (Macedonia [RCV, Crawford, & RRM II] or Diana Planciana [BMCRR & RSC]) right, wearing causia, CN. PLANCIVS before, AED. CVR. S. C. behind/ Rev. Cretan goat standing right, bow and quiver to left. RSC I Plancia 1, Crawford 432/1, Sydenham 933, Sear RCV I 396 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 17 at pp. 141-144, BMCRR Rome 3920. 18 mm, 3.82 gm, 5h.  Purchased from Eukratides Ancient Numismatics [Bradley J. Bowlin], Feb. 18, 2020. Ex. Davis & Clark, Paris, France, Jan. 27, 1975 (with “Certificat de Garantie” from Dr. Cahn, agreed expert, Basel.)

 

Well, I didn't quite make 3:00 pm EDT, but close enough that I hope nobody minds!

[Octavius]

Lollius Palicanus , c. 45 BCE. Libertas / Rostra with prows of enemy ships destroyed. This is where many important speeches were delivered to the crowds. The Rostrum is still there in Rome , though the prows of the ships are long gone...

 

Edited July 15, 2023 by Octavius

[DonnaML]

18 minutes ago, Octavius said:

 In this next time period is my all time favorite reverse of Roman coins ...

Plautius Plancus, c. 47 BCE with Medusa on obverse and The Aurora on the reverse. Just the name "Aurora" conjures up the image of a vivid, fiery sun bursting through the crisp dawn. This is depicted as the Dawn with four horses riding straight at the viewer.

 

Here are a couple more of the same since I think this reverse image is so beautiful...

 

Hostilius Saserna denarius , c 48 BCE with Gallic warrior, possibly Vercingetorix, and reverse has Gallic warrior , nude, in biga brandishing spear.

I think this reverse is especially important because it gives us timely and direct insight upon how the Gauls or Celts fought.

Aulus Licinius Nerva, c. 48 BCE. Reverse of this one depicts Roman horseman, probable ancestor to Licinius, with only one arm, yet dragging fallen foe by his hair. I can only imagine all the stories told over dinner at that family's home!

Superb coins, @Octavius. I'm particularly impressed by your examples of the Plautius Plancus. It's unusual to find specimens with the details on the reverse showing so clearly.

[Octavius]

C. Julius Caesar , c. 44 BCE. Portrait of Caesar with star behind.  reverse Venus holding Victory. Sepulis Macer.

The reverse of Venus gives reference to Caesar's claim of being a descendant of Venus himself. Anchises according to the legend, had a child with Venus who was Aeneas. He in turn had a son, Iulus, the founder of the Julian line in Italy shortly after the Trojan War.

[lrbguy]

Coins of the Imperatorial period, which I regard (after Seaby) from the first triumvirate to the beginning of empire, have never much caught my interest.  I have not pursued them, but do have one item to show.  Along with it comes a personal reminiscence of how it came my way (if that is not deemed too inappropriate).

44    BCE

Cr. 480/19    C. COSSVTIVS MARIDIANVS  AAAFF      3.82
denarius 19

Veiled bust of Julius Caesar laureate, r  
before: lituus; CAESAR (ascending)
behind: apex; PARENS PATRIAE (ascending)

C.COSSVTIVS  & MARID-IANVS at right angles over center;
A A A FF positioned in four courners.

(aere, argentum, auro, flando   feriundo)
bronze, silver,         gold,    casting   striking           (i.e. manufacturing)

Seaby notes: this is the first occurrence of the complete title of the moneyer on a coin.

During the Republican period the Romans had a systematic way to mint money, and from 289 BC their team of mint magistrates was called 'Tresviri aere argento auro flando feriundo' meaning "Three men for casting and striking bronze, silver and gold coins." These "Moneyers" were also called the "Tresviri monetales" (three men of the coins). During his administration of government, Julius Caesar added a fourth official to their number, but when Octavian was established as sole ruler, he reduced their number to three again. During the imperial period the distinctive office from Republican days died out, but it was resurrected and updated by Diocletian in the late third century for use in the administration of mints scattered across the empire.

--

A personal note about the coin I show here.  I started collecting ancients in early 1982, after discovering a few Greek bronzes toward the end of a philatelic auction catalog.  I was dumfounded at the low start bids and final realizations for objects 2-3 hundred years BC. As a stamp collector I was familiar with the various venues for buying and selling collectibles, and wasted no time in scouting out the shops in Cleveland at the time. On one of my forays into the city I chanced upon a U.S. coin dealer who had just taken in a small collection he showed me of four full 20-pocket cardboard display pages in a three ring binder.  Newbie that I was, nonetheless I could tell that there was a blend of authentic and reproduction material in those pages.  He quoted me a price of $2000 with a tone that hinted he expected me to hand it back. Pointing out about a half dozen or so "questionable" pieces, I said that if those could be verified as authentic I would give him his asking price.  Fortunately for both of us a coin show featuring ancients specialists like George Beach, George Wolf, Ed Waddell, Eldert P. at Pegasi Coins, and a couple of dozen others was about to start that weekend in one of the Cleveland suburbs.  It would be my first show since becoming an ancients collector.

On the second day of the show, the downtown dealer appeared with the binder in his hands.  He was as much out of his element as I was new to it all.  Nonetheless, I met him and pointed out a few of the ancients specialists, and in particular George Beach who had sold me a couple of average grade Greek silver coins the day before.  To sum up, George gave him a price, which sent him scurrying to other dealers.  But he found out that the best price was what George had offered, which I was prepared to beat by another $200.  Most of those coins (about 60% silver and 5-6 fakes) have remained in my collection to this day.  This denarius is one of them.  Of the Twelve Ceasars in silver, my first was Julius Caesar (along with a couple of others).

 

Edited July 15, 2023 by lrbguy
fixed a couple of textual errors

[CPK]

Let me be the first to post the famous Caesar Elephant coin. 😄

 

Some have argued that the Elephant is actually on the reverse, but I believe that view is in the minority. Regardless, the emblems of the pontificate are interesting in this case as it was a reminder of Caesar's position as the high priest of Jupiter. Additionally, this particular coin's reverse was first struck with the obverse die, then apparently overstruck with the reverse. I'm not sure how this happened but it probably made the coin more affordable for me!

Edited July 15, 2023 by CPK

[Octavius]

 Well, with Julius Caesar inevitably come several other characters...

Brutus, his "friend" and we have Cassius / Lentulus.

 

The obverse of Cassius/Lentulus has a portrait of Libertas... To me she has "a lean and hungry look!"

Edited July 15, 2023 by Octavius

[DonnaML]

Because the current period is only six years, I have only seven coins from the period:

So I hope I can make my selections for this period in a more timely fashion than I did for the last one!

Edited July 15, 2023 by DonnaML

[kapphnwn]

Ar Denarius of Julius Caesar 49 BC Obv Elephant advancing right trampling on serpent. Rv Priestly implements Crawford 443/1 3.82 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen 

I guess we could see this issue as the lead off single of the Imperatorial series. 

[Sulla80]

Sextus Pompeius Magnus, circa 43-36 BC, Æ As, Spanish or Sicilian mint

Obv: Laureate head of Janus with features of Pompey the Great

Rev:  Prow of galley right, IMP below

Ref: Crawford 479/1

[jdmKY]

One thing that attracted me to collecting coins from this period is the rich imagery. How can you only pick a few? But here are some of my faves.

Sulla’s Dream (?)

Sphinx

Belligerent owl

Cupid riding a dolphin

Bestiarii

Wolf building fire with eagle fanning the flames

Triskeles

Of course, my all-time favorite is from this period and involves a pair of daggers (I think I’ve already posted it too many times!)

[DonnaML]

18 minutes ago, jdmKY said:

One thing that attracted me to collecting coins from this period is the rich imagery. How can you only pick a few? But here are some of my faves.

Sulla’s Dream (?)

Sphinx

Belligerent owl

Cupid riding a dolphin

Bestiarii

Wolf building fire with eagle fanning the flames

Triskeles

Of course, my all-time favorite is from this period and involves a pair of daggers (I think I’ve already posted it too many times!)

I wish I could give these a double heart-eyes emoji!

[Limes]

The 'Imperatorial' period is a complicated but fascinating period in Roman history. Coins from this period, especially from the leading statesman, are sought after and demand a big premium. It's difficult to get coins on a more modest budget and the collector has to patient and be happy with, quality wise, a lesser outcome. Nevertheless, I think all these issues deserve love and attention! 

Of the period 49 - 44, I have three coins in my possession. This issue by the son of Pompey the Great, Sextus Pompey, is my favorite. There's some discussion where and when the coin was struck, and, simply because I have his book, I chose to follow Sear (44 - 43 BC). 

9 hours ago, jdmKY said:

Of course, my all-time favorite is from this period and involves a pair of daggers (I think I’ve already posted it too many times!)

 

Well, the next time frame is coming up, so please do post it. You can never post that coin enough times! I promise I'll post my Brutus coin with daggers too, although it's slightly different 😉 

Edited July 16, 2023 by Limes

[Rand]

There are so many exceptional coins on this thread!

Forgive me for my ignorance. For the types with serrated edges, were all coins made serrated, or there were both serrated and smooth-edged coins within the same type?

[akeady]

1 hour ago, Rand said:

There are so many exceptional coins on this thread!

Forgive me for my ignorance. For the types with serrated edges, were all coins made serrated, or there were both serrated and smooth-edged coins within the same type?

They're separate issues - in rare cases, like the Hosidia of 64 BC, there are similar, though not identical types of denarii with serrated edges and smooth edges - there are examples of both issues above in this thread (Cr. 407/1 & 407/2).   I can't offhand think of another example of that 😄   I have a denarius of Augustus which seems to have been overstruck on a serratus - such exceptions are rare (RIC I Augustus 317 denarius overstruck on earlier denarius serratus)

ATB,
Aidan.

[Edessa]

From Wikipedia: Lucius Papius L. f. Celsus, triumvir monetalis in 45 BC. He minted a number of coins alluding to the foundation myth of Lavinium, depicting a wolf bringing dry wood to feed the fire that cleared land for the town, and an eagle that fanned the flames with its wings.

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Papius Celsus. 45 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.64g, 2h). Rome mint. Obv Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin headdress tied at neck. Rev: CELSVS·III·VIR; She-wolf standing right, placing stick on fire; on right, eagle standing left, fanning the flames; L·PAPIVS, in exergue. Ref: Crawford 472/1; CRI 82; Sydenham 964; Papia 2; RBW 1647. Nice Very Fine, lightly toned, ragged flan, small banker's mark on obverse, reverse slightly off-center. Ex Kunker, Mar 2009.

[akeady]

Here are a few from the period which haven't been posted so far.   I'm trying to restrict myself from spamming with dozens of coins 😄   I've put the coins in order of Crawford number, but also referred to Sear's Hisory and Coinage of the Roman Imperators.

This denarius was minted in Apollonia in Illyricum by the Pompeians.   Apollo on the obverse and Jupiter on the reverse.
The Q on the reverse referse to a quaestor involved in the issue - apparently T. Antistius.   Cr. 445/2, HCRI 5, 49 BC

The same L. Lentulus and C. Marcellus referred to on the first coin are also responsible for this coin, struck in Ephesus in 49 BC.   Cr. 445/3b, HCRI 6.   According to Caesar, Lentulus raissed two legions for Pompey in Asia.

This coin marks Caesar's success in the Gallic Wars and was isued by Decimus Brutus, one of the most prominent assassins of Caesar on the Ides of March.   Not to be confused with Marcus Junius Brutus, Decimus was closer to Caesar and even named in Caesar's will.   I like the golden toning on this coin.   Cr. 450/1, HCRI 25, 48 BC:

Here's another coin issued by Decimus, where he depicts one of his adopted ancestors (he was adopted into the Postumia gens).   It's an Aulus Postumius Albinus, though there are a couple of possibilities for the exact identity - a consul of 151 BC or 99 BC (who may have been Decimus's adoptive father).   Cr. 450/3b, HCRI 27, 48 BC.

Here's a coin minted by Caesar's military mints shortly after the Battle of Pharsalus on 9th August 48 BC (Cr. 452/2, HCRI 11):   The LII on the obverse probably refers to Caesar's age at the time:

This is an issue back in Rome of Gaius Antius Restio - Cr. 455/2a, HCRI 35 of 47 BC.   I like the obverse, except for some deposits (iron?):

Here's one issued by Caesar in Sicily before he embarked for Africa.   Cr. 457/1, HCRI 54, late 47 BC.   Sorry about the slab - I have a few that I bought slabbed and haven't released them yet.   Funnily, I  bought this coin at the second attempt - the first time it was unslabbed and I was outbid; the second time it had been cleaned and slabbed and I got it for less - go figure!

Here's one of the Pompeians in North Africa - unfortunately, very worn!   Cr. 460/3, HCRI 42, of 47-46 BC (Utica).   The city goddess Utica is on the obverse with corn-ear and caduceus, while the reverse has a trophy with lituus & jug.

And another - this is ex-Clain-Stefanelli and is illustrated in Elvira Clain-Stefanelli's "Life in Republican Rome On Its Coinage".   Cr. 461/1, HCRI 44, with Scipio in Africa, 47-46 BC:

Back in Rome in 46 BC, some sestertii were minted - this is the only late sestertius I've got.   The moneyer is T. Carisius, Cr. 464/8a, , HCRI 76.   Diana on the obverse and a hound on the reverse:

In 45 BC, one of the moneyers was L. Papius Celsus, not otherwise known, though possibly a son of the earlier Papia who served as moneyer earlier.   The type with the wolf bringing a stick to the fire has two obverses - the one with Juno Sospita has already been posted, here's the version with Triumphus (commemorating possibly Caesar's triumph celebrated after Munda).   Cr. 472/2, HCRI 83:

Also from Rome in 45 BC, here's a denarius of L. Valerius Asisculus (one of many types like the man-headed owl above) with Sol on the obverse and Luna on the reverse.   Cr. 474/5, HCRI 94:

Finally, this may be the first posthumous Caesar portrait coin, minted in March or April of 44 BC.   The best that can be said about my example is that it was cheap 😄   Cr. 480/17, HCRI 101:

ATB,
Aidan.