coins and the movies

[panzerman]

Thought this would be a great idea. Select a movie/ post coins relatedto the historical events portrayed in your movie pick.

I will start with a film about one of the greatest military leaders in history. He took on three empires (Russian under Czarina Elizabeth I/ French under Madame de Pompadour (Louis XV mistress and wearing the shoes)/ Austrian-Hungarian under Maria Theresia) Freidrich II der Grosse took on three women and won!

Seven Year's War/ really WWI since it was fought on all continents/ seas. Combattants: Great Britain/ Prussia vs. Austrian Empire/ French Empire/ Russian Empire. War ended in 1763. There were battles fought near my place/ Montreal. Please add your movies/ coins. I am now off to work....

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

 

I pick this one. There is a scene where Lucilla gives a handful of goldish coins (must be orichalcum) to Maximus' servant Cicero "for his loyalty"

Maybe a couple like this?

 

[Salomons Cat]

Gladiator

 

1) Commodus

From left to right, upper row first: 

1. Commodus at age 15. Obv: COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM SARM. Rev: HILARITAS. Ref: RIC III 611 (Aurelius). Rome mint, AD 175-176. 3.45 g - 19 mm

2. Commodus at age 15. Obv: COMMODO CAES AUG FIL GERM SARM. Rev: PRINC IUVENT. Ref: RIC -; BMC -; Cohen -. MIR 342-14/15 (no example recorded). Apparently unpublished with this bust type. Rome, 175-176 AD. 3.48 g - 18 mm. Ex Leu 07/2022, Adrian Lang collection.

3. Commodus at about age 22. Obv: M COMMODVS ANTON AVG PIVS. Rev: P M TR P VIIII IMP VII COS IIII P P, modius with seven grain stalks. RIC III 94. Rome, AD 184. 

4. Commodus at about age 30. Obv: L AEL AVREL C – OMM AVG P FEL, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev: HERCVLI ROMANO AVG, club flanked by bow and quiver. RIC 253. 3.38 g - 18 mm. Ex Jeremy (numisforums) and ex Naumann 09/2019.

5. Commodus at about age 30. Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev: HERCVL ROMAN AVGV. Rome, 192 AD. 17mm - 3.11g. Ex Prieure de Sion (numisforums) and ex Noonans 03/2023, Graham Collection.

6. Commodus at about age 24 with presumed damnatio memoriae. Obv: M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT. Rev: FID EXERC P M TR P XI IMP VII COS V P P, RIC III 130d. Rome, 186 AD. 18mm - 3.09g. Ex Prieure de Sion (numisforums) and Numidas Numismatik Vienna, (Catawiki Auction 68867989).

2) Lucilla

Lucilla, lived 148/149 - 181/182 AD. Denarius (164 AD), 3.52g.
Obv: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, dr. bust r., hair waved and knotted low at back in chignon
Rev: VOTA / PVBLI / CA in laurel wreath
RIC 791

 

3) Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius, lived 121-180 AD. Denarius, 3.28 g, 18 mm. Rome.
Obv: AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII FIL. Bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev: TR POT VIIII COS II. Minerva standing left with owl, shield and spear.
RIC 463b

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by Salomons Cat

[Roman Collector]

In a similar vein, the 1964 film, The Fall of the Roman Empire, featured Alec Guinness as Marcus Aurelius, Sophia Loren as Lucilla, and Christopher Plummer as Commodus!

Edited October 13, 2023 by Roman Collector
Spelling.

[JayAg47]

This movie on the Chola dynasty came in two parts over the past two years. The plot is about the rivalry between Cholas and Pandyas, the conspiracies leading up to the death of the crown prince Karikala Chola, Arulmoli Varman aka Raja Raja Chola's elder brother. However Raja Raja did not ascend to the throne after the death of his father, but 'let' his uncle Uttama Chola become the king, only after Uttama's death Raja Raja becomes the emperor and takes the title Raja Raja meaning king of kings. 

Uttama Chola Silver Drachm 4.15g, 20mm 970-985 AD 

This coin commemorates the Chola conquest of the neighbouring kingdoms of Chera, and Pandya, depicted as the royal emblems- Cholan tiger in the center, flanked by the Pandyan twin fish to its right, and the Cheran bow behind the tiger, all under the single rule symbolized by the prasaol. On the reverse, the legends in Nagari states, Uttama Chola 

The much more common 'Octopus man' coin, 

Raja Raja Chola, 985-1014 AD
Obverse shows standing king smelling a lotus next to a lamp, pellets to his right with lotus below, reverse shows seated king blowing a conch, and the letters Raja Raja in Nagari legends.
4g

And a coin of the Pandian emperor Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan, issued after their independence from Cholas. The Tamil legends in the reverse read எல்லாந்தலையன் (Ellanthalaiyan), literally meaning 'Leader of all', by the time this coin was minted, the once mighty Chola empire was in their last throes, and shortly they would fall in the hands of Pandyas. 

1251-1268 AD
Pandyan empire, Madurai mint
4.05g
Obv: Standing king
Rev: Twin fish in the centre, 'Ellanthalaiyan' around.

Edited October 13, 2023 by JayAg47

[Heliodromus]

Challenge accepted ...

My first movie pick is "Old Ironsides", a 1926 movie about the USS Constitution (aka Old Ironsides) and her role in battling piracy in the mediteranean. The USS Constitution is perhaps more famous for her role in the 1812 war against my countrymen, the Brits. So, the coin tie-in is that the USS Constitution was later under command of Captain Daniel Turner (shown below, onboard a different ship) who was an avid roman coin collector, and whose collection was sold at auction and subsequently sold piecemeal on eBay, from where I bought the Fausta coin below, with ticket (wrong attribution!) in Capt. Turner's own writing. It's actually a very rare coin - not in RIC - part of the Ticinum "H" issue.

 

My second movie pick is a reportedly atrocious 1962 film about Constantine I, "Constantine and the Cross", starring Cornel Wilde, which was distributed overseas as "Constantine the Great". I think it's meant to be at least part historical, but also certainly part fantasy, and the German movie poster here shows a fictitious scene where Constantine jumps into the arena to slay a lion and save some Christians who were on that days entertainment schedule. I'm not sure which emperor's show he's meant to be interrupting here. In reality Constantine was very much pro Damnatio ad Bestias (at least in his early days), and at one time fed so many captured gauls to the beasts that they reportedly grew tired of having to chew on them all.

The coin, and perhaps genuine history, tie-in here is that while Constantine's father Constantius was alive and part of the tetrarchy, Constantine was kept near hostage in the east on the court of Galerius, in order to secure his father's loyalty. Reportedly at one point Galerius as a training exercise had Constantine fight a lion. Regardless of whether this story is true, Maxentius saw fit to issue coins with the Nemean lion motif for Constantine, both as caesar and augustus, honoring him as part of team-Maximianus.

I just found out the movie is available online, so I'll subject myself to it later.

Edit: I tried to watch it, but it's spectacularly bad in every conceivable way! About 10 minutes is all I could take.

Finally, not exactly a movie. Well, ok, it's a beer - but close enough. UK's Milton Brewery put Constantine on a beer label as part of their Imperator range, which seems appropriate since without beer, or at least some kind of alcoholic beverages, Constantine as we know him might not exist ...

https://www.miltonbrewery.co.uk/beers/

So, the story of Constantine's rise to power has it that when the ailing Constantius I was fighting in Britain in 306 AD he sent a request to Galerius to release Constantine to come help him ... Galerius was as per usual drunk when he responded to the request and agreed to it, whereupon Constantine immediately fled on horseback knowing that Galerius would surely change his mind, as he was liable to do, when he sobered up in the morning. Constantine hobbled all the horses in the imperial stables along the way to slow any pursuers, and duly made it to Britain where he briefly fought alongside his father before being acclaimed augustus upon his death. Without this alcoholic assist, the tetrarchic line of succession might have been different, and his birthplace Nis would not be bragging about their famous son.

😃

 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Heliodromus

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

6 hours ago, Roman Collector said:

In a similar vein, the 1964 film, The Fall of the Roman Empire, featured Alec Guinness as Marcus Aurelius, Sophia Loren as Lucilla, and Christopher Plummer as Commodus!

I saw that movie on TV once. Marcus dies when fed a poisoned apple by his doctor. Christopher Plummer as an insane Commodus with a short beard says "If you listen carefully you can hear the gods laughing" when he is fighting Stephen Boyd, the general in the arena. Boyd's character is sort of like Maximius in Gladiator. Probably if the movie had not existed, Gladiator would have been different - since there is some overlap in characters/theme. However, the Roman Empire was not "falling" in the reign of Commodus. Under Septimius Severus the Empire reached its greatest territorial extent and of course, celebrated the Secular Games under Phillip the Arab. The Empire at that time looked just as powerful as under the five "good emperors". However, the rot within was increasingly exposed in the 250's with the reign of Valerian and Gallienus who had to deal with problems on a scale never seen before...

Edited October 13, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[DonnaML]

39 minutes ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

I saw that movie on TV once. Marcus dies when fed a poisoned apple by his doctor. Christopher Plummer as an insane Commodus with a short beard says "If you listen carefully you can hear the gods laughing" when he is fighting Stephen Boyd, the general in the arena. Boyd's character is sort of like Maximius in Gladiator. Probably if the movie had not existed, Gladiator would have been different - since there is some overlap in characters/theme. However, the Roman Empire was not "falling" in the reign of Commodus. Under Septimius Severus the Empire reached its greatest territorial extent and of course, celebrated the Secular Games under Phillip the Arab. The Empire at that time looked just as powerful as under the five "good emperors". However, the rot within was increasingly exposed in the 250's with the reign of Valerian and Gallienus who had to deal with problems on a scale never seen before...

I've never seen it, but just watched an interesting 4-minute trailer on Youtube, concentrating more on the sets and "re-creations" than on the plot. Here are two links to decent-quality videos of the same trailer. If one doesn't work, try the other. The narrator is entertainingly bombastic.

Sophia Loren makes a very sultry Lucilla. And Alec Guinness at 50 was certainly more appropriate for the role of Marcus Aurelius than Richard Harris was at 70 in Gladiator! 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by DonnaML

[Prieure de Sion]

 

Publius Sepullius Macer for Gaius Julius Caesar; Reign: Imperatorial, Roman Republic; Mint: Rome; Date: 44 BC; Nominal: Denarius; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19mm; Weight: 3.42g; Reference: RBW 1679; Reference: Sydenham 1071; Reference: Babelon (Julia) 46 and (Sepullia) 1; Reference: Crawford RRC 480/5b; Obverse: Head of Julius Caesar right, wearing laurel-wreath; behind, eight-rayed star; before, inscription; Inscription: CAESAR IMP; Translation: Caesar Imperator; Translation: Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar; Reverse: Venus standing left, head down, holding winged Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand; on right and left, moneyer mark; sometimes at base of sceptre, a star; Inscription: P SEPVLLIVS MACER; Translation: Publius Sepullius Macer.

 

 

Marcus Antonius; Denarius of the Roman Republican Period 32/31 BC; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19mm; Weight: 3.25g; Mint: Military Mint in the East, Patrae(?); Reference: Crawford 544/17; Obverse: Galley right, with sceptre tied with fillet on prow; above and below, inscription. Border of dots. The Inscription reads: ANT AVG III VIR R P C for Antonius Augurus Triumviri Rei Publicae Constituandae ([Mark] Antony, Triumvirate for the Restoration of the Government); Reverse: Aquila (legionary eagle) between two standards; across eagle, inscription. Border of dots. The Inscription reads: LEG IV for Legio IV Macedonica (Macedonian Fourth Legion).

 
One of the best monumental films ever, of course - Cleopatra. I can serve with a Caesar. Marcus Antonius on the galleys in the film is also unforgettable. The only thing I still don't have is a Cleopatra coin.

[Prieure de Sion]

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; Tetradrachm of the Roman Imperial Period 63-64 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 26mm; Weight: 14.60g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria; Reference: Prieur 89, RPC I 4189; Obverse: Laureate bust of emperor to right, wearing aegis. The Inscription reads: ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ for Neron Kaisaros Sebastos (Nero Caesar Augustus); Reverse: Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, wings spread, palm branch to right. The Inscription reads: ΕΤΟΥΣ ΒΙΡ Ι for year 112 of the caesarian era (BIP = Beta (2), Ipota (10), Rho (100) = 112) and reign year 10 (I = Iota = 10) = 63/64 AD.

 
And my second favourite - also seen many times - the classic "Quo Vadis" with Sir Peter Ustinov.

[kirispupis]

 

Thrace, Madytos
circa 350-300 BCE
Æ 16 mm, 3,66 g
Obv.: Bull butting left; above, grain ear. Dotted border.
Rev.: Μ-ΑΔΥ; Dog seated right; behind, grain ear and crescent.
Ref: HGC, 1508; SNG Copenhagen, 923-25.

 

Kings of Paeonia, Lykkeios
circa 359-335 BCE
AR Tetradrachm 22 mm, 13.19 g, 6 h
Astibos or Damastion
Laureate head of Apollo to right.
Rev. ΛYKK-EIOY Herakles standing left, strangling the Nemean lion; to right, bow and quiver.
Paeonian Hoard 72. Peykov E1030

[panzerman]

Great movies/ coins!

I will pick "Alexander" starring Colin Farrel

AV Quarter Stater ND

Amphilos Mint

Alexander III

AV Daric ND

Persian Empire

Artaxerxes II- Darius III

 

[El Cazador]

15 hours ago, panzerman said:

Thought this would be a great idea. Select a movie/ post coins relatedto the historical events portrayed in your movie pick.

I will start with a film about one of the greatest military leaders in history. He took on three empires (Russian under Czarina Elizabeth I/ French under Madame de Pompadour (Louis XV mistress and wearing the shoes)/ Austrian-Hungarian under Maria Theresia) Freidrich II der Grosse took on three women and won!

Seven Year's War/ really WWI since it was fought on all continents/ seas. Combattants: Great Britain/ Prussia vs. Austrian Empire/ French Empire/ Russian Empire. War ended in 1763. There were battles fought near my place/ Montreal. Please add your movies/ coins. I am now off to work....

Love the topic!!

[panzerman]

"The Last Valley"

Movie about the "Thirty Year's War" 1618-48. Conflict between the Catholic armies (Holy Roman Empire/ Spain vs Protestant side (Danmark/ Sweden/ England/ some German States/ and France)

1/ Pommern

AV Dukat  1631

Koslin Mint

Bogeslaw XIV 1620-38 (Protestants)

2/ Holy Roman Empire/ hungary

AV Dukat 1633 K-B

Kremnitz Mint

HRE Ferdinand II 1619-37

England

AV Crown ND (1627-35)

Tower Mint

Charles I Stuart 1625-45 (Protestants)

Sweden/ Livonia                                                                                                                                                                              AV Dukat 1644                                                                                                                                                                             Riga Mint

Queen Christina I 1632-54 (Protestant/ later wisely converted to Roman Catholic)

Mainz/ Erzbistum

AV Dukat 1645

Mainz Mint

Kasimir Wamboldt von Wollrath Kürfurst/ Archbishop zu Mainz 1629-47 (Catholic)

France

AV Écu d'or  1635-B

Rouen Mint

Louis XIII 1610-43  (Protestants) even though Cardinal Richelieu was the kings chief adviser!

Sachsen/ Kürfurstentum

AV Dukat 1636

Dresden Mint

Johann Georg I 1616-56 (Protestant)