Valentinian Posted January 24 · Member Share Posted January 24 Denarius. 21-19 mm. There is only one Roman with this reverse type. Can you recognize who it is? (The answer is here.) One of my many collecting themes is reverse types that were issued by only one Roman, so the reverse alone allows the Roman on the obverse to be identified. Long ago I made a website about them: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/unique/unique.html It has been almost three years since I added any types to it, but this one, which I have been seeking for a several years (It is "rare" according to RIC), came yesterday and I added it to my pages. Show us another coin where the reverse alone allows the Roman on the obverse to be identified. 17 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panzerman Posted January 24 · Member Share Posted January 24 I think this one/ hippo only exists on Otacila Severa aurei/ denarii 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtis JJ Posted January 24 · Supporter Share Posted January 24 I was wrong about that one! Interesting challenge. Of course, it also raises the very interesting topic of what counts as a "type." Different people will reasonably divide them up differently, for different purposes. (Identical legends + devices? Different abbreviations of the legends? Different device or figure in different poses? Different die-pairs?) Using types defined in collector literature, there are more for Provincials and Republicans. Fewer Imperial. I collect "barbarians & captives" on Roman coins. I'm always watching for the handful of reverses that can only be found paired with a specific ruler. I think this ruler's coinage is the only time we see a captive standing alone with no trophy or palm tree or other seated captive or personification (and with hands bound in front), just accompanied by his captured arms. (The closest are some of the scarcer-to-rare IVDAEA types.) https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7798304 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted January 24 · Supporter Share Posted January 24 (edited) Elagalabus?....(well, maybe not, but it reminded me of this coin) Edited January 24 by ominus1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panzerman Posted January 24 · Member Share Posted January 24 This one for sure/ since its him on reverse. 6 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentinian Posted January 24 · Member Author Share Posted January 24 1 hour ago, panzerman said: This one for sure/ since its him on reverse. I don't know how you know it is him on the reverse unless you saw the obverse first. The "emperor/soldier" looks a lot like all the other emperor/soldier figures. Here is one of Philip II--not identical, but the soldier is similar. The Severus Alexander above might be uniquely identifiable by the legend with its TRP date, but that's asking a lot of the collector. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted January 24 · Supporter Share Posted January 24 Interesting thread @Valentinian. Here are a few I think fit the description. 9 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted January 24 · Supporter Share Posted January 24 Gallienus must have a few. Gallienus Sole Reign Antoninianus, 260-268 Rome. Bronze, 19mm, 2.33g. Radiate Head right; GALLIENVS AVG. Panther walking left; LIBERO (P CO)NS AVG; mintmark B (RIC V, 230). From the Beachy Head (Sussex) Hoard 1973, Portable Antiquities Scheme: IARCH-162415. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted January 24 · Supporter Share Posted January 24 I think Valerian is the only emperor with Saturn holding a scythe and nothing else. There are only five emperors with Saturn at all. Valerian I Antoninianus, 254-255 Viminacium. Billon, 22mm, 4.33g. Radiate draped Bust right; IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG. Saturn standing right holding scythe; AETERNITATI AVGG (RIC V, 210). Purportedly from the Bristol (Somerset) II Hoard 1996. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted January 24 · Supporter Share Posted January 24 ...Phillip ll, along with his family, take the prizes for several such types... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted January 24 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted January 24 I don't think anyone other than Gallienus had a reverse depicting a bearded centaur holding a baseball bat: Or a tigress, see http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Liber Pater; see also description of type as tigress at Ed Flinn’s website, at http://www258.pair.com/denarius/coinage.htm : And I'm pretty sure that Hadrian's RESTITVTORI – HISPANIAE reverse was the only one showing an emperor raising Hispania, with a rabbit symbolizing the province: 7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted January 25 · Member Share Posted January 25 An excellent idea for a thread. This is one of the collecting themes I follow - coins where you can instantly know the obverse after seeing just the reverse. But without finesse things (requiring a check in the catalogue - like this is only for emperor X because it says "IMP yy TRP zz"). Or - the one seated is Trajan's father according to legend so surely the answer is simple - there are many reverses with somebody seated. If you read the legend, you get it, but if you don't, you might pass it. Gallienus Zoo series are an excellent example. Although the capricorn is not unique, I don't think many beginners will fail in recognizing who is on the obverse. Although this theme is not unique either, I think many collectors know who is the emperor if we just take a QUICK look at the legend (or recognize the design directly) Obverse not exactly mandatory for ID: Some counter examples with common reverse designs. Deeper check is required, investigating the reverse legend but in some cases this is not enough. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted January 25 · Member Share Posted January 25 15 hours ago, John Conduitt said: I think Valerian is the only emperor with Saturn holding a scythe and nothing else. There are only five emperors with Saturn at all. Valerian I Antoninianus, 254-255 Viminacium. Billon, 22mm, 4.33g. Radiate draped Bust right; IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG. Saturn standing right holding scythe; AETERNITATI AVGG (RIC V, 210). Purportedly from the Bristol (Somerset) II Hoard 1996. Gallienus was also featured on this issue and it was assigned to Antioch rather than Viminacium due to Gobl (MIR). 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejas Posted January 25 · Member Share Posted January 25 (edited) On 1/24/2024 at 7:20 PM, Valentinian said: There is only one Roman with this reverse type. Can you recognize who it is? (The answer is here.) Wow, there are some fantastic reverse types in your collection, Warren, some of which l have never seen before. I'll add them to my want list. PS I think on your Philip I the reading of the reverse legend is wrong SPES FELICITATIS OBVIS should be SPES FELICITATIS ORBIS Edited January 25 by Tejas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molag Bal Posted January 25 · Member Share Posted January 25 (edited) As far as I know this reverse was only issued for Saloninus. P COR SAL VALERIANVS CAES DII NVTRITORES MIR 1606e, RIC 35 This paragraph taken from: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=dii nvtritores Edited January 25 by Molag Bal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heliodromus Posted January 25 · Member Share Posted January 25 Some emperor-specific unique types are obviously more interesting than others, but I wonder how many emperors didn't have any at all and just got by on stock designs ? The emperor I'm most familiar with is my avatar, Constantine I, who had many unique types (at least if we include legend as well a design), but perhaps he is more of an exception? Certainly the emperors both preceding (tetrarchy) and following (Christianized types leading into Byzantine era) Constantine had less personalized and current event types and more generic ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejas Posted January 25 · Member Share Posted January 25 (edited) Probus' coins are wellknown for his many innovative obverse types, while his reverse types are mostly standard. This one from my collection, however, was minted only for Probus: Edited January 25 by Tejas 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentinian Posted January 25 · Member Author Share Posted January 25 9 hours ago, Tejas said: I think on your Philip I the reading of the reverse legend is wrong Thank you for the note. (I knew the legend, but typed it incorrectly.) I fixed it. I'm glad to see so many responses to the original post. Many of those coins are on those "unique" pages somewhere, but some are not. I hope to see more in this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted January 26 · Member Share Posted January 26 This may be a bit late and too far to the east for the thread but I have this little lowly Leo 1 I believe is only for his rule. Empress standing with sceptre and cross flank by b E 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Victor_Clark Posted January 26 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted January 26 (edited) How many "unique" wolf and twins reverses? the only difference is the legend, otherwise same old wolf and twins. Even the Ostrogths recycled this reverse. Edited January 26 by Victor_Clark 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougsmit Posted January 26 · Member Share Posted January 26 (edited) Another that is a favorite of mine: You would think that a reverse naming the issuer would be unique but.... Pescennius Niger was called IVSTVS (the Just) and issued the type VICTOR IVST AVG. The type was copied by his adversary Septimius Severus letter for letter. I suspect someone at the mint got in trouble for this one since it suggested that the eventual victor was the Just one and that was the other guy. Shortly after that the IVST was replaced by similar coins reading VICTOR SEVER AVG. This one was unique to Septimius. I would like to know whether this change came before or after the death of Pescennius and the settling of just who was Victor (just or not). I also would like to know what happened at the mint when they discovered this 'situation'. Did heads roll? Edited January 26 by dougsmit 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejas Posted January 26 · Member Share Posted January 26 (edited) 3 hours ago, Victor_Clark said: How many "unique" wolf and twins reverses? the only difference is the legend, otherwise same old wolf and twins. Even the Ostrogths recycled this reverse. True, but the image combined with the legend makes the reverse type. The ORIGINI AVG reverse of Probus is unique to this emperor. I think it is not just a unique, but also a mysterious reverse. Is it refering to the origins of the Augustus, i.e. of Probus or is it refering to the origins of Rome with the Romulus, Remus and Lupa image? Perhaps the coin indicates that Probus was from Siscia, i.e. celebrating that a native of their city had become emperor? Here is another unique reverse type from the Gothic kingdom. Athalaric (or better is mother) introduced a number of new reverse types inculding the type below, which shows a tree with two eagles. The tree may stand for the Ficus Ruminalis and the eagles my indicate Romulus and Remus. The interpretation is, however, uncertain. Athalaric (526-534) AE 20 Nummi (half follis) Mint: Rome The 20-Nummi coins of with ficus ruminalis are very rare and this is one of the best of the type: Edited January 26 by Tejas 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted January 26 · Member Share Posted January 26 (edited) Vespasian struck this unusually rustic themed reverse in 77-78 for both himself and Titus Caesar. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.19g Rome mint, 77-78 AD Obv: CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: IMP XIX in exergue; Goatherd std. l., milking goat l. RIC 977 (R). BMC 220. RSC 220. BNC 193. Acquired from Ancient Delights, August 2012. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] AR Denarius, 3.53g Rome Mint, July 77 AD - December 78 AD Obv: T CAESAR VESPASIANVS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IMP XIII in exergue; Goatherd std. l., milking goat l. RIC 985 (R). BMC 230. RSC 103. BNC 204. Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection. It was never repeated again. Edited January 26 by David Atherton 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcwyler Posted January 26 · Member Share Posted January 26 Nice! Did goatherds always have spikes on their backs in those days? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted January 26 · Member Share Posted January 26 (edited) 5 hours ago, mcwyler said: Nice! Did goatherds always have spikes on their backs in those days? I believe they are wearing rough woolen cloaks - the 'spikes' are a kind of Roman engraver's shorthand for rustic wholesomeness. Bib overalls would be the modern equivalent. Edited January 26 by David Atherton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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