Post your best portraits!

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

Let’s make an official thread of your best portraits on coins! You can add more here as you acquire new coins 🙂

I’ll start: 

1) Rhodos plinthophoric drachm:

CARIAN ISLANDS. Rhodes. Ca. 188-170 BC. AR drachm (15mm, 3.07g, 12h). Extremely fine, with iridescent toning. Plinthophoric standard, Anaxidotos, magistrate. Obverse: Radiate head of Helios right, possibly a depiction of the head of the Colossus of Rhodes. Reverse: ANAΞIΔOTOΣ (Anaxidotos), rose with bud to right; P-O across fields, serpent coiled around omphalos in left field; all within incuse square. SNG Keckman 630; Jenkins, Rhodian Plinthophoroi Group A/15; Hoover 1457. Minted around 35-40 years after the Colossus fell, when the pieces were still clearly visible. Basically around the same distance of time between today and ‘My neighbor Totoro’ or ‘The Princess Bride’ 🙂

 

2) Vespasian capricorn denarius:

Vespasian Denarius, 79 AD, 19.6mm, 3.17g, 7h. RIC II 1058. Obverse: Laureate bust of Vespasian right - IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG (Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus). Reverse: Capricorn left. Below, globe - TR POT X COS VIIII (Tribunicia Potestas 10, Consul 9). Minted the year of Vespasian’s death, a few month before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The Capricorn is a nod to the reverses of Augustus, to show continuity between his reign and the Julio-Claudians.

 

[shanxi]

It's hard to say which is my best portrait, but this tetradrachm from Alexandria has two:

Hadrian
Egypt, Alexandria
Billon Tetradrachm
Obv.: AVT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev.: CABINA CEBACTH, Draped bust of Sabina right.
Billon, 13,32 g, 25.8mm
Ref.: Geissen 90, 997. Dattari 1249. Kampmann-Ganschow 135, 32. 469

[CPK]

Who doesn't like fine portrait artistry?

VESPASIAN, AD 69-79
AR Denarius (18.35mm, 3.26g, 6h)
Struck AD 74. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP CAESAR VESP AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right
Reverse: PONTIF MAXIM around winged caduceus
References: RIC II 686 (R), RCV 2306
Lightly toned and lustrous. A magnificent portrait of Vespasian and an exemplar of the veristic style of Flavian portraiture.

 

HADRIAN, AD 117-138
AR Denarius (17.73mm, 3.00g, 6h)
Struck AD 137. Rome mint
Obverse: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head of Hadrian right
Reverse: VOTA PVBLICA, Hadrian, togate, standing left, sacrificing from patera over tripod-altar
References: RIC II 2326, RCV 3550
Attractively toned with a fine portrait. The reverse of this coin depicts Hadrian performing one of his many duties as emperor - offering votive sacrifices on behalf of the public well-being (VOTA PVBLICA).

 

FAUSTINA II, as Augusta under Antoninus Pius
AR Denarius (18.79mm, 3.12g, 7h)
Struck Dec. AD 147/8. Rome mint
Obverse: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust of Faustina II right, wearing Beckmann Type 1 hairstyle
Reverse: LAETITIAE PVBLICAE, Laetitia, draped, standing left, holding diadem in extended right hand and vertical sceptre in left
References: RIC III 506a, RCV 4705

From the Dr. Hugh Preston Collection.
Attractively toned with hints of iridescence. A particularly beautiful young portrait of Faustina, struck in high relief. This reverse type proclaiming joy to the public (LAETITIAE PVBLICAE) was struck to commemorate the birth of Faustina's first child, daughter Domitia Faustina, born late in AD 147.

 

CRISPUS as Caesar, AD 317-326
AE3 (20.48mm, 3.73g, 12h)
Struck AD 321. Rome mint
Obverse: CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Crispus right
Reverse: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around wreath enclosing VOT X in two lines, R T below
References: RIC VII 238, RCV 16770
A particularly fine portrait of the young Caesar.

[Qcumbor]

I'm partial to this Pupienus portrait :

Pupienus, Denarius - Rome mint, 238 CE
IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
PM TRP COS II PP, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and sceptre
3.08 gr
Ref : RCV # 8527, Cohen # 26

Q

[CPK]

Don't want to forget this one either:
 

LYSIMACHOS, 306-281 BC
AR Tetradrachm (28.30mm, 16.15g, 12h)
Struck 297-281 BC. Alexandreia Troas mint
Obverse: Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with the horn of Ammon
Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; cornucopia to inner left, Λ under throne
References: SNG Stockholm 845 (same dies)
A rare variant, unlisted in Thompson or Müller. Toned with scratches on reverse. Well centered portrait of Alexander the Great in fine style.

[CPK]

1 minute ago, Qcumbor said:

I'm partial to this Pupienus portrait :

Pupienus, Denarius - Rome mint, 238 CE
IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
PM TRP COS II PP, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and sceptre
3.08 gr
Ref : RCV # 8527, Cohen # 26

Q

I can see how you would be! That is an extraordinary portrait, definitely one of the finest I've ever seen. It's interesting how the quality and artistry of numismatic portraiture seemed to actually increase during the beginning of the chaotic period in the early third century.

[Croatian Coin Collector]

[Mucius Scaevola]

These coins were mostly bought because of the style:

 

the Titus, because he looks quite like his father here

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by Mucius Scaevola

[Qcumbor]

Look at those lips !! 🥰

Q

[Qcumbor]

Even Maesa could be handsome on some portraits of hers :

 

Q

[Qcumbor]

1 hour ago, CPK said:

It's interesting how the quality and artistry of numismatic portraiture seemed to actually increase during the beginning of the chaotic period in the early third century

Indeed !

Q

[expat]

[Mucius Scaevola]

8 minutes ago, expat said:

I feel like your Trajan could benefit from a better picture😜 It looks heavily overcleaned on this picture, but something tells me that in reality it's even more beautiful.

Edited December 13, 2024 by Mucius Scaevola

[expat]

25 minutes ago, Mucius Scaevola said:

I feel like your Trajan could benefit from a better picture😜 It looks heavily overcleaned on this picture, but something tells me that in reality it's even more beautiful.

Yes it is a great looking coin in hand. That is the dealers photo put onto a black background but you are correct in that a better photo would give it more appeal.

[AETHER]

I suppose this is a tad subjective, but I got these for the portrait;

 

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by AETHER

[expat]

@Mucius Scaevola this is nearer to realism than the dealers over exposed photo

[Mucius Scaevola]

Are you using some kind of effect? Just picture it from above, it‘s more realistic 🙂

[CPK]

Fine portraiture is one of my collecting interests. Here are a few more!

One of my most expensive coins, but one I've never regretted purchasing.

AUGUSTUS, 27 BC-AD 14
AR Denarius (20.36mm, 3.77g, 7h)
Struck 19 BC. Colonia Patricia mint
Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head of Augustus right
Reverse: OB CIVIS SERVATOS in straight lines above and below oak wreath
References: RIC I 75a (S), RCV 1625 var.
Well struck on good metal and attractively toned.

The reverse design of this coin, with the legend OB CIVIS SERVATOS (“For Saving the Citizens”) and an oak wreath, is a reference to the Corona Civica, a military decoration in the form of a wreath of oak leaves, which was awarded to those who had saved the lives of fellow citizens. Roman historian Cassius Dio (c. 165-c. 235) records this honor being given to Augustus, or Caesar as he is called, at the beginning of his reign in 27 BC:

"Caesar had received many honors previously, when the matter of declining the sovereignty and that regarding the division of the provinces were under discussion. For the right to fasten the laurel in front of his royal residence and to hang the oak-leaf crown above the doors was then voted him to symbolize the fact that he was always victorious over enemies and preserved the citizens."

 

A late-style portrait of the obese Nero:

NERO, AD 54-68
AR Denarius (17.24mm, 3.47g, 7h)
Struck AD 68. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P P, laureate head of Nero right
Reverse: Legionary eagle between two standards
References: RIC I 68 (R2), RCV 1947
A scarce type. Lightly toned with an excellent portrait.
From the T. R. Hardaker Collection (1942-2019)
"This type, among the last coins struck by the very unmilitary Nero, would seem to be an attempt to curry favor with the Roman legions of the provinces, which were beginning to rebel against his capricious rule. It did not work."

- Classical Numismatic Group (lot description)

 

It wouldn't be Nerva without that Roman nose!

NERVA, AD 96-98
AR Denarius (18.38, 3.36g, 6h)
Struck AD 96. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head of Nerva right
Reverse: FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding rudder set on ground in right hand and cornucopiae in left
References: RIC II 4, RCV 3025
A choice specimen, with attractive toning and a finely styled portrait. Well-centered and struck on a good flan.
From the Tony Chibbaro Collection.