A top 7 Roman ladies for the year's end

[seth77]

These ladies were added this year and I am very happy with each and every one of them, despite the obvious shortcomings regarding condition. 

Chronologically they are:

Domitian with Domitia, a rather plentiful coppery coinage minted for them at Larissa for the Koinon of Thessaly c. 90


AE19 5.86g
[Δ]ΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΝ Κ[ΑΙϹ]ΑΡΑ [ΘΕϹϹ]ΑΛΟΙ
[Δ]ΟΜΙΤΙΑΝ ϹΕΒΑϹΤ[ΗΝ]

Not a lot in terms of beauty here, nor a particular rarity. Larissa minted at least 2 issues of these, of which this one is the later. At that time Thessaly was part of the province of Achaea, so technically this is a provincial Greek coin from Greece itself. I did not expect this to be as attractive as it is despite its rather mundane style. Domitia is so small and unassuming, while Domitian is almost a generic Imperial figure of the 1st century. I almost did not bother to press bid on this, but for 3EUR I am very glad I did.

 

Sabina Augusta, wife of Hadrian, a sestertius of Rome from c. 133-5


AE28mm 21.71g
[SABINA AVG]VSTA - [HADRIANI] AVG P P
[IVNONI-REGINAE], Juno standing facing, head left, patera in right hand, grounded scepter in left; S-C across fields.

Very very worn , but with the very recognizable bust of Sabina very very clear. It looks like Hadrian beardless and wearing this characteristic hairdo, with the  hair waved, rising into crest on top above a stephane, knotted in queue, falling down along the back of neck. A very dignified portrait.

 

Faustina I lifetime issue from Sardis, orichalcum in small denomination, c. 138-40


AE19 3.75g
ΦΑΥϹΤΙΝ[Α] ϹΕΒΑϹΤΗ
ϹΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ; Aphrodite draped standing left, wearing headdress(?), raising apple in right hand and long sceptre in left hand.

A wonderful engraving of Faustina, possibly one of the best if not the best quality engraving done for her by a local workshop. Lifetime issues of her are scarce even at Rome, but in the provinces... forget about it. It also slipped under the radar and was very convenient price-wise. 

 

Faustina I posthumous coppery fraction of Bostra in Arabia Petraea, c. 141-4


AE14mm 1.82g
ΘΕΑ ΦΑΥϹΤ
ΝΤ Β O

Previously attributed to Nicopolis-Emmaus (on account of the reverse being read as NI BO), but the area of distribution makes this attribution unlikely. Arie Kindler in 'Coinage of Bostra' makes the definitive attribution of the type (and others) to Bostra and also identifies the denominations as parallels to the contemporary Imperial denominations, so this fractional coinage is identified as a quadrans. The Imperial effigy is shown veiled, which is my favorite rendition of Faustina's posthumous issues.

 

Caesarea in Cappadocia minted for the wedding of Julia Paula and Elagabal in 219, orichalcum large denomination (sestertius?) c. 219


AE26mm 12.5g
[ΙΟΥ ΚΟΡ]ΝΗ ΠΑΥ[ΛΑ ϹΕ]
[ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ ΚΑΙϹ]ΑΡΙ / ΕΤ Γ

Almost worn legendless but enough is there to recognize it as obverse die-match with the Henseler Collection (#1107). Usually coins struck on this occasion for both Elagabal and Paula have full-name legends for the two. This one has a heavily abbreviated legend. As usual with the coinage of Caesarea in the third century, there's also a countermark, probably the usual radiate Helios added on many coins from this mint at the end of the reign of Gordian III or possibly a bit later. Caesarea struck continuously during this period, so chances are you'll see a lot of usually scarce to rare figures here than you'd do from Rome.

 

A very obscure issue for Elagabal and Julia Maesa, coppery small denomination of Seleucia, c. 220

AE17mm 2.34g
AYT K M A - ANT[...]
[ΑΥΓΟΥ]ϹΤΑ ΜΑΙϹΑ

This is so obscure that it took me the better part of the month to ID. 2 specs in RPC, just one in previous sales (Roma 118 1112). But with these small provincials rarity is meaningless. Maesa was one of the extraordinary Syrian women of the Severan dynasty who orchestrated the return of their side of the family to rule Rome after the assassination of Caracalla. I think 'smart and driven' is an understatement for someone like her.

 

Severina 'antoninianus' of Antioch from her 'interregnum' after Aurelian's assassination


AE22mm 3.89g
SEVERINA PF AVG
CONCORDIA AVG

This is an ugly coin but with a wonderful story. In early autumn 275, Aurelian is murdered. A period of confusion ensues before Aurelian's friend/general and confidant is chosen and then ratified by the Senate, in November 275. This brief period though is one where it might have been that Severina held the reigns effectively, as a lady emperor. The P(ia) F(elix) obverse titulature paired with the CONCORDIA AVG reverse, implying a single imperial figure rather than AVGG as it was common on coinage in her name since the reform of 274, suggest that she was in fact THE Imperial figurehead for around 8 weeks or so. Accepted and celebrated as such on coinage.

 

This whole TOP7 cost around 60EUR including juice and delivery factored in to assemble. I have seen a lot of gold and three or four figure coins in people's lists here, thought about adding some variation and diversity.

Edited December 19, 2024 by seth77

[Qcumbor]

Cool coins. Coolness isn't just in the price one paid !

I really like the Julia Paula wedding issue and its green "circ cam" look

Q

[JayAg47]

I like the story behind that Severina antoninianus!