Lets see your captives

[expat]

A gathering place for captive issues of all types. Any era, any type. Post 'em here.

To start things off, a Claudius II with a relatively scarce reverse legend, VICTOR GERMAN

Claudius II AE Antoninianus. Cyzicus mint issue 4, 270 AD. IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, Bust right, radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum, seen from rear , (type D2) / VICTOR GERMAN, two captives bound and seated back to back either side of trophy. RIC 247, Cohen 289. Weight: 3.29 gr.
Diameter: 19.1 mm.

Looking forward to seeing the variety posted.

[CPK]

Probably the most famous type of them all:

TITUS as Caesar, AD 69-79
AE As (29.56mm, 9.42g, 6h)
Struck AD 77/8. Lugdunum mint
Obverse: T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR, laureate head of Titus right
Reverse: IVDAEA CAPTA, Judaea seated right mourning under palm tree, shields and vexillum behind, S C in exergue
References: RIC II 1268, RCV 2475
Warm brown patina with smoothly worn surfaces. This is one of many types commemorating the defeat of the Jewish rebels by Vespasian and his son Titus during the First Jewish War (AD 66-73)

[ambr0zie]

Not a theme I specialize in, but I have a few. 

The most interesting one is not because the reverse type, but because of the denomination - an Aurelian denarius. 

20 mm, 2,79 g.
Aurelian 270-275. Ӕ denarius. Rome. September 275.
IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm frond bound captive seated left, head right; A in exergue.
RIC V-1 73.

 

First one appearing in my collection - a popular Gallienus type

19,4 mm, 2,96 g.
Gallienus 253-268 AD. Billon antoninianus. Lugdunum. 257-258.
GALLIENVS PF AVG, radiated and armored bust of Gallienus on the left, seen from three quarters in front with shield and holding a haste on the left shoulder / GERMANICVS MAX V, arms trophy with a captive on each side. Reverse translation: “Germanicus Maximus quintum” (Winner of the Germans for the fifth time).
RIC V Gallienus (joint reign) 18.

A Gratian 

18,2 mm, 1,67 g.
Gratianus 367-383 AD. Ӕ follis. Siscia. 367-375.
DN GRATIANVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor in military dress walking right, head left, holding labarum, dragging a kneeling captive by the hair, F to left, R above hooked A (symbol 4) to right. Mintmark: ΔSISCVE.
RIC IX Siscia 14c type xxxvii var.

A Numerian 

22 mm, 3,47 g.
Numerian 283-284. Æ antoninianus. Rome.
IMP NVMERIANVS AVG, bust of Numerian, radiate, cuirassed, right / VNDIQVE VICTORES, Numerian, draped, cuirassed, standing left, holding globe in right hand and sceptre in left hand; on either side, captive. Mintmark: -/-//KAΓ; OfficinaMark: ς.
RIC V Carus 423.

And a Constantine I - a coin I like a lot because of the reverse artistry 

18 mm, 3,25 g.
Constantine I the Great 306-337. Æ follis. Constantinople. 328-329.
CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG, bust of Constantine I, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right / CONSTANTINI-ANA DAFNE, Victory, winged, draped, seated left on cippus, head right, holding palm in left hand and laurel in right; before her, trophy; at foot of trophy, kneeling captive, head turned, being spurned by Victory. Mintmark: A/-//CONS dot; Officina mark: ∈.
RIC VII Constantinople 38 note.

[ominus1]

..every Roman emperor had a fantasy of conquering Germania...but none ever did and they weren't subjugated until the coming of Charlemagne, long after Rome's time...

[kirispupis]

Valens
Siscia 364-367 CE
AE 2.66g, 19mm
Obv: D N VALENS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Emperor advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum; star above A in right field, •BSISC in exergue.
RIC 5b

[expat]

@CPK @ambr0zie @ominus1 @kirispupis some wonderful examples posted so far. Already 2 I was unaware of, thanks.

[Svessien]

Here are some captives that I keep under lock and key:

Julius Caesar , Spain 46-45 BC.

Obverse: Head of Venus r., wearing diadem; behind, Cupid,

Reverse: Trophy with oval shield and carnyx in each hand; below, two captives: male and female (Gallia); in ex. CAESAR.

Reference: RRC 468/1a; BMCRR Spain 89; B. Iulia 11; Sydenham 1014; Catalli 2001, 679.

The bust on the on the obverse is that of Venus Genetrix, to whom Caesar in B.C.  46 had dedicated a temple in the Forum Julium. The reverse refers to his  victories and the Gaul may be Vercigetorix.

Vespasian Judea Captea. I wonder if a poorer specimen exist.

Lucius Verus, 161-169 AD. Denarius, Rome 171 AD 
Obverse: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head right 
Reverse: TR P V IMP III COS II, Parthia seated right, hands tied behind back; in front, quiver, bow, and shield. 
Reference: RIC III 540; BMCRE 385; Szaivert 112-14/30; RSC 273.

Lucius Verus, happy with capturing Parthians. 

Gallienus, Joint reign, Billon Antoninianus. Lyons or Cologne mint, 258-9 AD.

Obverse: GALLIENVS dot P dot F dot AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right 

Reverse: GERMANICVS MAX V, two German captives bound and seated at the foot of a trophy.

Reference: RSC 310; Sear 10225. (two large shields: Wareham hoard 271, Stevenage hoard 489a; Goebl 0872m; two small shields: Wareham hoard 272, Stevenage hoard 489b).

Gallienus, after leaving Valerian feeling blue in Parthia, and visiting Germany.

 

Aurelian 270-275 AD  

Obverse: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelian to right.

Reverse: ORIENS AVG / ΔXXIR Sol standing front, head to left, raising his right hand in salute and holding globe in his left; to left and right, seated and bound captives.

Reference: CBN 177-9. RIC 63. RIC V online 1793. Venèra 1049-64. RCV 11571 

During his reign, Aurelian defeated the Alamanni, Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. By reuniting the empire, which had virtually disintegrated under the pressure of invasions and internal revolts, he earned the title of Restitutor Orbis (“Restorer of the world”). I don't know who of his foes are held captive here.

During the reign, Aurelian strengthened the position of the Sun god Sol Invictus as the main divinity of the Roman pantheon. Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") was the official sun god of the later Roman Empire and a patron of soldiers. On 25 December AD 274, the Aurelian made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults.

 

 

[Alegandron]

ROMAN REPUBLIC QUINARIUS

Here is a T Cloelius Quinarius from 98 BCE.


SEAR 212:
Laur. hd. of Jupiter r, control letter behind before or below (F)
Rev: Victory stg r crowning trophy at foot of which is seated captive and carnyx.
T CLOVLI (L in mongram) between, Q in ex
RRC 332/1 CRR 586-586b, RSC Cloulia 2-2b; Sear 212
Cloelius, a known partisan of the Marian faction, strikes as quaestor and celebrates Marius' victories

[Alegandron]

RR Fundanius AR Quinarius 101 BCE Marius triumph over Celts Jupiter E control Victory captive carnyx Q Sear 205 Craw 326-2

[Alegandron]

FEMALE CAPTIVE

RR Gellius 138 BCE AR Denarius Roma wreath Mars female captiveQuadriga S 109 Cr 232-1



RR Gellius 138 BCE AR Den Roma wreath Mars fem captive Quad S 109 Cr 232-1

[Alegandron]

Roman Republic Aemilius Lepidus Paullus 62 BCE Concordia Perseus Macedon captive Sear 366 Craw 415-1

[Kali]

Aurelian (270 - 275 A.D.)

Æ(S) Antoninianus
O: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
R: RESTITVTOR ORBIS, woman standing right, presenting wreath to Aurelian standing left, leaning on sceptre, suppliant captive between them. * Δ in exergue.
4.2mm
21mm
RIC V-1, Cyzicus 349 var.

Very Scarce

Constans (337 - 350 A.D.)

Æ3
O: D N CONSTANS P F AVG, pearl-diademed draped bust left holding globe.
R: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, soldier walking right, spear downwards, leading captive from hut under a tree. Mintmark R star Q.
Rome Mint, officina 4; 348-350 AD
4.08g
23mm
RIC VIII Rome 140; LRBC 601
 

 

[Kali]

Licinius II (317 - 324 A.D.)

Æ3
O: DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, helmeted, cuirassed bust left holding spear and shield.
R: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe and eagle-tipped sceptre, eagle with wreath left, captive right. X over II Mu in right field. Mintmark SMHB.
Heraclea Mint
20mm
3.3g
RIC VII Heraclea 54

 

Numerian (283 - 284 A.D.)

Æ Antoninianus
O: IMP NVMERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right.
R: VNDIQVE VICTORES, Numerian standing left, holding globe and sceptre, captive on each side.
Rome mint
22mm
4.07g
RIC 423, Cohen 120

An important reverse type fallaciously
claiming 'victories on Every Side'.

[expat]

Probus AE Antoninianus. Siscia, 279 AD.
IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate bust left, wearing imperial mantle and holding eagle-tipped sceptre / VIRTVS PROBI AVG, trophy standing between two captives. RIC 820, Cohen 942. Alföldi 101/033
22 mm, 4,87 g

[Croatian Coin Collector]

[expat]

[Bannerknight]

My only captive is one Honorius caught.

Honorius, solidus, Ravenna (402-406), 4,45 g. Honorius standing facing, head right, foot on bound captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe.

RIC X 1287, Sear (Roman) 20919.

Obverse: DN HONOR-IUS PF AVG

Reverse: VICTORI-A AVGGG / R-V // COMOB

Edited January 10 by Bannerknight

[Heliodromus]

2 hours ago, Kali said:

FEL TEMP REPARATIO, soldier walking right, spear downwards, leading captive from hut under a tree.

Given the way the soldier is holding his hand, gently leading him away from his squalid hut, I'm guessing he's a barbarian being led away to a better life rather than a captive (who we might expect to be hogtied and/or getting his head stomped).

Presumably at the time it was issued it would have been obvious what the reference was. Some ongoing "program" I suppose.

 

 

[CPK]

Here's a rare one! It's a type that was only recently (within the last year or so) discovered and described. Currently known from only two specimens!

GALATIA-CAPPADOCIA, NEOCLAUDIOPOLIS
Time of Trajan
AE (26.02mm, 11.44g, 6h)
Struck AD 109/10
Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚΙΚΟϹ, laureate and cuirassed bust of Trajan right, seen from rear
Reverse: ΝΕΟΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΠΟΛΕΙΤωΝ ΕΤΟΥϹ, Dacia, bound, seated on rocks right; ΡΙΕ in exergue
References: RPC III 2906A.2 (this coin)
This coin illustrated on wildwinds.com
An interesting and extremely rare type, apparently unknown except for this coin and one other specimen, both cited by RPC Online.

[Qcumbor]

T

Maxentius, Follis - Aquilea mint, 1st officina, 309-310 CE
IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, Laureate head of Maxentius right
CONSERV VRBS SVAE, Tetrastyle temple, Roma seated left, a foot on captive, giving a globe to Maxentius standing right. She wolf suckling Romulus and Remus in pediment. AQP at exergue
6.55 gr
Ref : RCV # 14992 (100), Cohen #42

 

Arcadius, AE 2 - Alexandria mint, 3rd officina
D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, Diademed bust of Arcadius right
VIRTS EXERCITI (sic !), Arcadius, standing right, a captive at right foot, holding globe and standard. ALE gamma at exergue
6.28 gr
Ref : RIC # 18, RC #4230, LRBC #2896 var

Q

[Anaximander]

So many captives! They come in all the usual metals and from many emperors. My earliest is that from Vespasian (yes, yet another Judea Capta) and the last is from Zeno. 

Like these in bronze or copper...

    

    

  

...some with a silver wash. 

  

  

  

Or these in silver...

  

  

  

...and in gold.

  

[expat]

Poor surface to this one

[jdmKY]

2 from Julius Caesar -

Gallic captive (Vercingetorix?)

[Croatian Coin Collector]

[Roman Collector]

Although the older numismatic literature has interpreted this coin's iconography to be of Victory leading a captive, modern scholarship has demonstrated it's actually Princess Leia leading R2D2! 😉

Theodosius I, 379-395 CE.
Roman AE half centenionalis, 0.86 g, 12.8 mm.
Dagobah, A long time ago and in a galaxy far, far away.
Obv: D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Princess Leia advancing left, raising right arm and dragging R2-D2, Admiral Ackbar's ship above, Kylo Ren's light-saber in left field.

Edited January 12 by Roman Collector