In response to several requests, today's post provides an entry point to other notes on this site. There are many coins that a collector might appreciate for technical features and the detail of the history that it documents or even reveals:
Control marks, die matches and die studies can be used to order a series of coins by date, connect to the right rulers, and give clues to relationships between groups (📜Note: A Tetradrachm of Antiochus VII Euergetes,📜Note: Fun Provenance Find)
A magistrates name can help to connect a coin to the right time period and specific events documented in other ways (📜Note: Romans in Asia Minor & Cistophori)
Coded mint marks can provide clues about mint operations (📜Note: EQVITI Coins of Probus)
An overstrike, brockage or countermark and weights of coins can provide clues to the economies of the day and international trade (📜Note: Heraclius and a Sicilian Countermark, 📜Note:L. Cosconius Brockage Error,📜Note: 46 BC 180 Obverse Double Strike
A worn coin can document the alliance between Mark Antony, Lepidus before they join up with Octavian during Roman civil wars (📜Note: Coins of the Second Triumvirate)
A coin in context can give us clues about the fears, beliefs and practices of ancient people (📜Note: The Votive Deposit in Field 49)
The list could go on. However, there are many coins that consistently attract general interest (and auction bids). Today I will explore some popular themes and illustrate with coins from my collection.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
Some characters on ancient coins are much better known than others: Ptolemy XII Auletes is certainly not top of the list for "famous". This coin showing Ptolemy I and an Isis headdress on the reverse is an example of a coin which thanks to a 1906 insight by Regling recognized and corrected the attribution. This changed the attribution from Ptolemy XII to Cleopatra VII (the one of Mark Antony and Cleopatra). More on this story and Regling's 1906 correction to Svoronos' attribution at ptolemaic.net.
Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Cleopatra VII Thea Neotera, 51-30 BC, AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 13.32 g, 12h), Alexandria mint, dated RY 11 (42/1 BC)
Obv: Diademed bust of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis
Rev: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; L IA (date) above headdress of Isis to left, ΠA to right
Ref: Svoronos 1825; SNG Copenhagen 405
📜Note: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt
While technical details can be interesting - these don't draw crowds. However, thanks to innumerable plays, books, movies, and poems, the coins of Cleopatra and other well known characters are always popular!
This next coin is also associated with a well known figure of history: Brutus of the assassination of Caesar on the Ides of March. He issued this coin a decade before the assassination. In 54 BC his coin signals: "I am a protector of libertas (goddess of liberty), descended from great tyrant killers on my mother's side and my father's side of the family - caveat tyrannis", or perhaps more simply "sic semper tyrannis" (paraphrasing loosely: "this is the expected end of tyrants").
Roman Republican, M. Junius Brutus, 54 BC, AR denarius, Rome, struck 54 BC
Obv: Bearded and bare-headed head right of L. Junius Brutus; BRVTVS.
Rev: Bearded and bare-headed head right of Caius Servilius Ahala; AHALA
Size: 3.96g, 17-19mm
Ref: Crawford 433/2; Junia 30
📜Note: A Coin for Independence Day!
GOLD
Famous characters are just one of the features that draw a crowd to ancient coins. This next coin draws a crowd for its metal. In an age when our money is less and less physical there is an appeal of coins that have intrinsic value in the metal. Gold coins are never really out of favor.
Mytilene, Lesbos, c. 377-326 BC, Electrum Hekte Obv: Head of Apollo wearing laurel wreath right Rev: Head of Artemis right, her hair in sphendone; snake symbol in left field
📜Note: Aristotle on Mytilene
UGLY MONSTERS
A gorgoneion, Medusa, a snake drawn chariot, these coins are always popular. This coin with its snake hair, ragged teeth, and wacky smile can't help but draw in even someone skeptical about ancient coins.
Thrace, Apollonia Pontika, Drachm (Circa 480/78-450 BC).
Rev: Facing gorgoneion.
Obv: Upright anchor; crayfish to left, A to right.
BIG CATS
Lions, panthers, jaguars, are just as fascinating today as they were to ancient peoples. Perhaps a morbid fascination as we consider what the Romans did with these animals. The scene on this coin is particularly weird with a panther sticking a large gumby plant (thrysus?) down the throat of a mask of Silenos on top of a well? Not sure what Varus was thinking when he designed this one.
Imperatorial Rome, C. Vibius Varus, 42 BC, AR Denarius, Rome mint Obv: Head of young Bacchus, wearing wreath of ivy and grapes, hair collected into a knot behind, one lock and fillet of wreath falling down his neck Rev: Panther springing left toward garlanded altar surmounted by bacchic mask and thyrsus; C • VIBIVS in exergue, VARVS upward to right Ref: Crawford 494/36
📜Note: 12 Olympians
Even a little coin will attract attention with a "facing lion".
Bruttium, Rhegion, circa 450-425 BC, Æ, 12.5mm, 1.12g Obv: Lion head Rev: R-E; sprig of leaves between, all in a circle of dots
This coin adds Hercules to the mix, and connects to the popular story of the first of his 12 labors: slaying the Nemean lion.
Gaius Poblicius Q.f. AR denarius, 79 BC Obv: Draped bust of Roma right, ROMA behind, wearing Phrygian helmet ornamented with plumes on sides; above, F. Rev: C POBLICI Q F, Hercules standing left, strangling the Nemean lion; between his feet, a club; in left field (F), (bow and) quiver Ref: Poblicia 9
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Large coins always get more attention than small ones. This photo shows several large coins:
a 34mm, 32 gram "AE As" from 211 BC with dark brown patina and a two faced head of Janus
a 33mm, thick, 71gram "Biunx", "coin" in green bronze from Northern Apulia, Luceria, c. 220 BC on the right side
a 54mm, 108 gram, yellow green, raw lump of bronze, or "Aes Rude" from a time when lumps of metal were currency (800-300 BC)
Roman republic, Anonymous, After 211 BC. Æ As (34mm, 35.00g, 6h). Uncertain mint. Obv: Laureate head of bearded Janus; I (mark of value) above Rev: Prow of galley right; I (mark of value) above. Ref: Crawford 56/2; Sydenham 143; RBW 200. Brown surfaces, flan flaws
Northern Apulia, Luceria, c. 220 BC. Cast Æ Biunx (33mm, 70.66g). Obv: Scallop shell. Rev: Astragalos; L to r., two pellets to l. Vecchi, ICC, 341; HNItaly 673. Green patina, near VF
Italy, Anonymous, 8th-3rd centuries BC. Æ Aes Rude (54mm, 108.68g). Irregular cast lump. ICC 1. Green patina
Here is another from the 3rd Century BC: a large 43mm, 72g Ptolemaeic bronze shown with a little 5th century BC, Sicilian, 1/2 gram, ~1cm Litra to illustrate scale.
Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221-205 BC, AE 43 (Drachm), 72.0g, Alexandria, Egypt
Obv: Head of Zeus Ammon facing right, wearing a diadem with floral ornament above the forehead, dotted border
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, eagle with closed wings standing to left on thunderbolt. Between legs, ΔΙ. In left field, cornucopia adorned by fillets
📜Note: Out of my Comfort Zone
This Tetradrachm from Egyptian King Ptolemy II a nice example of a large silver coin:
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285-246 BC), AR Tetradrachm, Ptolemais-Ake mint, struck circa 275-262/1 BC
Obv: Diademed head to right, [wearing aegis]
Rev: ΠΤΟΛEΜΑΙOΥ BAΣΙΛEΩΣ, eagle with closed wings standing to left on thunderbolt; ΠT over two monograms to left, Galatian shield to right
Ref: CPE 441; Svoronos 544; SNG Copenhagen 521 (Uncertain Phoenician mint)
📜Note: Galatians in Egypt
ELEPHANTS
Like the big cats, and elephant is always going to attract attention.
The Pompeians, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, 47 BC - Spring 46 BC, Cr. 459/1 AR denarius, African mint
Obv: Q•METEL PIVS, laureate head of Jupiter right
Rev: African elephant walking right, SCIPIO above, IMP below
Ref: Crawford 459/1
📜Note: Julius Caesar v. Pompeians
Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius, 81 BC, Cr. 374/1, AR Denarius, North Italian mint
Obv: Diademed head of Pietas
Rev: Elephant walking
Ref: Crawford 374/1
Morbid fascination kicks in again with this elephant skin headdress on a representation of Africa.
The Pompeians, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, AR Denarius, military mint travelling with Scipio in Africa, 47-46 BC. Eppius, legate
Obv: Head of Africa right, wearing elephant skin headdress; grain ear before, plough below, Q•METELL downwards to right, SCIPIO•IMP upwards to left
Rev: Hercules standing facing, right hand on hip, leaning on club draped with lion skin and set on rock; LEG•F•C upwards to left, EPPIVS downwards to right
Ref: Crawford 461/1
📜Note: Julius Caesar v. Pompeians
BEAUTIFUL
Perhaps most popular of all, are coins that are just beautiful examples of the artwork of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Here are a few of my favorite examples.
Phokis, federal coinage, circa 357-354 BC, AR Triobol/Hemidrachm, Philomelos, strategos
Obv: facing head of bull
Rev: Head of Artemis right; branch to left
Ref: Williams 304 (O220/R190); BCD Lokris 463.1; HGC 4, 1046
📜Note: Greeks & Cattle
Faustina II, AR denarius (3.59g, 18mm), Augusta, AD 147-175, Rome, under Antoninus Pius, circa AD December 147 and March 149
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust of Faustina II right, hair tied in bun at back of head, single circlet of pearls around
Rev: V-E-NVS, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple and rudder with dolphin entwined
📜Note: Faustina the Younger
Euboia, Chalkis, circa 338-308 BC, AR Drachm (3.68g)
Obv: Head of the nymph Chalkis left
Rev: Eagle flying left, carrying serpent in talons; torch above
Ref: Picard Em. 1; BCD 118; SNG Copenhagen -
The list could go on as there are many more themes that attract general interest in the coins of Ancient Greece and Rome: big silver coins (tetradrachms), crocodiles on coins.... Often the stories behind the coins can have relevance to our everyday world and how people interact today at individual, national and international levels. The relevance can be startling considering the period that I am usually researching is more than 2000 years ago.
I cannot explain one of the most popular articles on this site, with any of the more common themes. It is a story of a relatively obscure ruler Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, and a coin that is equally obscure - a silver miliaresion. 📜Note: Constantine VII, Born in the Purple.
You can find related posts linked to additional information and references for most of these coins (Follow the links for "📜Note"). My notes have benefited from the magic of internet collaboration. If there is a theme, note or research topic that sparks your interest: comments on these posts and e-mail are always welcome. Contact info is on the About Page.
References:
Mørkholm (1975), "Ptolemaic Coins and Chronology, the Dated Silver Coinage of Alexandria", ANS Museum Notes, no. 20. p. 7-24
Note: Image of tiger and elephant associated with this post is licensed from Shutterstock
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