Because it was pretty and I wanted to buy a coin :)

It's been some time since I bought anything from eBay and this coin caught my eye. It arrived today and I'm happy to have purchased it.

Like many of you, I am drawn to Roman Republican coins (and Greek, and Roman Provincial, and... ). Lacking a Dioscuri reverse, this wasn't redundant for my collection, but I bought it mainly because it is lovely. The portrait of Roma is prettier than many of that era. The type appears to be somewhat scarce, although Roma/Dioscuri denarii in general are plentiful.


Roman Republic, C. Plutius
121 BCE
AR denarius, 18 mm, 3.9 gm
Obv: helmeted head of Roma right; X behind
Rev: the Dioscuri riding right.; below, C. PLVTI; in exergue, ROMA
Ref: Crawford 278/1; Sydenham 410; Plutia 1

I haven't found any information on this moneyer. Perhaps he is only known from his coins.

Please post your Dioscuri, favorite Republican denarii, or eBay purchases you're particularly pleased with

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Oh no...I have a ton of Dioscuri... But, I will refrain from posting. I will find one...

 

Any you want to get rid of...pm me. : - )

 

Gonna be different, cuz there are a lot of Dioscuri versions:


Roman Republic
AR Half-Quadrigatus (Roman Drachm)
Anonymous Issue
216-214 BCE
Rome mint
17.74mm, 3.2g
OBV: Janiform - Beardless, laureate
REV: Jupiter and Victory in galloping quadriga left. ROMA in ex.
REF: Sear 35, Crawford 29/4

The beardless Janiform head was thought to represent the Dioscuri for the Romans. The Half-Quadrigatus, or Roman Drachm, was later minted as a Victoriatus. These were used during the 2nd Punic War and were heavily traded with the South Italy Greeks (Magna Graecia) The sister denomination, Quadrigatus or Roman Didrachm has the reverse quadriga galloping right.

 

Thank you, but I love them all too much... I am in a capture mode at this point...

 

Love your new coin TIF and Roma has beautiful eyes. Much better than most I've seen or own. Here is scar face

ANONYMOUS ROMAN REPUBLIC

 

@TIF I really like that OP Coin! WELL DONE! I actually have that one, but yours is wonderful!

 

While I love all the posts, I am madly in LOVE with Tif's denarius.....

And, my most pleasant e-Bay purchase is still hanging by a thread on a narrowing maximum bid LOL

But, here's my dioscuri example:

 

Oooh, that's a nice one, Mikey!

 

Very cool!

 

@Mikey Zee NICE coin!

 

TIF - I really like your coin; it appears to have really great toning too!

Here's one of my favorites which is a different version of Castor and Pullox than what you normally see. They are watering their horses in the Forum after the Battle of Lake Regillus.

C. Publicius Malleolus, A. Postumius Sp. f. Albinus and L. Metellus. Denarius 96 (?), AR (19mm, 3.93g, 3h). Laureate head of Apollo; behind, six-rayed star and before, X. Below neck, ROMA. Rev. The Dioscuri watering horses at fountain of Juturna; above, crescent. In exergue, A·ALBINVS·S·F. Babelon Postumia 5. Sydenham 612. RBW 1211. Crawford 335/10a.

 

Awesome ebay addition TIF! I'd give it a grade of: .

 

Great coin Carthago... not too many with the horses sipping!

 

The toning on Tif's and Carthago's denarius is just phenomenal!!! Not to mention the fantastic details!!

 

As far as info on the moneyer, all Crawford says is "the moneyer should be regarded as the son of C. Plautius, Praetor in 146 B.C."

As far as the dioscuri, this is my best one, still waiting on USPS to actually deliver it though:

Roman Republic AR quinarius(16.3 mm, 1.94 g, 11 h). Anonymous. ca. 211-210 B.C. Southeast Italian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / ROMA, the Dioscuri riding right, each holds a spear; H below. Crawford 85/1a; Sydenham 174; RSC 33b.

 

I will post this coin even though the dioscuri are not mounted:

MN. FONTEIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS FONTEIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Jugate heads of the Dioscuri
REVERSE: Galley under oar
Struck at Rome 108-109 BC
3.9g, 20mm
Cr.307/1, Fonteia 7

 

The OP idea was because it was pretty. My show today provided this L. Pomponius Molo denarius, 97 BC, Crawford 334/1, Pomponia 6 which seemed pretty a the show. I like the toning better than the artwork on the eyes but the type is pretty as goat sacrifices go (anyone watching the Leftovers?). The moneyer claimed decent from king Numa Pompilius who is shown about to dispatch the goat being led to him. The obverse head is Apollo.

Bad form, Bing. You know I want one of those pretties. I failed again today but saw a lot of Republicans. Maybe next week my luck will be better at Baltimore.

 

Damn, Now I want one of Bing's and one of Doug's and one of.......

 

Wow, Bing. That is a fabulous coin! I need one of those but it's hard to find them so nice!