"You'll Get Rammed!"

Latest addition to my collection is something I don't get to add much of, a Roman Republic.

At first I thought it was fake due to the tone/porus look but Curtis ok'ed it.


L. Rustius. (74 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: Helmeted head of Mars right; mark of value below chin.
R: Ram standing right. L RVSTI" in exergue.
Rome Mint
3.64g
19mm
Crawford 389/1; Sydenham 782; Rustia 1

 

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That's one covetable type....still missing in my trays though !
Evenly (heavenly ?) worn, very pleasant
Nice find

Q

 

NICE Mat! Well centered, details great... And I know you got it for a SONG! Well done. I have nary a Ram...

 

Nice!! I have one, an early and hasty purchase for my Pink Floyd Animals set. One of these days I'll get a badly needed upgrade

 

I still like it!

 

I was watching one of these last night on the Bay, but didn't pull the trigger because it was sorely worn.

 

Nice coin Mat. Congrats!

 

VERY attractive RR denarius @Mat !!!

It seems the closest I have is my often posted cupid riding a goat type......and a few of old man Mars.

 

Love it! Sure most of us would rather have an EF coin to a VF or an AG but my specimen of this one is a NY (not yet).

 

There are some dating and attribution issues surrounding these types. Crawford and Greuber estimated 76, but to date, the type has only been found in the Roncofreddo hoard, which Michael Harlan dates to 72, for technical reasons that I won't go into. (Have these coins appeared in other hoards since 2012?)

Also, Greuber believed the bust was of Mars, but Crawford identified it as Minerva, saying, "The constellation Aries was the astrological 'House of Minerva' and a ram was doubtless chosen as a reverse type to complement the head of Minerva on the obverse." (Crawford, RRC, vol. 1 p. 404) Harlan offers a detailed historical analysis of the Minerva/Ram interpretation which I'll paraphrase when I get a chance. He ultimately sides with Crawford as to Minerva.

At any rate, great coin Mat, and I love TIF's also. This is a type that's uncommon enough that I would grab it in any grade short of CD (complete dog), but my only example is the same as Doug's, NY.

 

Hey, I'm not exactly sure why that awesome big prow appeared, but thanks ancientone ...

=> that thing is awesome!!

 

Oh, sorry Mat => your OP-addition is a total winner!! (congrats, coin-friend)

Sadly, I don't have an example to toss-in to your thread (the ram-coins are always on my wish-list)

 

What a lovely coin Mat. Congrats on your newest addition!

 

I have a ram!


Lesbos, Mytilene
Electrum Hekte (s. BC 521-478)
10 mm x 2.46 grams
Obverse : Ram left, chicken right
Reverse: Hercules right
Ref: Bod. MY 21

 

When I read "You'll Get Rammed!" I was thinking of war galley ram's. The Athlit ram is one of the nicest.

 

Thats a beauty, lucky!

 

I consider myself very fortunate. It just seems that this year everything has been pointing in the right direction.

 

Thats good to hear, hopefully it continues. Outside of coins, 2016 hasn't been great on my end.

 

Well aside from the coins, I hope you get that much needed turn around! You should make an offering to Tyche.