Attribution Help - Vespasian and Hadrian??

One reason I love this hobby and one of the things I love to do is attribute unfamiliar coins. After 27 years in the hobby unless the coin is really really worn I can instantly attribute as to emperor, and in many instances if some of the inscription is visible it is usually an easy attribution. But for Greek coins - bronzes - and if there is no inscription at all on provincials the task is not so easy. Here are two coins that hours of study have not resulted in an attribution:



18mm, 4.83 grams.

There appears to be an inscription around the right field in front of the portrait. As I write this, I think this is one of the coins struck to celebrate the battle of Actium under Augustus. It does appear to be early empire - but under which emperor?

Next:




16mm, 4.13 grams

Note the laurel wreath on this coin which indicates provincial. The beardless portrait and overall look indicates Vespasian or Titus or early Domitian - is that a fish under the portrait? I am not sure if the reverse is upside down. It looks like ..KPAT[lambda] in the inscription but that is no help.

I really do post these only as a last resort - but I think I might have the first one - as often happens I know I have seen both of these before but where?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Your first coin looks like Tiberius / sulcus primigenium
Tiberius usually has a “square head” like on your coin, while Augustus has more like an “egg head”.
Troas Alexandria
RPC I 1656 (Augustus) or RPC I 1657 (Tiberius)
https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1657
https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1656

It could also be Caligula