Damnatio Memoriaia is a condemnation of memory after an unpopular ruler or person dies. Coins were often defaced with cuts across the emperors neck or face, like te one Commodus has here. this is a much more extremem one for Nero - yours is the way they often come with just one or two good cuts. If it is determined to be a damnation it's helpful for the value i dont know about cuts i saw a cross dameged by his ears
i dont think so, do make make cuts by his ears looks to me not natural dameged a big cuts a and a litle cuts by his ears/ makes a cross
Hard to see in this scan and not damnatio, but a bored soldier or somebody gave this male diety long hair. Antiochus IX Unknown mint in Phoenicia 114 to 95 BC AE 19 Obvs: Bust of Eros right, dotted border. Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ, Nike walking holding wreath. Control/cornucopia to left 19mm, 5.1g Ancient graffiti on obverse to give Eros long hair, unpublished with this control mark.
I have a coin of Vaballathus with a large scratch across his face, never considered the theory that this might have been intentional. But after the Palmyrene empire fell to Aurelian this is definitely a possibility. Cool thread! I'll post it if I can figure out how to photograph it appropriately.
scratches do not mean damnatio memoriae and Vaballathus was never given this treatment anyway as it was reserved for people that had brought disgrace on the Roman State. Vaballathus was king of the Palmyrene Empire and not a Roman citizen.
i have a denarius of Faustina Sr. that the bust is cut to pieces. i have no explanation of why it was done that way other than angry women of the day.
I believe this is damnatio memoriae: Fausta AE3, 19.97 mm, 3.48 grams, 25-326 AD Obv: FLAV MAX - FAVSTA AVG; Draped bust right Rev: SPES REIP-VBLICAE; Spes standing facing, head left, cradling two infants in her arms, SMHA in exergue Ref: RIC VII 80 Heraclea Comment: This example has a carefully created scratch over the eye made in antiquity which could represent a damnatio memoriae after her execution by Constantine in 326 AD. Ummm... OUCH!!!
I've shown this one before. Cuts are patinized, suggesting they were made in antiquity. And a formal damnatio was indeed declared against Licinius, the figure on this coin. I'd like to think it's a damnatio, but like for most damnationes, I suppose we can only guess. The coin shows a lot of circulation wear before the cuts were made, which may or may not be relevant. Only the obverse portrait is intentionally scratched.
