The Roman Provincial Portrait Gallery Group Collaboration Thread

Not jumping ahead--today is Antonia day! And rough as it is, that's a scarce one!

 

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I always arrive to these parties late. I have to backtrack for a moment with a coin of Gaius Caesar, issued under Augustus in Laodicea. This type was once attributed to Caligula, but reassigned to the prince Gaius. It's not a coin I own anymore, but I've never seen a better example of the type...

 

Shall we move on to Agrippina Sr., Germanicus, Nero* and Drusus Caesar, Drusilla and Julia**?

*Not THE Nero, but Nero Caesar, brother of Drusus Caesar and Caligula, and son of Germanicus and Agrippina Sr.

** The other siblings of Nero and Drusus Caesar, Caligula and Agrippina Junior, are upcoming.


Germanicus and Drusus, c. AD 23-26
Roman provincial Æ27,14.02 g,
Lydia, Sardes, Restruck under Asinius Pollio, proconsul, c. AD 28-29(?)
Obv: [ΔΡΟΥΣΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΓEPM]ANIKOΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΕΣ ΝΕΟΙ ΘΕΟΙ ΘΙΛΑΔΕΦ[OI], Togate figures of Drusus & Germanicus seated side by side on curule chairs to left
Rev: ΓΑΙΩ ΑΣΙΝΝΙΩ [ΠΟΛΛΙΩΝΙ ΑΝΘΥΠΑΤΩ], wreath enclosing KO[INOY] / AΣ[IAΣ]
Refs: BMC 106, RPC 2995, SNG Cop-518.

 

I have a few with Germanicus, Nero and Drusus Caesar


Tiberius, with Drusus & Germanicus
Spain, Tarraconensis, Hispalis (Colonia Iulia Romana)
AS (Copper, 12.99 grams, 21.54 mm)
Obv: PERM.DIVI.AUG.COL.ROM, bare male head to the left.
Rev: DRUSUS CAESAR GERMANI(CUS C)AESAR around bare heads of the two princes face to face
Reference: SGIC 333
Ex Coin Galleries, New York Nov 10th 1993, lot 487 and belonged previously to the J.J.Copeland collection



Tiberius, with Nero and Drusus
Terraconensis (Carthago Nova), Spain
AE 28 - 13.82 gm
Obv: Bare head of Tiberius left
Rev: Confronted bare-headed and draped busts of Nero and Drusus.
Reference: SGIC 335


Germanicus & Drusus
minted at Prymnessus in Phrygia (issue of Tiberius in honor of his deceased heirs)
AE 1.78 gm - 15mm
Obv: Bare head of Germanicus Caesar right (inscription unreadable).
Rev: ΔΡΟΥΣΟΣ ΠΡΥΜΝ Bare head of Drusus Caesar right.

 

My Frankenstein Nero and Drusus Provincial:


RI Nero and Drusus Caesar under Tiberius Carthago Nova mint AE As 14-37 CE

 

Nero Claudius Drusus

Nero and Drusus Caesar

 

edit

 

Shall we move on to Caligula and Caesonia? Post your provincials!

Next: Claudius, his wives Messalina and Agrippina Jr, and his children Claudia Antonia and Britannicus. (His other daughter, Claudia Octavia, will be under Nero).

I'll get the ball rolling with a few:


Caligula, AD 37-41
Roman provincial Æ 20 mm, 6.74 g
Peloponnese, Corinthia, Corinth, Ae. P. Vipsanius Agrippa and M. Bellius Proculus, duoviri, AD 37-38
Obv: C CAESAR AVGVSTV, bare head right
Rev: M BELLIO PROCVLO IIVIR / COR, Pegasus flying right.
Refs: RPC I 1173; Amandry (1988) XVII; BCD Corinth 405-6.


Caligula AD 37-41
Roman provincial Æ 28 mm, 11.17 gm
Carthago Nova, Spain, AD 37-38
Obv: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANIC. IMP. P.M. TR.P. COS., laureate head of Caligula, right
Rev: CN. ATEL. FLAC. CN. POM. FLAC. II. VIR. Q.V.I.N.C., head of Salus (some attribute to Caesonia, wife of Caligula) right, SAL AVG across field
Refs: SGI 419; Heiss 272, 35; Cohen 247, 1; RPC 1, 185; SNG Cop 503.

 

Only one Caligula provincial from Thessalonica with Antonia on reverse.
Ae 21mm 9.28gm, RPC I 1574.

 

Sigh...going to be a while until I have anything else to contribute.

 

All I have to offer here is a similarly worn coin of the type and the reminder that our friend TIF has a much nicer one which we will look forward to seeing again when her hurricane situation is resolved. My 'want list' includes two of these coins. One is an upgrade to this one and the other is the undertype before the countermark was applied.

 

I have 2 provincials to contribute. I was especially pleased to have been able to add Caesonia to my imperial family collection.


Crete mint
Caligula and Divus Augustus
AR drachm 2.1gm - 16 mm
Obv: Γ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒ. ΓΕΡ.ΑΠΧ.ΜΕΓ.ΔΗΜ.ΕΞΟΥ ΥΠΑ Bare-headed bust of Caligula r., sceptre over l shoulder
Rev: Rad. Bust of Augustus l., seven stars around
Reference: SGIC 406 / RPC 465



Carthago Nova, Spain
Caligula and Caesonia
AE29 - 13.4 gm
Obv: C.CAESAR AVG.GERMANIC.IMP.P.M.T.P. COS. Laureate bust of Caligula r.
Rev: CN.ATEL.FLAC.CN.POM.FLAC.II.VIR Q.V.I.N.C. Bare-headed bust of Caesonia r.; SAL.-AVG. across field
Reference: SGIC 419

 

I love all these early issues. My only Caligula is a worn but interesting AE from Philadelphia, Lydia.


Lydia, Philadelphia. Caligula AE18. Dioscuri
Obv: ΓAIOΣ KAIΣAΡ, bare head right, star behind
Rev: ΦIΛAΔEΛΦEΩN ..., laureate and jugate busts of the Dioscuri right.

"Older references identify imperial family members on the reverse but RPC identifies them as Dioscuri. RPC notes, "That the jugate busts probably do not represent Germanicus and Agrippina I, Germanicus and Agrippina as Apollo and Artemis, or Apollo and Artemis (see BMC; Imhoof-Blumer, LS, pp. 116-117; Trillmich, Familienpropaganda der Kaiser und Claudius, pp. 130-131) since the further figure can sometimes be seen to be laureate (e.g. 2023/1 = BMC 53). It must therefore be male, and the two interpreted as the Dioscuri, who had previously appeared on the coinage of Philadelphia." The Dioscuri are also found on the imperial coinage of Caligula. In addition, since the magistrate named on the reverse is a priest, religious symbolism would be appropriate. The facial features of the reverse busts do, however, resemble members of the family of Caligula. Perhaps the they are Nero and Drusus Caesars as the brothers Castor and Pollux."
-FORVM ANCIENT COINS

 

Thanks for the info @Roman Collector! I have always seen this coin attributed to Caesonia, will have to do more research.

 

Time to move on to Claudius, his wives Messalina and Agrippina Jr, and his children Claudia Antonia and Britannicus. (His other daughter, Claudia Octavia, will be under Nero).


Claudius and Messalina
Roman Billon Tetradrachm; 10.32 gm; 24.0 mm
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 45/46
Obv: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡ, laureate head of Claudius, r.; LϚ (year 6) before
Rev: ΜΕΣΣΑΛΙΝΑ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ, Messalina standing l., holding children and ears of corn
Refs: RCV 1869; SGI 495; RPC 5164; BMCG 75; SNG Cologne 88; Milne 106


Claudius and Agrippina II
Roman provincial AE 12 Nummia; 9.30 gm; 25.0 mm
Bosporos, under King Kotys I, AD 50-54
Obv: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ ΚΑΙCΑΡΟC, laureate head of Claudius, right.
Rev: ΙΟΥΛΙΑΝ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΙΝΑΝ CΕΒΑCΤΗΝ, head of Agrippina II, left, in loop ponytail; BAK before.
Refs: SGI 5438; RPC 1925; BMC 13.52,7; Anokhin Bosporus 348; SNG Copenhagen 31.

 

Lydia, Tralleis. Æ18. Claudius, Messalina & Britannicus.
Æ18 Trichalkon of Tralleis in Lydia, A.D. 43-48.
Obv: TI KΛAY KAI CEBAC. Confronted busts of Messalina and Claudius.
Rev: BRETANNIKOΣ KAIΣAREΩN. Britannicus, togate, standing almost to front, head left, holding grain ears.
18mm. 5.40gm.
RPC 2654.

 

Maybe this should be posted under Nero, but here's Agrippina Jr on the reverse


Nero and Agrippina Jr, tetradrachm Alexandria mint, AD 56-57
NEP KLAY KAIS SEB GEP AYTO, Laureate of Nero right
AGPITTTTINA SEBAETH, bust of Agrippina junior right LG in right field
12.5 gr
Ref : RCV # 1989

Q

 

Gosh @ancientone, that's a really nice family grouping!

Here are my provincials. Please excuse the poor quality of these photos. I bought most of these coins in the early 2000s and have not upgraded my photos.


Claudius and Messalina, minted in Alexandria, Egypt
billion tetradrachm 12.23gm - 24 mm
Obv: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡ Laurel hd. Of Claudius, r.
Rev: Messalina stg. l, as Demeter, resting on column and holding 2 figures in her right hand, and grain sheaves in left hand, regnal year 4 (=AD 43-44) in reverse field
Reference: RPC 5164, BMCG 75, Cologne 88, Milne 106.



Britannicus, minted in Smyrna
AE16 (Copper or brass) 3.75 gm - 15.79 mm
Obv: Greek legend: ZMYP beneath his bare head right. All within a circle of dots
Rev: ΕΠΙ ΦΙΛΙΣΤΟΥ EΙKAΔI / OΣ, Nike advancing right, carrying trophy over shoulder. Circle of dots
Reference: SGIC 516, Lindgren 562



Agrippina Junior, minted in Philadelphia, Lycia
AE 16 - 2.7gm
Obv. ΑΓΡΙΠΠΙΝΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ Agrippina Junior draped bust r.
Rev: Cornucopiae; in field, ΦΙΛΑΔ-ΕΛΦΕ / ΩΝ Ν-ΕΙΚΑ / ΝΩ
Reference: SGIC 530, RPC 3042



Nero and Agrippina Junior, minted in Alexandria, Egypt
billion tetradrachm 13.15 gm - 27 mm
Obv: ΝΕΡW ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙΕ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑΥΤΌ Laureate head of Nero right.
Rev: ΑΓΡΙΠΠΙΝΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ Draped bust of Agrippina right, hair in plait, LE (58/9 AD) on right
Reference: RPC 5231 (6 spec), Datt 189, Oxford 167, Emmett 107/5 (R4).

 

Messalina:


RProv Valeria Messalina m-Claudius 41-54 CE Alexandria BI Tet yr 42-43 13.1g 25mm RPC I 5131

 

Looks like it's time to move on to Nero, Claudia Octavia, Poppaea, Statilia Messalina, and Claudia Neronis, the daughter of Nero and Poppaea.


Nero, AD 54-68 and first wife, Claudia Octavia
Roman billon tetradrachm, 11.1 g, 25.0 mm
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 56-57
Obv: ΝΕΡ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑΥΤΟ, laureate head of Nero, right
Rev: ΟΚΤΑΟΥΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ, bare-headed and draped bust of Octavia, right; L Γ before.
Refs: RPC 5202; BMC 119; SGI 657; Cologne 122; Milne 133; Emmett 127