Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US and happy Thursday to everyone else. I'm thankful for CoinTalk because I've learned so much from the great folks that share their learning. I've started to realize that the ancient coins that show actions on the reverse are my favorites. I've seen voting and sacrifice-type scenes. If you don't mind sharing, what other ancients have 'action scenes' showing something the culture does on the reverse?
I'm with you-- all about the reverse . There are so many "story coins"... those depicting various mythological scenes, battles, triumphs, building of cities, gladiators in battle... so much to choose from. Here are a few of mine which fit the bill. Queen Dido overseeing the building of Carthage: PHOENICIA, Tyre. Elagabalus CE 218-222 AE29, 13.4 gm Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: Dido building Carthage; she stands to front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work, [below, a man digging with pick]; murex shell in upper field, palm tree to right Ref: Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748 Elagabalus parading the Sacred Stone of Emesa, the earthly embodiment of the sun god he represents: Elagabalus AR denarius, 19.4 mm, 3.5 gm Antioch, 218-219 CE Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Rev: SANCT DEO SOLI / ELAGABAL, Quadriga right, bearing sacred Baetyl stone, flanked by four parasols Ref: RIC IV 195 Vauctions 310, lot 250 (25 Sept 2014) ex CNG Mail Bid Sale 33, lot 914 (15 March 1995) Perseus posing with the severed head of Medusa and the murder weapon, her body at his feet still gushing blood: PONTOS, Amisos 85-65 BCE, time of Mithradates VI Eupator AE, (each is 27-29 mm) Obv: helmeted head of Athena right; helmet decorated with griffin Rev: AMIΣOY; Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa, Medusa's body at his feet, blood gushing from the neck; monogram in left field
You might like this site which was referenced in another thread. http://www.tesorillo.com/aes/_rev/index1i.htm I particularly like the "plowing" scene on this coin - and this specific coin blows my mind: Roman Republican Silver Denarius Weight: 3.85g Diameter: 19mm Obverse: Bust of Ceres right, wreathed in grain; CAPIT•LXXXXVIII behind, symbol before Reverse: Ploughman driving two oxen left; LXXXXVIII above; C•MARI•C•F over S•C in exergue It comes with a story that might align well with your interest in "action scenes" from Michael Harlan's book "Roman Republican Moneyer's and their coins 81BCE-64BCE". I won't tell the whole story of Sulla and Quintus Lucretius Ofella, his loyal legate - but here is short teaser : "In the largest sense, the bucolic theme of this coins symbolized the promise Sulla had made to the people when he said that he would bring about the most beneficial changes if they would obey him....during the course of the year in which the coin first circulated, and incident occurred that would offer the populace a whole new light in which to interpret the reverse design..."
@Trish Godfrey I always liked coins from the Roman Republic... there were so many action scenes they featured! ACTION FIGURES: RR Hd Juno Sospita R goat skin hddrss She-wolf R placing stick on fire eagle stndng fanning flames 45 BCE 19.0mm 4.07g Cr 472-1 RR Anon 211-208 BCE AR den 20.9mm 3.7g Rome Hd Roma R X - Dioscuri riding spears, stars ROMA tablet Cr 44-5 Syd 167 RSC 1a Scarce RR Manlius Torquatus L. Corn Sulla 82 BCE AR den 17mm 3.7g Mil mint w Sulla. Roma - Sulla triumpl quadriga vict wreath Cr 367-3 Syd 759 S 286 RR AR Denarius A Licinius Nerva 47 BCE 3.58g Rome Fides One-armed horseman galloping dragging naked warrior hair Cr 454-1 Syd 954 RR AR Denarius 3.88g L Pomponius Molo 97 BCE Rome Apollo Numa Pompilius standing Lituus alter sacrificing goat Cr 334-1 Syd 607 RR Titurius Sabinus 89 BCE AR Den Tarpeia buried shields S 251 Cr 344-2a RR C Hosidius C F Geta 68 BCE Diana bow quiver Hound chasing speared Boar Sear 346 Craw 407-2 RR L TITURIUS LF SABINUS AR Denarius Rape of Sabines 89 BCE Sear 249 Craw 344-1a RR L Livineius Regulus AR Denarius 42 BCE 3.8g 19mm Regu bust - Gladiators in Arena Cr 494-30 Syd 1112 Sear 489 RR AR denarius 3.8g 18.0mm T Didius Rome 113-112 BCE Roma star ROMA mono - Two Gladiators whip sword S 171 CR 294-1
I think you and I have similar taste in coins. I have found that the denarii of the Roman Republic and very early Empire have a lot of very interesting action scenes, though they definitely exist across all eras. Here's a few favorites from my collection, in a variety of conditions... Anonymous, after 211 BC. Denarius, 20mm, 4.88g. Rome mint. Obverse: Bust of Roma right, X (mark of value) behind Reverse: Mounted Dioscuri advancing right with lances, stars above, ROMAin border below M. Sergius Silus, 116 or 115 BC. Denarius, 18.6mm, 3.85g, Rome mint. Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right, EX SC behind, ROMA downwards. Reverse: Horseman left, holding sword and severed head in left hand; before, Q (for Quaestor); below, M SERGI; in emerge, SILVS P. Licinius Nerva, 113 - 112 BC. Denarius, 17mm, 3.97g, Rome mint. Ex Hildebrecht Hommel. Obverse: Bust of Roma left, wearing plumed helmet and holding shield with horseman and spear over shoulder; above, crescent; behind, ROMA; before, *. Reverse: Voting scene; above, P. NERVA; at top of coin, bar on which stands tablet bearing P. Q. Minucius Thermus, 103 BC. Denarius, holed, possibly for amulet; 17mm, 3.2g, Rome mint. Obverse: Head of Mars left, wearing crested helmet, ornamented with plume and annulet Reverse: Two warriors fighting; the left protects fallen comrade, the other wears a horned helmet; Q.•THERMMFin exergue Augustus, 8 BC. Fouree denarius, 20mm, 2.80g. Copy of Lugdunum mint. Obverse: AVGSTVS DIVIF, laureate head of Augustus right. Reverse: Gaius Caesar on horseback galloping right, holding sword and reins; behind, aquilia between two signs. C CAES AVGVS F above and below.
Artemis hunting: Apollo about to slay Python: Cybele riding on the back of a lion: Cybele riding in a quadriga of lions:
Great topic! Here's one I got and posted about a couple months ago. I was enamored with the reverse (while the obverse leaves one desiring more) - the striking image of a warrior with his trusted horse. Sicily, Messana, The Mamertinoi (211-208 BC) AE Pentonkion Obverse: Laureate head of Ares left, helmet to right. Reverse: MAMEPTINΩN. Nude Dioskouros (or warrior) standing left, holding spear and leading horse left placing hand on head of horse; Π (mark of value) to left. References: Sear 1143, SNG ANS 427 Size: 26mm, 12.9g
L Titurius L. f. Sabinus 89 B.C. AR Denarius 17x19mm 3.8gm OBV: bare head of King Tatius r., bearded, TA (in monogram) front, SABIN behind. REV: Two Roman soldiers running, each bearing a Sabine woman in his arms, L TITVRI in exergue. RCV 249; RSC Tituria 1; Crawford 344/1a
LOL, yeah, I have examples of yours that you posted except your Voting Nerva. I really like that Caesar on horseback!
Thank you for the reference to tesorillo and your coin's story. I'm going to have fun researching both.
Thank you for sharing your favorites and attaching their details. I especially like M. Sergius Silus and P. Licinius Nerva.
Wow! Thank you to everyone for sharing and especially for attaching details. I am going to have a blast researching these. It's like pulling a thread leading to another thread and before I know it, I've learned way more than if I started from scratch.
Way to go Trish! That is how I learn: see something cool and interesting, then chase it down with a little research and searching. Fun.
