I love the empress's Mona-Lisa-style smile on this denarius. Do you have any coins depicting someone smiling? Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235. Roman AR denarius, 3.15 g, 18.3 mm, 5 h. Rome mint, 7th emission, AD 227. Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust right. Rev: VESTA, Vesta standing left, holding patera and transverse scepter. Refs: RIC 362; BMCRE 440; Cohen 85; RCV 8218.
Most of the portraits in my collection appear as someone constipated trying to push out something too large. However, this may be the closest portrait I have to a smile : C.CLAUDIUS PULCHER ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CLAUDIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Head of Roma r., wearing helmet decorated with circular device REVERSE: Victory in biga r., holding reins in both hands; in exergue, C. PVLCHER Struck at Rome 110-109 BC 3.76g, 19mm Cr300/1, Syd 569, Claudia 1
A very pleasing portrait. Most of Vespasian's portraits do not depict him smiling. I think this one has a rather bemused look. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.10g Rome Mint, January - June 70 AD RIC 25 (R). BMC 14. RSC 90. Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: COS ITER TR POT; Neptune stg. l., foot on prow, with dolphin and trident Acquired from Nemesis, February 2008.
Great coins all! Here's a rather deranged smile for you...though I don't think it's the type that sweet baby James Taylor was singing about:
Here's a Salonina tet which may have a bit of a smile, or maybe she looks like she just swallowed some vinegar...
Smiling face... first thing that come up to my mind is an Athenian smile! I fell in love of my avatar coin because of its very appealing Athenian smile. Its facial proportion is special compared with the regular Classical ones. Style-wise early classical, with smaller feathers on the helmet. Although not perfect, this is one of those I'll pass on to my son.
In this Alexandrian Tet of Nero with Alex, Nero looks like he's enjoying himself. Looks like me after a big Thanksgiving meal lol