Featured Brutal scenes on ancient coins

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Marsman, Feb 24, 2019.

  1. Marsman

    Marsman Well-Known Member

    I bought this coin a few months ago cause I was fascinated about the cruel scene on this republican denarius. The Romans had no problem at all showing a severed head on the reverse of this coin. It's unthinkable that this kind of scenes would be displayed on modern European coins.

    On this coin you can see the Roman general Marcus Sergius. In battle he lost his right hand. In two campaigns he was wounded twenty-three times :woot:. He was twice captured by Hannibal but managed to escape. He fought four times with only his left hand, while two horses he was riding were stabbed beneath him.
    He was probably the first man ever with a prosthetic hand.
    What a guy !

    This coin makes me think how many different brutal, bloodthirsty, cruel scenes there are on the reverses of ancient coins. Mine is number one :happy:

    Sergius Silus.jpg
    M. Sergius Silus, denarius
    3,84 g. 18 mm.
    Obv. EX S C ROMA*, helmeted head of Roma right.
    Rev. Horseman galloping left with sword & severed head held aloft, Q below horses leg, M SERGI below, SILVS in exergue.
    Syd 534, Cra.286/1.
     
    Carthago, aleppo, robinjojo and 33 others like this.
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  3. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    That's a wonderful example of a popular type. Here's another popular gory coin: Perseus holding the freshly severed head of Medusa while her body gushes blood on the floor:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    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
     
  4. TypeCoin971793

    TypeCoin971793 Just a random guy on the internet

    My example of a severed head:

    45100BF3-4841-43E5-8584-B1D7A58EC27E.jpeg
     
  5. TypeCoin971793

    TypeCoin971793 Just a random guy on the internet

    A FEL TEMP fallen horseman which @randygeki would approve of.

    I don’t know why the picture of the reverse is rotated.

    5150C1C9-390B-4AB4-A720-64E94F750792.jpeg DD8FEFA7-7300-4772-81A3-06B844D7C9A0.jpeg
     
  6. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    Violence and death were always especially close in the ancient world and Rome took it to new levels with its arenas and spectacles. Here are a few RR denarii extolling violence of both military bravery (Licinius Nerva ) and the arena ( Regulus and Didius). They are followed by an oil lamp depicting a condemned prisoner about to be gored to death by a bull in the arena, and a terra sigillata c. 2nd- early 3rd century depicting a man , presumably in the arena, being maulled by a large cat. 156771.jpg 680834.jpg 1710298.jpg 4rYWL9iM8dEHHPf23BBmRtR76TzNj5.jpg 3683770l.jpg REk8j2rX4LYds5aMPQ9boKJ7Gq6Mn3.jpg
     
  7. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    One of my favorite movie lines comes from Yul Brynner in the 10 Commandments "Did you lose your head my
    sweet?"

    normal_Sergius_Silius.jpg

    The War against Jerusalem in 70 CE was brutal...
    Titus_Judea.jpg normal_Vespasian_0.jpg
     
  8. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

  9. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Severed head :
    [​IMG]


    Spearing falling horseman :
    [​IMG]


    Dragging captive :
    [​IMG]


    Stepping on captive :
    [​IMG]

    Q
     
  10. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    WOLF's HEAD:
    upload_2019-2-25_7-51-9.png
    RR Egnatius Maxsumus 76 BCE Bust Libertas pileus behind- Roma Venus stndg cupid on shoulder Wolf Head at feet Sear 326 Craw 391-3
     
  11. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Here's a scarce example from India, where the three largest religions are founded upon principles of nonviolence.

    India, Malwa
    AR Drachm
    Paramaras of Malwa, time of Jaitra Simha (c.1275)
    Obv: Gadhaiya bust
    Rev: Soldier on horseback, trampling footsoldier on ground, charging one in front with sword

    Battle scene gadhaiya double eye.jpg
    Gadhaiya battle scene 1.jpg Gadhaiya battle scene 2.jpg
     
  12. Nathan P

    Nathan P Well-Known Member

    Here's a favorite of mine. 4240111.jpg
     
  13. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    Geta. 209-212 A.D. Philippopolis, Thrace; Æ 28. Obv: His laur., dr., and cuir. bust right. Rev: Emperor stg. facing, hd. l., sacrificing over tripod altar, and holding scepter, to right of a statue of Apollo Kendrizos on a column; victimarius holding axe to l., bringing bull to r. for sacrifice. Varbanov III, 1626. Rare (R7).
    GetaSacrificialScene.jpg
     
  14. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Great Sergius Silus Marsman!
    Fun thread. I guess I better start with my Sergius
    A67A3F1B-F7A6-46C7-A49B-5CCB2BE4864C.jpeg

    And how about one O dem medusas...in 3D!?!?
    AFDD0FDD-953D-4547-9C19-A71A3BB61ECF.jpeg

    Poor lion...
    EB0AA75B-FED5-413F-9813-BFD6A3B5FA8A.jpeg

    The Mag-man tramples ya before spearing ya!
    686423F0-F49C-4208-8367-5578602C3960.jpeg
     
  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    STRANGLING

    upload_2019-2-26_9-45-34.png
    Roman Repubic
    C POBLICIUS Q f
    80 BCE
    AR Denarius serratus 3.94g
    Rome mint
    Obv: Helmeted and Draped Bust; Feathers in Hlmet (always reminded me of the Samnium feather dressing)
    Rev: Stannard Scoop on reverse - Flan al Marco weight control gouge
    Hercules strangling the Nemean lion club quiver
    Craw 380-1 Syd 768
     
  16. Marsman

    Marsman Well-Known Member

    Thank you :)

    Lots and lots of bloody scenes in this thread with even a few coins I had never seen before! Thanks. I put the 'Licinius Nerva coin' on my coin bucket list.

    So far, I missed the famous Q. Thermus coin in this thread. Here is mine :D

    Thermus.jpg

    Q. Thermus, denarius
    Rome 103 BC
    19 mm, 4.00 g
    Obv. Helmeted head of Mars left
    Rev. Roman soldier fighting barbarian soldier in protection of fallen comrade; in ex, Q•THERM•MF
    Crawford 319/1
     
  17. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    upload_2019-2-26_21-32-5.png
    RR AR Denarius A Licinius Nerva 47 BCE 3.58g Rome Fides One-armed horseman galloping, dragging naked warrior by hair Cr 454-1 Syd 954
     
  18. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    Unfathomably brutal: they cut this pegasus in half! (Kidding, but I evidently have a significant lack of brutal coins)

    ZeusLampsakos.jpg
     
  19. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Potentially brutal, or soon to be brutal....

    [​IMG]

    :D Q
     
  20. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    AV Ducato ND Milan Mint
    Filippo Maria Visconti Duke of Milan
    Obv. Duke decked out in full armor/ on his horse/ welding sword/wearing dagger.
    Rev: Arms of Visconti Family
    Bought as an "unsold lot":happy: 4f448c3300d29637d7e757d919eacbe1.jpg
     
  21. Dajo

    Dajo Member

    Here a barbarian is offering a child to Emperor August

    (RIC-201b, Lugdunum 8 BC)
     

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