Busy Temple

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ancient Aussie, Mar 22, 2019.

  1. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Picked up this Maxentius temple coin at the recent Leu Auction 7, as a few of you probably noticed I have been busy with late Roman architectural coins for the last year as I had largely ignored them while busy chasing earlier harder to get types. But in saying so I am extremely fussy as it is such a large market, so I look for features or even better condition as a precursor to purchase. Now these type with she-wolf and twins in pediment along with Maxentius with foot on captive although common can be pricey as the grade gets higher, this one is good VF but with a nice thin layer of silvering both sides giving the coin a light sparkly look very pleased, (the pic doesn't do it justice)
    I would expect a few others have nice Maxentius temple coins and would love to see them.
    01381q00.jpg
    Maxentius, 307-312. Follis (Silvered bronze, 25 mm, 6.77 g, 7 h), Aquileia, late summer 307. IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG Laureate head of Maxentius to right. Rev. CONSERV VRBS SVAE / AQΓ Roma seated left within tetrastyle temple, holding scepter and handing globe to Maxentius standing right, holding scepter; seated captive between; Victories as acroteria, she-wolf and twins in pediment. RIC 113. Good very fine.
    From the S. Pozzi Collection, privately purchased from K. Alber on 16 January 1973 and previously acquired from G. Brosi, Basel.
     
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  3. Topcat7

    Topcat7 Still Learning

    @Ancient Aussie I DO like your Maxentius, very much, (esp. the silvering).
    Here is one of mine that has a Temple on it.
    MAXENTIUS BILLION FOLLIS RIC VI. Rome 202a
    MAXENTIUS BILLION FOLLIS RIC VI. Rome 202a (3).jpg
     

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    Last edited: Mar 22, 2019
  4. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks TC, That reverse on your top coin is nicely struck with great detail.
     
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  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Despite its doubling and flat spots, the wolf pediment is my favorite Maxentius. It is AQP.
    ru4170bb0714.jpg

    There are several others that have some appeal. I doubt the cross is Christian.
    ru4175bb3180.jpg
     
  6. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Very nice, AA! The reverse is wonderfully detailed and the she-wolf and twins look very cosy in that pediment. :)

    Maxentius - Temple AQP 1276.jpg
     
  7. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    This one has a disco dance party going on the pediment:

    [​IMG]
    Maxentius as Augustus, AD 307-312.
    Roman billon follis, 6.53 g, 24.6 mm, 10 h.
    Rome, AD 307-308.
    Obv: IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, radiate head right.
    Rev: CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated facing in hexastyle temple, head left, globe in right hand, scepter in left, shield at side behind, Victories as acroteria, wreath on pediment, H left, R S in exergue.
    Refs: RIC 202a; Cohen 21; RCV 14986.

    19779.jpg
     
  8. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Fantastic example with lots of eye appeal. Congrats!
     
    Ancient Aussie likes this.
  9. tenbobbit

    tenbobbit Well-Known Member

    Sadly no Maxentius to show, the only Temple type I have from the period is a rough Constantine as Caesar from the London Mint.
    An interesting coin that shows the convoluted politics going on at the time.
    Obv - FLVALCONSTANTINUSNOBC
    Rev - ROMAE AETER
    RIC vi 99, London. 4.35g, 23mm. Rare.
    IMG_5240.JPG IMG_5241.JPG
     
  10. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

  11. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Great example @Ancient Aussie

    Father and son (no pediment on the son's, but a temple anyway)

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    Q
     
  12. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Two great detailed Maxentius you have there Doug, unusual pediment filler the cross, don't think I have seen one before.
     
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  13. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    @ Master Doug. Is it possible that the engraver was Christian and enthusiastic enough to dare and post the Cross on a coin of Maxentius ? Remember that the Roman Empire was witnessing fierce conflict between Constantine and many other non Christian rulers such as Maxentius. Please accept this possibility as a mere modest opinion.
     
  14. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Certainly it is possible but crosses were not the primary Christian symbol until several years later. On the other hand you certainly would get caught using a chi-rho or fish so a cross would be more likely survivable. I can't sign on to that reading but that does not make it impossible.
     
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  15. dlhill132

    dlhill132 Member

  16. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks zumbly, I like the obverse on yours, his chin looks quite a bit different to most I have seen. Very nice.
     
  17. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Unbelievably nice patina, great coin.
     
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  18. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks David.
     
  19. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

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  20. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks Q, those two of yours are fantastic. I especially like the detail on your Romulus temple.
     
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  21. Orange Julius

    Orange Julius Well-Known Member

    Wow a nice coin @Ancient Aussie!

    Mine is not quite as detailed but includes an interesting variation on the type. On the temple roof corners, mine includes "male figures with torches as acroteria instead of Victories." I'm not sure exactly what this is all about, the "torches" look like human sized fountain pens to me... but it's a rare variation that is fun.

    MaxentiusRIC113.jpg
    1.jpg
     
    galba68, Marsyas Mike, TIF and 7 others like this.
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