I've acquired a lot of coins so far this year, many of them for my collection of Antonine women, but I have a lot of interests and these ten stood out as the most interesting and educational. 10. This pentassarion of Gordian III and Tranquillina from Marcianopolis was interesting because of the mystery of the migratory compass dot. Gordian III, with Tranquillina, AD 238-244. Roman provincial Æ Pentassrion, 12.74 g, 27 mm, 6 h. Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis.Tertullianus, legatus consularis. Struck AD 241-244. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CЄ | ΤΡΑΝΚVΛ | ΛЄΙΝΑ, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left. Rev: VΠ ΤΕΡΤVΛΛΙΑΝΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤ- (ΩΝ in r. field), Homonoia standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; E in l. field. Refs: AMNG-I 1186; Moushmov 830; Mionnet suppl 2, p. 113, 343; H&J, Marcianopolis, 6.38.36.2; Varbanov 2046. 9. This denarius of Faustina II struck under her father, Antoninus Pius. It is interesting because Concordia is facing left, rather than right. This inspired me to compare all of the known variants of the coin and to determine that RIC 500c probably does not exist: Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman AR Denarius, 2.84 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 150-152, under Antoninus Pius. Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust right. Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing facing, head left, holding skirt and cornucopiae. Refs: RIC III 501 (Pius); BMCRE 1078 note (Pius); Cohen/RSC 46; RCV --; CRE 166; ERIC II --. 8. And while we're talking about interesting Concordia reverse variants of Faustina II, I noticed Concordia on this sestertius was leaning on a column, which was not a variety noted by RIC, BMCRE, or Sear. Even though other examples have been sold, it was a matter of some controversy here at CT, but Curtis Clay of the Harlan Berk company was able to settle the matter, noting that the variety had been previously described by Strack. Faustina II, AD 147-175/6. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 29.89 g, 31.0 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 154-157. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: AVGVSTI PII FIL S C, Concordia standing left and leaning on column, holding patera and cornucopia. Refs: Strack 1328; RIC --; BMCRE4 --; Cohen --; RCV --. 7. This denarius of Faustina I is interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's a lifetime issue. Secondly, it's quite scarce, which allowed me to do a die study. This issue seems to have been the product of as few as two different reverse dies and five obverse dies. Faustina I, AD 138-141. Roman AR denarius, 3.30 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 139-140. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Bust of Faustina I, draped, right. Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Throne, on which stands peacock with tail spread; behind throne, transverse scepter. Refs: RIC 340; BMCRE 145; Cohen/RSC 221; RCV 4670; CRE 135-6; UCR (Hill) 283; ERIC II-83. 6. This cool provincial of Gordian and Tranquillina from Mesembria because it was very hard to attribute and I had to ask for help. Fortunately, @zumbly came to the rescue with his copy of Varbanov (who cites Karayotov), because there are no other examples anywhere online. Another cool thing is that this obverse die was used to strike eight different reverse types!! Gordian AD 238-244 and Tranquillina. Roman provincial Æ 28.6 mm, 11.36 g, 7 h. Thrace, Mesembria, AD 241-244. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ-ΤΡΑΝΚVΛ|ΛΙΝΑ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, confronted. Rev: ΜΕCΑΜΒΡ-Ι-ΑΝΩΝ, Demeter standing left, wearing stephane, holding phiale and long torch. Refs: Varbanov 4190, citing Karajatov 83; SNG Copenhagen --; BMC --; Moushmov --; Lindgren --; Mionnet suppl 2 --; Sear --; Wiczay --. 5. This run-of-the-mill antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus depicted what I thought was a comically small horse, but I learned from @Sallent that ancient Roman horses really were tiny! What an educational thread that turned out to be! Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.82 g, 19.7 mm, 11 h. Antioch, second series, AD 251-252. Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: ADVENTVS AVG, Emperor on horseback, left, raising right hand and holding scepter. Refs: RIC 79; Cohen 2; RCV 9622; Hunter 56; ERIC II 44. 4. This small provincial of Faustina II from Hadrianopolis not only has a cool depiction of both Hygieia and Asklepios on the reverse, but some very interesting paleography in its obverse inscription. Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman provincial Æ 22.7 mm, 6.54 g, 7 h. Thrace, Hadrianopolis, AD 147-155. Obv: ·I·AVCTEINA CEBACTH, pearl-diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ, Hygieia, feeding serpent from patera, and Asklepios, leaning on serpent-entwined staff, standing facing one-another. Refs: RPC (temp) 10453; SNG Cop 560; Jurukova 84-87; Varbanov 3219; Moushmov 2521; Mionnet suppl. 2, 636. 3. This dupondius of Faustina I with a veiled bust may not look like much, but that doesn't matter when it may be only the second known example of the coin. The original thread was chosen to be a featured article, too. Faustina I, AD 138-141. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 10.62 g, 28.1 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 147-161 (probably AD 150/51). Obv: DIVA FAV-STINA, diademed, veiled and draped bust, right. Rev: AETER-NITAS S C, Fortuna standing left, holding globe and rudder. Refs: RIC 1160b; BMCRE4 1557 var. (bust); Cohen 9; RCV 4640 var. (bust); ERIC II 356. 2. This common Antoninianus of Trajan Decius is one of my favorites. Why? Because it taught me all about the Dacian draco battle standard! It was so interesting, it became a featured thread. Trajan Decius, AD 249-251. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.81 g, 21 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 250-251. Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: DACIA, Dacia standing left, holding Dacian draco battle standard. Refs: RIC 12b; Cohen 16; RCV 9368; Hunter 7; ERIC II 59. 1. This Gallienus zoo coin is my favorite so far. Why? Because this tigress is just plain cool!! Not only that, but, as Jim Phelps notes while writing about the coins of this issue, I learned there are two varieties -- an unmarked cat with a sleek build (the panther type) and this tigress type. Gallienus, 253-268 AD. Roman Æ Antoninianus, 2.63 g, 20.8 mm, 5 h. Rome Mint, 10th emission, 267-268 AD. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right. Rev: LIBERO P CONS AVG, tiger walking left, B in exergue. Refs: RIC 230K; Göbl 713b; Cohen 586; RCV 10281; Cunetio 1341; Hunter 112
I know nothing more than these coins are all so beautiful and historical! Ancients really bring out the studies and numismatics in coin collecting.
Really cool coins, RC. I really like the Faustina ones, especially Faustina I lifetime. Thanks for sharing.
All of them are lovely coins. Here's my Decius. As for the post about Roman horses, I'm just glad I finally had the opportunity to share that with others. Never thought the subject would ever come up, so it was fun being able to write about it.
Fantastic buying RC, all great quality snippits of history. My favorite the Faustina peacock denarius, loverly toning.
What a great top ten. I really like seeing coins that I do not collect. It is interesting to see what interests others have.
Great top ten! Not to mention that many of these coins were featured in some of the most educational and fun posts on CT this year... thank you!!
+1 Some really interesting coins on that list! I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll have for us in the coming months.
Great group @Roman Collector ! I love that Faustina II/concordia, great portait, the whole thing sharp!
