Just this morning, I recieved a package with a recent purchase of 6 new Roman Alexandrian tetradrachms. In lieu of waiting to post them until I get home and can take proper photos of each (probably not even tonight but later this week), I thought it'd be fun to see if anyone wants to guess who is on the front of them. Here are the 6 reverses with their corresponding letter to refer to each coin by in your guess... Answers so far: F = Maximian Severina IS the sole Empress in the mix, but which? Who is NOT on any obverse: Severus Alexander Elagabalus Gallienus Salonina Maximinus Philip Diocletian Trebonianus Gallus Something to keep you busy on a Tuesday? Who do you think is on them? Wanna give it a go?
I'll take a stab trusting only my intuition; which is very poor. ha. A. Valerian B. Salonina C. Gallienus D. I have no idea E. Gordian III F. Maximian
Thanks for playing, @iamtiberius!! Great first outing!! Hint/Feedback: You have 3 names correct, and 1 of those 3 is in the correct location as well (way to go!! I'll hold off sharing which to see if you want to try another set, or if others want to join in).
Great guesses, Doug!! You've got 2 names correct and both are in the correct locations as well! Since it was guessed correctly both times, let's call that one out... F = Maximian. Again, you got 1 other one spot-on as well. Care for another go?
Ooo, A-E were a miss on names. Could use process of elimination from the previous guesses to narrow down who is not included... That list is getting longer and longer. But you got F correct! Hint 1: There are 2 coins that are of the same emperor. Hint 2: There is one Empress in the mix.
Pretty close! But no cigar Hint 1: That coin (C) is not the single Empress in the mix. But this coin (C) would've been struck the same year (RY 4) in 256/257 AD. Hint 2: The single Empress in the mix MAY have been the only female to rule over the empire for a short period after her husband died.
DING-DING!! Severina IS the Empress! But which one? But Gallienus is no where in the mix... Who else could it be??? Hint: The order of the coins is in chronological order, left being earliest.
WINNER WINNER! @dougsmit exactly spot on! On ALL accounts!! Congrats! Did you do any extra sleuthing or did the combination of clues and hints make it apparent that you? Thank you to all who participated and humored me by playing along!! I'll share the official photos and attributions in the coming days. Thanks again!!
The hard one was accepting the first eagle so I looked at earlier choices and no one had left, head right.
If anyone wants to kill time, the image below shows six Alexandrian tetradrachm reverses that are a bit easier so I am not following the same left to right order rule and all of them are birdies. Other rules apply. One and only one of the hints given in the first group applies but I am not telling which one. Play if you wish. I forgot to add the letters so you will have to assume A on the left and F on the right.
Very nice birdies! I'll give it a go! Off the top of my head, here are my guesses... A - I can't remember the ruler, but you recently mentioned it as a legionary label on it? B - Numerian C - Aurelian D - Maximinus E - Vespasian F - Tiberius
One correct and correctly placed Most of these have been shown on CT previously so we may need 'no peeking' a rule. I considered three of these too obvious but it turns out they were not.
Valentinian has posted several times on the subject of coins with reverses unique to one ruler. I wonder how many of the rulers that issued coins at Alexandria included at least one type that would allow the ID of that name with certainty. Some may have included small differences to standard types like the eagle and some could be identified or ruled out by he dates. Antoninus Pius seems to have more unique types than standard ones.