Guess Who's on the Obverse (Alexandrian tet Edition)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Justin Lee, Nov 19, 2019.

  1. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    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...
    20191119_131136.jpg

    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?
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2019
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. 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
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  4. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    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).
     
  5. 1/6 is good enough for me.
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    A. Maximinus
    B. Gordian III
    C. Philip I
    D. Diocletian
    E. Gallienus
    F. Maximian
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  7. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    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?
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2019
  8. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    A. Severus Alexander
    B. Gallienus
    C. Elagabalus
    D. Trebonianus Gallus
    E. Diocletian
    F. Maximian
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  9. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Ooo, A-E were a miss on names. :arghh: 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! :rolleyes:

    Hint 1: There are 2 coins that are of the same emperor. :woot::woot:
    Hint 2: There is one Empress in the mix. :oops:
     
    Curtisimo likes this.
  10. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    C is Salonina, Dattari 5304, Homonoia standing l., r. hand raised, holding double cornucopiae in l.
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  11. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Booo booooo! Your game is too hard! :banghead::blackeye:

    Just jokes my friend. Fun times :p:D
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  12. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Pretty close! :jawdrop: But no cigar :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.
     
  13. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Then C is Gallienus and Severina must be the empress.
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  14. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    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.
     
  15. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    A.Gordian III
    B.Gordian III
    C.Valerian
    D.Severina
    E. Carus
    F. Maximian
     
    Justin Lee likes this.
  16. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    :eek: WINNER WINNER! @dougsmit exactly spot on! On ALL accounts!! :smuggrin: 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!!
     
  17. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    The hard one was accepting the first eagle so I looked at earlier choices and no one had left, head right.
     
  18. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    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.
    birds.jpg
     
    Johndakerftw and Justin Lee like this.
  19. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    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
     
  20. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    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.
     
  21. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    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.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page