My first real ancient purchase - Gordian III

I made my very first "real," targeted ancient purchase. I don't consider the trash uncleaned lots to count.

Gordian III AR Antoninianus
21x22mm 2.8g
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AG; Radiate crown, draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI; Hercules on Club (Farnese type)
RIC IV Rome 95




I liked this because, as an art history buff, I really enjoy seeing ancient representations of famous statues - especially ones where the original is lost.
The Farnese Hercules type is quite famous, and the original was a bronze sculpted in bronze by the Greek Lysippos. Below is a small, Roman bronze statuette of Hercules from the Getty Villa, in what I believe is a pretty faithful recreation of the original, based on its similarities to the reverse of the coin - which was probably based on the original bronze, which in 240 AD was probably still extant. The original is long lost.




The most famous copy is the colossal marble copy by Glykon, which was a centerpiece of the Baths of Caracalla. This one seems to depart a bit from what may be the original - here Hercules has more hair, and his head does not turn as far left as it does in the coin, or in the above statuette.


Post your coins with representations of known statues!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Nice example @hotwheelsearl ! I have a couple of these and I know that @Severus Alexander has some real stunners showing the Weary Heracles theme. Nice score!

Below is my favorite example from my collection and one I enjoy posting as often as I can!

A Greek Artistic Masterpiece on Roman Coins

Roman Empire
Maximinus Daia (AD 308 - 313)
AE Follis, Antioch mint, struck ca. AD 313
Dia.: 20.5 mm
Wt.: 3.9 g
Obv.: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; Laureate bust right
Rev.: HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, leaning on lions skin and club
Ref.: RIC VI 170b, Scarce
Ex FSR, lot 370 (Jul. 2018)

 

Great choice for your first one!!

 

Good looking Gordian!

Here is my coin with a statue:

Nero
AE21 of Miletus, Ionia.
AD 54-68. 4.56 g. Magistrate Ti. Dama. CEBACTOC
Obverse: laureate head right
Reverse: EΠI TI ΔAMA MIΛHCIΩN downwards to left and right of Apollo standing right, holding bow and stag.


The statue of Apollo Philesios on the reverse had moveable parts. Here is a link to a great write up that @Jochen1 wrote on the coin:
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/apollo-philesios-and-the-movable-stag-of-kanachos.330205/

A very interesting read!

 

Here's my Gordian III with an Apollo reverse:

Gordian III, A.D. 238-244

AR Antoninianus, 24mm, 4.9 grams

Rome mint, A.D. 241-243

Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: PM TRP III CIS II PP; Apollo seated left, holding laurel branch and leaning on lyre

Reference: RIC IV 114

 

Thanks so much for linking that post. Really, really neat stuff.

it's hard to imagine today how technologically advanced the Greeks really were, especially when it came to their cult statues.
Legends tell of a pair of two statues - one iron and one magnetic lodestone. When the statues were pushed close to each other, they would "come alive" and snap together into an embrace.

Must have been absolutely magical

 

Not the same statue motif, but here's a nice porphyry seated Apollo

 

Gordian III is a good emperor with which to start off your collection. There are abundant examples for sale at reasonable prices. One of our own, @Sallent , said they are like roaches. They keep showing up. But Gordian III has some very interesting reverses. Welcome to the Dark Side. I'll bet you can't just buy one.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...BDF140A4B851AF953EB9BDF140A4B851AF9&FORM=VIRE

 

Great, can't wait to blow my paychecks on this new addiction...

 

Good choice earl , here's mine:

 

Yours has a VERY detailed face of Hercules! It looks like he's got more hair than I had initially imagined

 

I have been doing that, ever since I started working.....no regrets

 

Great entry into the Ancient coin world! Here is one of Jupiter in the buff....and Hercules to boot!

 

Great type. Hercules is one of my favorite reverse types and is seen in many Imperial issues.
Constantius as Caesar, Mint of Alexandria, c. 304-305

 

That's a cool first ancient coin you got there @hotwheelsearl !

Here's a Greek coin from Lampsakos depicting the Athena Parthnos on the reverse with Apollo on the obverse, kind of in rough shape.




Here I am by the scale model of the Athena Parthenos in Nashville TN, she is awe inspiring for sure! My coin doesn't really do her justice does it?

 

@hotwheelsearl,

Welcome to the club! A great coin to start with!

- Broucheion

 

Gordian III Ae Sestertius 240 A.D. Rv Felicitas standing left RIC 328 20.40 grms 30 mm

 

Nice to see another catch the bug!

I have a few Gordian III's, but this is the only one I have a picture of as the "true" coin in my collection...



This one is curious not only because the type is rare as a denarius, but also because Sol isn't Radiate either! Perhaps the celator had a sticky note next to his work station - "No radiate crowns on denarii!"

Also, I can't believe this hasnt been posted yet, but since realizing it, I can't unsee Gordian III's modern doppelganger...


(Will Poulter, for those unfamiliar...)

 

Wow! I love that one!

 

In addition to antoniniani and aurei, Hercules is available in bronze asses. By the time of Gordian III, the as was much less prominent than in earlier times so they are now much harder to find. Mine is not a great specimen but it is an as.