Featured Follow the coin theme GAME - ancient edition - post ‘em if you got ‘em

It's been a while... Here's a simple Spes recent purchase for my Roman Spes collection:


Antoninus Pius, Ruled 138-161 AD
AE Sestertius, Struck 140-144 AD, Rome
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, Laureate head right.
Reverse: Spes, draped, advancing left, holding dress and gathering up fold of skirt, S-C across fields.
References: RIC III 626

Next: Another Imperial Spes from an earlier emperor.

 

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Not earlier, but JUST about the same time...


Roman Imperial
Aelius Caesar b. 101CE, d. 138 CE
AE As, 26mm, 10.2g, 6h
Rome Mint 137 CE
Obv: L AELIVS CAESAR; Bare head r.
Rev: TR POT COS II, S-C, Fortuna-Spes holding cornucopia and rudder in left hand, flower in r.
Ref: RIC II 1065, pg 482 scarce
Ex: @John Anthony transient collection

So, next: Same as @Justin Lee ... Spes from earlier than Pius or Aelius

 

Here's an older and more decrepit Spes of Titus as Caesar under Vespasian.

T CAESAR IMP COS V - Laureate head right
S C - Spes advancing left, holding flower and lifting skirt
Mint: Rome (76 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 9.90g / - / 6h
References:

• RIC 678 (Vespasian)
• Cohen 212

Next - your favourite Titus.

 

This is my favorite Titus (disclaimer: it is my only Titus so far)

Titus, A.D. 79-81

Billon Tetradrachm, 25mm, 9.3 grams, 12h

EGYPT, Alexandria. Year 3 = A.D. 81

Obverse: AVTOK TITOY KAIE
OVEEPAEIANOY EEB; Laureate head right.

Reverse: OMO-NOIA; Homonoia seated left, holding out branch, LT in lower left field.

Reference: RPC 2467; Dattari 423

(NEXT: another HOMONOIA)

 

The Alexandrian AE of Aelius like this hemidrachm are unusual in that they have a reverse legend other than the regnal date. OMONOIA isnamed in exergue. Encircling the reverse is ΔHM ЄΞOYC YΠAT B


Next: another Alexandrian bronze with legend other than just the date

 

Here’s an Alexandrian Tet of Gallienus from regnal year 10. I know the legend on the reverse refers to his decennalia (thanks TIF). Emmett 3840 Next: another Alexandrian Tetradrachm.

 

Titus
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: AVTOK TITOV KAIΣ OYEΣΠAΣIANOY ΣEBA, laureate head right
Rev.: [NIΛOΣ], bust of Nilus with lotus flower, LΓ=year 3 (80/81).
Billon, 13.36g, 21x23.7mm
Ref.: Geißen 324 var., Dattari 425

Next: lotus flower

 

Ceylon/ Polonnaruwa Period
Vijaya Bahu I 1055-1100
AV Kahavanu ND
King Standing holding a Lotus flower
coin with "swastika"

 

APOLLONIA PONTIKA
AR Hemiobol
OBVERSE: Anchor, A in field
REVERSE: Swastika with two parallel lines in each quadrant
Struck at Apollonia Pontika, circa 500BC
.28g, 6.54mm
SNG BM 149; Moushmov 3146
ex. Aegean Numismaics

Next: Coin from Apollonia

 

Apollonia


Apollonia Pontica Thrace AR Diobol 1-3g 410-323 BCE Apollo-Anchor crab A Tupalov 56

Next: non-Greek Gorgon

 

It's been more than 25 hours now. I take it nobody has a non-Greek Gorgon.

I'll resurrect the game with this:


Caracalla, AD 198-217.
Roman AR denarius, 2.9g, 19mm, 6h.
Rome, issue 10, AD 217.
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right.
Rev: PM TRP XX COS IIII PP; Serapis, wearing polos on head, standing facing, head left, holding wreath and scepter.
Refs: RIC 289c; BMCRE 188; Cohen/RSC 382; RCV 6846; Hill 1586.

Next: somebody holding a wreath.

 

Victory holding a wreath



IMP CAES VESPAS AVG
Laureate head of Vespasian right

PACI AVGVSTAE
Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm, tilted Φ before her right foot.

Ephesus mint

69/70 AD

3.05g

RIC 1406 (R ). BMCRE 435. RPC 812 (8 specimens cited).

Next: Another Ephesian mint denarius

 

Domitian Caesar

Next: another coin of Ephesis but NOT a denarius

 

This big bronze is definitely NOT a denarius, LOL!


Julia Domna, AD 193-217
Roman provincial Æ 29.3 mm, 13.67 g, 6 h.
Ionia, Ephesus, AD 193-217.
Obv: CЄBACTH IOY ΔOMNA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ЄΦЄϹΙΩΝ TPIC NЄΩKOPΩN, carpentum drawn right by two mules.
Refs: SNG Copenhagen 417; BMC 267 var. (obv legend).

Next: Horse-drawn vehicle with four wheels (i.e. not a chariot).

 

Oh, my request for non-Greek Gorgon was to get @Ed Snible or @zumbly or others, to toss out their cool Metus! Or, any other cool non-Greek Gorgon.


Etruria Populonia 3rd C BCE AR 20 As 8.1g Metus Blank HN 152

Now, back to the Game!

 

24 hours and nothing. So today is Blue Monday. Blue Monday is the new name given to a day in January claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. Then show me a coin depicting a depressed face on it.

 

I love January, great auctions/ nice coin additions/ and nice to be "unemployed". I have all day to myself

 

Empress Pulcheria has a sad look.
Next theme: Happy looking ruler on coin.

 

They both look happy:


next: another happy emperor

 

While we are waiting for the deluded happy ruler, I'll say that Ephesus Domna was exactly what I was hoping to see.

Unfortunately, my Domna is a bit later than RC's (by hairstyle) and Domna had little to smile about by that period. Antoninus Pius possibly thought he did but he adopted a guy who fathered Commodus. I truly hope my grandson does not grow up to be a Commodus. When you see a smiling Roman ruler, consider it may be just gas.