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next: bronze Galba

 

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GALBA
AE Dupondius
OBVERSE: SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR P legend with laureate bust right
REVERSE: PAX AVGVST legend with Pax standing left holding olive-branch and caduceus; S - C in fields
Struck at Rome, July-August 68 AD
13.2g, 27mm
RIC 284; BMC 127; Sear 2129

Next: bronze Vespasian

 

That counts as a coin of Nero from my perspective - great coin!

Vespasian, 69-79 AD, Æ Dupondius, Rome mint, struck 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, Radiate head right
Rev: S-C, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding wreath and parazonium, shield behind, ROMA in exergue
Ref: RIC II 279

Next: Titus Æ

 

Titus as


NEXT: another Titus

 

next: Bronze Domitian

 

DOMITIAN
AE As
OBVERSE: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS POT P P, laureate head right, aegis at tip of bust
REVERSE: MONETA AVGVSTI, S-C, Moneta standing left, holding scales & cornucopiae
Struck at Rome, 85AD
11.7g, 27mm
RIC 384

Next: Bronze Nerva

 

next: bronze Trajan

 

Bronze Trajan:


Trajan. A.D. 98-117.
Roman orichalcum as, 8.49 g, 23.5 mm, 6 h.
Struck in Rome for circulation in Syria (?); Struck in Antioch (?), AD 115/16.
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM, radiate and draped bust right; c/m: bucranium within incuse punch.
Rev: DAC PARTHICO P M TR POT XX COS VI P P around laurel wreath enclosing large SC.
Refs: RIC 647; BMCRE 1094; Cohen 123; RCV 3243; Woytek 937v; McAlee 509; Strack 479; BN 953-5. For c/m: Pangerl 63; Howgego 294.

Next: Countermark of an animal.

 

Countermark of Animal


Augustus
As
four countermarks
25-23 mm 9.8g
TICA AVG probably for Tiberius Augustus CE14-37 Dolphin
Ex: @Valentinian

Next: another countermark of an animal

 

​

References: BMC Cilicia (BMC.21.109, 001 var: Control letters); also see Ph Lederer "Die Staterprägung der Stadt Nagidos" in ZfN vol 41 (1931); countermark eagle and trident (cf Lederer 42, gp II).
Text: http://numismatics.org/zfn/38060000323154/33623.pdf
Plates: http://numismatics.org/zfn/38060000323154/Taflen.pdf

Provenance: Probably ex COIN HOARDS VI (1981), #11. Cilicia, Turkey, 1979 [needs verification!].

Next: Another eagle countermark.

 

Sestertius of Augustus 16. B.C. C. Asinus Gallus Moneyer. Obv Wreath OB/ CIVIS / SERVATOS Rv. Inscrition around Large S.C. RIC 370 21.66 grms 35mm Ooops out of sequenceNext coin eagle countermark

 

I like it anyway -- thanks!

 

12 hour rule.

Here's a recently acquired Athens tetradrachm, Starr Group V, 17.14 grams - nice style:



Next: Another Athens tetradrachm belonging to any Starr group, or an early transitional mass production tetradrachm.

 

It looks as if we're approaching the 12 hour limit, so:

Next: how about seeing a favorite Athenian tetradrachm.

 

Favorite? After 298 pages we are running out of coins not shown more than once for many repetitions of the same requests, My favorite of this moment is this fake that was silvered over its test cut so someone might think it had been tested and found to be solid. I wonder if that actually worked even once.


Next: A coin subject you believe has not ever been requested in these 298 pages

 

Beatyl's ?
Athens New Style Tetradrachm c 84/3 BC
Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
28 mm 16.47 gm Thompson issue 81 Thompson catalogue: Obs 1160 ? Rev: NEW
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
on which month mark B control [] below
2 magistrates : KLEOPHANES EPITHETHES
RF symbol : Beatyl with Fillets
All surrounded by an olive wreath



Beatyl's are fascinating-why not worship a rock especially one than seems to have fallen from the heavens. The most famous is that bit of the Ka'ba in Mecca ( but some say it is not part of a meteorite), and the Emessa stone of Elagabalus fame. There is supposed to an "original" Beatyl in a museum somewhere.
I believe that this Beatyl has something to do with Apollo but not to be confused with the Ompholos?
Something with FILLETS are sacred-of/for the gods- often found with wands,thyrsos, cornucopia and sacrificial beasts.
Anyone care to expand on Beatys and fillets?

NEXT more Beatyls

 

You prompted a check of wikipedia definition: Baetylus, from Semitic bet el "house of god", sacred stones, objects of worship, endowed with life, dedicated to the gods or revered as symbols of the gods themselves.

Roman Republican, M. Nonius Sufenas, 57 BC, AR Denarius, Rome mint
Obv: Head of Saturn right; to left, harpa above baetyl
Rev: Roma seated left on pile of arms, holding spear and sword, being crowned by Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm frond
Ref: Crawford 421/1

Stone of Saturn (Kronos): Here's the very short version - for more see the book quoted below (or many other sources). It was prophesied that Kronos would be overthrown by his own sons. To protect himself, whenever Rhea gave birth, he swallowed his children. Rhea made a plan. When she gave birth to Zeus, she tricked Kronos with a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, and he swallowed it. Zeus grew up and eventually caused Kronos to disgorge the stone and all the other children of the Greek pantheon.

"Zeus himself set up at Delphi the stone which Cronus had disgorged. It is still there, constantly anointed with oil, and strands of unwoven wool are offered upon it."
-Robert Graves (1960), Greek Mythology 1​

I don't recommend the paintings of Saturn by Rubens or Goya to those who are susceptible to nightmares. The fearless can visit the Museo del Prado.

Next: Omphalos

 

Here is my only Roman omphalos, a bronze of Nakrasa in Asia Minor. You see the stone omphalos, the navel of the world, encircled by a snake.

AE pseudo-autonomous AD 100-150. Nacrasa, Lydia, Marcus Junianus, strategos. Obv. Bearded god Heracles t.r. EΠI CTΡA MAΡ IOYNIANOY. Countermark on neck: amphora? Rev. Serpent coiling all around omphalos NAKΡA/CITΩN. 15 mm, 2.58 gr. RPC III 1812. The coin is almost broken, but attractive enough, I think.



Next: a nice clear omphalos on a Parthian tetradrachm.

 

Parthia, Phraates II, 132-126 BC, AR Drachm, Tambrax mint
Obv: Diademed bust left; TAM down right
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΘΕΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow
Ref: Sellwood 16.11; Sunrise 272; Shore 50

Next: A Seleucid Omphalos

 

Antiochos I Ar Tetradrachm 280-261 B.C. Seleukia on the Tigris Mint Obv. Head right diademed. Rv Appollo seated left on Omphalos SC 378/3 HGC 128g 17.16 grms 26 mm Photo by W. Hansen Next coin Another Seleukid