Saturday Night Free For All

This is neither new nor rare; I just like looking at it.


Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.61 g, 33 mm.
Rome, AD 145-147.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: AVGVSTA S C, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and long torch.
Refs: RIC 1116; BMCRE 1509-11; Cohen 79; RCV 4614; Strack 1286.
Notes: Likely one of a series of issues to commemorate the wedding of Faustina II to Marcus Aurelius. A similar design (RIC 1117) depicts the goddess holding corn ears and a short torch.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I know the feeling well. Here is one of mine that evokes the same feeling for me:


BMCRE Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 206 (Pl. 36.6)
RIC Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 113
(AD 50)
Obverse: Claudius, bare headed facing left
Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P
Reverse: Personification of Liberty, standing right, holding Pileus (Freedman’s cap) in right hand
Inscription clockwise from bottom: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA | S -------- C (left and right)

 

Today I'm appreciating the sheer oddness of this Tetricus II barbarous radiate. Despite the crude portrait, blundered legends, super-ragged flan, and reverse deity that seems to be a mix of Sol and Spes, I think it's still a charming little coin.


TETRICUS II
AE Antoninianus (Contemporary imitation). 2.49g, 20.7 x 14.4mm. Irregular mint, copying Cologne, circa AD 273-274. Cf. RIC V 270 (for Spes prototype). O: [...] P TIIRCCVS IIC, radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: I I R C [...], figure resembling Sol and Spes advancing right.
Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection

 

What a beautiful coin of Claudius with such a bold, forceful portrait.

 

I think you win the prize for "ugliest flan." I mean, I've seen some ragged flans but that takes it a whole other level. It's like they didn't even shape the metal, just throw a dollop down into the mold and said "eh, good enough."
NICE!

 

Barbs are more fun the worse they are. My worse is a left facer with reverse showing Fortuna with a rudder.

 

Wonderfully messed up!

 

But the die engraver put in some effort!

 

Indeed! I love the unique style, especially the reverse. I’ve come to really appreciate the extremely stylized motifs those dirty barbarians tend to have

 

Tonight I'm doing some online searching for info about the Roman Victoriatus. I've got these two delivered yesterday. The 2 I have are in two visual styles, and in looking at acsearch at the many others (Crawford 53/1) there seems to be a lot that fall into one style or the other as if there were 2 celators making the dies. The are a few other styles (or along the spectrum between these 2), but the majority appear (at least to me) can be divided into these 2 styles. And it involves both obverse style of Jupiter and the style of Victory on the reverse.

I'm wondering if my observations are somewhat true and founded? Or am I just sniffing glue? Anyone know?

This first one is more of a finer, more detailed, and better stylistically:

Anonymous, Roman Republic
AR Victoriatus, Rome mint
Struck After 211 AD (211-208)
Obverse: Laureate head of Jupiter right.
Reverse: Victory standing right, crowning trophy; ROMA in exergue.
References: Crawford 53/1, Sydenham 83
Size: 16mm, 2.81g

This second one is a little more simplified and almost cartoonish in nature:

Anonymous, Roman Republic
AR Victoriatus, Rome mint
Struck After 211 AD (211-208)
Obverse: Laureate head of Jupiter right.
Reverse: Victory standing right, crowning trophy; ROMA in exergue.
References: Crawford 53/1, Sydenham 83
Size: 15mm, 2.69g

 

@Justin Lee I can't comment on it as a larger phenomenon, having spent no time looking at other examples, but I can certainly agree that there are large stylistic differences between the two examples, and that the first is much finer style. Both interesting additions, I'd say.

 

Thank you @octavius - could you please post one of your beautiful portrait coins? I enjoy them very much.

 

Again, thanks so much Jamesicus. I deeply enjoy showing my coins to people who actually appreciate them. Nowadays , there isn't a soul aside from you all on CT who do.

I have three new acquisitions I won last week and today which I have not received yet, but will post.

1. Claudius dupondius with Ceres reverse. from Naville Numismatics. I got this one because the one I had was rather porous and rough.

2. Nero sestertius with Roma reverse. minted at Rome. I went for this because I'm just so partial to Nero I couldn't help myself. This was from the Numismatik Naumann auction.

4. also from Numismatik Naumann auction is a small 6.5 Gm AE from Teanum Sidicinum in really nice condition. I bid on this coin because my grandfather was born in that town - Teanum, many years ago in 1890.

 

Thank you Octavius. They are wonderful coins indeed!

 

It's Saturday and this one just arrived in the mail! It's a middle bronze and it partially satisfies my Julia Mamaea fetish.


Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
Roman Æ as, 9.84 g, 25.0 mm, 11 h.
Rome, 12th emission, AD 231.
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VENVS VICTRIX S C, Venus standing left, holding helmet and scepter, shield at her feet.
Refs: RIC 707; BMCRE 723-24; Cohen 79; RCV 8249.

The coin joins the sestertius and denarius versions in my collection. All I'm missing is the AV quinarius.


Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.08 g, 30.6 mm, 12 h.
Rome, 12th emission, AD 231.
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VENVS VICTRIX S C, Venus standing left, holding helmet and scepter, shield at her feet.
Refs: RIC 705; BMCRE 718-22; Cohen 78; RCV 8235.


Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
Roman AR denarius, 3.27 g, 18.7 mm, 5 h.
Rome, 12th emission, AD 231.
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VENVS VICTRIX, Venus standing left, holding helmet and scepter, shield at her feet.
Refs: RIC 358; BMCRE 713-17; Cohen 76; RCV 8216.
Notes: Ex Jürgen K. Schmidt Collection. CNG Auction 60, Lot 1776, May 22, 2002.

 

I happened to purchase a tetradrachm of Odessos fron the last CNG E Auction. It arrived yesterday. After a few adventures all within the city limits first coin sent to wrong post office, then post office in question cut off by road repair, I got the coin Yay. However This is not that coin. This is another coin from the same mint i picked up about 6 years ago. Odessos Tetradrachm In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon Price 1167 280-200 B.C. 16.76 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen

 

Nice Mamaeas, RC.

It so happens, the sestertius version of this issue was my very first sestertius (Dec. 2016) - it took me forever to attribute it because it is very worn and I had no idea what I was doing. Now I have a vague idea what I am doing:


Julia Mamaea Æ Sestertius
228-229 A.D.
Rome Mint
IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA, diademed bust right. / VENVS VICTRIX, S-C, Venus standing left holding helmet & sceptre, shield at her feet. RIC 705;
Cohen 78; BMC 718

As for new stuff, I just so happen to be working on a couple of new ones along the same lines - her son Severus Alexander. These two sestertii just in:

This one came in a lot of three sestertii off eBay:



Severus Alexander Æ Sestertius
(225 A.D.)
Rome Mint - 5th Emission
[IMP] CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate and draped bust right / FID[ES] MILI[TVM], Fides standing left, holding signum in each hand,
S C across fields.
RIC IV 552d; BMCRE 228.
(19.36 grams / 28 x 26 mm)

This monster (24.66 grams) came from a German eBay seller (shipping time to Midwest USA, about a month). Although my photo doesn't show it very well, I think this is a variation of RIC 548 (cuirassed bust, not just draped):



Severus Alexander Æ Sestertius
(226 A.D.)
Rome Mint - 6th Emission
IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate, draped (and cuirassed?) bust right / ANNONA AVGVSTI, Annona standing left, holding corn ears over modius & cornucopiae, SC.
RIC 548 (var. obv bust type).
(24.66 grams / 31 mm)

Attribution Note:
This appears to have a cuirassed bust; as per this one:
Roma Numismatics Ltd E-Sale 70, 7 May 2020, lot 1226.
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 42, 6 Jan. 2018, lot 747.
Description: "...laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right... RIC 548 (var. obv bust type)"

 

BMCRE6 346, p. 149 has a laureate, draped and cuirassed bust for comparison:

BMC 347, 348, and 349, however, have the laureate and draped bust:

 

This UNC but heavily damaged siliqua with mint luster from Savoca:



CONSTANTIUS II (337-361)
AR19mm 1.95g reduced siliqua, minted at Sirmium, cca. 357(?)
DN CONSTAN - TIVS PF AVG; pearl-diademed draped cuirassed bust right
VOTIS / XXX / MVLTIS / XXXX inside wreath.
SIRM
RIC VIII Sirmium 68, C2

Notes: This extremely copious issue of reduced siliquae might be related to Constantius II's stay in Sirmium from 357 to early 359. More specifically to the beginning of this period, as by the ending of it, the gold issues were marking the quintricennalia (XXXV) and announcing the quadracennalia (XXXX). Thus a good terminus post quem of the issue (that might have lasted for the full period between 357 and 359 considering the large output) could be found around the time Constantius arrived in Sirmium in 357.

Another possibility is hinted by the lack of material during this issue for Julian II as Caesar -- which should date closer to 360, when the definitive falling out between the two became irreconcilable. But if so, the legend should have likely involved XXXV - XXXX rather than the tricennalian legend.

This specimen is practically uncirculated, mint state with luster, but unfortunately it was damaged, likely in modern time when the coin was retrieved. So an extraordinary but damaged specimen.

 

I've been reading, rereading and then rereading again the literature on unreduced nummi from the London mint, trying to compare photographs of coins on the web to LMCC.

It's a tangled web, but I think it's slowly sinking in. It's a marvel that numismatists have managed to get where we are today from the point of zero. It also drives home the fact that educated guesses play such a large part in our field, and that it would do me good to keep that in mind constantly.