... because it reminded me of an ancient one! Post your modern coins based on ancient designs! Italy, 50 centissimi, 1920 R. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.30 g, 19 mm, 6 h. Rome, 21st emission, AD 205. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: MATER AVGG, Julia Domna, as Cybele, seated left in quadriga of lions and holding branch in her right hand. Refs: RIC 562; BMCRE 48; Cohen/RSC 117; RCV 6592; Hill 759; CRE 354.
1920. Interesting. I didn't know that Italy was harking back to Ancient Rome already, even before Mussolini.
I thought that was interesting, too. Here's a bit more info. The motif of Cybele in a quadriga drawn by a team of lions is a common one in the ancient world. One of the most famous depictions of this scene is on the Parabiago Plate, found near Milan in 1907. The piece dates from the 4th-5th century, AD. It can be seen in the Archeological Museum, Milan: Another depiction is this bronze statuette of Cybele in a cart drawn by lions from the second half of the second century, AD. It can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
Several modern coins of Israel are directly based on ancient coins. I started to post the half dozen pairings of modern and ancient coins in my collection, but will save myself a lot of time by suggesting a reading of the article linked below -- then scrolling down to the section titled "Israel". https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ancient-coins-on-modern-coins/ Enjoy!!!
Lovely JD, RC! And fun idea. I love picking up Napoleon's coins and medals specifically for all the Roman i-coin-ography:
Oops! And it would be a dereliction of duty if I didn't bust out this modern Greek ATG! Crazy to think 1990 was 30 years ago. Are we the ancients!?
Well, I do really have to add these. They're copying the bust style, the legends and the reverse. Even the material: George IV, copper farthing, 1821, London. GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA, BRITANNIAR REX FID DEF (S 3822). George III, Cartwheel two pence, copper. 1797, Soho Mint. 41mm, 56.89g. GEORGIUS III D G REX. BRITANNIA (S. 3776). Charles II, copper farthing, 1675, London. CAROLVS A CAROLO (Charles son of Charles). BRITANNIA (S 3394). Antoninus Pius, bronze As. 154-155, Rome. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII. BRITANNIA - COS IIII (RIC III, 934; BMC 1972; C.117).
King Vittorio Emanuele III (1900-1946) was an avid numismatist (his personal collection is now in the National Museum), who was responsible for Italian coinage featuring highly artistic designs, often inspired by ancient types. A couple of other examples of what he inspired: Albanian coins featuring Herakles and the Nemean Lion and Alexander the Great: And an Israeli coin featuring an ancient Judaean coin:
I recently bought some paper currency I admittedly did not buy this for any classical allusions, but more because I find it interesting that the confiscated church property during the Revolution was used to back the currency. I can now say I own some property in France
I bought a modern coin this year too.. the modernest in fact. Its the one coin I never thought I would own
Inspired by Augustus? AR fifty lepta, struck for Greece at the Paris mint 1868 (rare), 1874 (common) and 1883 (somewhat scarce). It is one of the few Greek silver coins of the 19th century readily available. 18 mm, 2.5 g Paris, 1874, mintage = 4,500,573 Engraver: Désiré-Albert Barre KM 37 Ob.: ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ Α! ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ left profile of King George I, toothed rim; below neck ΒΑΡΡΕ Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ (Kingdom of Greece) large central crown, 50 ΛΕΠΤΑ, 1874; mintmark A
One of my favorite crowns - how many coins actually say "Gaul(e)" on them? A pileus cap, palm branch, a couple goddesses standing around symbolically - except for the triangle (?), just like a Roman coin! The Subalpine Republic was created by Napoleon and issued coins for a couple years - 1800-1802. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subalpine_Republic Seller's photo from eBay - I've since liberated it from the cardboard flip (Liberte!):
Is it because they both have mustaches? I always felt my Roman Victory inspired my Modern Angel... Roman Republic Anonymous AR Heavy Denarius - Didrachm. 6.55g, 18mm, 6h. Rome, circa 265-242 BC. Obv: Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind Rev: ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, YY in right field. Ref: Sear 25; Crawford 22/1; RSC 7. From the Eucharius Collection compared to: Gold French 20 Franc lucky angel
Here is my "modern ancient looking coin" AV 3 Ducati 1818 Naples Mint Ferdinando IV King of the Two Sicilies
I think the angel (Victory) on the Didrachm is graceful and far better rendered than the one on the gold 20 Franc
This reverse of Queen Victoria ''St. George slaying the dragon'' looks similar to ''Trajan on horseback, spearing Dacian '' coin from : https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1956778