I love quinarii, especially ones that are stylistically pleasing and rare. My latest acquisition I believe fits that criteria. Vespasian AR Quinarius, 1.53g Rome mint, 75(?) AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; Victory adv. r., with wreath and palm RIC 796 (R). BMC -. RSC 614 var. BNC -. Acquired from NumisCorner, October 2021. Vespasian's moneyer's struck a great issue of undated quinarii in 75, possibly in conjunction with the opening of his Temple of Peace. Two standard Victory types (seated and advancing) were employed along with various variant legend spellings and orientations. The variations are: obverse legend - VESPASIANVS or less commonly VESPASIAN; reverse legend - AVGVSTI or less commonly AVGVST. The reverse legend can also either be oriented from low r. or high l. This coin is considered one of the less common variants with VESPASIAN in the obverse legend and AVGVSTI in the reverse, oriented from low r. All quinarii struck during the Flavian era are exceedingly rare compared to the denarii. Vespasian's largest issue of quinarii is this undated issue which most likely dates to 75. The quinarii struck before 75 have AVGVSTI in the reverse legend, while those struck after 75 use the shorter AVGVST. This undated issue employs both forms and therefore fits neatly with a 75 production date. The portrait is quite stylish for such a small flan. Feel free to show off your tiny treasures!
Another Flavian treasure for a Flavian fanatic I always admire small coins and I was surprised when I found out about them. Before collecting ancient coins, I used to think all of them are 20-25 mm. I was aware about the Sestertius being a large coin but I thought all of them are very rare. As for small coins - I didn't know they existed. Here are my favorite small portraits. The coin is not well centered but this doesn't make the portraits less beautiful. I always liked facing busts, as on most of the coins we see profiles. CILICIA, Nagidos(ca 400-380 BC) AR Obol Head of Aphrodite facing slightly right; [N] to left Rev: Wreathed head of young Dionysos facing slightly left; [N] to left. Göktürk 2; SNG France –; SNG Levante 6. 0,56 g, 11 mm
I've got the same coin - bought it for the Zeus portrait. Mysia, Adramytion Coin: Bronze AE12 Obv.: Laureate head of Zeus facing slightly right Rev.: ΑΔΡΑ - Eagle standing left on altar Mint: Adramytion (ca 4th Century BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 1.40g / 12mm / - References: SNG France 2 Acquisition: Naville Numismatics Online Auction NN Auction 11 #49 30-Nov-2014 ATB, Aidan.
My most artistic tiny. Troas, Sigeion, c. 335 BC. Greek Æ 12.2 mm, 2.37 g, 5 h. Obv: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet and necklace. Rev: ΣΙΓΕ, owl standing right, head facing; crescent to left. Refs: BMC 17.86,7-10; SNG von Aulock 7637; SNG Ashmolean 1214–6; SNG Copenhagen 496–8; Sear 4145.
12mm from Corinth. No portrait, but a nice pegasus. I'm saddened by the high strike quality but awful surface quality.
Wow, that is a very nice example David. I only have one quinarius. It is of course Domitian featured on this small silver coin.
I remeasured and yes, mine is also 12mm. Yours has much better surfaces. These Adrymytion issues are NOT easy to find.