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next: Lucius verus denarius

 

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LUCIUS VERUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: L VERVS AVG ARMENICACVS, laureate head right
REVERSE: TR P V IMP II COS II, Mars standing right, holding spear & leaning on shield
Struck at Rome, 163-4 AD
3.0g, 16mm
RIC 529 (Marcus Aurelius), C 263

Next: Mars

 

Roman Republic
moneyer L. Julius L. f. Caesar, 103 BC
AR denarius, 17mm, 3.9 gm
Obv: Helmeted head of Mars left; CAESAR; ・C (retrograde)
Rev: Venus Genetrix in chariot left, drawn by two Cupids; lyre to left; ・C (retrograde) above
Ref: Crawford 320/1
ex RBW Collection

Next: Cupid

 

I say it's Cupid:

Roman Republic, L Lucretius Trio, AR Denarius, 76 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Neptune right, XXXIII above and trident behind/ Rev. Cupid (or Infant Genius) on dolphin right; L LVCRETIVS TRIO. Crawford 390/2, Sydenham 784, RSC I Lucretia 3, Sear RCV I 322 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 16 at pp. 98, 100-103 [Michael Harlan, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins, 81 BCE-64 BCE (Vol. I) (2012)], BMCRR Rome 3247. 19 mm., 3.9 g.


Next: another dolphin with an unhappy/disgruntled expression on its face.

 

.

 

Though not nearly as detailed and magnificent as yours, this guy has a pretty stern if not unhappy look:

Next up: provincial with a cool reverse

 

Time of Augustus.


Achaea. Attica, Athens. AE18. Athena/Sphinx
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos, r.
Rev: ΑΘΕ, sphinx wearing modius, r.; all in wreath.
Reign of Augustus, c. mid-late 20s BC.
RPC 1311.

Next: Sphinx

 

Here's one of many coins bought but never posted this year. I shouldn't be allowed to buy more coins until I take pictures of and post the backlog!


SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Gabala. Commodus
dated CY 233 (186/7 CE)
Æ 23mm, 7.28 g, 12h
Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left
Rev: Owl standing on globe right, facing sphinx, wearing calathus and seated left on plinth
Ref: RPC IV.3 Online 5788
Ex Judy Day Frink Collection

Next: another sphinx

 

Roman Republic, T. Carisius, AR Denarius, 46 BCE, Rome mint. Obv. Head of Sibyl (or Sphinx) right, her hair elaborately decorated with jewels and enclosed in a sling, tied with bands / Rev. Human-headed Sphinx seated right with open wings, wearing cap, T•CARISIVS above,; in exergue, III•VIR. Crawford 464/1, RSC I Carisia 11 (ill.), Sear RCV I 446 (ill.), Sear Roman Imperators 69 (ill. p. 46), Sydenham 983a, BMCRR 4061. 19 mm., 3.87 g.*



*The head on the obverse is described simply as a “Sibyl” in Crawford, “Sibyl Herophile” in Sear, and “Aphrodisian Sibyl” (i.e., Sibyl relating to Aphrodite/Venus) in RSC and BMCRR. The Sibyl Herophile was the name of a Sibyl at Erythae in Ionia opposite Chios, also associated with Samos. Crawford notes at p. 476 that the combination of a Sibyl on the obverse and a sphinx on the reverse “recall
those of Gergis in the Troad [citing BMC Troas, pp. xxx and 55], perhaps allud[ing] to Caesar’s Trojan origin,” the moneyer being a supporter of Caesar. See the examples of these coins of Gergis at https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/troas/gergis/i.html and https://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=79 . On each such coin, the Sibyl is characterized as “Sibyl Herophile.” Characterizing her as the “Aphrodisian” Sibyl would relate to the gens Julia’s legendary descent from Venus. The theory that the obverse instead portrays the head of the Sphinx on the reverse is presented in an article by D. Woods, “Carisius, Acisculus, and the Riddle of the Sphinx,” American Journal of Numismatics Vol. 25 (2013).

The “IIIVIR” in the exergue on the reverse refers to the moneyer’s position at the mint. See https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=IIIVIR, defining the term as a “Latin abbreviation: Triumvir. On coins of the Roman Republic IIIVIR is used as a shortened abbreviation for IIIVIR AAAFF, which abbreviates ‘III viri aere argento auro flando feiundo’ or ‘Three men for the casting and striking of bronze, silver and gold,’ a moneyer or mint magistrate.”

I'm tempted to add to the description that the sphinx is wearing sunglasses, but I don't think they'd been invented yet.

Another mythical beast that's neither a sphinx nor a pegasus (since we've had a lot of pegasi posted lately).

 

SPHINX - just so I can get back into the game!


Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx


Next: Another SPHINX

 

A bit too late, but a great coin nonetheless!

 

SIKYONIA, Sikyon
335-330 BCE
AR stater, 23 mm, 12.3 gm
Obv: Chimera standing left; wreath above, ΣE below
Rev: Dove flying left; A to left; all within wreath
Ref: BCD Peloponnesos 220; Traité III 775, pl. CCXX, 11
CNG 342, from the "collection of a Southern Pathologist, purchased from C.H. Wolfe, 3 May 1989"

Next: another non-Pegasus, non-sphinx mythical creature

 

Tetrobol of Arados, 4th c. BC : marine deity holding dolphins / schematic galley over hippocamp (a non-Pegasus, non-sphinx mythical creature)...

NEXT : Phoenician before Alexander

 

next: galley

 

Here's a chunky dishekel from Sidon, circa 401-365.



Next: Another Phoenician coin.

 

Phoenicia from the time of Trajan.


Phoenicia, Tyre.
Obv: Turreted head of Tyche right, palm branch behind head, uncertain object before.
Rev: Date palm with two fruits on tree. Date Q-OC across fields.

Next: tree

 

next: another tree

 

Vespasian sestertius



Next: A Roman coin from Carthage, any period.

 

12

Next up: angered Trajan AKA T- Rage

 

Maybe not angry but certainly serious.....Wouldn't want to mess with this guy...
Trajan ar Denarius 98-117AD 20mm/2.66gr (Minted 103-111AD)
Obverse-IMPTRAIANO AVG GER DAC PMTRP laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder
Reverse-COS VPPS PQR OPTIMO PRINC Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae....RIC II# 118

Next...Another Spanish Emperor.