New Volusian Sestertius - IVNO MARTIALI

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Julius Germanicus, Dec 4, 2021.

  1. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    I had the chance to upgrade my old Volusian Sestertius with this specimen that, while it does not show my preferred brass tone, nevertheless features what in my humble opinion is a portrait in the finest style of this troubled period (there are in fact cast copies of this very coin on the market).

    IMG_4496.jpg

    IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG – Laureate bust right, seen from behind, wearing paludamentum /
    IVNONI MARTIALI S C- Temple of Juno: circular tetrastyle temple with Corinthian columns and ribbed dome, floral pattern at apex, large ornament below dome; within, statue of Juno, holding two grain ears in extended right hand, seated facing on winged throne; to lower left, peacock standing left; between columns, urns atop low pedestals
    AE Sestertius, Rome AD 252
    29mm / 20.92 g / 6 h
    RIC IV 252a, Cohen 41, Sear 9788, BM R.4077 (same reverse die), Banti 12 (15 specimens)

    IMG_4497.jpg

    The reverse has some cleaning scratches but nevertheless is the most desirable and interesting type available for this ruler and also the final example of the many architectural types featured on roman Sestertii.

    The version showing the temple with four columns is much rarer (just two specimens in the Guelma hoard) than the type with just two colums visible and without peacock (Cohen 46, 17 specimens at Guelma).

    Please show your coins of Volusian and anything related!
     
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  3. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    An excellent coin @Julius Germanicus - I have a humbler sestertius with a more common reverse type:

    Volusian (251-253 A.D.)

    AE Sestertius, 29 mm 16 grams, Rome mint

    Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

    Reverse: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus and sceptre.

    Reference:

    RIC 251a, Cohen 35, Sear 9786.
    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Lovely, @Julius Germanicus! I'm still on the lookout for one with this reverse type that I can afford.

    I have but one sestertius of Volusian, the same type as @ancient coin hunter:

    [​IMG]

    Volusian as Augustus, AD 251-253.
    Roman orichalcum sestertius, 17.26 g, 27. 4 mm 10 h.
    Rome, AD 252.
    Obv: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA S C, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus in right hand and transverse scepter in left hand.
    Refs: RIC 251a; Cohen 35; RCV 9786; Hunter 39.
     
  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    The question is when cleaning scratches become tooling. Mine is just plain rough. I would prefer one that is smoothly worn with good surfaces but this was what I found in 1999.
    ro1460b01991alg.jpg
     
  6. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    Here is a silver version, though distyle:
    VolusianTempleAnt.jpg
    Volusian. 251-253 AD. AR Antoninianus (21mm; 3.67 gm; 1h). Rome mint. Obv: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. Rev: IVNONI MARTIALI, Juno seated slightly left within round distyle temple; star in right field. RIC IV 173; RSC 45. Examples with the star on the reverse are rated as rare in RIC
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2021
  7. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    A sestertius of the type by Volusian's father. Again, only two columns:
    TrebGallusSestTempleJuno.jpg
    Trebonianus Gallus. 251-253 AD. Æ Sestertius (29mm, 16.73 gm, 12h). Rome mint, 5th officina. 2nd emission, 251-252 AD. Obv: IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: IVNONI MARTIALI / S - C Statue of Juno seated facing, holding scepter, within round-domed, distyle temple. RIC IV 112
     
  8. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    Wow. About EF for wear, but the surfaces…..speak for themselves.
     
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  9. romismatist

    romismatist Well-Known Member

    Still need to get me a Volusian...
     
  10. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    I think he is saying the OP's coin was tooled.
     
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  11. GinoLR

    GinoLR Well-Known Member

    Volusien.jpg
    Just a little antoninianus...
     
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  12. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    I'd say tooling is an attempt to change things or add things that are no longer there. When the scratches are more or less restricted to the fields, that's just harsh cleaning scratches. Jupiter knows that I've scratched my share of coins when I first started out cleaning uncleaned ancient coins, but I've never tried to add missing details or change an inscription.

    So if added by a clumsy buffoon, they're probably just cleaning scratches. But if added by a weasel, think: tooling.
     
  13. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    Here is the very similar specimen in the British Museum to compare:
    Bildschirmfoto 2021-12-05 um 19.05.55.png
    Sellers pictures of my coin:
    Bildschirmfoto 2021-12-05 um 19.11.15.png
    And here is a cast forgery of my coin that was sold as genuine on VCoins:
    Bildschirmfoto 2021-12-05 um 19.15.23.png
     
  14. Voulgaroktonou

    Voulgaroktonou Well-Known Member

    Here is my example; despite losing a chunk of itself in antiquity, it is interesting for being struck on a medallic flan.
    RIC 253a. 27.33 gr. 39 mm hr. 12. S09787A.jpg
     
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