A mean mug for 2022...

Hey folks,

Life has kept me pretty busy on the road. As such, I've not had much time to spend on the hobby of late. Nor to contribute here. My collection sits at home away from me.

I did, however, recently pick up this bad boy with a 'Mean Mug'. "Whoever could it be?", one might ask.

Of course, Mr. Scowl Face himself, Caracalla.

The coin has a few issues and some honest wear, but the expressive portrait and nice even dark-green patina captivated me. So, I had to have it.

Feel free to post any other coins of Caracalla, or other 'Mean Mugs', or other coins minted in Hadrianopolis, or simply a comment in agreement on the expressive portrait.


Thrace, Hadrianopolis. Caracalla. (AD 198-217). AE27(Tetrassarion?).
O: AYT K M AYP CE ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped bust right.
R: AΔPIANOΠΟΛEITΩN; Herakles standing left, resting right hand on club set on bucranium; holding lion skin in his left hand.
Varbanov 3534; Moushmov 2654; Jurukova 301

 

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Wonderful coin! Congratulations!!

This Licinius sits in my "Top 10" just due the bust - its a mean mug .. with crazy beard action and a silly moustache, then coupled with fish like eyes and mouth ....its poor art at its "finest". So bad that it's somehow spectacular to me.

 

My newest addition (actually arrives tomorrow) - denarius of Caracalla (scowl and all ) with lion on reverse. Struck AD 215.

 

Wow... now THAT is a great coin!!

 

That's a great scowling face, and a very nice provincial!


CARACALLA
AR Antoninianus. 5.18g, 23.6mm. Rome mint, AD 217. RIC IV 284a corr. (draped and cuirassed; see plate); RSC 396a. O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. R: P M TR P XX COS IIII P P, Luna Lucifera wearing crescent on head, fold of drapery in circle round head, holding reins and driving galloping biga of bulls left.
Ex Michael Kelly Collection

The one below is from Hadrianopolis as well, but with a mug not nearly as mean as yours.


CARACALLA
AE28. 12.12g, 27.7mm. THRACE, Hadrianopolis, circa AD 198-217. Yurukova, Hadrianopolis 156 (var.?, V- / R-); Varbanov -. O: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡΗ – ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟΣ, Laureate bust right, with slight drapery on left shoulder. R: ΑΔΡΙΑΝ-ΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Hermes standing left, holding purse and caduceus; at feet to left, ram standing left.

 

psycho:

 

Claudius II here looking like he just stepped in something



And the usual grumpy guy

 

Herodotus, That's a handsome provincial bronze . Caracalla appears to be in deep thought, he is often paired with Hercules. Pictured below are two coins of Caracalla I sold a long time ago with temperate looking portraits .

 

Nice patina on that provincial, @Herodotus, with a marvelous grumpy Caracalla countenance!

Here's one of my favorite Caracalla denarii. Trademark scowl.


Caracalla AD 198-217.
Roman AR Denarius 3.37 g, 19.7 mm.
Rome mint, AD 211.
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head, right.
Rev: INDVLG FECVNDAE, Julia Domna as Indulgentia, wearing polos, seated left on cerule chair, extending right hand and holding scepter.
Refs: RIC 214; BMCRE 73; RCV 6805.

 

It appears NOT to be a happy family...

GETA


GETA (209-211).
Denarius. Rome.
Obv: IMP CAES P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG.
Laureate head right.
Rev: PONTIF TR P COS II.
Emperor on horseback left, spearing fallen enemy.
RIC 68.


CARACALLA


CARACALLA (197-217).
Denarius. Rome.
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG.
Laureate head right.
Rev: MONETA AVG.
Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia.
RIC 236

 

...i'd say that'd be an understatement, esp. as time progressed...

 

Nice-lookin’ tough guy.

 

I have this antoninianus and several large bronze pieces from Phrygia, Pamphylia, and Macedon.

 

Very nice new pickup!

Caracalla was always happiest spending time with his beloved little brother:



And a few of my other favorites of his…his tetradrachms tend to have the meanest portraits.

 

I always liked this Trajanopolis, Caracalla's portrait suggests we are not dealing with a nice guy

 

That's a great provincial Caracalla @Herodotus !
He has some really great portraits. I don't have a good mean mug of him but I will share my one and only coin of Hadrianopolis featuring Gordian III and Nike:

Gordian III
AE26
Hadrianopolis, Thrace
Obverse: AVT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AV, laureate, draped bust right
Reverse: AΔΡIANOΠOΛEITΩN, Nike standing left with wreath and palm branch

 

Very nice patina and scowl @Heliodromus! Here is a recent scowl find with an unusual reverse type of Zeus holding Tyche. Have not found anything similar yet.


Syria, Seleukis & Pieria, Gabala. Caracalla Æ27
Obv: AVT K M A ANTΩNINOC / Laureate bust of Emperor Caracalla right.
Rev: ΓABAΛEWN / Zeus seated left holding Tyche with cornucopia and rudder.

 

I've always thought that Galba had a mean mug.

Here are my two coins of him

AE Sestertius (36mm, 27.09 g). Rome mint. June-August AD 68. IMP SER GALBA AVG TR P, draped bust of Galba right, wreathed with oak laurel, seen from behind / S P Q R OB CIV SER, legend in three lines within oak wreath (corona civica). RIC I 263.

Ex Ed’s Treasures Collection.
Ex Heritage Auctions, the Ed’s Treasures Collection of Ancient Coins Showcase Auction #61238 (5 December 2021), lot 99094.
Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Auction V (23-24 February 1978), lot 396.


AR Denarius (18mm, 3.55 g). Tarraco mint. AD 68. GALBA IMP, laureate head right of Galba; globe at point of neck truncation / DIVA AVGVSTA, Livia standing left, holding patera in right hand, sceptre in left. RIC I 14.

Ex Hunter Collection.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica via Numisplace.
Ex Jesus Vico Auction 154 (6 June 2019), lot 459.
Ex Ira & Larry Goldberg Auction 72 (3 February 2013), lot 4422.

 

Nero had a mean mug as well.

 

Great Scowls posted...