Another Purchased for the Portrait

As soon as I saw this coin listed I fell in love with it. The portrait is in superb style, no doubt created by a very talented engraver. Their handiwork is quite detectable throughout Titus's 80-81 bronze issues.



Domitian as Caesar [Titus]
Æ Dupondius/As, 11.22g
Rome mint, 80-81 AD
Obv: CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN COS VII; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: S C in field; Minerva stg. l., with thunderbolt and spear; shield at her side
RIC 348 (C). BMC -. BNC 256.
Acquired from Laurel Coins, January 2021.

The dupondii struck for Domitian Caesar under Vespasian and Titus have portraits that lack the radiate crown normally associated with that denomination. At times it can be a bit confusing determining if a coin is a dupondius or an As. This coin's heavier weight suggests it is a dupondius. Struck under Titus, the reverse features Domitian's patron deity Minerva and hints that he had quite a bit to say regarding his coin types. A common variant of the type, unusually missing from the BM.

Please show your superb portraits!

 

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Daddy

 

that's a nice coin on both sides David

 

David, That's a great coin with superb engraving on both sides ! I always thought the coin pictured below had an exceptional portrait for a small coin. I sold it last year at a CNG auction.

 

That's a great looking coin, @David Atherton. I find this denarius exceptional for the engravers skill and style. More on this coin in my notes (FRVGI Father and Son)

C. Calpurnius L.f. Frugi, 61 BC, Denarius, Rome
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind, standing eagle behind
Rev: C PISO L F FRVGI Horseman galloping right, winged, not wearing a hat, carrying nothing, with scorpion behind
Ref: Babelon (Calpurnia) 24. Crawford 408/1b. RBW, 319 in Hersh's 1976 catalogue of die combinations which is Obverse die 4 with Reverse die 1000 from Hersh C. (1976). A Study of the Coinage of the Moneyer C. Calpurnius Piso L. F. Frugi. The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-),16 (136), 7-63.

 

That is a great-looking coin, David. I like the reverse engraving too. Nice patina too. Congrats.

 

Lovely coin, with an impressive portrait of Tiuts.

This is my favorit portrait in my collection. Sestertius of Nero.

 

Won in a recent CNG auction, this portrait of Augustus appears exceptional. Waiting for the cistophorus to arrive any day, I’m looking forward to photographing it.

 

Nice portrait, but please show the reverse.

 

The reverse is less striking.

 

Domitian, AD 81-96. Æ Dupondius (27.5mm, 14.84g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 90-91. Obv: IMP CAES•DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER P P; Radiate head right. Rev: VIRTVTI-AVGVSTI; Virtus standing right, with left foot on helmet, holding spear and parazonium; S-C in fields. Ref: RIC II.1 706. Good Very Fine, dark green patina, some scratches on reverse. Ex CNG eAuction 474 (12 Aug 2020), Lot 441.

 

Some great portraits out there. The OP is stunning !

Some coins of mine I bought for their beautiful portrait styles :











Q

 

The obverse is nice, but it is nothing without the reverse. The reverse of this coin is exceptional as well. I would love to have an example of this coin!

 

Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ As (29mm, 13.19 g). Rome mint. Struck AD 86.
O: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XII CENS PER P P; Laureate bust right, wearing aegis.
R: MONETA AVGVSTI / S - C; Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia.
RIC II.1 493

 

Hello everyone! New member here.
I've gotten into collecting fairly recently, within the last year or so, focusing mainly on early Roman empire coins. Here is my current favorite, very much purchased for the portrait!

 

@David Atherton.....What a wonderful portrait!....Congrats.
Here's another skilled engraver 74 years later....
Antoninus Pius. 138-161 AD. AE Dupondius (11.76 gm, 25.3mm). Rome mint. Struck 154-155 AD.
Obv.. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII, radiate head right.
Rev.. LIBERTAS COS IIII / S - C, Libertas with pileus and sceptre standing left...RIC#933....BMC 1469. gVF.

 

Please forgive me for posting additional images of this cistophorus but here's another shot taken with a 50mm lens with extension tube, natural light, 160 iso, f 8, 1/6.

I look at this portrait and see the Primaporta Ausustus.

 

No need to apologize for another photo of this magnificent coin! I think it's my new all-time favorite Augustus. I just love those large silver portraits. Congrats on the acquisition!

 

It may not seem like much compared to some here, but I find myself really excited about this one, so much so that I had to post a photo from the dealer (it hasn't arrived yet.)



Trajan, AR Denarius
Struck AD 116 - 117, Rome mint
Obverse: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate and draped bust right
Reverse: PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Hilaritas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
RIC 332, BMCRE 626

 

I suppose there are many people who simply do not care what is on the reverses of their one per emperor portrait set and who have no use for coin types that do not have a portrait. That is not an appropriate discussion her but maybe we need a thread that asks for coins with reverses that are 'better' than their obverses. I wonder if there would be any piling on.