Rhoemetalkes was ruler of the Odrysian kingdom of Thrace from 12 BC to AD 12, a loyal ally of Augustus. Here they are together on a coin of about 21mm, 6g. These aren't rare, and this coin has rather weak lettering, but it has a couple of super portraits, engraved in a delicate, refined style. It's very well preserved to boot, with clean, smooth surfaces, so I threw in a modest bid and to my surprise, won. This is the dealers pic with a black background. I'll post mine when it arrives. I know some of you have these issues - there also the one with jugate busts of R and his queen on the obverse. Let's see them!
hey, i had my eye on that one, i was on the wagon or would have given you a little bid war. the dual busts are nice indeed JA!
Not brilliant, but I got to cross Livia off the list Augustus/Rhoemetalke Region, City: Thrace, Coin: Bronze Assarian BASILEWS ROIMHTALKOY - Jugate heads right of Rhoemetalkes, diademed, and queen Pythodoris; monogram on the neck of Rhoemetalkes KAISAROS SEBASTOY - Jugate heads right of Augustus laureate, and Livia draped; capricorn in right field Mint: (12 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 13.02g / 26mm / - References: RPC 1709
Nice double headed snack, JA. Great-looking portraits. The ones with the queens often just seem to have extra Augustus portraits rather than anything noticeably feminine. Could be I'm missing it, but I don't see the monogram on Rhoemetalkes' neck on your coin, Pish. It should be quite prominent, like on this Wildwinds example: I think yours may be RPC 1708, like mine:
Well, it's really too bad this coin ended up being impossible to photograph, because it's quite nice. The combination of high relief on the busts, lightly engraved and worn lettering, and varying areas that are glossy and flat, make it very difficult to light. This is the best I could do. I rarely prefer a seller's image, but I couldn't seem to do much better... Sometimes you just have to put it away and try another day.
