Amazing posts and great info and clarification as usual Doug!!! I was about to ask about those pesky latin legends (and mixed exceptions) in what would otherwise appear to be a 'Provincial'....gasp, Has anyone told Steve
I saw a cool documentary on the building of the harbor at Caesarea Maritima. Amazing technology on Roman concrete and how they did it.
This coin was acquired as a coin from/for us in Commenge. I've been flipping and flopping it from my Imperial tray to my Provincial tray. I'm not sure where it goes but after reading Doug's definition I'm leaning toward leaving it in the Imperial tray? Thoughts? Vespasian (69-79), Irregular Dupondius, Rome (?), AD 74; AE (g 13,84; mm 29; h 6); IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head l., Rv. PON MAX TR POT P P COS V CENS, winged caduceus between two cornucopiae. RIC I 798c = II 759; RPC 1983. Bolt portrait, about extremely fine / extremely fine. Probably minted in Rome for the Syrian monetary circulation.
Ancientone, I would not miss this party for the world and will toss in my only provincial bronze: Faustina Junior, 147-175 AD Thrace, Pautalia mint 6.47 grams, 21 mm, Obverse: Draped bust of Faustina II right, reverse: Athena seated left, holding Nike & Spear. The reverse is what did me in, it's one of my favorites
JB, Sweet coin! I would place it in Imperial. Made for use in Syria by Roman authorities. Hispanicus, very nice! I have a thing for Athena on provincials.
Great coins as usual. Going here is a bit like going to a coin show and seeing what's out there to collect. Steve, you ask a good question - Provincials, or is there a fox or two in the ol' henhouse?! Doug, as usual you propose a good answer - Proposed definition for Provincial coins: I think this question extends into the Roman Republican era. What is Roman Republican vs what is Celtic, Greek (from Greek colonies), barbaric imitation, etc. First my favorite Greek Imperial/Roman Provincial - Julia Domna. Best of all it is published: "The Three Graces and Numismatic Mythology" by Mark Staal. My favorite Roman Republican Provisional, normally listed as Greek or "Monedas antiguas de Hispania / Celtiberian" on Spanish auction sites. I have posted this one before, but again, the first living Roman on a coin, P Scipio: Some Spanish imitations of RR semis, I would like to have one of these attributed to Sertorius. borrowing from Wikipedia: Quintus Sertorius was a Roman statesman and general, born in Nursia, in Sabine territory. His brilliance as a military commander was shown most clearly in his battles against Rome for control of Hispania. His family, the gens Sertoria, was probably of Sabine origin, and was previously undistinguished.
@rrdenarius , Man, I love your Scipio! Captured mine for the exact same reasons that you did! AE of Publius Cornelius Scipio (before he was Africanus, and while in Spain), from Carthago Nova... He was young, had been built up almost as a demi-god to politically oppose Hannibal's propaganda campaign in Italy against Rome... This whipper-snapper "figgered" it all out as to how to counter the psychological effect that Hannibal had on the Romans AND Italians for so many years! Roman Republic Carthago Nova (Carthaginian city of Qart Hadasht) Roman Occupation by Scipio (later Africanus) ca. 209-206 BCE Bronze Unit 22.8mm, 9.1g Carthago Nova mint OBV: Bare head l, Roman style (Scipio?) REV: Horse standing r Rare Sear/Seaby Vol 2 6575; SNG BM Spain 127-128; Burgos 552 ex FORVM