As my main collecting theme is ancient architecture on coins I would be very interested to see some examples you guys have, and of course I will show you mine if you show me yours.
My favorite Roman temple coin... Marcus Aurelius sestertius showing facade of the Temple of Mercury. MARCUS AURELIUS AE Sestertius. 29.44g, 31mm. RIC 1075; Cohen 535. O: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII, laureate head right. R: IMP VI - COS III, within a tetrastyle temple with telamons as columns and a semicircular pediment containing, from left to right, tortoise, cockerel, ram, winged helmet, caduceus, and purse, a statue of Mercury standing left on pedestal, holding caduceus and purse; S - C in field, RELIG AVG in exergue. This one may possibly not be an architectural type as you mean it, but I thought it'd be interesting to post because it actually shows some construction going on, specifically, Dido overseeing the building of Carthage. ELAGABALUS AE28. 12.6g, 28mm. TYRE, Phoenicia, circa AD 218-222. Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; Price & Trell 748 (for rev. type). O: [IMP CAES] M AV ANTONIN[VS AVG], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: [TVRIORVM], Dido overseeing the building of Carthage; she stands on the right, holding a rule and a transverse sceptre, facing left towards an arched city gate flanked by two towers, palm tree to her right; above the gate a mason works; below, a worker digs with a pick, legend [∆ƐI-∆Ω] to his left and right; murex shell in upper field. Ex TIF Collection
Mate it is architecture they tended to render them in abstract form and I am envious as I have not got one of the temple of Mercury great coin thanks for your post.
I stalk Zumbly and he stalks me I bought this Marcus Aurelius because of his, although I'd temporarily forgotten about his at the time of my purchase. Marcus Aurelius Sestertius; 31 mm, 24 gm; struck AD 173, Rome mint Obv: laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: Mercury standing left on pedestal, holding caduceus and purse (it looks more like a patera to me); within temple with figural columns (telamones); on semicircular pediment, tortoise (unfortunately worn on this coin), cockerel, ram, caduceus, winged helmet, and purse; S-C across fields; RELIG AVG in exergue Ref: RIC III 1074; MIR 18, 258-6/37; Banti 260 Zumbly's nice writeup of the type is here. I have an obsession with these "Dido overseeing the building of Carthage" bronzes and am actively seeking one example from each issuing emperor/empress: PHOENICIA, Tyre. Elagabalus CE 218-222 AE29, 13.4 gm Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: Dido building Carthage; she stands to front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work, [below, a man digging with pick]; murex shell in upper field, palm tree to right Ref: Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748 Writeup is here. PHOENICIA, Tyre. Gordian III CE 238-244 Æ trichalkon; 29mm, 18.10 g, 12h Obv: laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: Dido standing left, holding transverse rule; to left, arched gate of Carthage on which mason sits and constructs; murex shell above; in exergue, man digging right with pick Ref: Rouvier 2430; AUB –; BMC –. PHOENICIA, Tyre. Valerian I (CE 253-260) Æ28.5 mm, 12.2 gm Obv: IMP CP LIC VALERIANVS AVG; radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: COL TVRO METRO; the building of Carthage: Dido standing left, holding cubit ruler and scepter, surveying construction; mason above gate, worker with pick-axe digging before gate, murex shell to lower right Ref: Rouvier 2501; BMC 470; cf Price & Trell 748 Does this Sewer Goddess shrine count as architecture? L. Mussidius Longus, 42 BCE AR denarius, Rome mint. Obv: Diademed and veiled head of Concordia right; CONCORDIA upwards behind; star in right field under chin Rev: Shrine of Venus Cloacina: Circular platform surmounted by two statues of the goddess, each resting right hand on cippus, the platform inscribed CLOACIN and ornamented with trellis-pattern balustrade, flight of steps and portico on left; L • MVSSIDIVS • LONGVS around above. Ref: Crawford 494/42b; Bab. 6; BMC 4244; Crawf. 494/42 b; Syd. 1093a I'd like to add more architectural coins, in particular one with a 3/4 semi-aerial view of a temple, plus one or more of an ancient port.
Nice coins TIF I thought I recognized a few of them from your site, I really love those 3/4 view ones and ancient ports can you post them please.
I would if I had any . Here are some CNG archive examples of types I'd like to acquire: SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Heliopolis. Divus Septimius Severus. Died AD 211. Æ (26mm, 11.56 g, 6h). Commemorative issue. Struck under Caracalla, AD 211-212. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Temple of Jupiter Heliopolitanus right, viewed from aerial perspective. Sawaya 416 (D85/R164). Near VF, earthen green patina. BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ 22mm (7.57 g, 1h). Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Aerial view of Nicaea surrounded by a octagonal wall with two gates. RG 848; SNG Copenhagen -. VF, dark green-brown patina. Of course, a colosseum sestertius would be nice but it is totally unrealistic for my budget. A Nero Port of Ostia might be do-able but it would have to be extremely low grade, so instead I'll probably just continue to admire AncientJoe's.
Those two coins you just posted are two of my favorites I have an example of the temple but are yet to get a city wall...there has been a couple go up for auction lately but not as good as yours. Do you think we can get AncientJoe to post his Colosseum and blow everyone away?
Gordian III Region, City: Moesia, Markianopolis Coin: Bronze Pentassarion AYT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AYΓ - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right, facing draped bust of Serapis wearing kalathos. UP MNOFILOU MARKIANOPOLITW - Triumphal arch or city gate with three portals, surmounted by three statues. E in doorway. Mint: (AD 238-240) Wt./Size/Axis: 12.21g / 28mm / - References: Varbanov 1945
Nice one Pishpash i love those coins with people standing on the top if only we knew who they are probably a good bet would be one of them Godian 111.
Thanks Ancient Aussie, I got this uber cheap, less than £10 shipped. They appear to be die matches for Varbanov.
I was going through my collection and the only example of architecture I have is the rare Uranius Antoninus provincial I've posted 100 times before (Baetyl of El–Gabal, decorated with eagle flanked by parasols, within hexastyle temple). I collect coins for the portrait series, so the most important thing to me is a fine style portrait. Occasionally, that comes with very interesting reverses! @Ancient Aussie, it's good to meet another Aussie here! Where are you from? I am in South Yarra, Melbourne (when I'm not globetrotting!)
I am always jealous and in awe of Hermione's exceptional taste in coins. I'd never thought to collect Dido/Carthage, but it's definitely an intriguing theme.
Wicked. You're in Melbourne. I don't know any other Aussies who collect ancients. Although I'm sure there's plenty who collect the Australian series.
Yes I find not many ancient coin collectors or dealers for that matter, probably IS Wright in city or Nobles for auctions what do you think?
I occasionally browse IS Wright, and also the Monetarium when I'm in Adelaide, but there's rarely anything available that i want. Cameron from Cerberus in Adelaide (on Vcoins) is good. But I buy 99% of my coins from overseas (vcoins, ebay or the big name auctions).
Wonderful thread and posts!!! Considering how much 'architecture' appeals to me as a device theme, I seem to have surprisingly few examples......but here's a denarius of Trajan with the 'column' reverse and a sestertius of Caligula....