In the thread on favorites we saw: and this really wonderful example of a non-portrait Vespasian: ...so it seems natural to start a thread on Roman Imperial coins which do NOT have a portrait. I'll start with a Caligula sestertius honoring the opening of the temple of the divine Augustus. and his quadrans honoring his repeal of the 1/2% sales tax. Marcus Aurelius issued a 200th anniversary of the battle of Actium Who has others? Remember: Imperial but no heads! That includes heads of non-emperors. I was going to show the Anonymous Pagans from the Great Persecution period c.312AD but I won't because they may not really be Imperials since they were issued without a ruler name. Don't look at these:
I was hoping you would show that one. There is a good Galba and a couple minor relatives of 12 Caesars rulers.
AUGUSTUS AE Quadran OBVERSE: SISENNA MESSALLA IIIVIR, altar REVERSE: APRONIVS GALLVS AAAFF around SC Rome 5 BC , Moneyers Apronius, Galus, Messalla, and Sisena 3.0g, 17mm RIC 463 or 200 in Old RIC AUGUSTUS AE Quadran OBVERSE: LAMIA SILIVS ANNIVS, clasped hands holding caduceus REVERSE: III VIR A A A F F around large S C Rome 9 BC 3.0g, 15mm RIC 420, BMC 200, S 1693 AUGUSTUS AE19 (Semis) OBVERSE: VIC AVG, Nike standing left on globe, holding wreath and palm REVERSE: COHOR PRAE PHIL, three military standards Philippi 27 BC-14 AD 3.8g, 19mm RPC 1651, ANS 677, BMC 23, SGI 32 NERO/DRUSUS CAESAR AE Dupondius OBVERSE: NERO ET DRVSVS CAESARES, Nero & Drusus on horseback riding right REVERSE: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT around large S C Struck at Rome, 37/8AD 11.36g, 27mm RIC 34 CLAUDIUS AE Quandran OBVERSE: T I CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG – Modius REVERSE: PON M TRP IMP P P COSII - Large S C Struck at Rome, 42AD 2.6g, 16mm RIC 90, BN 195, S 1865, C 72 CLAUDIUS AE Quandran OBVERSE: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG around hand holding pair of scales above PNR REVERSE: PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT around S C Struck at Rome, 41AD 2.8g, 15mm RIC 85, Cohen 71, BMC 174 ANONYMOUS Æ Quadrans OBVERSE: Winged petasus REVERSE: S-C, winged caduceus Struck at Rome, Late 1st-mid 2nd century AD 15mm, 2.36g RIC II 32 MARCUS ANTHONY RESTITUTION AR Denarius OBVERSE: ANTONIVS AVGVR III VIR R P C, Galley left. REVERSE: ANTONINVS ET VERVS AVG REST, legionary eagle between two standards, LEG VI between Struck at Rome, 168AD 3.81g, 20mm RIC III 443 (Marcus Aurelius) ; BMCRE 500 MAXIMINUS II DAIA Quarter-Nummus OBVERSE: GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Tyche of Antioch seated facing on rocks, turreted and veiled, stalks of grain in right, river-god Orontes swimming below REVERSE: APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo standing left, patera in right, lyre in left. A in right field, mintmark SMA Struck at Antioch, 312 AD 1.2g, 13mm Van Heesch 3, A
MAXIMINUS II DAIA Quarter-Nummus OBVERSE: GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Tyche of Antioch seated facing on rocks, turreted and veiled, stalks of grain in right, river-god Orontes swimming below REVERSE: APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo standing left, patera in right, lyre in left. S in right field, mintmark SMA Struck at Antioch, 312 AD 1.2g, 13mm Van Heesch 3, A
AE's I understand with non-portraits, but Silver and Gold were controlled by the State. And the State was the Emperor... I like @Bing 's Antony restitution, and @vespasian70 's Vespasian. Are there others? How about Non-Portrait Imperial SILVERS?
Bing already posted an example of this Claudius quadrans, but here's my specimen. Although now that I think about it, maybe this is a portrait type after all- we don't know whose hand that is holding the scale...
This historical, non-portrait dupondius was struck to commemorate the return of the Legionary Eagles lost by Varvs in a battle in Germania in the year 9 A.D. Germanicvs was Rome's able commander given the job of recovering the Legionary Eagles, and thus restoring roman honor. This coin commemorates the return of 2 of the 3 eagles. In the name of Germanicus, father of Gaius. Dupondius 37-41, Obv: GERMANICVS Rev: CAESAR Germanicus, bare-headed and cloaked, standing in ornamented slow quadriga r., holding eagle-tipped sceptre. Rev. SIGNIS – RECEPT / DEVICTIS – GERM / S – C Germanicus, bare-headed and cuirassed, standing l., holding eagle-tipped sceptre in l. hand and raising r. C 7. BMC Gaius 93. RIC Gaius 57. CBN Gaius 140. I did a lengthy expose here in CoinTalk a few years ago (2009) on the history of and the events leading to this battle, and the subsequent loss of 3 complete legions. It is said that Rome never fully recovered from this defeat. It certainly affected the course of the roman conquest of Germania. This post may be found here for those who are interested: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ro...-of-the-teutoburger-forest.55830/#post-610278
How 'bout my humble ol' Augustus quadran? Augustus Æ quadrans Moneeyers Lamia, Silia and Annius Date: 9 B.C. Diameter: 17 mm Weight: 2.79 grams Reverse: IIIVIR AAAFF around S.C. Obverse: LAMIA SILIVS ANNIVS around Simpulum and lituus Reference: RIC 74, 421. Cohen 339. BN I, 117, 580 General Comments: Quite Scarce, Nice tone, Better in hand
Ummm, do these examples count? Divus Augustus. Æ Sestertius Died AD 14 Struck under Tiberius, circa AD 36-37 Rome mint Diameter: 33 mm Weight: 25.60 grams Obverse: Statue of Augustus seated left on throne, holding laurel branch and scepter, set on ornate car drawn by four elephants, each with its own mahout Reverse: Legend around large S C Reference: RIC I 68 (Tiberius) Other: 12h ... Good VF, light brown patina, minor roughness, deep punch mark on reverse Diva Julia Titi. Æ Sestertius Struck under Domitian Rome mint AD 91 Died AD 91 Diameter: 34 mm Weight: 24.31 grams Obverse: Carpentum drawn right by two mules Reverse: Legend around large S C Reference: RIC II 717 (Domitian) Other: 5h … Fine, brass-brown patina, roughness and cleaning scratches
Steve, according to my watch it is just past midnight over on your side of the world. Don't you ever sleep, my friend?
This sestertius was struck under Tiberius in honor Livia, his mother and wife of Augustus. Tiberius, 14-37. Sestertius (Orichalcum) Rome, 21-22. Obv: S.P.Q.R / IVLIAE / AVGVST Carpentum drawn by two mules to right, its sides ornamented with dancing figures and its roof held up by Atlantes and Caryatids. Rev: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST P M TR POT XXIIII Large S C. BMC 56. Cohen (Livia) 6. RIC 51.
Here another non-portrait imperial sestertius, this one for Drvsvs, son of Tiberius and struck under Tiberius. The obverse shows the confronted heads of Drvsus' children on a crossed cornucopia. DRUSUS, son of Tiberius. Æ Sestertius (25.97 gm). Struck under Tiberius, 22-23 AD. Obv: Confronted heads of Drusus' children on crossed cornuacopiae, with caduceus between Rev: DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N PONT TR POT II around large S C. RIC I 42 (Tiberius); BMCRE 95 (Tiberius); BN 72 (Tiberius); Cohen 1 (Drusus).
Besides a few modest quadrans I own that are already posted and an example of Doug's Caligula sestertius I'm missing any of those other cool examples you guys own...and I want some!!!
Here is my thing : Roman Imperial: Claudius (41-54) Quadrans, Rome (RIC-91) Obv: CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG II; Hand left, holding scales; PNR below. Rev: TR P IMP P P COS II PON M; S • C
Most of these examples are as sweet as one can dream. Already posted by @Eduard, I think it's my only non-portrait-imperial Germanicus, Dupondius minted in Rome, 37-41 AD GERMANICVS CAESAR, Germanicus in triumphal quadriga right SIGNIS RECEPT DEVICTIS GERM, Germanicus standing left, rising right arm, holding legionnary eagle 17.79 gr Ref : RCV #1820, Cohen #7 Q
