What's on the top of Severus Alexander's standards?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Gavin Richardson, Feb 26, 2017.

  1. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    So I'm still cataloguing this coin donation and I ran across this one. Most of the Nicaea provincial coin reverses feature military standards with rings at the top. This one shows a ring in the middle, but what appear to be two animals on the left and right standards. (The one on the right looks like a t-rex!) Any idea on what might be on these standards? Here's my description so far. (I've had to make an educated guess as to the obverse legend.)

    EMPEROR: Severus Alexander
    REIGNED: 222-235 A. D.
    DATE STRUCK:
    TYPE:
    AE21, Bithynia, Provincial Bronze of Nicaea
    SIZE: 21.45 mm.
    WEIGHT: 5.51 g.
    DIE AXIS: Ca. 0°
    OBVERSE: M AVP CEV AΛEΞANΔΡOC AV; laureate draped bust of Severus Alexander right.
    REVERSE: N-IK-AI-E between three legionary standards; the central one is topped by a ring; the other two topped by other animals—a scarcer variant of the three ringed standards variety.
    EXERGUE: ΩN

    31 SEVERUS ALEXANDER NICEA 1.jpg
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    Eagles?
     
    TIF likes this.
  4. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    I could see eagle for my T Rex. But the one on the left looks different. Could they both be eagles? I saw one online dealer suggest a panther for one of the animals. I thought that was an odd suggestion, unless there was an eastern legion with a panther as totemic figure. I just don't know enough. But the one on the right could very well be an eagle, indeed.
     
  5. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    I think they're both eagles. One in the middle looks like a wreath to me.
     
    Gavin Richardson likes this.
  6. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    I would say eagles.
     
    Gavin Richardson likes this.
  7. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  8. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    here's my SA Nicaea/standards...

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Looks like i'm all rings (wreath?).
     
  9. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    Well, looks like the Eagles have it. That's what goes in the description. Thanks for the responses!
     
  10. Ken Dorney

    Ken Dorney Yea, I'm Cool That Way...

    Late to the party, but they are eagles and laurel wreaths on these types.
     
    Gavin Richardson likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page