Man, there are some great coins in this thread, but you sir win the grand prize. What a superb bust of Hadrian, and the river deity is very skillfully done too. Between your coin and Bing's Volusian, you have both stolen the show.
Lydia, Cilbiani. Geta AE18. River-god Kilbos Obv: L CEP GETAC KAI, laureate, draped bust right. Rev: KILBIANW N TWNANW, River-god Kilbos reclining left, holding reed and cornucopiae, resting arm on overturned urn from which waters flow. BMC 8. Phrygia, Themisonion. AE22. Sozon/Kazanes Obv: Radiate and draped bust Sozon right. Rev: River-god Kazanes, holding reed, reclining left on overturned amphora. 3rd cent AD. SNG Copenhagen 750; BMC 5, pl. XLIX, 2.
Great coin, love the toning and portrait. Not very often do you see a Drachm in that good a condition.
Love these river gods. I'll contribute a win from the recent Leu 1 e-auction. SICILY, Panormos (as Ziz) AR Litra. Circa 405-380 BC. BMC 24; Jenkins, Punic, p. 75, 13. O: Head of horned youthful river god to left. R: ['sys'] (in Punic), Forepart of a bearded man-headed bull to right.
Sallent, here's a link about the Istros coin http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=26496.0 2 river nymps Arethusa and Larissa:
Incredible posts everyone!!! Since I haven't noticed an example, I'll post one featuring Hanniballianus and the river-god reverse (Euphrates)....which I believe I purchased from HHC:
River gods would make an interesting collection. In fact, they already have. In the auction sale Helios 3 (29-30 April 2009) there was (in a catalog with 1113 lots) a collection of 482 ancient coins (lots 301-782), mostly Roman provincial, with river gods. Pick something you like, get the references, keep an eye out for them, and see what you can do. You might end up with an outstanding specialized collection.
That's a great coin zumbly, I really like the expression on on the man face on bull, how big is that coin?
Yeah, I really like the face on the MFB. I don't have it in hand yet but the measurements given are for a really tiny coin - 10mm, 0.73g. How amazing is that!