Sallent's Top 20 of 2017 (With plenty of drama and suspense, and some clickbait)

#5: Revenge of the Roman nerd.



The Roman oligarchy might not have been too thrilled about our next contestant , however, I sure am! I'm referring to the distant ancestor of Emperor Licinius, the Roman Republic historian and politician C. Licinius L.F. Macer. I think the obverse theme of this coin is one of the most attractive I've seen in any Roman coin...but maybe that's just me.


C. Licinius L.f. Macer
Rome, 84 BCE.
AR Denarius (19mm, 3.58g, 6h). Diademed bust of Vejovis l., seen from behind, hurling a thunderbolt. R/ Minerva in quadriga r., brandishing javelin and holding a shield. Crawford 354/1; RBW 1355; RSC Licinia 16. Bankers' marks on obv.

 

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Due to my son falling ill, I was not able to continue this thread as scheduled. However, he is doing much better now and I will resume the countdown to my top coin of 2017 this evening.

 

Sorry to hear about your son glad to hear he's doing better, can't wait to see more COINS!!!!!



Thanks,
Jacob

 

My Julia acquired a few weeks go..

S

 

#4 The Little Rascals of the late Empire



The next coin has got it all. It's late 3rd century Century silver, it's not very common although I wouldn't call it rare either, and it's got four Little Rascals....uhm, emperors, for the price of one...


GALERIUS as Caesar, AD 293-305.
AR Argenteus, 21mm, 2.7g, 12h; Rome, c. 294.
Obv: MAXIMIANVS CAES; Laureate head right.
Rev: VIRTVS MILITVM; The tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets.
Reference: RIC VI Rome 29b, p. 353, r2.

 

Galerius:


Galerius. A.D. 305-311
Roman AE follis, 26.0 mm, 7.73 g, 12 h
Heraclea mint, AD 310-311
Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right
Rev: GENIO IMPERATORIS, Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; */HTE
Refs: RIC 48a; RCV 14514; Cohen 48.

 

I really like this reverse type. I have it with a Rome mint Galerius as well.

GALERIUS
AR Argenteus. 3.36g, 18.4mm. Rome mint, circa AD 295-297. RIC 35b. O: MAXIMIANVS CAES, laureate head right. R: PROVIDENTIA AVGG, the four Tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure; Γ in exergue.

 

A wonderful example of a sought after type

The Diocletian equivalent from the Nicomedia mint


Diocletian, Argenteus Nicomedia mint, 3rd officina, AD 295-296
DIOCLETI ANVS AVG, Laureate head of Diocletian right
VICTORIAE SARMATICAE, The tetrarchs sacrifying before a campgate. SMNΓat exergue
3.3 gr
Ref : RCV # 12615 (1000), Cohen #491 var,

Q

 

MAXIMIANUS
AR Argenteus
OBVERSE: MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: VIRTVS MILITVM, four tetrarchs sacrificing before walls with 6 turrets
Struck at Ticinum, 295 AD
2.6g, 18mm
RIC VI 18b

 

#3 Roman Thug Life

He outmaneuvered the Anti-Caesarians, Mark Anthony, Cicero, Sextus Pompey, the Roman Senate and nobility, and anyone else who stood in his path to ultimate power.



I'm referring of course to the one and only Octavian Julius Caesar...also known as Augustus Julius Caesar. This coin is in my top 3 because I am in absolute love with the portrait.


AUGUSTUSAR silver denarius. Struck 2 BC - 14 AD. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right. Reverse - AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, C L CAESARES in exergue, Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, shield and spears between them; simpulum and lituus above, X in middle field (Pd rather than the more usual b9). RSC 43. RCV 1597. 17mm, 3.6g.

A scarcer variant with inverted lituus & simpulum, as well as the X in the field between the boys.

 

Thats a nice denarius from la douce France , Sallent, congrats

Heres one from Spain:

 

I have a soft spot for Iberian coins. I really like yours. Thanks for sharing.

 

AUGUSTUS Scutum Sinister:


RI Augustus AR Denarius struck 2 BC-14 AD Caius and Lucius Caesars stdg shield spear S 1578 NGC4276216-007

 

Merry Christmas everyone!






And to celebrate Christmas I have a special coin to share with you all. #2 of my top 20-something list.

Today I have a coin featuring what can only be described as the ancient equivalent of hillbillies. Incest gallore and other weirdness. So without further delay, give it up for the hillbillies....



No, no! Wrong hillbillies. I'm not talking about the lovable Hollywood version of the hillbillies. I'm referring to...

#2: The Alexandrian Hillbillies

The protagonist of this story, Ptolemy IX, started his reign by jointly ruling with his mother Cleopatra III. Whether this made his mother his "wife" I won't even bother asking...some things are better not asked.

At some point Prolemy IX married his sister, Cleopatra IV, but their mother appears to have gotten jealous of the brother-sister love (yuck )and kicked her out. And like any sensible Egyptian queen, she then married her son to his younger sister, CleopatraSelene, whom no doubt being younger was easier to control. However, mom soon got tired of them and deposed them in favor of her youngest son, Ptolemy X. But I guess incest with Ptolemy X was not it was all cracked out to be, so mother did away with him and reinstated Ptolemy IX back as her co-ruler.

Then Ptolemy X got jealous and killed their mother, and was then killed by Ptolemy IX. These late Ptolemies were definitely a pale imitation of the great Ptolemy I.


PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros). 116-107 BC.AR Tetradrachm, 25mm, 13.7g, 12h; Alexandreia mint. Dated RY 8 (110/9 BC).
Obv.: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis.
Rev.: ΠΤΟΛEMAIOY- BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ; Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings closed; LH (date) to left, ΠA to right.
Reference: Svoronos 1669; SNG Copenhagen 352.
From the Aethelred Collection.

 

If they made a movie of the Cleo III tale, the cut for broadcast TV version would have plenty of time for commercials.

Other than being year 6, lower grade and ex-jewelry, my Ptolemy X is similar.

 

#1: That's All Folks



It has been a long and fun journey, but all good things must come to an end. I thank all of you who have shared your own coins in this thread, and thank you kindly for all your comments. I wish you all a Happy New Year.

This coin is number one in my list because I am in love with the size and weight, as well as the lovely portrait of Maximian. It is real eye candy.


Maximianus
AE Follis. Rome.
300-301 CE
8.86g, 28.15 mm
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, laureate head right / SACRA MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. Mintmark S-club. RIC VI Rome 100b; Sear 13292.
Note: Gloss black patina.

 

Great Maximianus Follis @Sallent ! And, FUN THREAD! And bummer about your Son's sickness... After 6 daughters and now 6 Grandkids, I "get it" about a child consuming your resources when they are sick. Especially Single-Parent responsibilities.

I will plop down my average Maximianus just so yours can REALLY shine!


RI MAXIMIANUS HERCULIUS 286-305 CE antoninianus Antioch 292-295 CE Pre-Reform CONCORDIA MILITVM Jupiter RIC V 621 H-officina 8

 

You seem to have a special fondness for stylized portraits, @Sallent, I would say both the Augustus and this Maximian are marvellous examples. Here's a contrasting, somewhat more realistic ant.:


Congrats on an amazing coin year and a highly entertaining thread, clickbait included!!!

 

Yes, I do think I have a soft spot for stylized images of these emperors. However, your Maximian is one delicious little gem I wouldn't mind having in my collection, and I suspect anyone else here would feel the same.

I do have a more humble example for this emperor, with a much more realistic portrait too. I like this coin a lot too. It's got it's own charms.


Maximianus, First reign, 286-305. AE Antoninianus
Lugdunum, 287-289.
IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximian to right.
Rev. VIRTVTI AVGG Hercules standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; at his feet to left, club.
Lyon 213. RIC V, 454.

 

That's for sure... great reverse type too, with Herc actually doing some work, in contrast to mine where he's just vogueing!