My first Crocodile

great coins all

 

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As promised. The coin arrived yesterday in the mail

It's a fourth type (bearing PP on obverse) of particularily good style to my eyes. According to JC Terrien in his website dedicated to Nemausus coinage, this type of engraving with massive portraits is that of the latest emissions. I think they're not as cartoonish as they sometimes look.

Although the patina is a bit pitted, the two portraits are very distinctive on the obverse, and centering is reasonnably good on both sides (only the end of the croc's snout is off flan). I do like how the palm tree is stylized too.

Did I say I like it ?


Augustus & Agrippa, AE Dupondius Nemausus mint, after AD 10
4th type
IMP DIVI F PP, Laureate heads of Augustus looking right and Agrippa looking left, back to back
COL NEM, Crocodile chained to palm tree
13,52 gr
Ref : RCV #1731, Cohen #8

Q

 

Wow, those are great portraits, and wonderfully centered! Isn't this the variety where the croc snout isn't even complete on the dies? They give the impression that it's off-flan, but I've seen clear examples that show the die workers ran out of space and simply couldn't get the snouts in. As far as I'm concerned, the centering is just about perfect!

 

The coins have never done much for me, but I do like the style of that one.

 

Very realistic portraits, great coin Cucumbor.

 

VERY nice Cuke!!! The photo and patina looks like it is SILVER. Very very cool.

 

You point out the best evidences for an early type. I don't believe yours ever had a laurel wreath. The rear ribbons last longer than the wreath on worn coins. Early crocs are smaller and more often fit entirely on the flan. You don't need someone to tell you the answer; if you are wrong, so am I.

 

Thanks to this thread I just bought a tray of goodies. Paid for and en route from France. Seems I'll have some work ahead to sort these out:

 

Indeed! A great piece of history to hold in hand. Wonderful coin OP, and for all who shared.

 

Thank you all for your thoughts and more interesting Crocodiles!

So my coin would be the second Emission, RIC 155, RPC 523, Sear 1729, that is probably to be associated with Augustus´visit to Gallia in 16 B.C.
Weight corresponds with the average of 12 g; size is 28,3 mm.

I also found is another great site on these (in french also):
http://as-de-nimes.pagesperso-orange.fr/classification/classification.html

Comparing my specimen to the examples illustrated there, my crocodile´s "platypus"- shape and the rather small heads of Augustus and Agrippa most closely seem to resemble the plate coin for Type 1 (RIC 154, RPC 522, Sear 1728) on that site. As type 1 coins have a weight range from 11 to 25 grams, that would also be possible.
Also, my coin is clearly made of yellow Orichalcum / brass, just like the Type 1 coin shown there:




That would qualify both as Dupondii, while later types seem to be made of reddish brown copper which would make them Asses.

Does that make sense? What do you think? Is my coin Type 1 or Type 2?
And are there Nemausus Asses AND Dupondii at all or is it all one denomination despite the obviously different metals?

 

PHOTO: AncientJoe’s croc coin.

I'm going to resurrect this thread for a bit.

I recently acquired one of these Nemausus crocodile coins and I’m trying to parse all of its “devices.” This coin has a lot of stuff going on. Here’s my attempt to understand the art of the “fourth emission” or latest striking of this type. I looked for the best one I could find to illustrate the coin, and @AncientJoe's caught my eye. I hope he doesn’t mind my using his coin for illustration. I’d especially appreciate feedback/corrections/speculation on the suggestions in red.

OBVERSE:

Agrippa: Left portrait, wearing rostral crown since he was the Admiral who presided over the naval victory at Actium.

Augustus: Right portrait, on this striking, wearing laurel crown for victory.

IMP; PP; DIVI F: All titles for Augustus: Imperator (military power); pater patriae (father of his country); divi filius (“son of the deified” Julius Caesar).

REVERSE:

Chained crocodile: Symbolic of defeating Egypt, with the crocodile being a symbol of that now-Roman province.

Palm tree: Is the palm here more to represent the flora of Egypt, or is it a palm of victory, or do we have to choose?

Twin snakes up top at 1 o’clock. What are the snakes here for? More fauna of Egypt? (It was believed that North Africa–especially the Libyan desert–was literally crawling with snakes. Cf. Lucan’s Pharsalia, book 9). Is it too romantic to think the snakes allude to the method of Cleopatra’s suicide by poisonous asp? Probably. But I can’t help but feel that the two snakes have a specific iconographical purpose.

Wreath, top left at 11 o’clock. The wreath looks more like a jellyfish to me. But at least its purpose is clear: more victory swag.

Am I missing anything? Have I misinterpreted something?

 

These are the ties of the wreath. I have to agree that on AJ’s coin they do look a little like twin snakes!

 

Oh darn. I liked them much better as snakes. At least I learned something. Thanks!

 

what a beauty, i am not post my coin

 

Let us see it Ro!!

 

That’s a great looking specimen for the type, Ro! Better than the one I bought. It’s on its way.

 

This thread reminds me, of the 2nd season of the HBO series Rome.

 

I recently binge watched that series. The first great HBO series. Really a shame it was only for a few seasons.

 

HBO made a BIG mistake by discontinuing it. They were gonna shoot a season 3, but I heard they had a lot of infighting and financial issues. So they pulled the plug on it. It definitely wasn't for lack of material lol.