Favorite Roman Portraits

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by TJC, Jan 25, 2018.

  1. AngelDeath

    AngelDeath Well-Known Member

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  3. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Superb coins, as always, Q!
     
  4. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    I was looking at my photo library this morning and decided that it would be impossible for me to select just one favorite portrait.

    Instead, I hope you will bear with me if I post my favorite portrait for a handful of my favorite emperors...
    (all bronzes).

    Nero - As: Genius sacrificing at Altar
    Nero As Genius-Obv2 - 1.jpg

    Galba- Sestertius: Libertas
    Galba sestertius libertas obv - 1.jpg

    Vitellius - Sestertius (beat up but I really like the portrait - pure Vitellius)
    Vitellius Sestertius Pax-Obv - 1.jpg

    Vespasian - Sestertius: Wreath/SPQR
    Vespasian Sestertius-Wreath-Rev - 1.jpg

    Titus - As: Victoria Navalis
    Titus As Victoria Navalis-Obv - 1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
  5. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Wonderful coins everybody. A couple favorites - Julia Domna, Mamiminus Daia and Caracalla as a child.

    Julia Domna FORT (1).jpg

    Caracalla child.JPG
    Maximinus Daia follis.JPG
     
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  6. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Wonderful portraits!
     
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  7. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member


    You are forgiven :)

    Q
     
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  8. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Thank you Q, I feel a whole lot better now:)
     
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  9. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    My best third century portrait is this one Julia Domna Sestertius It is No 321 in the new book by Pangeri on Roman portraits on coins jdomnas1.jpg
     
  10. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Fantastic thread!!!

    Here's my favourite joint reign portrait of Gallienus:
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 10.45.04 AM.jpg

    The portrait is often a consideration for me in choosing coins, so it's hard to pick a favourite! Here are a few that came to mind, in chronological order:
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 11.06.21 AM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 11.07.04 AM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 10.44.31 AM.jpg
    00383q00.jpg
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 11.09.59 AM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 11.10.37 AM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 11.11.37 AM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 10.49.41 AM.jpg
     
  11. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Here is a Domitian I like a lot - finely styled and well detailed:

    Domitianus - As: Ludi Saeculares
    Domitian As Ludi Saeculares- Obv - 1_opt.jpg


    These are my favorite two Trajan portraits. I like both for different reasons.

    Trajan Sestertius: Triumphal Arch
    Trajan Sestertius ARCH IOM - OBV - 1.jpg

    Trajan Sestertius - Germania:
    Trajan Sestertius zu Pferd-Obv - 1_opt.jpg
     
  12. RaceBannon

    RaceBannon Member

    Great thread! I'm way out of the 3d century here. This coin is beat up as can be, and suffers from bronze disease.

    But this guy, Agrippa, has the most manly, hard-nosed, doesn't suffer fools, Roman warrior-statesman, portrait in my collection.
    I wouldn't want to cross him. It's my favorite.

    Agrippa; 37-41 AD
    Struck under Caligula
    AE As; 30mm/11.2g, Rome mint
    OBV: M AGRIPPA L F COS III, Head L wearing rostral crown
    REV: Neptune Standing L holding small dolphin and trident; SC in fields
    (RIC I 58, Cohen 3)
    Agrippa Obv.JPG
     
  13. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Simply wonderful @Eduard - and really everyone! There have been so many outstanding portraits posted in this thread that it it is really a disservice to other participants to applaud any one post, and I personally apologize to those who I have not recognized. Here is another of my favorite portrait coins. I particularly like these furrowed brow/worried expression types:

    RIC VII, London, Licinius, No. 3
    [​IMG][​IMG]

    • Reduced weight follis - 313 to 314
    • O: Licinius laureate and cuirassed bust right - IMP LICINIVS PF AVG
    • R: Genius with modius on head, chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera (rh) cornucopia (l) -GENIO POP ROM - PLN (exergue) S (l) F (r)
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
  14. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    Great topic for a post, @TJC !

    Here is my favorite portrait from my modest collection of Roman denarii. It was actually the expression on Julia's face that made me want this coin. She has a tired look in her eyes that reminds me of my mother's face after a day of trying to keep my brothers and I out of trouble.

    JULIA_DOMNA.jpg
     
  15. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Two famous ladies:

    RIC VII, Helena
    [​IMG][​IMG]

    • Killingholme Hoard (Trier Mint) - 324 to 325
    • O: Helena diademed bust right - FL HELENA AVGVSTVA
    • R: Securitas standing left - SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE
    RIC VII, Fausta
    [​IMG][​IMG]

    • Killingholme Hoard (Trier Mint) - 324 to 325
    • O: Fausta bust right - FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG
    • R: Fausta holding two infant sons - SALVS REIPVBLICAE
     
  16. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Here's a few of mine with one of each of the Flavians:

    Philip_0.jpg

    Roman Empire, Philip I Sestertius
    IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG
    Laureate bust right

    VICTORIA AVG SC
    Victory advancing right holding wreath and palm

    17.1g

    Rome
    244-5 AD

    RIC 192a
    Sear 9021

    Probus (2).jpg
    Probus Billon Antoninianus
    IMP C M AVR PROBVS P AVG
    Radiate, mantled bust left holding eagle tipped scepter

    SOL INVICTO
    Sol in spread Quadriga holding whip KAΓ in ex

    Serdica 277 AD
    RIC 864 Bust type H
    3.84g
    Scarce

    VespasianJupiter.jpg

    RIC 849 Vespasian denarius
    IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
    laureate head of Vespasian right

    IOVIS CVSTOS
    Jupiter standing half-left, sacrificing from patera in right over small lit altar at feet on left, long scepter grounded behind in left


    Rome, 75 - 76 A.D.

    3.458g, die axis 180o


    RIC II, part 1, 849 (C3); BMCRE III 276; RSC II 222; BnF III 249; SRCV I 2295

    Ex-Heritage CICF World and Ancient Coins Signature Auction 3032, part of lot 30530, Ex- Forum

    Titusanchor.jpg

    RIC 112 Titus denarius
    IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M
    Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, right

    TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P
    Dolphin coiled around anchor

    Rome mint, 80 AD
    RIC 112 (C2), BMCRE 72, RSC 309

    Ex-Londinium Coins

    Titus' pulvinar series commemorating the opening of the Colosseum.

    Domitian_COS_XI.jpg

    RIC 393 Domitian denarius
    IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V
    Laureate head right

    IMP XI COS XI CENS P P P
    Minerva standing left with spear

    Rome 85 AD (6th issue)

    3.49g

    RIC 393 (R)
     
  17. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    Awesome coins in this post!

    Here is my favorite stylized portrait.
    petra.jpg Arabia Petraea, Petra. Septimius Severus AE22.
     
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  18. hoth2

    hoth2 Well-Known Member

    That's a beautifully cleaned coin.
     
  19. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

  20. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    My favorite sestertius of Antoninus Pius. AA_Ant_Pius.jpg
     
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  21. TJC

    TJC Well-Known Member

    Wow!!! My head is spinning! Those are some amazing portraits!

    Here is another favorite. Which is interesting because the scratches are terrible. Yet this philosopher imperator portrait wins the day in my book.
    MarcusAureliusDup339O.jpg MarcusAureliusDup339R.jpg
     
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