Now, I'm not calling Charles Barber a plagiarist, but I noticed something when I saw this diademed bust of Faustina (a new acquisition from Frank): Post your ancient coins that appear to have influenced modern coin design -- or anything else you feel is relevant!
I have posted this before... BUT, I see that the French were inspired by one of the First Heavy Denarius minted by the Romans: France - AV 20 Francs ANGEL (I think @Cucumbor copied the design...) Later Roman Empire transformed VICTORY into ANGELS Roman Republic Anonymous AR Heavy Denarius / Didrachm 6.55g, 18mm, 6h. Rome mint, circa 265-242 BC. Obv: Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind Rev: ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, YY in right field. Ref: Sear 25; Crawford 22/1; RSC 7. From the Eucharius Collection. I own both.
I think I have seen a Roman reverse even closer to the Monticello on vcoins but I didn't save it. Much closer maybe someone here knows it? This is the closest I could find on a quick search on google images. Not one I own.
Some style influence for sure with the accessory anyway. Obverse of Rhodos from Rhodes, Greece-not one I own.
Wreaths from ancients are found throughout numismatic history I believe? Here is a prutah of Mattatias Antigonus, last Judaean King of the Hasmonean dynasty c. 37 BCE.
Yes, you can really see the similarities when the Peace dollar image is reversed: And then there's this Hercules wrestling the Nemian lion reverse type of Constantius I and this 2 pound coin of Gibraltar: And it takes little imagination to see the similarities between this 5 centesimi coin of Italy and the staters of Metapontum.
Barber and many of our early mint artists/engravers were obviously influenced and often taught to imitate the ancient masters. Now if the current mint employees could produce a portrait that doesn't look like a caracture, that'd be great!
I've got to confess—I thought this coin was pretty cool when I first saw it advertised. Particularly the marketing and packaging. I'm not following Roman Collector's posting guidelines however—I don't yet own an Athenian Owl.
I know our Mints engravers lack foresight and vision (just look at recent designs) but I never realized just how bad it was until reading every post in this thread and seeing the similarities in ancients. Thank you.
