Trophy of Arms

Every now and then I buy a new coin and it triggers another of my rambling posts that are primarily an excuse to show off more of my coins.

This thread is generally no different but I will start it by illustrating a couple of coins that aren't mine.

The Trophy of Arms appears on Roman coins with some regularity with examples for Julius Caesar, Augustus, Trajan springing immediately to mind and similar types of the Trophy with dejected captive (IVDEA CAPTA) type under Vespasian.

The type is very popular in the Severan period and the Eastern issues of Septimius Severus has several varieties. These seem to follow on from the type produced in the East by Pescennius Niger as illustrated on the following two examples (neither of which are mine....)


The INVICTO IMP TROPAEA legend occurs again on earliest eastern issues of Septimius Severus.

With variations including INVICTO IMP TROPAEA II

And again on the AVG CO issue.

These legends seem to shorten over time with subsequent issues getting shorted all the way to INVICTO IMP. There are still examples of INVICTO IMP TROPAEA II appearing in the COS II issue (BMCRE 368). These appear with what are oftern referred to as the "longhead" portraits which are deemed to be early in the issue. My newest addition sees a shortening to INVICTO IMP TROPA.. which quite possibly post dates the BMC coin above but pre-dates the further shortened coins.

The majority of coins from the type from the COS II issue are INVICTO IMP.


The type also occurs on the IMP eastern issues. This being an IMP II - INVICTO IMPER.


And on to an IMP VIII, INVICT IMP


The IMP II issue also has the trophy combined with a Parthian captive.


The following is an image of a pair of marble friezesI saw in a museum in Sorrento which I thought would add to the thread. I thought that the detail provided in the fieze was wonderful, especially the shields.



Share your Trophy of Arms types....

 

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Very informative post, Martin! Here's one:


Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.26 g, 19.7mm.
Rome, AD 202.
Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head, right.
Rev: PART MAX PM TRP X COS III PP, trophy and two captives.
Refs: RIC 185; BMCRE 385; Cohen 375; RCV 6323; Hill 550.

 

Very nice coins @maridvnvm

PERGAMON, MYSIA AE20
OBVERSE: Bust of Athena right wearing triple crested helmet
REVERSE: AQHNAS NIKHFOPOY, trophy of armor, PERG monogram to lower right
Struck at Pergamon 133-27 BC
4.11g, 20mm
SNG France 1880-2

M FURIUS Lf PHILUS ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Laureate head of Janus; M•FOVRI•L•F around
REVERSE: Roma standing left erecting trophy, gallic arms around, ROMA to right, PHLI in ex.
Struck at Rome, 119 BC
3.81g, 18.35mm
Crawford 281/1, Syd 529, BMCRR (Italy) 555, Furia 18

T CLOULIS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CLOULIA
AR Quinarius
OBVERSE: Laureate head of Jupiter right
REVERSE: T CLOVLI, Victory crowning trophy on top of Gaulish captive
Struck at Rome 98 BC
2.1g, 13mm
Cr332/1, Syd 586, Cloulia 2

TRAJAN
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust right
REVERSE: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC, trophy of arms mounted on stump
Struck at Rome, 107 AD
2.68g 19mm
RIC 147

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: PART MAX P M TR P VIIII, two captives seated at foot of trophy
Struck at Rome, 201 AD
2.86g, 19mm
RIC 176

 

I have this Probus type coming in from London. Dealers photo:

 

Nice @maridvnvm ! Beautiful coins!

My Trophies are from the Republican Period:


RR Faustus Cornelius Sulla 56 BCE AR Den Venus Signet of Pompey Sear 386 Craw 426-3


RR Egnatuleius AR Quinarius 97 BC Apollo Victory Trophy Carnyx Sear 213 Cr 333-1


RR Cn Lentulus Clodianus 88 BCE AR Quinarius Jupiter Victory crowning trophy Craw 345-2 Sear 255

 

I have a few from different eras.

Marc Antony


Titus


Marcus Aurelius

 

I love the trophy theme. There was an interesting article about ancient Greek trophies in the magazine Ancient Warfare (I highly recommend) but I can't remember which issuse...was last year...If I find it I will update.


Pergamon, Mysia
AE, 9.02g, 20mm, 12h
Obv.: helmeted head of Athena right
Rev.: ΝΙΚΕΦΟΡΟΥ left, ΘΗΝΑΣ right; trophy with horned helmet

 

TROPHIES - EMPIRE:


Octavian as Augustus LEFT-Sinister 27 BC–14 AD Quinarius Emerita 25-23 AR 13.5mm 1.79g - P CARISI LEG Victory trophy C 387. RIC 1b SCARCE


RI Trajan AR Denarius 98-117 CE Trophy over Dacian Captive RIC II 222


RI Lucius Verus 161-169 CE AE As 24mm Mars w Trophy

 

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Emerita Augusta mint (SW. Hispania). P. Carisius, legate. Struck circa 25-23 BC. IMP CAESAR AVGVST, bare head left / P • CARISIVS • LEG • PRO • PR, trophy of arms, consisting of helmet, cuirass, shield, and javelins, erected on heap of round shields, lances, and other arms. RIC I 4b.

 

Nice growing collection Martin

 

Trophies on a Lucius Verus as:


Constantine I Sarmatian victory coin:


And on some lrbs, they can get ridiculously schematic, e.g. on this Theo I AE4 (the trophy is to the right of Victory's head):

 

I've enjoyed all the coins in this thread and the excellent info @maridvnvm

Here is my INVICTO IMP:

Septimius Severus (193-211) AR Denarius. Emesa, AD 194/5.
Obv: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II - Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right.
Rev: INVICTO IMP - Central trophy consisting of helmet, cuirass, spears, and shields surrounded by arms at base.
16.42mm, 2.8g
RIC IV Part I EMESA 389, RSC 232, BMC 365, Sear 6288

 

We continue shortening to INVICTO IM (no P).


Spelling or Greek not knowing the letter L? INVLCTO IMP


...And the world's worst Alexandria mint INVICTO IMP (best I have seen as well) - Note you can see the MP reverse right so the legend was IMP not TROPAEA.

 

Some neat additions

 

Nice trophies, everyone. I recently got a very worn Lucius Verus As with three Armenian trophies on the reverse:




Lucius Verus Æ As
Rome Mint
(166-167 A.D.)
L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head right / TR P VII IMP IIII COS III S-C, three trophies of captured (Armenian) arms, [S C] at sides.
RIC 1464; Cohen 300.
(10.60 grams / 26 mm)

 

Some great coins posted!

Septimius Severus 193-211 AD. AR denarius (18mm, 3.6g) Rome 211 AD. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / PART MAX PM TR P VIIII, trophy between two captives, with their hands supporting their heads. RIC 176

 

More....
Victory carrying Trophy


Another single captive type

A varuety of two captive examples
Common COS II

Imitative of the same

Combined with a rare obverse legend variety

An unlisted late Laodicea

 

TROPHY:


RR Aemilius Lepidus Paullus 62 BCE Concordia King Perseus of Makedon captives Sear 366 Craw 415-1 XF

 

As a companion to @Andres2 's Geta and Trophy here is Caracalla and Trophy:


Carcacalla, 196-198 AD, denarius 17mm 2.77g
Obv: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF, Bare head bust right, draped and cuirassed
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Caracalla standing left holding branch and spear, trophy of arms behind
ex-Stacks, President John Quincy Adams Collection, ex Massachusettes Historical Society, March 1971, lot 884 (part of)