I must have a dozen different VIRTVS AVG types of Gallienus, but I'm showing off my favorite one. I like the military figure* on the reverse, because he's not exactly the most muscular miles in the legion. You see, I'm a skinny dude myself -- a marathon runner who weighs about 150 pounds after carb-loading -- so I like seeing the inscription VIRTVS ("manliness") over such a pencil-necked, scrawny fellow. I also like the Mediolanum mint portrait style, which features the emperor's head right with "slight drapery on both shoulders." This is the only example in my collection of this bust style for Gallienus and I think it's a particularly illustrative example of the type. Post skinny deities, soldiers or animals, VIRTVS types, or anything else you feel is relevant! *RIC calls this figure a "soldier"; Sear calls him "Virtus"; Cohen and Göbl say he's Mars! Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 2.57 g, 17.5 mm, 6 h. Mediolanum, AD 268. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right; slight drapery on both shoulders. Rev: VIRTVS AVG, military figure standing left holding inverted spear, right hand on shield; S in exergue. Refs: RIC 534; Göbl 1150k; Cohen 1237; RCV 10411 var.
That is certainly an original reason for buying a coin Looking through my photographed coins, my deities all seem to be, uhm, well fed. The correlation noted for your coin holds true for me and my coins' deities .
I agree this must be a new Gregarious who just joined the legion. I hope he makes it through his first campaign. His centurion is not going to cut him any slack and neither are the barbarians at the borders!
Theodosius II and his pal (probably Valentinian III) look rather underfed – even skeletal – on this AE2 from Cherson. Perhaps their victuals went to bribing Attila? And here's my Gallienus from Mediolanum, with a similar style portrait, celebrating the 4th Legion (Flavia):
Cool! I like the thin-legged Theodosius and buddy. I really like that Gallienus ant! Those legionary issues of Gallienus are hard to come by and in high demand!!
Thin dude. I don't know if he would be able to carry the standard legionary kit on the march which weighed between 66 lbs. and 100 lbs. Vegetius would certainly been on his case in De re militari.
I like to powerlift. I'm a little heavier than 150...more like 230. Here's Asklepios being beefy. Caracalla, AD 198-217 AE30, 14.9g, 7h; Thrace, Pautalia. Obv.: AVT K MAVP CEV ANTONEINOC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: OVΛΠIAC ΠAVTAΛIAC, Asklepios standing front, looking left, leaning on serpent-entwined staff. I love military themes! Here's a couple LRBs with a military theme:
As opposed to: ARCADIUS AE3 OBVERSE: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right REVERSE: VIRTVS EXERCITI, emperor standing facing, holding spear & sheild, being crowned by Victory standing left, CONSB in ex. Struck at Constantinople 383-388 ADAD 2.7g, 17mm RIC X 60
Here's a Constans with the GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse, two medium sized guys. The obverse is FL CONSTANTIS BEA C, a type that only occurs at the Siscia mint.
I have skinny and muscular reverse figures. Who has an obese one? In a few years between Gallienus and Postumus, Jupiter went of a building spree.
Virtus kind of look like Olive Oyl geared up for battle on that OP coin! Somebody needs to feed this poor Sunga elephant!!
LOL, cool thread @Roman Collector ... How about a dilapidated Bull: Carthage 216-215 BCE Sardinia mint AE 3.3g Tanit L - BULL standing R CNP 377a