Not the most muscular member of the legion

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, May 20, 2018.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    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 VIRTVS AVG Mars spear and shield antoninianus.jpg
    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.
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2018
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  3. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Must be one of Twiggy's relatives.
     
  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    That is certainly an original reason for buying a coin :joyful::joyful:

    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 :oops: :D.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2018
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  5. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Nice! :D

    Here's a beefier Virtvs
    014~0.JPG
     
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  6. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    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!

    :)
     
  7. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    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?
    Screen Shot 2018-05-20 at 11.53.09 AM.jpg

    And here's my Gallienus from Mediolanum, with a similar style portrait, celebrating the 4th Legion (Flavia):
    Screen Shot 2018-05-20 at 11.39.29 AM.jpg
     
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  8. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    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!!
     
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  9. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    The bare right breast would certainly indicate Virtus.
     
  10. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    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.
     
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  11. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    I like to powerlift. I'm a little heavier than 150...more like 230. Here's Asklepios being beefy.
    [​IMG]
    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:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    As opposed to:
    Arcadius 8.jpg
    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
     
  13. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    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.

    constans1.jpg

    constans2.jpg
     
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  14. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Interesting coin. Here is my Virtvs on a very rare coin of Galba.

    Galba ric 236 copy.jpg
     
  15. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    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.
    rp1540bb0286.jpg
    rr1860bb1785.jpg
     
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  16. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..careful... for you never know when old one is lurking...:jimlad::watching:
     
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  17. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    Virtus kind of look like Olive Oyl geared up for battle on that OP coin!

    [​IMG]

    Somebody needs to feed this poor Sunga elephant!!

    Capture.JPG
     
  18. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Skinny Graces
    Commodus Graces d.jpg

    Fat Jupiter
    Caracalla - Denarius Jupiter fat 207.jpg

    Hercules on steroids
    Postumus - Herc Devsonievsi 1886.jpg
     
  19. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    He must be one of those lean and wiry Roman light infantrymen (Velites)
     
  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    LOL, cool thread @Roman Collector ...

    How about a dilapidated Bull:

    Carthage 216-215 BCE Sardinia mint AE 3.3g Tanit L - BULL stndg R CNP 377a.JPG
    Carthage 216-215 BCE Sardinia mint AE 3.3g Tanit L - BULL standing R CNP 377a
     
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  21. Nyatii

    Nyatii I like running w/scissors. Makes me feel dangerous

    Fun thread. All the way from zipper boy to starving cows and elephants.
     
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