Coins depicting Caesars & Augusti who campaigned in Britain

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by jamesicus, Aug 30, 2018.

  1. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Yes, I agree (the Neptune reverse denarius posted by @ancient coin hunter)
     
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  3. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Nice batch of Rome-Britain numismatic history, everybody.

    Just yesterday I got an AE as from Geta with Victory the inscription BRITTANICAE on the reverse. It is quite pitted but it was less than $10 so I figured it was worth it (citation in Wildwinds says it is "rare" and online examples are few and far between). I am assuming this is from his dad's campaign in Britain, where he died in York? I'm still working on attribution, but I think I'm getting close...

    Geta - As Brittanica rev Aug 2018 (1a).JPG

    Geta AE As, Rome. AD 211. P SEPTIMIVS GETA PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder / VICTORIAE BRITTANICAE, Victory seated left on shields, resting shield on knee & holding palm branch, SC in ex. RIC 191b
     
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  4. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Thank you for your contribution @Marsyas Mike. That is a rare and desirable coin you posted - congratulations on acquiring it, and at such a great price! I have been seeking an example (with readable inscriptional lettering) for many years with no luck. Yes this is associated with his father’s ill-fated campaign in northern Britain (AD 211).
     
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  5. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    The quality of the Inscriptional lettering on the following Carausian coin is surprisingly good for this period:

    RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475:

    [​IMG][​IMG]
    IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ............................................ PA - X - AVG | S .....P

    Draped, radiate, bust
    London Mint.
    3.9 gm.
     
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  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    That is a remarkable Carausius @jamesicus, and you are correct about the legend. My example is wanting compared to yours:
    CARAUSIUS 1.jpg
     
  7. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Thank you Bing. All Carausian coins are very desirable in my estimation. Remarkable artifacts of a remarkable man.
     
  8. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Here are a few of my favourite letterforms on 1st century bronze for you, James:

    Screen Shot 2018-08-31 at 11.13.52 PM.jpg

    Screen Shot 2018-08-31 at 11.10.32 PM.jpg

    Screen Shot 2018-08-31 at 11.11.00 PM.jpg

    Screen Shot 2018-08-31 at 11.11.31 PM.jpg

    In my uneducated opinion, I would say the best inscriptional lettering of these four is on the Agrippa... but none can challenge your Nero Claudius Drusus or the restitution sestertius (which also strikes me as exceptional).
     
  9. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Very fine exemplars indeed (and exceptional coins) @Severus Alexander, thank you for posting them. The inscriptional lettering is excellent on all of those coins and I like your nomination of the Agrippa for the honor of best rendition. However, my own selection is the Claudius As - but I admit to a prejudice: I model my own Capital letter forms closely on those found on Claudian Sestertii:

    Exemplar of my own CAPITALS MONUMENTALIS LETTERING:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2018
  10. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Thanks, James. I certainly see the appeal of the more delicate letterforms on the Claudian coins, and your own calligraphy is just beautiful. In awarding the laurels to the Agrippa I was placing the importance on objective features like evenness and regularity (plus those mighty serifs)... but intuitively I think I may prefer the Claudian lettering also!
     
  11. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    I must say the Claudius Constantiae reverse As you posted is a really lovely coin featuring beautiful inscriptional lettering @Severus Alexander. Here is a companion As that I believe was produced from dies by the same engraver:


    [​IMG]
    RIC Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 113 (AD 50)
    Obverse: Claudius, bare headed facing left
    Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P
    Reverse: Personification of Liberty, standing, facing right
    Inscription clockwise from bottom: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA | S -------- C (left and right)
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2018
  12. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Thanks, James! The obverse on your coin is just spectacular, and the reverse style is lovely. It does seem a good bet that this is the same engraver. Perhaps he was a little more depressed when he engraved the portrait on mine, though. :) I will be keeping my eye out for a similarly matched Libertas example, a type which is lacking from my collection. (I have a Minerva of contrasting style.)

    Here is @randygeki's example, which I have always admired and which I think you would appreciate:
    [​IMG]

    (Sorry for poaching your coin, Randy! I hope you don't mind... :shy:)
     
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  13. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Yes I too admire Randy’s coin. The depiction of Liberty on the reverse is spectacular!
     
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  14. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Don't mind at all. I was thinking people were getting sick of seeing it XD

    but thats just my horseman I guess:dead:
     
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  15. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    and wonderful coins all!
     
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