When You Buy a Coin because of the Reverse

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This one was all about the prancing ram not watching where he was going.

 

And no pot smoking here.....never had any drugs enter my body, wanna live forever Probably the best "high" is from a non drug source.....looking at your coin collection Talking about healthy, now I will take my buddy Thor for a 10 km. walk/ in the snow.

 

Thor would have looked good on a AV Dukat from 17th Century Rottweil.

 

Amen, my brother!

 

Past times! No more! Just at college parties in my youth, long long time ago...

 

Here is mine - a Parthian drachm of Mithradates I (171-138 BCE). Head left on obverse wearing bashlyk (head gear) while the reverse, which is much more appealing, shows the archer seated right on omphalos holding a bow in his outstretched hand. Words ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ" or Great King Arsaces" surround.

Steve S.

 

I bought these two for their reverses.

 

I get your point Doug, I might have posted this one, bought at first sight for its reverse :

How true !



Q

 

Not a great portrait but I loved the reverse...

 

The reverse on this coin is a favorite: Roman republic, AR denarius, A. Postumius A. f. Sp. n. Albinus, 81 B.C



3.87 g 18.00 mm
Obv: Draped bust of Diana right, with bow and quiver over shoulder, bucranium above
Rev: Togate figure standing left on rock, holding aspergillum over bull, between them, lighted altar, A POST A F S N ALBIN around

 

I bought this coin for the reverse. While tribute pennies are everywhere, this quadriga reverse Tiberius is not common at all.

 

Tetradrachm Coin, Baktrian Kingdom, Hermaios, Bronze EF(40-45)
Grade: EF(40-45) | Abbreviations
Material: Bronze
Weight: 9.07 g
Diameter: 24.00 mm
Coin, Baktrian Kingdom, Hermaios, Tetradrachm, EF(40-45), Bronze,Coin, Baktrian Kingdom, Hermaios, Tetradrachm, Posthumous issue (40-1 BC), EF(40-45), Bronze,Diademed and draped bust right,Zeus seated slightly left, extending arm and holding sceptre; monogram to left

 

Most of the coins I capture are mainly due to the reverse. I really do not collect Roman Imperials or Provincials, rather the Republic, Italia, Carthage, etc.

A subset that I enjoy collecting is Etruria, as they were the folks that founded Rome and whose culture heavily influenced Rome as it later grew.

However, these Etrurian silver coins are somewhat distinctive due to NOT having a reverse!


Etruria, Populonia
3rd Century BC
Silver 20-Asses
8.1g, ovoid 16.6mm x 20mm
Obv: Facing head of Metus, hair bound with a diadem, X:X below
Rev: blank
Sambon 47; HN Italy 152



Etruria Populonia
AR 10 Asses 20mm 4.21g
211-206 BC
Obv: Male Hd
Rev: Blank
die break



Etruria Populonia
AR 5 Asses 2.0g
3rd C BCE
Obv: Young Head L, V (denomination) behind
Rev: blank
HN 173 Vecchi Rasna III 52 ex NAC 29 No 9 Rare



Etruria, Populonia
2-½ asses , AR 0.85 g
3rd century BC
Obv: Radiate female head r.; behind, CII.
Rev: Blank.
Ref: EC 104 (misdescribed, Female head with an Attic helmet). Historia Numorum Italy 179.
NAC Comment: Of the highest rarity, apparently only the second specimen known. Dark patina and about very fine.
Ex: From the collection of E.E. Clain-Stefanelli



Etruria Populonia
AR 1 As 0.60g 10.0mm
after 211 BCE
Obv: Male Head Left
Rev: Plain Rev
Ref: Vecchi 3 68-70 HN Italy 181
Seller/Auction comment: EXTREMELY RARE

 

Fantastic coin. Wear adds character =)[/QUOTE]

 

What an amazing thread! Here's some stuff chosen for reverses.

Greek:

Tetartemorion of Themistokles, chosen for the clear monogram on the reverse.

Persian:

Stater of Mazaios (361-334 BCE), ex Karl Kress auctions, 1957, lot 94.

Roman Republican:

L. Cassius Longinus (63 BCE), a citizen voting in the assembly.

Roman:

Caracalla ant., Serapis/Pluto with Cerberus.


Gallienus legionary denarius, Legio IIII Flavia, Milan mint.

I choose a lot of lrbs for their reverses, here are a couple favourites:

Constantine c. 310-313 (Trier), Sol reverse. ex Mazzini collection.


Licinius Antioch c. 312-313, not in RIC. Rare.

Byzantine:

Theodore II Ducas-Lascaris, Emperor of Nicaea (1254-1258), tetarteron, Magnesia mint.

 

Well, I didn't buy this 1st century BC Durotriges coin for the obverse , that is for sure. Some say these coin has something on the obverse. Min isn't really in bad shape...so ...ok.

 

Wow, @Alegandron! Amazing coins! All of Populonia coins are on my target, but I always miss the shot...
I’ve tried to get the 20 asses about three times, but always outbid.
Very congratulations!

 

The reverse always attracted me to this type. It depicts the myth of Hercules killing the Centaur that has attempted to ravage his wife. Struck in the early years of the Second Punic War, I wonder if the coin is meant to suggest what the Romans will do to the Carthaginians for ravaging Italy - the centaur is reminiscent of the horse on some Sicilo-Punic coins. Crawford, likely relying on Rudi Thomson's earlier work, attributes this series to the Rome mint, but I disagree.



Rome, The Republic.
217-215 BCE
AE Struck Triens.
Uncertain Italian Mint.

Obv: Head of Jumo right, wearing triple crested diadem; scepter or sword on ldft shoulder; mark of valud behind.

Rev: Hercules killing Centaur; ROMA below; mark of value to right.

Reference: Crawford 39/1.

Provenance: Münzen und Medaillen Auction (1972).