The Secret Chord an Unusual Little Theme

Please figure out the sub theme of the theme within the theme. And post others that match or are close. There may be a match among the Alexander III type drachms.

Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161, AR Denarius (18 mm, 3.08 g, 6h), Rome mint, Struck circa AD 141-143 aVFObv: Laureate head right
Rev: Apollo standing facing, head left, holding patera and lyre.
RIC III 63b; RSC 60. aVF.
Q. Pomponius Musa Ar. denarius, laur. hd. of Apollo, tortoise behind, rev., Q POMPONI MVSA, Terpshichore stg. r., holding lyre and plectrum (Seaby, Pomponia 18).
3.7 g
Grade: ss, Rs. dezentriert | Abbreviations
Catalog: Craw. 494/23; Syd. 1117
Material: Silver
Weight: 3.94 g
P. M.f. Clodius Turrinus
Denar
Rom, 42 v. Chr.
Vs.: Kopf des Apollo mit Lorbeerkranz n. r., dahinter Lyra
Rs.: P. CLODIVS / M. F., Diana Lucifera steht mit zwei langen Fackeln v. v.
ex Slg. Hommel
Teos, Ionia Griffin/lyre

 

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I'll add more coins showing devices on which chords can be sounded


TROAS, Alexandria. Trebonianus Gallus
CE 251-253
AE 21 mm, 4.76 gm
Obv: IMP VIB TREB GALVS AV; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: COL AV / TROA; Apollo, head right and holding kithara, seated facing on griffin springing right, head left
Ref: RPC IX 407; Bellinger A403


THRACE, Sestos (sometimes spelled Sestus)
c. 3rd-2nd century BCE
AE 16.6, 2.35 gm
Obv: Head of Hermes left, wearing petasos; dotted border
Rev: chelys; ΣH downward in right field; dotted border
Ref: von Fritz, Nomisma 1, 15 (coin 29 on plate 1 in that book)
ex Stevex6 Collection


Roman Republic
moneyer L. Julius L. f. Caesar, 103 BC
AR denarius, 17mm, 3.9 gm
Obv: Helmeted head of Mars left; CAESAR; ・C (retrograde)
Rev: Venus Genetrix in chariot left, drawn by two Cupids; lyre to left; ・C (retrograde) above
Ref: Crawford 320/1
ex RBW Collection


IONIA, Teos
AR diobol (reduced standard), 10 mm, 0.98 gm
Obv: seated griffin right, paw raised
Rev: lyre, THI, magistrate’s name


LESBOS, Mytilene
400-350 BCE
AE14, 1.7 gm
Obv: head of Aphrodite (?) right, wearing stephane
Rev: M-Y, T-I; lyre; tripod (?, looks like an arrow) in left field, monogram in right field
Ref: SG 4272?; may also be MacDonald Mytilene #4.

 

Septimius Severus denarius Alexandria Apollo

 

@dougsmit your denarius is a precise match to the specifics of the sub-theme of the theme within the theme. @TIF your RR Caesar denarius is also a precise match and maybe the Lesbos coin but not sure, the others do not appear to match the specifics, but all nice coins however, thanks for posting.

 

Oh. Okay, then I didn't understand your post. I'll sit back and wait for you to reveal the secret theme .

 

Apollo with a lyre?


Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
Roman AR antoninianus, 3.60 g, 19.2 mm, 6h.
Rome, 6th officina, 4th emission, early AD 253.
Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: APOLL SALVTARI, Apollo standing left, holding branch with right hand and resting left hand on lyre set on rock.
Refs: RIC 32; Cohen/RSC 20; RCV 9627; Hunter 21.


Gordian III, AD 238-244.
Roman AE Sestertius, 20.01 gm, 28.2 mm, 11 h.
Rome, 5th officina. 9th emission, AD 241.
Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: PM TRP IIII COS II PP SC, Apollo seated left, holding laurel branch and resting left arm on lyre.
Refs: RIC 302; Cohen 252; Sear --; Banti 72.


Gordian III and Tranquillina.
Roman provincial AE 25.8 mm, 11.44 g.
Thrace, Mesembria, AD 241.
Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ-ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΛΙΝ[Α], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, confronted.
Rev: ΜΕCΑΜΒΡΙΑΝΩΝ, Apollo in long robe, standing left, holding plectrum in outstretched right hand and resting left on lyre set on column.
Refs: Moushmov 3998; Varbanov 4175-4176.

 

RC your Gallus Antoninianus is a precise match but the others are great coins. The specific collection is not limited to Apollo with a Lyre or the Teos coin would not fit in the OP. We are getting close.

 

Gordian III, antoninianus, Apollo with Lyre

 

Nice coin, it fits the theme within the general theme but not precisely(that I can discern anyway) the sub theme of the theme.

 

Great coins Mike Margolis, the match for your top OP.
Antoninus Pius AE Sestertius 22.5gm, RIC 598, Sear 4199. Rome 142 AD.

 

I see a lot of Lyres.

Music

 

Wow- awesome sestertius! thanks for posting. It matches the general theme and the theme within that theme but not the final sub theme. Therefore would not fit this specific collection. So far three more coins have been posted that fit. Didn't think we would get that many.

 

Hmm, I'm stumped. Why would @Mike Margolis's Teos diobol fit the secret sub-theme when mine didn't-- mine even has the same magistrate.

 

animals with music?

 

Your Teos diobol might fit but maybe the strike wasn't precise enough to clinch it, others of that type do though. Actually no it doesn't fit.

 

Hmm.

Something that the bad reverse strike obscures on my coin.

Is it the string count? The instruments on your coins are all engraved with two strings. Doug's coin, which you said fits, has two strings. RC's Treb Gallus, which you also said fits, has two strings and his other have more or are unclear. However, you said my JC denarius is a fit but I only see one string on it. My Lesbos AE has two strings, or it seems to only have two strings, which fits your "maybe it fits" comment.

 

Which would be ironic, due to the title off the thread.
It takes at least 3 notes to make a chord!

 

Bingo! yes they all have two strings.
The general theme is musical instruments. Within that is the Lyre/Kithara and under that is the precise two stringed form. I know that Doug I am sure has many coins with the Lyre so he clinched it right off. He is very precise and discerning in his collecting interests as we all know!. Thought your RR Caesar denarius had two strings for sure- will look back. If I was wrong with that sorry to mess up the trail. Yes looking back the two bright lines on the base of the Caesar denarius gave me an MC Esher illusion two strings. Sorry again if that took you off the scent.

 

Did any ancient lyres or kitharas actually have only two strings, or are they depicted that way on coins for ease of engraving?

 

Didn't know that but the musician could sing another tone maybe?