Perspective

The towers on the walls might on the actual wall be of equal size and equally spaced. A photograph of them would show the ones on the far side much smaller and closer together, which is a feature of perspective. The coin shows the towers of the same size and spacing. The coin does not use perspective.

I am still looking for coins where "things further away look smaller." The Zeugma coins would be a good example if they depict a temple courtyard. However, it may be that our modern eyes are so used to perspective that we see it as a courtyard because we expect perspective. The argenteus above proves that sort of perspective was not always used, even decades later.

The galley of the OP shows oars further away as smaller. It uses perspective. Please post another example if you know one.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

What do you make of this one? It's a frontal view of a city gate, but it would check the "further away as smaller" box.


SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AE29. 12.6g, 28.8mm. MOESIA INFEROR, Nicopolis ad Istrum, circa AD 210-211. Flavius Ulpianus, legate. Varbanov 2795; AMNG 1339; Price/Trell Fig. 26. O:AVT Λ CEΠ-T CEVHPOC Π, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right. R: V ΦΛ OYΛΠIAN NIKOΠOΛIT, ΠROC IC below, City gate with small tetrastyle temple seen in distance through doorway; above, a colonnaded stoa or sanctuary with three sections.

 

Circular perspective:
Titus.79-81 AD. Dupondius. Æ 27mm, 17.19 gm, 6h. Rome mint. Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII. His radiate head, left. Rev: S-C flanking the Meta Sudans. Recesses in its mid-section contain statues of male figures. Athletes? RIC II.1, #205, p.211.
View attachment 923846

 

Wow, what a coin! Just beautiful.

 

NAC has a provincial coin with clear perspective:

https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=5926&category=197771&lot=4948026

 

A perspective on Roman sewers - with the added illusion of perspective in the "small person" on the right facing right, which is really not a person at all, but a column on the right side of the platform.

Description
L. Mussidius Longus AR Denarius, 42 BC, Rome
Obv: CONCORDIA behind, diademed, veiled and draped bust of Concordia right; in lower right field, star.
Rev: L MVSSIDIVS LONGVS, platform inscribed CLOACIN upon which two statues of Venus Cloacina
Ref: Crawford 494/42b; Sydenham 1093a; Mussidia 6

The platform on which the two statues stood still stands on the north side of the Forum in Rome

 

Wow - @PeteB ... that is not a coin I have ever seen before. It is quite amazing in all respects. Can you please tell me more about it? Spectacular!!

----

Nevermind... I found it on your website: http://akropoliscoins.com/page4.html

What a wonderful thing.. although it is just a hair over my budget!

 

Here's a Caracalla from Alexandria Troas with the Temple of Apollo Smintheus from an angled perspective.

 

I suppose in the obvious cases like this Ariel view of city walls if you look at the back entrance is slightly smaller in width than the front entrance, showing a form of perspective. And you know zumbly you always have a buyer for that coin if you get sick of it.

 

@zumbly, @Victor_Clark posted a great thread about this type, "Diocletian Campgates." I'm clueless about the relative scarcity of a Maximian one, but your example compares favorably to his.

 

Good lord, TIF, the Ceres/Annona reverse on that Nero Orichalcum is beautiful!