This toned antoninianus of Herennius Etruscus as Caesar features Apollo seated, holding a branch and leaning on a lyre. This is a common motif for Apollo, and I believe it's based upon sculptures of Actian Apollo, which depict the god in a similar pose and with identical accouterments. Post your coins of Apollo, Herennius Etruscus, or anything you feel is relevant! Herennius Etruscus as Caesar, AD 249-251. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.83 g, 22.4 mm, 11 h. Rome, 5th emission, early AD 151. Obv: Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, radiate and draped bust, right. Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Apollo seated left, holding branch and resting left elbow on lyre. Refs: RIC 146; RSC 24a; Cohen --; RCV 9522; Hunter 9; ERIC II 40. Actian Apollo sits in an attitude of comfortable repose, holding aloft a laurel branch in his right hand and resting his left arm on a lyre. The iconography on the coin's reverse shares a number of features with this depiction of the god, as seen in a bas relief sculpted on an altar called the Gens Augusta, erected by the freedman Hedulus in Carthage ca 14 CE: This image is just one of many images on this altar, which was found on the east slope of the Byrsa and now resides in the Musée du Bardo in Tunis. Note that Apollo is holding a leafy branch in his right hand. Although the left arm has been broken off, it takes little imagination to envision it resting on the lyre to the left of his throne. This iconography -- apparently stemming from no later than the reign of Augustus -- seems to have remained in the collective Roman psyche for nearly two-and-a-half centuries after the reign of its first emperor.
Nice Apollo bad relief! Good looking coin too. Here's mine from Syria: Herennius Etruscus, AD 251 Tetradrachm, 27mm, 11.7g; 12h; Antioch, Syria Obv.: EPENNE TPOY ME KY ΔEKIOC KECAP; bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right, three dots beheath bust (=officiana 3) Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC; eagle standing right on palm branch, head right, tail left, wreath in beak In Ex.: SC Sallent honored my coin with his own unique artwork...it is savedto my computer but I'm one my phone right now...puppy watching.
I have an Antoninianus of the same emission so thanks to you I now have a better attribution and interesting story about it : Here is my Sestertius of Herennius with a realistic portrait and Mercury on the reverse:
Nice one, RC. Herennius Etruscus ( 251 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind. R: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Herennius standing left, holding baton and spear. Rome 22mm 4.07g RIC IV 147c; RSC 26 Herennius Etruscus (251 A.D.) Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch Billon Tetradrachm O: EPENNE TPOY ME KY DEKIOC KECAP, Bare headed draped bust right, five dots beneath. R: DEMAPX EXOYCIAC, Eagle standing left, head left, tail to right, wreath in beak, with wings spread, standing on palm, SC in exe. Antioch Mint, 251 A.D. 26mm 13g McAlee 1153e; Prieur 636
Nice portrait and toning! Here's the favorite of my Apollos, majestically perched atop a griffin. 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 , seated facing on griffin springing right, head left Ref: RPC IX 407; Bellinger A403
HERENNIUS ETRUSCUS RI Herennius Etruscus 251 CE AR Ant Apollo seated RI Herennius Etruscus 251 CE AR Ant Prince Stdng Prince Stdng. hmmm... he doesn't LOOK like Prince...
