ANCIENT SUPERSTRUCTURE ON A SMALL SURFACE !!!!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ancient Aussie, Aug 3, 2019.

  1. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    A recent Bertolami auction (67) had a great section of just architectural types for me to drool over, so I figured can't have them all so just focused on one type that have always wanted since I started collecting architecture as it exemplifies the lengths the Romans went to portray their building achievements on such a small surface. This Septimius Severus Bronze, struck under Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis, Moesia Inferior: Nicopolis, AD 201-203. So I bit the bullet and paid through the nose (bloodied by the time I paid the juice) for this particular coin although I have a similar type from Aurelius Gallus but more wear and different detail of the same building, a dot in the arched doorway to represent the temple and a curved roof so this was a great upgrade. A special thanks to Severus Alexander for alerting me to this auction although I was already participating it was great to have another CT member thinking of me, this is what makes this Forum great.
    106727q00 - Copy (2).jpg
    MOESIA INFERIOR, Nicopolis. Septimius Severus. 193-211 AD. Æ 26mm (10.18 gm: h 8). Aurelius Gallus, magistrate. AVT L CEPT CEVHP PER, laureate head right / UP AUP GALLOU NIKOPOLEITWN PROC ICTP, city gate, small temple seen through doorway, ornate large colonnaded building above. AMNG I 1331; BMC Thrace pg. 42, 7; SNG Copenhagen -; Price & Trell 45 (fig. 26). Sear GIC 2124. Varbanov 2621.

    Very rare, dark green patina, near extremely fine.

    Ex Gorny & Mosch 186, 8 March 2010, lot 1524.

    And my existing similar type.
    2015-01-07 01.07.48-10.jpg
    MOESIA INFERIOR. Nicopolis ad Istrum. Septimius Severus (193-211). Ae. Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis.
    Obv: AV K Λ CEΠ CEVHPOC Π.
    Laureate head right.
    Rev: VΠ AVP ΓAΛΛOV NIKOΠO / ΠPOC I.
    Camp gate surmounted by superstructure with four columns and gabled roof.
    H&J 8.14.46.4; cf. Price & Trell 45 (fig. 26 [for a similar view]). 27.32mm, 13.39gm, Moushmov 931.
    Very rare.

    LOVE TO SEE EVERYONE'S MOESIA NICOPOLIS AND OR ALL THE DIFFERENT PORTRAIT STYLES REPRESENTED ON SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS COINAGE.
     
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  3. Hookman

    Hookman Well-Known Member

    Now that is an upgrade.
     
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  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Diadumenian
    [​IMG]
    RI Diadumenian 217-218 AE26 Nicopolis ad Istrum Homonoia stdg
     
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  5. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    This one of Nicopolis has a very different portrait style for Septimius Severus. It is not listed in AMNG I, Moushmov, Varbanov, BMC, or Sear Greek Imperial:

    Severus Nikopolis ad Istrum Zeus tetrassarion.jpg
    Septimius Severus, AD 193-211
    Roman provincial Æ tetrassarion; 26.1 mm, 10.70 g, 6 h
    Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum
    Obv: ΑV ΚΑΙ Λ - CΕ CΕVΗΡΟC, radiate head right
    Rev: ΝEIKOΠΟΛΙ ΠΡΟC ΙCΤΡΩ, Zeus seated left, holding patera and scepter.
    Refs: BMC--; Moushmov--; AMNG I--; SGI--; Varbanov--

    My example has rough surfaces and it's hard to appreciate the portraiture. My coin is a die match with this one sold by Naumann, which gives you a better idea of the artistic style.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2019
  6. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    Fantastic coin. Congrats.
     
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  7. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Congrats, AA! That's a nice one on both sides. Mine was struck under a different magistrate and doesn't have quite as refined a portrait. It's still my favorite Sep Sev provincial.

    Septimius Severus - Nicopolis City Gate Temple 1948.jpg SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
    AE. 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.
    Ex Dr. Rainer Pudill Collection
     
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  8. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Wow, what a detailed architectural type!

    That is amazing.

    I love the green patina too.

    Great find.

    John
     
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  9. Agricantus

    Agricantus Allium aflatunense

    Great buy! I didn't know about this auction, so I just looked it up. I was expecting to see a £1000 hammer price, based on what you said.

    Here's a still recognizable Septimius Severus. From Ascalon, Judaea. Posssibly the temple of Phanebal. Building with four doorways, one within the other, the arcchitraves decorate with uraei; the columns of Egyptian style; in exergue, date (ΘT).

    4B9B3194-72EA-48B2-A0DF-20F657CAB8D8.jpeg
     
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  10. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Congrats on the win, AA!! This is my favourite aspect of the type:
    How cool is that! :cool:
     
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  11. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Love your coin zumbly, details of the gate are fantastic.
     
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  12. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks the purchase price wasn't to bad it was the >40% extra's that was over the top. Love that coin of your's a type rarely seen.
     
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  13. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    I see what you mean a different portrait style for sure with the lines on his forehead, great coin indeed.
     
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  14. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I have not given thought to grouping portraits but will post here the large size Nicopolis coins I have for your examination. There is a similar array of small assarion styles.
    pi0410b00874lg.jpg pi0520bb1439.jpg pi0530bb1451.jpg pi0540yy1698.jpg pi0550bb1908.jpg pi0560b01924lg.jpg pi0590bb1978.jpg pi0610bb2019.jpg pi0620bb2045.jpg
     
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  15. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I assume everyone interested already knows this but, just in case:
    Our valued CT member PeteB has a page on his website (along with many great coins) that lists the magistrates of the region and whom they served. Septimius was emperor for a long time by Roman standards so his portraits should have changed a lot. We can do this by style but the change of magistrate names helps a lot, too.
    http://www.akropoliscoins.com/page8.html
     
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  16. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Nice array of SS portraits Doug each with a very slight difference probably related to the the celator skills and how he perceived SS main facial characteristics. I have assembled four types of mine that cover four different cities in eastern Europe.
    1st THRACE ANCHIALUS 6yMFTS9i8Jkd3a4Mj2XgHn7fxCG53s (2).jpg 2nd Pontus, Neocaesarea Pontus.jpg 3rd NIKOPOLIS AD ISTRUM 106727q00 - Copy (2).jpg 4th Thrace, Augusta Traiana VA275-0124LG.jpg
     
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  17. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Nice coin, fantastic patina.
     
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  18. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks Doug, I just had a good look and find it very helpful.....some great coins as well.
     
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