The coins depicting architectural structures are much sought after by many collectors. A really nice subset of these depict the columns and pillars erected by Emperors to aggrandize their famous victories, depict the supremacy of Rome and glorify the success of their reign... others are erected by new regimes - dedicated to the previous Emperor posthumously as a way of displaying continuity and (of course) legitimacy... Here is a humble coin showing the column of Antoninus Pius - dedicated in 161AD by Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. The base - shown below - now sits in the courtyard outside the entrance to the Vatican Gallery. The column was originally 14.75 metres (48.4 ft) high and 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in) in diameter and was constructed of red granite. Apparently the column (once leaving the base) had no decoration - outside of the statue of Antoninus Pius at its summit. More on the column here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Column_of_Antoninus_Pius#Rediscovery Please post your coins featuring the columns and pillars of Rome.. I know our members have some amazing examples!
Interesting theme. I can't do it with an ancient, I don't think, so please forgive the intrusion of this "modern" Spanish Pillar dollar ("piece of eight"). (PCGS AU50. Sold from my Eclectic Box collection not long ago, but I'll have another again someday.)
Interesting, there are a lot of columns on roman coins, big and small. This column is the first architectural structure on a Roman coin (the first building comes 57 years later). It honors L. Minucius Augurinus, who, as prefect, introduced price controls on grain and thus fought a famine. C. Minucius Augurinus AR Denarius, 135 BC, Rome Obv: Helmeted head of Roma right, below chin, X, behind, ROMA. Rev: C•A – VG Spiral column surmounted by statue, holding staff in r. hand; on either side, togate figure. Togate figure on left holding loaves in both hands, togate figure on right holding lituus. Column decorated with forepart of lion on either side at the base and two bells at the top, grain ears behind each of the lions. Ag, 18mm, 3.69g Ref.: Sydenham 463, Crawford 242/1.
Roman Republic Minucius-Augurinus AR denarius 18mm 3-9g Rome mint 134 BC ROMA Bar-X Spiral column corn-ears togate figure holding loaves modius lituus Craw 243-1 Sear 120
Cool coin and thread idea! Ti. Minucius Augurinus AR Denarius (18 mm, 3.88 g). Rome, 134 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Roma right, star (mark of value) behind. Rev: ROMA / TI MINVCI C F / AVGVRINI, Ionic column surmounted by statue; at base, two stalks of grain; to the left, L. Minucius Augurinus standing right, holding patera, foot on modius; to the right, M. Minucius Faesusstanding left, holding lituus. Crawford 243/1.
This Nero Denarius does not have columns, but it does feature a temple with columns or pillars. The temple to Vesta (the god of the hearth and home) was one of the buildings Nero sponsored after the famous fire during with Nero allegedly fiddled. Below the photos of the coin are the ruins of the Vesta Temple.
Not a whole column or a whole pillar but.... L Papius Denarius Serratus, Obv:– Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin. Behind head, base of column. Rev:– Gryphon running right; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, corinthian capital Minted in Rome from . B.C. 79. Reference(s) – RSC Papia 1. RRC 384/1. RCTV 311. Symbol variety – RRC 21. Babelon 81. BMCRR 21. CNR 1/034 3.41 gms Stannard weight correction scoop on reverse
This is just fine. They are the Pillars of Hercules, a well know and verifiably ancient hero and the language on the coin is Latin, the native language of the Romans.
