Great thread, @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix . For deities, I’ll go with this Zeus Ammon. I think we should recognize Hadrian for bringing the beard back into style for Roman emperors for the next couple of centuries. For my money, I think Septimius Severus had the greatest beard of any emperor. And a special participation trophy to young Gordian III, who tried his best, but couldn’t quite do it. Looks a lot like the beard I tried to grow when I was in high school (but mine was way worse).
Thought I would toss a beard in from the West... more Celts OSCA, Spain, AR silver denarius. Struck circa 204-154 BC. Head right with short beard, legend resembling *N behind. Reverse - Horseman galloping right with spear, Iberian legend resembling *PMAN BOLSCAN below. Burgos 1501, Villaronga 3 Ex: @John Anthony
My wonderful Secret Sarurnalia gift of Septimus Severus has a great beard: So does this Alexandrian Tet of Gallienus: Zeus has the best beard in my opinion on this 70 gram monster
I will add some more Eastern rulers.... Persia/ AV Daric ND/ Sardes Mint/ Xerxes II 420-380BC Kushan Empire/ AV Dinara/ Peshawar Mint/ Vima Kadphises Kushan Empire/ AV Dinara/ Peshawar Mint/ Kanishaka I Parthia Empire/ AR Drachm/ Ektabana Mint/ Pakoros I Rome/
Funky Beard. But, he must be Celtic cuz he has a strawberry-blonde beard! PERSIA Achaemenid Daris I-Xerxes II 485-420 BCE AV Daric 14mm 8.3g Lydo Milesian Sardes king wearing kidaris kandys quiver spear bow Incuse Carr Type IIIb Group A-B pl XIII 27
Some great beards in the thread so far - Greek, Byzantine, Parthian, Sassanian, Roman Imperial, Achaemenid, Kushan....The Roman Republicans had some good bearded characters too e.g. these two bearded tyrannicides: Roman Republican, M. Junius Brutus, 54 BC. AR Denarius, Rome, struck 54 BC Obv: Bearded and bare-headed head right of L. Junius Brutus; BRVTVS. Rev: Bearded and bare-headed head right of Caius Servilius Ahala; AHALA Size: 3.96g, 17-19mm Ref: Crawford 433/2; Junia 30
The beard curls that Constantius wears on this portrait was one of the reasons why I bought the coin. CONSTANTIUS I CHLORUS AR Argenteus. 3.35g, 19.6mm. Serdica mint, circa AD 305-306. RIC 11a (R4), unlisted officina Γ=3. O: CONSTANTIVS AVG, laureate head right. R: VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted campgate with seven layers and no doors; •SM•SDΓ• in exergue.
Amazing thread! The coins herein have been exceptional for a group that is known to provide exceptional things. That said, none have posted a coin of histories Most obvious beard: I kid. Though, being Hadrian’s wife was being a massive beard I’ll throw in a few of my favorite with men with beards on them (no circus ladies here): The man who brought the beard and certain proclivities back from Greece: The greatest beard that barely got a chance: The beard from Africa: The beard from Gaul: Crazy beard: Neck beards always count beard: Silenus’ beard so great the coin cannot coin-tain it!
THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE18 OBVERSE: Head of Pan left REVERSE: P-A-N, head & neck of bull three-quarters left. Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 4.0g, 18mm SNG BMC Black Sea 890 ANONYMOUS ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Didrachm OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Mars left, oak-sprig behind REVERSE: ROMANO on tablet below head of bridled horse right, ear of wheat behind Struck at Metapontum, 280-276 BC 19 mm, 6.55g Cr13/1, Syd 1 SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II AE19 OBVERSE: Head of Poseidon left REVERSE: IEP-ONOS, ornamented trident of Poseidon Struck at Syracuse, Sicily 275-216 BC 6.5g; 19mm SG 1223 TRALLES, LYDIA CITY COINAGE AE18 OBVERSE: Laureate head of Zeus Larasios right REVERSE: DIOS TRAL-LIANWN, thunderbolt, all in wreath Struck at Tralles 200-1 BC 6.51g, 17.86 mm Mionnet 661 TI VETURIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VETURIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Helmeted bust of Mars right REVERSE: Youth kneeling l., between two warriors who touch with their swords a pig which he holds., ROMA above Struck at Rome 137 BC 3.7g, 18mm Cr.234/1; RSC Veturia 1 M FURIUS Lf PHILUS ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate head of Janus; M•FOVRI•L•F around REVERSE: Roma standing left erecting trophy, gallic arms around, ROMA to right, PHLI in ex. Struck at Rome, 119 BC 3.81g, 18.35mm Crawford 281/1, Syd 529, BMCRR (Italy) 555, Furia 18 KINGS OF NUMIDIA, MICIPSA AE27 OBVERSE: Laureate, bearded head left REVERSE: Prancing horse left, pellet below Struck at Numidia, 118 BC 14.4g, 27mm SNG Cop 505; Mazard 50; Müller 32 Ex JAZ Numismatics
These two disagree! Gallienus' crazy neck beard! Gallienus, 253-268 AD Roman Æ Antoninianus, 18 mm, 2.27 g Rome Mint 267-268 AD Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right Rev: DIANAE CONS AVG, gazelle walking left, XII in exergue Refs: RIC 181; Cohen 165; RCV 10200; Göbl 750b. Crusty, but with the BEST neck beard! Tacitus, AD 275-276. Roman billon antoninianus, 3.57 g, 22.1 mm, 12 h. Ticinum, AD 275-276, issue 2. Obv: IMP C CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: ANNONA AVGVSTI, Annona standing left, holding ears of corn over modius and cornucopiae; T (third officina) in exergue. Refs: MER/RIC temp #3647; RIC 123; Cohen --; Estiot 2149.56; RCV 11767; La Venera hoard 1673.
How about a Gallienus antoninianus I bought earlier today? Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG - Radiate bust of Gallienus. Reverse: VIRTVS AVG - Virtus, holding shield and spear. Date: 260-268 AD Diameter: 19.4 mm. Weight: 2.37 gr. Reference: RIC 534
Neigh faith. Hadrian was the first emperor to wear a beard on coinage going back to Caesar, or Sulla for that matter. Though Nero did wear a fake beard named Poppaea Pictures or it didn’t happen...
Well played. How could i forget: Though, if that’s an aureus then have i got a time share venture for you!