This Trivia will expose you to some "Glory" Coins and some "Horse" subject coins. This part of the post will introduce you to "Glory" coins only. "Glory," nunismatically, can be interpreted as "Radience" or (on ancient coins) "Radiant" devices. There are thousands of coins bearing some form of "Glory" on them, but to peak your interest in this subject here's two examples from the U.S's Colonial and Ferderal issues (Coin Facts): http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/fugio_cents/fugio_cents.htm http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/nova_constellatio/nova_constellatio_coppers.htm This next "Glory" coin, is an Octadrachm, circa 221 - 205 B.C. Ptolemy IV loved his father so much he had the Moneyer create and strike this coin to deify Ptolmey III. That's Ptolemy III on the obverse wearing a crown. The reverse bears a "Radiant" Cornucopia (symbol of everlasting life). Image courtesy of Coin Archives: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=211179&AucID=289&Lot=1323 Here's an important coin in the history of the Roman Empire. When viewing this Gold Solidus please take advantage of the text appearing with it: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=171805&AucID=214&Lot=296 This next "Glory" example comes to us from Celtic numismatic history: Courtesy Coin Archives: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=116388&AucID=136&Lot=415 This next example is one of the first ever to bear a head of a Caesar on both sides with each wearing "Radiant" Crowns: Coin Archives: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=131694&AucID=155&Lot=298 "Glory" on a coin was used in ancient times, as you now know from reading the text of the coins already revealed to you, but here's an Indian (India) Mohur struck circa 1611 whose designer took great pride in creating (I believe) "a work of art". Both sides of the coin are representative of that pride, but the detail and strength of his effort shines through in the sinuous beauty of the lion and in the flaming strength of an impregnable sun. Agree? Coin Archives: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=518994&AucID=376&Lot=1063 Perhaps the greatest use of "Glory" is religious in nature. Halos around the heads of Jesus, angels and saints, all-seeing eye, crosses,etc. Here's examples courtesy of Coin Archives: Take a look at the reverse of this gold Ducat struck in 1729 with Karl VI standing in all his pomposity on the obverse. As you can see, Madonna and child are encompassed in a "Glory" oval! http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=531324&AucID=386&Lot=4020 Here's another religious relic from earlier in world history. Circa 1464 - 1486. This Goldgulden was struck at Swabach for the Brandenburg-Francona kingdom of Albrecht Achilles. That's Saint John sporting a "Radiant" halo. http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/goldberg/046/image00574.jpg After Religion, a sun becomes the dominent "Glory" device This is evident in the coinage of Central and South America. The following examples courtesy Coin Archives: This 1826 Argentina Gold 8 Escudos adds a human touch to the Sun whose "Radience" shines forth all around it: http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/goldberg/046/image00921.jpg Let's jump forward 12 years to 1838 when Argentina, as a Federation, struck this gold 8 Escudos featuring a "Radiant" Sun above the shield: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532616&AucID=387&Lot=925 And look what Bolivia created: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532638&AucID=387&Lot=947 And the Republic of Chile struck this gold 8 Escudos in 1820: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532690&AucID=387&Lot=999 Costa Rico, a member of the Central American Republic, minted this 1831 Silver 8 Reales: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532734&AucID=387&Lot=1043 In 1842 Ecuador's Quito Mint struck this gold 8 Escudos: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532737&AucID=387&Lot=1046 Guatemala, another Central American Republic member, put a "Radiant" Sun above 5 volcanoes on this 1824 gold 8 Escudos: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532749&AucID=387&Lot=1058 And, also in 1824, struck this silver 8 Reales showing a "Radiant" setting Sun overlooking a valley beset with a row of volcanoes: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532751&AucID=387&Lot=1060 We return to South America to see what the mint at Cuzco in Southern Peru did to "Glorify" the sun on this 1838 gold 8 Escudos: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532879&AucID=387&Lot=1188 And the design on this silver 8 Reales: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532881&AucID=387&Lot=1190 Lest all these Spanish-American "Glory" coins bore you here's a couple other examples of "Glory:" 1897 Japanese 5 Yen: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=533241&AucID=388&Lot=1662 Hungarian 1678 15 Krajczar: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=534322&AucID=388&Lot=2743 Iranian 1978 5 Pahlevi: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=533192&AucID=388&Lot=1613 Italian 1614 crudly hammered AR Soldi: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=524498&AucID=380&Lot=2082 Wondering, "What about Mexican Coins?" Here's a 1904 Peso with the familiar " Radiant" Libertad Cap design on the reverse: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=534506&AucID=388&Lot=2927 And a 1905 50 Centavos: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=534509&AucID=388&Lot=2930 Okay, okay! I hear all you Peace Dollar collectors! Anthony De Francisci helped make the Peace Dollar more beautiful by including "Glory" on its reverse: (Coin Page) http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=4783 A. A. Weinman included "Glory" in his design of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar which debuted five years earlier in 1916, on its obverse: Coin Facts: http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dollars/walking_liberty_half_dollars/walking_liberty_half_dollars.html Augustus Saint Gaudens beat both designers with his creation of the $20 (Double Eagle) gold piece which was released in 1906. Not only did he predate them, but both sides of the coin bears "Glory": http://www.coinfacts.com/double_eagles/saint_gaudens.htm Up-to-date uses of "Glory" on U.S. COINS extends to the Bullion issues: Silver Eagle (Coin Page): http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=6394 Gold Eagle: http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=6658 Platinum Eagle (reverse): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-22.html And I'd be remiss to not show you the United States 1996 National Community Service Commemorative Silver Dollar (Coin Page): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-2579.html Here is a unique use of color, dimension and perspective to create "Glory" you probably have never seen. Authorized by Benin, it's a gold 30,000 Francs coin (courtesy Coin Archives): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=398049&AucID=299&Lot=3519 This ends "Glory" on the coins part of Glory and Horse 1 The "Horse" on coins part of Glory and Horse 2 will be posted in a few days. Did you enjoy? Clinker
Thanks for a very interesting post with lots of lovely coins. Looking forward to your next article. Regards, Ballabh Garg
If ever the current owner decides to sell it. :goofer: BTW, there are six different styles of Jahangir’s portrait muhar with Sun and Lion on reverse. Indeed! Regards, Ballabh Garg
Glory and Horses Apart from Jahangi's mohurs, here are few other my favorite Indian coins with image of "Glory" on them. This is a gold dinar of great Kushan king "Huvishka" with reverse depicting Greek god "Miiro"(written in Greek on right side) the god of rays, radiant Sun god. This one is a Nazarana rupee from Indore State issued by Maharaja Sivaji Rao Holkar. The reverse shows the Glory and Horse together: And I love the image of Sun on a Nazarana rupee of Indore state. Here is another Nazarana rupee from Indore depicting Sun with a "Mona Lisa smile". Regards, Ballabh Garg
Great thread, Clinker, its interesting to see a motif repeating through history, across so many ideological boundaries. Here is one from Kai-Kusru II (Seljuqs of Rum):
