It's been a while since I last purchased a Roman republican coin. Although my interest hasn't moved away - the coins that I am looking for are not commonly available, or at least not at a price / quality combination that I like. Today I received a much anticipated FedEx package - cautiously, suspiciously handled, as required in the current era of COVID-19. This coin ticks all the boxes for me : historically interesting, good style, well struck, nice condition and toning. It is from 2-3 years before Sulla distinguished himself in the Jugurthine War (112 BC). Sorry, I know this coin doesn't have anything to do with Sulla - other than the fact that he existed when it was issued. One of the most beautiful republican denarii, in my view, and more so for its anonymity in a sea of coins of self aggrandizement. The mysterious and unobtrusive graffito, ΚΛЄ on the obverse, does not detract. The imagery simple, iconic: Roma, peacefully absorbed with the scene of birds and the she-wolf suckling twins, a founding myth of Rome: Anonymous, 115-114 BC, AR Denarius, Rome mint Obv: Helmeted head of Roma right weating a winged Corinthian helmet, with curls on her left shoulder; X (mark of value) behind, border of dots Rev: Roma, wearing Corinthian helmet, seated right on pile of shields and a helmet beside, holding spear in left hand, birds in flight to upper left and right; to lower right, she-wolf standing right, head left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus. Size: 3.8g, 18.5 mm Ref: Crawford 287/1 Roma seated on shield(s) appears many times on Roman imperial coins, but not usually in this elegant and relaxed form. This is the first time Roma appeared with Corinthian helmet on an obverse. Crawford 281 in 120 BC shows a Roma in Corinthian helmet on the reverse standing. An aureus of Titus as Caesar in 77-78 AD revives this reverse, and among many others, this more modest antoninianus from >350 years after the RR coin, of Gordian III, illustrates the imposing version of Roma seated: Roman Empire Gordian III, AD 238-244, AR Antoninianus, Rome mint, 2nd officina, 3rd-4th emissions, AD 240 Obv: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory and spear Size: 4.39g, 22mm Ref: RIC IV 38; RSC 312 And Roman Britannia, personified and deified in the 2nd century, armed with a trident and shield and wearing a Corinthian helmet - appears 17 centuries later, looking familiar: George III, Half Penny 1807, Soho Mint Obv: Laureate bust of King George III facing right, wearing robes, the surrounding legend reading 'GEORGIUS III-D:G-REX.', with the date,1807, below. Mysterious graffito left, 5. Rev: Britannia seated upon a rock facing left, extending the symbolic olive branch of peace to all, a shield by her side, "ruling the seas" with a man o' war in full rigging at her feet in the distance and holding the trident spear of Neptune, the legend reads 'BRITANNIA', SOHO mint mark below shield. Post your coins of Roma seated, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
Nice package, @Sulla80 ! I captured the same Denarius for the reason you posted! Itsa fantastic coin in hand. Roman Republic Anonymous 115-114 BCE AR denarius (19.52 mm, 3.82 g, 8 h). Rome mint. ROMA, helmeted head of Roma right; X behind / Roma seated right on pile of shields, holding spear; birds flying above; she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus before. Crawford 287/1; Sydenham 530; RSC 176. Seller Comments: minor porosity, scratch on obverse. Ex: the Joseph Donzanti Collection; Ex Roma Numismatics.
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: RESTITVTOR VRBIS, Roma seated left holding palladium & spear, round sheild below Struck at Rome, 207 AD 1.9g, 19mm RIC 288 PHILIP I AR Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: ROMAE AETERNAE - Roma seated left on shield holding victory and spear, alter before Struck at Rome, 247 AD 3.3 g; 22 mm RIC 65, RSC 171
Beautiful coin, @Sulla80. It's a type that's been on my want list for a long time. My first Roma seated... VESPASIAN AE Dupondius. 12.35g, 26.3mm. Rome mint, AD 71. RIC 279. O: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, radiate head right. R: Roma seated left on cuirass, holding wreath and parazonium, two shields behind; S-C across fields, ROMA in exergue.
I quite like this type as well. It took me awhile to find one at the price/quality combo I look for because inevitably that wing on the helmet wears off and the dies are crowded so something is off flan, so I was happy to find this one last year at CNG. Roman Republic AR denarius(19mm, 3.87 g, 9h), anonymous, circa 115 or 114 B.C., Rome mint. Helmeted head of Roma right with curl on left shoulder; below, ROMA; behind, X. Border of dots. / Roma, wearing Corinthian helmet, seated right on pile of shields, holding spear in left hand; at feet, beside pile of shields, helmet; before, she-wolf right, suckling twins; on either side, bird flying. Border of dots. Crawford 287/1 Ex Andrew McCabe Collection, AM#13206-39, CNG e-Auction 443, 1 May 2019, lot 455, ex Roma V, 23 March 2013, lot 519, ex Mayflower (Herb Sukenik) Collection, Heritage 3019, 25 April 2012, lot 25924, ex George N. Polis M.D. Collection, Bowers & Merena, 10 June 1991, lot 74, ex Aurelia Collection, Owl, Ltd. & Thomas McKenna, November 1980, lot 72.
I've been in chase for one of that type for years. Just, I would like She-wolf to have a head : that seems impossible !!! An helmeted Roma with She-wolf suckling twins : S. Pompeius Fostlus, Denarius Rome mint, 137 BC Helmeted head of Roma right, X below chin, jug behind head SEX PO [FOSTLVS] She wolf suckling Remus and Romulus, fig tree in background, the shepherd Faustulus behind. ROMA at exergue 3,73 gr Ref : RCV # 112 var, RSC Pompeia # 1a, Crawford # 235/1c Q
Nice coins..... Maxentius AE Follis, Rome. AD 306-312...23/25mm diameter..6.92gr Obverse..IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG, laureate head right. Reverse..CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated front, head left, shield at her side, within hexastyle temple, holding globe and sceptre, wreath in pediment, knobs as acroteria. Mintmark RBS. RIC VI Rome 210; Sear 14987.
A nice variety of Romas across Anonymous, Gallienus, Septimius Severus, Philip I, Vespasian, Maxentius... I agree, nice coin and a surprising bargain. although not impossible - impossible at a price I would pay - this one went for $1940 in 2012, $4,000 in 2014, was back at auction and failed to sell in 2015, 16, and in 2017 sold again for $3250 - on most the head blends into the body. Roma has great socks/boots on this coin! and an excellent wolf on your 235/1c. nice variation on the theme...a very clear Roma on your example. I'll add a Probus to make it 6 examples from different Emperors. Probus, AD 276-282, AE Antoninianus, Rome mint, 3rd officina, 4th emission, AD 279 Obv: IMP PROBVS AVG, radiate, helmeted, and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield Rev: ROMAE AETER, Roma seated facing, holding Victory and scepter, within hexastyle temple; R(crescent)Γ Ref: RIC V 186, Probus Coins 1891
I'll add a provincial of Faustina II to the mix: Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman provincial triassarion, 6.57 g, 21.7 mm, 8 h. Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175. Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ-CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; band of pearls around head. Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC-ΠΑV-ΤΑΛΙΑC, Roma (or Athena Nikephoros?) enthroned left, wearing a Corinthian helmet, holding Nike in outstretched right hand and spear in left arm. Refs: RPC IV 8814; Ruzicka 142.
