I ended up bringing two coins home from NAC's Spring Auction, neither of which were ones I planned to bid on but both of which I'm very happy with and both of which feature equestrian statues. This first denarius is of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the same man who would later go on to become a triumvir alongside Octavian and Marc Antony. Like many moneyers of this period, he chose to celebrate the deeds of an ancestor on his coinage. In this case, the ancestor was the moneyer's great-grandfather, also a Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. During the war with Hannibal this ancestor killed an enemy warrior and saved one of his countrymen in the process. The senate voted to have a statue erected in his honor and it is this statue that is believed to be represented on the reverse of this denarius. Interestingly there are two major reverse varieties of this type: the first like my example and the second including the addition of the legend "AN XV PR H O C S" around. This is believed to represent "ANorum XV PRogressus Hostem Occidit Civem Servavit", which translates to something like "At the age of 15 he went into battle and saved a citizen" and was probably the inscription at the base of the statue. This was probably added to draw more attention to the story and significance of the statue. Roman Republic AR Denarius(19mm, 3.91g). Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, 61 B.C., Rome mint. Laureate and diademed female head right. Border of dots/Horseman right, carrying trophy over shoulder. In exergue M LEPIDVS. Crawford 419/1b; Banti Aemilia 71-3 (this coin); Babelon Aemilia 22; Sydenham 830; RBW 1507. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Spring Auction 2020, 25 May 2020, lot 633, ex JD Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 72, 16 May 2013, lot 1213, ex Finarte 208, 1975, lot 28 The second coin is one I previously shared in the "NAC Spring 2020" thread, but I'll share it again along with a little discussion. This denarius is also of a triumvir, in this case Octavian. The types are similar to those on the first issue of Octavian(be sure to read the note in the link) but the differing pose and addition of "POPVL IVSSV" suggest this coin represents the real statue erected by Senatorial decree after the victory of the triumvirs at Philippi. Roman Imperatorial period AR Denarius(3.82g, 16mm), C Caesar Octavianus, mint with Octavian in Italy, 41 BC. Bare head of Octavian right, with slight beard; C·CAESAR·III·VIR·R·P·C around; border of dots / Equestrian statue of Octavian galloping left, his right hand extended; POPVL·IVSSV in exergue and on right. Sear HCRI 299; Crawford 518/2 Numismatica Ars Classica Spring Auction 2020, 25 May 2020, lot 726, ex RBW Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 63, 17 May 2012, lot 553, ex Jesus Vico sale June 1992, lot 401 As always, feel free to share anything relevant.
I am not always clear when an Equestrian scene copied a statue and when it was original to the coin. A small percentage of statues that were ever made still exist and many were never mentioned between being made and being demolished. Trajan Septimius Severus ("Emesa")
That's always a tough question. Some are mentioned in the histories we have, like the Lepidus posted above. I tried not to recreate Harlan's entire chapter on it, but there is very good evidence that it existed and I suggest anyone interested in the coins of this period pick up Harlan's books. The existence of the statue depicted on Octavian's denarius is not quite as certain. There isn't as much historical evidence for it but there has been a plaque from a statue of Julius Caesar found in an archaeological dig with the same "POPVL IVSSV" text and it is believed to have been on many statues erected during this period. There are some arguments that this coin instead depicts a statue of Julius Caesar for which there is much better evidence to have existed.
Lucius Verus on horseback, riding down a Parthian. Lucius Verus, 161-169 A.D. Type: AE As, 25.5 mm 12.1 grams, R1 according to ACSearch Obverse: L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, Bare-Headed Bust Facing Right Reverse: TRP IIII IMP II COS III, Emperor on Horseback Charging right holding spear, riding down foe. Reference: TBD, not in Wildwinds - edit: RIC 1404, rare type
Beautiful new additions, I especially like the Octavian. Man. Aemilius Lepidus, AR Denarius, Rome, (18 mm, 3.88g), 114-113 B.C Laureate and diademed head of Roma right; behind star/ REV. MN•AEMILIO, Equestrian statue right on pedestal with three arches, L-E-P between the arches
Here's my Octavian equestrian statue, built to promise peace from his victory at Actium and from the annexing of Galatia and Spain: Ex. NFA, May 13, 1991; Ex. NFA 16 Dec 2, 1985 lot 322; Ex. Biaggi Collection, Ex. Jameson Collection - Feuardent 9th June 1913, lot 22 (and a plate coin in “The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators” #394). It's also a coin I happened to spot at the Capitoline Museum in Rome on a scarf that I vastly overpaid for 57 Euro but which I couldn't not buy. Definitely targeted marketing and I was a captive audience!
A discussion concerning equestrian statues has to include Trajan's from his forum. Trajan (Augustus) Coin: Silver Denarius IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P - Laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI - Equestrian statue of Trajan Mint: Rome (112-113 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.33g / 20mm / 6h References: RIC 291 RSC 497a BMC 445 Provenances: Roma Numismatics Acquisition/Sale: Roma Numismatics Internet E-Live Auction 1 #605 $0.00 07/18 Notes: Jan 22, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
No clue if these are statues or coin scenes RI Trajan AR Denarius 98-117 Riding Horse RI Probus 276-282 CE Ant 21mm Rome mint captive on ground Riding Horse in ex R-Thunderbolt-Z RIC 155 Makedon Philip II AE 18 Apollo - Youth Horseback spear hd below 359-356 BCE 18mm 6.2g SNG ANS 850-1 RUSSIA Ivan IV The Terrible 1533-1584 AR Denga Moscow mint Horseman riding right brandishing sword - Inscription in lines G&K 59 Rare type RR AR Sestertius After 211 BCE 12mm 1.0g Rome mint Roma r IIS - Dioscuri riding stars in ex ROMA Sear 46 Craw 44-7 RSC 4
We have a couple of horse riders in the collection but this is my favorite: Trajan Decius AR Antoninianus Rome mint 249-250 AD Obverse: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate bust right, draped & cuirassed Reverse: ADVENTVS AVG, Decius on horse riding left, with left hand raised in salute & scepter in other arm RIC 11b
This aureus is amazing and the scarf is really awesome. I'll be honest if I found a scarf with one of my coins on it, I'd have the exact same reaction. You can't not buy it.
