As someone who collects Chinese and ancient coins, I was browsing numisbids when I noticed this really nice medallion from the Ming dynasty, minted under the short lived Daxi Kingdom, which was controlled by the leader of a peasant rebellion. That got me thinking, I want to embark on putting together a collection of coins that focuses on the theme of rebellion, coins minted by either the Rebels or celebrating their defeats. Does anyone have any input as to which coins fall under this category? Off the top of my head, I can think of the Judaea shekels and Bar Kochba coins, corresponding with the Judaea Capta Denarii. I can also think of a couple of Chinese coins like those of the Taiping rebellion, and some Irish gunmoney coins. Does anyone have any more examples? Post your rebellion coins too!
I could think of a couple of coins issued by rebels of Ancient Rome too, such as Vindex, and pretty much every emperor from the Year of the Four Emperors.
Interesting idea – but I think it needs a bit of a clarification. The Ming dynasty itself started with a rebellion against the Yuan. The Abbasids were rebels against the Omayyads. Indeed, Islam was a rebellion against Rome. So I guess you are thinking more about interesting but short lived failed revolts? There must be loads – here are a couple that spring to mind. Ashtor wrote at some length about a guy who led a revolt against the Abbasids - nick named “The Abomination”. He apparently organised a state primarily for runaway black slaves which according to text got as far as striking coin. Whether specimens are known I never checked - but they will be rather expensive if so. Ala-ud-Din Muhamed Khalji (who I maintain was not a kind of Stalin) took an unorthodox lenient approach to his Hindu subjects. His incompetent son Mubarak went further – taking as his boyfriend a “new convert” to Islam - Khusru. On Mubarak’s death Khusru attempted to take control of the Sultanate, favouring “new converts” but the administration was quickly quashed by the old ruling classes (of Afghan etc descent). I mention this because the dugani of Khusru are scarce but not rare, so you probably could pick one up. Rob
In AD 260, Postumus led a rebellion against Emperor Gallienus, heir and son of Valerian I. Postumus succeeded in capturing Gaul, Spain and Britain, beginning what would become known as the first Gallic Empire. Postumus, AD 260-269. Roman AR Antoninianus; 2.39 g, 19.4 mm, 12 h. Cologne, AD 265-268. Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe and hasta pura. Refs: RIC 80; Cohen 295; DeWitte 247; RCV 10977; Hunter 75.
Here is a link to some of the emperors who rebelled against the Roman Empire that I have in my collection: The Breakaway Empires
Struck by Postumus not too long after the rebellion: Postumus, Gallic Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 261 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG; bust of Postumus, laureate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: P M TR P COS II P P; emperor helmeted, standing l., holding globe in r. hand and long spear (pointsup) in l. hand. 24.5mm, 2.94g. Ref: Mairat 108/109; RIC V Postumus 54. A horrible example of this type, albeit an interesting one: the Alexandrian folles sporting an eagle were struck under Domitius Domitianus, who shortly usurped power in Egypt. His rebellion didn't end well. Diocletian (struck under Domitius Domitianus), Roman Empire, AE1 ("follis"), 295–296 AD, Alexandria mint. Obv: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; head of Diocletian, laureate, r. Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over l. shoulder, standing l., holding patera in r. hand and holding cornucopiae in l. hand; at feet to l., eagle holding wreath in its beak; in field r., B; in exergue, ALE. 26mm, 8.96g. Ref: RIC VI Alexandria 18a. This little coin was struck just after the Cologne Diocesan Feud – in a nutshell, the city had rebelled against the ruling archbishop, won, and now began to strike its own coins: Imperial City of Cologne, civic issue, AR bracteate heller, 1474–1493 AD, Cologne mint. Obv: civic coat of arms: three crowns above five flames. Rev: negative design (bracteate). 14.5mm, 0.31g. Ref: Noss 31. Ex Ernst Otto Horn Collection.
MERCENARY WAR 241-238 BCE - Carthage Mercenary Troops REBEL against Carthage A NASTY war, even by Ancient standards... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercenary_War Between Carthage and Libya Carthage-LIBYAN UPRISING - Mercenaries issue Mercenary War 241-238 BCE 7.36g AR DiShekel Herakles Head in Lion's Head- Lion walking; Punic M above; LIBYA below R SNG Cop 240f Overstrike Coins were struck in the name of Libya and "M", which has been taken as either "machanat" - the Camp (of the mercenaries), or perhaps Matho, their leader. Sardinia Carthage - LIBYAN REVOLT Rebels 241-238 BCE 9.63g 24mm Shekel Sardinia mint Tanit 3 Grain ears Crescent SNG Cop 247
OUST NERO! VINDEX RI Civil War VINDEX 68-69 CE AR Denarius 3.22g Gallic mint SALVS GENERIS HVMANI Victory l globe - SPQR in wreath RIC 72 BMCRE 34-36 RSC 420 R RI Civil War Revolt of Vindex CE 68-69 AR Denarius ROMA RESTITVTA - IVPITER LIBERATOR Jupiter seated r Tbolt Scepter 17mm 3.02g RIC I 62 RSC 374-RARE
I posted this before, but this the ROMAN SIDE of the Social War SOCIAL WAR / MARSIC WAR 91-88 BCE Year 1. Opening Volley ; Uh-ohhh! This is REAL... 91 BCE RR Junius Silanus 91 BCE Denarius Roma B behind Biga I above S 225 Cr337-3 Year 2. 90 BCE Oh, CRAP! They are gooder than we thought! RR L Calpurnius Piso Frugi AR Quinarius 90 BCE 13 mm 1-93 g 2 h Rome Laureate head of Apollo right uncertain symbol behind Victory advancing right holding wreath and palm Cr 340-2 Calpurnia 13 RR Vibius Pansa 90 BCE AR Denarius Apollo V control - Minerva Quadriga Sear 242 Cr 342-5 Social-Marsic War Year 3. 89 BCE! Wow, Rome finally won militarily, but LOST politically, granting everything the Italians asked for! RR AR Quinarius 89 BCE M Porcius Cato Liber Bacchus - Victory- Crawford 343-2. Sear 248 RR Titurius Sabinus 89 BCE AR Denarius Tarpeia buried shields S 251 Cr 344-2a Year 4. 88 BCE - Mop-up operations: Italians granted their rights; but the Samnites virtually EXTERMINATED by Sulla and the Gang. RR Cn Lentulus Clodianus 88 BCE AR Quinarius Jupiter Victory crowning trophy Craw 345-2 S 255 RR Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus 88 BCE AR Denarius Mars Biga S 254 Cr 345-1
SOCIAL WAR / Marsic Confederation MARSIC CONFEDERATION (Social War 90-88 BCE) Marsic Confederation Denarius 89 BCE Obv: Italia Rev: Italia seated shields, -victory crowning, In Ex: retro B Corfinium Mint Campana 105 HN Italy 412a Sear 228 RARE Marsic Confederation / Italian Allies Social War 90-88 BCE AR Denarius 19x17.9mm, 3.7g Anonymous Issue, Corfinium Mint Obv: Italia head, l, ITALIA behind Rev: Oath-taking scene with eight warriors, four on each side, pointing their swords towards a sacrificial pig, which is held by an attendant kneeling at the foot of a standard. - Binding the Marsi, Picentines, Paeligni, Marrucini, Vestini, Frentani, Samnites, and Hirpini Tribes into the Marsic Confederation against Rome during the Social War Comment: The reverse is based on the gold Stater and Half-Stater from the Second Punic War, and the Ti Viturius denarius... Sear 227 SYD 621 SCARCE Marsic Confederation AR Denarius Bovianum(?) mint, 89 BCE. 3.93g, 20mm, 3h Obv: Laureate head of Italia left, VITELIA = ITALIA in Oscan script Rev: Soldier standing facing, head right, foot on uncertain object, holding inverted spear and sword, recumbent bull to right facing; retrograde B in exergue. Ref: Campana 122 (same dies); HN Italy 407 Ex: Eucharius Collection. Ex: Roma Auction 11, Lot 607
@Obone....Nice idea for a collecting theme.. First Jewish Revolt against Rome, 66 - 73 CE - Bronze Prutah Masada Coin 17mm/2.85gr. Obverse..Vine leaf with small branch and tendril, surrounded by the inscription "Harut Zion"-('freedom of Zion'). Reverse..Amphora with wide rim, fluted belly and two handles, Paleo-Hebrew inscription 'year two' 67 CE.
CAMPANIA, CAPUA - Hannibal: When Hannibal came through Italia, he promised the Capuan Magistrates that Capua would become the capital of Italia should he destroy Rome. Obviously, the Roman Republic prevailed in the Second Punic War. Since Capua sided with Hannibal, all coins, and anything that Capua created to popularize Hannibal were destroyed, melted down, etc. Makes Capuan coins scarcer from this Era. Campania CAPUA AE 14-5mm 216-211 Obv: Hera Rev: Oscan Grain ear Hannibal capital Italia SNG Fr 517 SNG ANS 219 HN Italy 500 EE Clain Stefanelli Campania Capua 216-214 BC Æ Uncia 20.5mm 6.1g Laur hdJupiter r star value l Victory trophy star value r Monete 21 HN Italy 493 Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 BCE Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE Campania CAPUA AE Semuncia 216-211 BCE Juno Xoanon Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE
This coin was issued under the founder of the Ming dynasty, from 1361 to 1368, when he became emperor, although it could have been issued beyond that. Da Zhong Tong Bao The other rebellious cash coins that immediately spring to mind are Annamese ones of Lê Lợi after the Ming conquered parts of it in the early 1400s and some from Xinjiang in the 1870s.
I have a few that I think qualify. Postumus, AE double sestertius, 260-269 AD Judea, first revolt, AR shekel, year 3, 68/69 AD Judea, Bar Kokhba, AR shekel, no year, circa 134-135 AD Heraclian Revolt, Heraclius, AE follis, year 3, Constantinople, circa 610 AD
