Throughout history there have been a series of prominent "Scarfaces" ("Say 'ello to my little friend"). Some historical, and some fictional. As the two Al's below were aptly nicknamed. While they could arguably be considered mafia or cartel bosses in their own right, the following set of bosses bears a prominent cheek scar (right or left, who's counting?): Domitian struck 87 A.D. den RIC 507 Roma IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VI / IMP XIIII COS XIII CENS P P P Minerva; owl at foot 19mm 3.18g Trajan, denarius struck 101-102 Roma IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM / P M TR P COS IIII P P Hercules, holding lion's skin and club RIC 49, left shoulder drapery variety 19mm 2.9g (Early buffalo head nickel model....?) While I have you there is an interesting story about the statue depicted on this reverse. Which may be the a depiction of one of the statues in the the Ara Maxima in Rome situated in the Forum Boarium. Constantius II siliqua struck 351-355 Nicomedia DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG VOTIS/XXX/MVLTIS/XXXX four lines within wreath. Mintmark SMN RIC VIII 81 Nicomedia 19mm 3.13g Always interesting to think how these coins got their scars from test cuts to farm equipment, I'm sure it runs the gamut. I tend to attract coins, people and pets that have some scars on them and have left the door open pretty wide for any scarred portraits or damaged coins (with a hypothesis!) you would like to share.
My Artemis has a nasty gash on her right cheek, but after all she did like to play with bows and arrows
I don’t usually collect coins of the Roman Republic, but I loved these battle scars (bankers’ marks) on this denarius. MN FONTEIUS, AR Denarius, circa 85 BC, Laureate head of Apollo Vejovis right/ Rev. Infant winged Genius (or Cupid) riding goat right, caps of the Dioscuri above.
This Caracalla has a big gash on the cheek, like the classic GI Joe! Caracalla as Caesar, AD 195-198. Roman AR denarius, 2.46 g, 18.5 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 198. Obv: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: FIDES PVBLICA, Fides standing right, holding grain ears and dish of fruits. Refs: RIC 8, Cohen 83; Hill 321.
Although these are Banker's Marks... WOW, they went bonkers on this Tet. I understand that if the coin was within the Greek World, that Bankers would not strike on Athena's face, as it would be an affront to the Goddess. However, they had no compunction to slam a mark or slice between the Owl's eyes, just to snub the City of Athens. I understand that if they were slammed in the Face, they probably were circulating outside the Greek World. Cool... as intended, they were used for major commerce and trading. Maybe these were used in India or other OUTSIDE the Greek World peoples. Fun for me to hold. Athens Owl Tet 16.8g 22mm x 6.5mm Late Classical 393-300 BC, Sear 2537, SNG Cop. 63
I could NEVER imagine this Emperor EVER being in a BAR BRAWL ! DOMITIAN RI Domitian AR Denarius 81-96 CE Minerva thunderbolt spear shield protruded chin COS XV CENS PPP RIC 726
Hi All, Despite the cheek bump, I like my recently acquired (January) leeetle friend here. Reference: Svoronos 1689, pl lix, 22-23 [4 listed]; SNG Copenhagen 633; Nicolaou & Mørkholm (1976), pl. xvii, 271 (die 48); Mørkholm (1983a), A15-p27, A15-P28, A16-P29, A16-P30, A17-P31, A17-P32, A18-P33, A18-P34, A18-P35, pl. 4, 6-7. - Broucheion
My favorite "Scarface" is "Unknown King #1" of Persis from probably the second century B.C. Unlike most Persis coins his have no inscription hence he has no name. And even the fourée has the scar
The scars are likely the only reason I was able to afford my Didus Julianus He at least held up better than his wife Or daughter
Near Ephesus, on the western edge of modern Turkey, in Hyrcanis, Lydia they made this great portrait of Marcus Ulpius "Scarface" Trajanus Lydia, Hyrcanis, Trajan (98-117), AE, M. Bettius Quintianos, magistrate Obv: ΑΥ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑ ϹΕ ΓΕ ΔΑ, laureate head right Rev: ΥΡΚΑΝΩΝ ϹΤΡ Μ ΒΕ ΚΥΙΝΤΙΑΝΟΥ, Dionysus standing left, himation over lower limbs and shoulder, holding cantharus and resting on thyrsus Size: 4.23 g, 18 mm Ref: RPC 1949 (4 specimens)
M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus. Denarius - Rome mint, c. 69 BC Male head right (Mercury ?) with flowing hair. Behind symbol M·PLAETORI – CEST·EX·S·C Winged caduceus 18 mm, 3,86 gr Ref : RCV #344, RSC Plaetoria # 5, Sydenham # 807, RBW # 1453, Crawford # 405/5 From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection Q
It helps that the magistrate wrote his name on the back of the coin. I have to wonder why a town would have created such a coin, not your average local bronze, I find the portrait quite "medallic" (if that is a word) and extraordinary:
