Featured Follow the coin theme GAME - ancient edition - post ‘em if you got ‘em

Airways learning something new from you @Roman Collector thanks
Could fit a couple boardwalks in these Sasanians.

Next up: fire depicted on Greek coin

 

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I think this counts as a "Greek" coin, especially if one uses the old-fashioned "Greek Imperial" terminology:

Lucius Verus AR Didrachm 161-166 AD, Caesarea, Cappadocia. Obv. Bare head right, ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΟΥΗΡΟϹ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ / Rev. Mt. Argaeus surmounted by statue of Helios standing three-quarters left with long scepter in left hand and globe in right; flames to left and right on sides of mountain; animal [deer?] bounding left at bottom far left of mountain in front of large rock; tree in front of large rock at bottom far right; smaller rock dotted with trees[?] at bottom center; ΥΠΑ-ΤΟϹ Β [= COS II]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Online Vol. IV.3 7027 (temp.) [rev. var.] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/7027); Sydenham 352 [rev. var.] [Sydenham, E., The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia (London 1933)]; Metcalf, Caesarea 131a [rev. var.] [Metcalf, W.E., The Silver Coinage of Cappadocia, Vespasian-Commodus. ANSNNM (American Numismatic Society, Numismatic Notes & Monographs) No. 166 (New York 1996)]; Metcalf Hoard 694-718 & PL 39-40 [rev. var.] [see id.]; SNG von Aulock 6438 [rev. var.] [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia (Berlin 1962)]. 20 mm., 6.70 g., 6 h.



Next: another coin depicting Mt. Argaeus, not issued by Lucius Verus.

 

next: Helios

 

Next up: kerykeion

 

As I don't as easily recognize a kerykeion and I do a caduceus, I will post this coin:

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome, Q. Sicinius, early 49 BC, AR denarius, Rome mint
Obv: FORT P R, diademed head of Fortuna Populi Romani right
Rev: Palm frond and winged caduceus, bound with fillet, in saltire; wreath with fillet above
Ref: Crawford 440/1; CRI 1; Sydenham 938; Sicinia 5; RBW 1555
Note: Issued to honor the victories of Pompey over pirates

Next: Another coin connected to pirates or Pompey

 

Hmm... can I go with this Carausius antoninianus?


(It's overstruck on a Victorinus antoninianus)

Carausius was put in charge of the English Channel, and told to eliminate the pirates, and stop them looting Armorica and Beligica. However, Carausius decided to only attack the pirate ships after they had raided the land, and kept all the loot the pirates had seized for himself. Maximian ordered his execution when he found this out, so Carausius set up his base in Gaul, where he remained in power there for about 6 years, before being assassinated by Allectus.

Next: A coin where the reverse looks in terrible condition, but is quite interesting

 

Kind of poor quality. I am not sure what is portrayed on the reverse. Any ideas?

Next: Another mystery god or goddess...

 

Dionysus and panther, perhaps??


Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.22 g, 16.5 mm, 11 h.
Rome Mint, AD 194.
Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP III, laureate head, right.
Rev: LIBERO PATRI, Liber standing facing, head left, cloak over left shoulder, holding oenochoe and thyrsus; at feet left, panther standing left, catching drips from the jug.
Refs: RIC 32; BMCRE 64-65; Cohen 301; RCV 6307; Hill 84.


Faustina Jr., 147-175.
Roman provincial AE 9.06 gm; 24.7 mm.
Thrace, Anchialus, AD 147-155.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ ΝΕΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΑNΧΙΑΛΕΩΝ, Dionysos standing left, holding cantharus and thyrsus; panther at feet, left.
Refs: AMNG 434; RPC 4525; Varbanov 90; BMC --; SNG Copenhagen --.


Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
Roman provincial Æ tetrassarion, 13.76 g, 26 mm.
Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum; Legate Aurelius Gallus, AD 201-204.
Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟ-ΜΝΑ CΕΒΑ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VΠ ΑVΡ ΓΑΛΛΟV-ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ | ΠΡΟC ΙCΤΡΟ, Dionysos standing left,
naked except for boots, holding bunch of grapes and thyrsos, panther at foot left.
Refs: AMNG I 1456; Varbanov 2897; H&J, Nikopolis 8.17.8.1 corr. (rev. legend); Mionnet Sup. 2, p. 134, 457 and pl. III, no 6.

Maybe Hermes with marsupium and caduceus????


Gallienus, AD 253-268.
Roman silvered billon antoninianus, 4.25 g, 21.3 mm, 11 h.
Antioch, AD 267.
Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: FIDES AVG, Mercury standing right, holding marsupium (purse) and caduceus; PXV (=TR P XV) in exergue.
Refs: RIC 607F; Göbl 1667k; Cohen 219; RCV 10212; Hunter p. lxx.

 

This Iceni AV Quarter Stater/ depicts an unknown God/ Goddess on reverse (smiley face)
next: Coin with non-Roman/ Greek diety

 

BANAS of MADURAI: Samarakolakalan Copper jital, running Garuda (half-human/half-eagle), the name in Tamil on the obverse. 1300-1500s.

next, South Indian kingdoms.

 

Thanks @Roman Collector - it does indeed look like Dionysus!!!

 

Mysore

Tipu Sultan, Patan, AR 2 rupees, AM 1216. C. 127

22.7 grams

This is one of five double rupees from Mysore that I was lucky to acquire back in the 1980s, before the boom in prices for the beautiful coins.

This coin came from James Warmus, at a local coin show around 1982. He has some really nice crowns.



Next: A Bactrian coin that is not from the reign of Eucratides I.

 

Menander I Soter, 155-130 BC, Bopearachchi 16C.
next, bilingual Roman coin

 

12 hours. This coin is unusual for cash coins because it has a hexagon center hole rather than the usual four-sided squares. This piece was minted by an Islamic kingdom, the Banten Sultanate, in Java (present-day Indonesia). By that point in time, Java had been using imported Chinese cash nearly exclusively for close to three hundred years after the Javanese kingdoms had abandoned the indigenous gold and silver coins they minted in earlier times.

Banten Sultanate
c. 1546-1596 AD
AE Cash | 2.28g | 24mm wide
Obv: Pangeran Ratu
Rev: Ja (suggested to be a mintmark for Banten's second port-city, Jayakarta)

​

Next: Another "deviant" variety of a more common coin type

 

not round, but square shape:


next: Vota Suscepta

 

Dupondius, 27 mm, 12.01 g

RIC III Antoninus Pius 1020
From Date: AD 158 To Date: AD 159
Obv Legend: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII
Type: Head of Antoninus Pius, radiate, right
Rev Legend: VOTA SVSCEPTA DEC III COS IIII S C
Type: Antoninus Pius, standing left, sacrificing with patera over tripod, left arm at side


Next - another coin with an emperor on the reverse.

 

Emperor on the reverse, and as a bonus an amazing looking portrait of Jesus on the obverse! What a piece of artistry.


Latin Rulers of Constantinople, Æ Trachy Large module, Type D. Constantinople, 1204-1261.
Obverse: Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator; IC-XC across fields.
Reverse: MANOVHΛ ΔECΠOTHC. Emperor standing facing, wearing crown, loros and sagion and holding labarum and globe cruciger.
Reference: Sear 2024; DOC 4.
1.95g; 22mm

Next: Portrait of high artistry (sarcastic cough cough).

 

Check out the amazing artistry on this one of Caligula! So lifelike!!


Caligula AD 37-41.
Roman provincial Æ 28 mm, 11.17 gm.
Carthago Nova, Spain, AD 37-38.
Obv: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANIC. IMP. P.M. TR.P. COS., laureate head of Caligula, r.
Rev: CN. ATEL. FLAC. CN. POM. FLAC. II. VIR. Q.V.I.N.C., head of Salus r., SAL AVG across field.
Refs: SGI 419; Heiss 272, 35; Cohen 247, 1; RPC 1, 185; SNG Cop 503.

Next: Head of a mortal on obverse, head of a deity on the reverse.

 

Trajan/Melqart



Next: Another Provincial depicting Melqart, issued by an emperor other than Trajan.

Edited to add: the coin doesn't have to depict the emperor, only Melqart. There were only a couple of other emperors besides Trajan whose images appear on provincial coins depicting Melqart.

 

Excuse the offtopic, but seeing this coin with Trajan and Melqart, I am just adding it to my wish list