Unusual depictions of rulers

Not sure how to really word this, but I'm thinking of portraits that don't fit the "standard" appearance or depiction of rulers.

For example, Constantine I doesn't usually have a mullet:

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Gallienus doesn't usually look like a tired dad:


Neither does he usually look like a caricature.

 

Here is my favorite... the fish eye and lips, the crazy moustache.. this really is one of my favorite busts. So horrifying - yet so awesome!


Licinius I. A.D. 308-324. reduced follis (19 mm, 3.04 g). Heraclea, ca. A.D. 321-324. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Jupiter standing left, holding Victory and scepter; eagle at feet left; X/IIG/SMHG.



Licinius really is the Man of 1000 faces... imagine trying to pick him out of a Lineup? Click on the image below to see what I mean...

 

I dunno about a mullet but according to those statues, Constantine had really terrible looking haircuts.

 

I would say most of Augustus coins, which portrays him as an young man, but in reality he reigned until 75!

 

Great theme. I always thought this baby-faced huge-eyed Constantine was unusual:


The Carausian portraits of Diocletian are very different:



As are early portraits of Aurelian from the Siscia mint:


I bought this because I thought the portrait of Hadrian was unusual (and artistic):


The Alexandria mint always had a different take on portraits:


Getting sillier, here's a moustachioed Sev Alex:


And a long-necked Constantius I from the London mint:



Cheating now, here's Gallienus with a Salus stuck in his beard :


Or we can go to the Bosporan kingdom for another Gallienus (on the reverse, it's pretty hard to tell):


And of course the wackiest portrait prizes generally go to the Byzantines! An atrocious Phocas here:


That's my 10 max. Thanks for your patience.

 

Here is an unusual depiction of Elagabalus. He was about 14 or 15 years old when the coin was struck, but he looks much older, more like a clean shaven Macrianus.

 

I love your Fishinius!

I wonder why the depictions are so vastly different; almost as if nobody in the empire had a proper sculpture to work off of and just sort went with some verbal descriptions

He runs the gamut from being:

Fishinius "His eyes are as big as dinner plates..."


The Fun Uncle "Remember your Uncle Steve? Yea, on your mom's side..."


The Meathead "I've heard that our new emperor has no neck..."

 

Sorry. Wrong thread

 

Not a ruler, not sure what he was - maybe a depiction of a religious figure or.. a gnome or an ancient alien:



A Potin from Gallia Belgica

 

stinky eye

 

I think the engraver for my coin was the ancestor of @Andres2's coin engraver.


What about this (impulse buy but proved to be a good coin) Septimius Severus?



Both Septimius Severus (especially) and Hercules seem like they completely disapprove everything.

 

I got you all beat.....these have the dumbest portraits
Regnum Visigothorum/ Ervig 680-87
Regnum Francorum/ Neustria 610-20
Regnum Francorum/ Austrasia 586-612 Theudebert II
Regnum Visigothorum/ Tulgan 639-42

 

Amazing. I can’t even tell what the last one is supposed to be

 

From an upcoming auction.

I can't tell if Trajan is a) blindfolded, b) alien or c) Neanderthal

I do not refuse worn coins, in fact my first 2 Trajan denarii are in worse overall conservation than this one, but .... this is simply an UGLY wear in my opinion.

 

Tulgan

 

I see your Merovingian-Visigothic cartoons and raise you a Merovingian fourrée depicting... a deformed psychopathic chicken?


And if we're doing medieval, how about this portrait of, I kid you not, Julius Caesar?!

FRANCE, Sancerre: Etienne (Stephen) I (1152-1191), AR denier. 0.8g, 20mm.
Obv: IVLIVS CESAR, Mitred and bearded head of Julius Caesar right
Rev: STEPANVS COMES, Short cross pattée; pellets in lower quarters.
Dupl. Féodales 641.
From the @Orfew collection.

The highly unusual appearance of a portrait of Julius Caesar on this coin is explained by the early history of Sancerre. It was the location of a very early temple to Caesar after the conquest of Gaul, and the name is likely derived from Sacrum Caesaris, “Sacred to Caesar".

 

Whenever I discuss portraiture in the ancient world I usually preface my remarks with the statement that portraiture is a careful journey between accuracy and flattery. The portrait does have to look something like the individual portrayed. However it is important to convey some impression to why he or she is fit to rule. On occasion in CT I have commented on how the die cutters managed to navigate around this often apparent contradiction. However it is tough when we get to this guy.
Antiochos VIII Gryphos "Hook nose" Ar Tetradrachm Antioch 109-96 BC Obv head right diademed Rv, Zeus Nikephoros seated left SC 2309(2)8 HGC 1197e 16.28 grms 25 mm Yes it is clear where he gets his name. Portraits done earlier during his reign do not convey the shape of his nose that much. However they do impart a sense of of confidence and intellect that this portrait misses. Here he actually looks rather.... well in a word stupid. The problem is that this image is not a one of... it appears to be the standard image for a number of years.