I just picked up this really pretty AP AE26 from Koinon of Macedonia. Antoninus Pius AE26 11.0g KAICAΡ ANTΩNEINOC. L, dr, cr bust R KOINON MAKEΔONΩN. Large winged thunderbolt The surfaces are unfortunately rough; if they were just a bit nicer this would be a really super coin. However, if you angle it in the light it ends up looking great! Please show your winged thunderbolts!
This hemi-litron was issued during the reign of Agathokles from ca. 317-289 BC and portrays an image of Artemis or Diana, the Goddess of War -notice her quiver of arrows behind her neck. The legend Soteira translates as "saviour" The winged thunderbolt on the reverse with the monarchs' Agathokles name and title is a famous design.
Oh wait, do I have the bolt in the wrong orientation? I went off the front-back medallic alignment and arrived at a vertical thunderbolt.
Not sure if this one is winged. Maybe not. Roman Republic, Q. Cassius Longinus, AR Denarius, 55 BCE [Crawford] or 53 BCE [Harlan], Rome Mint. Obv. Young male head of Genius Populi Romani [Crawford & RCV] or Bonus Eventus [RSC & RRM II] right, with flowing hair, scepter behind, border of dots / Rev. Eagle, with wings spread, standing right on thunderbolt, lituus [curved augural staff used in reading auspices] to left and capis [jug used in same rituals] to right, border of dots; Q • CASSIVS in exergue. Crawford 428/3, RSC I Cassia 7 (ill.), Sydenham 916, Sear RCV I 391 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 23 at pp. 180-187, BMCRR Rome 3868. 19 mm., 3.77 g., 6 h. [Footnote omitted.]
Antoninus Pius Ae sestertius Rome 142 AD Obv. Head right laureate Rv. Winged thunderbolt. RIC 618 23.63 grms 30 mm photo by W. Hansen This coin marks a fundamental shift in the iconography of Roman numismatic propaganda, this particular one started by Hadrian. Prior to this Roman emperors usually depicted themselves as aggressive military commanders. Hadrian did away with this approach suggesting that it was the will of the gods PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM that made him emperor. With this sestertius Pius is making the same claim. However rather than showing a god or his familiar presenting him with a scepter, Pius used the symbol of the god Jupiter the thunderbolt to show the ultimate source of his right to rule. This symbology remained throughout the second century AD and was replaced by with more military themes early in the third. On a personal note. Another recent post discussed the "value" of seeking out and purchasing unsold lots. In 2005 this coin was an unsold lot. I bought it and have enjoyed it ever since.
My only coin with a winged thunderbolt as a major design element: Hadrian, AD 117-138. Roman orichalcum semis, 4.06 g, 18.1 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 121-23. Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, eagle standing half right, head turned left, wings open but not spread. Rev: P M TR P COS III S C, thunderbolt. Refs: RIC 625; RIC 2.3, 624; BMC 1279; Cohen 1167; Strack 579; RCV 3704.
