"On its summit, which is flat, stands the temple of Venus Erycina, which is indisputably the first in wealth and general magnificence of all the Sicilian holy places. The city extends along the hill under the actual summit, the ascent to it being very long and steep on all sides." - Polybius, World History, I.55 My latest Roman Republican denarius has an amazing birds-eye view of the temple from Sicily or the replica that was constructed in Rome. There is room for interpretation on this with arguments for the Roman replica made in Michael Harlan's book on Roman Republican Moneyers. It is the first coin to show such a landscape. C. Considius Nonianus, 56 BC, AR Denarius (17mm, 4.0g, 12h), Rome mint Obv: Laureate and draped bust of Venus Erycina right, wearing stephane and earring; C • CONSIDI • NONIANI downward to left, S • C upward to right Rev: Temple on summit of rocky mountain surrounded by wall with towers on each side and gate in center; ERVC above gate Ref: Crawford 424/1; Sydenham 886; Considia 1 Notes: a longer post here The Temple on Mt. Eryx A nice surprise to find that this coin had some lost provenance: NAC AG Catalogues Auction 1 1989 Lot 689 Sulla References Issued during the First Triumvirate, there are also Sulla references possible for this coin as Pompey's supporters - opposing Julius Caesar's populism and advocating for the conservative control by the nobles or optimates - claimed favor by Venus as successors to Sulla. Pompey started his career as a supporter of Sulla in his return to Rome after the First Mithridatic War and married Sulla's daughter Aemilia. Pompey later remarried, it is unclear what happened to Aemilia. The reference to Sulla could also be to the Temple of Venus outside the Colline Gate where Sulla camped before his definitive victory in the last Battle with the Marians in 82 BC. Crassus, and Pompey both fought for Sulla in the Battle of the Colline Gate, and Crassus played a key role in this victory. Post your coins with ancient landscapes, hidden provenance or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
That is a real catch, this type are becoming more scarce by the minute due to people like me and many more visiting this site in Sicily absolutely mesmerizing, congrats great coin. C. Considius Nonianus, moneyer. AR Denarius minted at Rome, 57 BC. Laureate, diademed, and draped bust right of Venus Erycina. Reverse: Temple of Venus Erycina atop mountain, ERVC inscribed at base; in foreground, circuit of city walls with gateway at center and two towers. Sear 381; Considia 1a; Cr. 424/1; Syd. 887. 3.74 gm. 18.00mm. Banker's mark on chin of Venus. Ex Pat Coyle collection, Ex Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Auction 69, lot 3358. Ex Artemide Kunstauktionen GmbH E/auction 10.
Great coin, interesting type, and a cool lost provenance discovered! Below is a fairly common reverse type struck at Amasia that depicts the altar of Zeus Stratios. The altar was a traditional place of sacrifice for the kings of Pontos and was situated on a plateau behind a mountain near Amasia. Appian has an account of a sacrifice made there by Mithradates VI after a victory over Rman forces: "[Mithridates] drove all of Murena's garrisons out of Cappadocia and offered sacrifice to Zeus Stratius on a lofty pile of wood on a high hill, according to the fashion of his country, which is as follows. First, the kings themselves carry wood to the heap. Then they make a smaller pile encircling the other one, on which they pour milk, honey, wine, oil, and various kinds of incense. A banquet is spread on the ground for those present (as at the sacrifices of the Persian kings at Pasargadae) and then they set fire to the wood. The height of the flame is such that it can be seen at a distance of 180 kilometers from the sea, and they say that nobody can come near it for several days on account of the heat. Mithridates performed a sacrifice of this kind according to the custom of his country." CARACALLA AE32. 17.31g, 32.3mm. PONTUS, Amasia, dated CY 208 (AD 208/9). SNG Cop 112; Dalaison 385. O: AV KAI M AVΡ ANTΩNINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: AΔΡ CEV ANT AMACEIAC MH NE ΠΡ ΠO, High altar (of Zeus Stratios) surmounted by smaller flaming altar; tree to left, ET CH (date) in exergue.
That's very interesting, @Sulla80, a wonderful acquisition for your collection. The only thing similar I have is this one from Zeugma, which depicts an aerial view of a colonnaded grove before a temple: Philip II, AD 244-249 (or 247-249). Roman provincial Æ 28.0 mm, 14.93 g, 12 h. Syria: Commagene, Zeugma. Obv: AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: ZЄYΓMATЄΩN, tetrastyle temple, before which is a grove; colonnade on right and left; portico in front. Capricorn right in exergue. Refs: Sear 4142; BMC 40; Butcher 31c; SNC 60-62. The coin has almost a 3-D effect when viewed obliquely. Some numismatists have advanced the theory that it -- and many other coins -- were specifically designed to be viewed obliquely. See @kaparthy's featured article.
A nice one too Ancient Aussie, I wasn't sure if I'd see any others of this type. Recenlty @David Atherton discussed definitions of "grail" and "whale" coins, this one for me is in one or both of those categories. That's very interesting - you'll have me looking sideways at more coins...thanks for the link. Thanks!
Introducing Zeus Stratios. No doubt the close by Bithynian's friends/enemies of Mithradates had the same sort of log burning frenzy. Nicomedes lV Philopator tetradrachm 88/7 BC Obv: Diademed head of Nicomedes ll right Rev: Zeus Stratios standing in Himeiton holding wreath in LH and Sceptre in other. Eagle on thunderbolt under Left arm, below monogram, below ΙΣ date Bithynian-Pontic era 210 = 88/7 BC ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ NIKOMHΔOY 16.19g 34.4 mm de Callatay: NEW At this year young Nicomedes was in Rome pleading for his country back after Socrates Chresto , with Pontic help had nicked his country. No doubt conquests are never complete and a hold out city minted this.
I posted these pics a few months back, but I like the coin, so why not again Moneyer: C. Considius Nonianus Coin: Silver Denarius Obv. C•CONSIDI•NONIANI / S•C - Laureate and diademed bust of Venus right Rev. ERVC - Temple on summit of rocky mountain surrounded by wall with towers on each side and gate in centre Mint: Rome (57 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.92g / 19mm / 6h References: RSC 1a (Considia) Sydenham 887 Crawford 424/1 Acquisition: Roma Numismatics Online Auction E-Live Auction 1 #508 25-Jul-2018 The temple on the coin is no more, probably under a Norman castle which now stands on the hill. The closest I got to it was this very large and apparently never completed temple at Segesta, also built by the Elymians. ATB, Aidan.
Apparently I missed your post and the whole thread from @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix : Higher and Higher. Great photo & coin.
I also have one like @Roman Collector: COMMAGENE, Zeugma. Philip I the Arab or Philip II. 247-249 AD. Æ31, 19.2g; 6h Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ФIΛIΠΠOC CЄB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: ZЄYGM-ATЄΩN; Peribolos containing grove of trees, seen in perspective; tetrastyle temple in distance, draped figure within (Zeus?); in exergue, capricorn to right. Reference: Butcher 31c; BMC 35. The city was attacked and destroyed by the Sassanids in 256....in the time of Valerian and Gallienus. The city was the base of the Legion IV Parthica.
@Sulla80 - a splendid acquisition. I enjoyed the write up on your blog. One of my favorite Republican denarii - here is my example
