Please celebrate pointy things with me!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Severus Alexander, May 8, 2021.

  1. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I received my first shot of Astra Zeneca today and thought I'd celebrate with a short post. :couchpotato: Speaking of pointy things, yours truly was apparently the CoinTalker least able to resist this extremely silly coin in one of Frank Robinson's auctions. I hope you all enjoy it. I'm so proud! :shame:
    hadrian schnozz.jpg
    CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea: Hadrian (117-138), AR Hemidrachm. Obv: AΥΤΟ ΚΑΙC ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CΕΒΑCΤ; laureate bust right, with slight drapery... and a funny die break :D. Rev: ΕΤ Δ (year 4 = 120/21), Nike advancing right, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left. RPC III 3074, BMC 142

    The record-breaking proboscis is of course due to a fortuitous die break. I've seen one other coin from this die post-break: you can locate it on acsearch, at a hammer embarrassingly low compared to what I paid for mine. (At least I managed to resist that one, yes? Though I almost didn't... :shy:)

    I find the Nike on the reverse to be impressively ugly too... looks like she was engraved by Jim Unger of Herman fame, for those of you old enough to remember back that far. (He did big noses too.)

    [​IMG]

    Coincidentally I also obtained a Hadrian denarius not long afterwards from CNG, which also sports a beak of somewhat generous and acutely-angled proportions. In this case, though, I find the obverse not to be a beast at all, but instead a lustrous beauty. Do you agree? (True, the reverse is admittedly a little Hermanesque, but you can't have everything):

    hadrian roma denarius.jpg
    Hadrian, AR Denarius (18mm, 3.18 g, 6h). Rome mint, struck late AD 121-123. Laureate head right / Roma seated left on cuirass, foot on helmet, holding Victory and spear; shield to right. RIC II.3 541; RSC 1102.

    But wait, that's not all! While I was composing this post, it occurred to me that I have another recent auction win featuring an impressive pointy thing:
    sep sev priapos.jpg
    MOESIA INFERIOR, Nicopolis: Septimius Severus (193-211), AE17 (2.95g). Obv: AY KAI CЄ CЄYHPOC; Laureate head r. Rev: NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC IC Priapus standing l., pointing at phallus. AMNG 1380. Varbanov 2490. ex CNG.

    While my Priapos is not performing the amazing feat of balancing a basket of fruit on his phallus (see TIF's Elagabalus for this version), I think it still must be admitted that his proud "See! look at mine!" is entirely warranted.

    Please celebrate with me by posting your pointy things, your biggest schnozzes, your ugliest Nikes, your most beautiful Hadrians, suggestions for coins that I need for my growing erector set, or indeed whatever tickles your funny bone! And if you haven't already, here's hoping you get your vaccine soon so we can all get back to some coin shows!!
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2021
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  3. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    A small die break somewhat augmented Valentinian II's nose on this AE2.
    ry7765bb0099.jpg
     
  4. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    I'm glad you got vaccinated! That must be a relief.

    Lucius Verus features quite an impressive nose on this coin:
    Rom – Lucius Verus, denarius, Aequitas (neues Foto).png
    Lucius Verus, Roman Empire, denarius, 167/168 AD. Rome mint. Obv: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head of Lucius Verus right. Rev: TR P VIII IMP V COS III, Aequitas seated left, holding scales and cornucopiae. 18mm, 2.62g. Ref: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 595.
     
  5. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Good for you that you got your vaccin!

    I'll add this coin of Hadrian with a Nerva-like nose.
    19.TS.4.png
     
  6. seth77

    seth77 Well-Known Member

    Congrats on the shot, here's a nosy Constans:

    constans galley2.jpg
     
  7. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    Good for you, Alexander , I will get mine next week with the Pfizer vaccin

    P1180874.JPG
     
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  8. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    One of the characteristics of the "branch mint" (formerly assigned to Mediolanum) style on T-bone's coins is a pointy nose.

    Trebonianus Gallus IVNO MARTIALIS Mediolanum antoninianus.jpg
     
  9. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Hurray! That's good cause for celebration!

    As you know, I recently picked up my own erector. Nowhere near as pointy as the one on yours though. :troll: It arrived a few days ago but I haven't had a chance to take a pic of it yet. Auction house pics:

    03195Q00.JPG

    Here's one that has something that's both decent and decently pointy:

    PISIDIA Selge - AE11 Shield Spearhead 2166.jpg
    PISIDIA, Selge
    AE11. 1.41g, 10.7mm. PISIDIA, Selge, circa 2nd-1st century BC. SNG Cop 255. O: Round Macedonian shield with three crescents. R: Σ-E, spear head.
     
  10. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    Why are we picking on noses? What about ears?
    Constantine86.jpg
     
  11. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Excellent little ugly! And hilarious post:hilarious:
    Bought just for the nose and weird style:
    20190326_153847_FE2F7141-D685-4FA1-AB0E-1390E127B132-406-000000CD0601B206.png

    Not sure what got Apollo so excited but it's pointy:
    image00054.jpg

    1684039_1612879092.l-removebg-preview.png
    "I see your Schwartz is a big as mine.":
    BitesizedOrnateJuliabutterfly-size_restricted.gif
     
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  12. Hamilcar Barca

    Hamilcar Barca Well-Known Member

    My Johannes looks like he just got punched in the nose and has a bloody mess:
    upload_2021-5-8_7-5-44.png
    By the way, when it was first announced two shots would take care of COVID I completely mis-interpreted what was meant by shots.
     
  13. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I was hoping this coin would make an appearance! The Wicked Emperor of the West?
    It is indeed. The rollout in Canada has been slower than in the U.S. but is really picking up speed now. Great nose on that Verus!! And if you look carefully on the reverse, you can see Aequitas is getting her vaccine:
    Screen Shot 2021-05-08 at 10.56.50 AM.jpg
    With needles like that, the ancient Romans had to be brave! :D

    Thanks, Limes, I love that Nerva-Hadrian! :hilarious:

    Now THAT is a pointy one! :wideyed:

    As is that!! Congrats on your upcoming Pfizer, @Andres2!
     
  14. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Thanks, RC, I wasn't aware of that characteristic of the "branch mint..." I guess now I need one! :) Are Volusian portraits from the mint also pointy-nosed?

    Thanks, Z! But I hear some challenge in your tone... shall we make like flatworms, and have a duel? :woot: (You're not allowed to bring that Pisidian spear, though!)

    Yes, yes, yes! Your famous Spock-Constantine is definitely admissible in the thread!! :D

    I hadn't noticed this, ahem, little detail on your Leontini... I think it will be very difficult to find another for my erector set! BTW here is coin #2 in it:
    1824916_1618170791.jpg
    MYSIA, Lampsacus: Antoninus Pius (138-161). Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙСΑΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝOC; Bare head right. Rev: ΛΑΜΨΑΚΗΝωΝ; Ithyphallic herm of Priapos left. RPC IV online 2562.

    @Ryro, looks like you have a Sep Sev to take on the winner of my flatworm battle with @zumbly. :D (The open drapery is pretty awesome on that one!)

    :hilarious:

    :nailbiting::hilarious:
    [edit: OMG @Hamilcar Barca, I just took another look at the reverse of your coin, and... well, I hope the mods don't see that! :wideyed:]
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2021
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  15. Ignoramus Maximus

    Ignoramus Maximus Nomen non est omen.

    Wow, that Hadrian! A nose to make even Cyrano blush...

    There's no nose in my collection to match something like that.

    No Priapus either. All I have that is remotely relevant is a satyr.
    Compared to Priapus he's quite modest, although he manages something most of us wouldn't consider doing while running. I won it today in Nomos, so I don't have it 'in hand'. In this case, that's perhaps a good thing...

    Thasos trihemiobol:
    thasos trihemiobol, satyr.jpg


    ps. congratulations on your first shot. I got my first AZ in March. Gave me a light fever in one-two days, but it feels good and safe to have it.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2021
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  16. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Not particularly, when compared to those of the Rome mint.
     
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  17. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Pointy Nose Dolphin...

    upload_2021-5-8_20-49-16.png
    Olbia AE Dolphin money


    As opposed to Blunt Nose Dolphin

    upload_2021-5-8_20-50-30.png
    Olbia AE Dolphin money round ver
     
  18. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    :hilarious: I will definitely need one of these for my erector set! I believe @TIF calls these the "wanker obol."

    Thanks - so far, so good, just a few aches! :smug:

    Thanks, Gandalf, I hadn't though of these! I have a pointy & a blunt too:
    pointy olbian dolphin.jpg
    blunt olbian dolphin.jpg
     
  19. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    I've been waiting a long time for the just the right thread.


    Clipboard.jpg
     
  20. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Wow, that's quite a Pinocchio Hadrian! Fun coin :).

    Your Erector Set is growing, Sev! I started working on an ithyphallic set a while back but it fell by the wayside as so many other types competed for attention and dollars. I don't have the Septimius Severus Nicopolis Priapus yet but want one. Yours is very nice.

    [​IMG]
    MYSIA, Lampsacus. Trebonianus Gallus
    CE 251-253; Sossios, strategos
    AE 23 mm, 5.3 gm
    Obv: ΑVΤ Κ ΟVΙΒ ΤΡ ΓΑΛΛΟϹ; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: ΛΑΝΨΑΚΗΝ ЄΠΙ ϹΤΡ ϹΟϹϹΙΟV; ithyphallic Priapus standing left on base, holding filleted thyrsus and pouring cantharus over altar
    Ref: RPC IX 394

    [​IMG]
    MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum. Elagabalus
    AE 18 mm, 2.8 gm
    Obv: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNINOC, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
    Rev: NIKOΠOΛITΩ NΠPOCICTPO N, Priapus standing left, drawing back his cloak to expose his phallus, bowl of fruit balanced on phallus, right hand extended pouring from patera
    Ref: Varbanov 3811, AMNG 2022 (I own neither of those references and cannot verify the numbers)

    [​IMG]
    MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum
    Julia Domna, Augusta

    AE 22 mm, 4.5 gm
    Obv: IOVΛIA ΔOMNA CEBAC; draped bust right
    Rev: NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICT; ithyphallic Priapus standing right
    Ref: Varbanov 2858

    Wanking satyr:

    [​IMG]
    ISLANDS OFF THRACE, Thasos
    500-480 BCE
    AR 13 mm, 1.29 gm (diobol? trihemiobol?)
    Obv: Satyr “running” right
    Rev: Quadripartite incuse square
    Ref: HGC 6, 333. Le Rider, Thasiennes 4. (I do not have these reference works)


    LOL, @ancientone, that's a hilarious die-broken nose!
    @Hamilcar Barca what the... what is happening on that reverse?! o_O:eek::hilarious:
     
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  21. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Here's Theodosius with a a female figure with very pointy crown!
    Theodosius I Siscia RIC IX 26c T3 (2020_11_18 03_38_31 UTC).JPG
     
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