Purchased for the Portrait

But gosh, it has a neat little numismatic story behind it too.


Domitian as Caesar [Vespasian]
Æ Assarion, 5.41g
Koinon of Bithynia, Reign of Vespasian (69-79 AD), M. Maecius Rufus Procos
Obv: ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣ ΥΙΟΣ; Head of Domitian, laureate, r.
Rev: ΕΠΙ Μ ΜΑΙΚΙΟΥ ΡΟΥΦΟΥ ΑΝΘΥΠΑΤΟΥ; Spear and round shield
RPC 607 (6 spec.).
Acquired from eBay, May 2021.

The Koinon of Bithynia produced several issues of bronze coinage during Vespasian's reign under four separate proconsuls, all of which are undated which makes assigning a chronology difficult. This assarion of Domitian Caesar struck under the proconsulship of Maecius Rufus possibly dates towards the middle of Vespasian's reign, but hard evidence is lacking to be certain. The reverse likely commemorates the silver shield and spear granted to Domitian Caesar as princeps iuventutis by the equestrian order. A most appropriate reverse type for the young prince.

As mentioned above, I purchased this coin because of the artistic portrait, which is one of the finest I've come across for this issue (normally they are a bit more unrefined). In other words it's not a 'Friday afternoon' die.

Please feel free to share your fine portraits!

 

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...neat coin David...one @Ryro will like for the reverse

 

I found this coin in a batch of uncleaned, mixed in with all the aVG LRBs. It's a bit scruffy, but I've always loved this portrait:

Claudius II ("Gothicus")
Augustus A.D. 268-270
Billon Antoninianus
Siscia mint, Issue IV
Obv: IMP CLAVDIVS AVG
Rev: PROVIDEN AVG - Providentia, standing left, holding baton and cornucopiae; globe at feet
S in right field
RIC 187
19mm, 2.5g.

 

I love this one because it displays Max Thrax's portrait in all its acromegalic glory!


Maximinus I, AD 235-238.
Roman Æ Sestertius, 26.7 mm, 18.01 gm.
Rome, AD 236-238.
Obv: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: SALVS AVGVSTI SC, Salus enthroned left, feeding snake arising from altar.
Refs: RIC-85; BMCRE-175, Sear-8338; Cohen-92.

 

The Great Emperor Constantine looks very handsome in this one from his new city:

Constantine the Great
AE Follis

328 A.D., Constantinople Mint, 2nd Officina
3.08g, 19.74mm, 7H

Obverse: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG,
Bust of Constantine I, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed, facing right

Reverse: CONSTANTINI-ANA DAFNE,
Victory, winged, draped, seated left on cippus, head right, holding palm in each hand; before her, trophy; at foot of trophy, kneeling captive, head turned, being spurned by Victory

Exergue: B/-//CONS

Provenance: Ex. Agora Auctions 67 Lot 322

Reference: RIC VII Constantinople 35

 

Nice portrait on your Koinon of Bithynia! Too bad about their shields though
Here's a portrait of Vespasian I like with a Macedonian shield

 

Septimius Severus Ar Tetradrachm Laodicae ad Mare 207-209 AD Obv. Bust right laureate cuirassed with gorgoneion on breast plate. Rv Eagle standing facing head left wings spread. Prieur 1141 This coin illustrated 13.55 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen Back in January of 2019 (Yes at the NYINC) I saw this coin but did not pay it too much attention as I had other projects on my plate. However it did leave an impression and after I went home I came to the conclusion that yes I had to purchase the coin. So about two months later after seeing the coin on a dealer website I purchased the coin. Even though the image does retain something of an eastern vibe there is a unabashed flamboyant virtuosity about it. There is nothing subtle or refined about this image as one might expect from an image created in Rome. Instead we see a celebration by an artist confident in his own skill and with a sufficiently large canvas to work with.

 

David, Nice score for a rare coin ! The portrait is exceptional despite the large lathe dimple. Unfortunately many provincial bronzes sport this dimple . Several years ago I scored a handsome provincial bronze of Septimius Severus that also sports a dimple on the obverse, but it's not as obvious as yours .

 

T.C., That's a wonderful Tet of Severus ! My avatar photo is the same issue as yours, however, the reverse on your coin is superior to mine . Rather than post my Prieur 1141 again, I'll post my example of Prieur 1151 that has a great portrait too .

 

Vespasian. 69-79 AD. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.60 gm; 2h). Ephesos(?) mint. Struck circa 69-70 AD. Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG, laureate head right. Rev: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia - Ceres, veiled, seated left in ornate throne with garland hanging over back, holding grain ears, poppy, and cornucopia; Φ (on its side) in exergue. RIC II 312 var. (obverse legend); RPC II 809 (five examples known); BMCRE 434A; BN -; RSC 65c.
There are various reverse mint marks. Mattingly suggests that there is a chance that the Φ mint mark stands for Philippi (See RPC II, p. 126). RPC concludes that mint marks other than EPHE (PH is ligate) "remain perplexing."

 

Great portrait @PeteB

 

My Domitian EPE is in poor shape but I have always been fond of the style.


Similarly appealing in style to me are the Vespasian phi and Titus o. 'Perplexing' was a good choice of words IMHO.

 

I like my Pupienus. There appears to be a bit of angst in the portrait when one regards the eyes/wrinkes, describing the situation of what was going to happen.

 

Pete, That's a sensational denarius ! A master engraver did both sides of that gem. I Haven't seen many gold aurei that could stand next to that coin .

 

A coin I have had for 40 years, but with a very dignified portrait of Tiberius

 

A very special and possibly life-like portrait of Agrippa. Caligula RIC 58

 

I’d like to say this is the only coin I’ve paid way too much for (spoiler alert - it’s not!), but I couldn’t resist the portrait.

Julius Caesar - Lucius Aemilius Buca
Feb-March, 44 BC

 

Titus AE As. AD 80. IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII, laureate head left / PAX AVGVST S-C, Pax standing left, holding branch and caduceus


AE23, Syria, Antioch Mint
Obverse: [IMP SER GALBA] CAE AVG, laureate head right.
Reverse: Large SC within laurel wreath of eight leaves, fastened at top with pellet, between inner circle and outer dotted border.


Nerva (96-8 AD), brass dupondius, Rome mint, struck Jan. - Sep. 97 AD, 28mm, 11.08g. Obverse: Radiate head of Nerva to right, legend: IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P I COS III PP Reverse: Fortuna standing l., holding rudder and cornucopiae, legend: FORTVNA AVGVST / S C

 

I've always liked this young portrait...Licinius II