Featured My first Roman Provincial Coin from Hispania

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by DonnaML, Jun 7, 2021.

  1. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Most of you are probably aware that Roman Provincial coins in the Western provinces (Hispania and Gaul), issued with Latin legends by local "colonies" and municipalities, ceased being minted very early. (By contrast, Roman Provincial coins in the East mostly had Greek legends, and lasted until the reign of Diocletian.) See K. Butcher, Roman Provincial Coins: An Introduction to the Greek Imperials (Seaby 1988) at p. 17: "the western coinage began to dwindle in the reign of Tiberius . . . and had died out altogether early in the reign of Claudius." In fact, with specific respect to Hispania, David Sear states that " some of the Spanish mints had a final burst of activity under [Caligula], but before the accession of the next emperor, Claudius, all local issues had ceased in the province, never again to recommence." D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (Seaby 1982) at p. 34.

    Thus, the overwhelming majority of Western Provincial coins were issued under Augustus and Tiberius. Until now, my only Western Provincial coin was the dupondius depicting Augustus & Agrippa with a crocodile on the reverse, issued by Colonia Augusta Nemausus [Nîmes] in the Gallia Narbonensis province (Southern Gaul) -- the subject of a very interesting thread just a couple of days ago.

    Now, I have a Provincial coin from Hispania as well.

    Tiberius, AE As, 14-37 AD, Hispania Tarraconensis, Turiaso Mint [now Tarazona, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain], M. Pont. Marsus and C. Mari. Vegetus, duoviri [city magistrates]. Obv. Laureate head right, TI CAESAR AVG F IMP PONT M / Rev. Bull standing right, head facing, M PONT MARSO; MVN TVR in field above bull, C MARI VEGETO below, II VIR in right field [ligate letters underlined]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I 418 (1992); RPC I Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/418; ACIP 3291a [Villaronga, L. & J. Benages, Ancient Coinage of the Iberian Peninsula: Greek / Punic / Iberian / Roman, Societat Catalana D 'Estudis Numismatics, Institut D 'Estudis Catalans (Barcelona, 2011)]; FAB 2450 [Alvarez-Burgos, F., La Moneda Hispanica desde sus origines hasta el Siglo V (Madrid, 2008)]; SNG Copenhagen 606 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 43, Spain-Gaul (Copenhagen 1979), Parts 40-43 reprinted as one volume, 1994]. 28 mm., 11.98 g. Purchased from Tom Vossen, Netherlands, May 2021; ex. Aureo & Calico, Auction 364, 21 April 2021, Lot 1202.*

    Spain, Terraconensis. Turiaso, As, Tiberius bull reverse jpg image.jpg

    * Turiaso was "a municipium of Hispania Tarraconensis, now Tarazona, situated on a small river that runs into the Ebro, to the south of Tudela." https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Turiaso (quoting Stevenson's Dictionary of Roman Coins (1880)). See also https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/x51280 ("Located in the hinterland of NE Spain close to the Ebro river valley, c. 60 km north of the ancient site of Bilbilis Augusta, the Iberian settlement named Turiasu later became an important Roman city called Turiaso. Under Visigothic rule it was called Tirasona and is now called Tarazona").

    Tarazona is now in Aragon in the north of Spain. Under the Roman Empire, it was part of Hispania Tarraconensis, the largest of the three provinces in Roman Spain, along with Hispania Baetica and Lusitania. Under the Republic, before Augustus's reorganization in 27 BCE, Turiaso was part of Hispania Citerior (Nearer Iberia, i.e., closer to Rome, as compared to Hispania Ulterior).

    For a discussion of Turiaso's coinage, see the section entitled "Regio Turiasonensis Turiaso," in Sir George Francis Hill, "Notes on the ancient coinage of Hispania citerior" (Numismatic Notes and Monographs, American Numismatic Society 1931) at http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan86651. The article includes, among other things, a list of all the names of magistrates (duoviri) found on the coins of Augustus and Tiberius minted in Turiaso, and notes that "G. Marius Vegetus [named on my coin] appears both as aedile and as duumvir. Under Augustus, both asses and semisses were struck by duoviri, and the aediles do not seem to have issued coins. Under Tiberius, as usual, the duoviri strike the asses, the aediles the semisses; but who was responsible for the sestertii or dupondii does not appear."

    As for the bull on the reverse, Kevin Butcher notes at p. 62 of Roman Provincial Coins, supra, that "A standing bull, probably connected with anniversaries commemorating the foundation of the various colonies, occurs at Caesaraugustus, Celsa, Calagurris, Cascantum, Ercavica, Graccurris, Turiaso, and Clunia." Oxen pulling a plow were certainly a common symbol of the foundation of colonies on Roman coins, so such an interpretation is not surprising, even though a plow is nowhere in sight! See Jones, John Melville, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (Seaby 1990) at pp. 121-122 (entry for “Founder”), explaining that the Romans “inherited a custom from the Etruscans of defining the boundaries of a new city by marking them with a plough,” so that certain coins showing plowing can be interpreted as a reference to the founding of colonies. As a typical example, see this denarius of C. [Gaius] Marius C.f. Capito, issued ca. 81 BCE (Crawford 378/1c), showing Ceres on the obverse and a husbandman with a yoke of two oxen plowing left (with their faces turned forward as on my new coin), a type often associated with the foundation of colonies by Sulla's veterans:

    Nomos Obolos Auction 18 Marius Capito denarius (Control-number CI) jpg version.jpg

    Please post your Roman Provincial coins from Hispania, and/or your Roman Provincial coins of Tiberius from anywhere. And/or your bulls, oxen, cows or heifers with their heads turned to face the camera!
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2021
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  3. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Great coins Donna. 356.jpeg
    SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron II. 275-215 BC. Æ (20mm, 6.45 g, 8h). Struck circa 275-269/5 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears; poppy head behind / Bull charging left; club and M above, IE in exergue. CNS 191 Ds89 R1 12; BAR Issue 53; HGC 2, 1469. 2015-01-07_01-removebg-preview.png
    Augustus EMERITA Spain city gate. RPC 31, 25mm, 13.1gm.
    radiate head of Augustus, l.
    REV. COL AVGVSTA EMERITA
    minted under Tiberius.
    Emerita35-removebg-preview.png
    SPAIN, Emerita. Divus Augustus. Died AD 14. Æ Dupondius (35mm, 25.7 g, 2h).DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER CAE, Radiate head left / City-view seen from aerial perspective: city wall with five T-shaped crenellations fronted by main gate consisting of two arched bays flanked by two multi-story crenellated towers, each with arched window; gate inscribed AVGVSTA/EMERITA and decorated with four T-shaped crenellations. RPC 30b; SNG Copenhagen -; Burgos 1032. Emerita.jpg
    Spain Emerita, Augustus, 27 BC-14AD, AE26 (8.82 gm) under Tiberius, Bare head left/ Tetrastyle temple, RPC.29 s75JYk36xE8jHz97t3Rz9mmWqF2d4p__4_-removebg-preview.png
    Spain, Malika Æ Half Unit. 2nd century BC. Head of Vulcan right, wearing conical cap; Neo-Punic MLK' and tongs to left / Tetrastyle temple with pellet in pediment. ACIP 794; SNG BM Spain 385. 3.46g, 17mm, 5h.

    Good Very Fine. Extremely rare variety with tongs to left, rated R9 by ACIP
    CGB Monnaies 28, lot 481, Jan. 25 2007. Aegean October 2020
    Kts5Gp2DbMW9Q8rdXfH6zG7mC4SgkR.jpg
    Tiberius
    Minted: Italica, Spain.
    Size: 28mm Weight: 14.09 grams
    Obverse: TI CAESAR AVGVSTVS PONT MAX IMP, bare head right
    Reverse: MVNIC ITALIC PERM DIVI AVG, altar inscribed PROVIDENTIAE AVGVSTI.

    Burgos 1250.
     
  4. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Nice one Donna! Congrats!
     
  5. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Hey what are those coins made of?

    Copper? Brass? Bronze?
     
  6. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    Coin issued in the name of Augustus by the duoviri Lucius Marius & Lucius Novius.

    Æ As, Hispania Tarraconensis, Turiaso (today's Tarazona, province of Zaragoza), after 2 BC, late 2nd century - early 1st century BC

    28 x 29 mm, 11.301 g
    RPC 411; SNG Copenhagen 600; Burgos 1933; Vives 155-10; Cohen 733;

    Ob.: IMP•AVGVSTVS PATER (PATRIAE) laureate head to right
    Rev.: MVN•TVRIASO L•MARIO• (L•NOVIO) within an oak wreath II VIR

    upload_2021-6-8_0-52-50.png upload_2021-6-8_0-53-0.png
    and an As just from Turiaso, no duoviri. It seems possible that some individual towns in Hispania dedicated their own corona civica or laurea to Augustus.

    Hispania Tarraconensis, Turiaso (today's Tarazona, province of Zaragoza), late 2nd century - early 1st century BC

    27 x 29 mm, 10.803 g
    RPC 405; I- 2437; Vives 155-7; SNG Copenhagen 600; Burgos 1933; Guadan 363

    upload_2021-6-8_0-58-55.png upload_2021-6-8_1-0-40.png
     
  7. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    Great coins and write-up.
    Here is my provincial struck in the time of Tiberius
    upload_2021-6-8_10-18-42.png


    MYSIA. Pergamum. Germanicus & Drusus (Caesares, 14-19). Ae. Struck under Tiberius.
    Obv: ΓEPMANIKOΣ KAIΣAP.
    Bare head of Germanicus right.
    Rev: ΔPOVΣOΣ KAIΣAP.
    Bare head of Drusus right.
    RPC I 2367.


    upload_2021-6-8_10-23-57.png

    Illyria. Dyrrhachion circa 229-100 BC.
    Victoriatus AR 18 mm, 3,16 g

    Attribution: SNG Copenhagen 467
    Date: 229-100 BC
    Obverse: MENIΣKOΣ; Cow standing right, suckling calf, raven flying right above
    Reverse: ΔYP / ΔI / NY / ΣIOY around double stellate pattern within linear square border
     
  8. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Donna, Nice score, the coin has a lovely warm patina :happy:. My only provincial coin of Tiberius was sold at CNG Triton XXIV, lot 928. The coin sold for more than twice the estimate of $750.00 :D.

    CNG Triton XXIV, Lot 928, image, $1,560.00.jpg
    Syrtica-Oea (North Africa), Tiberius, AD 14-37, Obverse: Tiberius facing left, laurel branch in right field, eagle hold palm frond in left field. Reverse: Apollo facing right, cithara in right field, Neo-Punic inscription in left field, all within laurel wreath & rosette. AE 32 mm, 19.25 gm, 3 h. RPC 1 832; SNG Copenhagen 31
     
    Hrefn, +VGO.DVCKS, ominus1 and 15 others like this.
  9. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    @DonnaML.........I buy from Tom a lot and had this one on my watch list....It's a lovely looking coin Donna and I particularly like the two tone colouring. It's a very interesting collecting area, as the Hispanic engravers had their unique style which I find appealing.....Congrats on a cool looking coin.
    Just as a side note...This hard backed, 131 page auction catalogue arrived this morning!...I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!......Packed full of colour photos with good id's and some interesting articles....Not had a chance to read through it in its entirety yet but it does seem to be a good reference...Might be an auction yourself or others are interested in?
    book 1.jpg
    book 2.jpg
    book 3.jpg
     
  10. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    from Spain:
    P1190070 aug cor.JPG
    from Cappadocia:

    P1190350.JPG
     
  11. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Interesting coin, @DonnaML, and an informative write-up, as usual. I only have a few such coins.

    Augustus and Livia:

    [​IMG]
    Augustus and Livia, issued under Tiberius, AD 14-29.
    Roman provincial Æ 31 mm, 21.48 g.
    Spain, Hispalis, Colonia Romula, AD 14-29.
    Obv: PERM DIVI AVG COL ROM, radiate head of Augustus right; thunderbolt before, star above.
    Rev: IVLIA AVGVSTA GENETRIX ORBIS, head of Livia, left; globe beneath, crescent above.
    Refs: RPC-73; SGI-189; Heiss 393, 2; Cohen 169, 3; Alvarez-Burgos 1587; Lindgren II 69; SNG Tubingen 118; SNG Copenhagen 423.13.35.

    "Little Boots":

    [​IMG]
    Caligula AD 37-41.
    Roman provincial Æ 28 mm, 11.17 gm.
    Carthago Nova, Spain, AD 37-38.
    Obv: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANIC. IMP. P.M. TR.P. COS., laureate head of Caligula, r.
    Rev: CN. ATEL. FLAC. CN. POM. FLAC. II. VIR. Q.V.I.N.C., head of Salus r., SAL AVG across field.
    Refs: SGI 419; Heiss 272, 35; Cohen 247, 1; RPC I, 185; SNG Cop 503.
     
  12. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Caligula, AE as, Colonia Caesaraugusta / plow scene - SCIPIONE ET MONTANO II VIR - C.CA
    pb0070nt3483.jpg

    While I like my coin, my related want list item is this exact reverse with the obverse of the Agrippa as that was issued by Caligula from Rome. Does anyone here have one of those from Caesaraugusta?
     
  13. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Nice one, Donna. I'm really fond of the design and style of the inscriptions on these Spanish bull types. I think they really have a certain flair to them! I don't have a Tiberius, but here are two of Augustus from different mints.


    Augustus - Bull Celsa 3160292.jpg
    AUGUSTUS
    AE28. 11.4g, 28.1mm. SPAIN, Celsa, 27 BC - AD 14. L. Baggius and Mn. Flavius Festus, duoviri. RPC 273; ACIP 3164c. O: AVGVSTVS DIVI F, laureate head right. R: C V I CEL L BAGGIO MN FESTO II VIR, bull standing right, head facing.
    Ex Stevex6 Collection; ex Archer M. Huntington Collection (HSA 1001.57.5263)


    Augustus - Bull Calagurris 3160284.jpg
    AUGUSTUS
    AE As. 10.64g, 27.7mm. SPAIN, Calagurris. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. L. Baebius Priscus and C. Gran. Brocchus, duoviri. ACIP 3122a; RPC I 441b. O: MVCAL IVLIA AVGVSTVS, laureate head right. R: L BAEB PRISCO C GRAN BROC II VIR, Bull standing right, head facing.
    Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection (HSA 1001.1.20771)
     
  14. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Thanks to all of you for the fascinating coins you've posted. I really knew nothing at all about Roman Provincial coins from Spain -- and certainly never heard of Turiaso or any of the other cities mentioned in this thread -- until I first saw this coin and did some research on it before buying it. As always, it was the distinctive look of the coin that first drew my interest, not anything else. Really quite similar to the Augustus coins posted by @zumbly, even though they were minted in a different city. Is there any similarity or carryover in the look from pre-Roman coins minted in Iberia?

    In any event, I would think that since Roman Provincial coins in Hispania were minted only under Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula, and the number of different mints doesn't seem to be huge, one could amass a fairly comprehensive collection without enormous expense if one were so inclined. Something obviously not true of most Roman Provincial coins.
     
  15. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    It's to hard to tell unless you could see them when they were first minted, when you could see the color difference between copper and it's alloys bronze and brass.
     
  16. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

  17. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  18. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Nice add! I enjoy the early Western provincials , although my focus is on the exceptionally rare individuals they sometimes portray

    After the death of Drusus in 23, Tiberius briefly adopted Nero and Drusus, the eldest sons of Germanicus - They were quickly disinherited and banished thanks to the machinations of Sejanus - Unlike Germanicus who enjoyed extensive provincial honors or Drusus who also featured on imperial coins, Nero and Drusus Caesares feature only on this one issue of Tiberius from Carthago Nova during their lifetime
    Tiberius with Nero and Drusus Caesars Carthago Nova.jpg

    (A nearly identical issue was also produced for Germanicus and Drusus prior to AD 19, but I don't have an example)

    Likewise, when Tiberius adopted Caligula as his heir, a new series was produced briefly (curiously absent Gemellus who was nominally co-heir)
    Tiberius and Caligula Caesar AE As Carthago Nova.jpg

    IIRC there is exactly one issue for Caesonia by name, but this SAL AVG is often accepted as a more affordable (read: sub-4 figure) issue of this rare empress
    Caligula Caesonia AE carthago nova.jpg
     
  19. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I someone were to do a serious study of these coins, I would expect them to address the possibility of inter-relationships between the mint cities. Was the cutter from one city apprenticed under one from another and adapted some of the style. Were some struck 'on contract' by one city for another? Did a single die engraver, perhaps, do dies for more than one city even if the coins were struck where they are labelled? I most certainly do not know. These are questions for people doing original research which, unfortunately, may never go past being turned in as an unpublished thesis. Assuming all coins were issued by exactly who/where/when appears on the legends is not a safe thing. We tend to assume they are what they say they are but we have to be sensitive to hints there may be something lurking below the obvious.
     
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  20. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Ah ok I thought maybe they were always made of the same thing.

    For example a denarius of Augustus was always made of silver so regardless of what color they were people would know they are silver.

    But it sounds like you’re saying with your coins the Romans didn’t always make them out of the same metals like the early denarii were always made of silver.
     
  21. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    In the case of the middle bronze, dupondii were made of orichalcum (a brass-like alloy) whereas asses were made of copper. They could easily be distinguished by the person spending them. However, once they have been patinated, there is no reliable method for distinguishing them unless you can see the color of the metal.

    Which denomination is this? I don't know.

    [​IMG]
    Faustina II, AD 147-175.
    Roman Æ as or dupondius, 12.05 g, 25.3 mm, 12 h.
    Rome, AD 156-158.
    Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: AVGVSTI PII FIL S C, Venus Victrix standing facing, head left, holding Victory on extended right hand and resting left hand on shield, set on helmet.
    Refs: RIC 1389a; BMCRE 2202; Cohen 17; Strack 1333; Sear 4721.
     
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