The Macellum Magnum.

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ancient Aussie, Jul 26, 2021.

  1. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    A recent pick up from CNG is this fantastic building minted 64 AD by Nero, on the reverse is pictured a two-story building with the embellished by a semicircular portion and a central stairway. The building is characterized by the inscription MAC (ellum) AVG (usti) making it readily recognizable as a food market: meat, vegetables, fruit and above all, oil. The macellum pictured on my coin refers in particular to the "Macellum Magnum", probably dating back to the year 59 AD, and only a small portion is portrayed here, perhaps the external main entrance or maybe part of the internal courtyard with the building seen in a circular section.
    In the center of the building, a cult statue of a forward facing male holding a long scepter in his left hand. During the fifth century was partially destroyed as a result of continuous battles, until it was finally transformed into the Church of "Santo Stefano Rotondo" under the papacy of Pope Simplicius some time before 483 AD.
    Of the building of Nero the only remaining portions are the travertine foundations, part of the enclosure wall, and eight pilasters of the outer colonnade, but the fourth century structure was built on the original foundations and appears to have preserved in general the form of the original. It consisted of a two-storied circular colonnade, of twenty-two columns, which supported a domed roof. This was surrounded by an outer concentric colonnade of thirty-six columns, also two stories high. Outside of this was an ambulatory 10 meters wide, divided into eight segments by rows of columns The alternate segments had no outer wall and therefore resembled open courts. The original circular building of Nero was enclosed by a rectangular portico's,containing shops, of which remains were perhaps still to be seen in the sixteenth century
    423_2.jpg
    Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Dupondius (29mm, 15.84 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64. Radiate head right / Façade of the Macellum Magnum: statue standing facing on base within cylindrical tetrastyle entrance set on tiered base, upper tristyle story surmounted by ornate conical dome; two-story tristyle porch on either side. RIC I 184; WCN 203. Brown patina, porous surfaces, some earthen deposits. Fine. Ex CNG auction 496, lot 423.

    PLEASE POST your Ancient architecture on coins.
     
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  3. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    What a wonderful addition @Ancient Aussie . I’ll have to go back through my photos of Rome and see if I have any photos of the remains of this building. I always enjoy your architecture coins! Did you get a chance to visit what is left of this building while you were in Rome?

    Unfortunately I don’t have any Nero or 12 Caesars architecture coins to share so I will post a few of my favorites from other periods.

    The Temple of Faustina
    E4828BB5-E780-4064-AA7A-77AD63882219.jpeg

    The Temple of Augustus at Ankara
    A7D86DE8-D2A0-4C4F-89D0-9F5DFE174523.jpeg

    One of the forts built by Diocletian along the Danube.
    90C22CC1-C604-4E0D-8AF3-1F4B1D4D63E6.jpeg
     
  4. Alegandron

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

    Architecture

    [​IMG]
    Roman Republic
    M. Volteius M.f..
    AR Denarius;
    78 BCE
    Sear 312, Cr-385/1, Syd-774
    Obv: Laureate head of Jupiter r.
    Rx: Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, M VOLTEI MF in exergue
     
  5. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    fantastic AA! :)
     
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  6. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks Curtis, love all three of yours but that Diocletian is top quality, in answer to your question whether I seen the ruins or the church supposedly enclosing is no unfortunately, as Maxwell Smart would say "close but not close enough", I walked within 100 mts of the church but easily distracted in Rome and end up walking in circles :bored: Definitely on my list for next time apparently the church is pretty gruesome with wall paintings showing scenes of torture as a warning to people entering Rome.... they had a funny idea what a church was supposed to symbolize in those days. :(
     
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  7. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Wow @Ancient Aussie! That is an iconic type. Congrats!

    This is one my favourite architectural types.

    T515a (2).jpg Titus
    AR Cistophorus, 10.64g
    Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD
    Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M.; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
    Rev: CAPIT across field, RESTIT in exergue; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with 4 columns enclosing figures of Juno, seated Jupiter and Minverva
    RIC 515 (R). BMC spec. acquired 1948. RSC -. RPC 860 (3 spec.). BNC 111.
    Acquired from Calgary Coin, 30 November 2015. Ex MS collection. Ex Harlan J. Berk 124, 3 January 2002, lot 448.

    The Temple of Jupiter was in the process of being rebuilt after the fire of 80 AD when this coin was struck.
     
  8. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    Nice subject.
    I have already posted my Trajan's Column denarius but it fits the topic.
    upload_2021-7-27_10-4-24.png
    Column of Trajan surmounted with a statue of Trajan; two eagles at base and a wreath with spirals and dots on column
    upload_2021-7-27_10-5-50.png
    A hexastyle temple from Probus - Roma seated in centre, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand

    upload_2021-7-27_10-12-15.png
    A provincial Trajan from Seleucia.
    Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙ(Ϲ) ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΡΙϹΤ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ (ΔΑΚ), laureate head of Trajan, r. / Rev: ϹΕΛΕΥΚΕ ω Ν ΠΕΙΕΡΙΑϹ (or ΠΙΕΡΙΑϹ), sacred stone of Zeus Kasios with fillet attached within shrine consisting of four pillars supporting a pyramidal roof surmounted by an eagle; beneath, ΖΕΥС ΚΑСΙΟС; In field, r., Ϛ
     
  9. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Great coin, and definitely on my wantlist!

    Here's a recent architectural acquistion:
    0.15.png
     
  10. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  11. mikebell

    mikebell Active Member

    The Macellum dupondius can always count on being pricey. This example is of the transitional type, GERM obverse while the reverse lacks the denomination. It is seriously rough, but relatively little wear. It was fairly cheap - in good condition these cost plenty.
    Nero RIC 186.jpg
    Ex Incitatus
     
  12. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Nice example of the Macellum Magnum, @Ancient Aussie.

    Here is the example from my collection:

    Nero Dupondius Macellum Magnum - OBV- GP - 1.jpeg Nero Dupondius Macellum Magnum - REV- OKP - 1.jpeg
     
  13. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Nice, my favorite type.
     
  14. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks.
     
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  15. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Thanks David, I am envious of your coin, absolutely fantastic.
     
  16. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Three great coins ambr0zie.
     
  17. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Fantastic coin, another of my favorites.
     
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  18. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

  19. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Lucky to have such a rare coin, and thanks for the info I was wondering what the difference was between RIC 184 and 186.
     
  20. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

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  21. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    Aureus of Claudius with Praetorian barracks on reverse...

    Yw89Y5Gktd4ZgNq6K38rjFs9Hm7rbz.jpg


    RR denarii of Egnatius with temple on reverse followed by denarius of Palicanus with Roman Rostrum on reverse...

    00151q00.jpg 00184q00.jpg

    Sestertius of Nero with temple of Janus reverse...

    cc25552a.jpg cc25552b.jpg

    several asses of Nero with Macellum reverse... first from mint of Rome , followed by two minted at Lugdunum.


    16435.jpg 1199204l.jpg OR-TFWQ.jpg
     
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