I just bought the best portrait on a denarius I've ever owned (even though Severius Septimius is common, I've always fancied a nice portrait like this). So, since I am showing off mine, lets see the best Imperial portraits (be it AE's, AR's, or AU's) in your collection. Here is the newest addition, and a sweet portrait: Severius Septimius stainless
Very sweet example, common or not its very nice! heres a few I like Anotninus Pius Gordian III Hadrian
Ah, so you have come into the realm of Imperial portraiture. I should give a warning to everyone - it takes a good deal of connoisseurship to truly recognize and appreciate an exceptional portrait. THIS is by far the most difficult skill to cultivate as a collector. Its also something I specialize in. Randy - I hate to do it, but I'm gonna call you out on this one - your favorite comment seems to be "Good portrait." Two of the three coins you posted are average quality for their issues. (I feel bad now, I promise to send you some coins in penance!) There a number of factors . A good portrait may have a fine, unique style that is generally not seen in the rest of the issue. Or it may capture something, a particular essence or aspect of the emperor that reveals both the artist and the subject to the viewer. This sestertius of Septimius Severus is like that. See the sallowness of the face? The sunken eyes, looking just a little too far into the distance? In 196, Severus was just mopping up the last of the Civil Wars, having gained supremacy over the others by betraying his Caesar, Clodius Albinus. Most of the portraits that I prize are simply exceptional for their issues. I encourage you all to look at these and then find other coin portraits of these emperors. You'll see the difference! Aurelian antoninianus, Mediolanum, 270-275 AD Gallienus antoninianus, Antioch, 255-256 AD Geta provincial, 198-209 AD, Nikaea, Bithynia And the coup de grace: Licinius, Siscia, 319-320 AD
haha no worries I'm assuming you mean AP and gordian III In my deffense "best Imperial portraits (be it AE's, AR's, or AU's) in your collection" :goofer: and I'm still new to ancients :hatch:
This point comes up regularly. I enjoy this pair of faulty sestertii of Julia Domna. One is worn but I love the style. One is less worn but scratched and patchy and has very ordinary die work. Can you tell which I prefer?
some very nice coins here i think i have a lot to learn when it comes to ancients. but its a long road and hopefully i can travel it. again great coins. :bow:
Stainless, I overlooked this thread of yours while posting some of my bronzes. I'll add one here then: here is Antoninus Pius with reverse Consecratio. But to be honest, I DO NOT much like the protrait on this coin. It is rather vacant and expresionless. (But I like the coins theme,and that is why I bought this coin).
This is a neat idea. It's pretty ironic too for me since I have a nice Severius now and Julia Domna just happens to have one of my favorite reverse types on a denarius (the Isis holding Horus). I may attempt this..lol...i'z a copycat stainless
I have a few that I think are worthy of sharing here. First of all, I have a nice, serious looking portrait of Maximinus Thrax on this denarius: His portraits can often come off rather cartoonish due largely to how they portray is large chin, as shown in this less impressive example from my collection: Here's good portrait of another 3rd century soldier emperor, Trajan Decius: I've always liked this portrait of Philip the Arab on this sestertius. It definitely shows more character and emotion than most of the coins I see of him, in my opinion: Finally, if no one minds a provincial, I really like the portrait on this AE30 of Caracalla from Serdica:
