Why we love Action Comics, action movies & action coins/or my latest man movie, "Guns n' Buns"!

Just as we are dazzled today by all of the thrills, chills and spills that our available artistic mediums can present us,

(My latest acquisition? Naaaa)

so too were the ancients:

(Though, I don't recall Superman ever having to hold his hand on his ackeing back, "Oh, my Scoliosis!")

Plenty of themes resonate. "All the great themes in life have been used up, turned into theme parks." - Christian Slater


(Too bad DC couldn't afford the hippocampi biga. Marvel woulda )

For real though, as a friend, if you're under the ocean and Poseidon swoops in like this DO NOT remind him of how he was suckered by Jupiter:

Creperius, Rocus
Denarius. 68 BC. Uncertain mint. (Ffc-657). (Craw-399-1b). (Cal-522). Obv: Bust of the back of the Sea Goddess to the right, C to the right, to the left crab. Rev .: Neptune with trident, in biga pulled by hippocampi to the right, below Q CREPER M (F) / ROCVS. Ag. 3.61 g. Usually struck off center. Very scarce. VF.
Ex: Tauler & Fau

Who isn't at least little giddy thinking of the upcoming...
... PART 2!?!?!

CILICIA.Seleucia ad Calycadnus.Gallienus.(253-268).Ae.
Obv : AY K Π ΛΚ ΓΑΛΛΙΗΝOC.
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bustto right.
Rev : CEΛΕVKEΩΝ TΩ Π KAΛVΚ.
Athena advancing to right, holding shield and brandishing spear at snake-legged giant advancing left and raising both arms.
SNG France 1066. SNG Aulock 5854; SNG Levante 789; Ziegler 534-535.
Condition : Small flan fault and scratches.Nicely brown patina.Very fine.
Weight : 9.7 gr
Diameter : 27 mm

Aaaaand noWwww (in my best Bruce Buffer voice((though we all prefer his older brother Michael)))


, here's my latest alpha Roman Republic coin. Like Arnie, ready to blow you away:

(Blow up bad guys. Ok. That's 1 labor
Herakles had 12)

On the obverse we are treated with the head of MARS, THE GOD OF WAR! With a trophy of victory in battle behind him.
And on the reverse we have a hero dashing in to save an ally about to be done in by a barbarian.
Per Seaby, "This type records the exploits of Mn. Fonteius who was governor of Narbones Gaul:

between 76-73 BCE"
The scene is harrowing. All the more so, as it was done after the fact and more than likely of a descendant:

P. Fonteius P.F. Capito. AR Denarius (55 BC). Rome. Av.: P FONTEIVS P F CAPITO III VIR. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars right, with trophy over shoulder. Rv.: MN FONT TR MIL. Warrior riding horse right, thrusting spear at fallen enemy who is about to slay unarmed captive; helmet and shield to right. Crawford 429/1. Very fine.
Weight: 3.92 g

Per the British Museum, "Republican moneyer, usually identified with the adoptive father of P. Clodius, though without firm evidence. He may also be the Fonteius recorded as Cicero's friend. His coins are inscribed P·FONTEIVS·P·F·CAPITO."

Speaking of ACTION Guns out Buns out
Just won this for less than it costs to do a date at the movies (not that you could pay me to go to a theater post pandemic).


Things that struck me:
1- Could be a fourée
2- This coin was used for commerce for many years and then saw the sands of time.
3- Looks like the beginnings of some nice toning coming in at the top of the obverse especially... time will tell
4- Not sure if from Roman mint.
5- That the apple is in a perfect spot to make it look like Venus is holding a gun... or a hairdryer. Hey! She's got a hot date with Mars. Leave her alone
6-"That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung, want to pull up tough
'Cause you noticed that butt was stuffed…:

Julia Domna, Denarius
Obverse: bust of the empress in drapery, facing right, along the edge legend:
IVLIA DOMNA AVG. Reverse: Venus is facing right, holding an apple and a scepter, with a legend along the edge:
VENRI VICTR Silver, diameter 18 mm, weight 2.79 g, spindle 6 hours. Reference: RIC 564
Grade: VF



So, for the love of Kronos, please do not share your (as @dougsmit perfectly put it) gods and goddesses just standing around. Let's see those action packed little pieces of metal that get your blood flowing and your mind thinking back to the carnage and madness of ancient War/life just as it surely did our ancient ancestors!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Interesting thread, @Ryro. I like your hippocamp denarius and Gallienus/Athena coin. Hope to pickup an example of each in the future.

Here are some of my action coins:

Pisidia, Isinda, 2nd-1st century BC.
Æ (20mm, 5.95g, 1h), year 3 (21/0 or 8/7 BC).
Obv: Laureate head of Zeus r.
Rev: Horseman galloping r., spearing serpent; Γ to upper l.
SNG BnF 1572-3.
London Ancient Coins, 2021.


Gallienus 29 of Heracleopolis, Pontus. AD 263/4.
Obv: AΥT KAI ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC,laureate, draped bust right
Rev: CЄBACTO HΡAK [ЄT] ςΞC, Hercules running left, capturing the Cerynean Hind.
12.69g, 29.9mm
Papillon Numismatic, Sept 2021.


C. Coelius Caldus denarius. 104 BC. Rome.
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma left
Rev: Victory in biga left; CALD below, .O: in exergue.
17 mm., 3,88 g.
Crawford 318/1b; Sydenham 582a.
Savoca, 2021.

In addition, here is a Julia Domna denarius similar to your #6:

 

Thanks! I'll take, "Interesting" over boring any day
VERY fun/ cool lineup of action packed coins!
Your Gallienus reminds me of my recent Herakles in action coin that is apparently unique. (Cannot find another anywhere!).
BTW, the patina is green but the dirt is not orange as in the photo. Just the auction houses photography. As well, in hand(I really need to reshoot this coin) it shows much more detail :

Volusian
CILICIA, Tarsus (?). 251-253 AD. Æ 33mm (21.1 g). Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Herakles and Antaeus: Herakles standing facing, head left, leaning right and wrestling Antaeus; he lifts Antaeus up into the air by the waist while Antaeus tries to break his grip. Unlisted in RPC/ACSearch/Wild Winds/ Very Fine. Purchased from NBS auction November 2021
"The giant Antaeus, the son of Poseidon and Gaia (Mother Earth), was in the habit of forcing strangers to wrestle him until they were exhausted, whereupon he killed them. Not only was he a strong and skilled athlete, but whenever he touched his mother, the earth, his strength was revived. Herakles and Antaeus met while Herakles was out traveling for his labors, and Herakles became determined to end this barbarous practice. He accepted Antaeus' challenge to a wrestling match and realizing that Antaeus was a son of Mother Earth; he lifted Antaeus in the air, off the ground, until he crushed him to death."

And wonderful Venus

 

Neat thread, Ryro. I don't have one of those cool Capitos yet and should really put it on the ol' want list.

Here's a warm up scene...


ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius. 3.88g, 19.4mm. Rome mint, 113-2 BC. T. Didius, moneyer. Crawford 294/1; Sydenham 550. O: Helmeted head of Roma right; [XVI monogram below], monogram of ROMA behind. R: Two gladiators (paegniarii?) fighting, one attacking with a whip, the other defending with a staff (or sword); T•DEIDI in exergue.
Ex Prof Dr Hildebrecht Hommel Collection, acquired from Hirsch, auction 71, 17 March 1971, lot 477
Roma notes: "Babelon suggests that the reverse type refers to the moneyer’s ancestor T. Didius, who was sent to Sicily in 138 BC to quash a slave result that was ultimately the precursor to the first of the three Servile Wars. Crawford disagrees, suggesting that the reverse depicts a scene one would expect to witness at the games T. Didius promised to put on during his time as aedile, making this issue an example of electoral propaganda."
Further notes: Apparently Tameanko’s theory is that this was a mock fight of sorts between paegniarii, gladiators who might use wooden weapons and stage comedic fights as pre-events at games.

And let's not forget man vs beasts!

ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius. 3.43g, 18.5mm. Rome mint, 42 BC. Crawford 494/30; RBW 1735; Sydenham 1112. O: Bare head of the praetor L. Livineius Regulus to right. R: L•REGVLVS, Bestiarius standing left, spearing lion; behind, another bestiarius standing right, spearing panther; to left, wounded bear sitting right.

GALLIENUS
AE28. 8.09g, 27.6mm. IONIA, Ephesus, circa AD 253-268. Karwiese 1136 (this coin cited). O: VT · K · ΠO · ΛIKIN · ΓAΛΛIHNOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: EΦ-ECIΩN · Γ · NEO, KOPON in exergue, Androklos facing right, chlamys blowin’ in the wind, wielding spear at boar standing left; hound at his side.
Ex N. M. McQ. Holmes Collection; ex Marcel Burstein Collection (Peus 366, 25 October 2000, lot 636); ex G. Hirsch 171 (25 September 1991), lot 1273

 

The Late Roman bronze "Fel Temp Reparatio" reverses are so common, we tend to sort of tune them out and not notice dynamic battlefield scene they present. Here's an example of Constantius II from my collection:

 

I agree with you



... but I think that dragging a poor Barbarian handcuffed prisoner by the hair is not a very Christian behaviour

 

Yes, yes, we all like the action and escapism of blood and guts and carnage and such on our coins. Fun write up, as always, @Ryro! But it's not the WHOLE STORY.

See, here goes Mars, off to war again wearing his manly helmet and manly shield and manly spear, leaving the li'l missus at home. Half-naked, she clutches his manly biceps and pleads with him to stay ...

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman Æ as, 11.96 g, 25 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 170-175.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VENERI VICTRICI S C, Venus standing right, placing both hands on the arm of Mars, standing facing, head left, holding round shield in left hand.
Refs: RIC 1680; BMCRE 999-1001; Cohen 241; RCV 5305; MIR 42-7/10c.​

But he must go ... go because the clamor of clashing shields, the clanging of iron weapons, and the roar of Greek fire ...

... well, it's quieter than domestic life.



Imagine all the screaming and yelling going on with this brood!

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 22.64 g, 30.0 mm, 12 h.
Rome, AD 161.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust, right, wearing stephane.
Rev: TEMPOR FELIC S C, female figure, standing left, holding an infant in each arm; at either side, two children standing.
Refs: RIC 1674; BMCRE 952-955; Cohen 224; RCV 5284; MIR 31-6/10b diad.
Note: Sometimes each infant held in arms has a star above his head.​

And THAT, dear friend, is the WHOLE STORY.

 

I always enjoy @Ryro info psychedelic posts! So much to see, so much to enjoy, so much to buzz on!



Roman Republic Minicuis Thermus 103 BCE AR Den Mars 2 Warriors fighting fallen S 197 Cr 319-1 Left


RR AR denarius 3.8g 18.0mm T Didius Rome 113-112 BCE Roma star ROMA monogram - Two Gladiators whip sword S 171 CR 294-1



RR L Livineius Regulus AR Denarius 42 BCE 3.8g 19mm Regu bust - Gladiators in Arena Cr 494-30 Syd 1112 Sear 489

 

Great thread as always @Ryro......Lovely coins too!..Especially that very sought after Biga of Hippocampi...

Silaharas of Khankan (AD1000-1200) AR Drachm 14.1 mm x 4.13 g
Obverse: Stylized Sassanian Bust right. "Sri" in Brahmi behind head left field.
Reverse: Stylized Horseman battle scene shows a mounted warrior with sword to right.
Below a fallen body and to the right a standing figure defending himself
with a shield. Behind the horse a bow., Sun in upper right field.
ref: Mit. NIS 649-652

 

Great post as usual! My most recent action scene reverse is of this poor schlub being captured and dragged by his hair by the god of War himself.


Maximinus II, AE Follis (21 mm, 3.85 g), Antiochia, 312. Laureate head of Maximinus II to right. Rev.VIRTVTI E-XERCITVS / ✱ - I / ANT Mars advancing right, holding shield and trophy in his left hand and dragging captive behind him with his right. RIC 169b corr

 

Nice coins @Ryro et al! I haven’t seen any sports yet.

Wrestling


PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos
AR Stater, Aspendos mint, struck ca. 380-325 BC
Dia.: 22.1 mm
Wt.: 10.62 g
Obv.: Two wrestlers; the left one holds the left arm of his opponent with both hands, the opponent grasping with right hand his right wrist; no control in between legs.
Rev.: Slinger, wearing short chiton, discharging sling to right; Π in between legs; on right, triskeles to right, EΣTFEΔIIVΣ behind, all within dotted square; c/m: wolf running left in rectangular incuse.
Ref.: BMC 52; SNG Copenhagen 214; Tekin Series 4
Ex Harlan J. Berk (private sale September 21, 2015); Ex zumbly Collection; Ex Minotaur Coins

 

Byblos, 4th c. BC, 1/8th of shekel, AR 8-10 mm.

 

@zumbly hitting us with a full on censoring assault i don't recall ever seeing Androklos on a coin before
And that Regulus you and @Alegandron have always gets my excited about/sad that I never got to see gladiatorial combat!
Good call on the fallen horseman @Parthicus and @GinoLR

Few groups have perpetuated less of the behavior that they talk about and been belied by their actions than that one, historically speaking.
@Roman Collector

Hey hey! I recently won a coin of the same type.
The REAL struggle, unentwining the misses before the battle begins!


Just some epic battle scenes from @Alegandron ... to nobodies surprise!
Here's a warrior galloping around showing off the severed head of an enemy:

Nice one @Spaniard ! Like one of those magic pictures. I had to stare for a while, but then I saw it!

Very cool coin! That totally does NOT look like Mars is making that captive smell his previous days meal. And anyone who thinks that is deranged.
This guy's not even a god and appears to be giving the kid the Ole buttercup:


Perfect timing @Curtisimo
Nothing like some hand to hand combat to get the blood flowing:

 

Duh, what's the question again. Forget it, I don't know the answer anyway. Thanks.

 

Whatever. Nevermind.