My new favorite Mars coin! I acquired it just today! Gordian III, AD 238-244. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 22.88 g, 30.7 mm, 1 h. Rome, 6th officina. 13th emission, January-February AD 244. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: MARS PROPVGNAT SC, Mars advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and shield on left arm. Refs: RIC 332a; Cohen 157; RCV 8718; Hunter 148; Banti 52. Let's see your favorite Mars coins, Gordian III sestertii, or anything you feel is relevant!
I normally avoid looking back after deciding to sell a coin but I regretted trimming this Vindex denarius (which I sold because of its slightly poor strike and centering). Thankfully, a dealer bought it for stock and I was able to buy it back: Denarius, Gaul, March-May 68 AD, AR 3.61 g. MARS – VLTOR Helmeted and draped bust of Mars r. Rev. Aquila between two standards, altar to r.; in field, P – R and in exergue, [SI]GNA. C Galba 406. BMC Galba 39. Martin 60. RIC 51. CBN 18. Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Struck on unusually fine metal and with a wonderful iridescent tone. Extremely fine Ex Antiqua sale XII, 2003, 134. This issue is related to the effort of Vindex to displace Nero in 68. Vindex is said to have amassed a following of 100,000 soldiers. The type here, as is common during the civil war, is a recreation of an earlier denarius of Augustus using the Mars Ultor motif.
R.C., Your sestertius is a handsome coin, good strike, even wear, & nice patina . Pictured below is my favorite coin depicting Mars. The stance on my coin is similar to your Mars, however, he's nearly nude . Constantine I, AD 307-337 (struck AD 307/8). Trier Mint, 1st Officina. Billon Nummus: 6.65 gm, 26 mm, 6 h. Ex Spink 169, July 15, 2004.
A beautiful coin! Here are some of my own favorite Martians (I'm old enough to remember that show!). I've posted all of them multiple times before, but I'm shameless! I think that my Mars Ultor coin of Severus Alexander actually looks more like your Mars Propugnatori than my own coin of the latter, issued by Hostilian, on which Mars looks like he's running rather than merely advancing. And appears to have a huge mustache, although I doubt that was intended! Mars Ultor: Severus Alexander AR Denarius 232 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate and draped bust right, seen from front, IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG/ Rev. Mars Ultor (“Mars the Avenger”) advancing right in military dress, holding transverse, spear and shield, cape flying behind, MARS VLTOR. RIC IV-2 246, RSC III 161a (ill.), Sear RCV II 7882 (ill.), BMCRE 831. 20 mm., 2.91 g. Marti Propugnatori: Hostilian Caesar (son of Trajan Decius), AR Antoninianus, 251 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C / Rev. Mars running right, holding spear in right hand and shield in left, MARTI PROPVGNATORI (Mars the Defender). RIC IV-3 177b, RSC IV 15, Sear RCV III 9556 (ill.). 22 mm., 3.65 g. Also: Chubby Mars: Roman Republic, Q. Thermus M.f., AR Denarius 103 BCE. Obv. Head of Mars left with crested, plumed helmet/ Rev. Roman soldier advancing right, fighting with uplifted sword a barbarian soldier before him, while protecting with shield a fallen comrade at his feet, Q THERM.MF. in exergue (THE and MF in monograms). RSC I Minucia [Q. Minucius Rufus] 19 (ill.), Crawford 319/1, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 653. 19.4 mm., 3.97 g. Young Mars: Roman Republic, Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito, AR Denarius 55 BCE [Harlan: 54 BCE], Rome mint. Obv. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars with slight beard, right, with trophy over far shoulder, P•FONTEIVS•P•F•CAPITO•III•VIR counter-clockwise around / Rev. Helmeted and caped Roman soldier on horseback galloping right, thrusting his spear down at helmeted Gallic warrior crouching beneath horse, holding his shield up with left hand to try to fend off horse, and thrusting sword with his right hand at unarmed captive to left; the captive’s Gallic helmet [and shield, off flan] sailing off to lower right; MN•FONT•TR•MIL clockwise above. Crawford 429/1, RSC I Fonteia 17, Sear RCV I 392 (ill.), Sydenham 900, Harlan RRM II Ch, 22 at pp. 174-175 [Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63 BCE-49 BCE (2nd Revised Edition 2015)]. 17.8 mm., 3.97 g. (Purchased from Zuzim Inc., Brooklyn, NY, Aug. 2020. Ex: Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 54, Feb. 28, 2019, Lot 558 [see https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785]; Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 100, May 29, 2017, Lot 329 [see https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088]; Ex: Gerhard Hirsch Auction 168, Nov. 22-24, 1990, Munich, Lot 434. Formerly in NGC slab, Cert. No. 4629554-001, Graded Ch. AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface 4/5.) [Footnote omitted.] Naked Mars: Trajan AR Denarius, ca. AD 114, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate & draped bust right, IMP TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P / Rev. Mars, helmeted, naked but for cloak behind, advancing right, holding transverse spear, pointing up to right, with right hand and trophy over left shoulder with left hand, COS VI P P S P Q R. RIC II Trajan 299, RSC II Trajan 103, BMCRE III Trajan 516. Purchased Jan. 6, 2022 from Herakles Numismatics at NYINC 2022. 20 mm., 3.41 g. And it's always a good time to post my other Mars Ultor -- a cast bronze figurine, 2nd-3rd Century AD, based on the statue at Rome. Bearded face, military garb, crested helmet, cuirass, greaves, etc. Spear and sword lost in antiquity. Height: 60 mm. (2 3/8"). Ex: CNG, Sale 75, Lot 1514, May 23, 2007.
That's a lovely looking Sestertius @Roman Collector . My favourite Mars is still this one.. Severus Alexander. 222-235 AD. AR Denarius (2.89 gm, 20mm). Rome mint. Struck 228 AD. Obv.: IMP SEV ALE-XAND AVG, laureate head right. Rev.: PM TRPVII COSII PP , Mars standing right, holding shield and spear. RIC IV 83; BMCRE 503; RSC 337. aEF.
Nice Gordian / Mars sestertius, RC. I thought I had one just like it, but mine has a longer reverse legend: Gordian III Æ Sestertius (240-244 A.D.) Rome Mint (6th Officina; 12th Emission) [IMP] GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM, S C , Mars advancing right, holding shield and spear. RIC 333; Cohen 161. (13.37 grams / 26 mm) eBay Nov. 2019
The new Gordian is delightful! My coins aren't organized by their reverses. Im sure I have a Mars somewhere. I've trotted this one out several times but it's still my favorite Gordian: RIC 298a. I've returned to a favorite niche of mine; collecting by patina, where the patina matters more than the coin itself. Gordian III (238-244). Æ As (23mm, 8.31g, 12h). Rome, 240-3. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Sol standing l., raising hand and holding globe. RIC IV 297b.
Nice pick-up! The only coin photographed so far with Mars is the recently posted denarius of L Julius Caesar, 103 BC, Crawford 320-1. L Julius Caesar Denarius, 103 BC. CAESAR Head of Mars left in crested helmet / Venus Genettris with scepter, in chariot drawn by two Cupids left, lyre in field, L IVLI L F. 3.84 grams
I know no one cares but I rather suspect that some of my Septimius Severus Easter denarii are as rare as any Mars coins including the ones that everyone wants. Rarity means nothing. Demand, more. Alexandria: Alexandria style unofficial: 'Emesa': 'Emesa'? Laodicea (common one):
What a beauty Now, where have I seen her before? Chocolate Patina, excellent portrait and then an EXCELLENT Mars reverse Wonderful coin from a great seller. Now I'm kicking myself for not buying the sister coin Though, I do have a pretty stellar Severus Alexander Martian Though not as sweet as yours:
MARS Larinum, Frentani (Italia) 210-175 BCE AE Quincunx 22mm 9.8g Mars corinthian helmet- Galloping Horseman spear shield thunderbolt 5 pellets NH Italy 625 BMC 2
ANONYMOUS ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Didrachm OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Mars left, oak-sprig behind REVERSE: ROMANO on tablet below head of bridled horse right, ear of wheat behind Struck at Metapontum, 280-276 BC 19 mm, 6.55g Cr13/1, Syd 1
It appears I only have 2 Mars reverses in my collection A proud Mars Marcus Aurelius AD 161-180 AR Denarius 175-176 M ANTONINVS AVG GERM SARM, head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right TR P XXX IMP VIII COS III, Mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak flying behind, advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and trophy, sloped over left shoulder, in left hand RIC 349 And a Tacitus, the last emperor I was able to add in my collection Tacitus AD 275-276. Ticinum Antoninianus Æ silvered 24 mm, 2,86 g IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, bust of Tacitus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right or bust of Tacitus, radiate, cuirassed, right / MARTI PACIF, Mars, walking left, holding olive-branch in right hand and spear and shield in left hand RIC V Tacitus 145
Q. Minucius M.f Termus Ar Denarius 103 BC Obv Helmeted head of a Beardless Mars left. Rv. Roman soldier left in combat with an adversary in an attempt to protect a wounded comrade at his feet. Cr. 319/1 RBW 1174 3.78 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen
This one of my Mars advancing. 277 AD. Lugdunum mint. Obv: IMP C PROBVS P F AVG legend with radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: MARS VICTOR legend with Mars advancing right carrying trophy and spear; II in exergue. RIC 84; Sear 11992.3.47 grams It is an ambition of mine to visit the museum at Lugdunum (Lyon) it really looks interesting cut into a mountain face.