Featured Captives & Trophy, 8 or 9 examples from Julius Caesar to Constantine (& others, if you have them!)

ROMAN REPUBLIC TROPHIES


RR Cn Lentulus Clodianus 88 BCE AR Quinarius Jupiter Victory crowning trophy Craw 345-2 S 255



RR AR Quinarius 16mm 1.77g P Sabinus Rome 99 BCE Jupiter r E 3 pellets - P SABINE Q in ex Victory trophy E 3 pellets Cr 331-1




RR Cn Lentulus Clodianus 88 BCE AR Quinarius Jupiter Victory crowning trophy QAC S 255 Craw 345-2

 

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ROMAN REPUBLIC CAPTIVES


RR Cloelius 98 BCE Quinarius Jupiter F dots Victory Gaul captive Q Cr 332-1c S212



RR Fundanius AR Quinarius 101 BCE Marius triumph Jupiter E control Victory captive carnyx Q Sear 205 Craw 326-2



RR Gellius 138 BCE AR Denarius Roma wreath Mars female captive Quadriga S 109 Cr 232-1



RR Aemilius Lepidus Paullus 62 BCE AR Denarius Concordia Perseus Macedon captive Sear 366 Craw 415-1

 

Great coins @Curtis (great name too!).

Here is another example of a captive..

Roman Empire
Marcus Aurelius
AR denarius, Rome mint, struck AD 173
Dia.: 19 mm
Wt.: 3.31 g
Obv.: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII; Laureate head right
Rev.: IMP VI COS III; German captive seared left at foot of trophy
Rev.: RIC 280
Ex Walter Stoecklin Collection (before 1975); Ex Orfew Collection

...and here is a trophy!

Roman Republic
Anonymous
AR Victoriatus, mint in Sicily, struck ca. 211-208 BC
Dia.: 17 mm
Wt.: 3.3 g
Obv.: Head of Jupiter right
Rev.: ROMA; Victory right crowning trophy
Ref.: Crawford 70/1, Brinkman Group B

 

Lovely write up and great coins, thanks! Here are mine:

With captives:





With a trophy, or something similar:

 

Interesting idea for a thread! I wasn't aware that Roman coins with this motif were so multifarious before reading your posts and looking at your coin pictures.

Here is a Roman Republican trophy. I like the visual allusion to the earlier victoriati and the fact that the captive is identified as Gaul by the carnyx:

Roman Republic, moneyer: T. Cloelius, AR quinarius, 98 BC, Rome mint. Obv: head of Jupiter, laureate, r., control mark .C. before. Rev: T.CLOVLI; Victory standing r. crowns trophy with seated captive and carnyx; in exergue, Q. 16mm, 1.9g. Ref: RRC 332/1c.

A coin celebrating Gallienus "the Neckbeard's" German "victory," which is better charaterized as 'successfully managing to not be completely overrun.' There is a similar type with the same reverse and a military bust that I'm actively looking for:

Gallienus, Roman Empire, AE antoninianus, 258–259 AD, Cologne mint. Obv: GALLIENVS P F AVG; bust of Gallienus, radiate, cuirassed, r. Rev: GERMANICVS MAX V; trophy between two captives. 20.5mm, 3.58g. Ref: RIC V Gallienus (joint reign) 18.

This Constantinian standard is not exactly a trophy, but the similarity to the trophy types is hard to ignore:

Constantinus I, Roman Empire, AE 3, 321 AD, Lugdunum mint. Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG; bust of Constantine, laureate, r. Rev: VIRTVS EXERCIT; two captives sitting next to standard inscribed VOT/XX; in fields, C-R; in exergue, PLG. 20mm, 2.75g. Ref: RIC VII Lugdunum 113.

 

Marcus Aurelius Denarius

Obv:– M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVIII, Laureate, cuirassed bust right (Seen from rear)
Rev:– IMP VI COS III, Trophy of arms, German captive at foot, teo curved swords to right
Minted in Rome. Dec. A.D. 173 – Jun. 174
Reference:– BM 599. RIC II Marcus Aurelius 291



And a later re-interpretation.

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, Laureate head right
Rev:– INVICT IMP, Trophy with arms below, dejected captive seated beneath (no shield)
Minted in Laodicea ad Mare, A.D. 196 – 197
References:– RIC -, RSC -, BMCRE -



The type also occurs with a shield on knees

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, Laureate head right
Rev:– INVICT IMP, Trophy with arms below, dejected captive seated beneath, shield on knees
Minted in Laodicea ad Mare, A.D. 196 – 197
References:– RIC -, RSC -, BMCRE -



The captive alone.....

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:– IMP CAE L SPE (sic) SEV - PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– TR P III IMP V COS II, captive seated right with peaked cap, hands bound behind, quiver and shields behind, curved sword in ex
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 195
Reference:– RIC 432 var (obv legend). RSC 660 var (same)



And the double captives under trophy.

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– L SEP SEVERVS PER AVG PIV IMP XI PAR P M, laureate head right
Rev:– AR AD TR P VI / COS II P P, Two captives seated back to back at the foot of a trophy
Laodicea-ad-Mare mint. A.D. 198
Reference:– BMCRE page 280 Sword, citing RD page 105. RIC 494b corr.

 

ROMAN RUPUBLICAN VICTORIATII TROPHIES


RR Victoriatus after 211 BCE Jupiter Victory Trophy VF Craw 53-1 Syd 83



RR Anon AR Victoriatus 211-206 BC Jupiter Dioscuri FINE S 49 Cr 44-1



RR Anon 211-206 BCE Victoriatus Pentagram Rare Sear 49 Syd 233a Craw 105-1



RR Victoriatus 206-195 BCE AR 16-5mm 2-61g Jupiter r Victory crowning trophy sow r in ex ROMA Syd 253 Russo RBW 554 Cr 121-1

 

Of course the image of the captive can turn up in a variety of other places.

At the foot of the emperor

Caracalla Denarius
Obv:– ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev:– SEVERI [PII] AVG FIL, Caracalla standing left, holding Victory on globe in right hand, reversed spear in left; captive seated left on ground before
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare, A.D. 201.
Reference:– BMC -. RIC -. RSC -. This reverse type not recorded for the mint of Laodicea. See RIC 45 and BMCRE 172 for the same type from Rome.



Philip II Antoninianus
Obv:- M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, radiate draped bust right
Rev:- PRINCIPI IVVENT, Philip II standing left with globe & spear; captive at feet
Minted in Rome.
Reference(s) – RIC 219, RSC 57



Under his feet

Florian, Antoninianus
Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Mars advancing right, holding a shield and spear, treading down captive.
Minted in Lugdunum (IIII in exe.) Emission 3 Officina 4, between September to October 276 A.D.
References:– Cohen 107. Bastien 150 (31 examples). RIC 16 Bust type C



Maxentius
Obv:– IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, Laureate Bust right
Rev:– CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated left, on shield in tetrastyle temple, right hand handing globe to Maxentius (in military dress standing right) left hand holding sceptre; seated captive between; victories as acroteria; wolf and twins in pedament
Minted in Aquilea (AQP in exe.) between 25th July 306 A.D. – Autumn 307 A.D.
References:– RIC VI Aquilea 113 (C)



Cowering before him

Numerian
Obv:– IMP C NVMERIANVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– PACATO-R ORBIS, Emperor advancing right, holding shield and sword, captive, cowering beneath
Minted in Lugdunum (C in exe) Emission 9 Officina 3. Summer A.D. 284
Reference:– Cohen 41 (30 F). Bastien 618 (2 examples). RIC Unlisted.



Under hoof....
Probus
Obv:– VIRTVS PRO-BI AVG, Radiate, helmeted, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield, decorated with emperor riding past row of soldiers with shields
Rev:– ADVENTVS PROBI AVG, Emperor riding left, right hand raised, left holding sceptre; at foot, captive
Minted in Lugdunum (IIII) Emission 5 Officina 4. End A.D. 277 to Early A.D. 278
References:– Cohen 69. Bastien 256 (2 examples). RIC 64 Bust Type G (S)
Appears to be an obverse die match to the plate example in Bastien



Or just apparently just standing round.....

Constantius II AE2
Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust left, globe in hand
Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Emperor bare headed & in military dress standing, holding standard with chi-rho on banner in his right hand, resting left hand on shield, two bound captives in Phrygian helmets standing, facing each other before him
Minted in Siscia (* | _ // BSISM). A.D. 348-350.
Reference:– RIC VIII Siscia 225 (Rated C2)

 

Very nice various examples in thread.
Licinius II

Crispus

Constantine II

 

The most interesting takeaway from this thread for me was learning just how old the late imperial "two captives" posture was. From an earlier Caesar coin in this thread we see the captives in the same position--one looks down while the other twists his head back and up. It's a staple of Constantinian era coinage, as many coins in this thread demonstrate. I had no idea it was a Republican motif as well. There must be some kind of significance to the posture. Perhaps it's as simple as one captive bows in despair, while the other looks back at the trophy of arms (or standard)--a sign of his abject humiliation.

 

I don't remember if she answers that specific question; but you should check out the article I referenced earlier in this post. It is available on Jstor--

Levi, Annalina Calo. Barbarians on Roman Imperial Coins and Sculpture. NNM 123.New York: ANS, 1952.

 

Trajan Ar Denarius 197-108 AD. Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder. Rv trophy. RIC 147 Woytek 268b 3.65 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin is part of the massive coinage celebrating Trajan's successes against the Dacians and the incorporation of their territory into the Roman Empire. Besides the shields and spears one can see what appear to be the representation of two of the Dacian falx just above the grounded shield on the right. I guess there was just not enough room to place a captive in amongst all this military hardware.

 

I actually have it here somewhere because I used it for my “barbarian and hut“ article. I also remember thinking highly of it even though by now it’s 70 years old.

 

Fantastic thread on a very interesting topic! Unfortunately I have only one example of this reverse from my collection, and another one that is still in transit:

Claudius II (268-270), antoninianus, Cyzicus mint, third emission, second officina.
Obverse: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust with paludamentum left, seen from behind, two dots beneath;
Reverse: VICTORI-A-E GOTHIC, trophy and arms flanked by two captives, SPQR in exergue;
RIC 251 (var.), RIC V online 926.


Claudius II (268-270), antoninianus, Eastern mint (Smyrna?), first emission.
Obverse: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind;
Reverse: VIRTV-TI AVG, trophy and arms flanked by two captives, SPQR in exergue;
RIC 255, RIC V online 822.

 

2.96 g 19.4 mm
257-258 AD Cologne
Obverse legend: GALLIENVS PF AVG Obverse description: Radiated and armored bust of Gallienus on the left, seen from three quarters in front with shield and holding a haste on the left shoulder (F1).
Reverse legend: GERMANICVS MAX V.Reverse description: Arms trophy with a captive on each side.Reverse translation: “Germanicus Maximus quintum”, (Winner of the Germans for the fifth time).

RIC 18

And another one similar to the one posted by @Alegandron



Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus 88 BC. Rome
Quinarius AR
http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-345.2
Laureate head of Jupiter r.
Victory r. crowning trophy; in exergue, CN LENT
14 mm., 1,65 g.

 

Crawford 503/1, a rare denarius struck in Lycia by Brutus in 43/42 BC. Interestingly, it shares an obverse engraver with certain Lycian League hemidrachms.



Phil Davis

 

A few Constantines that I haven't seen yet:

London mint, A.D. 310-312
RIC 133
Obv: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG
Rev: ADVE-NTVS AVG - Prince on horseback holding spear and raising right hand; captive in front
PLN in exergue; star in right field
21 x 24 mm, 4.2 g.


Rome mint, A.D. 313
RIC 12
Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG
Rev: FVNDAT PACIS - Helmeted Mars, advancing right, carrying trophy on shoulder and dragging captive by hair
RQ in exergue
17 mm, 1.5 g.


Lugdunum (Lyons) mint, A.D. 320
RIC 79 (var.)
Obv: CON-STANTINVS AVG
Rev: VICTORIAE LAET PRINC PERP - Two Victories holding shield inscribed VOT/PR above altar
P[2 captives]L in exergue
19 mm, 3.2 g.

 

What a fantastic coin, thank you for sharing it. I love that Brutus' mint was using this motif from the Caesar denarius shortly after the assassination. What an artistic rendering!

 

PLEASE KEEP SHARING CAPTIVES &/OR TROPHIES!

It's been a while, but seeing as new threads aren't exactly proliferating, I figured I'd share some more "captives & trophy" types (or "trophy tableau" as Lauren Kinnee [2016] calls it), either because they're new or I didn't post them last time.

#1: Not exactly a "captives & trophy," but related to that type. Vespasian "Judaea Capta" AE As:


Roman Imperial. Vespasian (Augustus, 69-79 CE) "Judaea Capta" Commem. AE As (28mm, 9.40 g, 6h). Rome mint, 71 CE.
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III P P. Laureate head right.
Rev: IVDEA CAPTA / S C in exergue. Judaea seated right in attitude of mourning, Palm tree to her left; to left, pile of arms (shields, helmet).
Ref: RIC II 305; Cohen 244; Hendin (GBC 5) 1554 (b); OCRE (RIC 305; 14 specs.). Incorrectly described as RIC 1233.
Prov: CNG Keystone Auction 6 (Lancaster, 11 Mar 2022), Lot 3156 (Corr. Obv/rev legends, date/mint, ref. no); from the Kenneth Bressett (1928 - ) Collection; acq. from Mark Salton-Schlessinger, 1957 ($8), with his tag/envelope.

#2: Titus, probably celebrating Agricola's campaign in Britannia / Caledonia (Scotland), though some claim it's also a Judaea Capta Commemorative:

Roman Imperial. Titus AR Denarius (2.96g, 18mm, 12h), Rome, 80 CE.
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M. Laureate head left.
Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P. Trophy of captured arms, two captives seated at base; to left, female captive mourning; to right, bound male captive.
Ref: RIC 103; Hendin 1584a.
Prov: Ex Sammlung Shlomo Moussaieff (1925-2015; purchased London 1948-2000]); Gorny und Mosch Auction 263 (7 March 2019), Lot 3615; Orfew / Andrew Short Collection; Triton XXV (Online), 6953.


#3: A somewhat better Caracalla of this same type (I have four now). (Photo source: Victor Clark / Victor's Imperial Coins on VCoins.)


Roman Imperial. Caralla AR Denarius (2.8g, 18mm, 6h), Rome, 202 CE.
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Laureate bust right.
Rev: PART MAX PON TRP V COS. Trophy of captured arms, two captives seated at base, weight pointed caps; captive to left mourning; to right, bound male captive.
Ref: RIC IV 64.
Prov: Victor Clark / VCoins.

#4. Again, not quite trophy and captives, but vexillum / standard with two captives, the more common variant under Lincinius and Constantine and sons. (I wonder if these are Alemmani captives, as suggested for other contemporary coins on Victor Clark's site. These ones have finely grained enough imagery it might be possible to notice some cultural detail.)

Roman Imperial. Cripus Silvered AE Follis (19.5mm, 3.14 g, 6h), London, c. 320 CE.
Obv: CRISPVS NOBIL C. Helmeted, cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VIRTVS EXERCIT. Two captives seated on either side of vexillum inscribed VOT XX. Exergue: PLON.
Ref: RIC 188; Cloke & Toone 9.02.016 (this coin illustrated).
Prov: CNG Auction 516 (18 May 2022), Lot 631; Paul DiMarzio Collection, acq. 28 May 2018 from Lee Toone (Hookmoor Ancient Coins); ex CT Collections (collection of Toone), acq. 15 Jan 2010 from Dei Gratia Coins (Dave Shelley) at York Coin Fair.

#5. Gallienus w/ Germanic captives:

Roman Imperial. Gallienus AR Antoninianus (22mm, 3.55g, 6h), Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne), 257-258 CE.
Obv: GALLIENVS PF AVG. Radiate, cuirassed bust right.
Rev: GERMANICVS MAX V. Trophy of capture arms; seated at base, two bound captives, back-to-back.
Ref: RIC 18.
Prov: Philip Ashton Collection; HJB 214 (18 Feb 2021), 280; Ex-Pegasi MBS 33 XXXIII / VAuctions 317 (10 Nov 2015), Lot 617

More recommended reading (other good ones in previous posts):

Kinnee, Lauren. 2016. “The Trophy Tableau Monument in Rome: From Marius to Caecilia Metella.” Journal of Ancient History 4(2): 191–239.

• I could only access an electronic version via university library subscription. If anyone knows if there's a free copy let me know & share the link (i.e., somewhere w/ permission of the copyright holder or legal “fair use”)

See also her book: 2018. The Greek and Roman Trophy: From Battlefield Marker to Icon of Power. New York: Routledge.

• A substantial preview is available on Google Books. I have only begun perusing but I’d assume there is considerable overlap.