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<p>[QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 5425561, member: 83845"]This thread is going to be a double header... literally! I have quietly and somewhat unintentionally (until recently) been building up a respectable collection of Sestertii of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. My two newest are among my favorites and are both of great style. I hope you will all enjoy reading about a couple of Sestertii of this ancient <i>couple</i> (see what I did there <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />).</p><p><br /></p><p>The first marvelous coin came to me via a Saturnalia exchange with [USER=77077]@Theodosius[/USER] . It was a fast favorite in my Nerva Antonine collection! The second coin’s purchase was partially inspired by some of the very <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/most-realistic-portrait-on-a-roman-coin.363384/#post-4632060" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/most-realistic-portrait-on-a-roman-coin.363384/#post-4632060">realistic portraits</a> posted by [USER=84744]@Severus Alexander[/USER] and others of figures of this period. Just goes to show how CoinTalk is an influence for my collecting in the best kind of way. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="6"><span style="color: #404040"><u><b>Marcus Aurelius Celebrates a Decade of Favor with the gods</b></u></span></font></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235595[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180</font></p><p><font size="3">Æ Sestertius, Rome mint, struck AD 170-171.</font></p><p><font size="3">Dia.: 32 mm</font></p><p><font size="3">Wt.: 25.1 g</font></p><p><font size="3">Obv.: IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV; Laureate head right.</font></p><p><font size="3">Rev.: PRIMI/DECEN/NALES/COS III/SC within wreath.</font></p><p><font size="3">Reference: RIC III 1006. Scarce.</font></p><p><font size="3">Ex Theodosius Collection, Ex Sallent Collection, ex-JAZ Numismatics.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Every emperor wanted a long reign full of prosperity and good fortune. However, when you already hold the most powerful position in the world who is there left to ask for such things? The Roman gods of course!</p><p><br /></p><p>When an emperor came to power one of the things they did was offer a Votum (or plural Vota) to the gods asking for good fortune in those things to which they themselves had little to no control. It was common to ask for certain favors in increments of 10 years (Vota X). If all went well the emperor would then make additional offerings at the end of this 10 year period and renew his Vota for the next 10. This was sort of like an “I’ll pay you half now and half on delivery” type of arrangement between the gods and the emperor.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235597[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">I took this photo at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. The scene shows Marcus Aurelius making a sacrifice on the Capitoline Hill in front of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus. In my research I was not able to find the specific context for this sacrifice scene but it would not be out of place as a Vota scene. (Author’s photo)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>In addition to the vows and offerings the emperor made to the gods there was an expectation that the Roman people were to perform offerings and vows on behalf of the emperor at the same time. Many of the members of the Roman bureaucracy were expected to do this in an official and public capacity. And what better way is there to motivate your people to make vows on your behalf than to entertain them with public games?</p><p><br /></p><p>That is where this very interesting reverse type comes in. It announces / commemorates the decannalian games put on by the emperor in connection to the fulfilling and renewing of his 10 year Vota (vows) to the gods. In the case of Marcus Aurelius this happened in the year AD 171. This coin announces the “PRIMI DECANNALES” which translates as the “first decannalian games.” Thus these were the first such games held under Marcus Aurelius and also had the added benefit of marking his 10 year anniversary as emperor.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235604[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">This is possibly the most famous building in the world so it needs no introduction. Undoubtedly, many of the events of the Decennalian Games of AD 171 took place within the Colosseum. I took this photo from the top tier of the structure which had only just recently opened to the public by appointment when I took this photo. It offers some of the best views of the building and its surroundings but ironically would have been the least desirable place from which to watch the games. (Author’s photo)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235598[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">More views of the Colosseum from my visit. Left: view from the level where the gladiators fought. Right: view from the underground section below the arena where the wild animals were sometimes kept. (Author’s photos)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235599[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">This is the ruins of the Circus Maximus as viewed from the Palatine Hill. This is another location which certainly would have hosted events associated with the AD 171 games. (Author’s photo)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235600[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">Photos from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence showing a bust of Marcus Aurelius. (Author’s photos)</font></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="6"><span style="color: #404040"><u><b>Faustina II: A Family Resemblance?</b></u></span></font></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235596[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">Roman Empire</font></p><p><font size="3">Faustina II, daughter of Antoninus Pius and wife of Marcus Aurelius </font></p><p><font size="3">AE Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 147-156</font></p><p><font size="3">Dia.: 33mm</font></p><p><font size="3">Wt.: 26.11g </font></p><p><font size="3">Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA AVG PII F; Draped bust right </font></p><p><font size="3">Rev.: S-C; Diana standing left, holding bow and arrow</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref.: C 206; RIC A. Pius 1383; BMCRE 2194</font></p><p><font size="3">From a European Collection formed in the 1980s with tag</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235601[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">The collector tag that came with this coin. If anyone can help me identify the collection or collector more specifically I will either host a coin giveaway in your honor or donate to your favorite charity!</font></p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was struck on behalf of Faustina II (the wife of Marcus Aurelius) during the reign of her father, the emperor Antoninus Pius. There is not a very clear picture of specifically when the coins of Faustina II were struck during the reign of her father but AD 152-156 has been proposed [2]. </p><p><br /></p><p>One of the aspects I find appealing on this coin is one of the things that make it hard to date. The reverse is very simple and shows the goddess Diana (Greek Artemis) holding a bow and arrow with S-C written in the fields with no other markings or design elements. </p><p><br /></p><p>The die engraving for this portrait is one of the most realistic I have seen for this period. However, who is actually shown in this nicely rendered portrait?</p><p><br /></p><p>The coin itself is obviously struck for Faustina II. The titulature makes that clear. However, the style of the portrait seems to be very much of her mother Faustina I, the defied wife of Antoninus Pius. While there is, of course, the possibility of a striking family resemblance, the portrait shows an older woman and even the latest dates associated with these coins would put Faustina II in her mid-20s maximum when they were struck. The later issues of Faustina II show a distinct difference from this portrait style and her extant statues show much the same. See below for comparison.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235602[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">Faustina I: I took these photos of this wonderful statue at the Getty Villa in Malibu, California. To me the statues and portraits of Faustina I seem remarkably consistent. (Author’s photo)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1235603[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">Faustina II: The photo on the left is a full size statue of Faustina II that I took at the National Museum in the Palazzo Massimo alle Termini in Rome. (Author’s photo) The photo on the right is a bust of Faustina II in the Louvre. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>I’m not sure what relevance this has other than it is kind of neat. Perhaps the die engravers were getting so practiced at rendering nice portraits of the deified Faustina I that they continued to draw inspiration for the portraits of Faustina II. This is sort of unexpected because from Faustina I on most of the portraits of imperial ladies are much more individualized than they had been under the previous emperors. (For instance, poor Sabina is shown looking like Hadrian in a wig!) </p><p><br /></p><p>I can’t help but wonder whether portrait style has any bearing on the chronology of the coins of Faustina II but I am not familiar enough with the subject to even venture an intelligent guess. Either way I think this is a wonderful coin and I like it very much. </p><p><br /></p><p><font size="6"><span style="color: #404040"><u><b>References and Further Reading</b></u></span></font> </p><p><br /></p><p>[1]</p><p><a href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/VOTA/index.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/VOTA/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://augustuscoins.com/ed/VOTA/index.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>[2]</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-a-couple-of-anepigraphic-bronzes.369904/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-a-couple-of-anepigraphic-bronzes.369904/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-a-couple-of-anepigraphic-bronzes.369904/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="6"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>Please post your:</b></span></font></p><ul> <li><font size="5"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>Newest Sestertii</b></span></font></li> <li><font size="5"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>Coins of an ancient couple</b></span></font></li> <li><font size="5"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>Coins of Marcus Aurelius or Faustina II</b></span></font></li> <li><font size="5"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>Vota or Decennales types</b></span></font></li> <li><font size="5"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>Realistic portraits </b></span></font></li> </ul><p>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 5425561, member: 83845"]This thread is going to be a double header... literally! I have quietly and somewhat unintentionally (until recently) been building up a respectable collection of Sestertii of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. My two newest are among my favorites and are both of great style. I hope you will all enjoy reading about a couple of Sestertii of this ancient [I]couple[/I] (see what I did there :D). The first marvelous coin came to me via a Saturnalia exchange with [USER=77077]@Theodosius[/USER] . It was a fast favorite in my Nerva Antonine collection! The second coin’s purchase was partially inspired by some of the very [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/most-realistic-portrait-on-a-roman-coin.363384/#post-4632060']realistic portraits[/URL] posted by [USER=84744]@Severus Alexander[/USER] and others of figures of this period. Just goes to show how CoinTalk is an influence for my collecting in the best kind of way. ;) [SIZE=6][COLOR=#404040][U][B]Marcus Aurelius Celebrates a Decade of Favor with the gods[/B][/U][/COLOR][/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1235595[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180 Æ Sestertius, Rome mint, struck AD 170-171. Dia.: 32 mm Wt.: 25.1 g Obv.: IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV; Laureate head right. Rev.: PRIMI/DECEN/NALES/COS III/SC within wreath. Reference: RIC III 1006. Scarce. Ex Theodosius Collection, Ex Sallent Collection, ex-JAZ Numismatics.[/SIZE] Every emperor wanted a long reign full of prosperity and good fortune. However, when you already hold the most powerful position in the world who is there left to ask for such things? The Roman gods of course! When an emperor came to power one of the things they did was offer a Votum (or plural Vota) to the gods asking for good fortune in those things to which they themselves had little to no control. It was common to ask for certain favors in increments of 10 years (Vota X). If all went well the emperor would then make additional offerings at the end of this 10 year period and renew his Vota for the next 10. This was sort of like an “I’ll pay you half now and half on delivery” type of arrangement between the gods and the emperor. [ATTACH=full]1235597[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]I took this photo at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. The scene shows Marcus Aurelius making a sacrifice on the Capitoline Hill in front of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus. In my research I was not able to find the specific context for this sacrifice scene but it would not be out of place as a Vota scene. (Author’s photo)[/SIZE] In addition to the vows and offerings the emperor made to the gods there was an expectation that the Roman people were to perform offerings and vows on behalf of the emperor at the same time. Many of the members of the Roman bureaucracy were expected to do this in an official and public capacity. And what better way is there to motivate your people to make vows on your behalf than to entertain them with public games? That is where this very interesting reverse type comes in. It announces / commemorates the decannalian games put on by the emperor in connection to the fulfilling and renewing of his 10 year Vota (vows) to the gods. In the case of Marcus Aurelius this happened in the year AD 171. This coin announces the “PRIMI DECANNALES” which translates as the “first decannalian games.” Thus these were the first such games held under Marcus Aurelius and also had the added benefit of marking his 10 year anniversary as emperor. [ATTACH=full]1235604[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]This is possibly the most famous building in the world so it needs no introduction. Undoubtedly, many of the events of the Decennalian Games of AD 171 took place within the Colosseum. I took this photo from the top tier of the structure which had only just recently opened to the public by appointment when I took this photo. It offers some of the best views of the building and its surroundings but ironically would have been the least desirable place from which to watch the games. (Author’s photo)[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1235598[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]More views of the Colosseum from my visit. Left: view from the level where the gladiators fought. Right: view from the underground section below the arena where the wild animals were sometimes kept. (Author’s photos)[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1235599[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]This is the ruins of the Circus Maximus as viewed from the Palatine Hill. This is another location which certainly would have hosted events associated with the AD 171 games. (Author’s photo)[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1235600[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Photos from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence showing a bust of Marcus Aurelius. (Author’s photos)[/SIZE] [SIZE=6][COLOR=#404040][U][B]Faustina II: A Family Resemblance?[/B][/U][/COLOR][/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1235596[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Roman Empire Faustina II, daughter of Antoninus Pius and wife of Marcus Aurelius AE Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 147-156 Dia.: 33mm Wt.: 26.11g Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA AVG PII F; Draped bust right Rev.: S-C; Diana standing left, holding bow and arrow Ref.: C 206; RIC A. Pius 1383; BMCRE 2194 From a European Collection formed in the 1980s with tag[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1235601[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]The collector tag that came with this coin. If anyone can help me identify the collection or collector more specifically I will either host a coin giveaway in your honor or donate to your favorite charity![/SIZE] This coin was struck on behalf of Faustina II (the wife of Marcus Aurelius) during the reign of her father, the emperor Antoninus Pius. There is not a very clear picture of specifically when the coins of Faustina II were struck during the reign of her father but AD 152-156 has been proposed [2]. One of the aspects I find appealing on this coin is one of the things that make it hard to date. The reverse is very simple and shows the goddess Diana (Greek Artemis) holding a bow and arrow with S-C written in the fields with no other markings or design elements. The die engraving for this portrait is one of the most realistic I have seen for this period. However, who is actually shown in this nicely rendered portrait? The coin itself is obviously struck for Faustina II. The titulature makes that clear. However, the style of the portrait seems to be very much of her mother Faustina I, the defied wife of Antoninus Pius. While there is, of course, the possibility of a striking family resemblance, the portrait shows an older woman and even the latest dates associated with these coins would put Faustina II in her mid-20s maximum when they were struck. The later issues of Faustina II show a distinct difference from this portrait style and her extant statues show much the same. See below for comparison. [ATTACH=full]1235602[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Faustina I: I took these photos of this wonderful statue at the Getty Villa in Malibu, California. To me the statues and portraits of Faustina I seem remarkably consistent. (Author’s photo)[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1235603[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Faustina II: The photo on the left is a full size statue of Faustina II that I took at the National Museum in the Palazzo Massimo alle Termini in Rome. (Author’s photo) The photo on the right is a bust of Faustina II in the Louvre. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)[/SIZE] I’m not sure what relevance this has other than it is kind of neat. Perhaps the die engravers were getting so practiced at rendering nice portraits of the deified Faustina I that they continued to draw inspiration for the portraits of Faustina II. This is sort of unexpected because from Faustina I on most of the portraits of imperial ladies are much more individualized than they had been under the previous emperors. (For instance, poor Sabina is shown looking like Hadrian in a wig!) I can’t help but wonder whether portrait style has any bearing on the chronology of the coins of Faustina II but I am not familiar enough with the subject to even venture an intelligent guess. Either way I think this is a wonderful coin and I like it very much. [SIZE=6][COLOR=#404040][U][B]References and Further Reading[/B][/U][/COLOR][/SIZE] [1] [URL]http://augustuscoins.com/ed/VOTA/index.html[/URL] [2] [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-a-couple-of-anepigraphic-bronzes.369904/[/URL] [SIZE=6][COLOR=#ff0000][B]Please post your:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [LIST] [*][SIZE=5][COLOR=#ff0000][B]Newest Sestertii[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [*][SIZE=5][COLOR=#ff0000][B]Coins of an ancient couple[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [*][SIZE=5][COLOR=#ff0000][B]Coins of Marcus Aurelius or Faustina II[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [*][SIZE=5][COLOR=#ff0000][B]Vota or Decennales types[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [*][SIZE=5][COLOR=#ff0000][B]Realistic portraits [/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [/LIST][/QUOTE]
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