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<p>[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 8084346, member: 99456"]<a href="https://archive.org/details/figuresdelhistoi00miry/page/n281/mode/2up" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://archive.org/details/figuresdelhistoi00miry/page/n281/mode/2up" rel="nofollow">[ATTACH=full]1404307[/ATTACH]</a></p><p><font size="3"><a href="https://archive.org/details/figuresdelhistoi00miry/page/n281/mode/2up" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://archive.org/details/figuresdelhistoi00miry/page/n281/mode/2up" rel="nofollow">Public Domain Image published by Chez le citoyen Mirys in Paris, 1799</a></font></p><p><br /></p><p>This coin interested me for several reasons :</p><ul> <li>the link to the time when the Roman senate declared war with Jugurtha</li> <li>the portrait of Mars on the obverse - the facial features are less exaggerated than other dies in this series<br /> </li> <li>the tripod control on the obverse</li> <li>the eagle between RO and MA on the reverse</li> <li>the metal on the right edge, which invites a chemistry experiment</li> </ul><p>The moneyer was a member of the gens Cornelia, one of the most illustrious noble families in the republic with many members holding political and military leadership roles. Servius Cornelius Cossus Maluginensis was first member of this family to hold the consulship, early in the history of the republic in 485 BC. The republic began in 509 BC when king Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown by Roman nobles led by Lucius Junius Brutus.</p><p><br /></p><p>The name Blasio derives from "blaesus" which refers to a lisp or stutter. This branch of the family going back at least as far as Gnaeus Cornelius P. f. Cn. n. Blasio (son of Publius and grandson of Gnaeus born of Blasio), consul in 270 and 257 BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>Reviewing the <a href="http://numismatics.org/pocketchange/schaefer/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://numismatics.org/pocketchange/schaefer/" rel="nofollow">Richard Schaefer</a> die study, I didn't find a die match for my coin - I was curious to see if I could confirm the expected reverse control and find evidence that the coin matched an official die. While no match - I did find that the style is very consistent, and the control that is paired with the trident is always the dolphin (although I cannot convince myself that a dolphin is visible on this coin).</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was issued in 112-111 BC, as the republic had declared war on Numidian king Jugurtha. This war would be a career boost for Sulla as the one who captured Jugurtha and it would fuel the bitter rivalry between Marius and Sulla.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><font size="3">"And indeed Sulla himself was naturally vainglorious, and now that he had for the first time emerged from his lowly and obscure condition and become of some account among his countrymen, and was enjoying a taste of honour, he was arrogant enough to have a representation of his exploit engraved on a seal-ring which he wore, and continued to use it ever after. The device was, Bocchus delivering, and Sulla receiving, Jugurtha."</font></i></p><p><i><font size="3">- Plutarch, <a href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/plutarch/lives/sulla*.html#3" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/plutarch/lives/sulla*.html#3" rel="nofollow">The Life of Sulla, 3.4</a></font></i></p><p><br /></p><p>I decided to take a risk of damaging this coin in the interest of an experiment, the key questions that I am asking: is this a fourrée? what do you think - <b>register a vote</b> and we will see later what emerges.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The starting point:</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1404228[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Cn. Blasio Cn.f.,</b> 112-111 BC, AR Denarius, (18.2mm, 3.85g, 6h), Rome mint</p><p><b>Obv:</b> CN BLASIO CNF, Helmeted head of Mars right; tripod to left, mark of value above (off flan)</p><p><b>Rev:</b> Jupiter holding a sceptre in right hand and thunderbolt in left hand, standing slightly left between Juno and Minerva, Juno holds a scepter in her right hand and Minerva is crowning Jupiter with a wreath and holding a scepter in her other hand; there is a palm frond between Jupiter and Minerva, [an uncertain control letter/symbol - most likely a dolphin] to outer right; in exergue, an eagle between RO MA.</p><p><b>Ref: </b>Crawford <a href="http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-296.1i" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-296.1i" rel="nofollow">296/1i</a>; Sydenham 561e; Cornelia 20; RBW –</p><p><b>Notes: </b>Toned with some deposits in the devices and some metal flaws.</p><p>The control is most likely this dolphin:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1404230[/ATTACH]</p><p>a close look at Jupiter's legs shows the roughness of the metal on the reverse:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1404233[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Crawford (RRC 1974) rejects the theory that this is Scipio Africanus on the obverse, and argues that the peculiarities of this obverse portrait show up in other contemporary coins e.g. this Roma with long narrow neck and exaggerated features: cheek bones, nose and chin.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1404244[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The first step: a little sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, dissolved in warm water...</b></p><p>For the conclusion - see the results in my Notes on Ancient Coins: <a href="https://www.sullacoins.com/post/a-chemistry-experiment" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.sullacoins.com/post/a-chemistry-experiment" rel="nofollow">A Chemistry Experiment.</a></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Post your cleaning experiments, coins of Cn. Blasio Cn.f., or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 8084346, member: 99456"][URL='https://archive.org/details/figuresdelhistoi00miry/page/n281/mode/2up'][ATTACH=full]1404307[/ATTACH][/URL] [SIZE=3][URL='https://archive.org/details/figuresdelhistoi00miry/page/n281/mode/2up']Public Domain Image published by Chez le citoyen Mirys in Paris, 1799[/URL][/SIZE] This coin interested me for several reasons : [LIST] [*]the link to the time when the Roman senate declared war with Jugurtha [*]the portrait of Mars on the obverse - the facial features are less exaggerated than other dies in this series [*]the tripod control on the obverse [*]the eagle between RO and MA on the reverse [*]the metal on the right edge, which invites a chemistry experiment [/LIST] The moneyer was a member of the gens Cornelia, one of the most illustrious noble families in the republic with many members holding political and military leadership roles. Servius Cornelius Cossus Maluginensis was first member of this family to hold the consulship, early in the history of the republic in 485 BC. The republic began in 509 BC when king Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown by Roman nobles led by Lucius Junius Brutus. The name Blasio derives from "blaesus" which refers to a lisp or stutter. This branch of the family going back at least as far as Gnaeus Cornelius P. f. Cn. n. Blasio (son of Publius and grandson of Gnaeus born of Blasio), consul in 270 and 257 BC. Reviewing the [URL='http://numismatics.org/pocketchange/schaefer/']Richard Schaefer[/URL] die study, I didn't find a die match for my coin - I was curious to see if I could confirm the expected reverse control and find evidence that the coin matched an official die. While no match - I did find that the style is very consistent, and the control that is paired with the trident is always the dolphin (although I cannot convince myself that a dolphin is visible on this coin). This coin was issued in 112-111 BC, as the republic had declared war on Numidian king Jugurtha. This war would be a career boost for Sulla as the one who captured Jugurtha and it would fuel the bitter rivalry between Marius and Sulla. [I][SIZE=3]"And indeed Sulla himself was naturally vainglorious, and now that he had for the first time emerged from his lowly and obscure condition and become of some account among his countrymen, and was enjoying a taste of honour, he was arrogant enough to have a representation of his exploit engraved on a seal-ring which he wore, and continued to use it ever after. The device was, Bocchus delivering, and Sulla receiving, Jugurtha." - Plutarch, [URL='https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/plutarch/lives/sulla*.html#3']The Life of Sulla, 3.4[/URL][/SIZE][/I] I decided to take a risk of damaging this coin in the interest of an experiment, the key questions that I am asking: is this a fourrée? what do you think - [B]register a vote[/B] and we will see later what emerges. [B]The starting point:[/B] [ATTACH=full]1404228[/ATTACH] [B]Cn. Blasio Cn.f.,[/B] 112-111 BC, AR Denarius, (18.2mm, 3.85g, 6h), Rome mint [B]Obv:[/B] CN BLASIO CNF, Helmeted head of Mars right; tripod to left, mark of value above (off flan) [B]Rev:[/B] Jupiter holding a sceptre in right hand and thunderbolt in left hand, standing slightly left between Juno and Minerva, Juno holds a scepter in her right hand and Minerva is crowning Jupiter with a wreath and holding a scepter in her other hand; there is a palm frond between Jupiter and Minerva, [an uncertain control letter/symbol - most likely a dolphin] to outer right; in exergue, an eagle between RO MA. [B]Ref: [/B]Crawford [URL='http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-296.1i']296/1i[/URL]; Sydenham 561e; Cornelia 20; RBW – [B]Notes: [/B]Toned with some deposits in the devices and some metal flaws. The control is most likely this dolphin: [ATTACH=full]1404230[/ATTACH] a close look at Jupiter's legs shows the roughness of the metal on the reverse: [ATTACH=full]1404233[/ATTACH] Crawford (RRC 1974) rejects the theory that this is Scipio Africanus on the obverse, and argues that the peculiarities of this obverse portrait show up in other contemporary coins e.g. this Roma with long narrow neck and exaggerated features: cheek bones, nose and chin. [ATTACH=full]1404244[/ATTACH] [B]The first step: a little sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, dissolved in warm water...[/B] For the conclusion - see the results in my Notes on Ancient Coins: [URL='https://www.sullacoins.com/post/a-chemistry-experiment']A Chemistry Experiment.[/URL] [B] Post your cleaning experiments, coins of Cn. Blasio Cn.f., or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.[/B][/QUOTE]
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