Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Ancients: a call for unusual provincials
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 2786059, member: 75937"]Fun thread, [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] ! I love provincials! In fact, I'm not sure I can narrow them down to about 10 or so. But I'll try; I don't want to overwhelm the whole thread!</p><p><br /></p><p>Some people don't like provincials because they say the art work is crude. Well, sometimes it is:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645829[/ATTACH]</p><p>Caligula AD 37-41</p><p>Roman provincial Æ 28 mm, 11.17 gm</p><p>Carthago Nova, Spain, AD 37-38</p><p>Obv: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANIC. IMP. P.M. TR.P. COS., laureate head of Caligula, right</p><p>Rev: CN. ATEL. FLAC. CN. POM. FLAC. II. VIR. Q.V.I.N.C., head of Salus (some attribute to Caesonia, wife of Caligula) right, SAL AVG across field</p><p>Refs: SGI 419; Heiss 272, 35; Cohen 247, 1; RPC 1, 185; SNG Cop 503</p><p><br /></p><p>But a portrait coin of Caligula for less than a hundred bucks? One that may portray his wife, Caesonia, too? You bet!!</p><p><br /></p><p>But sometimes the artwork is very well rendered, such as this big bronze from Marcianopolis depicting Septimius Severus and the goddess Cybele:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645836[/ATTACH]</p><p>Septimius Severus. A.D. 193-211</p><p>Roman provincial AE 27.38 mm, 12.46 g, 1:00</p><p>Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis; Magistrate Julius Faustinianus</p><p>Obv: AV Λ CЄΠΤΙ CЄVHPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind</p><p>Rev: VI <font size="5">+</font>AVCTINIANOV MAΡKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Cybele enthroned left, holding patera, resting left arm on drum, a lion reclines at each side of throne.</p><p>Refs: AMNG Ia 565; Varbanov 780; Hristov & Jekov Marcianopolis 6.14.31.15; Moushmov 382</p><p><br /></p><p>Coins offer interesting insights to paleography, too. Note the interesting use of <font size="5">+</font> for the letter phi (Φ) in Faustinianus' name on the reverse of this coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>And let me know if you see a more pleasing coin portraying Nike than this medium-sized bronze (a triassarion) from Tomis on the Black Sea coast:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645839[/ATTACH]</p><p>Julia Domna AD 193-211</p><p>Roman provincial AE triassarion; 8.75 gm, 24.4 mm</p><p>Moesia Inferior, Tomis, AD 193-211</p><p>Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CЄ, bare-headed and draped bust, r.</p><p>Rev: ΜΗΤ ΠΟΝ ΤΟΜЄΩC, Nike advancing l., holding wreath and palm, retrograde Γ (=3) to left.</p><p>Refs: Varbanov 4857; AMNG 2811</p><p>Die match to lot 307, A Tkalek AG Antike Numismatik Auktion 41, 24 Oct 2003, which is the coin at Wildwinds: <a href="http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/julia_domna/_tomis_Varbanov_4857.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/julia_domna/_tomis_Varbanov_4857.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/julia_domna/_tomis_Varbanov_4857.jpg</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Provincial coins may depict mythological scenes and statues you won't see anywhere else, such as this tiny (15 mm) bronze from Philadelphia in Arabia Petrae (modern Jordan):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645842[/ATTACH]</p><p>Elagabalus, AD 218-222</p><p>Roman provincial Æ 15.1, 4.38 g</p><p>Arabia Petraea, Philadelphia in the Syrian Decapolis, AD 218-222</p><p>Obv: ΑΥ ΚЄCΑΡ ΑΝΤWΝΙΝΟC, laureate bust of Elagabalus, right</p><p>Rev: ΦΙΛ ΚΟ CΥΡΙΑ, veiled and draped bust of Asteria right</p><p>Refs: SGI 3138; BMC 28.41,21; Rosenberger 49; Spijkerman 47; Sofaer-47</p><p><br /></p><p>According to Eudoxus of Cnidus (as quoted by Athenaeus) and Cicero (in <i>De natura deorum</i>), Asteria was the mother by Zeus of the Tyrian Hercules. She only appears on coins of this city.</p><p><br /></p><p>And here's one of the Latin-speaking colony Deultum in Thrace. It portrays Marsyas, the satyr who lost a contest--and his hide--to Apollo.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645875[/ATTACH]</p><p>Tranquillina AD 241-244</p><p>Roman provincial Æ 24.1 mm, 8.06 g</p><p>Thrace, Deultum, AD 241-244</p><p>Obv: SAB TRANQVILLINA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right</p><p>Rev: COL FL PAC DEVLT, Marsyas as Silenus facing right, carrying wine skin over left shoulder and raising right arm</p><p>Refs: Moushmov 3757; Youroukova 425, 4/II; cf. SNG Cop 549</p><p><br /></p><p>What's really cool about this coin is that its reverse depicts a statue of Marsyas in the Roman Forum. The statue of Marsyas came to symbolize the city's <i>libertas</i> and was associated as well with the notion of abundance and fruitfulness (<i>ubertas</i>). As depicted on the <i>plutei </i>of Trajan, the figure was depicted as <i>Silenus</i> (the companion and tutor to the wine-god, Dionysus/Bacchus), nude, with his right hand raised to signify the freedom of the state (as fitting a devotee of Bacchus,<i> Liber</i>, the god of liberty) and his left grasping a full wine skin around his neck. Augustus was scandalized that his daughter Julia sold her favors at the statue of Marsyas during her nocturnal revels (Seneca, <i>On Benefits</i>, VI.32) and deplored the fact that she once had placed a wreath of flowers on the statue (Pliny, XXI.9). The statue seems, then, to have been a place to pick up hookers, as well as meeting place for lawyers (Martial, <i>Epigrams</i>, II.64). It even may have been considered sacred, as someone who stole its chaplet was put in chains (Pliny, XXI.8).</p><p><br /></p><p>Associated by Pausanias with Silenus, who actually calls him by that name, the Marsyas of the Forum--and thus of this coin--is better understood to be that figure rather than the flayed satyr of myth.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting statues depicted on provincials include this one of the Three Graces:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645883[/ATTACH]</p><p>Julia Domna, AD 193-211</p><p>Roman provincial Æ triassarion; 23.3 mm 8.55 g</p><p>Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211</p><p>Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CΕΒ, bare-headed and draped bust right</p><p>Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, statuary group of the Three Graces side by side</p><p>Refs: SGI 2313; AMNG 603; Moushmov 417</p><p><br /></p><p>Or this one, depicting the Artemision in Neapolis:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645886[/ATTACH]</p><p>Faustina Jr., AD 147-175</p><p>Roman provincial Æ 19.8 mm, 5.32 gm</p><p>Samaria, Neapolis, AD 161/162</p><p>Obv: ΦΑVCΤЄΙΝΑΝ CЄΒΑCΤΗΝ, bare-headed and draped bust, right</p><p>Rev: ΦΛ ΝЄΑC ΠΟΛЄ<font size="6">ω</font>C CVΡ ΠΑΛЄ, cultus-statue, resembling Ephesian Artemis, standing facing, flanked by stags; her head-dress surmounted by small temple; across field, ϵΤ-Ϟ (= year 90 of the Era of Neapolis = AD 161/162)</p><p>Refs: SGI 1801v; BMC 67-69</p><p><br /></p><p>You may read more about it in an article I posted <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/cult-statue-of-artemis-in-neapolis-samaria.289132/#post-2614460" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/cult-statue-of-artemis-in-neapolis-samaria.289132/#post-2614460">here</a> at Coin Talk.</p><p><br /></p><p>You may find some oddball denominations in the provincial series, such as this 4-1/2 assarion piece from the city of Tomis, which was probably used for money changing (<a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-a-4-1-2-assaria-provincial-from-tomis.298925/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-a-4-1-2-assaria-provincial-from-tomis.298925/">click</a> to read more about this coin):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645895[/ATTACH]</p><p>Gordian III, with Tranquillina, A.D. 238-244</p><p>Roman provincial Æ 4.5 assaria; 28.92 mm, 15.89 g, 7:00</p><p>Moesia Inferior, Tomis, A.D. 241-244; Magistrate Pontianus</p><p>Obv: AVT K M ANTΩNIOC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC // [C]ABINIA (TP)AN / KVΛΛINA, confronted laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right and diademed, draped bust of Tranquillina left</p><p>Rev: MHTPO ΠONTOV TOMEΩC, Nemesis standing facing, head left, holding arshin (rod) and sling, wheel at feet; Δ - < (denomination) in fields</p><p>Refs: AMNG I 3537; Varbanov 5701; Moushmov 2279; Cf. SNG Cop 305.</p><p><br /></p><p>Or this gigantic 10-assarion piece from Side in Pamphylia celebrating the <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-neocorate.297172" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-neocorate.297172">Neocorate</a> of that city:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]645896[/ATTACH]</p><p>Cornelia Salonina, wife of Gallienus, AD 253-268</p><p>Roman provincial Æ decassarion; 18.56 g, 28.8 mm</p><p>Pamphylia, Side AD 253-268</p><p>Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛΩΝΙΝΑ CΕΒΑ, diademed and draped bust, r., I (=10) before.</p><p>Rev: CΙΔΗΤΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ, Apollo standing, facing, head l., holding patera and resting on scepter surmounted by flower(?).</p><p>Refs: BMC 163, 123 var.; SGI 4647 var.; SNG von Aulock 4861.</p><p>Notes: Die match to lot #80, CNG electronic auction 137, 12/04/2006.</p><p><br /></p><p>I could go on and on ...[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 2786059, member: 75937"]Fun thread, [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] ! I love provincials! In fact, I'm not sure I can narrow them down to about 10 or so. But I'll try; I don't want to overwhelm the whole thread! Some people don't like provincials because they say the art work is crude. Well, sometimes it is: [ATTACH=full]645829[/ATTACH] Caligula AD 37-41 Roman provincial Æ 28 mm, 11.17 gm Carthago Nova, Spain, AD 37-38 Obv: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANIC. IMP. P.M. TR.P. COS., laureate head of Caligula, right Rev: CN. ATEL. FLAC. CN. POM. FLAC. II. VIR. Q.V.I.N.C., head of Salus (some attribute to Caesonia, wife of Caligula) right, SAL AVG across field Refs: SGI 419; Heiss 272, 35; Cohen 247, 1; RPC 1, 185; SNG Cop 503 But a portrait coin of Caligula for less than a hundred bucks? One that may portray his wife, Caesonia, too? You bet!! But sometimes the artwork is very well rendered, such as this big bronze from Marcianopolis depicting Septimius Severus and the goddess Cybele: [ATTACH=full]645836[/ATTACH] Septimius Severus. A.D. 193-211 Roman provincial AE 27.38 mm, 12.46 g, 1:00 Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis; Magistrate Julius Faustinianus Obv: AV Λ CЄΠΤΙ CЄVHPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind Rev: VI [SIZE=5]+[/SIZE]AVCTINIANOV MAΡKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Cybele enthroned left, holding patera, resting left arm on drum, a lion reclines at each side of throne. Refs: AMNG Ia 565; Varbanov 780; Hristov & Jekov Marcianopolis 6.14.31.15; Moushmov 382 Coins offer interesting insights to paleography, too. Note the interesting use of [SIZE=5]+[/SIZE] for the letter phi (Φ) in Faustinianus' name on the reverse of this coin. And let me know if you see a more pleasing coin portraying Nike than this medium-sized bronze (a triassarion) from Tomis on the Black Sea coast: [ATTACH=full]645839[/ATTACH] Julia Domna AD 193-211 Roman provincial AE triassarion; 8.75 gm, 24.4 mm Moesia Inferior, Tomis, AD 193-211 Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CЄ, bare-headed and draped bust, r. Rev: ΜΗΤ ΠΟΝ ΤΟΜЄΩC, Nike advancing l., holding wreath and palm, retrograde Γ (=3) to left. Refs: Varbanov 4857; AMNG 2811 Die match to lot 307, A Tkalek AG Antike Numismatik Auktion 41, 24 Oct 2003, which is the coin at Wildwinds: [url]http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/julia_domna/_tomis_Varbanov_4857.jpg[/url] Provincial coins may depict mythological scenes and statues you won't see anywhere else, such as this tiny (15 mm) bronze from Philadelphia in Arabia Petrae (modern Jordan): [ATTACH=full]645842[/ATTACH] Elagabalus, AD 218-222 Roman provincial Æ 15.1, 4.38 g Arabia Petraea, Philadelphia in the Syrian Decapolis, AD 218-222 Obv: ΑΥ ΚЄCΑΡ ΑΝΤWΝΙΝΟC, laureate bust of Elagabalus, right Rev: ΦΙΛ ΚΟ CΥΡΙΑ, veiled and draped bust of Asteria right Refs: SGI 3138; BMC 28.41,21; Rosenberger 49; Spijkerman 47; Sofaer-47 According to Eudoxus of Cnidus (as quoted by Athenaeus) and Cicero (in [I]De natura deorum[/I]), Asteria was the mother by Zeus of the Tyrian Hercules. She only appears on coins of this city. And here's one of the Latin-speaking colony Deultum in Thrace. It portrays Marsyas, the satyr who lost a contest--and his hide--to Apollo. [ATTACH=full]645875[/ATTACH] Tranquillina AD 241-244 Roman provincial Æ 24.1 mm, 8.06 g Thrace, Deultum, AD 241-244 Obv: SAB TRANQVILLINA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right Rev: COL FL PAC DEVLT, Marsyas as Silenus facing right, carrying wine skin over left shoulder and raising right arm Refs: Moushmov 3757; Youroukova 425, 4/II; cf. SNG Cop 549 What's really cool about this coin is that its reverse depicts a statue of Marsyas in the Roman Forum. The statue of Marsyas came to symbolize the city's [I]libertas[/I] and was associated as well with the notion of abundance and fruitfulness ([I]ubertas[/I]). As depicted on the [I]plutei [/I]of Trajan, the figure was depicted as [I]Silenus[/I] (the companion and tutor to the wine-god, Dionysus/Bacchus), nude, with his right hand raised to signify the freedom of the state (as fitting a devotee of Bacchus,[I] Liber[/I], the god of liberty) and his left grasping a full wine skin around his neck. Augustus was scandalized that his daughter Julia sold her favors at the statue of Marsyas during her nocturnal revels (Seneca, [I]On Benefits[/I], VI.32) and deplored the fact that she once had placed a wreath of flowers on the statue (Pliny, XXI.9). The statue seems, then, to have been a place to pick up hookers, as well as meeting place for lawyers (Martial, [I]Epigrams[/I], II.64). It even may have been considered sacred, as someone who stole its chaplet was put in chains (Pliny, XXI.8). Associated by Pausanias with Silenus, who actually calls him by that name, the Marsyas of the Forum--and thus of this coin--is better understood to be that figure rather than the flayed satyr of myth. Other interesting statues depicted on provincials include this one of the Three Graces: [ATTACH=full]645883[/ATTACH] Julia Domna, AD 193-211 Roman provincial Æ triassarion; 23.3 mm 8.55 g Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211 Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CΕΒ, bare-headed and draped bust right Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, statuary group of the Three Graces side by side Refs: SGI 2313; AMNG 603; Moushmov 417 Or this one, depicting the Artemision in Neapolis: [ATTACH=full]645886[/ATTACH] Faustina Jr., AD 147-175 Roman provincial Æ 19.8 mm, 5.32 gm Samaria, Neapolis, AD 161/162 Obv: ΦΑVCΤЄΙΝΑΝ CЄΒΑCΤΗΝ, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: ΦΛ ΝЄΑC ΠΟΛЄ[SIZE=6]ω[/SIZE]C CVΡ ΠΑΛЄ, cultus-statue, resembling Ephesian Artemis, standing facing, flanked by stags; her head-dress surmounted by small temple; across field, ϵΤ-Ϟ (= year 90 of the Era of Neapolis = AD 161/162) Refs: SGI 1801v; BMC 67-69 You may read more about it in an article I posted [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/cult-statue-of-artemis-in-neapolis-samaria.289132/#post-2614460']here[/URL] at Coin Talk. You may find some oddball denominations in the provincial series, such as this 4-1/2 assarion piece from the city of Tomis, which was probably used for money changing ([URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-a-4-1-2-assaria-provincial-from-tomis.298925/']click[/URL] to read more about this coin): [ATTACH=full]645895[/ATTACH] Gordian III, with Tranquillina, A.D. 238-244 Roman provincial Æ 4.5 assaria; 28.92 mm, 15.89 g, 7:00 Moesia Inferior, Tomis, A.D. 241-244; Magistrate Pontianus Obv: AVT K M ANTΩNIOC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC // [C]ABINIA (TP)AN / KVΛΛINA, confronted laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right and diademed, draped bust of Tranquillina left Rev: MHTPO ΠONTOV TOMEΩC, Nemesis standing facing, head left, holding arshin (rod) and sling, wheel at feet; Δ - < (denomination) in fields Refs: AMNG I 3537; Varbanov 5701; Moushmov 2279; Cf. SNG Cop 305. Or this gigantic 10-assarion piece from Side in Pamphylia celebrating the [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-neocorate.297172']Neocorate[/URL] of that city: [ATTACH=full]645896[/ATTACH] Cornelia Salonina, wife of Gallienus, AD 253-268 Roman provincial Æ decassarion; 18.56 g, 28.8 mm Pamphylia, Side AD 253-268 Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛΩΝΙΝΑ CΕΒΑ, diademed and draped bust, r., I (=10) before. Rev: CΙΔΗΤΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ, Apollo standing, facing, head l., holding patera and resting on scepter surmounted by flower(?). Refs: BMC 163, 123 var.; SGI 4647 var.; SNG von Aulock 4861. Notes: Die match to lot #80, CNG electronic auction 137, 12/04/2006. I could go on and on ...[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Ancients: a call for unusual provincials
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...
