Ancients: Military Strength in Rome's Golden Age

Hi Tif & Thanks for the compliment. It's good to know that others appeciate such pieces, even though there is a big temptation these days to just spend "Moon Money" and buy only "investment quality" pieces.

Speaking of "Moon Money", I did buy another higher grade item out of Roma, which was the below denarius. I have few Republican denarii and wanted this one for my son to use for show & tell when he gets older for school. He's 5 & a space/ solar system lover. Years ago I sold one of my few Republican denarii, a superb scarce Roma & Italia issue & always wanted something special w/ which to replace it.



Below is the piece I've really been looking for but recently these have gotten very expensive. This item came from the Roma auction but had a decent early bid. I bid via phone on the Goldberg specimen (not quite as nice as this one) about a month ago but came in 3rd place.


Given the current high price yet relative abundance of specimens, I think I can wait for lower prices, or at least for "price stabilization" on these.

Hopefully "AJ" won't mind if we digress from admiring his aureus a little bit, but what piece did you get yesterday from RN?

 

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I was the second finger after TIF's to be hovering over the button for that one, but I had won the other (cheaper) Hadrian drachm and so decided not to bid on this one. Still, I was tempted! It's a nice piece, congrats!

 

I reread the chapter on Hadrian in RIC, and it would seem that military themes are extremely rare on his coinage, outside the occasional portrayal of Victory. RIC records a companion piece to your coin, Joe...

"On the gold, we have two mounted types of Hadrian, one an "Adventus" type, Hadrian riding r. on a pacing horse, raising his r. hand in acknowledgement of his welcome, - a memorial of his entry into Rome : the other, which shows Hadrian on horseback with a spear, is a record of his activity abroad." (RIC II, p. 323)

Perhaps you should hunt one of those down for your collection as well...

RIC 186



The reverse of your coin is a bit of propaganda to be sure, as Hadrian's activity abroad did not involve any fighting. But he was very popular with the military and no doubt participated in their exercises and games.

 

One reason I almost bid on Gallienus's drachm was to upgrade my current example. I wasn't planning on showing the coin-- publicly revealing my shame-- but there are lessons to be learned.

I bought it and a handful of other mistakes at the ANA World's Fair of Money. The lessons:

1. Do not skip breakfast.
2. Do not skip breakfast and lunch.
3. If you feel hurried or in a frenzy while at a coin show, STOP. Do something else for at least a few minutes while reorganizing your thoughts.

That particular day I had skipped both breakfast and lunch. It was mid afternoon and I wasn't thinking clearly. "Just one more dealer and then I'll find food." "Just one more tray and then I'll find food." Etc.

While I did find and buy many awesome coins at the show, that afternoon's purchases were definitely not my best.

Here's the coin



It's not a bad coin, it's just not the right one for me. I should have waited for a better example. They aren't rare.

 

It's positively shameful TIF. You send that piece of crap coin over to me now, hear?

 

When I upgrade I'll give you a heck of a deal on it.

 

I've gone into obsession mode and skipped meals myself. It happens. We're not robots.

 

Here are my mediocre Hadrians.....

 

I like your layout style, Ziggy!

 

Thanks. It took a while to figure out how I wanted to record them. This way seems to be the best. I've done about 140 of my ancients this way so far. Have to make some time to get to the rest....

 

Your pics are also excellent, and the coins are lovely - nothing mediocre about them at all!

 

Thanks! He has some beautiful sestertii, one of which I'm sure you'll eventually find. I particularly like his travel series, as many posters here have contributed as denarii.

 

Great coins everyone! I'm a bit envious of your travel series coins, as I've been looking for one myself, but I haven't quite managed to find the "right" coin yet. Hopefully I'll acquire one soon and we can see how many areas we cover (part of me wants to try to acquire one of each of his travels, but it would result in a lopsided collection )

 

I love this type as well - great acquisition!

I saw these hammer down as well and was quite surprised at how aggressive the bidding was. The name recognition of Cleopatra has a lot to do with their price - I am looking for a Cleopatra coin as well to show the contrast between the truth and Elizabeth Taylor. It certainly makes for an interesting story for non-collectors.

I certainly don't mind at all! I also think that I won one coin at Roma yesterday, but I'm not positive yet (and still haven't received an invoice from Hirsch either...) If I did win, I won by $0, as someone had the exact same bid but I placed mine earlier.

 

I agree! I had my eye on a coin of that type but ended up not pulling the trigger as it felt like every coin I was buying had a horse on it. It will definitely make an appealing and historically interesting pair.

 

yes i did, also this fantastic quality of this coin.
i missed the whole topic dunno why.
i also read that he was an amature poet writer, the found the grave of his horse.
the text was likely his.

i cant link the source.

all the Best,

Eric

 

I always do that. The question is, would you rather eat or spend that money on another coin? If you collect late Roman bronze, you can buy a coin for the cost of a meal. Easy choice for me!