Well I have wanted an early radiate bust dupondius for years.... and I just bought this Antoninus Pius Bronze Dupondius for around $20, I love the portrait and that is why I got it.... the seller says it is ABUNDANCIA on the reverse, but I cant find the matching one on wildwinds, only Abundantia standing...... also I notice she is holding a cornucopiae and there appears to be a modius next to her. So my questions to you guys.... which reference is this? what are the obv titles on this particular one, and who is on the reverse, as well as what the titles on the reverse are. I will be super appreciative. This is the first Dupondius I have bought, and the only large bronze Roman coins I know much about are of Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea, so I have no clue with this one...... whether it is Abundance on the reverse or not.... here is the seller's exact description along with the weight and size: ----------------------- Roman Empire, Antoninus Pius. 138 - 161 AD. AE-Dupondius. Rome Mint. Rx./ Abundance seated rt. aVF. 25.83mm, 11.80g. -----------------------
Hi Rex, I did not know the "Radiate Crown" was used that early. I always thought it started around 220 AD. But, what do I know....
Well it paid off to wait; this one is sweet! I wonder if its Annona, but I only found a couple seated left, not right. edit: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/saylesandlavender/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=8774 Antoninus Pius. A.D. 138-161. Æ dupondius (25 mm, 11.74 g, 6 h). Rome, A.D. 155-156. Radiate head of Antoninus Pius right / Annona seated right, holding cornucopia; at feet, modius. Cf. RIC 956 (as); cf. Cohen 986 (as). Near VF, brown patina. Rough.
Thanks Randy. I am glad I waited, a beautiful portrait and a very beautiful pricetag at just around $20 from a seller I know. Ripley, the radiate crown wasn't used on silver antoninianii untill the reign of Caracalla (212-217 A.D.) but was used on bronze coins since the time of Augustus and possibly even earlier.... Randy here has a beautiful Augustus bronze with a radiate crown that I just love! Hmmm could be that one... has the modius at feet.
Is is actually of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138 - 161 AD) Ripley, he was Hadrian's heir, and was the third of the so called '5 Good Emperors' after Hadrian's death. This is my first bronze of Antoninus Pius, I have several silver denarii of this Emperor though.... and thank you for the comment! All you guys' comments mean alot to me, so thank you all. ....and I already bought it the other day, after winning it in an ebay auction from a well respected and trusted seller I have known for quite some time.... for just around $20.00 USD Ripley , which anyone on here will tell you is a more than fair price for the coin. I really like the bust alot on this one, which is why I don't so much mind the lack of legends, although it does make it a bit harder to ID and date, but the bust is what drew me to it, and caught my eye. It looks like this coin has a dark dark patina as well. I also like the SC below, I always liked how these types of bronzes had the 'S C' standing for 'Senatus Consultus' well displayed on the reverse, some coins have it in other places, like on either side of the devices. I am looking forward to this one since it is my first bronze of Antoninus Pius, as well as my first AE Dupondius.... plus I just really dig that portrait!! even if only 4 letters of the obv legend are visible heh, the whole portrait is! Plus I always buy the ones I like for my personal collection, not the ones I think I can sell for more $ in a while.... maybe if someday I get a similar type with an equally nice bust and better legends.... then I might sell it, but like many collectors, it would just be for money to buy more ancients for my collection. Ripley, sounds like you are becoming a little interested in Ancient Roman coins, I will tell you, it can be an expensive hobby, but there are also alot of good deals out there, as this coin, and price I paid for it illustrates, especially if you don't mind a little wear and tear that goes along with a coin being 1800 + years old The high grade examples of all types will always carry a premium, sometimes quite a high one.... If you are interested in Ancient Romans I can tell you of some reputable sellers on ebay that I have been dealing with for years, you can at least look at their coins, and watch the ones you like, to get an idea on the current prices. ------------------- Randy: That sestertius does look a bit more like it, but I can't tell if that is a Modius on the ground next to her feet or not on the sestertius you linked too, but I assume so. I think you may have been right the first time Randy, with the Dupondius you linked to and gave info for earlier, looking at it closely I can see the COS followed by at least several Roman Numeral '1' 's but I can't tell if there are four of them like on mine, and I can't see the part of mine where the 'XIX' is on the dupondius you linked to.... mine seems to be missing the legends in all the right places, heh, aside from the COS IIII, that helps.
The radiate crown was used sporadically before antoninianus, but they were not associated with denominations necessarily. It was only when they started making the "double denarius" around 215 that the radiate crown was used to denote this higher value. It was still used sometimes on provincial coins not related to the antoninianus denomination.
Fer sure Rex. Perfect examples bring in the big prices 5K to 50K in bronze/silver. I guess you know I am doing a worldwide hunt for an AP now. I have a few feelers out. Wish me luck.
I did not know you were doing any such hunt Ripley, interesting..... some good ebay sellers for coins are 'ancient_treasures' - that's who I bought this Antoninus Pius Dupondius from, 'amphora coins' has some wonderful Romano/Greek and Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachmai at times, as well as alot of provincial stuff so does 'ancient_treasures' when it comes to bronzes and provincial stuff, even a few from the republican times. Also Vcoins and FORVM , both websites, if you follow my link at the bottom of the page to my collection, you will be at the FORVM site, they have stuff for sale always, and usually fair prices, slight markup. PM me if you need help with anything Ripley, or need info on a seller on ebay. ----------------------------------------------- Also, Randy I think you were right all along about it being Annona.... the modius made me think it could be. It's quite interesting how she is seated holding a cornucopia, but her other hand is empty, resting at her right side, not holding or doing anything with it like most. From looking on wildwinds, heres what I figured out.... it looks just like RIC 262 (silver denarius), except it is not a denarius... also looks a bit like their picture of RIC 956 (As).... bt that is it! I can't find it as a dupondius, which it CLEARLY is, by the radiate crown, all I can find with that reverse are a denarius an as type...... so I still don't know, but I know it's annona now (I think) ... but I think I at least now know the titles: -------------- Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) Æ Bronze Dupondius Rome mint obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II - Radiate head of Antoninus Pius right rev: TR POT XIX COS IIII - Annona seated right, holding cornucopia; at feet, modius. 25.83mm, 11.80 Grams -------------- here is the 'antoninus pius' page there, with all the coins: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/antoninus_pius/i.html anyone with more help with the reference would be appreciated.
I wouldnt be surprised if I'm wrong, but yeah it seems to be Annona. I'd ask on forvm if no one here can say. Sometimes it can be only 1 letter missing that can make attributing a coin nearly impossible. I have a coin that I wasnt sure if it was Vespasian or Titus becuase I coulnt see the first letter. It was either VESPASIANUS or T VESPASIANUS.
I can't find this as a dupondius but I agree it is Annona seated right which is listed as an as: http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=50920 It might be good to report this to Curtis Clay at Harlan Berk in Chicago and see if he knows it as a dupondius.
Coincidentally I just got a denarius of Pius that reminds me of yours nice bust, incomplete legend and Annona? on the rev. lol
Sorry to hear that Ripley, keep it up, you will get one one of these days...... it's worth it to wait for one that truly speaks to you. Randy Interesting Antoninus Pius denarius, I saw it on FORVM, nice portrait still. Also a cool Sev Alexander sestertius, you know how I collect those..... I have wanted one with sol for a while too. Really nice portrait!
Rex, I bought a AP from Germany yesterday. A denarius with Aniona on the reverse. Condition Average, just a stop gap till I can get a better one. At any rate I will post it when it comes in. (2-3 weeks)
