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<p>[QUOTE="thejewk, post: 3786690, member: 100136"]New addition just arrived today, and one I've been after all year. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1011145[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>RIC 934 - As - 154-155AD</p><p>ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII - Laureate head right</p><p>BRITANNIA COS IIII S C - Britannia seated left on rock in attitude of dejection, shield and vexillum in background</p><p>27mm, 10.5g, ex Keith Cullum collection</p><p><br /></p><p>In hand the coin in a glossy black, and is more attractive than the photograph with harsher lighting. I was initially concerned by the green spot at the top right of the reverse, but now it is in hand I am satisfied that it is a solid encrustation that isn't removable with a wooden pick and does not crumble like the dreaded BD.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ever since I discovered that this coin existed I knew I had to have an example in my collection because it features the first presentation of Britannia in this particular and now familiar pose (with the first overall being featured on Hadrian's coinage) and due to the type's strong connection to the history of my own rainy homeland. It quickly became apparent that my aspirations and my budget were at odds, so I decided to search for an example within my budget that featured a strong reverse image and also the full BRITANNIA part of the legend. Happily this coin ticked all the boxes and it now sitting alongside the AP denarius in my profile image.</p><p><br /></p><p>Although far rougher than I would like, the coin fabric is typical of the type due to the fact that the vast majority of these coins are found singly in the UK by detectorists. A brief look at the Portable Antiquities Scheme site will show home many of these coins have been found over the last decade, and the one consistent feature is the rough surfaces.</p><p><br /></p><p>Malcolm Todd in his article Romano-British Mintages of Antoninus Pius in The Numismatic Chronicle (1966) (available on JSTOR if anyone is interested) comes to the conclusion that the combination of the find spot data (further strengthened by the PAS data mentioned above), the fact that bronze coinage is known to remain relatively localised to the point of origin compared to regularly hoarded denominations, the fact that almost none of the examples of the type are well centred and the low quality fabric of the coins point to the probability that they were struck in Britain using imported Roman dies and local artisans with local materials. Although no dies have been found for conclusive evidence, there is evidence of another official die being discovered on a site close to Hadrian's Wall, lending further credence to the idea.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another interesting point is the varying interpretations of Britannia's pose. The description above says that her pose is one of 'dejection,' raising interesting possibilities for the coin as a propaganda tool. I'd argue that this seems an unlikely intention. I prefer to think that she is being presented 'at ease' now that the Roman forces have quelled the raids from the north, represented by the shield and standard to the left of the image. I read an article discussing Trajan's Dacian type coins which came to the conclusion that the more fierce types including speared Dacians and Victory standing on a poor Dacian's head were minted on higher value coins designed for circulation within and around Rome itself, while the more gentle types including a Dacian sitting alongside Roman arms are commonly found around Dacia itself. Hardly conclusive, but what is in numismatics?</p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to post anything you feel is relevant.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="thejewk, post: 3786690, member: 100136"]New addition just arrived today, and one I've been after all year. [ATTACH=full]1011145[/ATTACH] RIC 934 - As - 154-155AD ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII - Laureate head right BRITANNIA COS IIII S C - Britannia seated left on rock in attitude of dejection, shield and vexillum in background 27mm, 10.5g, ex Keith Cullum collection In hand the coin in a glossy black, and is more attractive than the photograph with harsher lighting. I was initially concerned by the green spot at the top right of the reverse, but now it is in hand I am satisfied that it is a solid encrustation that isn't removable with a wooden pick and does not crumble like the dreaded BD. Ever since I discovered that this coin existed I knew I had to have an example in my collection because it features the first presentation of Britannia in this particular and now familiar pose (with the first overall being featured on Hadrian's coinage) and due to the type's strong connection to the history of my own rainy homeland. It quickly became apparent that my aspirations and my budget were at odds, so I decided to search for an example within my budget that featured a strong reverse image and also the full BRITANNIA part of the legend. Happily this coin ticked all the boxes and it now sitting alongside the AP denarius in my profile image. Although far rougher than I would like, the coin fabric is typical of the type due to the fact that the vast majority of these coins are found singly in the UK by detectorists. A brief look at the Portable Antiquities Scheme site will show home many of these coins have been found over the last decade, and the one consistent feature is the rough surfaces. Malcolm Todd in his article Romano-British Mintages of Antoninus Pius in The Numismatic Chronicle (1966) (available on JSTOR if anyone is interested) comes to the conclusion that the combination of the find spot data (further strengthened by the PAS data mentioned above), the fact that bronze coinage is known to remain relatively localised to the point of origin compared to regularly hoarded denominations, the fact that almost none of the examples of the type are well centred and the low quality fabric of the coins point to the probability that they were struck in Britain using imported Roman dies and local artisans with local materials. Although no dies have been found for conclusive evidence, there is evidence of another official die being discovered on a site close to Hadrian's Wall, lending further credence to the idea. Another interesting point is the varying interpretations of Britannia's pose. The description above says that her pose is one of 'dejection,' raising interesting possibilities for the coin as a propaganda tool. I'd argue that this seems an unlikely intention. I prefer to think that she is being presented 'at ease' now that the Roman forces have quelled the raids from the north, represented by the shield and standard to the left of the image. I read an article discussing Trajan's Dacian type coins which came to the conclusion that the more fierce types including speared Dacians and Victory standing on a poor Dacian's head were minted on higher value coins designed for circulation within and around Rome itself, while the more gentle types including a Dacian sitting alongside Roman arms are commonly found around Dacia itself. Hardly conclusive, but what is in numismatics? Please feel free to post anything you feel is relevant.[/QUOTE]
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