Augustus AE As Obverse: CAESAR PONT MAX, laureate bust right Reverse: Altar of the Three Gauls, Victory on each pedestal, ROM ET AVG below 25mm, 11.77g, minted at Lugdunum between 15-10 BC This coin has been on my list for many months, and I'm really happy to finally have one in hand. It was poorly photographed on eBay, and went for lower than most of this type. It's been equally difficult for me to get a good photo due to its shininess, especially with my meager iPhone/desk lamp combo. An angled, less detailed photo better portrays in hand appearance. It’s a nice and chunky coin, with rough looking edges, and I’m glad to have it as an addition to my Julio-Claudian as collection (see my other two examples below - I did not take the Claudius photo). I do wonder if the author of RIC got a little carried away describing this type. It describes the reverse as: “Front elevation of the Altar of Lugdunum, decorated with corona civica between laurels, flanked by nude male figures, Victories on columns facing one another.” The corona civica/wreath, sure, laurels, maybe, but nude male figures? At best I can see stylized stick figures in nice examples, but it could just as well be a tripod with wreaths or something else. Anyway, feel free to share any other examples of this type, of Augustus, the Julio-Claudians, or the Twelve Caesars! Claudius AE As Obverse: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TR P IMP PP, bare bust right Reverse: S C across field, Minerva advancing right, brandishing shield and javelin 29mm, 10.94g, minted at Rome between 50-54 AD Nero AE As Obverse: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER PM TR P IMP, bare bust left Reverse: S C across field, Victory advancing left, bearing shield inscribed SPQR 28mm, 10g, minted at Lugdunum in 65 AD
Sometimes a little piece of clay under the coin can tip it just enough to improve the light angle. I suspect this would help even out your first photo and allow the black background. I suspect there are other descriptions of this altar which enabled the catalog author to know what was intended. My two add nothing to the question. The Augustus is mostly notable for the iberius countermark and the Tiberius for the red patina. These are common coins so I suspect there are mint state ones which were known to the authors.
I LOVE altar types and religious themes. It's a very nice new coin and I'm glad you were able to pick it up at a bargain.
All three are nice examples. AUGUSTUS AE As OBVERSE: CAESAR PONT MAX, laureate head right REVERSE: Altar of Lugdunum, Victory on each pedestal, ROM ET AVG below Lugdunum 15-10 BC 8.4g, 26mm RIC 230 CLAUDIUS AE As OBVERSE: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TR P IMP P P, bare head left. REVERSE: Minerva advancing right, holding shield and brandishing a javelin, S-C across fields Struck at Rome, 50-4AD 10.5g, 25mm RIC 116 NERO AE As OBVERSE: NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP - Laureate head right REVERSE: No legend - Victory advancing left, holding shield Struck at Rome, 65AD 8.5g, 26mm RIC 312, BMC 241, S 1976
This is a nice example of a very difficult-to-find Augustus bronze. It's not tooled and only minimally smoothed, while the detail -- especially in the devices on both sides -- is more than sufficient to fully identify the coin. Also, the centering is good; many of these coins have much more awkward centering that loses some of the altar and legends. I'm a little surprised that EBay would have such a rare coin. Was it offered by a VCoins dealer?
@IdesOfMarch01, it did not come from a VCoins dealer. I get pretty lucky on eBay from time to time,I had been on the lookout at auctions, eBay and VCoins for one of these for the past few months, and the combination of style and price was in a good place for this one. I really like that it is in such an original state as well.
Nice @SeptimusT , the Augustus is and has been on my want list. Also looking to upgrade my Tiberius in the near future. Tiberius, Lugdunum altar
Nice photos @SeptimusT ... and great examples of Asses! I do not have a Lugdunum Alter... and your Claudius is nice. I can only toss Claudius' Asses into the Thread: RI Claudius 41-54 Ae As 28mm LIBERTAS AVGVSTA holding pileus S-C RIC 100 RI Claudius Ae As 28mm Minerva S-C RIC 100
