I keep saying to myself that I don't collect republican coins. But something goes wrong again and again...... This time I couldn't resist this 'biga' coin in full speed with those beautiful detailed horses and nice Victoria, driving the chariot and holding a (clearly visible) whip. I can't see all the letters on the reverse, the word ROMA has almost completely vanished, but that 'weakness' on the coin doesn't bother me in the least. Simply love those horses For those who not know, the inscription M – MAR – C stands for the moneyer Marcus Marcius from the (famous) gens Marcia. Always nice to see other coins with horses in action Gens MARCIA Marcus Marcius Moneyer circa 119 BC. Silver Denarius. 19,5 mm 10 h. 4,01 g. Obv. Helmeted head of Roma right, modius behind, X below chin. Rev. Victory in biga right., holding reins and whip; below, M MAR ligate C, divided by two ears of corn; in ex. RO MA. Cr245/1, Syd 500.
Congratulations for the sharpest biga and horses on a denarius reverse,one may ignore the contrasting faded lower part of this reverse.
Very skilled engraver on that reverse, wow ! M. Atilius Saranus, Denarius Rome mint, 148 BC Helmeted head of Rome right, SARAN downwards behind, X below chin Dioscurs riding right, M.ATILI in field, ROMA at exergue 3.66 gr Ref : RCV # 92, RSC, Atilia # 8v. L. Flaminius Chilo, Denarius Rome mint, 109 or 108 BC Helmeted head of Roma right, ROMA behind head and X below chin L·FLAMINI/CILO in two lines at exergue. Victory in prancing biga right 19 mm, 3,83 gr Ref : RCV # 179, RSC Flaminia # 1, Sydenham #540, RBW # 1144, Crawford # 302/1. From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection Q
The horses are very nicely executed @Marsman ! Here is victory driven biga of tiny-headed horses with extra long hind legs: L Titurius L.f. Sabinus AR Denarius. 89 BC. Obv: Bearded head of King Tatius right, SABIN behind Rev: Victory in biga right, bearing wreath, L TITVRI below, control mark VI in exergue
On this one the driver seems to be sitting sideways, that must have been really something! A late anonymous issue struck by the moneyer triumvirate of Gargonius, Ogulnius and Vergilius. The obverse has a stain, maybe I should clean it? 18 x 19 mm, 3.91 g; Rome 86 BC Ref.: Crawford 350A/2, Albert 1223, RSC (Anonymous) 226. Sydenham 723; Obv.: Laureate head of Apollo (or Veiovis) right, thunderbolt below Rev.: Jupiter driving quadriga right, holding reins and preparing to hurl thunderbolt.
I used an example of the OP type on my page explaining how Republican coins are dated. http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Repub/TimelineTable.html is a timeline with examples and the associated theory page http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Repub/dating.html has this type as an example of a type which is hard to date. (By the way, Crawford dates this OP type to 134 BC, not 119). Victory drives the quadriga and wheat ears suggest something to do with the dole. Nevertheless, it is not possible to pin down the occasion for this type. On my page I wrote: There were lots of victories under the Republic and lots of coins with victories on them. The previous coin [see the web page] was dated to make one of each correspond. Similarly, there is more than one time in Republican history when grain prices were high and famine was threatening. Several Republican types that have prominent ears of grain which might refer to grain subsidies. Here is one example: [the above coin] Note the large ears of grain dividing the legend on the reverse. Perhaps that is a modius for storing grain behind the head. Victory (winged) is driving the biga. Is this type associated with an historically attested subsidy? Is it associated with a known victory? Crawford attributes the type to 134 BC and moneyer C. Marcius Mn. F, who is otherwise unknown, but is able to find an ancestor associated with a grain law of hundreds of years before, which is no help whatsoever in dating the coin. It does, however, recall a good deed associated with the family of the moneyer. As far as we know, Republican coins before about 120 BC did not refer to current, or even recent, events. Dating Republican coins is not at all straightforward. If you want to know how it is done, begin here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Repub/TimelineTable.html and if you find it interesting and are willing to think hard, continue with the theory here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Repub/dating.html
My most action-packed biga scene is this one: Philistis, wife of Hieron II. Greek AR 5 litrae. Syracuse 270-230 BCE, 4.46 gm, 18.1 mm. Obv: Diademed and veiled head, l., palm branch behind. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑΣ ΦΙΛΙΣΤΙΔΟΣ, Nike driving biga to left, E in l. field. Refs: SNG ANS 893; SNG III (Lockett) 1017; Forrer 196.
My favorite biga is on this coin. I love the Galic shaped necks on those horses. Not something you'd normally see on Roman coins. M. Cipius M.f. 115-114 B.C. AR Denarius 16mm. 3.90g. Rome Mint Helmeted head of Roma, r.; X behind. M. CIPI. M. F. Victory in biga, r.; rudder below horses; In ex.: ROMA Crawford 289/1; RSC Cipia 1 Notes: Nicely toned with some lustre in fields. Typical slightly compact flan for the issue. Includes old collection envelope
A few Bigas: FAST RR AR Denarius 149 BCE Pinarius Natta Roma X - Victory Biga whip NATTA ROMA Cr 208-1 Syd 390 Celtic Necks? RR Cipius 115-114 BCE Roma X Biga rudder S 166 AUTH Cr 289-1 - JA These are from the County Fair races... RR C Renius AR Denarius 18mm 3.8g Roma 138 BC Helmeted hd Roma r X - C RENI ROMA Juno driving biga goats r whip reins scepter Cr 231-1 RARIN' to go! RR Servius Rullus 100 BCE AR Den Minerva Victory Biga S 207 Cr 328-1 Stags RR Allius Bala 92 BCE AR Den Diana Biga Stags Sear 221 Craw336-1 scarce
Your Servius Rullus has a fairly attractive portrait. Mine has a botched nose job... And the nose is the least of her problems. The face in general makes me think she is the mother of the creature from the black lagoon.
