COINS BY CITY: An Alphabetical A to Z of Coinage

Hmm, I'm scanty in the M department although only ~1/3 of my coins are on my website and for ease of posting I'm only using the website coins in this thread.

MYLASA

CARIA, Mylasa
450-400 BCE
AR hemiobol, 7 x 9 mm, 0.5 gm
Obv: facing forepart of lion
Rev: scorpion within incuse square
Ref: SNG von Aulock 7803; Klein 429 (Milet)
This was my first itty bitty coin. Despite knowing the dimensions, seeing it in person was rather shocking!

MESSANA

SICILY, Messana
420-413 BCE
AR litra. 13 mm, 0.6 gm
Obv: hare springing right; shell below
Rev: MEΣ within wreath
Ref: Caltabiano 569; SNG ANS 349
Certainly not the pick of the litter but I wanted a rabbit and didn't want to spend a bundle. Despite the porosity and weakness it is still charming.

 

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Oh, whoops! Here's another.

MEGALOPOLIS

ARKADIA, Arkadian League
340-330 BC, Megalopolis mint
AR Obol, 11 mm, 0.77 g
Obv: head of Pan left
Rev: large Arkadian League monogram; syrinx below
Ref: BCD Peloponnesos (Megalopolis) 1517-8; HGC 5, 930
ex BCD Collection. Ex Vinchon (11-13 April 1988), lot 463.

 

I know Steve is just about ready to jump in here, but rather than risk a student and mentor rift, I'll take the bullet ...

Is Malwa a city? From what I read it's either a region or Kingdom.

 

Region. Oops!

 

My bubble just burst!

 

A couple from Marcianopolis. Sev, Phil and Ota.

 

Holy crap I actually get one!
Magnesia on the Maeander (not to be confused with its ancient neighbour of Magnesia ad Sipylum, where doug's coin was struck)
rev. Bee in the left field

 

Some very interesting and beautiful coins from "M" so far.

My contribution will just be a few random ants from Mediolanum.


VALERIAN
Billon Antoninianus
2.76g, 20.5mm
Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 257 AD
RIC 266; MIR.36/794 d (19 ex.)
O: IMP P LIC VALERIANO AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: VIRTVS AVGG Mars standing left, holding Victory in right hand and a spear in the left hand, at his feet a shield.


GALLIENUS
Billon Antoninianus
2.5g, 22.8mm
Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 262 - 263 AD
RIC 537
O: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right.
R: VIRTVS AVG, Hercules standing left, holding laurel branch, club and lion's skin, retrograde S in left field.


CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS
Billon Antoninianus
3.9g, 20.5mm
Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 268 - 270 AD
RIC 171; C 302; Sear 11379
O: IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, radiate draped bust right.
R: VICTORIA AVG, Victory running right holding wreath and palm, S in ex.

 

Oops, more unorganized Ms .

MARCIANOPOLIS

MOESIA INFERIOR. Marcianopolis
Macrinus, with Diadumenian, 217-218 AD
issued under governor P. Fu. Pontianus
AE27, 12.3 gm
Obv: AYT K M OΠEΛ CEV MAKPEINOC K M OΠE ANTΩNINOC, Laureate head of Macrinus left and bare head of Diadumenian right, vis-à-vis.
Rev: VΠ ΠONTIANOV MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN, Artemis advancing right, hound at her feet, bounding right; holding bow and drawing arrow from quiver; E to left.

MADYTOS

THRACE, Madytos
c.350 BC
AE13, 1.86 gm.
Obv: bull butting right.
Rev: dog seated right, ear of grain behind. M-A
Ref: Sear 1624 cf.; Copenhagen 923-6
No, this isn't from the dregs of a mixed lot. It was a purposeful purchase. I wanted another dog coin and ugly though it is, it is a rare coin and at the time I didn't want to spend what it would take for a better example. Plus, good luck finding more examples! The don't appear very often. It came from the infamous "high rating/low price" eBay seller. He accepted a reasonable offer.

Both of these coins were purchased specifically for dog, for this themed collection:
https://prezi.com/q7mw1k1zur65/pink-floyd-animals/

 

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte - Sixth Stater
478-455 BC
Ram's Head & Bull's Head (Incuse)


Ionia Miletos AR Obol
475-325 BC
Lion & Star Ornament (incuse square)


Ionia, Miletos AR Hemidrachm
400-300 BC
Apollo & Lion


Ionia, Miletos AE10
400-300 BC
Lion & Star



MEGARIS, Megara Æ Dichalkon
Circa 275-250 BC
Prow of Galley & Tripod w. Dolphins

 

THRACE, Mesambria, Æ21
Circa 216-196/88 BC
Helmet & Shield



THRACE, Mesembria, AR Diobol
450-350 BC
Helmet & Wheel



Macedon, Mende AR Tritartemorion
460-423 BC
Ass & Crow (incuse square)


Caria, Mylasa, AR Obol
400-300 BC
Lion & Scorpion (incuse square)



Caria, Mylasa, AE10
Date: 2nd cent. BC
Horse & Trident

 

Sicily, Messana, AR DRachm
445-439 BC
Chariot w biga of mules, victory & Hare in wreath


Sicily, Messana, Sextus Pompey, AR Denarius
42-40 BC
Galley w. aquila, Neptune statue & Monster Scylla



Thrace, Maroneia, AR Terobol
385-360 BC
Forepart of horse & Grape-bunch (incuse)



Thrace, Maroneia, AR Tetradrachm
168-148 BC
Dionysos & Dionysos

 

MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis
Philip II. As Caesar Æ Pentassarion
AD 244-247
Philip II w Serapis & Snake



Duke of Milan, Bernabo & Galeazzo II Visconti
1355-1378 AD
Serpent with maiden & Ambrose on Throne

 

Typical for this thread, the posts are all terrific and many are simply incredible!!

I may have a few LRB of Mediolanum (Milan) but they were never differentiated by city and I fail to see any of the usual 'clues' such as MD, MED and MDOB......What am I missing? Is there a letter in the fields that identifies it for that city???

Please PM me, if you feel it detracts from this thread. Thanks

 

M is for Mytilene:
(E is for Electrum)
(H is for Hecte Hecte Hecte)

LESBOS, Mytilene
EL Heckte
521-478 B.C.
Obv: Winged boar facing right, (Pigasus)
Rev: Head of Roaring Lion facing right
Grade: good Fine with decent centering. Incuse roaring lion is well preserved (inverse relief) & obverse boar’s head is worn.
Other: From EAP April 2015 ex Heritage 2014 details to be copied from tags including weight confirmation.

 

M is for Massalia:

GAUL Massalia
[Marseilles France]
AR Obol
3rd Century B.C.
0.74 grams, 11 mm
Obv: Youthful Male Head (of Apollo?) facing left
Rev:Wheel with 4 spokes, M - A in two of the quarters
Grade: VF, Reverse nice lustrous tone & Obverse slightly off center.
Other: From Bruno’s Coins April 2013

 

M is also for Messana:
SICILY, Messana
AR Tetradrachm
480-461 BC
17.21 grams, 25 mm.
Obv: Biga of mules (an apene) driven right by seated charioteer. Nike above crowning mules.
Rev: Hare bounding to right with spray of olive beneath. MEΣΣA.ИIOИ. (retrograde Ns)
Grade: a nicely toned Good Fine coin with claims to aVF.
Other: Similar to Sear 843 & 847. SNGANS.314. From Pegasi Jan 2014.

 

Wow, we rock, eh? => those are some pretty sweet M&M's, my friends!!

 

There isn't a simple answer to this question, but it boils down to differences in style, type, and legends, and involves some extrapolation. Coins have to be examined on a case-by-case basis.

For instance, in the case of this ant of Volusian with Felicitas, coins of Rome use the un-abbreviated reverse legend FELICITAS PVBLICA. Coins of the same type that show IV on both the obverse and reverse are likely from Antioch. (RIC records no such coins for Volusian, even though they exist, but it does record examples for T. Gallus - so therein lies some extrapolation.)

This coin, with reverse legend FELICITAS PUBL is attributed to Milan. Mattingly, Syndenham, and Sutherland were consummate professionals, so I trust their analysis, but this area of attribution is much debated. The current understanding could be overturned any day by contemporary research.

Volusian, AD 251-253
AR Antoninianus, 4.12g, 23mm; Mediolanum mint: 251-253.
Obv.: IMP C C VIB VOLVSIANVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: FELICITAS PVBL, Felicitas standing left with caduceus & cornucopiae.
Reference: RIC IV(c) 205 (p. 181).

 

Thanks JA for the clarification...I greatly appreciate it!!