I've always wanted an example of this iconic type, but it often comes fairly pricey. The recent Roma auction had a decent specimen with just enough deposits to keep the price down but not enough to detract from the overall eye-appeal. It hit that sweet spot for me. Domitian Æ Sestertius, 26.14g Rome mint, 85 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS XI; Bust of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: S C in exergue; Domitian riding r. with shield, striking with spear at falling German RIC 280 (C). BMC 300A. BNC 317. Ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale 88, 9 September 2021, lot 843. In 85 Domitian struck a fairly impressive issue of sestertii, M. Grant hyperbolically called it the most 'ambitious' of any one reign or year. The series is the first major aes issue of Domitian's reign and is dominated by panoramic types commemorating his greatest military victory over the Germanic tribe the Chatti. The Germanic triumph received a certain amount of ridicule from ancient writers who thought the whole thing was a sham (Dio goes so far as to say Domitian raided the palace's furniture stores for his fake spoils!), no doubt the numismatic propaganda for the victory was likely viewed in the same manner by contemporary senatorial elites. This sestertius depicts Domitian on the reverse heroically chasing down a Chattian warrior, no doubt one of the tribal leaders. It goes without saying that such a scene never actually took place and the reverse is as much a sham as the Triumph itself. The type was struck for just a few short years and was slowly phased out by 89. Please post your action packed reverse types!
Not too many action packed reverses here. This one is sort of dynamic. This one has a bit more action, with a gigantic guy directly a quadriga of toy horses
Horses running are about the most action you'll see on Roman coins. Here's a couple: Action-packed Probus quadriga: Probus, AD 276-282. Roman billon antoninianus, 4.15 g, 22.05 mm, 6 h. Serdica, 4th officina, 4th emission, AD 277. Obv: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate bust, left, in imperial mantle, holding eagle-tipped scepter. Rev: SOLI INVICTO, Sol, in spread quadriga, raising right hand and holding whip in left hand; -/-//KAΔ. Refs: RIC 861 H; RCV 12040 var. (bust). Dioscuri on rearing horses! L. Cupiennius, 147 BC. Roman Republican AR denarius, 3.89 g, 17.7 mm, 3 h. Rome, 147 BC. Obv: Helmeted head of Roma, right; cornucopiae behind; denominational mark X before. Rev: Dioscuri galloping right; L·CVP (VP ligatured) below; ROMA in exergue. Refs: Crawford (RRC) 218/1; RSC Cupiennia 1; Sydenham (CRR) 404; RCV 94. Horse with muscular hind-quarters at full gallop! L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, 90 BC. Roman AR denarius, 3.68 g, 18.1 mm, 8 h. Rome, 90 BC. Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right; ΨXXXVIII behind. Rev: Horseman right with palm-branch in left hand and reins in right hand; CVII above, L·PISO FRVGI / ROMA monogram below. Refs: Ghey, Leins & Crawford 340.1.84; RSC Calpurnia 11; Sydenham (CRR) 664b; BMCRR 1928; Sear 235. Notes: Double die match to BMC specimen.
Nice one David, mine of the type is quite worn so I won't post it. This one is action packed but most of the action happened just before the scene on the coin! Helmeted head of Roma right EX SC before, ROMA and XVI in monogram behind Helmeted horseman galloping left, holding sword and severed Gallic head in left hand M SERGI below, SILVS in ex, Q below horses's forelegs Rome 116-115 BC 3.91g RRC 286/1; Sear 163 This issuer strikes as a quaestor and by special decree of the Senate (EX Senatus Consulto). Quaestors were the immediate superiors of the moneyers and under unusual circumstances occasionally utilized their authority to produce coins.
Great examples one and all! my sestertius of Domitian slaying fallen German... For more violence , two denarii of Titurius Sabinus of the RR. One depicting the execution of treaterous Tarpeia by being crushed by shields and the next by the same showing "the rape of the Sabines". My favorite RR denarius of Aulus Licinius Nerva, c. 47BC with reverse of his one - armed ancestor on horseback dragging the enemy by his hair. And lastly, what could be more violent than the center of the Roman arena, as displayed by this RR denarius issued by Regulus?
Cool coins!..... Silaharas of Khankan (1000-1200 AD) Anonymous AR Drachm 14.1 mm x 4.13 g Obverse: Stylized Sassanian Bust right. "Sri" in Brahmi behind head left field. Reverse: Stylized Horseman battle scene shows a mounted warrior with sword to right. Below a fallen body and to the right a standing figure defending himself with a shield. Behind the horse a bow., Sun in upper right field. ref: Mit. NIS 649-652
