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<p>[QUOTE="DonnaML, post: 4305207, member: 110350"]I had been looking for a while for a Vabalathus coin with a decent portrait of him, and recently bought this one, which arrived today:</p><p><br /></p><p>Vabalathus with Aurelian, billon Antoninianus, 270-272 AD, Antioch Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Vabalathus right, VABALATHVS V C R IM D R* / Rev. Radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelian right, Γ [gamma] (Antioch, Officina 3) below, IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG. RIC V-1 Aurelian 381, Sear RCV III 11718, Cohen 1. 21 mm., 3.43 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>* Vir Clarissimus, Rex, Imperator, Dux Romanorum (see Sear RCV III 11718 at p. 442).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095395[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095386[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I decided to go with the majority view and treat the Vabalathus side as the obverse, for the reasons stated by others earlier in this thread. See Sear RCV III, <i>supra</i>, at p. 442: "The placing of the officina mark below the bust of Aurelian is a clear indication that this was to be regarded as the reverse side of the coin."</p><p><br /></p><p>On the other hand, the seller of the coin (Ken Dorney) treated Aurelian's side as the obverse, as shown by the seller's image:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095388[/ATTACH]</p><p>In any event, regardless of which side is which, I like the portrait of Vabalathus enough (together with the fact that his name is clear in the legend) that Aurelian's tragic loss of his right ear and most of the right side of his face doesn't really bother me too much. In hand, both sides have a very appealing coppery glow that doesn't show up too well in the photos.</p><p><br /></p><p>Besides, I already had an Aurelian coin:</p><p><br /></p><p>Aurelian, silvered billon Antoninianus, 274-75 AD, Cyzicus Mint. Obv. Radiate cuirassed bust right, IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG/ Rev. woman stdg. right presents wreath to Aurelian standing left, RESTITVTOR ORBIS. In exergue: A C (Officina 1). RIC V-1 368, Cohen 210, Sear RCV III 11592. 24.15 mm., 3.68 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095389[/ATTACH]</p><p>And a Severina:</p><p><br /></p><p>Severina (wife of Aurelian), billon Antoninianus [no remaining silvering], 270-275 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Diademed, draped bust right, SEVERINA AVG / Rev. Venus Felix stdg. left holding apple(?) & sceptre, VENVS FELIX. In exergue: Γ [gamma] (Rome, Officina 3). RIC V-1 6, Cohen 14, Sear RCV III 11709. 19 mm., 2.1 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095391[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="DonnaML, post: 4305207, member: 110350"]I had been looking for a while for a Vabalathus coin with a decent portrait of him, and recently bought this one, which arrived today: Vabalathus with Aurelian, billon Antoninianus, 270-272 AD, Antioch Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Vabalathus right, VABALATHVS V C R IM D R* / Rev. Radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelian right, Γ [gamma] (Antioch, Officina 3) below, IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG. RIC V-1 Aurelian 381, Sear RCV III 11718, Cohen 1. 21 mm., 3.43 g. * Vir Clarissimus, Rex, Imperator, Dux Romanorum (see Sear RCV III 11718 at p. 442). [ATTACH=full]1095395[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1095386[/ATTACH] I decided to go with the majority view and treat the Vabalathus side as the obverse, for the reasons stated by others earlier in this thread. See Sear RCV III, [I]supra[/I], at p. 442: "The placing of the officina mark below the bust of Aurelian is a clear indication that this was to be regarded as the reverse side of the coin." On the other hand, the seller of the coin (Ken Dorney) treated Aurelian's side as the obverse, as shown by the seller's image: [ATTACH=full]1095388[/ATTACH] In any event, regardless of which side is which, I like the portrait of Vabalathus enough (together with the fact that his name is clear in the legend) that Aurelian's tragic loss of his right ear and most of the right side of his face doesn't really bother me too much. In hand, both sides have a very appealing coppery glow that doesn't show up too well in the photos. Besides, I already had an Aurelian coin: Aurelian, silvered billon Antoninianus, 274-75 AD, Cyzicus Mint. Obv. Radiate cuirassed bust right, IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG/ Rev. woman stdg. right presents wreath to Aurelian standing left, RESTITVTOR ORBIS. In exergue: A C (Officina 1). RIC V-1 368, Cohen 210, Sear RCV III 11592. 24.15 mm., 3.68 g. [ATTACH=full]1095389[/ATTACH] And a Severina: Severina (wife of Aurelian), billon Antoninianus [no remaining silvering], 270-275 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Diademed, draped bust right, SEVERINA AVG / Rev. Venus Felix stdg. left holding apple(?) & sceptre, VENVS FELIX. In exergue: Γ [gamma] (Rome, Officina 3). RIC V-1 6, Cohen 14, Sear RCV III 11709. 19 mm., 2.1 g. [ATTACH=full]1095391[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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