Elagabalus' Magic Mystery Ride

It seems I fall into a mini-niche as I hunt for coins...Of course that includes my usual preference for RR and Greek issues but also a surge with the Roman Ladies, then Flavian examples and recently several purchases of coins of Elagabalus.

This coin just grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go!! The galley on the reverse just haunted me until I 'pulled the trigger'. The Greek 'styling' is terrific. It's believed this coin was issued to announce Elagabalus' travel to Rome from Syria and the 'Happy Times' his arrival would bring.....and it did...at least for those of highly unusual tastes.

Denarius of Elagabalus, Antioch Mint, circa 218-219 AD
ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
FELICITAS TEMP
Galley with sail right, eight rowers and pilot holding rudder; 'acrostolium' and standard at prow.
RIC IV, 188; 3.51 grams, 18.8 mm

Please post any coin(s) remotely related, but especially of Galley's....

BTW: A 'acrostolium' is supposed to be a sort of ornamentation on the prow of ancient galleys....

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Great coin, a type I would like to own someday.

 

Love that Phat ship reverse.

 

That reverse is to die for

 

That reverse is epic!

 

Galleys are always nice. The portrait on yours is particularly great though! He looks like a contemplative and intelligent young man.

Art can lie

 

LOL

Yep, He looks like the 'boy' next door.....

 

Sweet!! => that's a fantastic coin, Mikey-Z (you rock, congrats)

Ummm, but I can't help myself ... yup, it's pose-down time!!

Your sweet OP Elagabalus ...




My sweet young Caracalla ...



... nobody puts Baby in a corner!!




WOW => I love both of our babies!! (congrats again on a stunning OP-winner!!)

 

@stevex6 ...I have had galleys haunting me ever since I saw yours...so this is partly your fault and Marsha wants to talk to you NOW!!

That's a wonderful coin and 'your' Elagabalus looks almost angelic

 

that's a n awesome galley MZ!

and thanks for letting me know what an "acrostolium" was...saved me a google!

 

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!!




.... ahahaha, good one (you're awesome => I like dudes that get the joke)

have a great night

 

Great coin Mikey, and it's very cool to see your coin next to Steve's and compare the very different styles of galley.

 

That is one superb coin. If ever I was to start collecting coins of another era, Elagabalus silver would be it. Your coin is wonderful example of why. Congrats!

 

Another winner, Mikey. Very jealous of your nice new addition.

I have a couple of galleys in bronze...

Hadrian:


Marcus Aurelius:


Allectus:

 

Wow Z-Bro, sweet examples!!

Oooow Allectus ...

 

First, really interesting coin, Mikey, in great style.

I also learned a new word. I've always called it an "aplustre". Any idea what the difference is or is it the same?

Here's an issue of Cassius with a well detailed aplustre. BTW, the denarius of this issue is more rare than the aureus!



CNG auction note from the aureus:

"The final issue of Cassius. This reverse type commemorates the capture of Rhodes by Cassius, who seized booty amounting to eight thousand talents from the public treasury after he had contemptuously spurned the title of king which the terror-stricken Rhodians had offered him. The aplustre was a common symbol of naval superiority, while the floreate endings of its branches allude to the rose, the civic emblem of Rhodes."

 

Very nice Carth.

 

Super posts one and all!!! Wonderful depictions of Galleys with great obverses too!

It seems both refer to ornaments, as I just googled 'aplustre' ..." ornamental stem of a Greek/Roman ship' usually spreading like a fan and curved like birds feather."...(I googled the other as well LOL). I guess they are at least similar but differ in what they actually depict???

 

Ummm, I have two examples with Aquila (umm, that's an eagle, right?) ...

=> gawd, this @#*t never gets old, eh?!!

Aplustre, Acrostolium ... tomato, tamato

 

Mikey's galley looks like a well-organized and efficient crew. Steve's Caracalla galley looks like the captain is giving a lecture. Zumbly's Hadrian looks like a leisure yacht. Steve's and Zumbly's Allectus galleys look like floating tents .

Hmm, I don't have any of this type of "full galley" coin

I do have a pseudo-galley denarius of Septimius Severus though.


Septimius Severus
Rome, CE 206
AR denarius, 3.41 gm, 20 mm, 12h
Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
Rev: LAETITIA TEMPORVM, the spina of the Circus Maximus decorated as a ship facing left, with the turning posts at its prow and stern, a sail mounted on the central obelisk, and the spina's other monuments visible in between; above the ship, four quadrigas racing left; below, seven animals: an ostrich at left and a bear at right; between them a lion and a lioness chasing a wild ass and a panther attacking a bison
Ref: RIC 274; BMC 343.
ex Colosseo Collection