EXHIBIT: anicents

Well I guess like many of us, I’m a collector, always have been, just not always coin, at least not seriously. I’ve collected rocks, fossils, comics, horror movies, bullets, cards….. the list goes on. When ever did I came across an interesting coin I did keep it, I just didn’t go out of my way to collect them till the late 90’s. Once I did become more serious, it was hard to decide what to collect. I was always finding coins in my change and many friends and family members contributed. It was always neat to imagine where my coin has been, who held it and what events it what witness too. Coins that were around during WWII, the Civil War, the Revolution, the first English immigrants to America, a pirate attack on a Spanish ship, and the conversion too Christianity of the Roman Empire.



Constantine the Great
A.D. 308 - 337. minted late in the reign.

obv. CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, diademe and draped faces right.

rev. GLORIA EXERCITVS (glory of the army)
SMNA

My very first ancient, a small bronze coin of Constantine the Great, was the coin the lead me to the so called “dark side.” I never really found my “niche” in U.S. coins and got a little bit of everything (that my budget allowed, so many of my coins were “junk box” coins ). I eventually found an As of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, along with some previous knowledge, a little bit of research, along with the show ROME and other films and TV shows (not so accurate ones at that) a spark was ignited in me.



Divus Augustus Æ As. Commemorative by Tiberius. DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head left, thunderbolt before / Eagle standing on globe facing, wings spread, head right, S C at sides. RIC 82 [Tiberius]


"I found Rome built of bricks; I leave her clothed in marble."


I think though, the fuel for the fire came from Coin Talk. Buying a SGS slabbed coin (thankfully a cheap one) brought me to Coin Talk. I met, and continue to meet, many passionate people. That passion for collecting rubbed off on me, from each board. Slowly though I started to drift more towards the Ancient Coin topics. To make a long story short, I found my niche, my passion and am able to share it with everyone as well as have everyone share theirs with me. For that I am grateful, and thank you all for sharing this awesome hobby with me and everyone else. I’ve learned a lot (but never enough) and continue to learn a lot. I still consider myself an amateur when it comes to coins and ancients (I’m sure it will show through in this post even so please forgive any mistakes) but want to share some of my collection with you all hope you enjoy.

 

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This First coin, be it very worn, is a Marc Antony legionary denarius. It was used to pay Antony’s legions and was possibly made with silver from Cleopatra’s (Ptolemaic) treasury. The now worn off, its had the number of the legion if was issued on the rev. (for example, LEG X = legion 10). This coin circulated for a very long time and saw many events, but one in particular event this coins likely saw was the Battle of Acitum in 31 B.C. , have been minted shortly before and paid to a soldier the likely fought in the battle.



Mark Antony, Triumvir and Imperator, 44 - 30 B.C., Silver denarius, cf. Crawford 544/14, Sydenham 1216, BMCRR 190, and RSC I 27 ff., Fair, Patrae?, 2.818g, 17.7mm, 180o, 32 - 31 B.C.; obverse ANT•AVG / III VIR•R•P•C, galley right with rowers, mast with banners at prow, border of dots; reverse LEG - [...], legionary eagle between two standards, border of dots


The battle was between Octavian (Augustus) with his general Marcus Agrippa leading his fleet, against Antony and Cleopatra VII, in which Octavian was victorious. (a coin of Agrippa)

“Octavian's victory enabled him to consolidate his power over Rome and its dominions. To that end, he adopted the title of Princeps ("first citizen") and as a result of the victory was awarded the title of Augustus by the Roman Senate. As Augustus, he would retain the trappings of a restored Republican leader; however, historians generally view this consolidation of power and the adoption of these honorifics as the end of the RomanRepublic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.”(wikipedia.org)

This next coin commemorates Octavian’s victory.



Octavian, Triumvir and Imperator, Augustus 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D

RR38515. Silver denarius, Fair, rough, Italian (Rome?) mint, weight 3.495g, maximum diameter 18.5mm, die axis 270o, c. 29 - 27 B.C.; obverse IMP CAESAR, Octavian, holding olive branch, driving triumphal quadriga right; reverse Victory standing right on prow, wreath in right, palm over shoulder in left

RIC 264, RSC 155 - RSC 115?, sear5 1555


"This coin commemorates Octavian's victory at Actium and his triumph. The silver for this issue may have come from the Ptolemaic treasury"

 

I think one of the first things that comes to many peoples minds when the picture Rome is the Coliseum. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre, named after the emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus (Vespasian).



Vespasian
1 Jul 69 - 24 jun 79 A.D.
Silver denarius
Fair 2.893g, 18.8 mm 18-*, Rome mint, 78 - 79 A.D., RIC II pt. 1, 964; SRCV I 2280

Obv. CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, Laureate head right

Rev. ANNONA AVG, Annona seated left holding olive branch and scepter

"After a successful campaign in Judaea, Vesapasian was declared emperor by his troops in Alexandria. Upon the defeat of Vitellius, he went to Rome and consolidated his power. Vespasian was popular, down to earth and witty. Responsible for aneconomic and military recovery of Rome, he was one of the Greatest Roman emperos."

It was completed by his son, and future emperor, Titus. Titus, after his death and short reign, was succeeded by his brother Domitian.



Domitian A.D. 81-96
AR Denarius

Domitian Denarius. 92 AD.

IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI, laureate head right,

IMP XXI COS XVI CENS P P P, Minerva standing left, holding spear.

RSC 271 RIC 733

Jan - Sept 92




“He wasn't the bloodthirsty tyrant most ancient authors claimed he was. Don’t forget that most ancient writers wrote after Domitian had died and a new dynasty was in power. This new dynasty had to legitimize itself and the murder on Domitian, by portraying him as a bad emperor. Modern historians have rejected these views and portray Domitian as an highly efficient emperor who took care of all parts of the imperial policy himself and laid the foundations of the peaceful second century. Brain Jones biography of Domitian is highly recommended if you would like more information on this emperor. The Wikipedia page on Domitian isn’t bad either and mostly based on Jones’ biography.” (Domitianus:forumancientcoins.com diccusion)

Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 – 18 September 96), known as Domitian, was the eleventh Roman Emperor, who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty, the house which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96 and encompassed the reigns of Domitian's father Vespasian (69–79), his older brother Titus (79–81), and that of Domitian himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian

On 18 September, A.D. 96, Domitian was assassinated and was succeeded on the very same day by M. Cocceius Nerva, a senator and one of his amici. The sources are unanimous in stressing that this was a palace plot, yet it is difficult to determine the level of culpability among the various potential conspirators.[[23]]
In many ways, Domitian is still a mystery - a lazy and licentious ruler by some accounts, an ambitious administrator and keeper of traditional Roman religion by others.[[24]] As many of his economic, provincial, and military policies reveal, he was efficient and practical in much that he undertook, yet he also did nothing to hide the harsher despotic realities of his rule. This fact, combined with his solitary personality and frequent absences from Rome, guaranteed a harsh portrayal of his rule. The ultimate truths of his reign remain difficult to know.

http://www.roman-emperors.org/domitian.htm

By all accounts Domitian appears to have been a thoroughly nasty person, rarely polite, insolent, arrogant and cruel.
He was a tall man, with large eyes, though weak sight.
And showing all the signs of someone drunk with power, he preferred to be addressed as 'dominus et deus' ('master and god').

http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/domitian-index.html


Domitian is described as tall and reasonably handsome with a tendency to blush (Dom. 18). Like his father he became bald as he aged and wrote a pamphlet titled The Care of the Hair, in which he quoted a line from the Iliad on the short-lived quality of beauty. His choice of words indicates that Domitian was a realist. Martial made reference to Domitian’s baldness in a poem (5.49) and suffered no bad effects from the comment, so the emperor can be said to have had a tolerant disposition. Rather than being sexually promiscuous, he seems to have been something of a prude. Domitian refused to kiss the hand of Caenis, his father’s mistress, disapproving of her relationship with his father. His enforcement of morality laws followed the example of Augustus in upholding traditional virtues. The message on the extant portions of the frieze of the Temple of Minerva in Domitian’s forum is clear that duty, the assumption of one’s proper place in society and obedience were the virtues the emperor wished to instill.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Alex/index.html

 

Trajan, was the 13th Roman emperor, though he was born in Spain. A monument of his you may recognize is Trajan’s Colum, that commemorate his victory in the Dacian wars.




Roman Empire - Trajan 98-117AD - Denarius


3.17g

IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PARTHICO, laureate draped bust right / P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR, Mars advancing right with trophy & spear. RIC 340 RSC 271




"Trajan took to the field again and after building with the design of Apollodorus of Damascus his massive bridge over the Danube, he conquered Dacia completely in 106. Sarmizegethusa was destroyed, Decebalus committed suicide, and his severed head was exhibited in Rome on the steps leading up to the Capitol. Trajan built a new city, "Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa", on another site than the previous Dacian Capital, although bearing the same full name, Sarmizegetusa. He resettled Dacia with Romans and annexed it as a province of the Roman Empire. Trajan's Dacian campaigns benefited the Empire's finances through the acquisition of Dacia's gold mines. The victory is celebrated by Trajan's Column."

The emperor fallowing Trajan was Hadrian. 2 things that stick out most in my mind is that he built a “defensive” wall across Great Briton (Hadrian’s Wall) and that he popularized beards.



Hadrian 117-138 AD. Silver Denarius. Pax. RIC 44a

Hadrian 117-138 AD

Silver Denarius (3.35 gm)

Rome Mint 118 AD

Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG ; Laureate heroic bust right, drapery on left shoulder.
Rev: P M TR P COS II ; Pax standing left with olive branch & cornucopiae, PAX in exergue.

RIC II 44a ; Sear II 3511




The 15th was Antoninus Pius. “His reign was the most peaceful in the entire history of the Principate; while there were several military disturbances throughout the Empire in his time, in Mauretania, Iudaea, and amongst the Brigantes in Britannia, none of them are considered serious.” (wiki)



Antoninus Pius AE Dupondius. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P, radiate head right / COS IIII S-C, Salus standing left feeding snake arising from altar to left & holding rudder to right.

 

Ok finished I'll post of link of references and further reading in the next post

Please forgive any grammatical errors and historical inaccuracies that slipt by, and thanks for reading.

 

Few online references

Coin Talk, www.cointalk.com
FORVM Ancient Coins, www.forumancientcoins.com
Ancient Greek & Roman Coins, http://dougsmith.ancients.info/index.html
Domitian Coins, http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Alex/index.html
Domitian (wiki), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian
Roman Emperors DIR, http://www.roman-emperors.org
Battle of Actium , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Actium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavian_dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Caesars
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_Emperors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerva–Antonine_dynasty

 

A very nice write up! :thumb:

I'd be curious to know if you have been to Rome and/or any of the ancient sites from Roman times where battles took place or where cultural Roman ruins remain, particularly if you have been to any the sites based on the ancient coins you collect and wrote about here? If you have, has this in any way influenced your understanding of ancient coin subjects, the rulers depicted or commemorated on these coins or has it in any way changed how / what you decided to collect?

 

Great post. Very cool to share what made you get into ancients and some of your first pieces. Good history here too. I like the Hadrian also.

 

Thanks I was fortunate to go the Europe, I guess a kind of senior trip, which included Rome. (the picture of the Coliseum was from that trip) At the time I did not collect ancients, and did not apreciate it the same way I would now. But it definately adds substance to the coins and the history when you visit histroical sites. Its definately different being there vs seeing images of them. So at the time though I didnt collect ancients, it did infleunce me later on. Below is another photo from that trip, of the temple of Saturn, and behind I believe the Arch of Septimius Severus

Thanks

 

I realize most of the coins I posted were kinda cruddy lookin so I wanted to add a few more on the nicer side of my collection



Gordian III


Thessalian League, Thessaly, Greece


Alexander III


Constantius II

 

Great thread and great coins. I love that green patina coin.

 

Randy, a true tour de force on your part. Most excellent.

I hope you will do a little more into the empire past Emporer #15!

 

A very nice write-up Randy, and well put together. Appreciate your dedication and found it very interesting. Thanks!

There are not many Ancient coin collectors here in C.T, but you are definitely a major contributor.

I remember you posting your Legionary denarius. I have taken quite a liking to these lately, specially their relationship to each individual legion.

 

Most interesting post, thanks

Q

 

Thanks Yeah I got lucky with that one

Thanks I can do a "little" more but lack the knowledge (and many coins:goofer From the Severan period up to just before Constantine I.

Thanks and I appreciate that The legionary denarii are definately what I'd call a a real peice of history. Maybe we can get Cucumbor so share his again

Thank you

and thanks again all for reading this

 

a little more

“Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.

Marcus Aurelius was the adopted son of Antoninus Pius and was co emperor with Lucius Verus(alos adopted by Pius). Marcus was the last of the “5 great/good emperors” which began with Nerva.

During his reign wrote “Ta eis heauton, literally "thoughts/writings addressed to himself". You can pick it up in paper back today, and I recently got a copy myself. Its called Meditations and it fallows the Stoic school of philosophy. I’d like t comment more on it but havent really read much yet, but it does seem to have a “be good” and “don’t worry, be happy” theme to it. Its very deifferent than the 12 Caesars (Suetonius), the Gallic and Cilvil wars (Julius Caesar) in that it offers a better glimpse into the authors (Marucus Aurelius) head and not his activities. He was granted many titles for his military victories, (Armeniacus, Medicus, Parthicus, Germanicus, Sarmaticus) but seem to be better know for his writing today.

Marcus later shared rule of the empired with his sone Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus (after the death of Verus).



Marcus Aurelius 161-180 A.D.

Dupondius 165-166 A.D.

obv. Marcus Aurelius, Crowned faces right, M AVREL ANTONINUS AVG ARMENIACVS PM

rev. Providentia standing l. holding wand and scepter; globe at feet, TR POT XX IMP III COS III

This coin is a dupodius of Marcus, and shows a rev. with Provedentia (goddess of forthough), which still appears on coins and medals today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providentia

This is where my knowledge goes from little to very little, and I have yet learn much about Commudos. I know that he did fight the the area as a “gladiator,” his oppenants submited, and lived, sometimes. “He thought of himself as the reincarnation of Hercules.” “Commodus raised the ire of many military officials in Rome for his Hercules persona in the arena. Often, wounded soldiers and amputees would be placed in the arena for Commodus to slay with a sword. Commodus' eccentric behaviour would not stop there. Citizens of Rome missing their feet through accident or illness were taken to the arena, where they were tethered together for Commodus to club to death while pretending they were giants”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodus

A much different character that his father.



Commodus 177-192 AD
Denarius 186-189 AD ROME
M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right
ROMAE AE TERNAE, Roma seated left holding Victory and scepter,
C V P P in ex. (thanks Doug)

 

Very nice. Marcus Aurelius is in my opinion one of the most interesting people in history. I think when I filled out my never used Myspace account I listed him as the person no longer living I would most like to meet. I would love to have a coin of his, but no such luck yet.

And it's amazing that his son could have been so different, yet not really all that surprising...I'm not my father, as he was not his father, and if I ever have kids, they will not be me.

 

Thanks I agree its not all that suprising he's different that his father. Another example from acient rome of this, though very different circumstances, is the difference between Caligula and his Father Germanicus.

I think I'd like to go back and meet Julius Caesar, and others of this period (Pompey, Cato, Cicero, Brutus, Antony, and so on.) but it would be very interesting to meet Aurelius too!

If you dont mind one on the cheaper side, theres a few decent coins of Aurelius on vcoins for under $30.

Hopefully others will do some exhibits on acients too. I'd like to see more.

 

aw man :/ ..... "anicents" ...... just noticed that -_- :computer:



lol, sorry

 

Maybe a mod could correct it for you. Great post though! I just ordered my first ancient yesterday :thumb:.