Featured Follow the coin theme GAME - ancient edition - post ‘em if you got ‘em

I will keep this going. Since @JayAg47 likes Sri Lanka, etc. Here is my Lakshmi from a Dig in Sri Lanka:


Sri Lanka
1st C BCE
PB Lead 1/8th unit
Lakshmi
Blank
excavated in Anuradhapura RARE

Next: Ancient India

 

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Satavahana Empire, later Satakarni ruler, BI karshapana, ca. 107–248 AD, minted in northern Deccan region. Obv: Elephant with raised trunk r., remains of legend. Revers: Dynastic symbol. 17mm, 2.58g. Ref: see Mitchiner 4963–4967 (different legends).

This one is interesting since it appears that the die from which it was struck was first cast (?) and the finer details (tusk, eye, ear, lettering) engraved afterwards.

Therefore, the next category is unusual mode of production (i.e. not simply struck or cast).

 

I don't think I have anything too odd like that, but your coin is just amazing and the odd mix of production methods is very interesting. Do you know if other examples of this coinage have similar traits? I have two of these Satavahana elephant coins but neither appear to have the finely engraved details such as this, but they're both quite worn too.

 

Glad you like it! Unfortunately, I don't know enough about these coins to say how common this mix of production methods was and how to best interpret it. Maybe someone else has an idea?

I bought the example above at a coin show from a dealer who had a box full of Satavahana elephant coins and let customers make their choice. I remember that several examples in that box were apparently struck from such "mixed" dies, the rest from the usual dies with rather smooth edges (see the coin below), which I guess may have been cast or produced by means of a punch. If there is a good study of these coins out there, I don't know it...


Satavahana Empire, early Satakarni ruler, BI karshapana, ca. 39–107 AD, minted in northern Deccan region. Obv: Elephant with raised trunk r., remains of legend ("Rano Siri Satakanisa"). Revers: Dynastic symbol. 19mm, 2.85g. Ref: Mitchiner 4941–4952.

 

An interesting discussion, that could be better followed up elsewhere. Here are my two Satavahana karshapanas.






It looks as if there's a little figure clinging to the elephant's neck. His head just behind the elephant's eye, his hand at the trunk and his feet at the lower neck.

Let's show a Roman elephant now.

 

Caracalla denarius

Obv:– ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, Laureate bust right
Rev:– P M TR P XV COS III P P (XV over XIIII), Elephant walking right
References:– VM 60/4, RIC 211a (Scarce), RSC 230



Next:- A re-engraved legend

 

Constantius AE2 Antioch with mintmark altered to change officina number H/Z.


Next: another coin with clear Christian symbol on the labarum - extra credit if the symbol is not the standard Chi-rho (above is a cross-rho)

 

No extra credit for me, but the chi-rho is pretty clear on this one:


Vetranio AD 350
Roman AE maiorina; 4.77 g, 24mm
Siscia, AD 350
Obv: D N VETRA-NIO P F AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; A to left
Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Vetranio standing left, holding labarum in each hand; star above; A to left; in exergue: •ΓSIS✷
Refs: RIC 281; LRBC 1168; Cohen 1; RCV 18903.

Next: mint/control mark of some sort behind the bust.

 

Constantius Gallus

Obv:- D N CONSTANTIVS IVN NBO(sic) C, Bare headed draped & cuirassed bust right; A
Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Emperor standing left on galley, holding Victory on globe and labarum; Victory behind, steering galley
Minted in Siscia (III | * // BSIS)
Reference:– RIC VIII Siscia 329 var (would be C but obverse legend error)

5.16 gms. 23.42 mm. 180 degrees



Next:- a typo in the obverse legend

 

Q. Pompeius Rufus, AR denarius, AD 54, Rome mint
Obv: Q·POMPEI·Q·F / RVRVS (sic!), curule chair; on left, arrow and on right, laurel branch; below, COS on tablet
Rev: SVLLA·COS Curule chair; on left, lituus and on right, wreath, below, Q·POMPEI·RVF on tablet
Ref: Crawford 434/2 rare variety

Next: another example of legend typo or die re-cut

 

IVNO REGINA (Juno the queen)?? Think again; this one says VINO REGINA (wine the queen):


Salonina, AD 253-268.
Roman billon antoninianus, 4.64 g, 23.3 mm.
Antioch, AD 264.
Obv: SALONINA AVG, diademed draped bust right on crescent.
Rev: VINO REGINA, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet left; star in left field.
Refs: RIC 92 var.; Cohen 67 var.; RCV 10641 var.; Göbl 1619f var.

Next: integrity-threatening flan crack.

 

That is so bizarre, because History found that a BEER TRUCK was always showing up at her palace!

 

I'm not sure we can attribute that to Salonina - sounds more like Pipa, daughter of Attalus, King of the Marcomanni (from the region we know as Bavaria). Cornelia Salonina seems more likely to have been associated with fine Falernian wine.

 

Probus

Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, Radiate, helmeted, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield
Rev:– VIRTVS PROBI AVG, Roma seated in temple, holding Victory and sceptre
Minted in Serdica (KAΔ in exe)
Reference:– RIC 886 Bust type G



Next:- A decorated shield

 

LOL, mine was purely an irony joke off @Roman Collector 's cool irony. I had no clue, and should not have said "History found..."

 

another decorated shield coin

 

Probus
Antonianus
Obv:– VIRTVS PROBI AVG, Radiate, helmeted, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield
Rev:– TEMPOR FELICI, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
Minted in Lugdunum (I) Emission 5, Officina 1. End A.D. 277 – Early A.D. 278
Reference:– Bastien 209 (11 examples cited). RIC 106 Bust Type G.



Next:- A right facing helmeted bust

 

RR Anon Ca 240 BCE AR Heavy Quinarius Drachm 16mm 3.0g Rome Helmet Hd Mars r - Horse’s hd sickle Cr 25-2 Syd 25 RSC 34a VeryRare

NEXT: ANOTHER

 

right facing helmeted bust (Athena on reverse)

Lykaonia, Iconium, Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161, Bronze Æ
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Antoninus Pius right.
Rev: COL ICO, helmeted and draped bust of Athena right
Ref: RPC IV online 7259

“John Malalas narrates Perseus’ progress through Asia Minor as a sort of mythological projection of a Hellenistic king’s campaign of conquest and foundation. On arrival in Lycaonia Perseus founds a city on the site of the village of Amandra. The new city takes its name, Iconium (modern Konya) from the ‘image’ (εικόν) of the Gorgon-head he sets up on a pillar there.”
- Perseus by Daniel Ogden​

Next: another helmeted bust (left or right, obverse or reverse)

 

Carus

Obv:– IMP C M AVR CARVS AVG, Radiate, helmeted, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– VICTORIA AVGG, Victory, standing left on globe, holding wreath, two captives beneath
Minted in Lugdunum (A in left field) Emission 4 Officina 1. 1st quarter A.D. 283
Reference:– Cohen 100. Bastien 474 (11 examples cited), RIC 24 var (Not listed with this bust type in RIC)



Next:- Another Victory on Globe reverse type