Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="robinjojo, post: 4924847, member: 110226"]Thank you all for the really nice examples. It seems that Greek and Roman coins tend to have this quality, probably due to the artistry of the engravers at the heights of these civilizations. The Hellenistic influence certainly spread throughout the Mediterranean, permeating a wide swath of regions as far as Asia Minor, Bactria, Egypt, Sicily, and on to Rome itself.  This influence, with its emphasis on realism and refinement, often with the quality of gravitas, lasted well into the second century AD. The "severe style" that followed, with emperor after emperor appearing with furrowed brows, stern eyes and often frowning expressions, was, I think, a clear break from the Hellenistic tradition, although one could argue that Caracalla's stern expression might have some degree of gravitas, although the weight of his portraits is clearly directed towards authority and a pugnacious demeanor. Here are three more examples for comparison:  Thrace, Lysimachos, tetradrachm, 306-281 BC [ATTACH=full]1185654[/ATTACH] Antioch, tetradrachm, Caracalla, youthful portrait, circa 208-211 AD [ATTACH=full]1185667[/ATTACH] Emesa, Seleucis and Pieria, Caracalla, tetradrachm, 215-217 AD [ATTACH=full]1185678[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]