I just LOVE what you've done with your hair!/One for the ladies

Who isn't enamored with the artistry of the ancients involving those lovely locks of a lady, the unique things they put in their hair and of the strange familiarity of the feminine then to our own now?
Here's a brand new (to me) wonderous Syracusan bronze!

Sicily, HimeraSICILY, Himera. Circa 415-409 BC. Æ Hemilitron (16mm, 3.3 g, 6h). Head of nymph left, hair bound in ampyx and sphendone; six pellets (mark of value) before / Six pellets (mark of value) within wreath. Kraay, Bronze , group b, 3; CNS 35; SNG ANS 186. (c. 415-409 BC), cast Æ Hemilitron, head of nymph left, wearing ampyx and sphendone, rev. six pellets in wreath (Calciati I, pp. 43, no. 35; SNG ANS 186), Off center, obverse with excellent detail.
Purchased from Variana Museum May 2021


Lokris Opuntia
Hemidrachm around 350 BCE 2.60 g. Head of a nymph with reed wreath, simple ear pendants and necklace to the right / Ajax in the Corinthian helmet with drawn short sword storming to the right, holding above the left arm oval shield with a lion as inner jewelry, spear lying on the ground. BMC 26
Very nice


SICILY. Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny
485-466 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm - 17.45 g). Struck circa 480-475 BC. Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike flying above crowning horses / Diademed head of Arethusa right, surrounded by four dolphins swimming clockwise. Boehringer 134 (V60/R93); SNG ANS 38 (same dies); Randazzo -. rev sl off-ctr, sl surface imperfections,most notably a horizontal scratchlike flaw in obv right field.

Nice try, with those luscious locks Apollo! Fool me once

Kassander
305-298 BCE AE 20 Uncertain Macedonian mint. laureate head of Apollo right ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΚΑΣΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ, legend vertically downwards to right and left of tripod; to left, A (tipped ccw), to right, kerykion. SNG Alpha Bank 895-6; SNG München 1030. VF, dark green patina


L.Valerius,Flacci
Denarius 108 or 107, AR 3.97 g. Draped bust of Victory r.; below chin, Ú. Rev. L•VALERI / FLACCI Mars walking l., holding spear and trophy over l. shoulder; before, apex and behind, corn ear. Babelon Valeria 11. Sydenham 565. Crawford 306/1.


Creperius, Rocus
Denarius. 68 BC. Uncertain mint. (Ffc-657). (Craw-399-1b). (Cal-522). Obv: Bust of the back of the Sea Goddess to the right, C to the right, to the left crab. Rev .: Neptune with trident, in biga pulled by hippocampi to the right, below Q CREPER M (F) / ROCVS. Ag. 3.61 g. Usually struck off center. Very scarce. VF.
Ex: Tauler & Fau



JULIA AUGUSTA (LIVIA). AUGUSTA,
14-29 A.D. AE Dupondius (31 mm, 13.13 gms), Rome Mint.
RIC-Tiberius 47. Bareheaded
and draped bust of Julia Augusta (Livia) as Salus Augusta right; Reverse: Large
S.C, inscription around. Light brown with some granularity. Nearly VERY FINE.
Former: Savoca



SABINA
Dupondius, 136 CE
Mint: Rome
26.3 mm, 10,2 g.
Rarity : R1
Obverse legend : SABINA AVGVSTA - HADRIANI AVG PP, Obverse: Diadémé bust and drape of Sabina on the right, hair raised, artistically capped.
RIC.- - BMC/RE.1900


Helena, Augusta,
324-328/30. Follis (Bronze, 19.5 mm, 3.37 g 6), Treveri, 327-328. FL HELENA AVGVSTA Diademed and draped bust of Helena to right. Rev. SECVRITAS REI PVBLICE / STRE Securitas standing left, holding branch in her right hand. LRBC 41. RIC 508. Nicely toned. Extremely fine.


You have any wild, lovely, artistic or strange hairdos??? Please post them and anything else fun and frizz free!

 

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Cool coins, @Ryro
Reminds me of the various Faustina Junior hairstyles.

 

Carthage - Zeugitana AR Shekel-Didrachm 360-264 BCE Tanit Horse r head l palm SNG COP 141

 

There's a showstopper right there! Thanks for sharing @Alegandron .I don't remember seeing her before
Something oh so sultry about a baby eating godess! am I right??

 

Lovely examples! Would be a shame if RC didn't stop by with some of these. I've only a few. Wish they were as detailed and diverse as yours happy collector

 

LOL, true, @Ryro , true. Odd aspect of their religion. Since the victor, the Romans, wrote most of their History, it would be curious to really know what that was about. I have read some interpretations that the “babies” had already died of disease or in childbirth, and that they were being offered up to their gods through cremation. Never can truly know.

And, thank you for your kind words on the coin.

 

Here's a little collage of some ladies that traveled together to me...

 

Entella "The Camp" Sicilio-Punic Ar Tetradrachm 350-320/315 BC Obv Head of Arethusa left wreathed in barley surrounded by dolphins. Rv Horse prancing right in front of palm tree. Jenkins133 HGC 282 17.00 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen What sets this image apart is the magnificent image of Arethusa on the obverse. This is a very close homage to the marvelous images created by Euainetos which was created at least a half century before at Syracuse. It is interesting that the Carthaginians used an image created by their rivals for the obverse of their coins. Despite this being a copy it lacks the stiffness that so many copies have. it is clear that the celator in this case understood what he was needed to do and succeeded. The image has a great deal of charm and grace as does the reverse. Despite the flan flaw this is still a great coin.

 

Greatest hits of hairdos!

And this was the chestnut that popped into my head when I read your thread subject.

A few of my favorite heads of hair...

LOKRIS, Opuntii
AR Stater. 12.09g, 24.9mm. LOKRIS, Opus mint, circa 350-340 BC. BCD Lokris-Phokis 60; McClean 5433; HGC 4, 992 var. (control). O: Head of Demeter left, wreathed with grain. R: OΠONTIΩN, Ajax the Lesser advancing right, brandishing sword and holding shield with inner decoration of griffin and palmette; spear on ground behind, Λ between legs.

ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius. 3.95g, 18mm. Rome mint, 72 BC. Crawford 395/1; Sydenham 790; Cossutia 1. O: Head of Medusa left, winged and entwined with serpents; SABVLA upwards behind. R: Bellerophon riding Pegasus right, hurling spear; control mark X behind, L COSSVTI C F below.

ANTINOUS
AE Drachm. 20.94g, 32.5mm. ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, RY 19 of Hadrian (AD 134/5). RPC III 6062; Dattari (Savio) 8003-4; Emmett 1346. O: ANTINOOV HPѠOC, draped bust right, wearing hem-hem crown. R: Antinous, cloaked and holding caduceus, on horseback right; L IΘ (date) across fields.

ROMAN REPUBLIC. M. Plaetorius M F Cestianus
AR Denarius. 4.0g, 18mm, Rome mint, 57 BC, Crawford 405/5. O: Head of Bonus Eventus right, A behind. R: M PLAETORI CEST EX S C, winged caduceus.

JULIA DOMNA
AR Denarius. 2.93g, 20.3mm. Rome mint, AD 211 (under Caracalla). RIC IV (Caracalla) 381. O: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right; hair waved vertically and fastened in large bun on back; five ridges. R: MAT AVGG MAT SEN M PATR, Julia Domna seated left, holding branch extended in right hand, sceptre transverse, pointing up to right, in left.

CARUS
AE Antoninianus. 3.54g, 22.6mm. Rome mint, AD 283. RIC 47; Cohen 15. O: DIVO CARO, radiate bust right. R: Eagle with spread wings facing front, head left; KAA in exergue.

Whoops... how did that last one slip into the party?

 

GREECE, Artemis (goddess of the hunt), 155-145 BC, "the Natural Look".


ROME, Julia Mamaea, Augusta, AD 222-235, "the Beauty Parlor Look".

 

Dionysos....Ivy wreathed with a few jewels thrown in.
Hera......Wearing a jewelled stephane and matching earrings
Aphrodite.....Wearing Stephane and neat little bun.

 

Otacilia Severa


Faustina II, was quite surprised when I found out that she was depicted on coins from Pius era


Artemis:



..... and on a bad hair day, one can always use a sakkos as a fashion item

 

What a fun thread, @Ryro! Sorry I'm late for the party!

Some of the more elaborate coiffures were on the women of the early 2nd century, such as Marciana, Sabina, and Plotina.


Marciana, Augusta, c. AD 105-112/4.
Roman AR Denarius, 2.72 g, 19 mm.
Rome Mint, AD 112.
Obv: DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: CONSECRATIO, eagle standing left, head right.
Refs: RIC II 743; BMC 650 (Trajan); Hill 562; RSC 4; RCV 3328.


Plotina, c. AD 105-122.
Roman provincial Æ 20.0 mm, 5.43 g, 6 h.
Caria, Tabae, AD 105-122.
Obv: ΠΛΩΤЄΙΝ CЄΒΑCΤΗ, diademed and draped bust, right, hair in plait behind
Rev: ΤΑΒΗ-ΝΩΝ, stag standing right.
Refs: RPC III 2292; BMC 18. 170, 79; SNG von Aulock 2720; SNG München 455-6; Robert 143.
Notes: Reverse die match to SNG von Aulock 2720. "Plate" coin at Austin College's Virtual Catalog of Roman Coins.


Sabina, AD 117-137.
Roman AE as or dupondius, 27 mm, 12.28 g.
Rome, AD 128-137.
Obv: SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P, diademed and draped bust right, hair coiled and piled on top of head.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVG S C, Concordia enthroned left, holding patera and resting on statuette of Spes; cornucopiae below seat.
Refs: RIC 1021; Cohen 17.

One of the more elaborate coiffures was that of Faustina I. Her ornatrix divided her hair into several separate strands, which were braided and then piled on top of her head in a topknot. Sometimes, jewelry was sewn into the hair over the forehead. Here's an example:


Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman AR denarius, 2.73 g, 17.5 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 140-144.
Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, veiled and draped bust, right.
Rev: Pietas, veiled and draped, standing left, dropping incense on lighted altar with right hand and holding box in left hand.
Refs: RIC 394b var. (denarius); BMCRE 311-314 var. (bust); RSC 234a; Strack 428; RCV --; CRE 120.

There is, of course, a matching bare-headed version of this coin that better shows the braided strands of her hair:


Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman AR denarius, 2.29 g, 18.6 mm, 8 h.
Rome, AD 140-144.
Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: Pietas, veiled and draped, standing left, dropping incense on lighted altar with right hand and holding box in left hand.
Refs: RIC 394a; BMCRE 311-314; RSC/Cohen 234; Strack 428; RCV 4598; CRE 114.

In this interesting video, Janet Stephens, an expert in ancient hairdressing techniques, shows you how Faustina's signature hairstyle was done and how these ornaments were added.



Although Faustina II's early hairstyles could be quite ornate ...


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman Æ as, 9.72 g, 25.7 mm, 5 h.
Rome, AD 147-150.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust wearing band of pearls around the head, right.
Rev: HILARITAS S C, Hilaritas standing right, adjusting veil and holding long palm.
Refs: RIC 1396b; BMCRE 2151-52; Cohen 115; RCV 4725.

... by the time she had half a dozen ankle-biters to take care of, she adopted a very simple hairdo -- pulling it back into a loosely tied chignon low on the back of the head. Look how exhausted she looks, with her droopy eyelids and everything.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.65 g, 30.4 mm, 12 h.
Rome, AD 161.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: SAECVLI FELICIT SC, draped throne on which there are two infant boys with stars above their heads.
Refs: RIC 1665; BMCRE 936; Cohen 193; RCV 5282; MIR 27.

Of course, being the senior Augusta, she set the fashion for upper crust Roman matrons. Her daughter and daughter-in-law pretty much adopted the same coiffure.

Daughter:

Lucilla, AD 161-182.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.10 g, 30.7 mm, 1 h.
Rome, AD 163-164.
Obv: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, bust of Lucilla, draped, right.
Rev: IVNONI LVCINAE S C, Juno, seated left on throne, holding flower on extended right hand and swaddled infant in left hand.
Refs: RIC 1747; BMCRE 1154-1160; Cohen 37; RCV 5504; MIR 9.

Daughter-in-law:


Crispina, AD 177-182.
Roman Æ As, 11.64 g, 23.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 180-182.
Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right
Rev: VENVS FELIX SC, Venus seated left, holding Victory and scepter
Refs: RIC 686; BMCRE 440; Cohen 41; RCV 6021; MIR 21-7/3c.

See how Crispina's hair has a large interlaced chignon in the rear? A decade and a half later, Julia Domna introduced Crispina's hairstyle ON STEROIDS:


Julia Domna, AD 193-217
Roman orichalcum dupondius; 10.61 gm, 24.2 mm
Rome, issue 6, AD 195
Obv: IVLIA DOMNA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: FECVNDITAS, Fecunditas enthroned right, nursing one child, second child stands before her.
Refs: RIC 844; BMCRE 494; Cohen 43; Hill 126; RCV 6639
Notes: Ex Ars Classica VIII, 1924, Bement Collection, lot 1184. Die-match to BMCRE-494, pl. 21.4.

Hairstyle historian, Janet Stephens, shows us how it was done:



I could go on and on and on but there's a 10-coin limit per post, so the third century hairdos will have to wait.

 

The most famous coiffure of antiquity:


A curly cutie from Larissa:

And, since I believe all threads should be gender-inclusive, a Mohikan from Gela

 

My silver half litra (hemilitron) from Syracuse has what I have always considered interesting style. I would appreciate seeing other examples of this denomination (or smaller) in silver from Syracuse. Most coins of this denomination we see are bronzes.

The hair is considerably different from the standard full litra we see most often.

 

Stellar Demeter Does she have a boyfriend?
I have mine listed as merely nymph. Though thought I'd read somewhere it might be her daughter Persephone?
I wonder whoes that girl...


Always great to see The Darkness fan base is still going strong

I see what you did there, and I like it!

At least he didn't feel the need to cover his up with laurel wreaths!
I better throw in a Domnbomb to get back in track with the ladies with lovely hair (even if it is a wig)

 

Some fantastic hairdos from talended hairdressers/engravors

















Q

 

I do not buy coins featuring historical women... (gods seem to be an exception) - this is not a conscience decision but I think its due to the fact I am Canadian and have had to look at Queen Elizabeth's mug my whole life. Enough to turn anyone off..

But I do have this inexpensive rough coin of Helena... purchased it as this is my Mother's middle name.
The best feature of this lower-end example is the hair - so I will share..

 

How about a some medievals?

Aethlered II


Series C (contemporary imitation) smoking a cigarette


Series B looking all fabulous

Also: #firstgoldofthethread:

Ambiani stater with Apollo (sold this one though)


Germanus Indultilli


Abstract apollo Durotriges style


Fancy-boy Louis XIV had some luxurious hair as well