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<p>[QUOTE="DonnaML, post: 7444612, member: 110350"]My newest Mars, purchased last month and not posted before now:</p><p><br /></p><p>(I couldn't resist the little smile on Severus Alexander's face!)</p><p><br /></p><p>Severus Alexander AR Denarius 232 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate and draped bust right, seen from front, IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG/ Rev. Mars Ultor (“Mars the Avenger”) advancing right in military dress, holding transverse, spear and shield, cape flying behind, MARS VLTOR. RIC IV-2 246, RSC III 161a (ill.), Sear RCV II 7882 (ill.), BMCRE 831. 20 mm., 2.91 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1291361[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Another Imperial Mars (seemingly with a mustache), with another slightly smiling figure on the obverse:</p><p><br /></p><p>Hostilian Caesar (son of Trajan Decius), AR Antoninianus, 251 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C / Rev. Mars running right, holding spear in right hand and shield in left, MARTI PROPVGNATORI (Mars the Defender). RIC IV-3 177b, RSC IV 15, Sear RCV III 9556 (ill.). 22 mm., 3.65 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1291366[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Five Roman Republican Marses (footnotes omitted):</p><p><br /></p><p>The first Mars ever to appear on the obverse of a Roman republican denarius:</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Republic, Ti. Veturius, AR Denarius 137 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Mars right, TI. VET (monogrammed) and X behind head. / Rev. Youth holding pig, kneeling left, head right, between two soldiers who touch the pig with their swords, ROMA above. RSC I Veturia 1, Crawford 234/1, Sydenham 527, Sear RCV I 111 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 550. 18 mm., 3.8 g. [<i>First Republican denarius to have head of anyone other than Roma on obverse.</i>]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1291369[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>A Mars who hasn't missed a meal:</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Republic, Q. Thermus M.f., AR Denarius 103 BCE. Obv. Head of Mars left with crested, plumed helmet/ Rev. Roman soldier advancing right, fighting with uplifted sword a barbarian soldier before him, while protecting with shield a fallen comrade at his feet, Q THERM.MF. in exergue (THE and MF in monograms). RSC I Minucia [Q. Minucius Rufus] 19 (ill.), Crawford 319/1, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 653. 19.4 mm., 3.97 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1291370[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Not <i>that</i> Julius Caesar, but his second cousin or second cousin once removed. Also Mark Antony's maternal grandfather:</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Republic, L. [Lucius] Julius L.f. Caesar, 103 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Mars left wearing helmet with long crest, feather on side, and peaked visor; behind, CAESAR upwards; above, control-mark (retrograde open “P” with two dots, one above and one below) / Rev. Venus Genetrix driving biga of cupids left, holding scepter in right hand and reins with both hands; above reins, control-mark (same as on obverse); beneath cupids to left, lyre; in exergue, L•IVLI•L•F. Crawford 320/1, RSC I Julia 4 (ill.), Sydenham 593, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR 1405-1434 [<i>this control-mark not included; cf. 1430-1431, each with retrograde open “P” with only one dot as control-mark, one with dot above and the other with dot below</i>.] 16 mm., 3.83 g., 9 h.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1291373[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Mars needing to see his dermatologist:</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Republic, P. Satrienus, AR Denarius, 77 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Mars right, control-number (L[in archaic form of upside-down T]XXXVIIII = 89) behind/ Rev. She-wolf standing left with right front paw raised, ROMA above, P. SATRIE-NVS in two lines below. RSC I Satriena 1, Crawford 388/1b, Sear RCV I 319 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 15 at pp. 92-97, BMCRR Rome 3209-3237 [<i>no entry for control no. 89; cf. 3236 (no. 99)</i>]. 18 mm., 3.87 g., 3 hr.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1291374[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>A young Mars, unusually shown with a little beard:</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Republic, Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito, AR Denarius 55 BCE [Harlan: 54 BCE], Rome mint. Obv. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars with slight beard, right, with trophy over far shoulder, P•FONTEIVS•P•F•CAPITO•III•VIR counter-clockwise around / Rev. Helmeted and caped Roman soldier on horseback galloping right, thrusting his spear down at helmeted Gallic warrior crouching beneath horse, holding his shield up with left hand to try to fend off horse, and thrusting sword with his right hand at unarmed captive to left; the captive’s Gallic helmet [<i>and shield, off flan</i>] sailing off to lower right; MN•FONT•TR•MIL clockwise above. Crawford 429/1, RSC I Fonteia 17, Sear RCV I 392 (ill.), Sydenham 900, Harlan RRM II Ch, 22 at pp. 174-175 [Harlan, Michael, <i>Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63 BCE-49 BCE </i>(2nd Revised Edition 2015)]. 17.8 mm., 3.97 g. (<i>Purchased from Zuzim Inc., Brooklyn, NY, Aug. 2020. Ex: Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 54, Feb. 28, 2019, Lot 558 [see </i><a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785" rel="nofollow"><i>https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785</i></a><i>]; Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 100, May 29, 2017, Lot 329 [see <a href="https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088];" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088];" rel="nofollow">https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088];</a> Ex: Gerhard Hirsch</i> Auction <i>168, Nov. 22-24, 1990, Munich, Lot 434. Formerly in NGC slab, Cert. No. 4629554-001, Graded Ch. AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface 4/5.</i>)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1291377[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, my cast bronze figurine of Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger), 2nd-3rd Century AD -- so roughly contemporaneous with my Severus Alexander Mars Ultor -- based on the statue at Rome. Bearded face, military garb, crested helmet, cuirass, greaves, etc. Spear and sword lost in antiquity. Height: 60 mm. (2 3/8"). <i>Ex: CNG, Sale 75, Lot 1514, May 23, 2007.*</i></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/mars-ultor-roman-bronze-3-jpg.1255777/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/mars-ultor-roman-bronze-1-jpg.1255775/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/mars-ultor-roman-bronze-2-jpg.1255776/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>*CNG was never known for any particular expertise with respect to ancient artifacts -- I don't know if they still ever sell them, or, if not, when they stopped -- but as part of an overall appraisal of my antiquities collection, an expert recently confirmed its authenticity, and that it is what it purports to be. (He found only one artifact he thought was fake out of 53, which really isn't bad. Fortunately, it's something I spent only $50 on, 35 years ago. The advice to buy only from reputable and knowledgeable dealers generally works for antiquities, as it does for ancient coins. I didn't buy the Mars directly from CNG, but from another dealer.)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="DonnaML, post: 7444612, member: 110350"]My newest Mars, purchased last month and not posted before now: (I couldn't resist the little smile on Severus Alexander's face!) Severus Alexander AR Denarius 232 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate and draped bust right, seen from front, IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG/ Rev. Mars Ultor (“Mars the Avenger”) advancing right in military dress, holding transverse, spear and shield, cape flying behind, MARS VLTOR. RIC IV-2 246, RSC III 161a (ill.), Sear RCV II 7882 (ill.), BMCRE 831. 20 mm., 2.91 g. [ATTACH=full]1291361[/ATTACH] Another Imperial Mars (seemingly with a mustache), with another slightly smiling figure on the obverse: Hostilian Caesar (son of Trajan Decius), AR Antoninianus, 251 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C / Rev. Mars running right, holding spear in right hand and shield in left, MARTI PROPVGNATORI (Mars the Defender). RIC IV-3 177b, RSC IV 15, Sear RCV III 9556 (ill.). 22 mm., 3.65 g. [ATTACH=full]1291366[/ATTACH] Five Roman Republican Marses (footnotes omitted): The first Mars ever to appear on the obverse of a Roman republican denarius: Roman Republic, Ti. Veturius, AR Denarius 137 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Mars right, TI. VET (monogrammed) and X behind head. / Rev. Youth holding pig, kneeling left, head right, between two soldiers who touch the pig with their swords, ROMA above. RSC I Veturia 1, Crawford 234/1, Sydenham 527, Sear RCV I 111 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 550. 18 mm., 3.8 g. [[I]First Republican denarius to have head of anyone other than Roma on obverse.[/I]] [ATTACH=full]1291369[/ATTACH] A Mars who hasn't missed a meal: Roman Republic, Q. Thermus M.f., AR Denarius 103 BCE. Obv. Head of Mars left with crested, plumed helmet/ Rev. Roman soldier advancing right, fighting with uplifted sword a barbarian soldier before him, while protecting with shield a fallen comrade at his feet, Q THERM.MF. in exergue (THE and MF in monograms). RSC I Minucia [Q. Minucius Rufus] 19 (ill.), Crawford 319/1, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 653. 19.4 mm., 3.97 g. [ATTACH=full]1291370[/ATTACH] Not [I]that[/I] Julius Caesar, but his second cousin or second cousin once removed. Also Mark Antony's maternal grandfather: Roman Republic, L. [Lucius] Julius L.f. Caesar, 103 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Mars left wearing helmet with long crest, feather on side, and peaked visor; behind, CAESAR upwards; above, control-mark (retrograde open “P” with two dots, one above and one below) / Rev. Venus Genetrix driving biga of cupids left, holding scepter in right hand and reins with both hands; above reins, control-mark (same as on obverse); beneath cupids to left, lyre; in exergue, L•IVLI•L•F. Crawford 320/1, RSC I Julia 4 (ill.), Sydenham 593, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR 1405-1434 [[I]this control-mark not included; cf. 1430-1431, each with retrograde open “P” with only one dot as control-mark, one with dot above and the other with dot below[/I].] 16 mm., 3.83 g., 9 h. [ATTACH=full]1291373[/ATTACH] Mars needing to see his dermatologist: Roman Republic, P. Satrienus, AR Denarius, 77 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Mars right, control-number (L[in archaic form of upside-down T]XXXVIIII = 89) behind/ Rev. She-wolf standing left with right front paw raised, ROMA above, P. SATRIE-NVS in two lines below. RSC I Satriena 1, Crawford 388/1b, Sear RCV I 319 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 15 at pp. 92-97, BMCRR Rome 3209-3237 [[I]no entry for control no. 89; cf. 3236 (no. 99)[/I]]. 18 mm., 3.87 g., 3 hr. [ATTACH=full]1291374[/ATTACH] A young Mars, unusually shown with a little beard: Roman Republic, Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito, AR Denarius 55 BCE [Harlan: 54 BCE], Rome mint. Obv. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars with slight beard, right, with trophy over far shoulder, P•FONTEIVS•P•F•CAPITO•III•VIR counter-clockwise around / Rev. Helmeted and caped Roman soldier on horseback galloping right, thrusting his spear down at helmeted Gallic warrior crouching beneath horse, holding his shield up with left hand to try to fend off horse, and thrusting sword with his right hand at unarmed captive to left; the captive’s Gallic helmet [[I]and shield, off flan[/I]] sailing off to lower right; MN•FONT•TR•MIL clockwise above. Crawford 429/1, RSC I Fonteia 17, Sear RCV I 392 (ill.), Sydenham 900, Harlan RRM II Ch, 22 at pp. 174-175 [Harlan, Michael, [I]Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63 BCE-49 BCE [/I](2nd Revised Edition 2015)]. 17.8 mm., 3.97 g. ([I]Purchased from Zuzim Inc., Brooklyn, NY, Aug. 2020. Ex: Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 54, Feb. 28, 2019, Lot 558 [see [/I][URL='https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785'][I]https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785[/I][/URL][I]]; Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 100, May 29, 2017, Lot 329 [see [URL]https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088];[/URL] Ex: Gerhard Hirsch[/I] Auction [I]168, Nov. 22-24, 1990, Munich, Lot 434. Formerly in NGC slab, Cert. No. 4629554-001, Graded Ch. AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface 4/5.[/I]) [ATTACH=full]1291377[/ATTACH] Finally, my cast bronze figurine of Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger), 2nd-3rd Century AD -- so roughly contemporaneous with my Severus Alexander Mars Ultor -- based on the statue at Rome. Bearded face, military garb, crested helmet, cuirass, greaves, etc. Spear and sword lost in antiquity. Height: 60 mm. (2 3/8"). [I]Ex: CNG, Sale 75, Lot 1514, May 23, 2007.*[/I] [IMG]https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/mars-ultor-roman-bronze-3-jpg.1255777/[/IMG] [IMG]https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/mars-ultor-roman-bronze-1-jpg.1255775/[/IMG] [IMG]https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/mars-ultor-roman-bronze-2-jpg.1255776/[/IMG] *CNG was never known for any particular expertise with respect to ancient artifacts -- I don't know if they still ever sell them, or, if not, when they stopped -- but as part of an overall appraisal of my antiquities collection, an expert recently confirmed its authenticity, and that it is what it purports to be. (He found only one artifact he thought was fake out of 53, which really isn't bad. Fortunately, it's something I spent only $50 on, 35 years ago. The advice to buy only from reputable and knowledgeable dealers generally works for antiquities, as it does for ancient coins. I didn't buy the Mars directly from CNG, but from another dealer.)[/QUOTE]
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