Let the Games BEGIN!

In the last couple months I captured a Gladiatorial AR Denarius from the Roman Republic. That one further got me interested and on the prowl in other Gladiatorial Denarii... (I love sub-collections...)

I just captured this little guy from a friend of mine...


Roman Republic
AR Denarius 3.8g, 18mm
T. Didius
Rome mint 113-112 BCE
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma to right, star below, ROMA in monogram behind
Rev: T.DEIDI Two gladiators fighting each other, the one on the left uses a whip, the one on the right, a sword
Ref: Sear 171, Craw 294/1


Here is my first Gladiatorial:

Roman Republic
42 BCE
Moneyer: L Livineius Regulus (one of 4 Moneyers that year! A quattuorvirate)
AR Denarius 3.7g, 19mm
Obv: Bare head of the praetor L. Livineius Regulus right
Rev: Gladiatorial scene; in foreground, one man attacks lion with spear; in back ground, second man with shield and sword attacks panther; on left, wounded boar; in exergue, L. REGVLVS
Ref: Sear 489; Crawford 494/30; Syd. 1112
Comment: bankers mark and scratch on obverse.



Please feel free to post any Ancient GAMES / Competition coins: Horse Races, Biga/Quadriga Races, Olympics, or anything related!

 

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domitian games

 

Nice Ro!

 

I only have the same type as Ro, Domitian As Saecular Games, 28mm, 11.21gm, RIC 623.

 

That is a nice one!

 

Very nice gladiatorial silver Alegandron, very interesting.

 

Nice coins Alegandron!! Can I call you Gandolph?

Here is a Pythian games issue.

Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Emesa. Elagabalus AE22. Pythian games issue.Obv: AVT K M A ANTWNINOC (or similar), radiate head right.
Rev: MHTPO K EMICWN PYQIA HLIA, prize urn on table between two palm branches.

The Pythian Games (Delphic Games) were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, a forerunner of the modern Olympic Games, held every four years at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. They were held in honour of Apollo two years after (and two years before) each Olympic Games, and between each Nemean and Isthmian Games. They were founded sometime in the 6th century BCE, and, unlike the Olympic Games, also featured competitions for art and dance. The art and dance competitions pre-dated the athletic portion of the games, and were said to have been started by Apollo after he killed Python and set up the oracle at Delphi. Otherwise, the athletic events were the same as the Olympic Games. A four-horse chariot race was held in a hippodrome in the plain, not far from the sea, in the place where the original stadium was sited. -Wikipedia

 

Absolutely call me as Gandolph, LOL.

Cool write-up and history, thanks!

 

No gladiatorial coins in my collection, but I would love both of these. Congrats.

 

Here you go:

The obverse depicts a charioteer driving a chariot drawn by two mules (an apene). Apene races were first held at the Olympic Games around 500 BC. The tyrant Anaxilas, apparently had an Olympic mule-team victory in 480 B.C. and he commemorated it with this coin type. The design is associated with Messana and the design was kept after Anaxilas’ death in 476 BC.

 

Only one I have handy. Ex Haeberlin, ex Niggler:

 

Those are awesome coins Alegandron!

 

Thank you. Fun!

 

A few more:


Achaea. Uncertain mint. Caracalla AE22. Hero and soldier
Caracalla AE22, 5.4gm.
Obv: [.....TONI....]. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of youthful Caracalla to right.
Rev: T..EATWN. Hero holding shield in l. and short sword in his r. advancing on soldier falling to his knees with shield raised behind.
Possible Arcadia, Tegea. Sold.

Biga of lions.

Phrygia, Cotiaeum. Philip I AE26 Kyble. C. Julius Ponticus, Archiereus
Phrigia, Cotiaeum. Between 244 and 249
Obverse. M IOYLIOS P'ILIPPOS AYG
Reverse. EPI G IOYL PONTIKOY ARC'IER EWS KOTIAEWN
Kyble on stool being pulled by biga of lions. Polos / Tympanon
SNG AUL 3787(1). BMC 17 S174,78(2)

 

A great addition

 

Nice coins. I hope to buy a few of my own if a certain case I'm working on bears out.

 

Wonderful pick-up @Alegandron !!! Those are two wonderfully matched coins!!! I'm definitely 'on the hunt' for the type!!!

I guess I'll add my Titus/Elephant denarius commemorating the opening of the 'games'.....


And since you mentioned Phil II on another thread, I'll throw that in as well


AR tetradrachm of Philip II 359-336 BC., King of Macedonia - Laureate head of Zeus right / Philip wearing kausia and chlamys, raising his right hand in salute and riding horse walking to left, star below raised foreleg, D below raised hind leg (14.06 grams, 25/24 mm) circa 354-348 BC., Pella mint, Le Rider 121 var., SNG ANS 360

The horseman on the reverse is apparently meant to be Philip II himself....and struck following the victory of Philip's entry in the Olympic Games of 356 BC.

 

that's a neat coin. i didn't know there were mule races, it warms a Missouri heart to know. (must've been as fast as a rabbit)

 

sweet new coin!

i have a pythian games coin as well...





here's a wieneriga race in progress!

 

LOL excellent!