Medusa, a Painting and JC

This Roman Republic denarius caught my eye, intrigued me and perfectly aligned with my preference for variation of devices while falling within my preferred budget--- the obvious wear making it less costly than it otherwise might be. The more I viewed it and researched it, the more it spoke to me. It also seems to convey a 'message' on two levels. Typical for the type, it commemorates the moneyers' family/military service during the conquest of Gaul (and centuries earlier) but also appears to emphasize Caesar's accomplishments during the 'The Great Roman Civil War' of 49-45 BC as well. The 'mask' of Medusa and the rendering of Nicomachus' painting of 'Victory in a Quadriga' (4th Century BC) appears to reflect L. Plautius Plancus' attempt to bring the following to light:

Quoted from Acsearch auction archives (GMBH, Roma and CNG).

"This moneyer was adopted into the Plautia gens. Sear suggests that the reverse type may be related to a picture by Nicomachus of Thebes which was placed in the Capitol by L. Munatius Plancus as a part of the celebrations of his Gallic triumph. In his Fasti, Ovid relates the origin of the festival of the lesser Quinquatria Minerva. He states that an aedile exiled Rome’s flute-players to Tibur, and that the moneyers adopted ancestor C. Plautius, who was consul that year, (circa 328 BC?) smuggled them back into Rome to appease the citizens. The flute-players wore masks to conceal their identities and this became a tradition of the annual festival."


"This reverse was inspired by a specific ancient work of art, the painting "Victoria quadrigam in sublime rapiens" by Nicomachus of Thebes. This famous Greek work is believed to have been the personal property of Plautius Plancus at the time he commissioned the dies for this issue, to celebrate the victories of Julius Caesar in 48 and 47 BC."

For the sake of brevity, I'll attach the following links for those wishing to pursue the historical content further:

http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Caesar's_Civil_War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Munatius_Plancus


Of course, the rendering of the reverse on a relatively small flan required a bit of 'artistic license':

"..... all that's left of the city Nicomachus of Thebes knew (and his art) are the sprawling piles of stone for which Greece is so famous. For the most part all we know about this artist we learn second-hand. The Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder gives us a list of his works: Rape of Persephone, Victory in a Quadriga, Apollo and Artemis, and Cybele seated on a Lion, all of which we know of only from the works of subsequent artists. Many of Nicomachus' works eventually ended up in Rome, which would suggest they were not painted on stone or plaster (probably wood).

http://art-now-and-then.blogspot.com/2015/05/nicomachus-of-thebes.html



Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Plautius Plancus. 47 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 4.03 g, 5h). Rome mint. Facing mask of Medusa with disheveled hair; coiled serpents flanking / Victory (or winged Aurora) flying right, head slightly left, holding reins and conducting four rearing horses of the sun. Crawford 453/1a; CRI 29; Sydenham 959; Plautia 15. VF, attractively toned.



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A popular type, still need one myself. Lucky & congrats.

 

Great write up, and that Medusa coin is amazing the artistry is fantastic.

 

I have been looking at these a lot. Have a couple on my save lists...

Very nice piece! Congrats, and thank you for the write up and the links.

 

Nice coin! Since this moneyer was adopted into the Plautia gens, I can contribute my RSC Plautia 12.

P. Plautius Hypsaeus, 60 BC
AR denarius 4.0 gm - 18 mm
Obv: Draped bust of Leuconoe r., her bejewelled hair bound with triple band, dolphin behind, P YPSAE S C before (the S C sometimes behind).
Rev: Jupiter in quadriga l., brandishing thunderbolt, sometimes with scorpion below horses, C YPSAE COS / PRIV in ex.
Ref: Cr 420/2, Syd 911-911c

 

Medusa you say.
I have this obol I got from JA a few weeks ago.
Sadly I've not attempted photos as of yet.

Cool addition @Mikey Zee I've seen you've been quite busy buying this month, congrats!

 

Wowie, that's a nice one!!

Mine was picked up at a coin show. The recently retired dealer had just received shipment of some coins he sent in for slabbing. He opened the box while I was at his table and I snatched the Plancus. This coin may set a record for the least time in a slab


Roman Imperatorial, moneyer L. Plautius Plancus
47 BCE
AR Denarius, 3.79 gm
Obv: L. PLAVTIVS; facing mask of Medusa, serpents at either side of face; banker's mark on cheek
Rev: PLANCVS; Aurora flying right and conducting the four horses of the sun. Banker's mark in left field.
Ref: Plautia 15b Sear 429, Cr453/1b; Syd 959a.
formerly slabbed by NGC

 

Etruria, Populonia
3rd Century BCE
Silver 20-Asses
8.1g, ovoid 16.6mm x 20mm
Obv: Facing head of Metus, hair bound with a diadem, X:X below, (die-break)
Rev: blank
Sambon 47; HN Italy 152

 

L.CORNELIUS LENTULUS & C.CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CORNELIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Facing head of Medusa in center of triskeles, ear of corn between each leg
REVERSE: Jupiter standing right, holding thunderbolt and eagle; LENT MAR to left, COS to right
Rome 49 BC
3.08g, 18-16mm
Crawford 445/1b; Sear 4; Sydenham 1029; Cornelia 64a

 

Nice! It's really well-centered and has loads of eye-appeal. I'm on the look out for the snakey-haired Medusa variety and one like yours would fit the bill perfectly for me.


ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius. 4.03g, 18mm. Rome mint, 47 BC, L. Plautius Plancus, moneyer. Crawford 453/1c; CRI 29a; Sydenham 959b. O: L.PLAVTIVS, facing mask of Medusa with disheveled hair. R: Aurora flying right, holding a palm branch and conducting the four horses of the Sun; PLANCVS below.

 

Hey! Found another Gorgon face... this time in AE:


SICILY Kamarina
Æ Onkia 13mm 1.5g 420-405 BC
Gorgoneion tongue -
KAMA owl r lizard in claw pellet in ex
SNG München 411

 

?

APOLLONIA PONTICA
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Gorgoneian facing with snakes for hair and a protruding tongue
REVERSE: An anchor flanked by letter A and a crayfish, which represents the minting city of Apollonia, the major fifth century BC Greek colony on the west coast of the Black Sea, modern Sozopol in Bulgaria
Struck at Apollonia 450-400 BC
3.13g, 14-15mm
BMC IX, Black Sea 150-151

 

... SPOOLIES!!!

 

very pretty coin MZ!

 

Wow, Mikey-Z => congrats on that stunning OP-Medusa (it's a total winner)



... there are a lot of great coins in this fine thread

 

Thats a very cool type, sweet addition!

 

Pretty. Love the reverse.

 

My best example:

 

That's an excellent example....I LOVE the sharp detail !!

Terrific examples @zumbly and @Volodya !

Thanks so much for all the cool posts and comments guys!!!

 

There is a lot of variation on these in terms of die style quality. I liked lot 432 (that is why I bid on it). I'm glad it found a good home. The Medusa heads on some have a somewhat stupid 'What me worry?' look. You have all four horses and only one head is flat making the coin well above average. I have been making do with a lesser, 'no snakes' obverse coin with horrid reverse flatness so have been looking for a nicely snaked playmate for it. Toning really helps this type so I suspect your coin will be 'better in hand'. The important feature to me is Medusa should be either scary or ugly but not insipid. The search continues.