I just dug out a grip of coins I had yet to, or more accurately been unable to, identify from days passed. It's funny what a difference setting aside coins for a while can make. It's like looking at them with a different set of eyes. Currently, I'm coming down off the high of finally getting a beat on one that had eluded me for over a year (it is a Gordianus iii from Moesia with a Tyche holding rudder and cornucopia reverse, fyi). So I thought I'd give myself an easy one. I bought this in a Roman republic lot. When I 1st got it I figured it was a mistake and must be a Greek with a helmeted Athena on the obverse... Now that I'm looking at it again, I'm thinking this IS an early RR coin with Minerva or Roma helmeted. And I don't know who on the reverse. The "I don't know who" being the rub. On AC search all RR Helmeted Minerva or Roma have a galley or animal reverse. Wild winds anonymous RR was more of the same. No luck. So I'm back to square 1. She's bronze, thick and about 23 MM. Any ideas?
I'm fairly confident it's not Roman Republic but I'm not quite sure what it is. I believe that during the Empire both Athens and Thessaly had Provincial issues with similar devices and probably others. I'd start there.
I don't know the coin and will leave the leg work to you but a Provincial would be more likely to have an emperor on the obverse suggesting this is autonomous Greek before Rome took that region. You will do better searching on Athena than on the Roman name Minerva. The obverse could (I did not say IS) Ares as well. In this condition, it is hard to tell. Athena is holding something , possibly a small Nike, and has a shield so searching on Ares helmeted and Athena shield might turn up something. Throwing in terms like holding could narrow it down but would eliminate descriptions with holds so you have to be creative.
Thanks a ton Doug and red spork! I've got a few that I'm not sold on, but here they are... Lydia, Thyateira. Pseudo-autonomous issue, 2nd-3rd centuries AD. Æ (20mm, 3.55g, 6h). Helmeted bust of Athena r., wearing aegis. R/ Tyche standing l., holding rudder and cornucopia. SNG Copenhagen 582; SNG von Aulock 3206 THESSALY, Thessalian League. Mid – late 1st century BC. Æ Dichalkon or Obol (18mm, 7.82 g, 4h). Philokrates, Italos, and Petraios, magistrates. Helmeted bust of Athena right, wearing aegis; ΦIΛOKP[A-TOV] to right and left; countermark to upper right: ΣEB in oval incuse / ΘEΣΣA-[ΛΩN], Athena Itonia standing left, holding in her right hand Nike--who stands left, presenting wreath, resting her left hand on shield set on ground to right; spear to left; ITA-ΛOV across upper field, [ΠETPAIOΣ in exergue]. Thessalian League Circa late 30s - 27 BC. Obol (Bronze, 20mm, 6.99 g 1), Philokrates, Italos and Petraios. FILOKRA / TOUS Helmeted and draped bust of Athena to right. Rev. QESSA / LWN Athena Itonia standing to left, holding Nike in her outstretched right hand and spear and shield in her right; above, ITA-LOU; below, PETRAIOS. Seleukid Kingdom. Sardeis. Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-226 BC. Bronze Æ 16mm., 3,97g. Helmeted head of Athena right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛ-ΕΥΚΟΥ; Apollo standing left, leaning on bow with left hand, holding arrow with right; monograms to outer left and right.