My first pseudo random purchases of 2015

I have some fairly solid collecting themes and then sometimes I just go off piste and buy something on a whim. This time I bought two coins just because I have always found the types interesting.

I have looked at but never actually purchased these types before but finally pulled the trigger and received these coins today. They are of the types where Genius is depicted showing holding the heads of another deity. I have always been fascinated by them and would still like to get a Serapis holding head type, which I will at some point when the whim takes me.

Maximinus II Daia Follis
Obv:– IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys at waist, left hand holding cornucopiae and right hand holding head of Sol
Minted in Antioch (* | AI / ANT). A.D. 312
Reference – RIC VI Antioch 164b



Maximinus II Daia Follis
Obv:– IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius, naked but for chlamys fastened at his right shoulder and hanging from his left shoulder, standing facing, head left, wearing modius, holding head of Serapis, which faces him, in right hand and ornate cornucopia in left arm behind
Minted in Alexandria (* / N / Branch | B / ALE).
Reference:– RIC VI Alexandria 160b
ex- Bill Welch (moonmoth from other boards) collection



Come on guys you must have coins with gods holding heads in their hands. Share.

Martin

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I like this type and love that second coin of yours. I've got the Sol head and will probably get the Serapis head at some point.


MAXIMINUS II
Follis (4.65g, 21mm)
Antioch mint, 309-313 AD. RIC 164b.
O: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, Head laureate right.
R: GENIO - AVGVSTI, Genius standing l., modius on head, holding head of Sol and cornucopia, ANT in exergue, * - Z in field.
Ex Phillip Davis Collection

 

I have Sol - looking for a decent Serapis...

 

I love these coins:

MAXIMINUS II DAIA AE Follis
OBVERSE: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: GENI-O-AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding head of Serapis and cornucopiae. X-A across fields; ALE in ex.
Struck at Alexandria 312 AD
4.83g, 21mm
RIC VI 149b Ex Spink

 

I just showed mine off in my top 10 of 2014...i didn't know there were a Serapis holding heads, will be on the look out..i do have Genius holding the head of Sol and a Serapis..
Genius holding head of Sol



Genius holding head of Serapis..

 

Martin, the style, strike, and preservation of the Alexandrian coin is superb!

 

Martin the second coin is incredible. Do you have any idea the message they were trying to convey by having one deity holding the head of another?

 

Wow Martin => those two new additions are awesome (especially that sweet 2nd example ... yummy!!)

Oh, and you other dudes lit 'er up as well (great thread additions!!) ... man, I need to buy more coins!! (that's a sweet coin-type => on the wish-watch-list)

... wow, you dudes are throwin' fastballs early in the season, eh? (there have been a whole lotta cool coins being posted early in 2015!!) ... I'm jealous!!

Oh, but please keep-up the awesome talent-show!!

 

Although the two coins are similar in design. I kind of like the first one more.

 

Nice additions of a cool type. That 2nd is sweet.

 

Great example of the type Martin! I like the silvered texture of that first coin.

 

Again sadly, I don't have a Maximinus-II coin with a deity holding the head of another deity (*sigh*) ...... ummm, but I do have this sweet example showing Mars in military dress, holding a spear & shield, plus a trophy over his shoulder (which is still pretty cool, right?)



... Wow, an example like your new addition would look pretty sweet next to my coin (hmmm, maybe in 2015? - maybe in 2015?)

 

Steve,
That is a glorious Galerius. I absolutely love it.
Martin

 

man that second one cranks it up to "11"...awesome coin.

 

I hear ya => very cool coin



... wha?

 

What happened to the cool coin pic?

I feel cheated.

 

you can see it on the ancient coins with swastikas thread IR!

 

Oh how I want all of the coins in this thread.

Great way to start 2015 Martin! Personally I am more of a fan of the second more so than the first. I have never enjoyed when the silvering has some bronze patches poking through. For me it loses some of the appeal.

 

Maximinus (no A)

Steve, considering the thread is on extra heads, I wondered why you didn't post your very nice example of Perseus holding a Medusa head dripping blood. I can't believe you passed up the chance to post it. Did I confuse you with someone else? Mine is Sinope and weak where it counts. Someone here has a nice one from Amisos as I recall.


While we are into spare headed coins, there is the Republican:
M. Sergius Silus with ancestor holding severed head of foe.

 

Maximinus II had other types with a deity holding the head of a different deity. Here is one of Sol holding the head of Sarapis:


23 mm. SOLE instead of the more-common SOLI
SOLE INVICTO
RIC Antioch 154c. Struck 310-311.
In the Celator, April 1995, Lindgren wrote an article interpreting this type. It "presents Sol as a sponsor of Sarapis." The grand oriental robe is unlike the western presentations of Sol who is usually athletic and close to naked. Here he is presented with the trappings that easterners might expect of a powerful god. Lindgren has far more to say than I will summarize here. Old Celators have lots of good articles worth reading.