Well.... So far now, I have Caracalla Antoninianii with two different bust styles. The 'seen from the front' bust, and now the 'seen from behind' or side bust. I really want to get one of the armored style busts of this type, I think they are beautiful. I am quite pleased with this coin, and the reverse is interesting as well. I will post a photo of my other Caracalla Antoninianus with the 'Venus Victrix' reverse for comparison. In this new one the reverse has Venus standing, holding a helmet and sceptre, and resting her sheild on the back of one of two captives on either side of her. On my other 'Venus Victrix' reverse, it has Venus standing holding Victory and sceptre, sheild by her side. Some of my favorite coins indeed... I also got some nicer pictures of the Gallienus 'Germanicus Max V' Antoninianus, which I will post in a reply. Let me know what you guys think... First, my frontal bust Caracalla Antoninianus, followed by my new addition. *note, the picture of the reverse of my new one is a bit off color due to camera troubles.
When I first recieved this Gallienus Antoninianus, I was surprised at how large the diameter was for this late of a coin. It is about the same size as my new Caracalla Antoninianus, although lighter I'm sure... I can't weigh them now, but I need to.
Thanks... he has more of that common 'scowling' look on this portrait than on my frontal bust antoninianus. He almost looks indifferent in that one. I don't know the weight of either of the coins, but my first one is a bit larger, it also has a nicer looking flan. I really like them both though, some of my favorite coins to collect.
Late Caracalla are often great portraits. I'll offer one with Pluto and Cerberus for show and tell. IMHO some of the wilder portraits are slightly earlier when the obverse legend ended in BRIT. Some of those portrait denarii look like he was the kind of guy who would kill his brother. Gallienus has the biggest range of coins of any emperor. He started with Valerian issuing billon coins that were at least silver looking and went through some to the worst looking billon before reaching copper looking coins (once silvered). Some of these were nicely made and round while others were scrappy looking. Some of his portraits are good art and others are very bland. Given coins of the same grade, I believe there is a huge span in appropriate pricing for Gallienus. Nice art, nice strike on a round flan and good metal (not porous or crumbling) coins of interesting types should be worth ten times the same letter grade (VF, etc.) in the boring, low end, poorly made garbage. If you are a specialist in Gallienus, you need examples of all the versions but if you only need one, perhaps you will want a decent looking one (like the one you show).
Very interesting. That is a beautiful example doug, of the bust type of Caracalla that I still yearn for. The 'armored' looking bust.... very nice. Especially nice reverse as well.
Tetradrachm, Philip I - Cuirassed, Medusa head breastplate P.S.: I got the coins shown above weighed. The weight of the Caracalla Antoninianus with the reverse of Venus holding a helmet with two captives at her feet is 5.5 grams. The weight of the frontal bust Caracalla Antoninianus with Venus on the reverse holding Victory and no captives is 5.2 grams. And the Gallienus 'GERMANICUS MAX V' Antoninianus weighs 5.1 grams. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Tetradrachm I didn't want to have to start a new thread... hopefull everyone interested will see this here.... I just got this Tetradrachm, I was wondering what you all think? I'm pretty sure it's authentic, everything seems right, the metal visible on the edge just looks smoother than most I've seen.... what do you think? Philip I AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. Dated Year 3 = 248 AD. 11.4 grams. obv: - Laureate, cuirassed bust left, breastplate decorated with a gorgoneion (head of Medusa). rev: eagle standing facing left with wings spread, head left with wreath in its beak. SC below. *the second obverse picture is a bit off color due to my camera.* The first photo represents the obverse the best. The reverse does have a little bit of a bronze-y look to it though,
New Trebonianus Gallus Tetradrachm - Officina 1 - 13.5grams Well I talked to the seller and found out he guarantees it for life, and that he bought it from 'Silenos' a well know ebay dealer years ago. and here's my newest Trebonianus Gallus AD 251 - 253 Antioch, Tetradrachm obv:: AVTOK K G OVIB TPEB GALLOC CEB - Laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed. Seen from behind. One dot below bust. rev:: DHMAPX EZOVCIAC, eagle standing facing right, head left, tail left. (Officina 1) between legs. SC below. 13.5 grams. heavy. Now I have one of this Emperor from Officina A, B and C. Only one, the darkly toned one, has a consulship number on the reverse.
I love Antioch coins. I just did a tidbit on the history of Antioch for the local ancient coin club last week. Anyone ever hear that Antioch on the Orontes was one of 16 Antioch's founded by Seleucus? Also, Antioch in the Bible isn't always Antioch on the Orontes, but another one is referenced more. Man I love history and these little bits of metal.
Eagles I didn't know that medoraman, very interesting. I agree about history and little bits of metal Thanks, yeah I always liked the style of eagle that Trebonianus Gallus tetradrachmai used, here are some examples of other eagle varieties from other emperors from Antioch. This first one is one of the most beautiful eagle designs I have ever seen, it is a Gordian III tetradrachm from AD 240. Such a nice style of eagle, I have seen few of this type so nice. Alot of the Philips Tetradrachmai use a similar eagle, aside from some of the early issues and some others. This second one is of an interesting styled eagle, on a frontal bust left, cuirassed tetradrachm of Philip I, dated to year 3 of his reign. Decius tetradrachmai also have a very nice eagle, this third and fourth picture is of one of my nicest reverses of Emperor Decius.
