My newest ancients for the year has just arrived. Im very happy Can anyone tell me which mint the Diocletian comes from? Its also my nearly fully silvered piece. Otacilia Severa Silver antoninianus, SRCV III 9149, RIC IV 126, RSC IV 17, EF, weight 3.7 g, maximum diameter 23.9 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 247 A.D. Obverse M OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust right set on crescent. Reverse CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, patera in right, cornucopia in left, altar at feet. Diocletian Silvered antoninianus, RIC V 322, VF, weight 3.721 g, maximum diameter 21.6 mm, die axis 180o Obverse IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse IOVI CONSERVATOR-I AVGG, Emperor on left, standing right, parazonium in left, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left and holding scepter, Z in center, XXI in ex. Big thanks for rexesq for the one below. Pics taken with my iphone, best I could do. Trebonianus Gallus (AD251 - 253) TETRADRACHM obv: - Laureate, Cuirassed and Draped Bust right. Seen from behind. Three dots below bust. rev: - Eagle, standing facing left, head right, tail right. Laurel wreath in beak. Gamma (officina 3) between legs SC in exergue 12.4 gm
Antioch but it is RIC 323 not 322. 322 is a Concordia Militum and your coin clearly does not read IOVI CONSERVATOR-I AVGG but has the Hercules legend IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG. Do you see the club and lionskin carried by Hercules? Perhaps you bought it from a dealer who does not own RIC and copies descriptions from other sellers??? Note that RIC V is conservative with file numbers so 323 includes coins with and without the crescent (or a star in the same place) and any of their ten workshops (Z=7; my delta=4). Considering it is not that long ago I posted my coin like this, it appears that there must have been a hoard on nice ones found). Congratulations, it is a good looker.
BTW: Neither Diocletian example here shows the Emperor on the reverse but has Jupiter and Hercules. Hercules is obvious because of his club and lion skin. Quiz: How can you tell that the other figure is Jupiter rather than the Emperor? When answering, be careful not to use a word that will get you banned from the list.
Thanks for the correct info Doug, always appreciated. Where I bought it from didnt have the full RIC details and such. I was just looking at matching the examples on forum closest to mine. Size/weight were correct though. I thought I copy/pasted the right info, was wrong. I had this correct on my forum gallery "Jupiter stg R hldg globe and scepter; Hercules stg L hldg Victory, club,& lionskin", but not the legend correct. Im also trying to break free of buying wives of emperors. Got 2 more ancients a few days ago but they wont be shipped till next wed. :/ As for the question, doesnt jupiter usually hold a thunderbolt? Really not sure as far as the reverse of this coin.
A thunderbolt would suggest Jupiter but the lack of one does not mean it is not the god. Compare this reverse showing Jupiter (right) and the Emperor (left). As a rule on Roman coins, gods wear fewer clothes while people are dressed. There are some dressed gods but rarely undressed people. On lower grade coins or those struck by mints with poor style, details are not always clear but the Antioch mint coins above or the Siscia here allow the distinction between the three figures. The emperor is dressed, Jupiter wears a cloak at most and Hercules carries a club and lion skin. Many coins we buy are lower grade and don't allow us to see the fine details that were on the dies. When we pay extra for nicer coins, we should be able to expect better details. While I like the remaining silver of the OP coin, the good strike is what makes it special.
I know about Hercules with the club/lionskin, see it all the time but didnt know about the somewhat lack of dressing by a god. I think the problem is I dont have many coins featuring male gods, just the females like Juno, Concordia, Pudicitia and so on. I have the Gallienus with jupitar & thunderbolt along with Caracalla & Apollo seated reverse, about it. Definietly something too look at more. But as you mentioned some of its worn and as usual it of course goes down to eye appeal to the collector. I really like the detals on yours but I like the silvering to mine more as it gives it some character. Always appreciate the info & stuff to look out for Doug!
2 more arrived today & they arent ladies AR Antoninianus Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right Reverse: P M TR P II COS P P, Gordian sacrificing over tripod alter, holding short sceptre. 4.91 gm 22 mm Ref: RIC 37, Sear 8637, C 210 AR Antononianus Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: ROMAE AETERNAE, Rome seated left, holding Victory and sceptre, shield at side. 3.0 gm 22 mm Ref: Sear 8952, RIC 44b, C 169
All great coins, beautiful shots of the Treb Gallus tet too, better than I could get. I just LOVE the Otacilia Severa of yours, so well centered and such a distinct crescent uncer the bust, also distinct 'thatching' look to the braid at the back of her head, see if you can get some pics from an angle that highlight that when you get it.... it looks really amazing! Great Gordian, well centered, good details, and the reverse of the philip I is very nice, and a good stern bust of him as well. The Diocletian is very cool too.... I thought it said IOV ET HERCU when you first showed me, even though it didn't have the thunderbolt, which I too am used to seeing with Jupiter, with some exceptions. You done well, the Gallus tet looks even nicer than I remember it hehe.
