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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;octavius, post: 3926191, member: 100777&quot;]I&#039;d like to post what I consider to be my favorites for 2019. This past year I have tried to &quot;beef up&quot; my Aes Grave collection. I realize that most people would not really regard these coins as beautiful, artistic , or even elegant. I wouldn&#039;t blame you; but for me they represent something else. Holding one of these heavy, massive coins relays a feeling of permanence, majesty , and power -&nbsp; almost a metaphor of Rome herself.</p><p>These coins were made during a tenuous but vital period. Rome was plagued by nearly a century of war with Carthage, and the outcome was not at all certain. The first war was was basically a naval one. Carthage was a naval power, yet Rome was victorious. </p><p>Then came a Carthaginian upstart who was arguably one of the three or four best generals of the ancient world - Hannibal. Rome suffered catastrophe after catastrophe yet she still persevered and won the war. This was the extraordinary background of the III century BC. The last breath of Dido&#039;s curse faded to no avail. It was as though Rome had some divine patroness watching over her . If you put credence in Virgil, it must have been Venus, as she pleaded to her father Jupiter to save her beloved Trojans from the Ire of his wife Juno.</p><p>Anyway, I probably have romanticized the history of the third century way too much, but what the hell. I&#039;m not a historian, just a Romanophile.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1034903[/ATTACH] </p><p>Apollo/Apollo series. AE Cast As, 275-270 BC. D/ Diademed head of Apollo right. R/ Diademed head of Apollo left. Cr. 18/1; Vecchi ICC 33. AE. g. 288.90 mm. 68.00 A superb cast. Lovely emerald green patina.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1034909[/ATTACH] </p><p>As,&nbsp; c. 225 - 217 BC, obv. bearded head of Janus,&nbsp; Rev. prow right, I above. , Vecchi 84. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1034914[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Anonymous, Cast Semis, Rome, ca. 225-217 BC</p><p>AE (g 123; mm 51; h 12)</p><p>Laureate head of Saturn l.; below, S, Rv. Prow r.; above, S. Crawford 35/2; ICC 76.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1034916[/ATTACH] </p><p>Anonymous, Cast Triens, Rome, ca. 270 BC</p><p>AE (g 104; mm 46; h 12)</p><p>Head of horse r., below, °°°°, Rv. Head of horse l.; below, °°°°. Crawford 18/3; ICC 35.</p><p>Scarce.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1034921[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Anonymous, Cast Quadrans, Rome, ca. 225-217 BC</p><p>AE (g 68; mm 41; h 12)Head of Hercules l., wearing lion’s skin; behind, °°°, Rv. Prow r.; below, °°°. Crawford 35/4; ICC 80.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>below,&nbsp; sextans;&nbsp; shell / caduceus. c. 280 BC.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1034929[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1034922[/ATTACH] </p><p>Sextans ,&nbsp; Tortoise/wheel , c. 230 BC.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>another Horse Triens....</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]1034917[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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