WAR ACTION Roman Republic Q. Minicuis Thermus M.F. 103 BC. Head of Mars left/two warriors fighting, the left one protects a fallen comrade. Q THERM MF Crawford 319/1. Sear 197. Ex: @Valentinian ACSearch had several examples of this coin with a few different comments: 1) "This coin records the brave deeds of the moneyer's ancestor and namesake, Quintus Minucius Q. f. L. n. Thermus who was elected consul in 193 and assigned Liguria as his province. From his base in Pisa, he waged war against the Ligurians. His command was extended for the following year, during which time he defeated the Ligurian forces near Pisa. He remained as proconsul in Liguria for 191–190. During this time it appears that he may have won the distinction of the corona civica, the second highest military award to which a Roman could aspire, by saving the life of a fellow citizen in battle through slaying an enemy on a spot not further held by the enemy army that day - this act being depicted on the reverse. 2) He may also have been the same Thermus who served as military tribune under Scipio in North Africa in 202 BC. Appian relates that about this time there was a cavalry engagement between the forces of Hannibal and those of Scipio near Zama, in which the latter had the advantage. On the succeeding days they had sundry skirmishes until Scipio, learning that Hannibal was very short of supplies and was expecting a convoy, sent the military tribune, [Quintus Minucius] Thermus, by night to attack the supply train. Thermus took a position on the crest of a hill at a narrow pass, where he killed 4,000 Africans, took as many more prisoners, and brought the supplies to Scipio." and: 3) "This dramatic type was struck within fresh memory of the catastrophic Roman defeat at Arausio (Orange) in southern Gaul in 105 BC. Two Roman armies were wiped out trying to halt a mass migration of two Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and the Teutones. The disaster prompted the Roman populace to elect the experienced military man Gaius Marius as Consul for the second time. In a sharp break with tradition, they would re-elect him the next four years. The denarius of Q. Thermus, with a helmeted Mars replacing the usual head of Roma, reflects Roman society being put on war footing anticipating the German invasion. On the reverse, a Roman legionary, on the left, confronts a barbarian warrior wearing a horned helmet. Both adopt a fighting stance, shields to the fore, swords raised above their heads, points forward. The Roman protects a fallen comrade at his feet. Although the scene may depict a deed performed by the moneyer's ancestor, it also could be viewed as showing Marius, in the aftermath of Arausio, shielding Rome from the German menace."
I immediately had to think of a coin I will never, ever own, and which shows a navy battle: denarius by Sextus Pompeius and Q. Nasidius, Crawford 483/1. This was auctioned by NAC. The photo is of NAC too. The description: "Sextus Pompeius and Q. Nasidius. Denarius, Sicily 42-38, AR 3.80 g. NEPTVNI Head of Cn. Pompeius Magnus l.; below neck truncation, dolphin and in field l., trident. Rev. Sea-battle with two ships on each side; below, Q·NASIDIVS. Babelon Pompeia 30 and Nasidia 21. C 21. Sydenham 1351. Sear Imperators 236. Arma et Nummi pl. 11, 282. Crawford 483/1. Of the highest rarity, only the sixth specimen known and the only one in private hands." Amazing, right?
some fighting on shields Constantine I A.D. 318-19 18x19mm 2.7gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm with horseman. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath inscribed VOT PR on altar. In ex. BSIS RIC VII Siscia 56 Constantine I A.D. 319 19mm 2.8gm IMP CONSTANTI-NVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield with horseman on left arm. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath inscribed VOT PR on altar. In ex. BSIS dot RIC VII Siscia 61
Honorius AV Solidus 4.54 gm. (Western Roman Empire, AD 393-423) Emperor standing with left foot on captive (reverse)
How long do you have to wait to just dig up a person and keep the bones for yourself? 20 years 200 years 2000 years?
