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Message:: [QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 3144609, member: 83845"]Welcome to Round 1 (Group 3) of CIT 2018!  If you are unaware of the tournament I invite you to get caught up with all the fun on the following link: <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-it%E2%80%99s-time-the-second-annual-coin-imperator-tournament-2018.320328/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-it%E2%80%99s-time-the-second-annual-coin-imperator-tournament-2018.320328/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-it’s-time-the-second-annual-coin-imperator-tournament-2018.320328/</a> [ATTACH=full]804403[/ATTACH] I want to give a special thank you to the participants for volunteering to play the game.  We have a great group of people here at CT. ............................................................ #2 [USER=80147]@Ancient Aussie[/USER] [ATTACH=full]804380[/ATTACH]Roman Provincial. MACEDON. Koinon of Macedonia. Pseudo-autonamous 222 AD to 249 ADÆ (27mm, 11.19 g, 6h). Beroea mint.OBV: AΛEΞANΔPOC bust of Alexander the Great right, flowing hair.REV: KOINMA KE ΔONΩN.B.NE Two tetrastyle temple façades; in field between, column surmounted by statue.Unpublished in the standard references. VF, green surfaces, ragged edge, some smoothing and roughness.From the Belgica Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Price: $250 Why It’s  Cool:I was attracted to this coin for a number of reasons. First, the portrait of Alexander the Great is rendered in such fine style that it would not be out of place among the highly artistic Hellenistic representations made shortly after his death. It’s amazing to think how lovingly rendered his portrait is on this rare example struck almost 600 years after his death! Second, I love the reverse detail showing two temples and a column which alludes to the fact that the inhabitants of Macedonia were thrilled to bits at being awarded such a privilege as “guardian of the temples” by their Roman overlords (See below). Beroea was the primary city of the Koinon of Macedonia, a political organization which administered the semi-autonomous Roman Province of Macedonia and was also responsible for issuing coinage. The individual cities, as members of the Koinon, sent representatives to participate in popular assemblies several times each year. The highlight of these yearly assemblies was a festival, the Alexandreia, organized by the ruling emperor in honor of Alexander the Great which was held at Beroea. This coin was likely produced in that context. The two temples and legend on the reverse indicate "Two Neokorie," advertising that the Koinon of Macedonia held the highly prized designation of "double temple guardian" of the imperial cult. The first Neokoros was awarded by Nerva. The second Neokoros, indicated by B (the Greek number two) or rarely ∆IC (double in Greek) on coins, was first received under Elagabalus. The title was rescinded but was later restored by Severus Alexander, probably in 231 A.D. Physical remains of the imperial cult from ancient Macedonia are very rare and in fact no trace of a provincial sanctuary remains at Beroea. That means that this coin may give us our best look at what the temples might have looked like. The column, topped with a statue of either Alexander or the emperor, is reminiscent of the types of monuments set up by Trajan, Antoninus Pius and Commodus in the 2nd century and likely represented a local or regional monument that was somehow associated with the festival. All in all it’s a seemingly rare large diameter bronze coin depicting Alexander the Great that provides a fascinating glimpse into a neat ancient event.  What more can you ask for? [ATTACH=full]804395[/ATTACH]Tetrastyle cult temple of Augustus at Pula. Possibly similar in appearance to the cult temples shown on the coin. (Wikipedia) [ATTACH=full]804393[/ATTACH]Image courtesy of <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjOo6Tyn7bcAhXFf7wKHU-_AHYQjB16BAgBEAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fewallmaps.com%2Fmap-of-ancient-thessalonica%2F&psig=AOvVaw1661yLzdtU0A6_BGsSWfsC&ust=1532470505921516" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjOo6Tyn7bcAhXFf7wKHU-_AHYQjB16BAgBEAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fewallmaps.com%2Fmap-of-ancient-thessalonica%2F&psig=AOvVaw1661yLzdtU0A6_BGsSWfsC&ust=1532470505921516" rel="nofollow">ewallmaps.com</a> ............................................................ #31 [USER=78244]@TypeCoin971793[/USER] [ATTACH=full]804381[/ATTACH]Lucius Hostilius SasernaAR DenariusObv.: head of Gallia r., hair long and disheveled, Gaulish trumpet (carnyx) behind,Rev: L HOSTILIUS SASERNA, Diana of Ephesus facing with stag and spearSeaby, Hostilia 4 Price: $133 Why It's Cool:I first became intrigued with this coin because it is one of the very few ancient coins that was intentionally designed to look creepy. The bankers’ marks coincidentally add to the forlorn expression of the figure on the obverse. Further research revealed that this coin was part of a trio of denarii struck by Saserna in 48 BC, one other portraying a disheveled figure and the other portraying a classy lady. These can be seen in the image below (not my coins): [ATTACH=full]804385[/ATTACH] On my coin, the Gallic trumpet behind the head alludes to the Gallic Wars, in which Julius Caesar emerged victorious only 4 years earlier. This gives a strong possibility that the obverse figure is a disheveled representation of the recently-defeated Galia. Likewise, on the above coin with a disheveled figure (Coin 1), there is a Gallic shield behind the head and the reverse portrays a Gallic warrior on a chariot, so the obverse figure is interpreted as Vercingetorix, the leader of the Gauls. He surrendered to Caesar at the Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, and was executed in 46 BC. Below is a memorial dedicated to Vercingetorix. Note how similar in appearance the hair is to the coin. Since Vercingetorix was alive at the time these coins were made, it is entirely possible that the design was inspired by his appearance.[ATTACH=full]804388[/ATTACH]Vercingetorix monument at the site of Alesia (Wikipedia) Coin 2 features victory on the reverse, so it is likely representing Rome’s victory in the war. The Hostilius family can trace its history to Hostus Hostilius, who was a nobleman during the time of Romulus. His grandson, Tullus Hostilius, would become the third king of Rome. Interestingly, Tullus founded temples for Pallor and Pavor, the goddes of fear and the god of panic, respectively. Given the disheveled and forlorn state of the man and woman on the two coins of Saserna, it seems rather possible that he was paying homage to his ancestor and portraying Gallia as Pallor and Vercingetorix as Pavor. This would certainly make sense if Saserna was attepting to further ridicule the defeated Gauls. I am a believer of this theory, so, to me, my coin represents the earliest days of Rome, the victory of Julius Caesar and his rise to power, and the final days of the Roman Republic before the drastic change brought on by the actions and assassination of Caesar. ............................................................ A Gentle ReminderWe have had a remarkably fun and friendly tournament so far and I want to thank all of our members who have contributed and commented <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Let's continue to do a good job of keeping our tournament friendly!  Instead of focusing comments too much on why you didn't vote for one coin over the other try to focus on why you did vote for the one you chose! Remember that everyone gets 3 votes to choose which coin you think comes out on top in each of the three categories.  With that I will open the floor to comments, pile-ons and shameless lobbying.[/QUOTE]

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