[QUIZ] Roman Provincial Portrait Quiz #2

I'm going to post the questions and answers here in this thread now so if you're reading this and haven't taken the quiz... and if you want to take the quiz (but why would you after the horrible things you've read? ), go back to the first page of this thread. Otherwise, scroll down.
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The portraits:



The answer key is below...
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They are all portraits from Provincial coins of Gallienus. Every single one.

Maybe I went to ridiculous lengths to demonstrate something many of you already know, but in the provinces the engravers often had no clue what the current emperor looked like. Portraits are sometimes generic and other times look very much like some bygone emperor. If you're trying to identify a Roman Provincial coin you often need more than just a portrait-- you need some legend and/or a matching coin which has clearer devices and legends, or extensive knowledge of the general area and types of coins it produced.

All of the quiz coins are from CNG's archives. Links:
1. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=235468
2. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=137593
3. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=214877
4. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=159402
5. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=361353
6. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=161162
7. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=124798
8. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=237392
9. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=266068
10. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=228178

 

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So far 43 people have completed the quiz. I discarded the results for one because the test taker had the answer key (Sevvy was in on this) and another who retook the test after scoring 10%, scoring 100% on the retake (LOL). At least two others retook the test without first scrolling to see the answers. One of those retakers got zero correct on both attempts and the other improved from 10% to 20%-- that's how impossible this quiz is!

I'm pretty sure if I'd taken the test (not having been the one who made it), I'd have scored 0%.

The average score of the 41 takers was 9%. 15 people scored 0%. A bunch scored 10%. A few scored 20% and one scored 30%, the highest score.

In case you're curious here is the breakdown of which emperors were chosen and how many times for each question. The leading choice for each question corresponded to who I thought the portrait looked like, and is why I chose that coin for the quiz . For most of the coins there is fairly good agreement about who we as a group think each portrait truly resembles! One of the questions had zero correct responders. Five questions had only one correct responder.

 

Well played. In hindsight my Caracalla guess was a bit like...

 

WWWOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!





That was BRUTAL TIF!

 

Cute quiz, for the point you wanted to make. But this reinforces my impression that so much more than portrait identification goes into the process of attribution. If all I have to go on with a full coin is a portrait, I tend to pass in the attribution department.

 

A provincial prodigy, I am not. I was convinced I could hit 50% based on the style, particularly the rendering of the noses and other delicate features.

I took it twice and got 10% both times I wanted to try my either or on some I was 50-50 on. Nope! Stupid Gallienus


Dear provincials... I quit you.

 

I am still going to select Macrinus as my answer for question 8
Thanks for opening my eyes a little wider @TIF, despite the brutal nature of the test I really enjoyed it ( are you sure #8 is not Macrinus )
You left just enough " neck beards " on some of them to play on my mind, despite this evidence I went with the facial features trap
My apologies again if anyone had their participation ruined by myself, @TIF had me so discombobulated I partly revealed the secret of the test

 

I got 3/10, but I think if I took it again I'd do much better.

This test proves to me:

1. I cannot ID Roman provincial coins by the portrait.

2. The ancient provincial engravers were often not even trying to create a likeness of the emperor.

3. Any old face would do.

4. @TIF has a wicked sense of humor !

 

That was me. I was interested in seeing your blurbs when I would complete the test.

 

​

To the many of you who feel Gallienus-rolled and are now vowing to quit provincials...

Muahahah... the evil plan worked. Now I have fewer competitors at auction

@tenbobbit-- I don't think anyone saw that brief slip. Please don't worry about it . I'm glad you found the quiz amusing.

 

Gosh @TIF. I took the test twice and got 0 both times. First as Michael Smith (not my last name) and 2nd under my CT handle. None of those dudes looks like Gallienus at all. I suppose they didn't have this in the provinces...

 

Some of you are not fully brilliant in numismatic theory. But I bet you are nearly 100% in numismatic practice !!!

 

Picking them randomly, I should have done better

 

Stab in the dark at the GIF - is that Rick Astley you have mocked up ?
That outfit looks familiar.

 

It's another multiple choice question:

Gallienus is never going to

a) give you up
b) let you down
c) run around
d) desert you
e) make you cry
f) say goodbye
g) tell a lie
h) hurt you
i) all of the above

 

I am clearly unable to tell a Gallienus from an Ass but can guess an obscure singer from the 90's just by his outfit, now that is depressing
Any chance of a boost on my score

 

We've all been gallienus--rolled!

 

Wow... I’m speechless...
It was a fantastic idea, and I'm proud to miss as much as most! This only proves that in RPC, the most important is the correct reading of the legends, if possible, and how on ancient times there was lack of information by the celator as to how the emperor should look. I believe the standard model was Caracalla / Elagabal.

 

I got 10% - never been pleased with such a low score before.
Thank you TIF - very educational.