-------------------------------------- Emperor Trebonianus Gallus Silver Tetradrachm: Well I recently got these coins, the one of most interest to me is the Tetradrachm of Emperor Gallus. I have never seen one of him with this type of reverse. The only other remotely similar reverse I have ever seen on a Tetradrachm of this era is on the 'MON URB' tets of Philip I, struck at the Rome mint for use in the provinces. The Philip I 'MON URB' tets have the same style of 'S C' beneath the wings of the eagle, with one letter on each side. I also notice how well struck the portrait of Emperor Gallus is on this example, just like how well struck the portraits of Emperor Philip I often are on the 'MON URB' tets of his that were struck at the Rome mint, so I was wondering, did they strike any other tetradrachmai at the Rome mint during this time period other than the 'MON URB' type of Philip I? and if so, did they strike any of Emperor Gallus there? Just curious, since, as I said, I haven't seen this type of 'SC' and Eagle on any other Tets of Gallus, and I have seen quite a few of them. On this one of Emperor Gallus I can see the Greek Numeral 2 in exergue, below the eagle's feet, for second consulship.... I only have one other tet of Gallus that has the Consulship year on the reverse, most Gallus tetradrachmai that I have seen just have the officinae numeral between the eagle's legs, and have the title 'Tribunica Potesta' written in Greek, without the consul number following. You can only see the top of the Greek Consular numeral in this photo of this coin, I will take better photos soon. The coin weighs 10.60 Grams. --------------------------------------- Emperor Philip I Silver Antoninianus - 'TRANQUILLITAS AUGG' - 'B' in left field. Now this one I got a very good deal on. It weighs 3.2 grams, on the lighter side of the Antoninianii of the time, but not too bad. Doug sent me a link to this very same coin type a while ago, but I did not bid on it, and don't remember what it sold for, I also learned more about these types with the letter in the field from one of dougsmit's webpages. I got this one for a great deal, and I know it has a small flan crack, but that doesn't bother me too much. I just wanted to show it off, my main questions are about the Emperor Gallus Tet. But just to be sure, the letter in the field on this Philip I Antoninianus is an Officinae numeral, yes? Officinae 2 right..... since the numeral is in Greek, am I mistaken? I better re-read doug's pages...... This is something the seller said about the Philip I Tranquillitas AR Antoninianus, I don't know what it means, I mean I know it is an attribution but I don't know what he means about 'relative value': "Listed in Van Meter as VM 45. Rarer coin with a VM relative value of VB2." Here are the details of the coin: --- Roman Empire Emperor Philip I (244 - 249 AD) AR Antoninianus. Rome Mint, Struck 247 - 249 AD. obv: IMP PHILIPPUS AUG - Radiate bust right, draped and cuirassed. rev: TRANQUILLITAS AUGG - Tranquillitas standing facing left and holding a capricorn and a sceptre. 'B' in left field. Weight: 3.2 Grams --------------------------------- Anyhow here are the pics: First pic - Gallus AR 4drachm, 251 - 253 AD, 2nd Consulship - 10.60 Grams. Second pic - Philip I (244 - 249 AD) 'TRANQUILLITAS AUGG' AR Antoninianus, 247 - 249 AD - 'B' in left field. 3.2 Grams. ------ ---- -- -
I like the portrait on that Gallus, dont see details on a beard like that too often on those hefty things.
My page was mentioned but not linked so here it is for anyone interested. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/philip.html The part about the Tranquillitas is 3/4 of the way down. The one I show with the reversed B is still the only like it I have seen.
Thank you Randy, quite a compliment. I just love the radiate bust of the emperors and some of the beautifully done portraits used on some Silver Antoninianii, which is why I have always had a thing for them, and when collecting I have focused more on them than on denarii.... but you know I also love the nice Tets Thanks doug, I had the link for your pages saved somewhere but forgot to include it, my apologies. Very interesting stuff on the types and officinae.... especially how Philip II used one officinae and Otacilia Severa used another specific one. I really like the reverse with the two on horseback, I think the TRANQUILLITAS AUGG is my second favorite of the types you show on your page. That reversed 'B' TRANQUILLITAS is quite interesting... do you know the story on that one? I haven't seen any like it either. The bare headed coins of Philip II are another type I would like an example ( or three ) of one of these days.... I had a chance to buy a nice Antioch 4drachm of him as Caesar on several occasions years ago but did not buy them, and that I regret, since they are much more pricey now than they were when I had the chance. I also would like a 4drachm of Otacilia Severa, but I have seen few with a portrait I like, she looks a bit manly in many of the Antioch Tetradrachm portraits I have come across.... not like her beautiful portrait that is found on some of her AR Antoninianii. I include two photos of the portrait of my favorite Otacilia Severa Silver Antoninianus that is in my collection. I much like the coins of this time period, and very much appreciate the page you made with such good information and photos doug, thank you sir. --------------------- Here are some new photos I took of my TRANQUILLITAS AUGG 'B' in field Silver Antoninianus of Philip II, and despite being only 3.2 grams it is quite a large flan and very nice.... it is around 25 x 23 mm.... not too shabby.... I like a good large flan. The lighting isn't very good and I didn't yet take the coin out of it's 2x2 holder, so the pics aren't great, but show the ammount of quality detail still remaining on the portrait and rest of the coin. -------------------- I will put up some more of the Gallus tet when I take them, anyone have any info on that?
No info on gallus tet anyone ? I guess no one has any info on the particular type of Gallus tet I have ? I just took these new photos, the light I normally use is burnt out, and I have yet to change the bulb.... but I think I did okay on the photos as far as showing the detail goes.... it doesn't quite show the patina as it looks in hand, but few photos do, even with my usual lighting setup. ANY[/B] info on this coin would be so very much appreciated. I took photos of it next to another one of my Emperor Trebonianus Gallus Tetradrachmai of Antioch, Syria..... the one I need info about is the one that is on the left in the photos. I know a good deal about Gallus tets, and I know what the Greek titles read and everything, but I have never seen a Tet of Emperor Gallus with this type of eagle, where the wings are raised and the 'S C' is one letter beneath each wing.... the only other coin I have seen this on are the 'MON URB' series of Tetradrachmai of Philip I (244 - 249) that were struck at the Rome Mint for use in Syria. So I am wondering if this one could have been struck at the Rome Mint? I don't know if they only did that for those MON URB ones of Philip I though..... the portrait of Gallus looks like it could be from the Rome mint.... but I am just guessing and hoping someone on here has seen the type and knows something about it..... Photos as follows, make sure to click on them for fullsize, they are quite large photos... I am going to have to make a second post for the rest of them:
Decius Tetradrachm - Antioch Thank you, and here are some photos of my Emperor Decius tets.... the one on the top right is my newest.... it has the Greek Numeral beneath the bust.... the one that looks like a 'Z' I forget what number that corresponds to, but I think it is for the officinae or workshop of striking. Also I found out from the seller that he found this coin HIMSELF, no metal detector or anything, in a field in Northern Israel after a heavy rainstorm over 20 years ago, and he has kept it ever since..... untill I bought it from him for a very reasonable price for any Decius tet. Here is the info: ------------------ ------------------ Roman Empire Emperor Decius (249 - 251 AD) Tetradrachm of Antioch Syria. (titles in Greek) obv: Laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed. Seen from behind. Greek numeral 'Z' below bust. rev: Eagle, standing right, head right, tail left. Standing on Palm branch. 'S C' below. Size: 27.5 x 28 mm Weight: 11.9 Grams --------- --------- The middle two pics in this post are of my new Decius tet with two of my other tets of Emperor Decius (249 - 251 AD) and a US Quarter-Dollar (25 Cents) for size comparison. The lowest grade Tet has a radiate bust.... with 5 dots below the bust, again, my understanding being that this is a marking used to show which officinae or workshop the coin was struck at I believe, apparently they used dots like on the radiate bust Decius tet up untill the number 5, then they used Greek Numerals for higher numbers, such as on my newest one, top right in the photos of all 3 tets together. The first and last photos are just of my newest Decius tet. The last pic is quite small but shows the Greek Numeral 'Z' below the bust of Emperor Decius quite well.... it was hard to get shots that showed the numeral very well.... My favorite tet of all three is the one on the bottom right(in the photos with all three tets), it has a nearly flawless reverse, and a great portrait... that one has three dots below the bust and weighs 12.83 Grams, and a size of 26 x 27 mm, the radiate bust tet weighs 11.5 Grams and is 27mm, and the newest one (by itself in first two pics, then top row, right side, next to the quarter in last two pics) weighs 11.9 Grams, and is 27.5 x 28 mm. ---------- I have two more photos I will add in a following post.
Decius Tet, Last Two Photos I Took. Here are two more of my most recent Decius tet, shown next to a US quarter dollar (25 cents) for size comparison, the info on the coin can be found in the previous post of mine with the other photos. So what do y'all think?