Remembering the Roman historian C. Licinius L.f. Macer

For my submission to this thread let's try a bronze of another moneyer who, like the moneyer of your coin, is generally identified as one of the historians whose work has not survived in full but was a source for Livy and others. The moneyer who signed his coins CN GEL is traditionally identified as the historian Gellius whose history is believed to have covered from the mythical foundation of the city to circa 145 B.C. or so.


Roman Republic Æ quadrans(18.3 mm, 6.16 g, 11 h). Cnaeus Gellius, moneyer, 138 B.C. Rome mint. Head of young Hercules right, wearing lion's skin headdress, three pellets behind / CN·GEL, prow of galley right, three pellets below. ROMA below. Crawford 232/4; Sydenham 435b; Russo RBW 965.
Ex RBW collection, ex Goodman collection via private purchase 12/7/1996

 

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Another hint: There is only one mint that sometimes abbreviated not only the city but the province and you have it. Also, handwriting of the day often makes A,H,N and M easy to confuse when looking with modern eyes. Never be too sure of your reading for any letter that has two verticals on the sides and something in the middle.

 

Nice coin @Sallent and excellent write-up of the history of the time. Indeed, his words are appropriate for the times we live in today.

 

@Alegandron @red_spork and @dougsmit - that note was part of the posting by @Valentinian when I bought the coin. I don't want to hijack the excellent thread started by @Sallent so if people think searching for the mint mark is worth the effort, I can start another thread. (I wonder if this is a record for tagging members in one post )

 

Thanks for posting this, I was completely ignorant of the historical significance of this coin. Nice coin, too!!

 

Here's an example of the OP's coin with an error - I got this one at a coin fair almost 10 years ago (10-Nov-2007). It shows the effects of clashed dies - the reverse bears the incuse image of the obverse (Cr. 354/1):


ATB,
Aidan.

 

@ G.V Your coin is from Heraclea . MM : MHTDelta. Good Luck.

 

Great coin and write-up @Sallent
You always provide fascinating historical information and wonderful coins, despite your self professed bottom feeder status.

 

Thank you

 

Cool new write up and neat new coin sallent!

 

Oh man, you have an amazing anonymous denarius there. Maybe it was minted at the same time as my M. Fonteius? Of course, although mine may be slightly better preserved, yours has much nicer styling, so I'm jealous. I wish my goat looked as cool as yours.

Thanks for reminding me I had an image of Vejovis already. I had totally forgotten.

 

When I view your example above, @Sallent it makes me wish I had both!!

 

..not the "Cruelchair"(Steve Martin ref. cruel shoes)

 

Nice write-up and an interesting Minerva type!