What this coin lacks in circulation wear (and the quaint charm of many other more homely legionary denarii) it more than makes up for by being ridiculously and obscenely beautiful! I guess what I'm saying is, could I ask your coin out on a date?
While I collect women on coins thru the 5th century, I stop my Roman Imperial collection with Domitian. Domitian, Rome mint, as Caesar 76-80 AD Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS Laureate head of Domitian r. Rx: COS III Pegasus stepping r. AR denarius 3.26gm - 20 mm
The set stopper of any Ostrogothic-themed collection (unless you have the beyond-rare Teia), a coin of King Totila (Baduila). He very nearly repulsed the Roman reconquest of Italy and was the Ostrogoths' last major hope for victory. Baduila, Ostrogothic Kingdom AE decanummium Obv: D N BADV-ELA REX, crowned, draped, bust facing Rev: D N B / ADV / ELA / REX in four lines within wreath Mint: Rome (struck 550-552 AD) Ref: MIB 89a Last ruler of the Vandals, King Gelimer. He got screwed over by the Romans as well, but he ended up getting a nice retirement package from them. Gelimer, Vandal Kingdom AE nummus Obv: GEIL-AMIR , pearl-diademed, draped bust right Rev: Monogram of Gelimer within wreath Mint: Carthage (struck 530-534 AD) Ref: MEC 1, 28-30; BMC Vandals 4-6
Man, I always love seeing that coin, Jango ... => you really should score one of these babies as an exclamation-point, eh!! VANDALS IN CARTHAGE, Æ 21 NUMMI Attribution: MEC 45 Date: 523-533 AD Obverse: Soldier standing facing Reverse: Head of horse left, XXI in exergue Size: 20.26 mm Weight: 6.28 grams
I'll raise you a Vandalic silver! (Mine is more like a set beginner but I have to 1-up you somehow Steve ) In the name of Honorius, Vandal Kingdom AR siliqua Obv: D N HONORI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right Rev: VRBS [ROMA], Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear Mint: Carthage (struck 440-480 AD under King Gaiseric);Mintmark: RVPS (in ex) Ref: MEC 1, 1-3; BMC Vandals 6-9
Yah Jango, I love that coin ... very cool I remember when you asked me about buying that sweetie in a PM ... I also recall that there were two coins that you were considering and that I really liked both of them ... but sadly, I can't recall the other example ... curious, did you end-up buying both coins?
Your wish is my command Doug... eventually, lol: I've never seen another one anywhere. De Ruyter's die study of L. Julius Bursio unfortunately only has line drawings rather than photos. He does list a control of "two shields" which may well be this symbol, described from a poorly-preserved example. Phil Davis
My ancient women collection ends with this (poor-quality photo) coin of Eudocia, wife of Constantine X Ducas, 1059 - 1067 CE. Æ follis (25.8 mm, 5.52 g) Constantinople mint. Obv: +ЄMMA NOVHΛ, Nimbate Christ stg. facing on footstool, holding Gospels; in fields, IC at l., XC at r. Rev: ЄVΔKAVΓ +KωNTΔK, Eudocia and Constantine, stg facing, holding labarum with cross, resting on three steps. Sear 1853; DOC 8.