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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 7718448, member: 99554&quot;]I&#039;m my good old days (before COVID), I used to shake hands almost every day in the context of my work. Right hand, firm grip, thumbs up (?). Didn&#039;t do so for 15 long months, not even sure if I remember how to do it the right way...Here&#039;s my latest acquisition, a <b>Marius</b>&#039; antoninianus with a classic reverse type: clasped hands.</p><p>For the Romans, the handclasp signified harmony, affinity, friendship, and loyalty. As the right hand was consecrated to the deity of fidelity, in scenes of a political nature the handclasp represented political concord at the conclusion of a contract. In the Antonine period, <i>dextrarum iunctio</i> became a symbol of the harmony of the imperial couple. <i>Dexiosis</i> reliefs are found on ancient coins and are they are intended to show bonds between two cities by shaking hands.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1323521[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Marius</b>&#039; three months of reign produced only a little varied coinage, whose political message is centered on his good understanding with the army (CONCORDIA MILITVM), the victory (VICTORIA AVG), the courage of the emperor ( VIRTVS AVG), and the happy times (SAEC FELICITAS) which should naturally follow. The reverse with legend CONCORDIA MILITVM (and its more or less abbreviated variations) represents a handshake. It was used among others under the Republic (denarius of Albinus Brutus),</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1323520[/ATTACH]</p><p>The oldest <i>clasped hands </i>?&nbsp; (48 BC)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>and more closely by Pupienus and Balbinus. Its symmetry means that it can be read in both directions, by rotating 180 °, although the inverted configuration does not appear natural since the two thumbs are not &quot;up&quot;. So, it is understandable that an engraver could make the mistake of not placing his hands in the right direction when he begins his work: this is what happened in the Treveri mint.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1323518[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;This &quot;variant&quot; has been noticed about 10 years ago in reference books and a recent article in the <i>Bulletin numismatique </i>talked about it. It will be understood that the error is not the fault of the engraver of the hands, but that of the engraver of the legend, which therefore appears upside down when the hands are placed in the right direction, as well. If this error can be understood, it is however the fact of unprofessional engravers: for comparison, the Roman engravers of Balbinus and Pupienus were never mistaken on the reverse of the same type, but if someone could prove me wrong I&#039;d be happy to apologize; in fact, it would be fantastic if one of our members would find a single similar &quot;error&quot; in the coinage of one of the 25 Emperors who used that reverse ! Here are some specimen sold in the last years: (notice the thumbs &quot;down&quot;)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1323515[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1323516[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1323517[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>In conclusion and only for the pleasure of your eyes, this is the more expensive &quot;clasped hands thumbs up&quot; coin ever sold in the history: it is a unique Gallienus medallion of 8 aurei weighting 29.67g, hammer price of 420,000 CHF (457,000 USD) in 2002. <b>Enjoy and feel free to show us your own clasped hands, Marius or any 420,000 $ medallion of yours...</b></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1323542[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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