This was on my wants list for some time. The moneyer's ancestor, Marcus Servilius Pulex Geminus, Consul in 202 , was a famous fighter - he is on the right with M on his shield. A lively example of the celator's art. C. Servilius Vatia AR Denarius. Rome, 127 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, lituus; before, star; below, ROMA Battle on horseback between two warriors, the shield of horseman on right inscribed [M]; C•SERVEIL in exergue. Crawford 264/1; BMCRR Rome 1166-7; RSC Servilia 6. Please post your fighting scenes
Beautiful example. I'm surprised the "M" was not worn off; but then again, the detail of the entire coin looks as if the coin did not circulate much if at all.
Great fight scene, @eparch ! Roman Republic 42 BCE Moneyer: L Livineius Regulus (one of 4 Moneyers that year! A quattuorvirate) AR Denarius 3.7g, 19mm Obv: Bare head of the praetor L. Livineius Regulus right Rev: Gladiatorial scene; in foreground, one man attacks lion with spear; in back ground, second man with shield and sword attacks panther; on left, wounded boar; in exergue, L. REGVLVS Ref: Sear 489; Crawford 494/30; Syd. 1112 Comment: bankers mark and scratch on obverse RR AR denarius 3.8g 18.0mm T Didius Rome 113-112 BCE Roma star ROMA mono - Two Gladiators whip sword S 171 CR 294-1
Great addition. Here is a type in my collection depicting combat. Q. Minucius M.f. Thermus. 103 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 4.02 g). Rome mint. Obverse: Head of Mars left, wearing crested helmet ornamented with plume and annulet. Reverse: Two warriors fighting, each armed with sword in right hand and shield in left; the one on the left protects a fallen comrade; the other wears horned helmet; Q•THERM•MF in exergue. Reference: Crawford 319/1 "This coin records the brave deeds of the moneyer’s ancestor and namesake, Quintus Minucius Q. f. L. n. Thermus who was elected consul in 193 and assigned Liguria as his province. From his base in Pisa, he waged war against the Ligurians. His command was extended for the following year, during which time he defeated the Ligurian forces near Pisa. He remained as proconsul in Liguria for 191–190. During this time it appears that he may have won the distinction of the corona civica, the second highest military award to which a Roman could aspire, by saving the life of a fellow citizen in battle through slaying an enemy on a spot not further held by the enemy army that day - this act being depicted on the reverse. He may also have been the same Thermus who served as military tribune under Scipio in North Africa in 202 BC. Appian relates that about this time there was a cavalry engagement between the forces of Hannibal and those of Scipio near Zama, in which the latter had the advantage. On the succeeding days they had sundry skirmishes until Scipio, learning that Hannibal was very short of supplies and was expecting a convoy, sent the military tribune, [Quintus Minucius] Thermus, by night to attack the supply train. Thermus took a position on the crest of a hill at a narrow pass, where he killed 4,000 Africans, took as many more prisoners, and brought the supplies to Scipio."
Very nice! Here's mine 82-80 BC C. Servilius Vatia Restoration Laureate head of Apollo right; lituus and B behind, mark of value below chin (XVI monogram) Battle between two mounted horsemen, the one on the left armed with a sword, the other with spear, his shield inscribed M C SERVEIL Restored Issue 82-80 BC. Original being of C. Servilius 127 BC 3.48g Crawford 370/1b; Sydenham 720; Servilia 7 Scarce This is the Wildwinds example! David Sear's Millennial addition comments: "This type represents a remarkable revival of the issues of the monetary triumvirate which had held office approximately 45 years earlier though with the substitution of Apollo for the Roma head on the obverse. As well as being complimentary to several of Sulla's most prominent supporters Crawford suggests that their true purpose was to enable Sulla to issue a civil coinage without appointing a new triumvirate of moneyers for 82 BC or, alternatively, to celebrate the restoration of the Republic in 80."
Great coin! The engraving of the horseman on the left is superb and the whole scene really creates a sense of action. My favourite fight scene (because of the sense of action) is on the T. Didius denarius that @Alegandron showed. Just last month I got my own example in a trade with @dougsmit:
Achaea. Uncertain mint. Caracalla AE22. Caracalla AE22, 5.4gm. Obv: [.....TONI....]. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of youthful Caracalla to right. Rev: T..EATWN. Soldier holding shield in l. and short sword in his r. advancing on soldier falling to his knees with shield raised behind. Possible Arcadia, Tegea.
MINUCIUS THERMUS MF ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS MINUCIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Mars left REVERSE: Q*TERM*MF below two warriors in combat, one on left protecting a fallen man Struck at Rome, 103BC 3.5g, 19mm Syd 592, Cr319/1
I almost forgot I had this little devil... THERMUS RR Minicuis Thermus 103 BCE AR Den Mars 2 Warriors fighting fallen S 197 Cr 319-1
1. Sestertius of Trajan with emperor spearing Dacian. 2. RR denarius of Titus Didius with two ? gladiators or warriors on reverse. 3. RR denarius of Aulus Licinius Nerva with reverse of his ancestor dragging enemy by hair. 4. Sestertius of Domitian with reverse of emperor attacking fallen German with a whip. 5. First century Roman oil lamp with two boxers ( pugiles). S
@octavius : I love your Titus Didius - another for my wants list ! I think they are probably gladiators - the Romans loved combats between differently weaponed and armoured gladiators.
Wow ! some beautiful reverses all around I do have a fighting scene to show, but the oponent is either not yet there or has already run away.... Dombes, Jean II de Bourbon (1456-1488) - Franc à cheval, or - sans date Atelier de Trévoux +IONES*DVX*BORBONII*TREVOBCII׃NS. Buste cuirassé du Prince à gauche, portant le collier de l'ordre de St Michel. DEXTER A*D NI.*EXAL TAVIT*MEA Le Prince casqué et cuirassé à cheval, brandissant une épée et passant à droite. La housse est semée de lis, accompagnée de la brisure (les armes de la maison de Bourbon). 3,44g - 22 mm Ref : Divo Dombes # 1 (5 exemplaires décrits), Mantellier -, Poey d’Avant -, Caron # 544, Friedberg # 119 Q