Starting 2016 out right: Mn. Fonteius C.f. "Cupid/Genius riding a goat" denarius

I have wanted this type for quite some time but I kept being outbid or spent too long considering a purchase and someone else came in and bought it before I could make up my mind. Finally all my waiting paid off and I was able to capture this beautiful example, with a good strike on a nice, broad flan and excellent toning. This one was shipped from Europe in record time after being ordered last week and delivered to me early this morning.

From the CNG description of a similar denarius: "In the Temple of Vejovis in Rome there stood near his statue another statue of a goat with a winged Genius on its back, which alludes to the infancy of Jupiter, who, on Mount Ida, was nursed by the goat Amaltheia. The caps of the Dioscuri are placed above, because they were worshipped at Tusculum, from where the Fonteia family originated."

Full ID: Roman Republic AR Denarius(3.72g, 21mm). Mn. Fonteius C.f., moneyer. 85 BC. Rome mint. Laureate head of Vejovis right; below, thunderbold; behind [MN] FO[NT]EI C F downwards; before, monogram(ROMA?) upwards. Border of dots. / Cupid on goat right; above, pilei; in exergue, thyrsus; around, laurel-wreath. Border of dots. Crawford 353/1a. BMCRR Rome 2476. Sydenham 724. RSC Fonteia 9

Please share anything similar you might have. Looking at the standard catalogs and auction records, I know there are a few different varieties and then, within them a handful of subvarieties of different style(i.e. very differently styles of Vejovis) and I'd love to see yours.

 

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Excellent coin Red. I had one of these, though not in as great condition as yours. Unfortunately I lost it out of my pocket after a coin show.

 

Great way to start your year. The detail on that coin is superb for its type. I've seen a few of those on sale, but none as nice as yours.

I'm also trying to get a RR denarius to start my year. I'll know within the next 9 days if I win it. I'm bidding under my own user name, so none of you get the idea to outbid me...pretty please!

If that one auction coin falls through and someone else gets it, I have a few back up choices from other sources to pick from: Either my first Roman Imperial tetradrachm, a double denarius of Philip the Arab, or one of Alexander Severus.

We shall see in 9 days

 

Good luck! I saw the one you're bidding on and I really hope you get it. Don't worry about any competition from me, I've already spent more than I should've this month and won't be buying again til February most likely.

 

Mine is ex. Bing.

Beautiful example, Jordan


MN FONTEIUS CF (85 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: Laureate head of Apollo Vejovis right, M FONTEI CF behind, thunderbolt below, ROMA monogram below chin.
R: Infant Genius riding goat right, caps of the Dioscuri above, filleted thyrsos below.
Rome
4g
20mm
Cr353/1a

 

Yeah, I like these as well. Steve purchased one a couple of years back and I knew right away I had to have one. Then I had two and then three. That's why Mat has one of mine.

 

This is actually one that I hope to eventually acquire multiple examples of. There are actually 5 different varieties of this type, 4 of which are basically varieties of this one and one of which is anonymous but has the same devices(I believe MZ has one). One of the varieties is only known from 1 or 2 examples IIRC but the rest are fairly attainable.

 

So far, we have all small goats. I'd like to get one the large goat versions someday. Here's my kid.

 

Nice => that's an awesome lookin' goat, red_spork!!

Ummm, I have a pretty cool goat-coin as well ...



... my sweet example has the "CF" under his chin

 

I've always loved this type. Great way to kick off the new year RS!!

 

A very handsome coin! Nice way to start the year.

 

The Fonteius family has several of my favorite types. Bing has the one I like best but the goat is nice, too.

 

I've seen Bing's Fonteia "Janus/Prow" denarius. Is that the one you're referring to? That's one of my favorite types as well.

 

Awesome coin RS, super details, i need to get one of these too!!

 

I love the type, and you've got spectacular detail on that coin. Congratulations on a great start to 2016!

 

No, that's the easy one if you accept lower grade ones like mine. I want one like his Dioscuri/prow coin Fonteia 7 or 8. There are some poor ones available now but I want the full design at least in outline.

The 'also ran' in this race is the horseman spearing.

 

Are you guys talking about this?

 

I'm sure he was talking about that one. That's a sweet coin Bing. The only one I hade seen before didn't have nice centering like yours. The angled depiction of the ship is amazing.

Aren't there 3 sizes of goats? Dog and stevex's are medium right? The large goats had those bells on the sides.

 

If you pull up all the coins of the type on acsearch, you will see this is 99% true but there are a few with medium goat with pilei to the sides. Catalogs separate out the placement of the hats but not goat size.

 

I really like your coin, Bing! The ship is awesome!