The Oddest Roman Republic.....

.......denarius that I have ever purchased is posted below. The bust of Mars so hideously ugly with its painfully strained and wrinkled expression that it almost becomes a thing of beauty LOL. Although having a hammer perpetually pounding on your head has got to be the worst 'hang-over' ever!!! Hmmm, maybe this is an ancient advertisement for a pain reliever......One of the moneyers' probably had a side business or two. Of course, that specific device is a Roman pun and a play on the name of one of the moneyers----Malleolus.

The crudely depicted naked warrior is also a bit weird----especially that disturbing 'appendage' sprouting from the thigh....which suspiciously resembles a second 'male member' I see reference that this 'thigh thingy' is a meant to be a horse's phallic draped over his leg??? Whaa???

I have posted my coin and two more typical variants directly below for comparison. It seems my denarius may be the 'rarer' of the two types and perhaps, to a specialist at least, a unique variation. Specifically, the inclusion of a prow where the 'tessera' for Malleolus would be and the letters above instead of within. Apparently there are six varieties of this reverse. In any case, I'd appreciate any insight or comments any of you may have to offer.

For the historically inclined, this denarius was struck during the rise of Marius and Sulla and the birth of Julius Caesar.....

AR denarius of Publius Malleolus, Postumus Sp. f. Albinus and L. Metellus.
Rome Mint, struck 96 BC; 18.5 mm, 3.86 grams.

Helmeted beardless bust of Mars right, wearing Attic crested helmet
and plume topped with a hammer.
Naked warrior (or Hercules?) standing left, stepping on cuirass, left arm towards his back, holding a long spear or scepter across his right arm, right foot on a breastplate, in front of a trophy. Prow with C M P behind.
CRR 615 b, Crawford 335 3d (3f?).

My denarius.



The last two are acsearch auction examples.

Please post any coin remotely related

 

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Wow! That's a keeper, MZ! Congrats!

 

Your Mars needs Botox injections and a face lift. And why does the warrior in the reverse have an arm growing out of his groin area?

Awesome coin Mikey. I love it.

 

I have never seen anything like it, it is wonderful

 

Wow, that's an amazingly cool and disturbing AR RR ... congrats!!

yah, like you've never gone-out with horse's phallic draped over your leg, eh?



just jokes (it is rather odd)

 

hey Mikey,

a real winner RR excellent i love it

 

Very nice MZ, that bust has lots of character. Great coin.

 

WOW! Someone had too much desiccant in the safe, and Mars' face dried out!

VERY cool and complicated coin @Mikey Zee , I REALLY like this one! GREAT CAPTURE...very unique! Signs of the Times to Come! Sulla, Marius; then Caesar but a 4yo...

 

I've posted this coin before, but it's worth noting that both obverse and reverse dies are far more accomplished than is typical for the type; perhaps prototypes by a master engraver, reproduced later in the series by less-proficient apprentices:

 

@Volodya WOW!!!

 

Beautiful coin; very neat possibility as prototype!

 

oh neat, what an intresting coin MZ....i don't remember seeing anything quite like that.

 

Agree! My question on Mikey's coin is whether the ridges on the face are design or some technical feature I can't say I understand. The continuation below the chin suggests the latter. There is variation on many RR types both in die quality and in technical striking matters. This one seems more than most in variation.

 

Man, the reverse looks like a hermaphrodite.

This coin is so crudely engraved, does anyone think it could possibly be a celtic imitation?

 

I think it's a keeper. Mars is so ugly it has to be.

 

melted genitalia

 

Obviously I'm no 'expert' and although I can see why you may think so, I'm more inclined to agree with @Volodya and @dougsmit assessment---engraved by a rather unskilled/less proficient apprentice etc etc.

The ridges are a bit of a puzzle, but they do extend below the bust towards the edge and Doug probably has that nailed as well.

Does anyone have any idea what significance the horse's draped genitalia on the naked warriors thigh was meant to convey ???

BTW: This denarius is far, far superior in hand!!! And it's another Ledi or ACM offering.

 

If you look at Volodya's coin and the other examples posted by Mike you can see that Hercules is wearing a cloak. On the other coins it is clear that the end of the cloak is draping over his leg.

I think the OP coin was engraved very poorly resulting in an odd shape instead of the edge of a cloak.

The OP coin is very cool because of its oddness, nice score.

John

 

Your guys grandson lol

 

Ah, now that makes sense!!

Thanks everyone for all the comments and posts!!

Looks like the 'grandson' has a few 'wrinkles' beginning to form on his neck---must be genetic LOL