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<p>[QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 2807531, member: 83845"]<p style="text-align: center"><u><b>6.0 – Influence of the First Denarii on Modern Coins</b></u></p><p><br /></p><p>The basic obverse design of the first denarii remained popular on the subsequent denarii designs for well over over 100 years after its introduction. It’s design, and specifically the portrait of Roma, have been incredibly influential to modern coin designers. Some of the most beautiful classic coins from around the world have drawn their inspiration from it. I’ve highlighted a few below that I hope you will all find interesting.</p><p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><u><b>6.1 – The United States – 1916 - 1943 Mercury Dime</b></u></p><p><br /></p><p>In my research for this essay I have found that there is some disagreement about whether the US Mercury dime drew inspiration from Republican denarii. However, considering the amount of Roman Republican symbolism that went into it’s design I consider the suggestion the the artist (Adolf Weinman) was not fully aware of his coin’s similarities to it’s ancient predessessor to be entirely absurd. However, this actually enhances my estimation of Mr. Weinman’s design abilities because he was still able to produce a unique and interesting piece of numismatic art.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]656101[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Okay, so I know what some of you are thinking... “Has Curtisimo lost his mind? What is he doing posting one of his modern coins in the ancients forum! Lets run him out of town!” Please hear me out my friends! The coins I intend to discuss will be appealing to all major branches of numismatics.</p><p><br /></p><p>For this write up I would like to focus on the ancient symbolism of the coin but those of you who are interested to learn more about the coin’s production and design might find the below article interesting.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.usacoinbook.com/encyclopedia/coin-designers/adolph-a-weinman/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.usacoinbook.com/encyclopedia/coin-designers/adolph-a-weinman/" rel="nofollow">http://www.usacoinbook.com/encyclopedia/coin-designers/adolph-a-weinman/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>The obverse of the Mercury Dime shows Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with wings. The wings were included to represent freedom of thought and are reminiscent of the denarius. From about the 18th century the Phrygian cap was used as a symbol of freedom because it was believed at the time that it was this cap that was associated with the manumition of slaves in ancient republican Rome. However, this was a mistake! The Phrygian cap was associated in antiquity with the ancient Kingdom of Phrygia (ca. 1200-700 BC) which is said to have fought on the side of the Trojans during the Trojan War (Figure 10). As such, in ancient art the Phrygian cap was used to signify someone (like the Trojan, Paris) who came from the east.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]656105[/ATTACH] </p><p><i>Figure 10 – Anceint Near East ca. 824-671 BC (Wikipedia)</i></p><p><br /></p><p>The cap associated with the manumision of slaves in the late Republic was known as the pileus cap. It was given to a freed slave as part of a ceremony performed by a praetor. The most famous use of the pileus cap as a symbol of liberty is the famous Eid Mar denarius. The cap, flanked by daggers, is clearly a message from Brutus that by killing Caesar he had freed Rome from slavery under a tyrant (Figure 11).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]656104[/ATTACH] </p><p><i>Figure 11 – EID MAR Denarius CNG; Triton XIX, Lot: 421 (Obviously not my coin <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />)</i></p><p><br /></p><p>The pileus is simple and conical in shape as opposed to the Phrygian cap with it’s distinctive long top pulled forward. See Figure 12 for comparisson.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]656106[/ATTACH] </p><p><i>Figure 12 – Mistaken symbolism on the US Mercury Dime (Modified from Wikipedia Photos)</i></p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse is also full of ancient symbolism with the inclusion of the fasces. The fasces was a bundle of wooden sticks tied together, sometimes around and axe. The sticks represented the strength of a unified state and the axe represented the states authority over life and death. The fasces were carried by lictors (basically bodyguards) that travelled with a magistrate (see figure 13). It was illegal for anyone but a dictator to have an axe in their fasces within the sacred city, or pomerium, of Rome which makes its inclusion on the dime somewhat curious. In an unfortunate coincidence the fasces would later become a symbol of Mussolini’s fascist party and provide the basis of its name.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]656107[/ATTACH] </p><p><i>Figure 13 – The ancient fasces</i></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><u><b>6.2 – Albania - 1927-R Frang Ar</b></u></p><p><br /></p><p>Perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing and stylistically consistent example of influence from the ancient republican denarius comes from a rare issue of the Albanian 1 Frang Ar. This might at first seem like a strange place to find ancient Roman imagery until you realize that this coin was actually struck in Rome and designed by an Italian, Giuseppe Romagnoli, during what might be considered a golden age in Italian neoclassical coin design.</p><p><br /></p><p>Victor Emmanuel III was the King of Italy at the time (from 1900 to 1946) and was one of the most prolific coin collectors in history. During his reign he insisted that the mint draw inspiration from Italy’s classical past. This even extended to the coinage of countries such as Albania that were de-facto client states to Italy at the time.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]656103[/ATTACH] </p><p>Image curtesy of Todd at <a href="http://www.bluccphotos.com/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.bluccphotos.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.bluccphotos.com/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Everything from the style of the facial features to the detailing of the helmet and articulation of the wing is very consistent with my ancient example. The reverse shows the prow of an ancient Roman ship with the “R” at the bottom to signify it was minted in Rome. The reverse is likely an homage to the ship design started on the large cast <i>Aes</i> coinage of Rome that commemorated Rome’s relatively new-found prowess as a naval power just before the Second Punic War.</p><p><br /></p><p>The beautiful example above belongs to CTs own [USER=71642]@Stork[/USER] who was kind enough to give me permission to reference it in this essay. On top of that I had an opportunity to browse through her website which I found to be an amazing resource and learning tool for world coins. I have included a link below for those of you who are interested in taking a look at the site.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.starcityhomer.com/albanian-coins.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.starcityhomer.com/albanian-coins.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.starcityhomer.com/albanian-coins.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><u><b>6.3 – St. Pierre & Miquelon (France) – 1948 2 Francs</b></u></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]656102[/ATTACH] </p><p>This is a nice world coin that continues with the theme of wing headed female personifications. It was designed by Lucien George Bazor and struck at the Paris Mint for the French administered island of St. Pierre & Miquelon for only one year in 1948. The obverse shows an interesting Art Deco take on the classic designs we have seen so far and the reverse features a ship.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>So is there anyone still with me?...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>If so please</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>POST YOUR ROMAN REPUBLICAN COINS! I know you got ‘em so let’s see ‘em.</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And just to mix it up a bit lets also</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>POST YOUR FAVORITE MODERN COIN SHOWING AN ANCIENT THEME!</b></span>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 2807531, member: 83845"][CENTER][U][B]6.0 – Influence of the First Denarii on Modern Coins[/B][/U][/CENTER] The basic obverse design of the first denarii remained popular on the subsequent denarii designs for well over over 100 years after its introduction. It’s design, and specifically the portrait of Roma, have been incredibly influential to modern coin designers. Some of the most beautiful classic coins from around the world have drawn their inspiration from it. I’ve highlighted a few below that I hope you will all find interesting. [CENTER][B][/B] [U][B]6.1 – The United States – 1916 - 1943 Mercury Dime[/B][/U][/CENTER] In my research for this essay I have found that there is some disagreement about whether the US Mercury dime drew inspiration from Republican denarii. However, considering the amount of Roman Republican symbolism that went into it’s design I consider the suggestion the the artist (Adolf Weinman) was not fully aware of his coin’s similarities to it’s ancient predessessor to be entirely absurd. However, this actually enhances my estimation of Mr. Weinman’s design abilities because he was still able to produce a unique and interesting piece of numismatic art. [ATTACH=full]656101[/ATTACH] Okay, so I know what some of you are thinking... “Has Curtisimo lost his mind? What is he doing posting one of his modern coins in the ancients forum! Lets run him out of town!” Please hear me out my friends! The coins I intend to discuss will be appealing to all major branches of numismatics. For this write up I would like to focus on the ancient symbolism of the coin but those of you who are interested to learn more about the coin’s production and design might find the below article interesting. [url]http://www.usacoinbook.com/encyclopedia/coin-designers/adolph-a-weinman/[/url] The obverse of the Mercury Dime shows Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with wings. The wings were included to represent freedom of thought and are reminiscent of the denarius. From about the 18th century the Phrygian cap was used as a symbol of freedom because it was believed at the time that it was this cap that was associated with the manumition of slaves in ancient republican Rome. However, this was a mistake! The Phrygian cap was associated in antiquity with the ancient Kingdom of Phrygia (ca. 1200-700 BC) which is said to have fought on the side of the Trojans during the Trojan War (Figure 10). As such, in ancient art the Phrygian cap was used to signify someone (like the Trojan, Paris) who came from the east. [ATTACH=full]656105[/ATTACH] [I]Figure 10 – Anceint Near East ca. 824-671 BC (Wikipedia)[/I] The cap associated with the manumision of slaves in the late Republic was known as the pileus cap. It was given to a freed slave as part of a ceremony performed by a praetor. The most famous use of the pileus cap as a symbol of liberty is the famous Eid Mar denarius. The cap, flanked by daggers, is clearly a message from Brutus that by killing Caesar he had freed Rome from slavery under a tyrant (Figure 11). [ATTACH=full]656104[/ATTACH] [I]Figure 11 – EID MAR Denarius CNG; Triton XIX, Lot: 421 (Obviously not my coin :))[/I] The pileus is simple and conical in shape as opposed to the Phrygian cap with it’s distinctive long top pulled forward. See Figure 12 for comparisson. [ATTACH=full]656106[/ATTACH] [I]Figure 12 – Mistaken symbolism on the US Mercury Dime (Modified from Wikipedia Photos)[/I] The reverse is also full of ancient symbolism with the inclusion of the fasces. The fasces was a bundle of wooden sticks tied together, sometimes around and axe. The sticks represented the strength of a unified state and the axe represented the states authority over life and death. The fasces were carried by lictors (basically bodyguards) that travelled with a magistrate (see figure 13). It was illegal for anyone but a dictator to have an axe in their fasces within the sacred city, or pomerium, of Rome which makes its inclusion on the dime somewhat curious. In an unfortunate coincidence the fasces would later become a symbol of Mussolini’s fascist party and provide the basis of its name. [ATTACH=full]656107[/ATTACH] [I]Figure 13 – The ancient fasces[/I] [CENTER][U][B]6.2 – Albania - 1927-R Frang Ar[/B][/U][/CENTER] Perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing and stylistically consistent example of influence from the ancient republican denarius comes from a rare issue of the Albanian 1 Frang Ar. This might at first seem like a strange place to find ancient Roman imagery until you realize that this coin was actually struck in Rome and designed by an Italian, Giuseppe Romagnoli, during what might be considered a golden age in Italian neoclassical coin design. Victor Emmanuel III was the King of Italy at the time (from 1900 to 1946) and was one of the most prolific coin collectors in history. During his reign he insisted that the mint draw inspiration from Italy’s classical past. This even extended to the coinage of countries such as Albania that were de-facto client states to Italy at the time. [ATTACH=full]656103[/ATTACH] Image curtesy of Todd at [url]http://www.bluccphotos.com/[/url] Everything from the style of the facial features to the detailing of the helmet and articulation of the wing is very consistent with my ancient example. The reverse shows the prow of an ancient Roman ship with the “R” at the bottom to signify it was minted in Rome. The reverse is likely an homage to the ship design started on the large cast [I]Aes[/I] coinage of Rome that commemorated Rome’s relatively new-found prowess as a naval power just before the Second Punic War. The beautiful example above belongs to CTs own [USER=71642]@Stork[/USER] who was kind enough to give me permission to reference it in this essay. On top of that I had an opportunity to browse through her website which I found to be an amazing resource and learning tool for world coins. I have included a link below for those of you who are interested in taking a look at the site. [url]http://www.starcityhomer.com/albanian-coins.html[/url] [CENTER][U][B]6.3 – St. Pierre & Miquelon (France) – 1948 2 Francs[/B][/U][/CENTER] [ATTACH=full]656102[/ATTACH] This is a nice world coin that continues with the theme of wing headed female personifications. It was designed by Lucien George Bazor and struck at the Paris Mint for the French administered island of St. Pierre & Miquelon for only one year in 1948. The obverse shows an interesting Art Deco take on the classic designs we have seen so far and the reverse features a ship. So is there anyone still with me?... If so please [COLOR=#ff0000][B]POST YOUR ROMAN REPUBLICAN COINS! I know you got ‘em so let’s see ‘em.[/B][/COLOR] And just to mix it up a bit lets also [COLOR=#ff0000][B]POST YOUR FAVORITE MODERN COIN SHOWING AN ANCIENT THEME![/B][/COLOR][/QUOTE]
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