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<p>[QUOTE="Claudius_Gothicus, post: 7379723, member: 116315"]I haven't picked up many coins in the last couple of months, unfortunately, but amongst those I purchased, this one was without a doubt the most interesting, as it belongs to a small subgroup of antoniniani struck as part of Claudius II's Smyrna issue in late 268 AD, before the mint was moved to Cyzicus:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1285023[/ATTACH] </p><p>Claudius II (268-270), Antoninianus, Smyrna mint, second officina.</p><p>Obverse: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; two dots beneath;</p><p>Reverse: VIRTV-TI AVG, Mars standing right, holding spear pointing up in right hand and shield which rests on ground in left hand; SPQR in exergue;</p><p>RIC - , RIC V Online 825</p><p><br /></p><p>The VIRTVTI antoniniani from this mint come with four different reverses that, however, all feature the same reverse legend; the reverse types are:</p><p>- Trophy and arms flanked by two captives;</p><p>- Mars standing right;</p><p>- Mars standing left;</p><p>- Mars walking right;</p><p>Now, these coins are more interesting than they seem like at first glance, and I'd like to analyze them by talking about a few points, the first one being the context in which they were struck: Claudius II's issue from Smyrna used most of the reverses that had already been introduced under Gallienus, and as such it's no surprise that the most common reverse of the four is known for both emperors:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1285022[/ATTACH] </p><p>Claudius II (268-270), Antoninianus, Smyrna mint.</p><p>Obverse: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind;</p><p>Reverse: VIRTV-TI AVG, trophy and arms flanked by two captives, SPQR in exergue;</p><p>RIC 255, RIC V online 822.</p><p><br /></p><p>I am unfortunately lacking an example of Gallienus', but I can show you this one of Claudius II; this type, while scarce, is still far more common than the other three that share this reverse legend, which are all unknown for Gallienus, suggesting that they were introduced for his successor; the question that arises, then, is: why? Why did the staff at the Smyrna mint create three new reverses, while all the others were recycled from the previous emperor's emission? Was there an explicit, intentional effort from the mint to portray the new emperor as a saviour from the turmoil that the Roman Empire was suffering from, or were these reverses also struck for Gallienus, and we simply haven't found them yet? Maybe time will tell.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now, let's analyze these three rarer reverse types, which are by far more interesting than the generic trophy type; as far as I known, only Gysen, in his 1999 article "À propos des ateliers de Smyrne et de Cyzique sous Claude II le Gothique", published in BCEN 2, wrote about these coins, where he classified them like this, taking into account both the reverse and the bust type (The Cercle d'Études Numismatiques was kind enough to send me a scan of the whole article):</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1285028[/ATTACH] </p><p>You will instantly notice that something's not right, as there are three types listed instead of four; it seems like this was caused by an error on Gysen's part, who listed together the "Mars standing right" type (<a href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/825?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=1&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/825?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=1&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced" rel="nofollow">http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/825?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=1&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced</a>), which is the one I have just received, together with the "Mars walking right type" (<a href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/849?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced#type-data-coin" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/849?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced#type-data-coin" rel="nofollow">http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/849?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced#type-data-coin</a> and <a href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/848?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/848?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced" rel="nofollow">http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/848?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced</a> - of this second one Gysen didn't show any photos and didn't write any references, so its actual existance is uncertain). The doubts aren't over yet, however, because, if you check the RIC V Online pages, you will notice that the figure on the reverse is identified as Virtus, and not as Mars; now, telling them apart is not always easy on Roman coins, but I believe that in this instance it's possible and, personally, I agree with Gysen's interpretation, since, as you can see from the unique antoninianus in Vienna, the figure is shown in the "propugnator" stance, with spear and shield, which would be typical for Mars but unheard of for Virtus, suggesting that the coin is portraying the god of war himself; however, if anyone has a different opinion, I'd like to hear it <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />!</p><p><br /></p><p>That's all for now; I must admit that I really enjoyed researching this little-known group of coins, and I'd definitely like to build a full set of them with all four reverses, although I doubt it might be truly attainable, due to the rarity of the "walking right" type. Post your coins featuring Mars or Virtus, your coins of Gallienus or Claudius II from Smyrna, or anything else you believe might be relevant!</p><p><br /></p><p>Sources:</p><p>- RIC V;</p><p>- RIC V Online;</p><p>- "À propos des ateliers de Smyrne et de Cyzique sous Claude II le Gothique", BCEN 2, P. Gysen, 1999;</p><p>- "L'ouverture de l'atelier impérial de Cyzique sous le règne de Claude II le Gothique", RN 163, J. Mairat, 2007;</p><p>- "Metal analyses of Roman Coins minted under the Empire", British Museum Occasional Paper 120, Cope et al., 1997;[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Claudius_Gothicus, post: 7379723, member: 116315"]I haven't picked up many coins in the last couple of months, unfortunately, but amongst those I purchased, this one was without a doubt the most interesting, as it belongs to a small subgroup of antoniniani struck as part of Claudius II's Smyrna issue in late 268 AD, before the mint was moved to Cyzicus: [ATTACH=full]1285023[/ATTACH] Claudius II (268-270), Antoninianus, Smyrna mint, second officina. Obverse: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; two dots beneath; Reverse: VIRTV-TI AVG, Mars standing right, holding spear pointing up in right hand and shield which rests on ground in left hand; SPQR in exergue; RIC - , RIC V Online 825 The VIRTVTI antoniniani from this mint come with four different reverses that, however, all feature the same reverse legend; the reverse types are: - Trophy and arms flanked by two captives; - Mars standing right; - Mars standing left; - Mars walking right; Now, these coins are more interesting than they seem like at first glance, and I'd like to analyze them by talking about a few points, the first one being the context in which they were struck: Claudius II's issue from Smyrna used most of the reverses that had already been introduced under Gallienus, and as such it's no surprise that the most common reverse of the four is known for both emperors: [ATTACH=full]1285022[/ATTACH] Claudius II (268-270), Antoninianus, Smyrna mint. Obverse: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; Reverse: VIRTV-TI AVG, trophy and arms flanked by two captives, SPQR in exergue; RIC 255, RIC V online 822. I am unfortunately lacking an example of Gallienus', but I can show you this one of Claudius II; this type, while scarce, is still far more common than the other three that share this reverse legend, which are all unknown for Gallienus, suggesting that they were introduced for his successor; the question that arises, then, is: why? Why did the staff at the Smyrna mint create three new reverses, while all the others were recycled from the previous emperor's emission? Was there an explicit, intentional effort from the mint to portray the new emperor as a saviour from the turmoil that the Roman Empire was suffering from, or were these reverses also struck for Gallienus, and we simply haven't found them yet? Maybe time will tell. Now, let's analyze these three rarer reverse types, which are by far more interesting than the generic trophy type; as far as I known, only Gysen, in his 1999 article "À propos des ateliers de Smyrne et de Cyzique sous Claude II le Gothique", published in BCEN 2, wrote about these coins, where he classified them like this, taking into account both the reverse and the bust type (The Cercle d'Études Numismatiques was kind enough to send me a scan of the whole article): [ATTACH=full]1285028[/ATTACH] You will instantly notice that something's not right, as there are three types listed instead of four; it seems like this was caused by an error on Gysen's part, who listed together the "Mars standing right" type ([URL]http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/825?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=1&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced[/URL]), which is the one I have just received, together with the "Mars walking right type" ([URL]http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/849?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced#type-data-coin[/URL] and [URL]http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/848?tempRIC=&asmSelect0=&asmSelect1=&asmSelect2=&asmSelect3=&asmSelect4=&asmSelect5=&asmSelect6=&asmSelect7=&Legend=VIRTVTI+AVG&asmSelect8=&asmSelect9=&asmSelect10=&asmSelect11=&BustDescription=&ReverseDescription=&Note=&Reference=&page=2&mod=result&hpp=5&from=advanced[/URL] - of this second one Gysen didn't show any photos and didn't write any references, so its actual existance is uncertain). The doubts aren't over yet, however, because, if you check the RIC V Online pages, you will notice that the figure on the reverse is identified as Virtus, and not as Mars; now, telling them apart is not always easy on Roman coins, but I believe that in this instance it's possible and, personally, I agree with Gysen's interpretation, since, as you can see from the unique antoninianus in Vienna, the figure is shown in the "propugnator" stance, with spear and shield, which would be typical for Mars but unheard of for Virtus, suggesting that the coin is portraying the god of war himself; however, if anyone has a different opinion, I'd like to hear it :)! That's all for now; I must admit that I really enjoyed researching this little-known group of coins, and I'd definitely like to build a full set of them with all four reverses, although I doubt it might be truly attainable, due to the rarity of the "walking right" type. Post your coins featuring Mars or Virtus, your coins of Gallienus or Claudius II from Smyrna, or anything else you believe might be relevant! Sources: - RIC V; - RIC V Online; - "À propos des ateliers de Smyrne et de Cyzique sous Claude II le Gothique", BCEN 2, P. Gysen, 1999; - "L'ouverture de l'atelier impérial de Cyzique sous le règne de Claude II le Gothique", RN 163, J. Mairat, 2007; - "Metal analyses of Roman Coins minted under the Empire", British Museum Occasional Paper 120, Cope et al., 1997;[/QUOTE]
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