Ugly Vulcan

I found another early rare instance of a temple on a Greek coin, although under Roman rule about 2nd century BC. It looks as if the Celator's of that day and age didn't care for handsome portraiture.
Spain, Malika Æ Half Unit. 2nd century BC. Head of Vulcan right, wearing conical cap; Neo-Punic MLK' and tongs to left / Tetrastyle temple with pellet in pediment. ACIP 794; SNG BM Spain 385. 3.46g, 17mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely rare variety with tongs to left, rated R9 by ACIP.

Ex CGB Monnaies 28, lot 481, Jan. 25 2007.


Málaga's history spans about 2,800 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world . It was founded by the Phoenicians as Malaka about 770 BC, and from the 6th century BC was under the hegemony of Ancient Carthage . Then from 218 BC it was ruled by the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire as Malaca (Latin).

The Phoenicians from Tyre founded the city as Malaka about 770 BC. The name Malaḥa or mlḥ is probably derived from the Phoenician word for "salt" because fish was salted near the harbour.

After a period of Carthaginian rule, Malaka became part of the Roman Empire . In its Roman stage, the city (Latin name, Malaca) showed a remarkable degree of development. Transformed into a confederated city, it was under a special law, the Lex Flavia Malacitana. A Roman theatre was built at this time. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire , it was ruled first by the Visigoths and then by the Byzantine Empire. For those not sure where Malaga is check map, looks like a very nice location.



A word about VULCAN.

Hephaestus (Ancient Greek: Ἥφαιστος Hēphaistos) is the Greek god of blacksmiths , craftsmen , artisans , sculptors , metals , metallurgy , fire and volcanoes . Hephaestus' Roman equivalent is Vulcan . In Greek mythology, Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of the gods. In another version, he was Hera's parthenogens child, rejected by his mother because of his deformity and thrown out of heaven and down to earth.

As a smithing god, Hephaestus made all the weapons of the gods in Olympus. He served as the blacksmith of the gods, and was worshipped in the manufacturing and industrial centres of Greece, particularly Athens . The cult of Hephaestus was based in Lemnos . Hephaestus' symbols are a smith's hammer , anvil , and a pair of tongs .

This is another place I need to visit, has huge archaeological sites, as below.




SHOW ME THOSE UGLY VULCAN COINS AND ANCIENT SPANISH COINS.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Very nice write up and super interesting coin.
I have been looking for a coin of Vulcan for some time. My Father worked as a Tool & Die maker in Canada but I have his original trade papers from Dublin, Ireland where he achieved the trade of Blacksmith.
He told me often that when he came to Canada in the early '60's and showed his papers at a job interview he was always asked (in a joking manner) if he could shoe horses.. and had to gently correct them, stating the correct trade for that work would be a "Farrier"... but he could make whatever they wanted out of metal... and do it fast and well.

 

One of my only ancient Spanish coins...


SPAIN, Castulo Circa mid 2nd century BC Æ
O: Laureate male head right, CN VOC ST F
R: Bull standing right, crescent above, CN FVL CNF
CNH 15; SNG BM Spain 1264

To add something else related to the topic; here is a picture of the Temple of Hephaestus(Athens).

 

Interesting family story – it's a pity that such tradition-steeped trades and the respective skills and knowledge of craftsmanship have gone all but extinct.

If you're looking for a Roman Vulcan, this type of Valerian I is probably the easiest to get. I'm not sure whether my example counts as "ugly." I've seen a few better ones, but most are worse:

Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 258 AD, Lugdunum mint. Obv: Obv: VALERIANVS P F AVG; bust of Valerian I, radiate, draped, l. Rev: DEO VOLKANO; Vulcan, draped, wearing pilos, standing l. in temple, holding hammer in r. hand and pincers in l. hand; at his feet l., anvil. 22mm, 3.16g. Ref: RIC V Valerian 5.

And, in addition, here is a nice little Spanish coin I like a lot but have rarely shown. Always reminds me of many a good summer day at my in-laws' place in Catalonia – if COVID-19 hadn't turned all our lifes uside down, I would probably be there right now...

Iberia, Arse (Saguntum), Edetani tribe (under Roman rule), AE quadrans, ca. 170–120 BC. Obv: scallop. Rev: "AIUBaS" in Iberian letters; dolphin; above, three pellets. 17mm, 4.13g. Ref: Álvarez-Burgos 2008 (ABH) 2051.

 

VULCAN

Not ugly, but is typical for this coin series (split flan)



Samnium Aesernia AE21 263-240 BCE HN Italy 430 Vulcan Left - Biga


This one is for your father, @Clavdivs ... made WELL


Samnium Aesernia 263-240 BC AE 20 Vulcan Pilos Tongs Jupiter Biga Left

 

An interesting topic for discussion. I very much like the Iberian coinage of the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, a nice blend of the Roman and Celtic styles. I only have 3 Iberians, here's my favourite.

Unit, Castulo, late 2nd Century BC

 

ANCIENT IBERIA


OSCA Spain AR silver denarius 204-154 BC. Head r beard -N behind - Horseman spear, Iberian PMAN BOLSCAN Burgos 1501 Villaronga 3



Iberia Secaisa Segeda AE 25 2nd-1st C BC Male Hd Dolphin Horseman Galloping



Spain Osca Æ Semis 25mm 8.0g 1st C BCE Bearded male hd R Horseman galloping R holding spear star SNG Cop 325 Burgos 1918



Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx



Iberia - Castulo AE14 Quarter Unit Bust - BOAR w-star 2nd C BCE

 

CARTHAGE SPAIN


Carthage Iberia
218-208 BCE
AE 13
1/4 Calco
Barcid Military Mint - 2nd Punic War
Tanit
Helmet


COLUMBUS' SPAIN


Spain -
Ferdinand and Isabella
AE Blanca -
Granada mint
1469-1504 CE

 

Iberia. Carteia. Circa first century BC. Æ Semis (20mm, 7.13g, 10h). Obv: Head of Jupiter-Saturn right, S before. Rev: CARTEIA; Dolphin left, crescent above. Ref: ACIP 2576; CNH 39; SNG BM Spain 1716-1717. Heavy example, oversturck on an earlier issue(?).

 

...UGLY VUCAN?!?....bite your tongue

 

ROMAN SPAIN


Roman Republic RR Anon AE Semis 211-207 BCE Saturn S Prow ROMA Sear 766 Craw 56-3 Spain Punic War



RI Augustus 27 BCE-14CE AE As or Semis Spain Celsa Mint 29mm 5.0g Laureate Augustus - Bull RPC271 Cut in ancient times to make change



RImp Spain Lepida-Clesa Lepidus 44-36BCE C Balbus L Porcius Colonia Victrix Ivlia Lepida Victory - Bull holed RPI 262 plate 19

 

Great coin and love your pic, thanks for sharing.

 

@Ancient Aussie.....Not ugly at all!.....Wooh that's a 'sweet' coin!....Nicely centred and lovely detail.....As you've said this is a DIFFICULT coin to obtain especially in this condition, a great pick up....Congrats!....Enjoyed the write up too thanks.
Castulo, Spain AE As. 30 mm, 22g. 76-45 BC.
ISCER SACAL, youthful male head right.
CAST SOCED, sphinx right.
Burgos (2008) 709; Ripolles 905; Villaronga 14.

 

That is one fantastic coin you have there, love the detail on the sphinx.

 

Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I don't think I have seen many large coins like yours from that era, is it the equivalent of a Roman Sestertius?

 

Nice pickup, AA. Mine is a different type, but also has Vulcan on the obverse. I think our die engravers went to the same school.

IBERIA, Malaka
AE Quarter Unit. 3.15g, 14.4mm. IBERIA, Malaka, circa 2nd century BC. ACIP 780; SNG BM Spain 388-90. O: Beardless head of Hephaistos/Vulcan right, wearing cap; MLK' in Phoenician letters behind. R: Eight-rayed star with intercalations and central pellet.

 

What is most remarkable about the OP coin is the condition of the temple on the reverse.

Nice.

 

Valerian II. Caesar, 256-258 AD. Aspendos, Pamphylia. Æ 32 (16.91 gm). Obv: ΠOΥ ΛIK KOΡ OΥAΛEΡIANON KAIC CE his bare and draped bust, right, above an eagle with wings spread. Mark of value "A" in right field not visible. Rev: AΣΠEN-ΔIΩN, Hephaistos wearing conical cap seated right, holding hammer in r. hand, and shield of Achilles (?) in left hand. Flaming forge below and to his right. BMC__; SNG Cop__; von Aulock__; SNG France__; SNG PFPS__; Leopold__; Isegrim__. Cf. SNG France 207 (for rev. type [Valerian I]). Apparently unpublished. A single example found at: http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=13106

 

Thanks, yours has great eye appeal, but definitely a different celator where's yours seed to have a problem getting the columns perpendicular.