My latest arrival has inspired another bit of fanciful pareidolia. This time it's Victory apparently playing basketball ... or carrying a shield and bragging about another Roman victory, you decide. Domitian Æ As, 9.41g Rome mint, 86 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XII CENS PER P P; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: S C in field; Victory flying l., with shield inscribed SPQR RIC 497 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. Acquired from Praefectus Coins, July 2020. This Victory reverse was copied from Nero by Vespasian and briefly struck for Domitian in 85-86. It likely was part of Domitian's large bronze issue commemorating his recent victory over the Chatti. This is the final appearance of the type under Domitian, which lends credence to the theory it specifically refers to the Germanic War. Extremely rare and missing from both the BM and Paris collections. Feel free to post your 'sports' themed coins.
Neat coin, @David Atherton, - what a dribbler! Here she is celebrating after a basketball match played in 72/3 AD. Obverse: Coach Vespasian. Reverse: Victory placing the cut-down net atop the traditional champion's game stake which has already been adorned with the MVP's jersey, and three game balls which have been pierced through (the bottom one severely deflated).
Nice coin, but I'm partial to basketball references. I'll show the pic to my son. He had a very minor interest in coins when he was younger, but I think he just liked somebody giving him state quarters. Maybe this will pique his interest.
Yes, @OutsiderSubtype, that's a more fitting description, and I'm going to edit my post accordingly. Thanks for helping me improve the accuracy of my scholarly attribution!!
Why don't we do this in modern basketball? The romans really knew how to celebrate a ball game victory
Yep that Victory really gets around. She is a real globe trotter. Amazing coin David. You keep finding these gems.
Domitian , As , RIC II 308 IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS XI Bust of Domitian, laureate, right with aegis/ Victory advancing left, holding shield inscribed S P Q R , S C
A bit different, but a Venus Victrix, which is at least related to Victory! This was an extremely generous Secret Saturnalia gift, which is both my most aesthetically pleasing and most valuable ancient coin ever.
Love it! Speaking of Victories and fanciful pareidolia, check out the space shuttle on the reverse of this Nero dupondius. See it there, blasting off behind that lady's head?