Victory Shoots and Scores!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by David Atherton, Jul 12, 2020.

  1. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    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.

    D497.jpg
    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.
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2020
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Very nice addition, David.
     
    David Atherton likes this.
  4. Carl Wilmont

    Carl Wilmont Well-Known Member

    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).

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2020
  5. Sidney Osborne

    Sidney Osborne Well-Known Member

    I'll wait for old Hoopster to score...
     
    Oldhoopster and Carl Wilmont like this.
  6. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    I post this one al the time, but here's two victories sharing a pint over their latest victory.
    Constantine I Barbarous.JPG
     
  7. Ajax

    Ajax Well-Known Member

    Trajan also seemed to enjoying watching Victory shoot hoops. Nice coin, David
    Trajan Victory As.jpg
     
  8. OutsiderSubtype

    OutsiderSubtype Well-Known Member

    Looks to me like your Victory is cutting down the net @Carl Wilmont .
     
    Carl Wilmont likes this.
  9. Oldhoopster

    Oldhoopster Member of the ANA since 1982

    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.
     
  10. Carl Wilmont

    Carl Wilmont Well-Known Member

    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!! ;)
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  11. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    The colour on your coin is wonderful David.
     
    David Atherton likes this.
  12. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Why don't we do this in modern basketball? The romans really knew how to celebrate a ball game victory
     
    David Atherton and Carl Wilmont like this.
  13. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    The photo only hints at the patina's vibrancy. I think it looks rather 'Christmasy' in hand.
     
    thejewk and Carl Wilmont like this.
  14. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Yep that Victory really gets around. She is a real globe trotter.

    Amazing coin David. You keep finding these gems.
     
    David Atherton and Alegandron like this.
  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    David Atherton likes this.
  16. singig

    singig Well-Known Member

    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
    domit-vic.jpg
     
  17. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    A bit different, but a Venus Victrix, which is at least related to Victory!
    Caracalla RIC 312d.jpeg
    This was an extremely generous Secret Saturnalia gift, which is both my most aesthetically pleasing and most valuable ancient coin ever.
     
  18. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Here's Victory trotting on a globe!

    Trebonianus Gallus VICTORIA AVG facing right antoninianus Antioch.jpg
     
  19. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Love it! :p

    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? ;)

    [​IMG]
     
    Carl Wilmont, singig, Bing and 3 others like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page