Author Topic: Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Brass AE30 29.5mm 15.313g (Read 954 times)

Joe Sermarini · « **on:** September 14, 2017, 09:00:07 am »

Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Brass AE30 29.5mm 15.313g

The consignor identified it as Koinon of Cyprus and that fits but it is not in RPC.

Obv: Laureate head of Antoninus Pius right
Rev: AVT KAI M AVP ANTWNINOC CEB, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Marcus Aurelius right

My questions, which I have not been able to answer...

Where is it from? Cyprus?
References?
If unpublished, references for either die alone?

Thanks for any assistance, Joe

Joe Sermarini · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2017, 12:53:03 pm »

Bump.

curtislclay · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2017, 02:20:06 pm »

It seems clear from the legend that the obverse, shown as rev. above, must be Marcus Aurelius. By 161 when he became Augustus Marcus was already wearing a substantial beard, but I suppose it's possible that a short beard, at least, is concealed by the wear on this specimen.

The portrait on the rev., shown as obv. above, doesn't look like Antoninus Pius; more likely Lucius Verus. The rev. legend would probably have named the emperor and the mint, but is unfortunately worn away! Curiously the two dies are of different sizes: larger for Verus, smaller for Marcus.

Searching RPC online for rev. type "Lucius Verus bust" brings three hits:

10851 Hadrianopolis, Thrace, AE 22, 4.90g, both emperors laureate not bare-headed, and Marcus has a slightly different obv. legend; no picture

3517 Callatis, Thrace, AE 23, 8.54g, both emperors again laureate not bare-headed, and Marcus has a slightly different obv. legend

8664 Nicomedia, Bithynia, AE 26, 9.56g, Sear 1703 = BMC 23, both emperors bare-headed, and Marcus has the same legend as on Joe's coin.

The first two coins are too small, and vary slightly in bust type and obv. legend. The third seems to be a possibility, though Joe's coin would be a larger and heavier variant of the ones known so far.

I will send the picture to Volker Heuchert (RPC), in the hope that he can solve the problem!

EDIT: I see Lucius is apparently laureate not bare-headed on Joe's coin, which differentiates it from the known Nicomedia specimens.

Joe Sermarini · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2017, 05:07:46 pm »

Thanks Curtis. I think you have us much closer.

curtislclay · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2017, 05:34:16 pm »

Searching RPC for rev. "Lucius Verus head" (rather than "bust") didn't help further with the ID of your coin, but it did show me the correct attribution for a coin of Marcus and Verus that I had bought in July 2017, but had been unable to identify.

It is from Laodicea in Syria, RPC temp. 9261. IOV for "Julia" is visible before Marcus' neck on my example, but not the key ΛA or ΛAO for Laodicea which should appear before the neck of Verus. Dealer's photos here:

Tom Mullally · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2017, 11:39:43 pm »

I have five coins of Nicomedia in my photo file with Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Neither are a match to Joe's coin. Please see Rec Gen 113 for the description and legends.

Tom