Author Topic: Favorite Dupondius? (Read 12932 times)

Noah · « **on:** July 18, 2008, 11:21:38 pm »

I have owned the occasional dupondius here and there, but have not seen many. I thought it would be nice to have members showcase their best examples or specimens they find appealing. I do not believe I have seen a thread with this specific angle. Perhaps it is just to indulge my curiosity, but I am inclined to believe that there are others with this interest as well. So, post away and let us 'enjoy the show.'

Best, Noah

Noah · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2008, 11:37:32 pm »

I suppose I'll start with my favorite. I only own two, so this is my favorite...the patina and the portrait attracted me to this coin, however, the elegant flying victory on the reverse had me smitten.

Nero Dupondius

AttributionRIC I 447, New Sear 1970, Lugdunum
Date: AD 65
Obverse: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER PM TRP IMP P, laureate bust r. with globe at tip of bust
Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory flying l. holding wreath and palm frond, SC in l. and r. fields
Size: 29.5 mm
Weight: 14.5 grams

Best, Noah

Cleisthenes · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2008, 01:36:40 am »

Noah,

Your specimen is a beauty: really fine portrait and patina!

Jim

LordBest · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2008, 04:04:41 am »

I only have one, so technically it is automatically my favourite, but it is a coin I love a great deal:

Domitian. AE Dupondius. 10.08g, 28.3mm, 180o, Rome mint, Apr - Nov 85 A.D.;
Obverse IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS POT P P, radiate head right with aegis.
Reverse FORTVNAE AVGVSTI S C, Fortuna standing left holding rudder and cornucopia. scarce. choice gVF. RIC 293, Cohen 121. ex Forvm.
LordBest.

PeterD · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2008, 05:45:26 am »

I think I've shown this one before, but it's worth showing again.

Obv: Laureate bust left; globe at point of bust. "NERO CLAVD. CAESAR AVG. GER. P.M. TR P. IMP. P"

Rev: Front view of Nero's two storeyed provision market (Macellum Magnum), showing domed central section approached by steps and containing statue on pedestal, flanked by columned wings (the right one set back) and columned upper storey. "MAC AVG", "SC" around steps.

RIC 400, 29mm, 16.9gm

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2008, 05:08:41 pm »

I hesitate to show this poorly struck specimen next to PeterD's beauty, but it's the only dup I have (it's not my period) and it's a coin of major historical significance, commemorating Germanicus' triumph after his recovery of the eagles lost in the Varus disaster.

Arminius · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2008, 05:44:25 pm »

Well, if this is a dupondius is not quite clear.
Nevertheless concerning style and conservation it´s my favo(u)rite coin of those that might be called dupondius:

C. Julius Caesar, moneyer Q. Oppius praetor, uncertain mint (in Italy?), ca. 45 BC.,
AE 25-29 (AE-obol / dupondius ?),
Obv.: Diademed head of Venus r., to r. symbol: (star in?) crescent
Rev.: '[Q OPPI]VS PR , Victory advancing l., head r., holding palm branch and bowl of fruit, to r. symbol: thunderbolt
RPC 602 ; BMCRR 4132-4133 ; Crawford 550/2 var. ; E. Badian in ANSMN 29 (1984), 99-102 .

regards

Noah · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2008, 08:45:54 pm »

Thanks for the compliment Jim. These are all lovely specimens! Keep them coming please...

Best, Noah

4to2CentBCphilia · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:03:52 pm »

Do we need to own the coin?

If not, I have coveted this coin for quite sometime. Unfortunately it changed hands before I realized it was available.

I collect greeks, but this one has always caught my attention.

AE Nero Dupondius 54-68 A.D. (16.16g, 29 mm)
Rome mint (note the slightly smaller diameter and lighter weight of Lugdunum issues).
O: Radiate bust r; NERO CLAUD CAESAR AUG GERM PM TRP IMP PP; RIC 191. WCN 193.
R: SECURITAS AUGUSTI; Securitas, resting on hand and holding scepter, enthroned r. before garlanded altar, lighted torch at her feet, double arched façade behind; S C in fields; II in exergue as mark of value.
G: Chocolate brown patina with reddish accents on the obverse with subtle green patination of the reverse (in indirect daylight), as the coin is essentially uncleaned. Magnificent style in high relief and a particularly elegant reverse style. Rare thus

Noah · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:35:12 pm »

Really spectacular coin! Nero sure has been well represented so far on this thread. As for me, I do not care if they are actually owned by those who post; I just want to see great coins. It is nice, however, to see FORVM members' examples showcased.

Best, Noah

Potator II · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2008, 04:36:28 am »

Nice coins everyone, and interesting thread Noah.

I suppose I will show off two of my dupondii amongst the five or six I have. Not sure they are the best, just the ones I choose today. Tomorrow might be others. Germanicus and Nero will do the job today :

Potator

mix_val · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2008, 08:24:37 am »

I've always loved dupondii and look forward to seeing more! Here's the best dupondius from my collection

Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ Dupondius (11.66 g, 12h). Rome mint. Special issue, AD 228. IMP SEV ALE-XANDER AVG, radiate bust right, wearing aegis / RESTITV-TOR MON, S C across field, Alexander standing left, extending right hand, holding spear in left. RIC IV 601; BMCRE 546-7; Cohen 517

Potator II · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2008, 08:57:34 am »

mix_val, this Severus Alexander is awsome.

maridvnvm · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2008, 09:26:23 am »

One that used to be in my collection, which wasn't listed in the old RIC II. Given that Vespasian hadn't been done so far I thought it worth adding:-

Martin

Noah · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2008, 09:53:39 am »

Jean-Claude, mix_val, and Martin...what lovely examples!

Best, Noah

Noah · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2008, 03:18:35 pm »

It does seem that this topic is slowing down. I know there are many more fabulous examples out there. So, I will jump start this again with my second and last dupondius.\

Hadrian AE Dupondius

Attribution: RIC 654
Date: AD 117-138
Obverse: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, radiate head r.
Reverse: COS III, Equity stg. l. holding scales & cornucopiae, “S-C” in r. and l. fields
Size: 25 mm
Weight: 9.01 grams

Best, Noah

Potator II · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2008, 04:32:17 pm »

OK Noah, I'll give my two cents too (uh, my two dupondii) :

Augustus & Agrippa, AE Dupondius struck in Nemausus, after 10 AD
IMP DIVI F PP, Laureate heads of Augustus and Agrippa back to back
COL NEM, Crocodile chained to palm tree
12.84 gr
Ref : RCV #1731, Cohen #8

Potator II · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2008, 04:33:38 pm »

Trajan, Dupondius
Dupondius struck in 114 AD
IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS VI PP, Radiate bust of Trajan right
SENATUS POPULUS QUE ROMANUS, Fortuna standing left holding cornucopiae and caduceus. SC in field
12.43 gr
Ref : RCV -, Cohen # 353

Regards
Potator

Jochen · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2008, 10:15:10 am »

Hi!

This I think is supposed to be the first Roman dupondius:

Roman Republic, C. Clovius, gens Clovia
AE - Orichalcum-Dupondius, 14.87g, 27mm
struck 45 BC for Julius Caesar, mint in northern Italy (probably Milano)
obv. bust of Victoria, winged, draped and with ear-ring, r., star behind
CAESAR.DIC.TER before
rev. Minerva, wearing Korinthian helmet, advancing l., holding trophy over r.
shoulder, spear and shield decorated with head of Medusa; behind her feet a
snake, erecting in front of her.
C.CLOVI before, PRAEF behind
Crawford 476/1a; Sydenham 1025; C.7; RPC I 601/1; CRI 62; Julia 17; BMRR 4125
about VF, attractive yellow-olive patina (so-called river-patina!)
Pedigree:
ex Glendining 25.June 1997, lot 45
ex CNG

An exceptional issue: It is the first Roman coin struck from Orichalcum (brass). Probably this type was struck after the victory over the sons of Pompeius at Munda 17.March AD 45 to serve as donation at his triumph in Rome. The depiction is unusual and is a symbol of Caesar's military abilities. Brass was used probably to make the look of the coin more valuable.

Here you can find more informations about this type: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=5711.msg216482#msg216482

Best regards

Potator II · « **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2008, 11:28:19 am »

A very covetable coin, Jochen. I've missed several of them in auctions the past years...

PeterD · « **Reply #20 on:** July 25, 2008, 12:48:56 pm »

This is my other half-decent dupondius. It features Trajan doing his John Travolta impressions.

Trajan, RIC 676, 13.5 gm, 26.8 mm

Radiate and draped bust, right. "IMP. CAES. NER. TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG. GER. DAC. PARTHICO P. M. TR. P. COS. VI P. P."

Trajan, in military attire, advancing right, head left, between two trophies. "SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS" In exergue: " S. C"

Isn't that Olivia Newton-John in the background?

Noah · « **Reply #21 on:** July 25, 2008, 01:45:42 pm »

Wow, it is amazing what a little bit of begging will get you. That's more like it; a whole bunch more wonderful dupondii!!

Best, Noah

areich · « **Reply #22 on:** July 25, 2008, 03:14:14 pm »

This is my only dupondius as well but it's not just any dupondius, it's one of only two imperial coins in my collection
(i.e. not just lying in one of several heaps on my desk). The picture does not do it justice though.

Andreas

mix_val · « **Reply #23 on:** July 26, 2008, 01:58:32 pm »

I'm partial to my Severus Alexander dupondius but this Trajan comes a close second. A bit rough but outstanding detail

Trajan Æ Dupondius.
IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P COS V PP, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right / p q r optimo principi' target='_blank'>S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S-C, Trajan riding right spearing Dacian enemy. RIC 538. One usually sees the slightly draped versions.