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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Geography||View Options:   | | | Every ancient coin is associated with a place, at the least where it was minted. Rarely, but occasionally, we learn where a coin was found. Many ancient coins depict the personification of a nation, province, city, or river. Every coin has some tie to geography. Of course collecting every coin is not a theme, so geography must be narrowed down in some way. Collecting the coins of one mint, city or region is popular. Hadrian's famous "travel series" would make an excellent geography theme collection. Another is the travels of Paul. Or you could collect coins from all places you simply find captivating. |
The "Gold Tribute Penny." The Gospel of Thomas 100:1-4 (excluded from the New Testament) tells a slightly different version of the "Tribute Penny" story.."They showed Jesus a gold (coin) and said to him: Caesar’s agents demand taxes from us. He said to them: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar; give to God what belongs to God, and give to me what is mine."SH43071. Gold aureus, Giard Lyon, group 1, 143; RIC I 25 (R2); BMCRE I 30; SRCV I 1760; Calico 305d (S.1); Cohen I 15; SRCV I 1760, aVF, nicely centered, weight 7.523 g, maximum diameter 19.6 mm, die axis 180o, Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, early 'plain' fine style, c. 15 - 18 A.D.; obverse TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right; reverse PONTIF MAXIM (high priest), Pax (or Livia as Pax) seated right on chair with plain legs set on base, long scepter vertical behind in her right hand, branch in left hand, no footstool; rare (R2); SOLD
Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D.
A decursio was a military exercise, by which Roman soldiers were taught to make long marches in a given time, under arms and without quitting their ranks. They sometimes consisted of a mock fight between two divisions. Augustus and subsequently Hadrian ordered that the infantry and cavalry were to march out three times a month ten miles from the camp and ten miles back, fully armed and equipped. Decursio on this coin probably refers Nero's participation in mock military maneuvers in the circus.SH38174. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC I 436, Mac Dowall WCN 418, BMCRE I 312 ff., gVF, weight 27.255 g, maximum diameter 37.1 mm, die axis 180o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, c. 65 A.D.; obverse NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate bust right, globe at point of bust; reverse DECVRSIO (in exergue), Nero and a companion on horseback prancing right, Nero holds spear in right hand, companion holds vexillum in right over shoulder, S - C (senatus consulto) flanking across field; superb portrait; SOLD
Caligula, 16 March 37 - 24 January 41 A.D., Germanicus Reverse
Issued under Caligula in honor of his deceased father. Germanicus inflicted serious defeats on the barbarian tribes in Germania and recovered the legionary standards lost by Varus. He was to be Tiberius' successor but died of an unknown cause. His tremendous popularity helped his son Caligula obtain the throne after Tiberius died.SH37588. Silver denarius, RIC I 18, BnF II 28, BMCRE I 19, RSC I 2, SRCV I 1813 var, gVF, surface roughness, weight 3.313 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 180o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, struck under Caligula, 37 A.D.; obverse C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, laureate head of Caligula right; reverse GERMANICVS CAES P C CAES AVG GERM, bare head of Germanicus right; SOLD
Augustus, 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D.
The Altar of Lugdunum and the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls were dedicated by Augustus on 1 August 10 B.C., the very same day Drusus' son, the future emperor Claudius, was born in Lugdunum. All the notable men of Gaul were invited. Caius Julius Vercondaridubnus, a member of the Aedui tribe, was the first priest of the new imperial cult. The altar, which was engraved with the names of 60 Gallic tribes, was featured prominently on coins from the Lugdunum mint for many years.SH110377. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC I 231a, Lyon 95, BMCRE I 565, BnF I 1699; Giard Lyon 95; SRCV I 1657, Cohen I 236, VF, near centered on a tight flan, nice portrait, attractive toned surfaces, some green patina, small spots of light corrosion, weight 23.091 g, maximum diameter 33.9 mm, die axis 0o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, 10 - 14 A.D.; obverse CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head right; reverse ROM ET AVG, front elevation of the Altar of Lugdunum, decorated with the corona civica between laurels, these being flanked by nude male figures, the altar is flanked on each side by a Victory on a column, facing inward and bearing a wreath and palm frond; ex CGB auction (7 Aug 2021), lot 100; ex the collection of J. H.; SOLD
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C.
An apparently unique tetradrachm with the Akko mintmark and the two letters perhaps associated with Sosibius, advisor to Ptolemy IV.
Ptolemy IV's surname Philopator means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch.SH64462. Silver tetradrachm, unpublished, cf. Svoronos 786 (Ptolemy II, different monogram), SNG Milan -, SNG Cop -; BMC Ptolemies -, Noeske -, Hosking -, VF, weight 13.792 g, maximum diameter 25.5 mm, die axis 0o, Galilee, Ake Ptolemais (Acre, Israel) mint, 205 B.C.; obverse diademed bust of Ptolemy right wearing aegis; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY ΣΩTHPOΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head left, wings closed, ΠTO monogram at left, retrograde ΣΩ right; perhaps unique; SOLD
Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D.
The "Gold Tribute Penny." The Gospel of Thomas 100:1-4 (excluded from the New Testament) tells a slightly different version of the "Tribute Penny" story.."They showed Jesus a gold (coin) and said to him: Caesar’s agents demand taxes from us. He said to them: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar; give to God what belongs to God, and give to me what is mine."SH57789. Gold aureus, Giard Lyon, group 2, 145; RIC I 27 (R2); BMCRE I 40; Calico 305a (S.3); Cohen I 15; SRCV I 1760, VF, weight 7.702 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 0o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, early ornate style, 15 - 18 A.D.; obverse TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right; reverse PONTIF MAXIM (high priest), Pax (or Livia as Pax) seated right on chair with ornately decorated legs set on base, long scepter vertical behind in her right hand, branch in left hand, no footstool; rare; SOLD
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C.
Use of the title "King" suggests a date before 261 B.C. The style of the portrait is that of mid-reign of Ptolemy II, and unlike and finer than those of the Phoenician mints. The portrait style and compact lettering are similar to those on the rare ΘΕ mintmark coins, probably struck at Thera, an Aegean base for the Ptolemaic Navy. A dolphin mintmark was used on Alexander tetradrachms from an unknown Greek or Macedonian mint. Perhaps this coin was struck in the same uncertain Greek city.SH66538. Silver tetradrachm, unpublished(?), not in references held by Forum and no examples found online, VF, reverse graffiti, weight 14.083 g, maximum diameter 27.6 mm, die axis 0o, uncertain Greek(?) mint, c. 265 B.C.; obverse diademed bust of Ptolemy I right with aegis; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing right on thunderbolt, head left, wings closed, dolphin left before; ex Pegasi, unpublished, puzzling and possibly unique; SOLD
Augustus, 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D.
Strabo wrote, "The Romans possess Lugdunum, founded below a ridge at the confluence of the Arar and the Rhone. It is the most populous of all the other cities except Narbo; for it is a center of commerce, and the Roman emperors strike their silver and gold coinage there." (4.3.2)
RS85086. Silver denarius, RIC I 167a, BMCRE I 451, RSC I 137, BnF I 1373, Hunter I 197, SRCV I 1610, Choice near Mint State, well centered and struck, lustrous, very light rose-gold toning, some light marks and deposits, weight 3.606 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 180o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, 15 - 13 B.C.; obverse AVGVSTVS DIVI•F, bare head right, dot border; reverse bull butting right, left foreleg raised, lashing tail, IMP•X in exergue, linear border; SOLD
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, 51 - 30 B.C.
Cleopatra VII is of the most famous women in all of history. She originally shared power with her father Ptolemy XII and later with her brother-husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV. Her relationship with Julius Caesar led to sole rule. Later she aligned with and married Mark Antony. Her suicide after they were defeated by Octavian marks the end of the Hellenistic Era and the beginning of the Roman Era. She was the last Pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Click to see a video demonstration recreating Cleopatra's hairstyle. GP93416. Bronze hemiobol, Svoronos 1872; Weiser 184; SNG Cop 422; BMC Alexandria p. 123, 5; Noeske 383; Sear CRI 949, Choice aVF, nice portrait, well centered, attractive green and brown surfaces, scratches, beveled obverse edge, weight 8.195 g, maximum diameter 21.1 mm, die axis 0o, Egypt, Alexandria mint, 51 - 30 B.C.; obverse diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, characteristic melon coif; reverse KΛEOΠATPAΣ BACIΛICCHC (Queen Cleopatra), eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left, cornucopia left, M (40 drachms = hemiobol) right; from the Errett Bishop Collection; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Egypt, Ptolemy I, as Satrap, 323 - 305 B.C., Portrait of Alexander
Ptolemy, one of Alexander the Great's generals, was appointed Satrap of Egypt in 323 B.C. In 305 B.C. he took the title king and established the Ptolemaic dynasty.SH96809. Silver tetradrachm, Lorber CPE 77; Svoronos 107, pl. 4, 11; Delta Hoard 109 - 116, VF, toned, banker's mark on cheek, scratches, weight 15.236 g, maximum diameter 28.4 mm, die axis 0o, uncertain Egyptian (perhaps Pelusium) mint, 306 - 305 B.C.; obverse Alexander the Great, head right, wearing elephant scalp headdress and aegis; reverse Athena Promachos advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand, shield on left arm, monogram inner right, eagle right on thunderbolt lower right, AΛEΞANΔPOY upward on left; from the CEB Collection; ex Numismatic Fine Arts auction XXXI (18 Mar 1993), lot 375; upon request we will include the NFA auction XXXI catalog with this coin - use checkout comments to request the catalog; SOLD
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