Thanks
Mat, Randygeki(h2) and Joss for your kind comments. Although the photo is
good, the coin does look even better in the hand.
As I get older I am starting to appreciate things that are not usually noticed but beautiful if you take the time to look. Although the image on the
reverse of a
denarius is tiny, the the artist has actually been able to cut the die with such skill that the
dog is given a sympathetic expression that gives the viewer, especially one that has or knows dogs, an emotional impact.
A case of an artist creating the image required by the authorities, but going the extra step to make a little
work of art that we can look at and enjoy over 2,000 years after he and
his political masters have gone.
Steve