Author Topic: Let's Face It! (facing head coins here) (Read 10281 times)

Enodia · « **on:** April 24, 2016, 03:52:53 pm »

i've run out of collective nouns, but not collective ideas!
i like threads that cast light into our galleries and show off those special little entries which many people quite often miss.
this one will be for Facing Heads, an admittedly narrow category but one which highlights some of the most beautiful coins ever struck, imo. do you have any hiding in your collection? if so then let's have a face-off!

there was a time when i thought of specializing in these types, until i realized that such a collection could be quite cost-prohibitive!

still, i've managed a few over the years, and here (shamelessly) is my latest...

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-128203

alright, faces forward and let's begin...

~ Peter

Sam · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2016, 04:27:46 pm »

THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 405/0-370 BC. AR Drachm.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-127755

Jochen · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2016, 04:30:11 pm »

A wonderful coin (and a nice idea!). Here the face of Helios.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-50342

Best regards

quadrans · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2016, 04:34:43 pm »

After some nice coin ...

It is mine :

Thessaly, Scotussa, (360-344 B.C.), AE-20, SNG Cop 256, Bunch of grapes on vine branch, Rare!!!,
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-123243

Regards
Q.

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2016, 01:24:32 am »

Out of curiosity, what's the earliest facing emperor depicted on a coin?

Jochen · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2016, 07:19:23 am »

My oldest coin with a facing portrait is a tetartemorion from Kolophon in Ionia:

AE 6, 0.2g, 6.22mm, 0°
obv. archaic portrait of Apollo Klarion, laureate, facing
rev. rectangular incus with monogram TE (value)
ref. SNG von Aulock 1999; SNG Kayhan 356; Rosen 567; Milne Colophon 7

It should be from 480-450 BC

Best regards

*Alex · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2016, 09:53:13 am »

Time to bring in the Romans. Two for the price of one.

Arcadius and Honorius on AE4s.

FYI: For the Arcadius CLICK HERE and for the Honorius CLICK HERE.

Alex

*Alex · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2016, 10:14:22 am »

Quote from: Phil A on April 25, 2016, 01:24:32 am

Out of curiosity, what's the earliest facing emperor depicted on a coin?

Off hand the earliest one I can think of is Postumus (below). But I am sure I will be corrected if I'm wrong.

Alex

Molinari · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2016, 11:11:38 am »

I love these threads.

Here is my favorite head facing man-faced bull, from Neapolis.

Neapolis, Bronze, circa 325-320, 3.31 g. Obv: Laureate head of Apollo r.
Rev: Forepart of Achelous Sebethos as a man-faced bull to right; above, dolphin.
SNG Copenhagen 474. Historia Numorum Italy 575 var. Sambon 579 var. Taliercio Id, 7.
Ex. NAC, Auction 64, Lot 1992, from the Giancarlo Silingardi collection.

Enodia · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2016, 02:56:52 pm »

nice coins all. Nick's man-faced bull is interesting, and the Posthumus portrait is outstanding!

here is another one from Campania, this silver fraction being from Phistelia...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-81082

i've always thought that the portraits on this series look very 'leontine', although i don't think that was the engravers intention. but it always reminds me of the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.

~ Peter

Molinari · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2016, 05:20:25 pm »

Here's another fun one, from Spain and featuring a facing Helios:

ROMAN REPUBLIC (Provincial Issue), Spain, Malaca. Circa 80-20 BC. Æ 23mm. Head of Hephaistos (Vulcan) right wearing flat cap; tongs behind / Radiate head of Helios facing. CNH pg. 101, 10; SNG BM Spain 366; P.V. LXXXV, 6; Burgos 1152.

Molinari · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2016, 05:24:37 pm »

And one of my personal favs, from Elymais.

Elymaian Kingdom: Kamnaskires-Orodes. Early-mid 2nd century A.D. Æ tetradrachm (29 mm, 15.18 g). Bearded facing bust, wearing diadem with tuft of hair on top of head; in right field, star-in-crescent above anchor; small pellet between anchor and hair / Dashes. Van’t Haaff 12.1, subtype 1-3D; Alram 481. Brown patina. Very fine.

Ex. Triskeles Auctions, Auction 7, Lot 64.

Jochen · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2016, 05:47:26 pm »

Pisidia, Selge, Herakles with wreath of Styrax leaves, SG 5489,SNG France 1963

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-43200

Jochen

Carausius · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2016, 09:06:53 pm »

My only facing head Roman Republican bronze:

AE Uncia of 217-215 BC (10.88 grams; 24mm). Obv: Facing bust of Sol, pellet (mark of value) to left.
Rev: ROMA; crescent with two stars, pellet (mark of value). Crawford 39/4. ex RBW duplicates, purchased by RBW from Ed Waddell in 1994.

Jochen · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2016, 05:33:59 am »

Troas, Gergis, facing head of sibyl Herophile, SNG von Aulock 1513

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-31864

Best regards

Enodia · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2016, 06:43:24 pm »

here's a pair of facing Athenas from Taras...

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-114880
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-122374

~ Peter

Pekka K · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2016, 04:36:04 am »

Facing Vonones from Parthia.

Pekka K

Pekka K · « **Reply #17 on:** April 27, 2016, 04:38:39 am »

Another small silver from Kolophon, hemiobol.

Pekka K

Molinari · « **Reply #18 on:** April 27, 2016, 11:10:22 am »

I forgot I had this one, featuring Athena:

Antiochos I Soter. 280-261 BC. Æ 14mm. Sardes mint. Facing bust of Athena in triple-crested helmet / BASILEWS ANTIOCOU, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm; counter mark (anchor) to right. SNG Spaer 233; Newell, WSM 1369; cf. Houghton 626.

Enodia · « **Reply #19 on:** April 27, 2016, 04:34:08 pm »

a 2nd century BC bronze from Pella in Macedon, featuring a rather haunting depiction of Demeter veiled...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-121786

~ Peter

quadrans · « **Reply #20 on:** April 29, 2016, 03:53:58 am »

B 058 Anonim-Follis, SB 1813, AE-Follis, Class A Folles' target='_blank'>Class A2, (Constantine VIII. (976-1025 A.D.)),
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-74639

Regards
Q.

quadrans · « **Reply #21 on:** April 29, 2016, 03:57:49 am »

B 004 Iustinianus-I. (527-565 A.D.), SB 0201, Α/NIK, AE-Follis, (40 Nummia), Nikomedia, Year XIII,

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-107455

Regards
Q.

quadrans · « **Reply #22 on:** April 29, 2016, 04:36:52 am »

Thessaly, Larissa, (c.344-337 B.C.), AR-Trihemiobol, SNG Coop 134, ΛΑΡ-IΣ / AIΩN, Horseman galloping right, Rare !

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-123244

Regards
Q.

Jochen · « **Reply #23 on:** April 29, 2016, 01:29:52 pm »

Mysia, Parion, facing head of Gorgo, BMC 69

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-25487

Best regards

Enodia · « **Reply #24 on:** August 04, 2016, 01:56:27 am »

i bought this coin 27 years ago, about 2 years after i started collecting ancients. it remains one of my favorites...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-80986

~ Peter

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Author Topic: Let's Face It! (facing head coins here) (Read 10281 times)