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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. |
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.SH96390. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC I 508, Mac Dowall WCN 448, BMCRE I 316, BnF II 135, Cohen I 88, SRCV I -, Choice aEF/VF, superb portrait, well centered and struck, scratches, marks, porosity more on the reverse, weight 23.971 g, maximum diameter 35.4 mm, die axis 180o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, 66 A.D.; obverse IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR POT P P, laureate head left, small globe at point; 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; $2400.00 (€2208.00)
France, Charles IX, 1560 - 1574
Charles IX ascended the throne of France upon the death of his brother Francis II. After decades of tension, war broke out between Protestants and Catholics after the massacre of Vassy in 1562. In 1572, after several unsuccessful peace attempts, Charles ordered the marriage of his sister Margaret of Valois to Henry of Navarre, a major Protestant nobleman and the future King Henry IV of France, in a last desperate bid to reconcile his people. Facing popular hostility against this policy of appeasement, Charles allowed the massacre of all Huguenot leaders who gathered in Paris for the royal wedding at the instigation of his mother Catherine de' Medici. This event, known as the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, was a significant blow to the Huguenot movement. Religious civil warfare soon began anew. Charles ordered the Siege of La Rochelle, but was unable to take the Protestant stronghold. Charles died of tuberculosis without legitimate male issue in 1574 and was succeeded by his brother Henry III.SH96064. Gold ecu d'or, Duplessy 1057 var. (legends), Ciani 1343 var. (same), Friedberg 378 var. (same), Lafaurie 890 var. (same), Choice EF, double struck, weight 3.353 g, maximum diameter 25.3 mm, die axis 0o, Limoges mint, 1567; obverse (sun) CAROLVS:VIIII:D:G:FRANCO:REX: (Charles IX, by the Grace of God, King of France), crowned coat of arms (three fleur de lis); reverse + CRISTVS: REGNAT: VINGIT•ET•IMPE• (pellets under first G and N, floral ornament at end = mint master Jean Dubois), cross fleurée, I (mintmark) in lozenge at the center, arms ending in lis; ex Karl Stephens Inc. (Temple City, CA); this is the only example of this extremely rare variant known to FORVM; very rare; $1200.00 (€1104.00)
Egyptian, Beaded Horus Falcon and Kebhsenuf Funerary Ornaments, Ptolemaic Period, 304 - 30 B.C.
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.
These beaded Horus Falcon and Qebehsenuef funerary ornaments were likely placed on the chest of a mummy sheathed in strands of blue faience beads.AZ33396. Colorful beaded funerary ornament; Alex G. Malloy, Ancient Art and Antiquities, Summer 1977, 17, intact with original strings, Superb, 7 ¼" Horus Falcon with crowned head and spread wings, with pairs of 3 ½" Qebehsenuef, brightly colored turquoise blue, maroon, white yellow, and black beads faience beads; $1000.00 (€920.00)
The Triumvirs, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, c. Autumn 34 B.C.
This lead seal clearly copies the portrait of Cleopatra VII as represented on the denarius type RRC 543/1 - everything from the countenance of the face, the hairstyle, and the drapery matches closely. The seal is made to a much higher standard than is usual with lead tesserae - it may have been struck from an unknown coin die - and the presence of the caduceus may relate to the cult of Isis. -- Andrew McCabeSH95312. Lead tessera, apparently unpublished, but cf. Crawford 543/1 for a similar portrait, VF, brown patina with touches of red, weight 6.491 g, maximum diameter 21.7 mm, c. autumn 34 B.C.; obverse diademed and draped female bust right (Cleopatra?), winged caduceus before; reverse blank; ex CNG e-sale 458 (18 Dec 2019), lot 305; ex Andrew McCabe Collection, ex Marc de Cock (Belgium); $900.00 (€828.00)
Nero and Poppaea, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
RPC Online I notes, "The date does look like L IB, but the coin is very battered." and "Confirmation required. Poppaea died in AD 65, so it seems unlikely that coins should have been made for her in year 12." This is the Dattari Collection plate coin and Dattari identified it as year 12. In Alexandria, Nero's year 12 began on 29 August 65 A.D. According to Suetonius, one day in the summer of 65, Poppaea quarreled fiercely with Nero over his spending too much time at the races. She was pregnant with her second child. In a fit of rage, Nero kicked her in the abdomen, killing her. This coin suggests her death was likely on or after the 19th of August. It would have taken 9 days or more for the news of her death to reach Alexandria. This coin may have been a trial strike or perhaps one of very few struck during the first days of the new year.RX93590. Billon tetradrachm, Dattari-Savio pl. 7, 199 (this coin!); RPC Online I 5289A (this coin!, the only spec.), aVF, brown tone, corrosion, scratches, rough, weight 7.834 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, c. 29 Aug 65 A.D.; obverse NEPΩ KΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AYTO, radiate bust of Nero right; reverse ΠOΠΠAIA ΣEBAΣTH, draped bust of Poppaea right, L IB (year 12) lower right; from the Kreuzer Collection, ex Naville Numismatics auction 51 (21 Jul 2019), lot 301; ex Dattari Collection; this is the only known example of this type dated year 12!; unique!?; $670.00 (€616.40)
Numerian, February or March 283 - October or November 284 A.D.
Consular busts are scarce for this dynasty.RA93244. Billon antoninianus, Bastien 562 (3 spec. cited), RIC V-2 -, Cohen VI -, SRCV III -, Hunter V -, La Venèra -, Choice aVF, well centered, flow lines, tiny encrustations, scattered light porosity, weight 3.080 g, maximum diameter 22.85 mm, die axis 0o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, 6th emission, c. 284 A.D.; obverse IMP C NVMERIANVS AVG, radiate bust wearing imperial mantle right, eagle-tipped scepter in right hand; reverse MARS VICTOR (Mars the Victor), Mars advancing right, nude except for helmet and cloak tied in belt at waist and flying behind, transverse spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder in left hand, C in right field; very rare; $420.00 (€386.40)
Anglo-Gallic, Edward II, 1307 - 1326
Edward III transformed the Kingdom of England into one of the most efficient military powers in Europe. His reign saw vital developments in the evolution of the English parliament, the ravages of the Black Death and the beginning of the Hundred Years' War. He remained on the throne for 50 years.
The outer obverse legend abbreviates, "BENEDICTUM SIT NOMEN DOMINI NOSTRI," which means, "Blessed be the name of our Lord."ME95908. Silver maille blanche Hibernie, Elias 32, Duplessy Féodales 1049, Poey d'Avant 2864, SCBC-SII 8026; double annulet stops, gVF, light toning, weight 1.798 g, maximum diameter 22.2 mm, die axis 0o, Aquitaine mint, 1326; obverse inner legend: + ED' : REX AnGLIE (Edward King of England); outer legend: + BnDICTV : SIT : nOmE : DnI : nRI (Blessed be the name of the Lord), short cross pattée; reverse + DnS : hIBERnIE (Lord of Ireland), châtel tournois with two turreted towers, three pellets over gateway, and topped with a cross pattée, three pellets in a triangle below; all within tressure of arches containing twelve leaves; $380.00 (€349.60)
Anglo-Gallic, Henry V de Lancastre, King of England, 1413 - 1422
Henry V was the second English monarch from the House of Lancaster. After fighting the Welsh during the revolt of Owain Glyndwr, and against the powerful aristocratic Percys of Northumberland at the Battle of Shrewsbury, Henry came into political conflict with his father, whose health was increasingly precarious after 1405. After his father's death in 1413, Henry assumed control of the country and embarked on war with France in the ongoing Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). His military successes culminated in his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and he came close to conquering France. After months of negotiation with Charles VI of France, the Treaty of Troyes (1420) recognized Henry V as regent and heir apparent to the French throne, and he was subsequently married to Charles's daughter, Catherine of Valois. Following Henry V's sudden and unexpected death in France two years later, he was succeeded by his infant son, who reigned as Henry VI.ME96060. Silver Gros Florette, Elias 249a (R), Duplessy 435C, Ciani 591, Lafaurie 439c; leopard mintmark, VF, light toning, porous, edge cracks, weight 2.152 g, maximum diameter 24.7 mm, die axis 0o, Normandy, Rouen mint, 4th issue, authorized 16 Jun 1420; obverse (leopard) h:REX:ANGLIE:Z:hERES:FRANCIE:(Henry King of the Franks), triple pellet stops, annulet under 1st letter, crown above three fleurs-de-lis, leopard rampant on left and right; reverse (leopard) SIT: nOmE: DnI: BENEDICTV (the name of our Lord be blessed), triple pellet stops, S reversed(?), annulet under 1st letter, cross fleury, h within an annulet at center, crown in first quarter, lion in fourth quarter; ex Gordon Andreas Singer; rare; $370.00 (€340.40)
France, Louis XV the Beloved, 1715 - 1774
France took 20 Sols de Navarre coins minted in 1719 and 1720, re-struck them as Sixth Ecu de France (between the years of 1720 and 1723) essentially creating a coin worth 1 livre. These re-struck coins, however, were eventually assigned the value of 18 Sols.WO93952. Silver Ecu, SCWC KM 512.12, Duplessy 1680, Ciani 2122, Lafaurie 698, VF, nicely toned, weight 28.866 g, maximum diameter 41.5 mm, die axis 180o, Bayonne mint, 1771; obverse LVD•XV•D•G•FR•ET•NAV•REX (Louis XV, by the Grace of God, king of France and Navarre), young portrait left, laureate, two flowers (privy mark) below; reverse •SIT•NOMEN•DOMIN•BENEDICTVM*1771• (May the name of the Lord be blessed), crowned arms of France, crowned oval shield with three lis, surrounded by oak wreath; $360.00 (€331.20)
Anglo-Gallic, Henry VI de Lancastre, King of France and England, 1422 - 1453
In 1422, the year old king of England inherited the French throne from his mad grandfather Charles VI of France; the iconography of this type represents the unification of the two nations. Ten years later Joan of Arc would make an appearance which would eventually loosen the English grip on France until by 1436 only Normandy and part of Maine remained in Henry's control.ME96059. Silver grand blanc aux écus, Elias 290a (RR), Duplessy 445, Ciani 602, Lafaurie 449, SCBC-SII 8166; rose mint mark (type II), F, dark patina, weight 2.709 g, maximum diameter 28.5 mm, die axis 180o, Troyes mint, 23 Nov 1422 - 1429; obverse (rose mm) FRANCORVm: ET: ANGLIE: REX (King of France and England), shields of France (on left) and England (on right), side by side, hERICVS above; reverse (rose mm) SIT: nOmEN: DnI: BENEDICTV (Blessed be the name of the Lord), Latin cross, fleur-de-lis to left, leopard left on right, hERICVS on a line below; ex Gordon Andreas Singer (17 Aug 1990), ex Peter Woodhead; very rare; $360.00 (€331.20)
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