| Last additions - Ken W2's Gallery |
Anonymous AR Denarius 20.13 mm 3.79 gr.
Obv: ROMA, Roma helmeted head right, X behind
Rev: No legend, Roma seated right on shields holding spear,
she-wolf to right suckling Romulus and Remus, 2 birds in fields
Mint: Rome (115-114 BC)
RSC I Anonymous 176; Sydenham 530Ken W2Aug 18, 2023
|
|
L. Cornelius Sulla and L. ManliusAR Denarius
17.78 mm 3.96 gr.
Obv: L MANLI PRO Q, Roma helmeted head right
Rev: No legend, L. Sulla in triumphal quadriga right holding caduceus and being crowned by Victory flying above
Mint: Likely Greece according to Sydenham; more recently thought to be military mint moving in Italy (82 BC)
RSC I Manlia 4; Sydenham 757
[Although this denarius was minted a generation before Caesar crossed the Rubicon, Sulla’s marches on Rome and dictatorship in 82-80 BC clearly were precursors to those
of Caesar and the military autocracies to come. A young Caesar had been a target in the proscriptions of Sulla.]Ken W2Aug 18, 2023
|
|
Octavian with Marc Antony as Triumvirs (43-33 BC)AR Denarius
19.62 mm 3.93 gr.
Obv: CAESAR IMP, Octavian bare head right, slightly bearded
Rev: ANTON IMP, winged caduceus
Mint: Southern or central Italy (40-39 BC)
RSC I 5; Sear HCRI 302b; Sydenham 1327bKen W2Aug 16, 2023
|
|
Decimus Postumius Albinus Bruti f. (48 BC)AR Denarius
17.96 mm 4.02 gr.
Obv: No legend, helmeted head of Mars right, slightly bearded
Rev: ALBINVS BRVTI F, two Gallic carnyces in saltire, oval shield above, round shield below
Mint: Rome (48 BC)
RSC I Postumia 11; Sear HCRI 25; Sydenham 941
[Issued as moneyer by Decimus Junius Brutus who had been adopted by A. Postumius Albinus. This coin celebrates Caesar’s victories in the Gallic wars. Decimus was beloved by Caesar and very ably served as a fleet commander in the Gallic wars, as well as the civil war against Pompey. However, he later became a leading conspirator with his distant cousin, M. Junius Brutus, and Cassius in the assassination of Caesar.]Ken W2Aug 15, 2023
|
|
Legion XVII17.48 mm 3.76 gr.
RSC I 49; Sear HCRI 374; Sydenham 1237
[This coin die matches, obverse and reverse, the “no flange” coin in Schaefer’s die study, Binder 14, page 152. Obviously, the dies were in differing states at the time of striking. Perhaps the die was clogged at the time of striking of the coin in Schaefer’s or perhaps that was a mint error and the flange was later engraved before this coin was struck.]Ken W2Aug 15, 2023
|
|
Julius Caesar (64-44 BC)AR Denarius
18.06 mm 3.52 gr.
Obv: No legend, elephant walking right trampling snake, CAESAR in exergue
Rev: No legend, priestly implements— simpulum, aspergillum, axe, and apex
Military mint traveling with Caesar (49-48 BC)
RSC I 49; Sear HCRI 9; Sydenham 1006
[There are three theories about the symbolism of the obverse devices of this issue, each with some appeal and each with flaws. In summary: 1) good defeating evil, with the elephant being good and the snake evil. While the elephant logically can be equated with power, there apparently is no basis in Roman culture for equating the elephant to good, and the snake was a traditional a symbol of good heath, not evil. 2) a reminder of Caesar's victories in the Gallic wars, with the elephant as Caesar trampling a Gallic carnyx. Maybe, but that sure doesn't look like a carnyx, while snakes both before and after this issue were commonly engraved as a line of dots. Moreover, why would Caesar need to remind anyone of the Gallic victories which had just concluded in 50 BC ? 3) the elephant symbolizes Pompey (based on the debacle occurring when he attempted to ride elephants into Rome in triumph and they got stuck) as a threat to Roman welfare, with the snake representing such welfare. The view that the elephant represents Rome's (from Caesar's perspective) enemies is strenghthed somewhat by recalling that the elephant was frequently seen on coins with which the Metelli were associated and it was Metellus Scipio who sponsored the Senate's action to declare Caesar an enemy of the state. Thus, perhaps the elephant represents Pompey and the Metelli, and the elitist optimates more generally. But, still, one has to question whether it makes sense that the dominant feature on the coin-- the elephant-- would be used to symbolize your enemies. Nevertheless I lean to this last theory, but considering both the obverse and reverse features. At nearly the precise time of the issue of this coin THE thing Caesar needed Roman society, and perhaps more importantly his legions, to see his way, was that there was good cause for him crossing the Rubicon at the head of an army and plunging the country into civil war. Thus, perhaps the coin symbolizes Caesar as pontifex maximus standing together with the Roman populace defending against the elitist thugs of Pompey and the Metelli and their vision for Rome.] Ken W2Aug 12, 2023
|
|
Legion XII ANTIQVAE 18.52 mm 3.23 gr.
RSC I 40; Sear HCRI 363; Sydenham 1231
[There are two obverse and reverse die matches to this coin in Schaefer’s study, Binder 14, page 42. Both of those coins (one pictured here) show a faint LEG [?] in the lower fields, apparently resulting from a mint error or perhaps the repurposing of dies but without the field engraving completely obscured. It’s hard to be sure due to wear, but the surface of my coin appears very slightly raised in the lower reverse fields perhaps indicating this coin was later struck after the die had been ground down to completely remove that engraving in the lower fields.Ken W2Aug 12, 2023
|
|
Legion IX18.41 mm 3.40 gr.
RSC I 37; Sear HCRI 359; Sydenham 1227Ken W2Aug 12, 2023
|
|
Legion VI18.13 mm 3.27 gr.
RSC I 33; Sear HCRI 356; Sydenham 1223
[This is the first “this coin” match in my collection. It appears in Schaefer’s die study in Binder 14, page 87, together with an obverse and reverse die match thereto. I have come to use Schaefer’s study routinely to check for die matches. More than half of the MALs in this gallery are die matched in Schaefer’s study. Several coins which are not die matched in Schaefer’s are NGC certified, indicating there are dies, likely many on some issues, yet to be added to his impressive study. Given the massive size of this issue that should not be surprising. Ken W2Aug 12, 2023
|
|
Legion V17.23 mm 3.47 gr. .
RSC I 32; Sear HCRI 354; Sydenham 1221
[Obverse and reverse die matched to a coin in Schaefer’s die study, Binder 14, page 232, including the obverse die break or delamination at 11-12 hr.]Ken W2Aug 12, 2023
|
|
Octavian as Triumvir (43-33 BC)AR Denarius
20.14 mm 3.98 gr.
Obv: CAESAR III VIR R P C, Octavian, bare head right, slightly bearded
Rev: CAESAR DIC PER, inscribed on curule chair, wreath atop
Military mint in Italy (42 BC)
RSC I 55c; Sear HCRI 137a; Sydenham 1322
[This coin is somewhat paradoxical. The obverse declares Octavian one of three men for the regulation of the Republic, while, as Sear notes in HCRI, the reverse reflects his close ties to Caesar, dictator in perpetuity.]Ken W2Jul 15, 2023
|
|
Marc Antony as Triumvir (43-33 BC)AR Denarius
19.05 mm ____ gr.
Obv: M ANTONI IMP, Marc Antony, bare head right, slightly bearded
Rev: III VIR R P C, distyle temple, disk bearing head of Sol within
Military mint in Greece (42 BC)
RSC I 12; Sear HCRI 128; Sydenham 1168Ken W2Jul 15, 2023
|
|
| Random files - Ken W2's Gallery |
Legion VIIII19.54 mm 3.90 gr.
RSC I 36; Sear HCRI 360; Sydenham 1226Ken W2
|
|
Nerva (96-98)AR Denarius
18.90 mm 3.22 gr.
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG GERM PM TR P II,
laureate head right
Rev: IMP II COS IIII P P,
Fortuna standing left holding rudder and cornucopia
Mint: Rome (98)
RSC II 86; ERIC II 54Ken W2
|
|
Legion XIII18.66 mm 3.92 gr.
RSC I 42; Sear HCRI 367; Sydenham 1232aKen W2
|
|
|
