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Thessalonica KabeirosRPC II, 327
ΚΑΒΕΙΡΟΣ / ΘΕΣΣΑ-ΛΟΝΙΚΕ-ΩΝ : Kabeiros standing left, holding rhyton (conical container for libation) and hammer / in three lines within oak wreath; above inscription, eagle
THE KABEIROI (Cabeiri) were twin gods (daimones) who presided over the orgiastic dances of the mysteries of Samothrake (Samothrace) which were held in honour of the goddesses Demeter, Persephone, and Hekate. They were famed metal-workers, dwarfish sons of the god Hephaistos (Hephaestus), who served their father at his Lemnian forge. Like their mother Kabeiro (Cabeiro) the pair were also sea-divinities who came to the aid of sailors in distress.
Attributed to Flavian period (i. e. 69-96 AD).
Æ 20mm 8.53g 6h (and ~2mm thick)Yurii PApr 04, 2024
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Claudius Alexandira EagleRPC I, 5171 (or 5172)
ΤΙΒ ΚΛΑY / LϚ : laureate head of Claudius, right / eagle standing, right
Alexandria, Egypt
LϚ means regnal year 6 of Claudius, 45-46 AD.
Æ 15mm 1.41g 12hYurii PApr 04, 2024
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Kese PegasusNumista 340677 (other references there)
Male head right, with three vertical dots behind / Forepart of Pegasus to the right, three horizontal dots above.
KESE under Pegasus, in ancient Iberian script (three symbols left to right Ke-S-E)
Cessetani people (ancient non-Celtic Iberians), Kese (Cese), Hispania (modern-day Vila-seca, Tarragona in Catalonia, Spain), first half of the 2nd century BC (195–170 BC).
Æ 15-16mm 2.62g 9hYurii PApr 03, 2024
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Philippi VictoryRPC I, 1651
VIC AVG / COHOR PRAE PHIL : Victory with wreath and palm, left / Three military standards
Philippi, Macedonia.
1st century AD. Used to be dated to the Augustan era, but now attributed to Claudian or Neronian times (40-60s AD).
Æ 18-19mm 3.91g 6h
Yurii PApr 03, 2024
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IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG / SPES PVBLICA antoninianus (268-269 A.D.) Obv.: [IMP C]LAVDIVS P F [AVG], radiate draped? bust of Claudius right, both ribbons behind?
Rev.: SPES [PVBLI]C[A], Spes, draped, walking left, holding flower with two fingers in right hand and raising hem of her robe with left hand.
d oval 17-19mm, 3.42g, die axis 7h (coin alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy supposedly with some silver.
Authority and portrait: Claudius II Gothicus (reign 268-270). Mint: Mediolanum (Milan).
IMP = Imperator (Commander-in-Chief), P F AVG = Pius Felix Augustus = the pius (dutiful) and fortunate (happy) emperor. SPES PVBLICA = the hope of the public or of the people. Since it is imperial propaganda, the hope of the people is the emperor himself and his rule. Spes is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Ἐλπίς, a minor goddess of Hope and possibly of Expectation. Spes did have a temple in Rome since the republican times. Her traditional image originated from archaic Greek statues called korai (from κόρη = maiden). These showed young girls of 14 or so, wearing adult dress for the first time, hitching the skirt to keep it from dragging, and holding a flower or a bird to emphasize the fresh hope of spring and new growth. The fingers holding the flower are oversized to make it clear that the grip is a delicate one; you must not crush the flower of hope.
P probably means prima officina = 1.
RIC V-1 Mediolanum 168; Sear 11374.
ID straightforward. Key points for ID: P F in obverse legend, P in exergue, PVBLICA in reverse legend. Other types have either obv. legend IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG (RIC Rome 102, Milan 169) or rev. legend SPES AVG (RIC Siscia 191). Only Milan mint has officina mark in exergue.
RIC 168 seems to have only draped busts with no variations. There are both 18-19mm and 21-22mm examples. There may be also mintmark S, for second officina.Yurii PSep 07, 2020
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IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG / MARS VLTOR antoninianus (268-270 A.D.) Obv.: [IM]P C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust of Claudius right, both ribbons behind.
Rev.: MARS [VLTO]R, Mars, walking right, naked except for helmet and some flowing drapery left and right, holding spear transverse in right hand and trophy in left hand.
d oval 16-19+mm, 2.41g, die axis 1h (medal alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy supposedly with some silver.
Authority and portrait: Claudius II Gothicus (reign 268-270). Mint: Rome.
IMP = Imperator (Commander-in-Chief), C = Caesar, AVG = Augustus. MARS VLTOR = Mars the Avenger or the Punisher. An important aspect of some Roman deities was their ability to avenge for injuries received by Roman people, this applies especially to their main warlike gods, Jupiter and Mars. So in times of troubles, like the crisis of the 3d century, we often see references to Jupiter or Mars Ultor. High-crested Corinthian helmet and a spear are common attributes of Mars. In this case he also carries a trophy (tropaeum). Trophies, equally by the Romans and the Greeks, were esteemed as the rewards and insignia of victories. In the earlier ages they consisted simply of a trunk of a tree or long pole, to which a little below the top another piece of wood was fastened crosswise, and set up on the field of battle immediately after a victory; this was adorned with spoils, or the armor of the vanquished, customarily a cuirass, a helmet, and a buckler.
RIC V-1 Rome 66; Cohen 160; Sear 11350.
ID straightforward. The bust in all examples is cuirassed with both ribbons behind, but catalogues mention usual bust variations. There may be a mintmark in right or, rarely, left field, H/"N"/"II", all probably designating Greek letter eta, i.e. officina 8. The size in many examples is 20mm or more.
A close type, RIC 67 has IMP CL... in the obverse legend instead of IMP C CL..., but here we clearly see IMP C CL...
Yurii PSep 05, 2020
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IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG / FIDES EXERCI antoninianus (269 A.D.) Obv.: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust of Claudius right, both ribbons behind.
Rev.: FIDES [EXERC]I, Fides, draped, standing LEFT, with head RIGHT, holding ensign / standard in each hand, in right hand upright, in left hand transverse.
d oval 19 – 23mm, 2.67g, die axis 5h (coin alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy supposedly with some silver.
Authority and portrait: Claudius II Gothicus (reign 268-270). Mint: Rome.
IMP = Imperator (Commander-in-Chief), C = Caesar, AVG = Augustus. FIDES EXERCI(tus) = The loyalty of the Army. Fides (Good Faith, Fidelity, Loyalty) was adored as a goddess by the Romans, it had a temple, near that of Jupiter. But in the case of Fides Exercitus or Militum the message mostly means the good faith and fidelity of soldiers to the reigning prince, rather than honoring Fides as a goddess. There were many different standards or ensigns in use in the Roman army, most common being vexilla ("little sails") and signa (usually with a raised hand or some figure on top). The latter are most likely depicted here. They were very important attributes of military honor: since standard-bearers had little means of protecting themselves, every soldier was supposed to do everything to protect and preserve their unit's standards, and losing one in battle was an unforgivable disgrace. Thus here they symbolize honor and loyalty.
RIC V-1 Rome 34 var (Fides standing left, but head turned right), RIC V-1 Rome 36 is also possible.
ID straightforward as RIC 34 or 36. The bust in these types is mostly cuirassed with both ribbons behind, but there are some variations with bare bust and one ribbon across shoulder. There may be a mintmark in right field, XI. The size is mostly close to 19mm with only a few significant deviations.
There is some confusion about which is RIC 34 var. or corr. (RIC 34 should have Fides standing right, but Fides standing left with head turned right is also considered 34, thus var.), and which is RIC 36, there seem to be a lot of misidentification. In this case I think a microphoto clearly shows the crown tilted to the left, so head must be turned right, so I consider this RIC 34 var. But it may also be RIC 36 if I am wrong about the head position.
Another close type, RIC 35 has IMP in the obverse legend instead of IMP C, but here we clearly see IMP C.Yurii PSep 01, 2020
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IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG / IOVI PROPVGNATORI dupondius (231-235 A.D.) Obv.: IMP ALEXAN[DER PIV]S A[VG], bust of Severus Alexander, radiate, right, right, one ribbon behind, one forward across shoulder?, draped over left shoulder?
Rev.: [I]OVI PRO-PVG[N]ATO[R]I, Jupiter, naked except for cape flowing to left, walking left, looking right, brandishing thunderbolt in right hand and holding eagle in left hand. Across fields: S-C.
d 24-25mm, 9.33g, die axis 1h (medal alignment), material: Ӕ / orichalcum (brass)
Authority and portrait: Severus Alexander (reign 222-235). Mint: Rome.
IMP(erator) PIVS = pius (dutiful) AVG(ustus). IOVI PROPVGNATORI= to Jupiter the Defender. Jupiter is often exhibited in the Imperial Series with the surname of Propugnator, to denote that the emperors in their contest with the barbarians were defended in battle by Jove himself; hence they made sacrifices of congratulation on their own safety, in the temple of the god. His main attribute, two-sided and three-pronged thunderbolt, is depicted in the typical Roman manner, long speculated to be akin to Indian vajra, a mystical symbolic weapon with very deep ancient roots with parallels in other mythologies. And Jupiter's primary sacred animal is eagle, aquila, which held precedence over other birds in the taking of auspices and became one of the most common symbols of the Roman army. The two emblems were often combined to represent the god in the form of an eagle holding in its claws a thunderbolt.
RIC IV Severus Alexander 632 (g?).
ID straightforward as RIC 632 (radiate crown points to dupondius, the figure of Jupiter with thunderbolt and eagle to the particular type), but there are three types of bust: f (bare), g (draped over left shoulder) and h (draped), and distinguishing between them without clear examples is difficult. Since the example I found is id'd as type g, and mine seems very similar, I tentatively id this also as 632g.Yurii PAug 17, 2020
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SALONINA AVG / FECVNDITAS AVG antoninianus (close to 265-267 A.D.) Obv.: [SALONIN]A AVG, Bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, right, on crescent.
Rev.: [F]ECVNDITAS [AVG], Fecunditas, draped, standing left, with right hand reaching down to child at her feet left, holding cornucopiae in left hand. Right field: Δ
d oval 16-18- mm, 1.94g, die axis 7h (coin alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy supposedly with some silver.
Portrait: Cornelia Salonina (Augusta in 253-268), wife of Gallienus
Authority: Gallienus (joint reign 253-, sole reign 260-268).
Mint: Rome.
AVG = Augusta. FECVNDITAS AVG(ustae) = Fecundity of Augusta. Fecundity is the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth, it is simply a different name of fertility. Feritility was an important concept in Roman religion and culture, as least two religious festivals, Lupercalia in February and Paliria in April had fertility as their major themes. But later Fecundity itself, possibly as an aspect of Juno, became a goddess. Nero erected a temple to Fecundity, on the occasion of a daughter being borne to him by Poppaea (Tacit xv 23). And the adoration of this divinity, once established at Rome, became a frequent subject of allusion and typification on the coins of succeeding empresses, as one of the most relevant goddesses (and qualities) for Roman matrons. As in this case, she typically appears with the horn of plenty and a child or children, with obvious connotations. Delta in the right field probably means officina 4.
RIC V-1 Rome 5; Göbl 662s; Sear 10633.
ID straightforward. The mark can appear in left or right field or in exergue. In some cases it is epsilon, designating the fifth officina that probably made these from time to time. Mark A mentioned is some cases if probably a usual misreading of delta. The most significant variation, with possible relevance in this case, since the start of obverse legend is lost, is obverse legend COR SALONINA AVG or CORNEL SALONINA AVG. The size is consistently in the range 18-21mm with only a few smaller and larger exceptions. Note that as often with Rome mint some letters are made of separate lines and thus sometimes V = II, N = ΛI or III, M = IIII etc.Yurii PAug 05, 2020
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SALONINA AVG / PVDICITIA antoninianus (close to 260-262 A.D.) Obv.: [SALO]NINA AVG, Bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, right, on crescent. Engraver's error: no ear.
Rev.: PVDICITI[A], Pudicitia, draped, standing left, raising veil with right hand and holding sceptre transverse in left hand.
d 17+mm, 2.51g, die axis 11h (medal alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy supposedly with some silver.
Portrait: Cornelia Salonina (Augusta in 253-268), wife of Gallienus
Authority: Gallienus (joint reign 253-, sole reign 260-268).
Mint: Rome.
AVG = Augusta. PVDICITIA = modesty or sexual virtue. Pudicitia was a central concept in ancient Roman sexual ethics. The word is derived from the more general pudor, the sense of shame that regulated an individual's behavior as socially acceptable. Pudicitia was most often a defining characteristic of women, but men who failed to conform to masculine sexual norms were said to exhibit feminizing impudicitia, sexual shamelessness. The virtue was personified by the Roman goddess Pudicitia, whose Greek equivalent was Aidos. According to Livy, there were two temples of Pudicitia in Rome, so this is an actual goddess, not just an allegorical figure. Of her attributes, veil has quite obvious meaning, while the scepter is probably a symbol of governing one's own urges
RIC V-1 Rome 24; Göbl 492s; Sear 10648.
ID straightforward. Main variation is appearance of mark Q/IV (or strangely, VI, which may be a mirror mistake) in fields or exergue. This coin's design might also have had a mark in exergue, we just miss it. There are two size groups, one ~20mm and the other of significantly smaller flans of ~17mm. This coin seems to belong to the latter.Yurii PAug 03, 2020
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GALLIENVS AVG / IOVI PROPVGNAT antoninianus (close to 264-266 A.D.)Obv.: GAL[LIENVS AVG], radiate bare bust / head of Gallienus right, one ribbon behind, one forward across shoulder
Rev.: [IO]VI P-ROPV[GNAT], Jupiter, nude except cloak flying behind, walking or standing left, head right, brandishing thunderbolt in right hand. XI in the left field.
d oval 16-18+mm, 1.67g, die axis 7h (coin alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy supposedly with some silver.
Authority and portrait: Gallienus (joint reign 253-, sole reign 260-268). Mint: Rome.
AVG = Augustus. IOVI PROPVGNAT(ori)= to Jupiter the Defender. Jupiter is often exhibited in the Imperial Series with the surname of Propugnator, to denote that the emperors in their contest with the barbarians were defended in battle by Jove himself; hence they made sacrifices of congratulation on their own safety, in the temple of the god. His attribute, two-sided and three-pronged thunderbolt, is depicted in the typical Roman manner, long speculated to be akin to Indian vajra, a mystical symbolic weapon with very deep ancient roots with parallels in other mythologies. XI probably means officina 11.
RIC V-1 Rome 214; Goebl 0641a; Sear 10244.
ID straightforward. There is a variation of this coin with full reverse legend IOVI PROPVGNATORI, but it is doubtful that there is enough space for 3 more letters. Examples have sizes ~18-21mm. There is the usual variation with regard to emperor's bust (bare, cuirassed etc.) or just head.Yurii P
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CONSTANS PF AVG / GLORIA EXERCITVS AE4 follis (337-350 A.D.)CONSTANS - PF AVG, (laurel and?) rosette-diademed, draped (and cuirassed?) bust right / GLORI - A EXER - CITVS, two soldiers facing each other, holding spears and shields, with one standard between them, the device on banner difficult to discern, maybe a little dot or O. Mintmark: SMTSA or SMTSΔ in exergue.
AE4, 16mm, 1.37g, die axis 12 (medal alignment), material: bronze/copper-based alloy
P F AVG = Pius Felix Augustus = the pius (dutiful) and fortunate (happy) emperor. Gloria Exercitus (noun + genitive) "The Glory of the Army", SMTSA/Δ= Sacra Moneta Thessalonica, officina A or Δ (i. e. workshop #1 or #4).
CONSTANS - PF AVG legend and Thessalonica mint for a one standard design point at just a single type: RIC VIII Thessalonica 57, with both SMTSA and SMTSΔ mintmarks possible. Minting date listed for this type is late, 346-348 A.D.
Flavius Julius Constans Augustus. Born c. 323. The third and youngest son of Constantine the Great and his second wife Fausta. Caesar since Dec 333 (to his father, who was the only Augustus before his death in 337 -- and together with his brothers Costantine II (eldest) and Constantius II (middle), who were elevated to caesars earlier).
Augustus since Sept 337, also joint with his brothers (Constantius got the East while the other brothers shared the West). At first he was under guardianship of Constantine II, but that relationship was very quarrelsome. In 340 Constantine II was killed in an ambush during military operations against Constans' troops in Italy, and Constans inherited his portion (i.e. the whole West) of the Empire.
As an emperor Constans led a few successful military campaigns and was also known for his activity regarding religions: was tolerant to Judaism, promulgated an edict banning pagan sacrifices, suppressed Donatism in Africa and championed Nicene Orthodoxy against Arianism (which was supported by Constantius, this led to open warfare between the brothers). He was openly homosexual, which ultimately led to his downfall: the army was tired of the rule of Constans' favorites and barbarian bodyguards, of whom he was very fond of. Assassinated by usurper Magnentius, who led the army revolt, in Feb 350. His only remaining brother, Constantius later defeated Magnentius and consolidated the whole empire under himself.Yurii P
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