Saturday, February 07, 2004
Silvered Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Cyzikus, Göbl 1529Ac
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | CONSERVATOR AVG, Aesculapius standing left holding a rod around which a serpent is entwined. SPQR in exergue.
It's trivia, but I find it interesting, while the caduceus has become associated with medicine, it is in fact an attribute of swift Mercury, but the logo displayed on the AMA home page is the staff of Aesculapius, as seen on this coin.
Two snakes, wings - Mercury
One snake, no wings - Aesculapius
Friday, February 06, 2004
Æ21, Alexandria Troas, Valerian, SNG Copenhagen 191
IMP LIC VALERIANVS A, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | COL AVG [...], Horse standing right, ready to roll.
Sometimes Troas has the horse getting ready for a nice roll on the ground.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Silvered Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Rome, Göbl 355b
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head left | VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing left, raising wreath left, holding palm right. T in left field.
Left-facing obverses are, on the whole, less common than right-facing ones in Roman coinage. I've never been convinced by any of the claims for their significance. They do reduce monotony, though.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Æ diobol, Alexandria in Egypt, Antinous, 136-137 CE, Emmett 1348(19)
ΑΝΤΙΝΟΟV ΗΡωΟC, Lotus-crowned draped bust of Antinous right | LΙΘ, Antinous dressed as a psychopomp of the underworld riding horse right.
Issued during the reign of Hadrian, Antinous was the emperor's companion until he drowned in the Nile in 130.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Æ21, Alexandria Troas, Gallienus, SNG Von Aulock 1485
IMP LICIN GALLIENV, Laureate draped bust right | COL A TRO, Horse grazing right, herdsman standing behind holding pedum.
Sometimes Troas has the horse accompanied by a herdsman.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Silvered Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Antioch, Göbl 1655f
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | SOLI INVICTO, Radiate-crowned draped Sol standing facing, head left, holding globe right and raising hand left.
The unconquered Sun, whom the pagan Romans particularly honored at the Winter solstice.
Sunday, February 01, 2004
Æ21, Alexandria Troas, Valerian, Lindgren I, A342A
IMP LICIN VALERIANV, Laureate draped bust right | COL AV TRO, Horse grazing right, underneath tree.
Sometimes Troas has the horse grazing beneath a bendy tree. Bucolic.
