Saturday, July 02, 2005
Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Siscia, Göbl 1507b
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | SALVS AVG, Salus standing facing, head left, feeding snake rising from cippa left, holding transverse scepter. Star in left field, P in right field.
Unlike the imperial coins posted this Monday and Thursday, this just fills a little gap in the collection, a coin that's not very different from coins I do have, but with slightly different field marks. (The significance of which we understand only imperfectly.)
As it cost under $9 with shipping, it doesn't worry too much, other than as a sign of obsession.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Æ tetradrachm, Alexandria, Salonina, Emmett 3857(11)
KOPNHΛIA CAΛωNEINA CEB, Diademed draped cuirassed bust right | LIA, Homonia seated left holding double cornucopia right, raising hand left. Regnal year in left field.
[T]he formation of patina takes an extended period of time, usually 8 - 10 years.
Heh.
More on patina and functionally similar reactions.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Mediolanum, Göbl 993o
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right, one ribbon behind, one forward across shoulder | LEG XI CL VI P VI F, Neptune standing facing, head right, holding trident left and dolphin right.
Almost a year since I last obtained a coin of the legionary series, and now two in one week.
See Jona Lendering's outstanding site here for much information on the legions, and much else.
Amend the constitution, overturn Kelo v. New London.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
AR denarius, L. Farsuleius Mensor, 75 BCE, Rome, Crawford 392/1b
Diademed draped bust of Libertas right, MENSOR before, ·S·C and pileus behind | Warrior holding spear and reins of biga in right hand, with left assisting togate figure into the chariot. XV below horses, L·FARSVLEI in exergue.
Like the last Republican coin I posted, this was authored by a moneyor known for nothing but the production of a few coin types. He may, of course, have done any number of terribly important things, but his part in them is forgotten. His denarii are remembered, and we can hold them in our hands.
Amend the constitution, overturn Kelo v. New London.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Æ tetradrachm, Alexandria, Gallienus, Emmett 3736(7)
A K Π ΛI OV ΓAΛΛIENOC EVEVC, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | L_Z, Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm. Regnal year across fields.
It's worn and has a few encrustations, but I like the color and the way the texture of Gallienus's curly beard and Nike's wings are shown. Even at this late date, on a pedestrian an item as an Alexandrian tetradrachm, some remarkably nice work could be done.
Amend the constitution, overturn Kelo v. New London.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Mediolanum, Göbl 993o
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right, holding spear in left hand over left shoulder | LEG II ITAL VII P VII F, She-wolf standing left, suckling twins.
Of all the coins of Gallienus, I find this legionary series most interesting, the badges of the legions making it clear that these had a particular place in a particular time.
Information on the history of Legio II Italica Pia.
While the VI P VI F (six times loyal, six times faithful) coins that honor the legion's loyalty during the rebellion oof Ingenuus are the most common legionary issues, this has the VII P VII F legend, issued after the defeat of the usurper Regalianus, which is relatively rare. The combination of this reverse and this martial bust is attested by Göbl in only a single example. The plate shows that this isn't that example, so there are doubtless more examples than Göbl knew, but there aren't many.
Amend the constitution, overturn Kelo v. New London.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
There once was a hermit named Dave...
Via Mirabilis.ca, a fourth (nearly) complete poem of Sappho has been found.
Amend the constitution, overturn Kelo v. New London.
Amend the constitution, overturn Kelo v. New London.
Æ23, Antioch in Pisidia, Valerian, Lindgren I, 1250var
IMP CAERAS LL OVANAI, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | ANTIO_CHIO CLA, Vexillum with eagle, head right, on top between two standards. S R across fields.
Like this earlier post and this, evidence that Latin literacy in Pisidian Antioch was greatly in decline.
Amend the constitution, overturn Kelo v. New London.
