Saturday, July 30, 2005
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Mediolanum, Göbl 1638b
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | P M TR P XV P P, Neptune standing left, holding trident right, foot on prow left. VIIC· in exergue.
The Romans could abbreviate with no little vigor. The reverse legend here indicates that Gallienus is Pontifex Maximus (chief priest of the Roman state religion), granted the power of a tribune for the 15th time, and is Pater Patria (father of his country). In the exergue he's declared to be Consul for the 7th time.
This dates this coin to Sept. 266 to Sept. 267.
Friday, July 29, 2005
"put there on purpose"
Via With Cheese, a large marble head of the Emperor Constantine (without Pannonian cap, drat) found in ancient Rome sewer.
Æ tetradrachm, Alexandria, Gallienus, Emmett 3840(10)
AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | ΔEKA / ETHPI / C KV / PIOV, Legend in four lines within wreath. Regnal year (LI) in exergue.
The reverse notes the emperor's Decennalia, the celebration of his tenth anniversary as emperor.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Mediolanum, Göbl 967v
IMP GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | VIRT GALLIENI AVG, Gallienus, with spear and shield, advancing right, about to tread on fallen enemy.
Giant emperor, miniaturized enemy being trodden. Overcompensating, says I.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
AR dime, Denver, 1963
Got this in change in 2002, not much silver still in circulation.
If you have any interest in modern coins, have a look at Coined For Money, a new blog that identifies and evaluates reader's coins and currency, with a strong emphasis on things found in change.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Æ33, Colybrassus in Pisidia, Valerian II, SNG Copenhagen 108
ΠOV ΛIK KOP OVAΛEPIANON KAI CEB, Bare-headed draped cuirassed bust right, over eagle with wings spread, IA before | KOΛVBPA_CCEΩN, Athena standing facing, head left, holding spear right and patera left. Shield at feet right.
I have coins using this bust over eagle motif, from Perga and Side in Pamphylia as well as Sillyum and Colybrassus in Pisidia. I remain ignorant, though, of the significance of this iconography.
So does everyone else, I think.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Rome, Göbl 1526Cc
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right, two pellets beneath | AETERNIT AVG, She-wolf standing right, suckling twins, SPQR in exergue.
Not a very well-preserved coin, I know, but Göbl attests only a single example of this reverse from this mint, so this will have to do until I find a better.
Gallienus coins from Cyzikus are always modelled after the coins of Antioch, such as this.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Æ21, Alexandria Troas, Valerian, unpublished?
IMP LIC VALERIANVS AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | COL AVG TROAC, Apollo Smintheus standing right, holding patera and bow right, raven at feet right.
Usually, from this mint, Apollo Smintheus is as seen here, standing right with no bird at his feet, or, and I can't find a picture, facing left with a raven, a bird associated with Apollo, at his feet.
I can find no documentation for this city minting a right-facing Smintheus with a raven.
