Saturday, December 24, 2005
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Antioch, Göbl 1635d
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | PAX FVNDATA, Two Parthian captives seated at the foot of a trophy, their arms tied behind their backs. Branch in exergue.
A similar design to that on Friday's post, this one commemorating the foundation of peace. It must have been more imagined than real, though, since the branch in exergue is, I think, dates this to the emperor's decennalia in 262. Not such a peaceful time, but success in a single big battle can always be interpreted as the beginning of the end, I guess.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Æ30, Side in Pamphylia, Salonina, ...
SNG Pfaelzer Privatsammlungen 871var
KOPNHΛIA CAΛΩNINA, Diademed draped bust right, I before | CIΔHTΩN NEΩKOPΩN, Athena standing left, holding letter A in right hand and spear in left.
An interesting reverse, Athena holds the letter A synbolizing the award to Side of the status of first and foremost city of Pamphylia. At other times, the city of Perga displays a similar device and makes the same claim. Many provincial cities vied for distinctions like this.
The coin shown in SNG Pfaelzer Privatsammlungen, as I understand it, includes a shield at Athena's feet right and an eagle left, like this.
KOPNHΛIA CAΛΩNINA, Diademed draped bust right, I before | CIΔHTΩN NEΩKOPΩN, Athena standing left, holding letter A in right hand and spear in left.
An interesting reverse, Athena holds the letter A synbolizing the award to Side of the status of first and foremost city of Pamphylia. At other times, the city of Perga displays a similar device and makes the same claim. Many provincial cities vied for distinctions like this.
The coin shown in SNG Pfaelzer Privatsammlungen, as I understand it, includes a shield at Athena's feet right and an eagle left, like this.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Viminacium, Göbl 840n
IMP GALLIENVS P F AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | GERMANICVS MAXIMVS, Two captives seated at the foot of a trophy, their arms tied behind their backs.
I think the Romans found images like that one the reverse to be reassuring: their economy required a steady influx of raw materials and of slaves. With that assured, as the emperor claims to have done here, industry could proceed.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Silvered Æ antoninianus, Carinus (as Caesar), Rome, 282 - 283 CE, RIC 156
M AVR CARINVS NOB C, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | PIETAS AVGG, Pontifical implements. KAZ in exergue
Older son of Carus and brother of Numerian, Marcus Aurelius Carinus was sole ruler from Novermber 284 until early 285. He's often remembered as being assassinated by an officer he had cuckolded, but this is almost certainly a bit of character assassination by his successor, Diocletian.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Æ28, Heliopolis in Coele-Syria, Valerian, SNG Copenhagen 439
IMP CAES P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, Laureate cuirassed bust right | COL IVL AVG FEL, Two palms protruding from prize crown. CER SAC above, CAP OEC ISE · HEL in exergue.
Minted in what has become Baalbek, Lebanon, this features a reverse legend honoring the "sacred Capitoline ecumenical iselastical games held at Heliopolis", games open to all comers.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Silvered Æ antoninianus, Salonina, Antioch, Göbl 1619k
SALONINA AVG, Diademed draped bust right on crescent | IVNO REGINA, Juno standing left, holding scepter right and patera left. Peacock at feet left. Star in exergue.
I remain unconvinced that that's a peacock, but that seems to be the consensus.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Æ26, Parium in Mysia, Gallienus, Sear GIC 4553
garbled, Laureate head right cf. SNG von Aulock supplement 7449 | C G I H P, Triumphal arch with altar flanked by two Victories with wreaths above.
C G I H P = Colonia Gemella Julia Hadriana Parium, the full name of the city during Roman Imperial times.
