Friday, February 24, 2006
Æ29, Tyre in Phoenicia, Valerian, Lindgren & Kovacs 2395...
(this coin)
IMP C P LIC VALE[RIANVS AVG], Laureate draped bust right | COL T_VR [O ...], Two athletes standing facing each other, holding between them a tray with two prize urns.
It's rare, it's pedigreed, but it's not even a little bit pretty. Still, I didn't hesitate to buy it (and thought the price was quite reasonable) and I'd do so again, knowing what I do.
I take great satisfaction in acquiring more coins from Tyre, or any city that's well-represented in my collection.
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In unrelated news, my wonky cable modem is now replaced, and life should be easier. I think I'll continue not posting on weekends, though.
Update: corrected emperor in post title, it's Valerian, not Gallienus.
IMP C P LIC VALE[RIANVS AVG], Laureate draped bust right | COL T_VR [O ...], Two athletes standing facing each other, holding between them a tray with two prize urns.
It's rare, it's pedigreed, but it's not even a little bit pretty. Still, I didn't hesitate to buy it (and thought the price was quite reasonable) and I'd do so again, knowing what I do.
I take great satisfaction in acquiring more coins from Tyre, or any city that's well-represented in my collection.
---
In unrelated news, my wonky cable modem is now replaced, and life should be easier. I think I'll continue not posting on weekends, though.
Update: corrected emperor in post title, it's Valerian, not Gallienus.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Antioch, Göbl 1640a
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna standing left, holding caduceus with right hand and cornucopia with left. VIIC· in exergue.
A breakthrough, if a tiny one, for me. Göbl lists two busts for the VIIC· coins (minted in the first half of 266), marked to note Gallienus consul for the seventh time: "Ph2" (draped bust seen from behind) and "Cv2" (cuirassed bust).
Long story short, it took me a long time to conclude that this is a typo, that instead of Ph2 it should say PCh2 (draped cuirassed bust seen from behind). Only the least trace of a cuirass is visible, and I'm no longer stuck believing that I must, in thus case, be wrong.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
AR denarius, anonymous, Roman Republic, 179-170 BCE, Crawford 156/1
Head of Roma right, X behind | Luna in biga right, holding reins (no goad), crescent moon above head. Prawn below horses, ROMA in linear frame in exergue.
As much as I like coins of the Republic, and as often as I muse on having known then what I know now, I certainly realize that they've been actively collected for so long and with such vigor that building a notable collection means bidding against some very wealthy collectors. I'm in a much smaller pond with the Gallienus stuff, even if the final result is less spectacular and inspiring.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Æ30, Side in Pamphylia, Gallienus, SNG Copenhagen 425var
obscure, Laureate draped bust right, I in right field | CIΔHTΩ_N N_EΩKOPΩN, Athena standing left, with shield left and spear right, pomegranate in right field.
Sometimes they really are worn-out, looking, eh? Lying in the ground for over 1700 years does no one any good.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Rome, Göbl 120k
IMP GALLIENVS P F AVG GERM, Radiate cuirassed bust right | VIRTVS AVG, Mars advancing right holding spear n right hand and trophy over left shoulder.
As was often true of the Emperors, the coinage of this reign began with long lgends, detailing the name and titles of the Emperor, albeit abbreviated, and ended greatly shortened. For a time, though, Gallienus added a boast of his victories over Germanic tribes.
Göbl dates these GERM (germanicvs) coins to August - December 256, followed by a G M (germanicvs maximvs) series he dates to January - August 257. I presume the series (and use of the title) ended with the revolt of Ingenuus and the death of Valerian II.
