Friday, December 15, 2006
Æ27, Serdica in Thrace, Gallienus, Varbanov (2002) 486
AVT ΓAΛ_ΛIHNOC, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Dionysus standing left, holding cantharus left and thyrsus right, panther at feet left.
The Serdica coins are not listed fully in some of the most common catalogs, partly because the provincial coins did circulate beyond Thrace, in the Balkan region, today cetered at Sofia, Bulgaria.
Not much later than these were issued, the Serdica mint was responsible for imperial coins, which were legal tender throughout the Roman empire and circulated when soldiers, businessman, and others, moved about.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Siscia, Göbl 1399i
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | PROVIDEN AVG, Providentia standing left, pointing wand at globe left and holding cornucopia right.
As shown here the mint operations were not coordinated at this time, though they would be at the time of Constantine, with many different abbreviations of PROVIDENTIA in use.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Æ As, Germanicus, Rome, RIC 106
GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N, Bare head right | TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P, Legend surrounding large S.C
Iulius Caesar Claudianus Germanicus (originally Nero Claudius Drusus or Tiberius Claudius Nero) was the father of Caligula and a popular favorite. His death in in 19 was suspect. Safely dead, he became an icon, as here.
The “patina” on this example may be courtesy of Sherwin-Williams.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Æ31, Prusa ad Olympum in Bithynia, Gallienus, unknown
AVT KAI Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛH[...], Laureate draped bust right, C behind, EB before | [ΠPOVC]AEΩN EΠI APX, Zeus seated with left, holding scepter right and Nike left, within hexastyle temple.
Not quite certain why I skipped over this previously, unless it's the surface, that looks a bit rough.
The city is known by the more modern name of Brusa in Turkey but I can find only a very few references to the old name.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Mediolanum, Göbl 1095k
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right, slight drapery on cboth shoulders | LAETITIA AVG, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath in right hand, resting left hand on anchor at feet. P in exergue.
Ever since I found these modern forgeries, I've looked down on the LAETITIA reverse when it's no more likely to be faked than any other ancient coin, although its no more likely to be faked than any other budget ancient.
