Friday, December 22, 2006
Æ tetradrachm, Alexandria, Gallienus, Emmett 3808(11)
AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | LIA, Eagle standing right, wings open, wreath in beak. Regnal year in right field.
My previous reluctance to make too much use of Alexandrian coins now pays dividends when such coins, skipped over in the past, now fill my need for subjects for posts.
Not with brilliance, though, I admit.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Antioch, Göbl 1650b
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jove standing left, holding globe in right hand and long scepter in left. VIIC· in exergue.
It looks as though I've repeatedly missed this reverse design, which is fairly often used from this mint and others. This example looks as though the obverse legend near the emperors mouth has been dug at with sharp instruments in cleaning.
Shame.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Billon tetratrachm, Nero / Poppaea Sabina, Alexandria, Emmett 128(10)
[NEPO] KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AV, Radiate head of Nero right | ΠOΠΠ[AIA ΣEBAΣTH], Draped bust of Poppaea right, LI in right field.
Poppaea Sabina was the second wife of Nero. The popular history by Suetonius is the source of blaming her death in Nero, angered over her fit of uncharacteristic fiscal responsibility or at least frugality on purchases not for her.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Æ tetradrachm, Alexandria, Gallienus, Emmett 3816(15)
AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate cuirassed bust right | LIE, Homonia standing left. Holding double cornucopiae right, raised hand left. Palm in lower right field, regnal year in lower left.
It's been suggested to me that Alexandrian coins of Gallienus with a palm branch on the reverse are first issued to coincide with his decenenalia, his tenth year in office and that they then continue to be issued.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Billon antoninianus, Gallienus, Antioch, Göbl 1634i
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | MINERVA AVG, Minerva standing right, holding spear left and shield right.
The surface of this is much degraded, with a rough look and bits of attached deposits. Buried in the ground for over a thousand years, this isn't uncommon.
