Friday, January 12, 2007
Æ26, Dacia, Gallienus, Varbanov (2005) 93
IMP GALLIENVS PIV AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | PROVINCIA DACIA, Dacia standing left, holding standards, with eagle holding wreath and lion at their bases. AN VIII in exergue.
Minted the same year as the coin posted a week ago (coins of this province display, in Roman numerals in the exergue, the date of Dacia as a Lastin-speaking province), this is in superior condition, and better shows Dacia, the personification of the province, and her protectors, the eagle and bull, badges of the legions stationed there.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Silvered Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Rome, Göbl 464f
GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | PROVID AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe in right hand and transverse scepter in left. P in right field.
Not in undamaged, original condition, and with a noticeable flan crack around 8:00 obverse, but nice, overall. The apparent wear from circulation is no worse than average and the emperor's face shows wonderful detail. If I was interested in selling coins, I could at least make a valiant attempt at talking up the state this is in.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
AR denarius, Faustina II, Rome, RIC 676
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right | FECVND AVGVSTAE, Faustina standing with two small figures of children to her sides, and two more in her arms.
Faustina the Youngerwas the daughter of Antoninus Pius and the elder Faustina, and wife of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. We know little of her life but that she bore more than a dozen children, fewer than half of them surviving her.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Æ tetradrachm, Alexandria, Gallienus Emmett 3816(14)
AYT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate cuirassed bust right | LIΔ, Homonia standing left, holding double cornucopias right, raised hand left. Palm in lower right field, regnal year in lower left.
Like yesterday's coin, this shows some corrosion pitting on the surfaces, which answers my question about why I've skipped over this coin without posting. Perhaps I should have likewise skipped over it without buying, but I'm not complaining.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Billon antonianus, Gallienus, Rome, Göbl 381x
IMP GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | VIRTVS AVG,Mars standing left, foot on helmet left, holding globe in right hand and spear in left. P in right field.
Visible here is a very deteriorated surface with a pitted patina. When a coin lays in the ground for many centuries, things like this can happen.
