Anyone up for a game of coin UNO?

[Curtisimo]

Link: Club

Roman Empire
Commodus (AD 177-192)
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 192
Dia.: 17 mm
Wt.: 2.66 g
Obv.: L AEL AVREL COMMA VG P FEL; Commodus bust right wearing lion skin on head.
Rev.: HER-CVL RO-MAN AV-GV; Club in wreath
Ref.: RIC III 251, Scarce
Ex Walter F. Stoecklin Collection, Amriswil (1888-1975†), acquired in the 1960s from Prof. Luigi De Nicola (Rome), Obolos 9, lot 329 (March 25, 2018)

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

Link: Herakles club

Denomination: Tetradrachm
Material: Silver
Mint: Macedonia, First Meris, Amphipolis
Diameter: 32mm
Weight: 16.95g
Axis: 9h
Year: 167-149 BC.

Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver on shoulder; all in a Macedonian shield adorned with stars/flowers within crescents.

Reverse: MAKEΔONΩN / ΠΡΩTHΣ (Of the first (region) of the Macedonians), club of Herakles right, monogram ΑΥΡ above. All surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. On the left, thunderbolt.

Notes: After the defeat of Perseus at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC, the Romans divided Macedonia into four autonomous administrative regions (merides). The first region (ΠPΩTEΣ) was located east of Strymon with its capital at Amphipolis, the second (ΔEYTEPAΣ) between Strymon and Axios with its capital at Thessalonica, the third between Axios and Peneos with its capital at Pella, and the fourth (TETAPTHΣ) comprised most of Upper Macedonia with its capital at Heraclea Lynci. These four regions lasted only until 148 BC, when the country was finally united to form a Roman province and proceeded to issue coins under the authority of its legatus pro praetore.
Livy informs us that initially all trade between regions, the exploitation of gold and silver mines and the import of salt were prohibited. Almost all the coinage of this period is minted in the name of the first region and parallels the mass mintings of Thasos and Maroneia from around 158 BC. The first region was the most prolific in coinage, with huge issues of tetradrachms and bronze. The second region had only two tetradrachm issues and the fourth had only two bronze issues. Coins from these two regions are very rare today. No coins are known from the third region.

Bibliography:
- HGC 3.1 1103
- Prokopov Group III (or IIB)

Edited September 12 by AncientCoinnoisseur

[shanxi]

Link: Macedon

Eion, Macedon
AR Diobol
Circa 480-470 BCE
Obv: Goose standing right, head reverted; three pellets to left
Rev: Incusum.
AR 9mm
Ref.: SNG ANS 270; SNG Copenhagen 173.

[Herodotus]

LINK: Pellets

Roman Republic. South-East Italy. (211-210 BC). Q series Æ Triens. (22mm, 10.68g)
O: Helmeted head of Minerva right, four pellets above.
R: Prow right, ROMA above, Q before, four pellets below.
Crawford 86A/2

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

Link: Prow

Continental Greece. Euboia, Histiaia. AR Tetrobol, c. 338-304 BC.
Obverse: Head of nymph Histiaia right, wearing wreath, pendant earring and necklace.
Reverse: IΣTI-AIEΩN. Nymph Histiaia seated right on the stern of a galley, adorned with a wing, holding a stylis. Monogram below. HGC 4 1523. AR. 2.21 g. 15.00 mm.

[Curtisimo]

Link: Prow

Mysia, Kyzikos
AE 28, struck ca. 300-200 BC
Dia.: 28 mm
Wt.: 16.81 g
Obv.: Prow to right
Rev.: K-Y / Z-I; Bucranium, all within oak wreath
Ref.: SNG Paris 438 (Overstruck on SNG Paris 436; Kore / Butting Bull)
Ex Savoca 111th Blue Auction, lot 176 (August 28, 2021)

[bcuda]

Link: Prow

 

 

Cnaeus Pompey Junior AE As.
Also known as Pompey the Younger
Elder son of Pompey the Great 
Spanish or Sicilian mint, 46-45 BC. 
Obv: Laureate head of Janus with two faces: 
one looking right (forward into the future), 
other looking left (backward, into the past) 
Rev: I above / prow of galley right, CN MAG 
(MA in monogram) above, IMP below, I before. 
RPC 486, Syd 471/1. Pompeia 15 , Sear 1386
Gnaeus and brother Sextus's armies fought in 
the Battle of Munda in southern Hispania Ulterior, 
it was the final battle of Caesar's civil war 
against the leaders of the Optimates.

Gnaeus Pompeius
Also known as Pompey the Younger
Elder son of Pompey the Great
minted 46-45 BC 14.45 grams CN.MAG above prow. Crawford 471/1. Excellent quality for this type 
Obv: Janus with two faces: one looking right 
(forward into the future), the other looking 
left (backward, into the past)
Rev: Roman galley proa
Gnaeus Pompeius (ca. 75 BC – 12 April 45 BC), also known as Pompey the Younger (sometimes spelled Cneius, Gneius), was a Roman politician and general from the late Republic (1st century BC).

Biography
Gnaeus Pompeius was the elder son of Pompey the Great (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus) by his third wife, Mucia Tertia. Both he and his younger brother Sextus Pompey grew up in the shadow of their father, one of Rome's best generals and not originally a conservative politician who drifted to the more traditional faction when Julius Caesar became a threat. When Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC, thus starting a civil war, Gnaeus followed his father in their escape to the East, as did most of the conservative senators. Pompey's army lost the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, and Pompey himself had to run for his life, only to be murdered in Egypt on 29 September the same year.

After the murder, Gnaeus and his brother Sextus joined the resistance against Caesar in the Africa Province. Together with Metellus Scipio, Cato the Younger and other senators, they prepared to oppose Caesar and his army to the end. Caesar defeated Metellus Scipio and Cato, who subsequently committed suicide, at the Battle of Thapsus in 46 BC. Gnaeus escaped, this time to the Balearic Islands, where he joined Sextus. Together with Titus Labienus, former general in Caesar's army, the Pompey brothers crossed over to Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula, comprising modern Spain and Portugal), where they raised yet another army.

Caesar soon followed and, on 17 March 45 BC, the armies met in the Battle of Munda. Both armies were large and led by able generals. The battle was closely fought, but eventually a cavalry charge by Caesar turned events to his side. In the battle and the panicked escape that followed, Titus Labienus and an estimated 30,000 men of the Pompeian side died. Gnaeus and Sextus managed to escape another time but supporters were difficult to find. It was by now clear Caesar had won the civil war. Within a few weeks, Gnaeus Pompeius was cornered and killed by Lucius Caesennius Lento. Sextus Pompeius was able to keep one step ahead of his enemies, and survived his brother for another decade.

Edited Thursday at 03:44 PM by bcuda

[AncientOne]

Link: Janus

Republic Post Reform As. Janus/Prow

After 211 BC. Rome mint. Obv: head of Janus, I above. Rev: prow of galley right, I above, ROMA below. 33mm, 31gm.

[Victrix]

Link: Ships prow

 

Cn. Pomepeius Magnus and M. Poblicius. Denarius, Spain 46-45, AR 3.87 g. M·POBLICI·LEG·PRO·PR Head of Roma r. wearing crested helmet. Rev. CN·MAGNVS·IMP Female figure (Hispania ?) standing r. with shield slung on her back, holding two spears over shoulder in l. hand, with r. presenting palm branch to Pompeian soldier, armed with sword, standing l. on prow. Babelon Pompeia 9 and Poblicia 10. C 1. Sydenham 1035. Sear Imperators 48a. RBW 1641. Crawford 469/1a.

[DonnaML]

Link: Prow (on galley).

Roman Republic, Mn. Fonteius, AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 108-107 BCE. Obv. Jugate and laureate heads of Dioscuri right, stars above their heads; below their chins to  right, * [= XVI; mark of value] / Rev. Galley right depicted in three-quarters perspective at prow, with long projecting rostrum, full-length oars on front side (with overlapping horizontal shields above oars), and partial view of foreshortened oars on back side*; pilot seated in stern beneath aplustre; above, MN • FONTEI [MN and NTE ligate]; below galley, control-letter B. 20 mm., 3.91 g., 4 h. Crawford 307/1b, BMCRR I 1205; RSC I Fonteia 7 (ill. p. 48); Sear RCV I 184 (ill. p. 107). Purchased from Roma Numismatics E-Sale 98, 16 Jun 2022, Lot 1029.**

*Presumably intentionally, the three-quarters view of the prow of the galley presents the distinct impression of a face, with two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and headgear; the foreshortened oars to the right somewhat resemble a cat’s whiskers. 

**According to Crawford I at pp. 316-317 (referring to id. p. 305), the moneyer “is doubtless a brother or cousin of the moneyer C. Fonteius,” the issuer of Crawford 290/1 in approximately 114-113 BCE, similarly depicting the Dioscuri (in a Janiform design) on the obverse and a galley on the reverse; “either may be identified with the Fonteius who was Legate in 91 [BCE].”  The reason that both moneyers chose to portray the Dioscuri and a galley, as explained at Crawford I p. 305, is that the gens Fonteia came from Tusculum, the chief cult-center of the Dioscuri in Latium.  The galleys on both reverses are “doubtless” allusions to the transmarine origin of Telegonus (the son of Ulysses and Circe), who was the legendary founder of Tusculum. 
 

[shanxi]

Link: The caps of the Dioscouri that are missing here.

Colchis, Dioscurias
Late 2nd century BC
Obv.: Caps of the Dioscuri surmounted by two stars
Rev.: ΔIOΣKOYPIΔOΣ around Thyrsos
AE, 1.45g, 13.6mm
Ref.: SNG Stancomb 638, SNG BM 1021, SNG Cop. 102

 

[Roman Collector]

Link: thyrsos.

Julia Domna, 193-217 CE.
Roman provincial Æ tetrassarion, 13.76 g, 26 mm.
Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum; Legate Aurelius Gallus, 201-204 CE.
Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟ-ΜΝΑ CΕΒΑ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VΠ ΑVΡ ΓΑΛΛΟV-ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ | ΠΡΟC ΙCΤΡΟ, Dionysos standing left,
naked except for boots, holding bunch of grapes and thyrsos, panther at foot left.
Refs: AMNG I 1456; Varbanov 2897; H&J, Nikopolis 8.17.8.1 corr. (rev. legend); Mionnet Sup. 2, p. 134, 457 and pl. III, no 6.

[TIF]

Link:  Julia Domna.  Not the most attractive portrait but I bought it mainly for the reverse :).


Julia Domna
AR denarius, 19.5mm, 3.17 gm, 6h. Rome mint
Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 207-211
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; draped bust right
Rev: Fecunditas or Tellus (Earth) reclining left under tree, resting arm on basket of fruit and placing hand on celestial orb; standing before her are four children representing the Four Seasons
Ref: RIC IV 549 (Septimius Severus); RSC 35
ex R.H. Collection
 

[AncientOne]

Link: Crazy eye.

Achaea. Arcadia, Phialea. Septimius Severus Æ22

 

[Postvmvs]

Link: crazy eye

Marius. 269 AD. AE Silvered Antoninianus (3.26g, 23mm). Cologne mint. Obv.: IMP C M AVR MARIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: VICTORIA AVG, Victory standing front, head to left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left. Elmer 639 ('Treveri'); Cunetio 2509.

[expat]

Link: Another crazy eye

JAIME I. (1213-1276 AD). Crown of Aragon.
Obverse: ARAGON., bust of King Jaime, crowned and draped, left.
Reverse: IACOBVS REX., cross of Caravaca, (Patriarchal Cross).
1 Denier (1/240th Libra), Billon.
1.09g. 18mm. Jaca mint, (1085-1340), Spain. CRU # 318.

[TIF]

Link:  more crazy eyes 👁️

CELTIC, Central Europe (Rhineland). "Dancing Mannikin" type
65 BCE - CE 1
AR Quinarius, 13 mm, 1.62 gm
Obv: dancing mannikin right, head turned left, holding snake in right hand, torque in left hand.
Rev: horse standing right, head turned left; around, zig zag border.
Ref: SLM 1118. Dembski 73, 396. 

[expat]

Link: Horse standing right, head turned left

[robinjojo]

Link: Carthage

Carthage, BI serrate dishekel, 160-149 BC.

12.80 grams

[TIF]

Link:  Carthage/Punic

SICILY, Entella. Punic issues
c. 300-289 BCE; AR tetradrachm, 24 mm, 16.8 gm, 12h)
Obv: head of Melquart-Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev: head of horse left; astragalos (cut over poppy) to left, palm tree to right, Punic MHSBM (approximate meaning is "quaestors" or financial controllers) below
Ref: Jenkins, Punic 366 (O115/R298), series 5b
Ex Gorny & Mosch 138 (7 March 2005), lot 33
 

[shanxi]

Link: Head of horse:

Carthage
Circa 300-264 BC. Æ 18
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left
Rev.: Horse’s head right; Punic letter ayin to right
Æ, 5.25g, 18mm
Ref.: SNG Copenhagen 151

[expat]

Link: Forepart of horse

Kyme, Aeolis. AE17. 320-250 BC. Magistrate Pedieus. 4.68 g.

KY ΠEΔIEYOΣ, forepart of horse right.
One-handled cup, HAP monogram to left.

Unpublished monogram for this magistrate. Emporium Hamburg 91, 95. Paris Inventory 1945.

[Herodotus]

LINK: AEOLIS, KYME

AEOLIS, Kyme. (450-400 BC). AR Hemiobol. (8mm, .44g)
O: Head of eagle left; KY–M around.
R: Quadripartite granulated ‘mill-sail’ incuse square.

[TIF]

Link:  quadripartite granulated "mill-sail" incuse pattern

THRACE, Byzantion
340-320 BCE
AR siglos, 17 mm, 5.0 gm
Obv: Heifer standing left on dolphin swimming to left
Rev: Incuse mill-sail pattern
Ref: SNG BM Black Sea 21
 

The silver is so darkly toned that it looks like a different metal.

[Roman Collector]

Link: paint it black! Silver "so darkly toned that it looks like a different metal."

 

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.41 g, 18.7 mm, 11 h.
Rome, 161-164 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, wearing stephane.
Rev: LAETITIA, Laetitia standing facing, head left, holding wreath and scepter.
Refs: RIC 701; BMCRE 129-131; Cohen 148; RCV --; MIR 21-4/10b diad.; CRE 198.