Anyone up for a game of coin UNO?

[Phil Anthos]

Nike...

Syracuse, Sicily (Reign of Agathokles)

317-289 BC
AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.14g)
O: Wreathed head of Kore (Persephone) right, wearing pendant earring and necklace; KOPAΣ behind.
R: Nike standing right, hammer in right hand, erecting trophy; triskeles to lower left, [ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕΙΟΣ] behind, all within dotted border.
Struck between 313–295 BC.
HGC 2, 1536; SNG ANS 670-76; SNG Cop 766ff; Sear 972v; BMC 388v
ex Museum Surplus

“Kore, the Girl, is so intimately associated with her mother Demeter that they are often referred to simply as the Two Goddesses or even as Demeteres. Kore’s own enigmatic name is Persephone, or Phersephone, and in Attic Pherrephatta. In Homer she is mentioned alone and also in conjunction with her husband, Hades-Aidoneus, the personification of the underworld; her Homeric epithets are venerable, agaue, and awesome, epaine. Her two aspects, girl-like daughter of the Corn Goddess and Mistress of the Dead, are linked in the myth which, though ignored in heroic epic, is responsible almost exclusively for defining the picture of Demeter. The earliest extended version is the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, but Hesiod already alludes to it in the Theogony as an ancient and well known story, and aspects of the later tradition seem to preserve very ancient material.”
~ Walter Burkert (Greek Religion, 1985

[expat]

Link; Nike

Obverse is nothing to admire, but a great reverse of Nike

Pontos, Amisos, AE.Time of Mithradates VI Eupator, Circa 85-65 BC.
Obv: Aegis with Gorgon facing.
Rev: AMI-ΣO[Y], Nike advancing right with shouldered palm branch; on each side, monogram.
Weight: 6.04 gr.
Diameter: 19.4 mm.

[Roman Collector]

Link: Goddess with long palm. 

 

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.36 g, 30.0 mm, 6 h.
Rome, c. 166 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, (Beckmann Type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: HILARITAS S C, Hilaritas standing facing, head left, holding long palm and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 1642; BMCRE 911-13; Cohen 112; RCV 5275.
Note: May have been issued to commemorate her husband’s victory over the Parthians, which he shared with Lucius Verus, for which the co-emperors celebrated a triumph in October 166.

[expat]

Link; Hilaritas with upright long palm

[Phil Anthos]

Stratonikeia, Caria

circa 100 BC AE 20 (20mm, 6.38g) O: Lareate head of Hekate right, wearing crescent moon crown. R: Nike advancing right, holding palm and wreath; ΣTPATO above, [NIK]EΩN below. cf SNG Cop 489; cf Sear 4942; BMC 151,31 Scarce ex Aegean Numismatics

[robinjojo]

Link:  Nike

Antiochus VII Sidetes, AR tetradrachm,  Antioch on the Orontes mint, 130–129 BC.

SC 2061.2; HGC 9, 1067d

16.71 grams 

Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left, resting hand on shield, propping spear on her arm; and holding Nike with the other hand. 

Edited Saturday at 11:00 PM by robinjojo

[shanxi]

Link: Athena standing left, holding Nike

Lydia, Sardeis
AE 27, 133-1 BC
Magistrate Artemidoros Moldi
Obv.: Draped bust of Artemis right; bow and quiver over shoulder
Rev.: ΣAPΔIANΩN, AΡTEMI ΔΩPOΣ MOΛΔI, Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear, and shield set on ground.
AE, 10.57g, 27mm
Ref.: SNG Munich 464, Waddington 5210

 

 

[Roman Collector]

Link: Sardis.

Faustina I, 138-140 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 20.6 mm, 4.46 g, 6 h.
Lydia, Sardis, 138-140 CE.
Obv: ΦΑVϹΤΙΝΑ ϹΕΒΑϹΗ, bare-headed and draped bust of Faustina I, right.
Rev: ϹΑΡΔ-Ι-ΑΝΩΝ, Aphrodite standing left, holding apple and scepter.
Refs: RPC IV.2, 1427 (temporary); BMC 22.258, 140; SNG von Aulock 3153; SNG France 1240.

[Phil Anthos]

Laodicea ad Lycum, Phrygia

189-133 BC AE15 (15 mm, 2.38g) O: Draped bust of Aphrodite right, wearing sphendone with hair tied behind. R: Aphrodite standing left, wearing long chiton and holding dove in right hand; rose to left, ΛAO∆IKEΩN downward to right. SNG Cop 497; Sear 5156; BMC Phrygia 284, 30 ex Forvm Auctions

[ambr0zie]

Link - same mythical character on both sides 

14 mm, 1,94 g.
Euboea, Histiaia. AR tetrobol. Circa 338-304 BC.
Head of nymph Histaia to right, wreathed with vine, hair rolled / Nymph Histaia seated to right on stern of galley, wing on galley around IΣTIAIEΩN.
Cf.S.2496; BCD Euboia 387ff; HGC 4, 1524.

[shanxi]

Link: nymph

Larissa, Thessaly
AE Dichalkon
Obv.: Head of nymph Larissa facing, head turned slightly to left, wreathed with grain, wearing double strand plain necklace
Rev: ΛAPIΣAIΩN, Cavalrymen on horse prancing right, lance in right, wearing Boiotian helmet, ∆A monogram
AE, 5.45g, 17.1mm
Ref.: BCD Thessaly I 1171.1, BCD Thessaly II 393.3, SNG Cop 140, cf. Rogers 285

[expat]

Horse rider with lance astride a horse

[Phil Anthos]

Taras, Calabria

276-272 BC (Period VII - The Pyrrhic Hegemony) AR Didrachm (20mm, 6.44g) Apollo(...) magistrate. O: Helmeted warrior on horse cantering left, carrying two javelins and a large round shield decorated with eight-rayed star; ΞΩ behind, [AΠOΛΛΩ] (magistrate) below. R: Taras (of the plump Dionysiac type) astride dolphin left, holding bunch of grapes in extended right hand, distaff over left shoulder; ANΘ to right, TAPAΣ below. D'Andrea XLII, 1203; Vlasto 789-91; Evans VII, F2 or F6; Cote 413; SNG France 1920; McGill II, 84; HGC I, 887; SNG ANS 1131-1133; HN Italy 1013 ex Numisantique The helmeted warrior shown here behind a large shield is a definite departure from the typical image found on this coinage. The earlier naked skirmishers have been replaced by the fully armored cavalryman presented here. This was of course a gradual process, but the evolution becomes more apparent on later issues where the rider is clearly depicted wearing a cuirass. This plump rendition of Taras also differs greatly from previous images and is actually meant to represent a young Iacchus, the son of Dionysus and Persephone. Similar images can be found on kraters and terracotta votives found in the region. The attributes of Dionysus which he carries show the foreign influence of the chthonic cult of Dionysus upon the city of Taras. This relatively new mystery cult was introduced along side the earlier ouranic cults of Poseidon and Apollo, and the inclusion of Iacchus here represents a distinct link to the Mysteries of Eleusis. The distaff, in this context, is probably a reference to Ariadne, a wife of Dionysus, but its’ phallic nature also symbolizes the god of ecstasy Himself. - The Tarantinians Carouse - The theaters are full, music everywhere, here debauchery and lewdness, and there athletic and sophistical contests. An unwithering wreath adorns the statue of Dionysus. Not an earthly nook remains unsprinkled by libations... ~ Kavafy (1933)

[shanxi]

Link: warrior

Herennia Etruscilla
Ionia, Samos
AE28
Obv.: ЄΡЄΝ ЄΤΡΟΥϹΚΙΛΛΑ ϹЄB, Draped bust right, wearing stephane and set upon crescent.
Rev.: ϹΑΜΙΩΝ, Warrior advancing right, head left, with foot set upon prow right, extending hand and holding shield.
Ae, 12.41g, 28 mm
Ref.: RPC IX 682; BMC 363

 

[expat]

Link; Herennia Etruscilla

Herrenia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius. 249-251 AD.
AR Antoninianus
Obverse: HER ETRVSCILLA AVG. Diademed and draped bust right on crescent.
Reverse: PVDICITIA AVG. Pudicitia seated left holding sceptre and drawing veil from her face.
RIC IV 59b. Hunter 5; RSC 19
 Rome mint, A.D. 250.  3,8 g – 20,5 mm

[Roman Collector]

Link: Herennia Etruscilla.

Herennia Etruscilla, 249-251 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 14.04 gm, 28.3 mm.
Rome, 250-251 CE.
Obv: HERENNIA ETRVSCILLA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: FECVNDITAS AVG SC, Fecunditas standing left, right hand extended to child standing at her feet; holding cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 134a; Sear 9504; Cohen 9; Hunter 12.

[ambr0zie]

Link Herennia but not what you would expect 

 

18 mm, 3,77 g.
M. Herennius. AR denarius. Rome. 108-107 BC.
PIETAS, head of Pietas r., wearing diadem; hair twisted around lower part of diadem; single drop earring; beaded necklace; tendrils falling down the back of her neck / M·HERENNI, nude male figure bearing a man on his shoulder, r. (one of the Catanaean brothers, Amphinomus, carrying his father Nisos on his shoulder); M.HERENNI downwards l.; control mark on r.; dotted border.
RRC 308/1b; Herennia 1a; B.M.C, 1258-85; Syd. 567a.

[expat]

Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus. AE Sestertius, Rome, AD 251-252

IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right / PIETAS AVGG, S-C, Pietas standing facing before lit altar, raising both hands.
RIC 117a; Cohen 86; Sear 9676.
23.15g. 28x31mm

[shanxi]

Link: Pietas

Faustina Senior
AR Denarius after 141
Obv.: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, Bust of Faustina I right
Rev.: PIETAS AVG, Pietas, veiled, draped, standing left, with right hand dropping incense on lighted candelabrum and holding box in left hand
Ag, 3.19g, 17mm
Ref.: RIC III 395Ca, CRE 117 [C]

[expat]

Faustina Sr AR Denarius, RIC 361, RSC 101a, BMC 417, SEAR 4583. DIVA FAVSTINA, with elaborate hairstyle and draped bust right / AVGV-STA, Ceres standing left, long hair tied behind, raising right hand & holding long torch with left.
Rome mint, A.D. 141.  3,0 g - 15 mm

[Phil Anthos]

Ceres...

Faustina I / Ceres

after 141 AD AR Denarius (18mm, 2.98g) O: Draped bust right, hair arranged in chignon; DIVA FAVSTINA. R: Ceres, veiled, standing right, holding corn ears and sceptre; AVGVSTA. RSC 93; RIC 358; Sear 4581; BMC 389; Strack 475 ex Vaughn Rare Coin Gallery

[DonnaML]

Link: Ceres.

France, Second Republic, AV (.900 fineness) 20 Francs, 1849, Paris Mint (mintage 61,092). Obv. Head of Cérès right wearing wreath of oak-leaves and ears of corn (grain); in left field, fasces topped by Main de Justice (Hand of Justice) with two fingers raised in blessing gesture; in right field, laurel branch; REPUBLIQUE ⁎ FRANÇAISE around; beneath head of Cérès, L. MERLEY. F. [for engraver Louis Merley; F. = Fecit (he made this)] / Rev. Denomination 20/Francs in two lines encircled by wreath consisting of laurel branch to left and oak branch to right, tied together by ribbon at bottom; beneath wreath, mintmark “A” [= Paris] above year 1849, flanked on left by privy mark of hand with forefinger pointing right, and on right by privy mark of dog’s head right (the marks of the Mint Director [for period 1846-60] and Chief Engraver [for period 1843-55], respectively)/ Edge inscription DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE ⁎⁎⁎.  21 mm., 6.43 g. Gadoury 1059 (p. 449) [Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2023 (Éditions Victor Gadoury 2023)], KM (Krause-Mishler) 762, Yeoman 10.*

*This type of gold 20 francs coin with Cérès on the obverse was issued only for the three-year period 1849-1851 (overlapping in its first year with the second and final year of the Génie type), and was replaced in 1852 by the 20 francs piece bearing the image of Napoleon III on the obverse, minted from 1852-1870. The 1849 Cérès 20 francs coin is the rarest of the three, with a mintage of only around 60,000, compared to approximately 4 million in 1850 and 13 million in 1851.  

[expat]

Link; 20 Francs gold coin

Obverse

Laureate head of Emperor Franz Joseph I, wearing a moustache and dense sideburns going down to the neck. Around this bust the inscription "Franz Joseph I by the grace of God, emperor and king".

Reverse

Austrian imperial symbol, namely a crowned double-headed eagle with its mouth open, tongues outwards, wings spread, stamped with a shield surrounded by the collar of the Golden Fleece. He holds a sword in his right hand and a crown in his left. In the arc of a circle an inscription "Empire of Austria"; the motto is written in Florin and in Francs "8 Fl - 20 Fr". At the very bottom in the middle of the coin, the year of issue.

Type     Standard circulation coin
Years     1870-1892
Value     8 Florins = 20 Francs
Currency     Austro-Hungarian gulden (decimalized, 1857-1892)
Composition     Gold (.900)
Weight     6.4516 g
Diameter     21 mm
Thickness     1.2 mm
Shape     Round
Technique     Milled
Orientation     Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized     Yes
Number     N#
17723
References     KM# 2269, Fr# 502R

[DonnaML]

15 minutes ago, expat said:

Link; 20 Francs gold coin

Obverse

Laureate head of Emperor Franz Joseph I, wearing a moustache and dense sideburns going down to the neck. Around this bust the inscription "Franz Joseph I by the grace of God, emperor and king".

Reverse

Austrian imperial symbol, namely a crowned double-headed eagle with its mouth open, tongues outwards, wings spread, stamped with a shield surrounded by the collar of the Golden Fleece. He holds a sword in his right hand and a crown in his left. In the arc of a circle an inscription "Empire of Austria"; the motto is written in Florin and in Francs "8 Fl - 20 Fr". At the very bottom in the middle of the coin, the year of issue.

Type     Standard circulation coin
Years     1870-1892
Value     8 Florins = 20 Francs
Currency     Austro-Hungarian gulden (decimalized, 1857-1892)
Composition     Gold (.900)
Weight     6.4516 g
Diameter     21 mm
Thickness     1.2 mm
Shape     Round
Technique     Milled
Orientation     Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized     Yes
Number     N#
17723
References     KM# 2269, Fr# 502R

Very interesting. Was there an agreement of some sort between Austria-Hungary and France under which the Franc and the Florin had a fixed exchange rate?

[ambr0zie]

59 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Was there an agreement of some sort between Austria-Hungary and France under which the Franc and the Florin had a fixed exchange rate?

I think the answer is here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Monetary_Union