Coinmaster Posted July 5 · Member Share Posted July 5 Just stumbled upon this publication: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327300756_Biometric_Portraits_of_Emperors_on_the_Roman_Coins Looks promising, what are your thoughts? I'm interested as I'm also looking for denarii which looks more or less similar as marble busts. Unfortunately most busts on internet are frontal. I really must visit some museums in Italy! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted July 6 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted July 6 Quite interesting - thanks for sharing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted July 6 · Patron Share Posted July 6 That's an interesting article, @Coinmaster. Some provincial mints did not use this technique. 4 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrefn Posted July 6 · Supporter Share Posted July 6 Yes, facing portraits present a substantial challenge to the use of this technique. 3 2 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted July 6 · Member Share Posted July 6 A number of scholarly numismatists have written that the engravers at the Rome mint did in fact use marble busts as models. I don't know if the engravers at the Rome mint did use biometric angles, but I'm sure they had protractors to measure angles like the ones we use today. Pictured below is a sestertius from my collection of Maximinus Thrax, & next to it is a restored marble bust of Maximinus Thrax in the Capitoline Museum, Rome. It looks like the marble bust had restoration on his chin that may not be accurate, because the coin sports a much bigger chin 🤔. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted July 9 · Member Author Share Posted July 9 On 7/6/2024 at 10:01 PM, Hrefn said: Yes, facing portraits present a substantial challenge to the use of this technique. Haha, these kind of facing portraits always makes me think about the melting face at the end of Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark! 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted July 9 · Member Author Share Posted July 9 Thanks @Al Kowsky, I think you're right! Here's my example (backside quite worn, but I love looking at this portrait in my coin tray ;-)). 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted July 9 · Supporter Share Posted July 9 Absolutely, I often see weak reverse strikes on Thrax coins 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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