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Roman Republic. C. Antestius AR Denarius (3.81g, 19mm). Rome Mint, BCE 146.

Obv: C•ANTESTI (ANTE ligate) to l. Head of Roma right, X below chin.

Rev: ROMA in exergue. The Dioscuri, each holding spear, riding right; dog running right, both fore-feet raised, below horses.

Ref: Antestia 1; Crawford 219/1e; BMCRR Rome 859.

Provenance: Ex-Artemide Aste srl e-Auction 11, Lot 236 (San Marino, 26 January 2020).

Numis. Notes: Spots of porosity/roughness, but overall good metal. A lively hound enjoying the hunt!

Hist. Notes: Although hounds were popular on Greek coinage as well, Roman Republican denarii provide much more varied depictions of the breeds and contexts of dogs in their society. This issue from Moneyer C. Antestius is notable for illustrating what today might be described as a “lion cut,” popular for poodles and other water dogs. The dog itself (or puppy?) is sometimes identified as a proto-poodle or water spaniel of some sort – a working dog. The “lion cut” is meant to permit buoyancy and warmth as the dog retrieved fowl from water. A similar breed may be portrayed on the denarius of L. Caesius, but in a distinctly domestic setting, hinting that, already in antiquity, canine coiffure may have been as much about fashion as function.

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Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #Republican #Roman #Silver

PHOTO OF COIN IN ANACS HOLDER AVAILABLE HERE

Thracian Dynasts / Geto-Dacians. Koson, with Marcus Junius Brutus, AR Drachm.
Unknown mint (Skythia, Olbia?), circa 44 – 42 BC.
Obv: Roman consul accompanied by two lictors; BR monogram to left; KOΣΩΝ in exergue.
Rev: Eagle standing left on scepter, holding wreath in talon.
Ref: Fischer-Bossert (2016) Type B. cf. RPC I 1701 (AV Stater). For Drachm, see W. Fischer-Bossert (2016) “ΚΟΣΩΝ ΔΡΟΥΕΙΣ” in Festschrift Salzmann.
Pedigree: Ex-Silver City Auctions (Findlay, OH USA), 17 Dec 2019, Lot 228 (same coin previously unsold or unpaid at prior Silver City auctions). ANACS Certification # 6001074 (click for ANACS lookup)

Album: All Coins

Categories: Greek Coins Provincial Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #Celts & Imitatives #Greek #Historic #Imperatorial #J & J Family Collection #Rare #Republican #Roman #Showcase #Silver

Roman Republic. Gaius Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius (3.80g, 18mm). Rome mint, 88 BC.
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right.

Reverse: CX (above), C•CENSORI (below). Horse galloping right. Serpent entwined staff in exergue.

References: Crawford 346/2b; RSC Marcia 19.

Pedigree: JJF Collection. Uncertain, purchased by CSJ ca. 2010 (+/- a few years).

Numis. Notes:These were struck with a variety of controls; this one, with the serpent-entwined-staff is a bit rare, and desirable because it’s rather bold & dramatic for a control symbol.

Hist. Notes: Once Sulla was done with his First Civil War (by about 87 BC), and his Mithradatic War, he marched his way back to Rome so he could team up with future Triumvirs Pompey and Crassus to wage another (Sulla’s Second Civil War). His opponents were the Marius-Cinna faction, led by Gaius Marius (dead in the first), his son (killed in 82), and Cinna (killed 84).

Gaius Marcius Censorinus was among the “last men standing,” captured after being defeated at the decisive Battle of the Colline Gate (Kalends of Nov, 82). Sulla ordered him executed and had his severed head sent to the remaining Marian army, which promptly deserted their leader Marius the Younger, who then promptly committed suicide.

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #J & J Family Collection #Rare #Republican #Roman #Silver

Roman Republic. Q. Titius AR Denarius (3.98g, 19.5mm). Rome mint, 90 BC.

Obverse: Head of Bacchus or Liber right, wreathed with ivy.

Reverse: Pegaus right. Q•TITI inscribed on tablet below.

References: Crawford 341/2; SRCV 239; Sydenham 692; Titia 2.

Pedigree: Jackson & Jacobs Family Collection. Purchased by CSJ from Forum Ancient Coins (#RR43729) between c. 2005 & 2013.

Notes:Ex-jewelry, bezel removed. Toned.

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #J & J Family Collection #Republican #Roman #Silver

• Return to: “Barbarians, Captives, and Enemies” page (to this coin)

Roman Republican/Imperatorial. Julius Caesar (Dictator, 49-44 BCE). AR Denarius (3.70g, 20mm, 12h). Military mint moving with Caesar in Spain, 46-45 BCE.
Obv: Head of Venus to right, wearing stephane; Cupid behind shoulder
Rev: Trophy of Gallic arms, composed of helmet and cuirass, oval shield and two carnyxes. Two Gallic captives seated at base, to left, a female (Gallia) in posture of mourning, head resting in r. hand; to right, a bearded male (Vercingetorix) with hands bound behind him, looking l. CAESAR in exergue.
Reference: Crawford 468/1; CRI 58; RSC 13; Sydenham 1014.
Provenance: Ex-Tauler y Fau Substastas Auction 70, Lot 79 (Madrid, 24 Nov 2020), with export license from Spain.

Video of this coin is available here.

Numismatic Notes: The figures on the reverse of this coin are traditionally identified as the same as those portrayed on the obverses of the pair of Hostilius Saserna AR Denarii, c. 48 BCE, depicting Gallia (left) and Vercingetorix (right).
This coin became the archetype for Roman numismatic depictions of captives for the next 400 years (gallery of selected Barbarians, Captives, Enemies). The trophy with two captives beneath was used frequently in the 3rd century (e.g., by Septimius Severus and Caracalla) and became a popular type on 4th century small bronze coinage (see, e.g., the Constantine AE3s). Even those depicting a single captive borrowed from this imagery; e.g., Judaea (under Vespasian et al.), Armenia (L. Verus et al.), and Dacia (Trajan et al.), among others, were depicted as female personifications in the same attitude of dejection/posture of mourning.

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Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Captives & Enemies #Classic #Historic #Imperatorial #Republican #Roman #Showcase #Silver

NGC #3761188-001 VF, Strike 4/5, Surface 2/5, “core visible” (NGC Website certification lookup)

For more information on this type, see our writeup on the Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius

Sold 3 April 2014 (JJFN Ebay store, item # 231120578927)

Julius Caesar (Dictator, 49 – 44 BC) Fourrée / Plated Denarius
Mobile military mint traveling with Caesar in Northern Italy, 49 BC.
Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent or carnyx (Gallic war trumpet). CAESAR in exergue.
Rev: Pontifical emblems – ladle (simpulum), sprinkler (aspergillum), axe (securis) surmounted by a wolf head, and priest’s hat (apex).
Ref: For prototype: RSC 49; Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006; Sear CRI 9; Babelon 1885, p10, Julia 9.
Pedigree: Ex-Jackson & Jacobs Family Numismatics (3 Apr 2014, Ebay item #231120578927; 1 Sep 2013, [Unslabbed] #330983650815); Lucernae Numismatica / Antonio Hinojosa Pareja (Alcala la Real, Spain, 20 March 2013)

Notes: Fourrées (or Subaeratus) are silver plated denarii with base cores. As NGC indicates, these were “ancient forgeries,” also known as contemporary counterfeits. (As Mattingly (1928/1960: 24) noted, though, there were times when the State officially struck plated denarii.)

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Animals #Classic #Historic #Imperatorial #Republican #Roman #Silver #Sold

For more information on this type, see our writeup on the Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius

Julius Caesar (Dictator, 49 – 44 BC) AR Denarius (3.8g, 19mm, 11h). Mobile military mint traveling with Caesar in Northern Italy, 49 BC.
Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent or carnyx (Gallic war trumpet). CAESAR in exergue.

Rev: Pontifical emblems – ladle (simpulum), sprinkler (aspergillum), axe (securis) surmounted by a wolf head, and priest’s hat (apex).

Ref: RSC 49; Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006; Sear CRI 9; Babelon 1885, p10, Julia 9.

Pedigree: Ex-Roma Numismatics E-Sale 9, Lot 393 (London, 28 June 2014)

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #Classic #Historic #Imperatorial #Republican #Roman #Silver #Sold

For more information on this type, see our writeup on the Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius

Julius Caesar (Dictator, 49 – 44 BC) AR Denarius (3.85g, 18mm, 4h). Mobile military mint traveling with Caesar in Northern Italy, 49 BC.
Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent or carnyx (Gallic war trumpet). CAESAR in exergue.

Rev: Pontifical emblems – ladle (simpulum), sprinkler (aspergillum), axe (securis) surmounted by a wolf head, and priest’s hat (apex).

Ref: RSC 49; Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006; Sear CRI 9; Babelon 1885, p10, Julia 9.

Pedigree: Ex-Roma Numismatics E-Sale 9, Lot 392 (London, 28 June 2014)

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #Classic #Historic #Imperatorial #Republican #Roman #Showcase #Silver #Sold

For more information on this type, see our writeup on the Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius

Julius Caesar (Dictator, 49 – 44 BC) AR Denarius. Mobile military mint traveling with Caesar in Northern Italy, 49 BC.
Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent or carnyx (Gallic war trumpet). CAESAR in exergue.

Rev: Pontifical emblems – ladle (simpulum), sprinkler (aspergillum), axe (securis) surmounted by a wolf head, and priest’s hat (apex).

Ref: RSC 49; Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006; Sear CRI 9; Babelon 1885, p10, Julia 9.

Pedigree:

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #Classic #Historic #Imperatorial #Republican #Roman #Silver #Sold

Julius Caesar (Dictator, 49 – 44 BC) AR Denarius (3.49g, 17mm, 1h). Mobile military mint traveling with Caesar in Northern Italy, 49 BC.

Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent or carnyx (Gallic war trumpet). CAESAR in exergue.

Rev: Pontifical emblems – ladle (simpulum), sprinkler (aspergillum), axe (securis) surmounted by a wolf head, and priest’s hat (apex).

Ref: RSC 49; Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006; Sear CRI 9 (ref. in error in K. Davis 74); Babelon 1885, p10, Julia 9.

Pedigree: Ex-Kirk Davis Catalog #74, Lot 65 (12 Nov 2019); VAuctions Triskeles Sale 28, Lot 260 (21 Jun 2019).

Please see available video with writeup (incl. Historical & Numismatic Notes & additional references) for this coin!

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Album: All Coins

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #Animals #Classic #Historic #Imperatorial #Republican #Roman #Showcase #Silver