Archive for the 'Coins' Category

C. Mamilius Limetanus 82 B.C.

C. Mamilius Limetanus 82 B.C.
C. Mamilius Limetanus 82 B.C.; AR denarius.
Obverse: Bust of Mercury right, caduceus behind.
Reverse: Ulysses walking r. holding staff and being greeted by his dog Argus.
Syd 741, Cr362/1.

That poor dog waited over 20 years for Ulysses to come home and then died of happiness when he did.

P. Fonteius P.f. Capito 55 BC.


P. Fonteius P.f. Capito,  55 BC, AR denarius.
Obverse: Helmeted bust of Mars r., trophy over shoulder, P FONTEIVS P F CAPITO III VIR around.
Reverse: Horseman attacking warrior who is about to slay a kneeling captive, MN FONT TR MIL above.
Cr-429/1, Syd-900, Fonteia-17. 3.88g.

Anonymous Denarius 206-195 BC.

It’s been a while but here is my latest coin, an early denarius:


Anonymous AR denarius.
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma r., X behind.
Reverse: Dioscuri riding r., rostrum tridens below horses; below, ROMA in linear frame.
Cr-114/1, Syd-244. 4.26g.

I’ve wanted a coin depicting the Dioscuri for a while now.

M. Fannius 123 BC.

I wonder if this guy’s nickname back in ancient Rome was “Fanny.” hehe

Anyway, another Republican denarius added to the collection. This one is from 123 BC. by the moneyer Marcus Fannius.

M Fannius, AR denarius.
Obverse: Head of Roma right in winged helmet, ROMA behind, X below chin.
Reverse: Victory in a quadriga right, reins in left, wreath in right, M FAN•C•F (AN ligate) in exergue.
SRCV I 150, Crawford 275/1, Sydenham 419, RSC I Fannia 1. 3.977g, 18.8mm, 315o.

Castulo Spain

My second coin from Castulo. I like the style of these coins of Castulo.

Spain, Castulo. Late 2nd Century BC. Æ
Obverse: Diademed head right; hand before.
Reverse: Sphinx standing right; star before.
CNH pg. 336, 38; SNG BM Spain 1323ff. 27 mm. 11.69 g.

Alexander the Great

Though I said I was going to focus on Roman Republican coinage, I did say it would be a weak focus. :)

I finally got an Alexander lifetime tetradrachm to match my lifetime drachm. This one is darkly toned and was minted in Babylon.

Alexander III “The Great”. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm, struck circa 325-323 BC.
Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin headdress.
Reverse: Zeus seated left, holding eagle in right hand, sceptre in left; grapes and M before, monogram below throne.
Price 3641b (same obverse die); Müller 692. 26mm, 16.62 g. Babylon mint.

Julius Caesar

I had one of these before but this one is quite a bit nicer. :)

Julius Caesar denarius
Caius Julius Caesar, 100-44 BC, Denarius 47-46 BC.
Obverse: Diademed head of Venus right.
Reverse: CAESAR; Aeneas walking left, holding his father Anchises and palladium.
Cr.458/1. 3.75 g.

Random Stuff

Well this site is over two years old now. Thanks to everyone who has visited and special thanks to all who link here.

After several years of collecting ancient coins, I have finally found a focus. It is a weak focus but a focus nonetheless. Roman Republican coins. It should be obvious by my last few months worth of purchases. I will probably have to consign some more coins to pursue this new direction. hehe.

I hope everyone has a most excellent holiday season.

Quadrigatus 225-212 BC.

Republican Billon Quadrigatus, 225-212 BC.
Obverse: Laureate head of Janus.
Reverse: Jupiter in quadriga galloping right, ROMA on raised tablet below.
Craw 28/3 var, Syd 68. 18.81 mm, 4.82 gm.

This type of coin is called a “quadrigatus” after the quadrigae, or four horse chariot, on the reverse. In 211 BC. the coinage was reformed. This coin was discontinued and the better known denarius was introduced.

I believe this coin to be a debased Second Punic War emergency issue. It is made of billon, not the normal silver, and it is underweight. I would think that it is too obvious to be an ancient counterfeit. Please correct me if I am wrong.

M. Porcius Laeca

M. Porcius Laeca

M. Porcius Laeca, 125 BC. AR denarius.
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right, LAECA behind.
Reverse: Libertas in quadriga, crowned by Victory, M POR ROMA below.
Cr270/1, Syd 513.

This moneyer was a descendant of P. Porcius Laeca, praetor in 195 BC. who proposed and carried out the Lex Porcia Provocatione. This granted the Roman citizen residing outside the city the right of appeal in criminal matters against the magistrates acting in their military capacity.