Ancient Coins

After the deaths of Emperors Gordianus I and II, the Roman Senate had a major problem. It had not long before declared soldier emperor Maximinus I Thrax an enemy of the people, and this Maximinus meanwhile marched with his army to Rome. In an emergency session of the Senate, Pupienus and Balbinus were then elected emperors. The people, however, did not take this lightly, and became restless. By appointing the later Gordianus III as Caesar, worse was prevented.

Pupienus, the more militarily experienced of the two emperors went to Ravenna to build up an army and take on Maximinus. This went surprisingly well, as Pupienus was able to get many soldiers from Germania, and Maximinus' supplies ran out. Maximinus was then killed by his soldiers, who otherwise kept quiet after a commutation.

Pupienus returned to Rome, where Balbinus did not control the situation. However, peace returned somewhat with the arrival of Pupienus. However, the emperors among themselves did not trust each other one bit. Pupienus therefore wanted his Germanic troops with him. The Praetorian Guard did not like this and killed both emperors. Caesar Gordianus became emperor.

The reverse of this coin bears the inscription "Caritas mutua avgg" which means "mutual benevolence of the emperors", which couldn't be further from the truth; their loathing and distrust for each other directly led to their demise. The use of coins as propaganda vehicles was, by this time, a well-established tactic in administrating the empire.

Probably quite early in his reign, as the portrait looks quite a bit like Severus Alexander.

318-324 AD

DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, helmeted and cuirassed bust left holding spear and shield

IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and eagle-tipped scepter, another eagle at feet to left, captive seated on ground to right, XIII in right field

Sear 15409

https://ehistory.kz/kz/news/show/339320

Does it work?

This particular coin - a follis - was struck in early 312 AD in Nicomedia

Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG, laureate head right

Reverse: GENIO A-VGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked, except for chlamys over left shoulder (falls low), holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae. Right field: Γ. Mintmark SMN.

SMN stands for 'Sacra Moneta Nicomedia' - the mint in the city of Nicomedia where this coin was struck.

The Γ in the right field is a gamma - the third letter in the Greek alphabet - and signifies that this coin was struck in the 3rd workshop in the Nicomedia mint.

I like this coin a lot because it's in such excellent shape :) Pretty much as struck, except for the silvering which is gone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AgathoklesCoinage.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VespasianDupondius.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BilingualCoinOfEucratides.jpg

https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=en&id=18201479&view=rs

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464811

Obverse: Facing scalp of lion

Reverse: Triskeles within incuse square

Mithrapāta (c. 390–370 BC) was dynast of Lycia in the early 4th century BC, at a time when this part of Anatolia was subject to the Persian, or Achaemenid, Empire.

Mithrapata was the last ruler of Lycia to issue coins. After about 360 BC, the region of Lycia was taken over by the Carian dynast Mausolus.

Lycia was a region in Anatolia, modern day Turkey:

https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=309206

Roman Imperial

10-35 USD

• A lovely little Constanius II follis
• A silver antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus in a recognizable Antioch-style
• A pretty Constans follis with sandy patina

35-60 USD

• A nice clean Crispus with a camp gate reverse
• A neat Licinius I follis with traces of the original silvering still present
• A chunky Constantius I Chlorus follis

60-100 USD

• An expressive portrait of Maximinus Thrax
• A shiny EF coin of Caracalla, one of the most infamous Roman emperors

About a year ago I would occasionally post lists of good deals to be found on coin vendor sites. Never got much of a response, but I'd be happy to do one if there's interest.

You know, great deals under 10 dollars kinda thing.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/31108001

Coins of the period often imitated what was seen as 'prestigious' or high-quality coinage, and in this period, coinage of the Abbasid Caliphate was seen as very prestigious. Still, for a Christian kingdom at the far end of Europe to make a coin in imitation of a primarily Middle-Eastern Muslim polity is unusual. It's a fascinating little thing.