Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Mark Antony - Legion X - Fretensis

Moneta — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 15:16:14 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Marcus Antonius. Denarius mint moving with M. Antony 32-31 B.C., AR 19.5mm., 3.83g. ANT AVG – III·VIR·R·P·C, Praetorian Galley r., with sceptre tied with fillet on prow. Rev. LEG – X, Aquila between two standards. Sharp EF and exceptional detail and preservation. Agora Sale 62, Lot 157 ($753 total), where it was described, incorrectly, as Legion X Gemina. Babelon Antonia 117. C 38. Sydenham 1228. Sear Imperators 361. Crawford 544/24. There are a whole host of these used for payment of Army & Navy troops that fought in the famous battles of Pharsalus and Actium. Presumably all of the Legions participating in the battle by Marcus Antonius are represented. However, Legion X FRETENSIS is the most notable because this Legion X was Julius Caesar's favorite legion in the Gallic Wars. Claimed to be struck at a military field mint at Patrae between 32 - 31 B.C. Presumably all of the Legions participating in the battle by Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) are represented. His silver denarii bear the name of one of his 23 regular legions or two specialized units (the praetorian cohorts and the cohort of speculatores), all represented on his Legionary denarii. However, Legion X Fretensis is the most notable because this Legion X was Julius Caesar's favorite legion in the Gallic Wars. Legion X (Fretenis) fought at the battles of Pharsalus and Actium. Later this Legion X was moved to Judea & Syria where it encamped in Jerusalem. It participated in the suppression of the 1st and 2nd Jewish Revolts. Countermarked [X] copper coins exist overstruck on local, often Judean, and Roman provincial issues. Recently a hoard of these countermarked Legio X coins were found at the Gonio Apsaros fortress in the country of Georgia. It is thought that these are from the 114 A.D. and the Emperor Trajan's conquest of Mesopotamia and Armenia. That successful campaign extended the Roman Empire to it's greatest extent of it's history. This is off the top of my head so please allow me a few errors before I correct any mistakes as a write a short paper, to be posted here eventually. Professor Theodore Mommsen, who made many documented errors, in his writing on Roman history, also managed to mix up the identifications of the two 10th Legions. He originally declared that the 10th Gemina (Twins) was the favorite legion of Julius Caesar, having fought bravely for him in his Gallic Wars. Recent scholarship, by a host of historians, now shows that Legion X FRETENSIS was the famous legion, that stands out among all the other legions, that Julius Caesar raised in southern Spain in 61 B.C. Following: [The Numismatist; Feb. 1975] Actium, depicted on the obverse a galley with inscription ANT(onius) AVG(ustus) III VIR R(ei) P(ublicae) C(onstituendae). The reverse portrayed a legionary eagle between two standards, with the legend calling on a particular legion, e.g. LEG(io) III. There were issues for LEG(io) PRI(ma) through LEG(io) XXIII. These issues graphically displayed what had been apparent for a long time, the dependence of any would-be ruler upon the loyalty of his army. During the Empire, these issues were to become particularly common, especially when a ruler was unsure of the loyalty of his army. Antony's army displayed its loyalty at Actium and afterwards. With the defeat of Antony the entire Roman world fell into the hands of Augustus. Special and extra-legal issues ceased and the coinage once again became uniform, though with a completely new orientation. The basic aim of the coinage, now and throughout the duration of the Empire, became the glorification of the imperial family.

Rome - Marc Antony Legion X Fretensis

Moneta — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 16:10:34 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Marcus Antonius. Denarius mint moving with M. Antony 32-31 B.C., AR 16.5mm., 3.57g. ANT AVG – III·VIR·R·P·C Galley r., with sceptre tied with fillet on prow. Rev. LEG – X Aquila between two standards. Babelon Antonia 117. C 38. Sydenham 1228. Sear Imperators 361. Crawford 544/24. There are a whole host of these used for payment of Army & Navy troops that fought in the famous battle of Actium. Presumably all of the Legions participating in the battle by Marcus Antonius are represented. However, Legion X Fretensis is the most notable because this Legion X was Julius Caesar's favorite legion in the Gallic Wars. Legion X (Fretenis) fought at the battles of Pharsalus and Actium. Later this Legion X was moved to Judea & Syria where it encamped in Jerusalem. It participated in the suppression of the 1st and 2nd Jewish Revolts. This is off the top of my head so please allow me a few errors before I correct any mistakes as a write a short paper, to be posted here eventually. Professor Theodore Mommsen, who made many documented errors, in his writing on Roman history, also managed to mix up the identifications of two 10th Legions. He originally declared that the 10th Gemina (Twins) was the favorite legion of Julius Caesar, having fought bravely for him in his Gallic Wars. Recent scholarship, by a host of historians, now shows that Legion X FRETENSIS was the famous legion, that stands out among all the other legions, that Julius Caesar raised in southern Spain in 61 B.C.

Rome - Julius Caesar & Priestly Instruments

Moneta — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 15:57:10 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.98 g), 49-48 BC. Military mint traveling with Caesar. CAESAR in exergue, elephant advancing right, trampling horned serpent. Reverse Pontifical implements: simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat. Crawford 443/1; HCRI 9; Sydenham 1006; RSC 49. Decent strike in nice relief with pleasing old cabinet toning. Perhaps the most ubiquitous of Caesar's denarii, this famous issue was struck at the time of his crossing of the Rubicon and the beginning of the long period of civil wars which resulted in the downfall of the Roman Republic. A few theories have been presented explaining the obverse type, the most established being that the elephant represents good, the serpent evil, thus a message of the righteousness of Caesar's cause. The reverse shows the symbols of Rome's high priest, the Pontifex Maximus, Caesar having been elected to the office in 63 BC.

Roman Republic - Brutus FAKE?

Moneta — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 15:15:21 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Brutus AR Denarius. 43-42 B.C. Obverse: LEG COSTA. Head of Apollo right. Reverse: IMP BRVTVS. Trophy of Arms. Crawford 506/2 Brutus. Denarius (Silver, 3.83 g 12), struck by Pedanius Costa in a mint moving with Brutus and Cassius in either western Asia Minor or Northern Greece, late summer-autumn 42 BC. LEG COSTA Laureate head of Apollo to right; border of ray-like dots. Rev. BRVTVS IMP Trophy including a helmet, shield, cuirass and two spears. Babelon (Iunia) 42 and (Pedania) 1. Crawford 506/2. CRI 209. Sydenham 1296. Nothing is known about Pedanius Costa, who was the legate of Brutus who signed this coin. What is interesting iconographically about the head of Apollo on the obverse is the way the standard border of dots has been changed to tear-drop shaped rays, thus emphasizing his connection with the sun. Please compare this to poster Michael Buras copy of the same coin, complete with corrosion. With the scarcity and desirability of this iconic coin, and the looks, I've always assumed it was a FAKE. It's interesting to compare it to another copy here in the Museum. But, NO, the copies are not exact copies of each other. Comments are welcome, register and submit.

Titus Carisius - Moneta

Moneta — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 19:27:57 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: T. Carisius denarius, 45 B.C. - head of Juno Moneta right, one lock of hair falls down her neck; MONETA behind. Rx: T CARISIVS, anvil die with garlanded cap of Vulcan above (some have interpreted it as a die punch), between tongs and hammer, all tools of the mint and the province of The goddess of the mint, Moneta. This particular type refers directly to the office of moneyer; the obverse alludes to the location of the mint, which was adjacent to the temple of Juno Moneta. Again, the reverse depicts the implements used by the mint workers to manufacture coins. This issue ws struck to meet the extreme demand for coinage to pay the veterans of Julius Caesar's quadruple triumph. Often found lightly struck and showing signs of hasty manufacture. Carisia (gens) defeated the Astures in Hispania and took their main town of Lancia (c.25 BC), his cruelty lead to a revolt in 22 B.C. Another of his coin issues identifies him as "triumvir monetalis", or moneyer of the Republic. Good silver, mass is 3.44 g. Crawford 464/2; Sear CRI 70; Sydenham 982; Carisia 1a. VF and better obverse than most, reverse is also well struck. Obverse has two test punches and unusual die error at the ear; edge also exhibits die overlap of obverse over reverse.