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Tetradrachm of Syracuse
The front side shows the head of Arethusa, a nymph praised for her beauty. She is wearing pearls and a necklace which often showed high status. The four dolphins surrounding Arethusa connects her to Syracuse, Sicily because the sea is important to…
AU Stater of Mithridates VI
Mithridates' royal propaganda expresses both his eastern and western ancestry and military victory. The obverse of this coin depicts Alexander the Great wearing the horn of Zeus Ammon. The reverse shows Athena seated with her elbow resting on a…
AR Tetradrachm of Syracuse
The obverse side has the head of Arethusa, who was a nymph and daughter of Nereus. She fled her home, Arcadia, beneath the sea and came up as a fresh spring in Syracuse. Her figure is surrounded by four dolphins, who helped in her escape. The reverse…
AR Sestertius of Antoninus Pius
Emperor Antoninus Pius issued this coin to commemorate his late and deified wife Faustina (the Elder), renowned for her beauty and wisdom, who passed in 140 CE. The front side of this coin is the draped bust of Roman Empress Diva Faustina, who wore…
AR Roman Republic Gladiator Denarius
The obverse depicts Roma, the personification of Rome. The reverse shows two gladiators fighting as a reference to Titus Didius, a notably violent proconsul of Spain.
AR Denarius of Quintus Fufius Calenus
The obverse of this coin depicts the laureate bust of the Roman god Honos (left), and the helmeted bust of the goddess Virtus (right). These two deities were commonly portrayed together in Roman culture, as Honos personifies honor while Virtus…
AR Denarius of Petillius Capitolinus
The obverse of this coin depicts an eagle standing on a thunderbolt, representing the Roman god Jupiter – the chief deity of the Roman Republic. This symbol became popular not only on both Greek and Roman coins, but as a powerful military symbol as…
AR Denarius of L. Plautius Plancus
The obverse side features the face of Medusa, considered an image of power and protection because she could turn enemies to stone. The reverse features the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, leading the four horses of the sun while holding a palm branch.…
AR Denarius of A. Manlius Q.F. Sorgianus
The obverse side of the coin features either an abstract personification of Rome itself or a reference to Minerva the Roman goddess of wisdom, medicine, commerce, the fine arts, and later, war. The reverse side features a rare frontal view of either…
AE Sestertius of Nero
Nero is one of the twelve Caesars that ruled Rome. The obverse of the coin is his image and the reverse has the god he linked with himself, Virtus. Virtus is synonymous with valor and bravery. This was supposed to link his image with those two…