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DVCollector
Pillar Of The Community
7688 Posts
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I visited a museum today, which had these Roman busts on display. Something that stuck me is how many emperor's busts reminded me of the portrait on coins. Several I knew right away, others were more difficult, possibly due to condition issues. What would you say--can you correctly identify all the busts? I'll post the answers in a couple days.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
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Formerly jwharper
4253 Posts |
The first looks like Trajan and the last looks like Caracalla. Next to last and the third are perhaps Geta and Elagabulus. The bearded one is Severus Alexander, maybe.
That's the best I can do.
Edited by Bing
12/21/2011 5:02 pm
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Moderator
Australia
9429 Posts |
I've never been particularly good at IDing a coin just off the portrait, unless there's something uniquely distinctive about a particular emperor. My guesses (without looking anything up to try to confirm): 1. Augustus 2. Hadrian 3. Claudius 4. Marcus Aurelius 5. Caracalla 6. Elagabalus Quote:
Something that stuck me is how many emperor's busts reminded me of the portrait on coins. It shouldn't be too surprising. It was before photography, or even oil painting, was invented; it's presumed that the Roman die-cutters would use official busts just like these as the models for their coinage portraits. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
2528 Posts |
Interesting thread - Without looking on the web I could only manage:
4. Marcus Aurelius
6. Elagabalus
Not very good! I suspected 5 was Caracalla but wasn't sure enough to go for it till I saw SAPs post.
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Moderator
United States
9828 Posts |
I'll give it a try.
1, Trajan
2, Gordian III
3, Geta
4, Commodus
5, Severus Alexander
6, Caracalla
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Pillar Of The Community
7688 Posts |
Quote:
It was before photography, or even oil painting, was invented; it's presumed that the Roman die-cutters would use official busts just like these as the models for their coinage portraits. Yes, that's exactly why I posted these busts; I thought collectors here would enjoy seeing how official busts inspired coin portraits. A bit of trivia: from a few busts still showing traces of paint, it is believed that many Roman busts were painted to appear more naturalistic. By your posts, quite a few of these busts bear a strong correlation, even if their noses were broken off. Here is one last bust, that also closely resembles the respective coinage: #7 
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Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
2528 Posts |
7. Gordian III?
My eBay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/bobbyhelmet/m.htmlIn 423 AD Honorius, Emperor of the West, banned the wearing of pants in Rome!
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Pillar Of The Community
Australia
4210 Posts |
The intresting thing about these busts is most of them are of juviniles , or so it seems to me. How on earth did they run an empire with a 15 to 20 year old as emporer  Aim to Enjoy life. You only get one shot at it
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1541 Posts |
Just because you are Emperor does not always mean you have a lot of power. Some puppets grow up and actually become the real ruler; others get replaced either with or by the real ruler. Of course puppets are not always children. In the later period, several emperors were selected as figureheads while the power belonged to Germanic generals who were themselves unsuitable to be emperor because they were Arian Christians.
I do not take PayPal but I like to trade coins. e-mail me if interested.
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Pillar Of The Community
Australia
4210 Posts |
I love this site because you will always learn somthing new. Thank you dougsmit  Aim to Enjoy life. You only get one shot at it
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Formerly jwharper
4253 Posts |
And don't forget the women behind the throne. Mothers, Grandmothers, and wives often ran the empire while their children or weak husbands sat the throne. And don't under estimate these women. They could be very very ruthless.
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Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
2528 Posts |
Ricimer is the only one I know much about but he was certainly a 'puppet-master'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricimer |
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Pillar Of The Community
Bulgaria
843 Posts |
1.Augustus
2.Tiberius
3.Caligula
4.Commodus
5.Severus Alexander
6. ...
7.Elagabalus
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Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
2528 Posts |
Thinking about this a bit more I think I'd switch Elagabalus and Caracalla. Even though to many the earlier ones (1-3) are easier I still cant recognise any of them. Guess that reflects the areas I've been collecting in.
4. Marcus Aurelius
5. Elagabalus
6. Caracalla
7. Gordian III / Herennius Etruscus?
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1591 Posts |
1. Trajan 2. Gallienus 3. Geta 4. Commodus 5. Elegabalus 6. Caracalla  Very cool thread! |
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Pillar Of The Community
7688 Posts |
Quote:
And don't under estimate these women. They could be very very ruthless. Yes, wasn't emperor Claudius killed by his own wife?
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Posted 12/21/2011 4:04 pm
