Smackdown VIII - Mars/Ares

Well, considering my user name you would think I would have better representation in this area! Not so. My only two mars coins are quite average at best.

Lucius Verus (A.D. 161-169)
AR Denarius, A.D. 164, Rome, 17.8mm, 3.25g, 0°, RIC III, 516.
Obv: L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS. Laureate head right.
Rev: TR P IIII IMP II COS II. Mars standing right, holding spear and resting hand on shield.


Caracalla (as Caesar)
AR Denarius, AD 196-198, Rome, 17.4mm, 2.34g, 0°, RIC IVi 11.
Obv: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF. Bare head, draped bust right.
Rev: MARTI VLTORI. Mars advancing right with spear and trophy.

My sole entry. Great subject. Should see some interesting coins.

Time of Pharnabazos and Datames, ca 379-373 BC
AR 22mm 9.75g
Asia Minor,Greek Persia, Kilikia (Cilicia)
City of Tarsus (Tarsos)

Obv. 3/4 Facing Head of Arethusa

Rev. Bust of ARES / MARS right,wearing Attic Helmet.

Reference: Sear-5640 BMC29

I think Martin is trying to be tricky here:
"3) Coins of Virtus are NOT allowed."

There has been quite a bit of discussion in some cases whether a figure shown is Mars or Virtus. Sometimes the matter is settled by a legend. Sometimes the figure is shown without clothing and Virtus never appears undressed. That leaves coins with no legend help and a dressed figure that have been called both ways according to whose book you read. There are also coins showing soldiers that could be mistaken for Mars as well so IMHO the only 'safe' Mars/Ares coins have supporting legends or missing clothing.

I'll try to avoid that problem by offering one with legend and one unlabeled nude. While I'm into variety, I'll go one Ares and one Mars, one bronze and one silver and one in my specialty and one I don't know much about (guess which).




Ares appears on the reverse of this Provincial of Maximinus from Anchialus, Thrace. The coin is 29mm diameter and has a nice green patina so I don't know if it is brass or copper. I do not have the catalog listing for it (if anyone would care to supply, thanks in advance).



Mars as Mars Pater appears on a denarius from Emesa that I found in the stock of a dealer that I truly dislike. He was asking $250 (about ten times what I then thought it was worth) but since I did not have the type from Emesa, I asked if he was interested in a trade. It ended up costing me a different but very popular Emesa denarius (SS on horseback - which I happened to have as a die duplicate). Later I saw he had put it on sale for $100 more than the one I got. The Mars remains one of my favorite coins just because of how I got it and I am sure the dealer found someone to buy my trade as well so we were both happy. As with the other coin I would appreciate hearing if anyone finds a matching coin. (Do you have one Martin?)

My two entries:

1. Caracalla Denarius, RIC 88, struck at Rome, 207 AD.





OBV: ANTONINVSPIVSAVG - Laureate head right
REV: PONTIFTRPXCOSII - Mars advancing right, holding spear and trophy
3.9g, 18mm

2. Crispus Follis, RIC VII 129, struck at Arles, 317 AD:





OBV: CRISPVS NOB CAES, Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
REV: PRINCIPIA IVVENTVTIS, Mars, naked except for helmet and boots, chlamys flying out behind, advancing right holding transverse spear and shield. R-S across fields, QARL in ex.
2.27g, 18mm.

Gorgeous pieces Martin. A remarkable first coin. Congrats.

Yea well mine is like 500 years older .....

Carinus denarius from Rome.
M AVR CARINVS NOB CAES, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
MARS VLTOR, mars st..r, holding shield and spear

18mm, 1.8gr, Die 0




Numerian Lugdunum antoninianus.

IMP C NVMERIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
VIRTVS AVGG, Mars standing left holding Victory and Spear.

21,5mm, 2.95gr, Die 0

Mr. Harper? C'mon Jerry, I was gettin' used to Bing. Are you over your hangover, Jerry?