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 Replies: 19 / Views: 2,101 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
There are a few things the ancient Greeks and Romans did better than our contemporaries, including the 3/4 portrait relief on coins and medals. While I realize concessions are made for modern minting processes and stackability, but the results aren't flattering to queen Silvia and king Carl XVI Gustaf. The left coin is Helios on a Rhodes tetradrachm.  Edited by DVCollector
12/07/2012 3:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Flattering? I'd say she looks freakish.
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Valued Member
United States
110 Posts |
I get your point and think the sculpture is extraordinary, especially considering the tools available. Can you imagine what this unknown(?) artist could accomplish with modern tools and equipment.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
Bing--no argument there. It took me a few moments to decide which is queen Silvia.   Real talent always shows--no matter the limitations of technology. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I think there has been some attempt to depict a Nordic character into the portraiture, (in this case, a form of numismatic / artistic impressionism) and I think that it has mostly failed. The requirements of low relief certainly don't help.
The Greek coin is in the ancient Classic Greek style, which everybody knows and loves. The shape of the lips on Helios could have been better expressed, given the demonstrated ability to depict the goddess character of her.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Sel--yeah, I'm not critiquing the cultural style as much as the execution. Classical portrait style has been carried into the modern age, although modern coin design doesn't support it well, except perhaps in profile busts. I suspect the Romans appreciated the difficulty of the 3/4 portrait and stuck mostly with profiles. My other collecting speciality is modern Nordic coins, and when the portrait style is a modern interpretation, it often fits the lower-relief strikes better. I happen to like this coin much more.  Edited by DVCollector
12/07/2012 4:57 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I love the 3/4 facing roman bust, but I've only got the one right now and its not in tip top condition (its a self cleaned one, I cant expect much from it!). One day ill source a nicer uncleaned one - I especially love the latest ones from the early byzantines - they get very archaic!  Heres a nice one, minted in gold:  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The best executed 3/4 Roman portrait is shown on an aureus of Postumus. This coin is exceptional. The British Museum has one example.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
It's interesting to see the stylist transition into the Byzantine era--thanks for posting those.  That Postumus aureus has a really nice portrait!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Beautiful Postumus aureus!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
DVC: Bullseye! Not difficult with such a famous coin. I have seen published pictures of at least two dies of these.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Heres another Postumus Aureus, showing a 3D Radiate crown:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Wow that's a serious coin-I didn't think the Romans had it in them...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
655 Posts |
Poor Queen Silvia, that's not a very attractive portrait. Perhaps it's because it tries to be too realistic. Kekkonen's portrait is much more stylized and thus is more successful.
The portrait aside, I really like the reverse of the 10 Markkaa coin.
Edited by NJ Bob
12/08/2012 09:56 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I am learning a bit here!
The first image of Postumus shows him WITHOUT a radiate crown, so that coin MUST be an AUREUS
The second image shows him wearing a radiate crown just like on the antoninianii, so this coin MUST be a BINIO.
A binio is the name for a DOUBLE aureus, it would have been tarrifed at 2 aureii.
Question: Does this binio pictured here weigh twice as much as an aureus, or only 1 1/2 times as much, as with an antoninianus, relative to a denarius?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Have often ogled the Postumus coins, as Anoob implies the Greeks generally blow the Romans out of the water when it comes to things like this but there are a few little gems here and there.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 2,101 |
Posted 12/07/2012 3:38 pm
