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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,483 |
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Valued Member
United States
152 Posts |
Think about Roman Republic coins and how many of them have a quadriga on the reverse. Heck, I will attach an image of one I recently photo'd. Now, sit back, how many emperors can you think of who depicted a quadriga on their coins? Top of my head, most of these I have owned, without hitting CNG Research Archives, or, Acsearch.info: Augustus Tiberius Germanicus Commodus Severus Alexander Probus Constantine I Let's go through the exercise of identifying and I have a theory as to why. Enjoy!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
Here is the Tiberius.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Off the 'top' of my head I can think of Antoninus Pius & Elagabalus. I can't recall Augustus & Tiberius with quadrigas ? Must be in silver not bronze. I had to double check my Germanicus though One of my favorites I had not remember it correctly Thought it was a biga ! But indeed it is 4  |
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Valued Member
 United States
152 Posts |
Both Augustus and Tiberius indeed issued silver denarii depicting a quadriga on the reverse. Both are quite scarce and sought after.
Also, didn't Elagabalus depict the Stone of Emesa being hauled back to Roma via quadriga. Maybe.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Unfortunately I remember the sestertius of Elagabalus all too clearly. One of my favorite Vcoins/eBay sellers had misidentified (in haste) as a Severus Alexander. The legend was very incomplete. With 2 minutes left I lost my internet ! Someone snagged a decent Elagabalus in quadriga for $35 !
But there will always be more coins .......
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
As I recall the sestertius was Elagabalus (in drag) playing Sun god in a quadriga.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Just for 'giggles' here is my Commodus. I really love the flan cracks. They start to become very common under Commodus.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
Here are a few that I have: Augustus on a Quadriga on an Arch:  Germanicvs celebrating the return of the legionary standards lost by Varus in the battle of the Teutoburger Forest:  Macrinus on assuming a consulship in 208 AD while fighting a war in Syria:  Both Trajan and Titus also issue denarii showing the emperor on a quadriga. Titus issued his commemorate the Judean War in 69 AD. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
A very stylized quadriga is atop the funeral pyre of Antoninus Pius.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
One of my favourite roman coins... a republican denarius, I hope its OK to post as the style is pretty cool in my opinion. I don't however have any of the later examples you are after but am following with interest, I am not sure what the appeal is but any coin with a quadriga is likely to be a winner!  Edited by DavidUK
08/10/2016 11:00 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Must have been difficult to harness 4 horses across as they are usually depicted .........
The 'elites' must have had the Roman version of a Winabago double wide
Seats 5 !
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice coins and interesting thread. I can't believe I don't have any, all mine are biga.
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
Here is another quadriga on an arch. This one on a Nero sestertius, Lugdunum mint.  |
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Valued Member
United States
152 Posts |
OK, there are more. Completeness aside, I would posit that during the time of the Republic, great generals would return from magnificent campaigns and battles, and be greeted with adulation and crowds, while riding a quadriga through the streets of Rome. However, this creates something very close to a cult of personality for triumphant military leaders. Once Rome itself transitioned from a Republic where minor cults of personality were great for morale, there could be no more room for a cult of personality with an emperor. No emperor could risk sharing the most elevated position in Rome with a military leader. Particularly when so many emperors met untimely ends.
Just my theory............
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
Here is one of my many Probus quadrigas. You can get variety even in these types. Here Sol is facing front in a facing quadriga , holding globe and whip  Sol in a spread facing quadriga facing, radiate head left, cloak billowing out behind, raising right hand, holding whip in left  Martin |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
Also facing left....  The Roman Republic opens up the whole realm of biga and triga combined with a range of deities steering the chariot combined with a range of beasts pulling it. The possibilities for collectors are huge. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,483 |
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Posted 08/10/2016 12:51 am
