Ancient Themes Appearing On Modern Coins

[Scottishmoney]

Mercury, the fasces on the Mercury Dime, Athena on the $50 Pan Pacific Commem from 1915, the Phrygian Cap on the Capped Large Cents of the late 18th Century, the Athenian Owl on modern Greek Euro Coins, Taurus and the bull on the 2 Euro coin from Greece.

 

Even the wreath around the perimeter of the reverse on a coin was noted in an earlier post to have appeared on a Bosporus Kingdom 48 Nummiae from the 1st century.

 

It is readily apparent that some themes or images do not go away, imagery on coinage is timeless and boundless. Thanks to the ancients for their creativity and originality. The more things change, the more they stay the same. It is wonderful to draw on the distant past for inspiration and continuity in what unites the dreams and aspirations of the distant and the near.

[jlueke]

One of my favorite themes that has been popular throughout history is the seated goddess type. Most people will recognize this either through Britannia seated on the rock or the American adaption of the Seated Liberty design.

 

The design has it's origins with Baal seated Baal

After Alexander the Great's conquest Ball was replaced with Zeus on a type that spread throughout the Eastern world. Under the Romans the design was modified slightly to feature Roma Roma

 

There is a transition from male deity to female deity and from sitting on a throne to sitting on a rock. The rock was used by Alexander's earliest successors in the 3rd century BC

 

I am unsure when the goddesses made their debut in this pose. This general type makes an excellent choice for a collection, one that would stretch across millenia in time and across a large variety of cultures.

[Sir Sisu]

Not sure if the origins of arms are a medieval thing or not, but does anything of the like exist for ancients? (Coat-of-arms)

[Scottishmoney]

Not sure if the origins of arms are a medieval thing or not, but does anything of the like exist for ancients? (Coat-of-arms)

 

 

Other than seeing wreathed images, shields and coats of arms were something that seem to develop later, probably the 9th century AD or so. By the 17th they got ridiculous.

[jlueke]

Not sure if the origins of arms are a medieval thing or not, but does anything of the like exist for ancients? (Coat-of-arms)

The closest thing would be the various animails and deities used to signify an area. Like the owl for athens, the lion for Lydia, the pegasus for Corinth and so on. It would be interesting to find out when the first coat of arms (shield and emblem) appeared on coinage.

[mmarotta]

The closest thing would be the various animails and deities used to signify an area.  Like the owl for athens, the lion for Lydia, the pegasus for Corinth and so on.   It would be interesting to find out when the first coat of arms (shield and emblem) appeared on coinage.

 

I agree that the earliest continuation might be found in 9th century coinage. I'd like to see an answer on that.

 

However, what about WAPPENMUENZE?

 

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/atti...s/Rosen_195.jpg

or

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/atti...voronos_059.jpg

or these:

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?...&search=wappenm

 

Macedonian coins had Macedonian shields on them (Antigonatos, Perseus V). Here is one from the Roman Republic with a Macedonian shield:

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.ph...ID=166&Lot=6395

 

Of course, there was BOEOTIA (Thebes).

 

(We are not counting all the Athena Promachos images where someone is just carrying a shield, nor are we counting the Trophies.)

 

This one is closer to the mark, with a Shield that stands for the Sovereign himself.

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.ph...ID=166&Lot=7064

Quite a few of those run in the family. Here is yet another one, this from Constantius II

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.ph...ID=166&Lot=7082

 

and here, the Standard serves the same purpose

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.ph...ID=166&Lot=7068

 

Still, I'd like to see a shield from the Dark Ages in the West to be considered the "first" of the long (long) series.

[Ætheling]

Other than seeing wreathed images, shields and coats of arms were something that seem to develop later, probably the 9th century AD or so.  By the 17th they got ridiculous.

 

 

I happen to think coats of arms are the best coin device going.

[Ætheling]

Still, I'd like to see a shield from the Dark Ages in the West to be considered the "first" of the long (long) series.

 

 

Dunno about dark ages as it's a bit before my period interest, but shield designs were around in the 13th century, although gold coinage seems to be where the shield's found a home.