Know Your Ruler: Roman Provincial Quiz 2
Being able to identify coins by their portraits is a handy skill. For Roman Imperial coins, that skill is not terribly difficult until around the tetrarchal period and beyond when the portraits become increasingly generic.
Roman Provincial portraiture though. . . It's a different beast.
There are SIX choices per coin. If you don't see six choices on your screen be sure to scroll or swipe to see all of them!
All coin images used in the quiz are courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group. Cover coin is from the TIF collection; Commodus / Read moreThree Graces, Marcianopolis.
- 1.
Who is this?
- A.
Caracalla
- B.
Elagabalus
- C.
Severus Alexander
- D.
Gordian III
- E.
Gallienus
- F.
Volusian
Correct Answer
E. GallienusExplanation
TROAS, Alexandria Troas. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ (22mm, 5.06 g, 12h). Struck AD 253-260. IMP LICIN GALLIENV, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / CO L AVG TRO, eagle, with wings displayed, standing right on forepart of a bull. Bellinger A455; SNG Tübingen –; SNG München –; SNG von Aulock 7577 (same dies); BMC 178. Near EF, attractive green and red-brown patina, reverse field gently smoothed.Rate this question:
-
- 2.
Who is this?
- A.
Caracalla
- B.
Elagabalus
- C.
Severus Alexander
- D.
Gordian III
- E.
Gallienus
- F.
Volusian
Correct Answer
E. GallienusExplanation
PISIDIA, Apollonia-Mordiaeum. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ 33mm (20.71 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / River-god Hippophoras reclining left, holding reed and cornucopia, left elbow resting on overturned urn. SNG France 1366 (same obv. die); SNG von Aulock 5000 (same obv. die). Good VF, green and brown patina, some roughnessRate this question:
-
- 3.
Who is this?
- A.
Caracalla
- B.
Philip I "The Arab"
- C.
Maximinus I Thrax
- D.
Trajan Decius
- E.
Gallienus
- F.
Volusian
Correct Answer
E. GallienusExplanation
SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Damascus. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ (26mm, 10.59 g, 12h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Agonistic urn with palm branches set on three-legged table. De Saulcy 7; Rosenberger 62. Near VF, dark brown patina. Scarce.Rate this question:
-
- 4.
Who is this?
- A.
Caracalla
- B.
Geta
- C.
Elagabalus
- D.
Severus Alexander
- E.
Gordian III
- F.
Gallienus
Correct Answer
F. GallienusExplanation
SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Heliopolis. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ 28mm (18.30 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Nude athlete standing facing, holding palm and placing wreath on head. SNG München -; SNG Copenhagen 442; BMC -. VF, green patina with some earthen deposits.Rate this question:
-
- 5.
Who is this?
- A.
Hadrian
- B.
Caracalla
- C.
Elagabalus
- D.
Severus Alexander
- E.
Gordian III
- F.
Gallienus
Correct Answer
F. GallienusExplanation
MYSIA, Cyzicus. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ (24mm, 7.94 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ΚYZIK[H]-NΩN, NЄOKOPΩ, galley to left. SNG BN –; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC –. Good VF, green-brown patina. Possibly unpublished with galley reverse.Rate this question:
-
- 6.
Who is this?
- A.
Gordian III
- B.
Gallienus
- C.
Volusian
- D.
Aurelian
- E.
Carinus
- F.
Numerian
Correct Answer
B. GallienusExplanation
CILICIA, Laertes. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ 11 Assaria (27mm, 13.82 g, 1h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right; IA (mark of value) before / Ares standing facing, head right, holding spear and shied set on ground. SNG France -; SNG Levante 382 (same dies). VF, light green patina.Rate this question:
-
- 7.
Who is this?
- A.
Caracalla
- B.
Geta
- C.
Elagabalus
- D.
Severus Alexander
- E.
Gordian III
- F.
Gallienus
Correct Answer
F. GallienusExplanation
MOESIA SUPERIOR, Viminacium. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ 28mm (11.98 g). Dated CY 16 (AD 254/255). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Moesia standing facing, head left, extending hands to bull and lion standing at feet on either side; AN XVI in exergue. Boric-Brescovic 1693; AMNG I 194; SNG Hungary 633; Jekov and Hristova 101. VF, green patina, some smoothing on reverse, attractive portrait.
Rate this question:
-
- 8.
Who is this?
- A.
Geta
- B.
Macrinus
- C.
Elagabalus
- D.
Severus Alexander
- E.
Gordian III
- F.
Gallienus
Correct Answer
F. GallienusExplanation
PHOENICIA, Tyre. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ (26mm, 15.28 g, 12h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right / Bust of Astarte right within tetrastyle shrine; murex shell below. Rouvier 2522; BMC 478; AUB –. VF, green surfaces, adjustment marks.Rate this question:
-
- 9.
Who is this?
- A.
Caracalla
- B.
Geta
- C.
Elagabalus
- D.
Severus Alexander
- E.
Gordian III
- F.
Gallienus
Correct Answer
F. GallienusExplanation
PISIDIA, Apollonia-Mordiaeum. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ Medallion (40mm, 36.64 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Emperor, holding scepter, within hexastyle temple with pellet in pediment. Von Aulock, Pisidiens 157-83; SNG France 1365-6; SNG Copenhagen 99; SNG von Aulock 4999; BMC 5-6 (all from the same obv. die). Good VF, green patina, smoothing. Impressive.Rate this question:
-
- 10.
Who is this?
- A.
Maximinus I Thrax
- B.
Philip I "The Arab"
- C.
Trajan Decius
- D.
Volusian
- E.
Valerian
- F.
Gallienus
Correct Answer
F. GallienusExplanation
PHOENICIA, Tyre. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ (26mm, 13.60 g, 6h). Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Melqart-Herakles standing left, sacrificing from patera over altar and holding club; two baetyls (the Ambrosial Rocks) to upper left, murex shell to lower right. Rouvier 2524; AUB –; BMC –. Good Fine, brown patina.Rate this question:
-
Back to top