Roma, 6.11.2005
Egregio
Lettore,
mi sono già
occupato di questa tipologia monetale in altra pagina di questo
sito, dalla quale riprenderò gli argomenti
esposti di seguito (ho contrassegnato in rosso i
caratteri della leggenda ormai scomparsi a causa
dell'usura):
Sesterzio1, zecca di Roma, RIC
IV/II 19, BMC VI
34, C
V 24, aprile-giugno 238 d. C., indice di rarità
"S"
D. IMP
CAES D CAEL BALBINVS
AVG2.
Balbino busto a destra, laureato, drappeggiato e
corazzato.
R. PROVIDENTIA
DEORVM3. S C. La Previdenza divina in
piedi a sinistra sorregge con la mano destra un
bastone puntato su un globo e con la sinistra una
cornucopia.
La ricerca
nel web di monete di pari tipologia ha prodotto i
seguenti risultati:
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404.html
Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1458. Closing Date: Jun 08,
2005. BALBINUS. 238 AD. Æ Sestertius (22.31 gm,
12h). Bidding Closed Estimate $500 BALBINUS. 238
AD. Æ Sestertius (22.31 gm, 12h). Laureate,
draped, and cuirassed bust right / Providentia
standing left, holding wand over globe and
cornucopiae. RIC V 19; BMCRE 34; Cohen 24. VF,
dark brown patina with patches of blue-green.
Rare. ($500) Copyright © CNG 2002 Developed by
DataArt 2002 High bid of $450, $517.5 including
15% buyers fee, or approximately €364.5, £247.5,
C$562.5, A$585, on June 8, 2005.
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404.1.jpg
Balbinus. 238 AD. Æ Sestertius (16.38 gm).
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right /
Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe
and cornucopiae. RIC IV 19; Cohen 24. VF, brown
patina. 712959.
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404-o.2.jpg
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404-r.2.jpg
Description Price R76 Balbinus, AD 238, AE
sestertius (18.84g). Obv: Laureate, draped $275 and
cuirassed bust right. Rev: Providentia stg. l.
holding scepter, cornucopia. RIC 19. This scarce
coin has a super original patina with earthen
recesses which nicely offset the fields from the
devices. This type is currently available in this
grade and price range, but none I’ve seen are nearly
as pleasing to the eye. F+. Coins of Antiquity Post
Office Box 193 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone (919)
644-6069 Fax (919) 644-7506 E-mail:
rob@coinsofantiquity.com Copyright © 1999-2000 Coins
of Antiquity All rights reserved. Web design and
hosting by ForeverMedia, LLC
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404-o.3.jpg
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404-r.3.jpg
ORC9475 Balbinus sestertius, VF Balbinus, Æ
sestertius, (23.91g) IMP CAES D CAE L BALBINVS AVG
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. /
PROVIDENTIA DEORVM Providentia standing left,
holding cornucopia, and pointing with wand to globe
at fee. C24. VF, dark chocolate patina, fields
smoothed and some letters subtly strengthened.
Currently$310.00 Apr-02-01
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404-o.4.jpg
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404-r.4.jpg
ORC5554 Balbinus sestertius VF Balbinus, Æ
sestertius, (15.58g) IMP CAES D CAE L BALBINVS AVG
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. /
PROVIDENTIA DEORVM Providentia standing left,
holding cornucopia, and pointing with wand to globe
at fee. RIC 19; C 24 VF CurrentlyUS $208.00
May-13-02
- http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2404.5.jpg
Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 2018. Closing Date: Sep 25,
2002. BALBINUS. BID Estimate $400 BALBINUS. 238
AD. Æ Sestertius (21.35 gm). Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right / Providentia standing left,
holding wand over globe and cornucopiae. RIC IV
19; BMCRE 34; Cohen 24. VF, brown patina. ($400)
Copyright © CNG 2002
- http://ventesuroffres.free.fr/images/monnaies/vso/v04/v04_0289.jpg
289. Sesterce, (22/04-29/07/238), 238, Rome,
1èreém., (Ae, 29x27 mm., 12 h., 20,58 g.). (). A/
IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG. Buste lauré, drapé
et cuirassé à droite vu de trois quarts en avant
(A*). R/ PROVIDENTIA DEORVM/ S|C. ". Providentia
(La Providence) debout de face tournée à gauche,
tenant une corne d'abondance de la main gauche et
un bâton de la main droite placé au-dessus d'un
globe. C.24 (12f.) - RIC.19 - BMC.34 - RC.2404
(300£). Flan irrégulier, légèrement ovale. Beau
portrait. Jolie patine vert foncé. Petites traces
de corrosion dans le champ du revers. R. TTB
1500FF. 2500FF. Malgré ce revers prometteur,
Balbin ne réussit pas à s'entendre avec son
collègue Pupien. Ils furent d'abord obliger
d'adopter le dernier survivant mâle de la famille
des Gordiens (Gordien le Jeune), promu César le 22
mai 238. Balbin et Pupien furent tous les deux
assassinés.
- http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v09/gb/monnaiesgb48a7.html
BALBIN (02-04/05/238) Decimus Cælius Balbinus
Sesterce, (GB, Æ 31) - 238 N° v09_0332 Click on
the picture to enlarge. Mint name : Rome Issue :
1re Diameter in mm : 31 mm Die axis : 12 h. Metal
: Bronze Actual weight : 21,78 g. Legal weight :
23,19 g. Pieces to the mark : 1/14L., 20,5
scrupules Current for : 4 as OBVERSE Legend : IMP
CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG. Translation : "Imperator
Cæsar Decimus Cælius Balbinus Augustus",
(L'empereur césar Décimus Caélius Balbin auguste).
Description : Buste lauré, drapé et cuirassé de
Balbin à droite vu de trois quarts en avant (A*).
REVERSE Legend : PROVIDENTIA DEORVM/ S|C.
Translation : (La Providence des dieux).
Description : Providentia (la Providence) debout
de face tournée à gauche, tenant une corne
d'abondance de la main gauche et un bâton placé
au-dessus d'un globe de la main droite. Reference
number in specialised litterature : C.24 (12f.) -
RIC.19 - RC.2404 (300£) Description of the
condition of the coin : Patine verte. Le champ a
été légèrement gratté. Frappe molle au revers.
Rarity level : RR Condition : TB+ / TB Starting
price 1 000 FRF Estimate 1 900 FRF About this type
: Le revers s'adresse aux deux empereurs Balbin et
Pupien. History : Après l'éviction des Gordiens en
Afrique, le Sénat nomma deux de ses membres pour
lutter contre Maximin, dont la descente vers
l'Italie se trouva arrêtée devant Aquilée, où il
devait être assassiné en avril 238. Balbin, grand
administrateur, resta à Rome pendant que Pupien
prenait la direction des affaires militaires.
Malgré cette efficace distribution des rôles,
Balbin ne réussit pas à s'entendre avec son
collègue Pupien. Ils furent d'abord obligés
d'adopter le dernier survivant mâle de la famille
des Gordiens (Gordien le Jeune), promu césar en
février ou mars. Balbin et Pupien furent tous les
deux assassinés, peut-être fin avril ou début mai.
La nouvelle chronologie repose sur les travaux du
regretté A. Chastagnol et son irremplaçable
introduction à l'Histoire Auguste, op. cit.,
p.696.
- http://www.augustus.to/coin/ZL_e_balbinus_BALBINUS-1.html
Sestertius 31mm, 21.78g AD238 , Rome
- http://www.coin.com/cgi-local/find1Coins.cgi?39322
Balbinus, 238 A.D. AE Sesterius, 19.73g. 30mm. IMP
CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG. Laureate, draped, and
cuirassed bust r. Rv. PROVIDENTIA DEORVM S C.
Providentia std. l. RIC 19. Scarce See more
detailed image Very Fine $950.00.
- http://www.aoti76.dsl.pipex.com/coins/r4/r1591.htm
Ruler: Balbinus Co-Emperor with Pupienus Reigned:
Jan-July 238 AD Denomination: AE Sestertius Mint:
Rome Date of Issue: 238 A.D. Obverse: Laureate,
draped and cuirassed bust right. "IMP. CAES. D.
CAEL BALBINVS AVG." Reverse: Providence standing
left holding baton and sceptre, leaning on column,
globe at feet. "PROVIDENTIA DEORVM S.C."[1]
Reference: RCVM 8499, RIC 19 Weight: 15.6 gms
Diameter: 28.9 mm Comment: [1] =Providentia,
godess; Senatus Consulto BALBINUS (Decius Caelius
Calvinus Balbinus) The emperor Maximinus I had
subdued the Rhine and Danube frontiers, but these
military operations were expensive and unpopular
for those that had to pay for them. In January 238
at Thysdrus in Africa Proconsularis, a province of
North Africa, a group of aristocrats killed the
pro-Maximinus fiscal procurator and declared the
governor of the province, the 80 year old Marcus
Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus (Gordian I), and
his 46 year old son, (Gordian II), Augustii. When
Maximinus, who was at Sirmium (near Belgrade),
heard the news he at once assembled an army and
advanced on Rome. Meanwhile, Capellianus the
governor of Numidia, bordering Africa
Proconsularis, marched on Carthage, where the
younger Gordian was killed. When his father heard
the news he hanged himself, after just 20 days in
power. As the Senate had supported the Gordians,
it was now in danger from Maximinus. They
therefore elected two of their number, Pupienus
and Balbinus, as joint rulers. Because this was
not popular with the citizens of Rome, the Senate
also chose the 13 year old grandson of Gordian I
(Gordian III) as caesar. Maximinus, having reached
Italy, found the gates of the city of Aquileia
closed to him. He beseiged the city, but his own
soldiers were plotting against him. Some of his
own solders from the Legion 'Parthica' and some
from the praetorian guard, from Rome, forced their
way into his tent and killed him. Also killed was
his 23 year-old son, Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus,
who had been raised to the rank of Caesar two
years before. The assassins took the heads of
Maximinus and his son to Ravenna, where Pupienus
was mustering troops, and then to Rome. Pupienus
disbanded the forces of both sides and he returned
to Rome. The two emperors, Balbinus and Pupienus
had begun to fall out. At the beginning of May
238, a group of praetorians rushed the palace,
seized the two of them, and dragged them naked
through the streets of Rome, and finally murdered
in the praetorian camp.They had reigned a 99 days.
The praetorians proclaimed Gordian III emperor of
Rome.
- http://tinyurl.com/ct7st
Boston 34.1431 Boston 34.1431: Obverse: Laureate
bust of Balbinus Photograph by Maria Daniels,
courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Boston
34.1431: Reverse: Providentia standing, with stick
and cornucopia; globe at left Photograph by Maria
Daniels, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston Collection: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston:
Anonymous Gift in Memory of Zoë Wilbour Material:
Bronze Denomination: Sestertius Mint: Rome Region:
Latium Date: exact A.D. 238 Period: Third Century
A.C. Issuing Authority: Roman Senate Actual
Weight: 25.52 g. Die Axis: Diameter: 32 mm.
Obverse Type: Within a dotted circle, the laureate
bust of Antoninus Pius, bearded, draped and
cuirassed, facing right Obverse Legend: IMP CAES D
CAEL BALBINVS AVG (around) Reverse Type: Within a
dotted circle stands the draped figure of
Providentia (Providence) in 3/4-view to the left.
She holds a cornucopia in her left arm and points
with a stick in her right hand to a globe at her
feet. Reverse Legend: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM (around);
S C (across field, left and right) Commentary:
Imperial sestertius Sources Used: RIC IV.2, 171,
no. 19; Cohen 1880-1892, 5.11, 24 (Alan E.
Kaiser).
- http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/dieterle/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=191&large=0
Balbinus, april - july 238 AD. Sestertius, 238.
Sestertius (AE 30-32 mm), Rome, 238 AD. IMP CAES D
CAEL BALBINVS AVG Cuirassed, draped and laureate
head r. Rv. PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM / S C Providentia
standing l. , holding cornucopiae in left hand,
and staff over globe. 22,17gr. Good very fine.
Green patina. Nice big flan. C.24; BMC 253,35; RIC
171,19. Price US$ 950 € 803.30 £ 542.63 AUD$
1298.36 CHF 1240.38 CAD$ 1122.05 Rates for
11/4/2005.
Concludo
osservando che le caratteristiche fisiche e di stile
della moneta appaiono compatibili con i conî d'epoca.
Un saluto
cordiale.
Giulio De
Florio
-------------------------------
Note:
(1) Traggo dal sito dell'ANS
(American Numismatic Society - http://www.amnumsoc.org/search/),
dai
link sopra citati e dal BMC, le caratteristiche
fisiche di alcuni sesterzi della tipologia di figura
battuti dalla zecca di Roma che raccolgo di seguito
in tabella:
Riferimenti |
Peso (g.) |
Asse di conio (ore) |
Diametro (mm) |
1 |
20,41 |
12 |
- |
2 |
20,51 |
1 |
- |
3 |
21,27 |
1 |
- |
4 |
22,79 |
12 |
33 |
link 1 |
22,31 |
12 |
- |
link 2 |
16,38 |
- |
- |
link 3 |
18,84 |
- |
- |
link 4 |
23,91 |
- |
- |
link 5 |
15,58 |
- |
- |
link 6 |
21,35 |
- |
- |
link 7 |
20,58 |
12 |
28 |
link 8 |
21,78 |
12 |
31 |
link 9 |
21,78 |
- |
31 |
link 10 |
19,73 |
- |
30 |
link 11 |
15,60 |
- |
29 |
link 12 |
15,52 |
- |
32 |
link 13 |
22,17 |
- |
31 |
BMC 34 |
21,18 |
12 |
33 |
BMC 35 |
20,79 |
12 |
32 |
Dalla tabella
si evince che il sesterzio di figura presenta
caratteristiche fisiche (22g., 29.6÷31.4mm, 12h)
compatibili con i conî d'epoca.
(2) IMPerator CAESar Decimus CAELius
BALBINVS AVGustus. Per una breve sintesi storica del
tumultuoso periodo di sei anni che va dal 238 al 244
d. C. (dall'ascesa dei Gordiani sino a quella di
Filippo l'Arabo), cliccare qui.
Decimo Celio Calvino Balbino era nato nel 178 da
famiglia patrizia. Due volte console, governatore di
importanti province, era stato uno dei venti senatori
incaricati dell'amministrazione dell'impero, quando,
morti i due Gordiani, il 9 luglio del 238, aveva
ricevuto dal Senato, insieme a Pupieno e con pari
autorità, il titolo e l'incarico di Augusto. I due
sovrani si ripartirono i compiti, Pupieno assunse il
comando delle operazioni militari per contrastare
l'offensiva di Massimino che dal Danubio si stava
muovendo verso l'Italia, Balbino si occupò del governo
degli affari civili e rimase a Roma. Poco tempo dopo,
nei pressi di Aquileia, una rivolta militare pose fine
alla vita di Massimino e con essa alla guerra. Pupieno
poté rientrare a Roma come un trionfatore. Tra i due
sovrani insorsero però delle gelosie e dei sospetti
che il Senato cercò invano di appianare. Ne
approfittarono i pretoriani che, nel corso di una
sommossa, uccisero i due Augusti dopo appena 93 giorni
di impero.
(3) PROVIDENTIA DEORVM. Per quanto riguarda
la leggenda del rovescio, vale quanto già osservato in
altra pagina di questo sito (cliccare qui) e
cioè che a partire dal regno di Traiano sino agli
inizi del quarto secolo d. C. con il termine
Previdenza degli dei si alludeva alla particolare
lungimiranza divina che aveva favorito e determinato,
riconoscendone i meriti, l'ascesa del sovrano. In
questa visione, il globo simboleggia l'Impero Romano,
mentre la cornucopia la prosperità che il nuovo regno
prometteva di assicurare. |