guy

I'm not a coin collector. I'll give this my best guess, however. Your coin is probably a Maximinus Thrax sestertius: Maximinus I AE Sestertius. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust seen from the back / VICTORIA AVG, S-C, Victory walking right, holding wreath and palm. RIC 88; Cohen 103. See RIC 88 in the list: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/maximinus_I/t.html (A similar coin to the one you presented.) I imagine that your coin would go for anywhere from $20-45. guy also known as gaius

Here is a video description of the battle:

Thank you for reading my post. It's crazy to realize we had this discussion eight years ago. (Time does march on.) There is a link to that older discussion in my original post as well as below: I actually wrote a response to another thread on this subject ten years ago. Yikes. I didn't remember that thread, either. Your answers to the questions posed in the older original thread are certainly insightful and have survived the test of time. Thank you for posting, again. guy also known as gaius

I recently read an article on a numismatic site written by Julius Gemanicus. He described his recent visit to the site of the Harzhorn battle of approximately 228 CE in his native Germany. It inspired me to delve more deeply into the history of this interesting site. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/visit-to-the-harzhorn-battlefield-and-göttingen-coin-cabinet.316487/ I had vaguely remembered this topic being discussed years ago on this site. (See link below.) My new-found interest about this battlefield coincided with my reading the excellent book by Paul N. Pearson, “Maximinus Thrax: From Common Soldier to Emperor of Rome.” In his book Professor Pearson dedicates an entire chapter on the battle. The interesting finding is the distance into hostile German territory that the battlefield was found. The battlefield is found farther north and east than anyone had predicted. The battle also occurred much later than anyone would have imagined. In the book, Pearson writes, "Hence the late date surprised just about everyone because the Romans were not supposed to have penetrated this far into Germany after the first century" [after the Varus disaster at Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE]. "Radiocarbon dating of wooden artifacts tied the battle [at Harzhorn] unequivocally in the first half of the third century." Numismatic evidence includes denarii of Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea "advancing the terminus post quem [the earliest possible date for something] to 228." The battle is now believed to have occurred during the reign of Maximinus Thrax in about 235 CE. (Replica of coin found) (Actual coin from battlefield) This coin of Julia Mamaea on display (with the enlarged photo of the coin behind) is one of of the important pieces of evidence that the battle at Harzhorn occurred no earlier than 222 CE. (Her son Alexander Severus was emperor 222-235 CE. Both mother and emperor were murdered by disgruntled troops in 235 CE.) "The battlefield is no less than 350 kilometers across barbarian territory ... and would have taken a Roman legion the best part of a month to approach ...." "And the layout of the battle suggests the Romans were engaged on their return journey." So, the Harzhorn battlefield is significant for three reasons: 1) It shows a significant incursion by the Romans deep into German territory more than two centuries later than previously known. 2) The numismatic evidence almost certainly confirms this theory. 3) Despite the chaos and crisis of the third century, the Roman Empire was still able to project its power despite its internal turmoil. Professor Pearson notes that an axe-head was found at the battlefield with the inscription leg IIII SA on one side and FAV on the other. This identifies the legio IIII flavia felix. The symbol of the unit was a lion. The initials SA probably signifies severinae alexandrinae (Severus Alexander). (Actual axe-head found at battle site) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_IV_Flavia_Felix (Coin unrelated to battle site that shows the lion on the reverse of legio IIII FL.) By sheer coincidence, the unit commanded by Russel Crowe in the movie Gladiator during the battle in Germania set more than a half century earlier was legio III, felix legion (also the symbol of the lion). guy also known as gaius

I'm sorry I didn't respond earlier. Although I don't collect coins, I enjoy numismatics as they lend insight to a civilization's culture and history. http://cointranslator.com/#Section_F http://www.bitsofhistory.com/info/roman_titles-03282010.html The PF (Pius Felix) can be decifered a few ways, including pius and lucky or happy. I would probably decifer the inscription DNPF to read: "our Lord, dutiful and successful (fortunate)." Eugenius Siliqua. Lyons. 392-395 AD. DN EVGENI-VS PF AVG, bearded, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right I wrote an article about Eugenius a few years back: guy also known as gaius

I have long been surprised at Galen's failure to mention the almost near-universal horrific scarring associated with smallpox infections. This scarring was most prominent on the face. Also, eye complications (5-9%) with potential blindness was a devastating complication. (It has been estimated that a third of all cases of blindness in 18th century Britain were from smallpox.) These frequent findings were not described by the usually observant Galen. What could explain these lapses? Could this plague, therefore, have been another hemorrhagic eruption other than smallpox ? (To be continued ....) (Smallpox: scarring on face A 50-year-old Indian male with a history of smallpox as a child has multiple depressed scars on face 40 years after smallpox) Other individuals with smallpox scars: guy also known as gaius

No, only in the fantasy world of HBO.

Welcome all you guys above. We certainly appreciate any input or opinions you may have to offer. If you've researched this site, you can see we have posts going back from over a decade ago. Unfortunately, through attrition (a decade+ can be a long time) and frustration (because of a server upgrade and site crash) we are missing a few of our most active members. With time, I am confident they will be back. That said, please feel free to contribute and learn with us all. guy also known as gaius

Sorry, I should have referenced the film clip from HBO's "Rome," depicting Ms. Cleopatra's descent into decadence and depravity.

A related post from a long, long time ago. (The initial link to the article is dead, however): http://www.cannabis-med.org/index.php?tpl=journal&id=192&lng=en&fid=2002:2&red=journallist http://www.cannabis-med.org/data/pdf/2002-02-3.pdf guy also known as gaius

As a religious skeptic, I don't reflexively defend any faith. That said, I don't have a need to defend the Pagans, either. What I do criticize is the simplistic dichotomy of the enlightened and tolerant Pagans vs. intolerant and benighted Christians. Thank you, again, for the inspiration to question some long-held ideas and dogma. guy also known as gaius

I've changed my views about that romantic myth about "intolerant Christians suppressing those peace-loving, tolerant, and enlightened Pagans." From the thoughtful article below by Alan Cameron: http://sites.utexas.edu/pasp/tag/alan-cameron/ Alan Cameron and his book The Last of the Pagans of Rome were mentioned in this four year old post: guy also known gaius

I think this quote from the Harper article cited above is important: I agree strongly with Harper's initial point "it is important to keep an open mind." Then, his argument becomes based more on speculation that actual evidence. This is an important bit of clinical evidence from Galen that the Antonine plague was, in fact, caused by smallpox: These 'black pustules" from the above quote could be describing hemorrhagic smallpox picture below: From the picture above, one can easily see the hemorrhagic vesicles and bullae that Galen might have called "black pustules." So, case closed, right? Not so fast. This hemorrhagic form of smallpox is extremely rare (around 5%) and is certainly not the typical presentation of smallpox. This is the more typical presentation (> 90% of the cases): From the pictures above, one can see the typical presentation of smallpox: innumerable pustular vesicles and bullae. These lesions do crust and scab over, There are not, however, the "black pustules" that Galen described. To be continued ....

Thank you for reading my post. I certainly recommend Harper's book. I appreciate his enthusiasm and study ... but neither are proof alone. (If both enthusiasm and study were sufficient, I would believe in Ancient Aliens.) For those who have not read his book, here is Harper's argument for smallpox being a source of plague in the ancient Rome: http://www.kyleharper.net/uncategorized/smallpox-resources-and-thoughts/ Here is some of the many arguments against the smallpox theory: https://classicalstudies.org/annual-meeting/149/abstract/galen-adna-and-plague If I find the time, I will later share my reasons for at least my skepticism..

I always believed that the infection that destroyed the indigenous populations in the Western Hemisphere was smallpox. Similarly, I thought that smallpox was the most likely culprit for Galen's Antonine Plague and as well as probably many of the other plagues of Ancient Rome. This article makes me reconsider this notion. https://www.archaeology.org/issues/298-1805/trenches/6524-trenches-mexico-colonization-salmonella This bacterium, relatively uncommon today, causes an extremely virulent paratyphoid fever. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratyphoid_fever Excavated structure at the northern edge of the Grand Plaza at Teposcolula-Yucundaa. Architectural investigations of the Grand Plaza resulted in the unexpected discovery of a large epidemic cemetery associated with the 1545-1550 cocoliztli epidemic. The cemetery was found to contain numerous mass burials, attesting to the catastrophic nature of the epidemic. Photo: Christina Warinner/Teposcolula-Yucundaa Archaeological Project guy also known as gaius

http://www.newser.com/story/258235/in-egyptian-temple-a-new-bust-of-marcus-aurelius.html Details are sparse, but it is an interesting find. guy also known as gaius

Well put. I think we are guilty of failing to realize how much of the environment throughout the Roman Empire has changed. Right now I'm reading "The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire" by Kyle Harper. I found this quote interesting: "On Ptolemy's testimony, it rained in Roman Alexandria every month of the year but August. Today there is about one day of rain from May to September, inclusive." This would explain how today's Egyptian desert was once the breadbasket of the Roman Empire. guy also known as gaius

Originally, I thought this was a fabricated and fake story. That said, the Colosseum is in Rome (relatively close to the Vatican). As you know as well as anyone, the history of Christianity (as opposed to the other faiths you mention) is intimately bound to Ancient Rome. So, if you believe religious persecution exists (that even I, a religious skeptic, do), then it is fair for that faith to attempt to bring attention to their plight, no matter how empty that gesture may seem to us.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/colosseum-to-be-lit-red-for-persecuted-christians-42868

Somehow I missed this interesting find from November 2017: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/29/caesars-invasion-of-britain-began-from-pegwell-bay-in-kent-say-archaeologists (Picture caption: Thanet had never been considered a possible landing site because it was separated from the mainland until the Middle Ages.) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/julius-caesar-invasion-britain-uk-site-evidence-first-discovered-kent-a8081056.html

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was an English writer, best known for "A Dictionary of the English language" written in 1755. He was also an essayist, biographer, and literary critic. He was also a very odd-looking gentleman with strange tics and mannerisms. (Modern researchers believe he had Tourette syndrome.) He was deaf in one ear and blind in one eye. He also suffered from childhood scrofula, a localized tuberculosis infection of the cervical lymph nodes, resulting in facial scarring and neck swelling. First, here is his complementary quote on ancient Rome recorded by his biographer James Boswell: Johnson was a complex man who was also able to say this about ancient Rome: I found these two quotes so diametrically opposed but despite their contradictory nature, so true. Similarly, Samuel Johnson himself was a complex person with many contradictions. (Interestingly, many people incorrectly assume that Samuel Johnson and Edward Gibbon, author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, were friends. Although near contemporaries and traveling in similar social circles, these two men had a very complex and sometimes unfriendly relationship.)

Viggen: Good luck and thank you for your work. Stay healthy. guy also known as gaius P.S.: I hope Peter reaches out to us for suggestions to fill the great void as a result of Viggen's departure from the leadership.

Do you have a link to the article?

I thought this was an interesting video of the year by year territorial expansion and collapse of Ancient Rome from the earliest city state to the late Byzantine empire. guy also known as gaius

Maybe it was the just wrath of God (although I believe Alaric was an Arian Christian).