It is tempting to suggest that most figurative reverse types as being derived from statues and that may be the case. I am generally going to present here though only coin types that have a figure on a pedestal and so are unequivocally statues or those where I can produce a glyptic analogue.
ROME - Farnese Hercules
The Farnese Hercules, so called because of the Farnese family who owned the sculpture in the middle ages,is a representation of Hercules at rest after completing his labours.
The statue is an ancient sculpture, probably an enlarged copy made in the early third century AD and signed by a certain Glykon, from an original by Lysippos (or one of his circle) that would have been made in the fourth century BC. The copy was made for the Baths of Caracalla in Rome (dedicated in 216 AD), where it was recovered in 1546.
Gordian III, AR Denarius, RIC 116
Maximianus I, AE Antoninianus, Lyon mint, RIC 437
TRIER in GAUL - Statue of Jupiter
Gallienus, AR antoninianus, Trier mint, RIC 22
ILIUM in TROAS - Statue of Pallas Athena
The Trojan Palladium was said to be a wooden image of Pallas
(whom the Greeks identified with Athena andthe Romans with Minerva) and to
have fallen from heaven in answer to the prayer of Ilus, the founder of Troy.
Crispina, AE 26mm, SNG Cop 413
CAESAREA in CAPPADOCIA - Statue of Trajan (?)
TRIER in GAUL - Statue of Jupiter
Early in the reign of Valerian and Gallienus a statue to Jupiter on a plinth is depicted on the coins. As it only appears at this mint it is probably a statue local to the mint, probably Trier. CES is the abbreciation for "cvm exercitvs svo" = "with his army".
ILIUM in TROAS - Statue of Pallas Athena
The Trojan Palladium was said to be a wooden image of Pallas
(whom the Greeks identified with Athena andthe Romans with Minerva) and to
have fallen from heaven in answer to the prayer of Ilus, the founder of Troy.
During the Trojan War, the importance of the Palladium to
Troy was said to have been revealed to the Greeks by Helenus, the prophetic son
of Priam. After Paris' death, Helenus left the city but was captured by
Odysseus. The Greeks somehow managed to persuade the warrior seer to reveal the
weakness of Troy. The Greeks learned from Helenus, that Troy would not fall
while the Palladium, image or statue of Athena, remained within Troy's walls. The
difficult task of stealing this sacred statue again fell upon the shoulders of
Odysseus and Diomedes. Since Troy could not be captured while it safeguarded
this image, the Greeks Diomedes and Odysseus made their way to the citadel in
Troy by a secret passage and carried it off. In this way the Greeks were then
able to enter Troy and lay it waste using the deceit of the Trojan Horse.
The coin type from Ilium, ancient Troy, shows a man on the
back of a cow tied to a tree in an act of sacrifice before the statue
of Pallas Athena.
CAESAREA in CAPPADOCIA - Statue of Trajan (?)
A statue located at the summit of Mount Argaeus. Below the mountain is a tetrastyle temple. The figure holds a globe and vertical staff and may represent Trajan.
Trajan, AR didrachm, Sydenham 157
ANTIOCH in SYRIA - Statue of the Tyche of Antioch
ANTIOCH in SYRIA - Statue of the Tyche of Antioch
Eutychides of Sicyon in Corinthia, Greek sculptor of the latter part of the 4th century BC, was a pupil of Lysippus. His most noted work was a statue of Tyche, which he made for the city of Antioch, then newly founded. The goddess, who embodied the idea of the city, was seated on a rock, crowned with towers, and having the river Orontes swimming at her feet.
A representation of this statue is reproduced on a number of ancient coins.
A representation of this statue is reproduced on a number of ancient coins.
Maximinus II, AE quarter follis, van Heesch 3
Justin I, AE pentanummia, Sear 111
Justin I, AE pentanummia, Sear 111
