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COINS like windows on the Past

On the occasion of its first Numismatic Auction, on June 1st 2017, Wannenes is presenting an interesting selection of coins and medals from a whole host of different periods. Each and every different period opens up a window on the life and customs of the time. As far as the ancient world is concerned, a particularly intriguing collecting area are the coins featuring the various Augustas – the so-called “Auguste”.

As mothers, daughters and sisters of the Roman emperors, these women actively took part in the political events of the day as counsellors, advisors or, even, enemies that had to be feared. They dictated the period’s fashions (in hairstyles, for example) and their influence was, especially, the result of being depicted on the coins that circulated through the Empire, a sort of an old-time “media”. Their meticulous portraits indeed reached every corner of the globe. As is well known, governing authorities used coins as an ideal means to spread ideas and images since coins were made in long-lasting materials and were, by their very nature, intended to move swiftly around the world.

In June’s auction, there will be a small but highly representative series of denarii and sestertii – masterpieces of engraving – in which the changing fashions of the times can be witnessed. Starting off from a simple but refined taste in hairstyles that may be noted in the Republican Era and the First Imperial Period the collection highlights fashions that became more and more sophisticated – as, for example, in the age of Hadrian (photo no.1) we may note the use of a pleated artificial hairpiece that appeared as a tiara on the forehead . From the age of the various Severus emperors (photos no.2 – 3), hairstyles with central partings became more popular with full, wavy hairstyles that were gathered upon the neck as a sort of chignon. This particular hairstyle predated the ones which were more commonly in use by the Roman empresses of the Third century A.D., defined as a “helmet” style”, (photo no.4). The catalogue is presenting numerous other pieces of considerable interest including exceptionally well-preserved coins from the Late Empire, rare and precious pieces such as the ducat of Ferdinand I of Bourbon depicted in youth, the very rare ecu of Victor Amedeo III and beautiful and rare medals from the Fifteenth to the Sixteenth centuries that depict the portraits of famous people such as Vincenzo Maggi, Andrea Bentivoglio and Francesco I of Este.