Some more ancient coins featuring architecture… Here, we’ll be looking at the ‘cityscape’ (urban landscape), a longstanding subject of artwork. This was usually reserved for larger coins (sometimes medallions) so that intricate detail could be engraved by the die-cutter. Again, check out the links if you want to learn more!
Acropolis
ATTICA, Athens. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Circa AD 140/50-175. Æ (26mm, 9.76 g, 5h). Draped bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet / View of the Acropolis from north and west; on right, steps of the Panathenaic Way lead upward to Propylaea; at summit, Erechtheum and colossal statue of Athena Promachus standing right; mid-summit, niche representing the Cave of Pan. Kroll 280; Svoronos, Monnaies pl. 98, 22 (same obv. die).
Mount Argaeus
CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea-Eusebia. Macrinus, with Diadumenian as Caesar. AD 217-218. Æ (36mm, 25.92 g, 12h). Struck AD 218. AY K M OΠ CЄOY MA[KPI]NOC M OΠ ΔIAΔOY ANTωNЄ[I], confronted busts of Macrinus right, laureate, draped, and cuirassed, and Diadeumenian left, bareheaded and draped / M[HTP]OΠOΛC ( sic ) [KAICAPIAC?], Mt. Argaeus surmounted by statue; star and crescent in upper field; at base of mountain, tetrastyle temple between two agonistic urns; in exergue, NEΩΚOPOV/ ЄT B (date) in two lines. Sydenham, Caesarea 507 var.; BMC 282 var.; SNG von Aulock 6498 var.; SNG Hunterian 2265 var. (all with slightly different rev. legend).
Marcianopolis (Aerial)
Gordian III Æ Pentassarion of Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior. AD 238-244. Menophilus, consular legate. M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ, confronted busts of Gordian, laureate and draped facing right, and Serapis, draped and wearing calathus, facing left / [VΠ] MHNOΦIΛOV MAPKIANOΠOΛITWN, city of Marcianopolis viewed from an aerial perspective: city walls punctuated by thirteen towers, two of which flank an arched gate, and with arched colonnade along the inside back wall, enclosing a temple precinct composed of a tetrastyle temple façade flanked on either side by colonnaded portico, with a lighted altar in front. Hristova & Jekov 6.37.46.8 AMNG I 1167; Varbanov 1972. 13.47g, 29mm, 1h.
There are stunning modern examples, too. Take a look at this medal featuring an exceedingly intricate depiction of London!
Prince James (III) silver "Appeal Against the House of Hannover" Medal 1721 MS63 NGC, Eimer-493, MI-454/63. 49.5 mm. Plain edge. By O. Hamerani. VNICA SALVS Cuirassed bust of James right // QVID GRAVIVS CAPTA London city view in background with Hanoverian horse trampling a unicorn and lion as Britannia looks on; MDCCXXI in exergue.
To explore similar types, try searching terms like ‘view of city’ (or whatever takes your fancy) on this database of Roman provincial coins.
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