I recently picked up yet another victoriatus, bringing the count to 11 in my collection. This variety with VB is one of the more common signed varieties but the meaning of "VB" has been debated by numismatists for several years and there's still no clear answer. Traditionally, "VB" has been taken to either be a reference to the type having been minted in or near the city of Vibo Valentia or a reference to a treasury official of the gens Vibia. The Vibo Valentia interpretation is problematic because the city was not named Vibo Valentia until it was made a Roman colony in 194 B.C. and hoard evidence places these victoriati a decade or more earlier, having been minted sometime around the introduction of the denarius system circa 211 B.C., at which time the city still used its Greek name of Hiponnion. The Vibia interpretation is tempting but simply not provable and the VB could equally stand for the little-known city of Vibinum or any number of other things. Roman Republic AR Victoriatus(17 mm, 2.54g, 7h). Anonymous("VB" series). ca. 211-208 B.C. Uncertain mint(traditionally, Vibo Valentia). Laureate head of Jupiter right. Border of dots / Victory standing right, crowning trophy with wreath; VB ligate on exergue between. ROMA in exergue. Line border. Crawford 95/1a; BMCRR Italy 233; Russo RBW 389 As this is victoriatus number 11 and it's been a while since I shared multiple victoriati in a single post, I put together a virtual tray with all my victoriati as an interesting example of the wide variety of styles associated with these coins, many of which were minted at field mints across Italy, Sicily and Spain during the war with Hannibal. IDs(working left-to-right and top-to-bottom): 1. Cr. 53/1, anonymous, Rome mint 2. Cr. 83/1a, spearhead, Apulia(southeast Italy) mint 3. Cr. 67/1, anonymous, Sicilian mint 4. Cr. 70/1, anonymous, Sicilian mint(But probably different mint than no. 3) 5. Cr. 90/2, anonymous, uncertain mint 6. Cr. 95/1a, VB, uncertain mint(traditionally, but probably not actually, Vibo Valentia) 7. Cr. 93/1a, MP, uncertain mint(traditionally, Metapontum) 8. Cr. 92/1b, anonymous(in the style of "CROT" issues), uncertain mint(traditionally, Croton) 9. Cr. 105/1, pentagram, Etrurian mint 10. Cr. 106/1, staff, Etrurian mint 11. Cr. 159/1, fly, Rome mint Of course, please share anything relevant. I'd be especially interested to see your virtual trays of similar coins from multiple mints
Very, very nice collection. Obviously, some of the die cutters had more artistic talent than others. The portrait on number 10 is very well done. All in all, an interesting collection. Congratulations.
What a fantastic comparative group! I'm pleased to present my rare subtype of 44/1, where the lines below the shield are indeterminate between skirt and greaves: Oh, you want a reference for that subtype? Erm... well... let's call it subtype SA1. (Distinctiveness & rarity confirmed by @red_spork himself!)
That's a great virtual tray... the variety of styles is really brought across when they're all presented together.
Great collection @red_spork and impressive pictures! I have a couple of very nice VBs, but one is a bit off center and the other not fully struck.
That s a GORGEOUS collection @red_spork !!! Both of the Etrurians are my favorites from your group... but I just like them ALL! I only have a few: RR Victoriatus after 211 BCE Jupiter Victory Trophy VF Craw 53-1 Syd 83 To lazy to re-shoot, but THIS one has a PIG on it! RR Victoriatus 206-195 BCE AR 16-5mm 2-61g Jupiter r Victory crowning trophy sow r in ex ROMA Syd 253 Russo RBW 554 Cr 121-1 RR Anon AR Victoriatus 211-206 BC Jupiter Dioscuri FINE S 49 Cr 44-1 BIG Flan: RR Anon AR Victoriatus 211-206 BC Jupiter Dioscuri S 49 Cr 44-1 FOURREE??? RR Anon AE Victoriatus after 218 BCE Rome mint Ex RBW Anon Jupiter Victory crowning trophy Craw 44-1 Syd 83 Sear 49 Fouree A STAR is born: RR Anon 211-206 BCE Victoriatus STAR Very Rare Sear 49 Syd 233a Craw 105-1 (Pentagram filled in to make star)
Magnificent virtual tray My complete collection of victoriati consists in just one, and is a "VB" Republic, Victoriatus Minted circa 211-206 BC Head of Jupiter right Victory and trophy. ROMA at exergue, linked V and B in field 3.11 gr Ref : RCV #51 Q
