Coins Depicting Combatives and Athletics

CARIAN ISLANDS. Kos ca. 480-475 B.C., Triple Siglos, naked Diskobolos. (image courtesy of Numismatic Ars Classica)

CARIAN ISLANDS. Kos ca. 480-475 B.C., Triple Siglos, naked Diskobolos. (image courtesy of New York Sale)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Commodus 177 - 192 A.D. AE 13.80g. Athletes. RPC 5

THRACE, Philippopolis. Caracalla 198-217 A.D. Æ 40mm Medallion. Athletes oiling up. (image courtesy of CNG)

THRACE, Philippopolis. Caracalla 198-217 A.D. 42mm athlete (image courtesy of Numismatik Lanz)

THRACE, Philippopolis. Caracalla 198-217 A.D. 40mm athlete or discus thrower (image courtesy of CNG)

THRACE, Philippopolis. Caracalla 198-217 A.D. Æ 31mm 15.06g Varbanov 1278 (formerly Author's collection)

THRACE, Philippopolis. Caracalla 198-217 A.D. AE30mm 18.88g. Nude athlete adv. right. Alexandrian Pythian games in 214 A.D. Weber-2774ff (formerly Author's collection)

THRACE, Byzantion. Alexander Severus 222-235 A.D. 33mm 21.59g. Obverse: Laureate head of emperor, right AVT K M AVPH CEVH AΛEΞANΔPOC AVG. Reverse: Three athletes posing EΠ M AVR ΦPONTΩNOC KAI AIΛ ΦHCTHC / BVZANTI / ΩN. Reference: Schönert-Geiss 1755 (V 215/R 404) (formerly Author's collection)

THRACE, Perinthus. Severus Alexander 218-222 A.D. AE 18mm. Athlete crowning himself. (formerly author's collection)

THRACE, Philippopolis. Elagabalus 222-235 A.D. 28mm (image courtesy of Gemini II)

THRACE, Bizya. Philip II. As Caesar, AD 244-247. Æ Assarion athlete in pose. (image courtesy of CNG)

PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Volusian 251 - 253 A.D. AE 10.70g Atheletes posing or exercising.

SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Heliopolis. Gallienus. 253-268 A.D. AE 26mm Lindgren & Kovacs 2169

IONIA Colophon. Herennia Etruscilla 29mm boxer walking. BMC 57. (image courtesy of Frank Kovacs)

Roman Bronze Strigil (image courtesy of Harlan Berk)

PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 325-300 B.C. AR Stater. Wrestlers and Slinger. (image courtesy of CNG)

PISIDIA, Selge. Circa 300-190 B.C. AR Stater Wrestlers and Herakles. (image courtesy of CNG)

Pamphylia, Aspendos. AR Stater 400-350 B.C. 10.39g. Two wrestlers grappling, one attempting sweep; Slinger r. (image courtesy of Gorny & Mosch)

Pamphylia. Aspendus. AR stater (10.88 gm). 420–370 B.C. Two wrestlers grappling, one attempting knee strike. (image courtesy of Gemini)

Pamphylia, Aspendos. AR Stater 400-350 B.C. Two wrestlers grappling, grabbing belts; Slinger r. (image courtesy of Gorny & Mosch)

Pamphylia, Aspendos. AR Stater 400-350 B.C. Two wrestlers grappling, one grabbing leg at the knee; Slinger r. (image courtesy of Akropolis Coins)

KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm . Pankrationist or boxer in miniature. (image courtesy of CNG)

UMBRIA, Tuder. Circa 235 B.C. Æ Aes Grave Triens 29mm, 27.43g. Caestus boxing glove and Clubs. (image courtesy of CNG)

IONIA, Smyrna. Æ 15mm, 1st century B.C. Caestus or boxing glove.

CORINTHIA, Corinth. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Reign of Domitian, AD 81-96. Æ 16mm 3.03g (image courtesy of CNG)

THRACE, Philipoppolis. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ 28mm. (15.20 gm). Obv.: Bust of emp., r. AVTKMAVPHA ANTWNINOC Rev.: Two athletes grappling. MHTPOPOLEWC FILIPPOPOLE WCNEWKO POV Ref: Varbanov 1712; Moushmov 481; Moushmov 5404 (formerly Author's collection)

SYRIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Elagabalus 222-235 A.D. AE 20mm Two Wrestlers. SNG München 943. (image courtesy of Munzen und Medallion)

PISIDIA, Selge. Julia Mamaea 222-235 A.D. wrestlers. (image courtesy of Munzen und Medaillon)

Gallienus Cilicia, Syedra 253 - 268 A.D. Æ 31 11 Assaria (16.69g) Obv.: Bust of emp., r. AUTKAIPOLIK GALLIHNOC CΕΒ ΙΑ Rev.: Wrestlers engaged CΥΕΔΡΕΩΝΘΕΜΙC Ref: Levante 441; vAulock 5905

CILICIA, Syedra. Salonina 254 - 268 AD. 30mm, 14.24g Obv.: Bust of emp., r. ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑCΑΛΩΝΙΝΑ CΕΒ ΙΑ Rev.: Wrestlers engaged CΥΕΔ ΡΕΩΝΘΕ ΜΙC Ref: SNG Levante 442; ex CNG (1996) (Author's collection)