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Radiate |
Having rays representing the Sun; as
in a radiate crown. Also a coin bearing a portrait with a radiate crown. |
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Rare |
Comparative term denoting a high
degree of scarcity. Frequently modified e.g. very rare or extremely rare; or
described by figures e.g. R4 or R7. There is no universally accepted scale
of rarity. |
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Rarity |
The degree of scarcity of an item;
also an infrequently offered item |
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Relief |
Raised; denotes features rising above
the field |
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Retrograde |
Inscribed in reverse so as to read
right when viewed in a mirror |
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Reverse |
The side of the coin formed by the die
struck by the hammer. |
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Rostrum |
The prow of a ship; also a speaker’s
platform |
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Rostral |
Adorned with ships’ prows |
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Sagittarius |
An archer |
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Salus |
Personification of good health |
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Sarmatia |
Southern Russia |
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Sasanian |
Persian dynasty founded by Ardashir;
grandson of Sasan |
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Satyr |
Mythological creature; half man and
half goat; usually bald and depicted as ithyphallic |
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Scarce |
Not common but not as uncommon as rare |
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Semis |
Roman coin valued at one half As |
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Semissis |
Late Roman gold coin valued at one
half solidus |
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Serapis |
(Hades) Egyptian god of the
underworld |
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Sestertius |
Roman coin; originally silver and
valued at two and one half Asses; later revalued at 4 Asses; one quarter
denarius |
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Sextans |
Roman republican coin valued at one
sixth As |
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Shekel |
Semitic silver coin of about 7 g or
two drachmas |
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Silenus |
A satyr associated with Dionysos; the
eldest of the satyrs |
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Silphium |
A now-extinct plant found only in
Kyrenaica; used as a seasoning and perfume or drug. |
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Simpulum |
Ladle for pouring wine; one of the
implements used by Roman priests. |
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Solidus |
Roman gold coin (4.5 g or 1/72 Roman
pound); successor to the aureus |
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Spes |
Personification of hope |
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Sphinx |
Mythological creature; half man and
half lion |
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Spintria |
Roman bordello-token; usually with
erotic types |
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Standard |
Banner or insignia carried atop a pole
as a guidon during military maneuvers and actions |
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Stater |
Greek coin most commonly equal to two
drachms; although staters of three drachms were used in certain areas
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Stele |
An isolated column |
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Strigil |
Curved bronze cleaning tool used to
scrape oiled skin after gymnastic exercises and in Roman baths |
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Strike |
The act or process of impressing the
image of a die into a flan to make a coin. Also the quality or completeness
of the impression. |
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Syrinx |
Shepherd’s pipes; Pan’s pipes |
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Tetarteron |
Byzantine gold coin of lighter weight
than the solidus; introduced by Nicephoros II. |
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Tetradrachm |
Greek silver coin weighing about 13 to
17 grams; valued at 4 drachmas |
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Tetrastyle |
Having 4 columns |
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Tiara |
Ornate jewelled crown |
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Toga |
Formal Roman garment; a large
rectangle of woolen cloth with rounded corners draped over the wearer and
held in place with the left hand |
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Tremissis |
Late Roman gold coin valued at one
third of a solidus |
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Tribunician |
Pertaining to the tribune (one of 12
officials representing the Plebs); under the Empire the tribunician power
conferred personal inviolability on the Emperor |
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Tribute penny |
A denarius of the Roman emperor
Tiberius; supposedly the coin of Caesar referred to in the New Testament.
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Triens |
Roman republican coin valued at one
third As |
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Tripod |
A 3 legged table or stand |
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Trireme |
Galley with 3 banks of oars |
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Triskeles |
Symbol consisting of three rotating
legs attached at the hip |
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Triton |
Son of Poseidon and Amphitrite;
depicted as half man and half dolphin |
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Trophy |
An arrangement of captured arms
erected to commemorate a victory |
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Uncia |
Roman ounce or 1/12 Roman pound; coin
valued at 1/12 As |
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Uncirculated |
Mint state; as struck; never
circulated; without any wear |
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Unique |
There is only one known specimen.
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Veiled Head |
Portraits of deceased persons were
often shown veiled |
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Vestal |
Roman virgin dedicated to Vesta
(goddess of the hearth) |
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Vexillum |
Military standard of a maniple or
legionary subunit |
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Vis-a-vis |
Face to face; two busts are commonly
depicted this way on Greek Imperial coins |
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Wear |
Loss of material during handling and
contact with other objects |
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Widow's mite |
An ancient Jewish coin; the lepton
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Zeus |
Greek king of the gods |
