Al Kowsky

1 hour ago, Heliodromus said:

It seems most likely that from 303-315 AD the "P" of PTR meant Pecunia, since at this time the mint was only using a single officina and there would therefore be no need to indicate which officina had struck a coin.

Supporting this we can see that earlier (295-303 AD) when Trier had been using multiple officinas (first 3, then reduced to 2), it had chosen to mark them first as A/B/C, A/B and I/II (not P/S/T). When the mint expanded back to 2 officinas in 315 AD it again goes with the A/B marking scheme. It's not until the coinage reform of 318 AD that we see Trier using PTR/STR instead.

Supporting "P" for Pecunia (money) as opposed to some other non-numeric meaning such as Percussa (struck [at]), we see London first using PLN then temporarily switching to M-based alternatives such as MLN and MSN (Moneta, Moneta Sacra), then back to PLN, and the eastern mints also using the SM (Sacra Moneta) prefix on occasion. It seems likely there was some consistency here and PLN and MLN would have had a similar meaning, and therefore all of PLN, PTR and PLG just meant "money from <city>" at times when a single officina was in use.

 

Your ideas sound reasonable, but it does seem odd that the mint would label coins "pecunia" (P) for a coin type that had been in use since circa AD 294. The early issue follis pictured below from the Ticinum mint has no P or officina letter in the exergue. 

My issue of a Constantine I as Augustus follis, with a Mars reverse, struck AD AD 307/8, shows a considerable drop in weight to 6.65 gm. RIC VI 776.

1 hour ago, Tejas said:

Wow, these are really heavy exemplars. How did you determine the officina number? They were probably minted before my coins. For the second one with S-F this is certainly the case. 

I won the older coin at a CNG auction about 14 years ago where it was described as a 1st officina issue (prima for the P in exergue), & used the same reasoning for the later issue 😉.

Pictured below are two Constantine I folles from my collection, the 1st coin appears to be from the same issue as the 1st coin posted by Dirk ☺️.

Constantine I as Caesar, AD 306-309 (struck AD circa summer of AD 307). Trier Mint, 1st Officina. AE Follis: 8.73 gm, 29 mm, 6 h. RIC VI 719b. Ex CNG Inventory 774824, July 2006.

Constantine I as Caesar, AD 306-309 (struck circa AD 306-early 307) Trier Mint, 1st Officina. AE Follis: 9.50 gm, 28 mm, 7 h. A trace of silvering is still visible. RIC VI 666A.

2 hours ago, Tejas said:

I got this follis of Constantine I. I really like these early large folles. This one has a diameter of 28mm. 

On the other folles of the Tetrachy there are usually the letter S F on the reverse. Yet, the comparable pieces of Constantine I have S A. Does anybody know what these letters stand for. Do they denote the denomination?

Dirk, what are the weights of the two coins you posted 🤔?

1 hour ago, El Cazador said:

I actually think it will go closer to $4,000+

 

in my opinion it is superior to your example @Al Kowskythat you showed a year - two ago!

 

this is easily $4,000 - $5,000 coin

You may be right, but time will tell. I scored my Siculo-Punic tetradrachm about 9 years ago for $1.762.50.

One popular trend that is still popular is taking raw high grade ancient coins sold at auction & getting them slabbed. Sometimes this can really payoff & at other times you can end up losing money. A good case to point at is a Siculo-Punic tetradrachm that will appear in a major Heritage auction, see photos below. This coin sold at Nomos Auction 20, lot 51, July 10, 2020, for a price realized of 2,800 CHF (Swiss francs). Add on the buyer's premium of 22.5 %, and take into account the fall in value of the U.S. $ since nearly 4 years ago, & this coin would have to sell for over $3,893.31 to show a profit 😮. I'll be curious to see what Heritage gets for this coin & would be surprised if it exceeds $3,000.00. The coin is well struck & attractive but has an annoying die-break on the cheek of Melqart-Heracles.

On 2/24/2024 at 2:49 PM, Heliodromus said:

Just playing with my owl. Not a recent acquisition, but I keep him in my desk draw as a pocket piece of sorts since I really collect Constantine and he doesn't as such belong in my collection. I take him out to admire once in a while!

When I decided to buy one of these, my main criteria was just eye appeal, and one feature in particular that appealed to me was the recessed reverse with the owl appearing to be in a liitle box/nook. I just took the above photo to try to highlight this aspect - much more atmospheric I think than this more axially lit photo.

 

 

Your Owl is a stunning example 🤩! The owl side is literally flawless & struck from a fresh die 😃. I waited a long time before adding an Owl to my collection, & when the last massive hoard reached the market & prices fell I scored the example pictured below several years ago from a Roma auction. My priority in selecting an example was an attractive portrait of Athena ☺️. The owl side on my coin was struck from a worn die with considerable milage & not completely struck at the high points, never the less I'm happy with the coin.

                                               Athens, 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm: 17.22 gm, 25 mm, 3 h.

For comparison, the Class A2 follis pictured below I won at a Roma auction 5 years ago.

On 1/31/2024 at 5:29 AM, Dip Nayak said:

Dear members,

 

I have found this coin from a rice field near to my place in Odisha, India. Can any one help me identify to know which coin is this?? And who the emperor in it?? 

This coin or token looks like a possible late Roman coin that was worked over by tooling & engraving like the "hobo nickels". Pictured below is a "hobo nickel" from my collection ☺️.

                                                              "Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, scorn all others."

Sometimes I wonder if it was worth getting the two Fizer Covid 19 shots when they first became available 🤔. I was sick for a week after the 1st shot with dizziness, nausea, & headaches, but the 2nd shot a month later wasn't as bad. After the first two shots I vowed to get no more Covid shots. This year I did get a Flu shot & was sick for two days, not taking into account the localized area in my left arm that was painful for a week. I later learned that I was given a double dose of the vaccine because of my age 😲. Does this really make any sense? Now I'm having my doubts about getting anymore Flu shots 🤨...

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230207/The-safety-profile-and-the-actual-known-adverse-effects-of-COVID-19-vaccines-in-at-risk-and-healthy-individuals.aspx

The die cutters at the Rome mint did a good job depicting Julia Mamaea 😊.

Seeing the double sestertius posted by robinjojo triggered my memory about a Postumus sestertius in my collection ☺️.

Postumus, AD 260-269 (struck AD 261). Trier Mint, 3rd emission. AE Sestertius: 25.49 gm, 31.5 mm, 6 h. Obverse: Laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust of Postumus. Reverse: Victory holding wreath & palm branch, advancing left, seated captive on ground. RIC V 170.

24 minutes ago, Deinomenid said:

I think there are some small communities there that still speak a form of Greek, which is amazing!

Just re the olive trees, when I was last in  Akragas/Agrigento there were  beautiful groves not  far from the temples. I was gently  told off for saying "old olive tree" as apparently they planted several  trees on the same rough spot. I may be  completely wrong,  but something  like  tree sisters, so the huge  thick intertwined trunks are several trees. Perfectly possible  it was a  joke at my expense!

The first time I saw a photo of this famous tree my jaw dropped 😮. Religious sects in China & Japan believe old trees are inhabited by the spirits of ancestors; I get that feeling when viewing photos of this tree....

Yesterday Philip Chrysopoulos posted an interesting article on Google, The Incredibly Diverse - And Healthy - Diet of the Ancient Greeks. The article also has an informative & amusing YouTube video attached to the article, Olive Relish. My mother's side of the family came from Sicily, so I wasn't too surprised at the similarity of the modern Sicilian diet compared to the ancient Greek diet 😉.

https://greekreporter.com/2024/02/18/incredibly-diverse-healthy-diet-ancient-greeks/

Ancient Greeks drinking wine from a Kylix.

Greek pottery fish plate, 325-290 BC.

The oldest olive tree in the world, documented by ancient writers to be over 2,000 years old, Ano Vouves, western Crete. This tree was declared a protected natural monument in 1997, & amazingly still produces olives today 🤩.

13 hours ago, Rand said:

Amazing coins, @Al Kowsky. Beautiful and such pristine states with high straight grades! Particularly love the nummus of Galerius.

Rand, Thanks for the comments ☺️. I won the Galerius follis at auction 7 years ago, aside from the condition, I was impressed by the weight of the coin. Diocletian era folles weigh on average about 10.50 gm, so 13.15 gm is hefty 😲.

Coinmaster, Thanks for sharing your Trier experience & the lovely photos 🤩. I'm ashamed to say after spending 18 months in Germany I never got to Trier ☹️. Pictured below are a few of my favorite coins from Roman-Trier ☺️.

Constantine I, AD 307-330 (struck AD 307/8). AE Follis: 6.65 gm, 26 mm, 6 h. Reverse: Mars with spear & Shield. Ex Spink 169, July 15, 2004.

My 4 favorite Alexandrian coins ☺️.

I sold the tetradrachm pictured below a long time ago, it's a common type but very expensive in high grade.

Parthian Kingdom. Mithradates II, 123-88 BC. AR Tetradrachm: 15.77 gm, 32 mm, 12 h. Seleucia on Tigris mint. 

3 hours ago, Sulla80 said:

@Parthicus has a great coin as his avatar - one that I have admired since I first saw it - I am not sure how many years ago, he posted in a Top 10 list. 

A tetradrachm of Artabanos II, who reigned during the time of Augustus.  His coin is one that Sellwood identified as 63.5 from the month Gorpaios (August) identified by the monogram under the horse on the reverse and year 27 AD identified by the Seleucid era date T Λ H around the king's head on the reverse.  

After many years of admiring - I found one to buy (they don't show up very often, especially not in a price range that I am willing to spend).   This coin differs in the date: July, 27 AD and Sellwood number: 63.4.  Artabanos has been assigned a variety of suffixes by various authors from Artabanos II to III to IV....as decoded here by Chris Hopkins @ Parthia.Com

Kings of Parthia, Artabanos II (or III or IV), Circa AD 10-38, BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 13.24 g, 12h), Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated Holöos 338 SE (July, AD 27)

Obv: Diademed facing bust

Ref: Artabanos on horseback left, receiving palm from Tyche standing right; T Λ H (year) oriented around Artabanos, monogram (month) below horse

Ref: Sellwood 63.4 (Artabanos II); Shore 336 (Artabanos II), Sunrise 411 (Artabanos IV)

We have a letter from Artabanus that defends the election of a  treasurer in Susa in the Louvre - with this as the concluding sentence:

"...we decide in general that the [illegality which] has been pointed out be expressly forgiven, no denial or investigation either general or specific being required (?). Year 268 Audnaeus 17"

Image CC BY-SA 3.0 from Wikimedia Commons.

See details here:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015010575713&seq=432

C. B. Welles, "Letter of Artaban III, King of Parthia, to Seleucia on the Eulaeus (Susa), validating the election of the city treasurer. Audnaeus 17, A.D. 21", Royal Correspondence in the Hellenistic Period (Chicago: Ares, 1979), pp. 299-306.

The Encyclopedia Iranica has a nice overview for Artabaos II:

"Artabanus II was brought to the throne by a wave of “national consciousness” among the Parthian nobles, who disapproved of Vonones, installed with Roman backing in A.D. 8/9, and, in their eyes, “made soft” by long residence in the West. "

-Encyclopedia Iranica https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/artabanus-parth#pt2

Post coins you took a long time to find, coins of Artabanus II (III or IV) or Parthian tetradrachms, or anything else that you find interesting or relevant.

The front-facing Parthian portraits are fascinating 🤩.

On January 25, a Chinese porcelain moon flask, bianhu, was auctioned by Dixon's Crumpton Auction House. Despite being drilled through the base & obscuring most of the six character reign mark, the 11 inch tall flask attracted international attention. The Jiaqing flask, AD 1796-1820, had an estimate of $1,000-2,000, but sold for a staggering $195,000 including the buyers premium 😲! The quality & subject mater point to the flask being made at the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. In the recent past connoisseurs of Chinese porcelain didn't hold porcelain from the Jiaqing period in high regard, but this has changed. Today collectors are paying very high prices for quality 19th century Chinese porcelain 😃.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/news/auctions/auction-results/chinese-famille-rose-porcelain-flask-once-converted-to-a-lamp-skyrocketed-to-195k-at-dixons-crumpton/

I have a finely painted Chinese porcelain bowl, 5 inch diameter, with the 6 character reign mark of Jiaqing on the underside, & of the period, see photos below. In the past I put the bowl up for auction but it didn't achieve the reserve price of $500 😞. Now I'm considering putting the bowl up for auction again 🤔.

The theme of the bowl depicts women & children celebrating the Chinese new year. The photo on the lower left shows a boy blowing a horn & holding a stick with exploding fire crackers on the end. Pictured below for comparison are photos of the moon flask mark compared to the mark on my bowl.

Website members are welcome to post any of their antique Chinese ceramics ☺️.

As long as the major auction houses aren't concerned about the legality of the coins they're selling, why should I be concerned 🤔?

I don't care who comes to my home looking for coins that don't have a legitimate provenance, they're getting nothing 😠!

20 hours ago, Deinomenid said:

With all due apologies to our Antipodean  colleagues at Numisforums  this tale struck me as both odd and  interesting.

I got it  into  my head that looking through the earliest regular numismatic magazines might throw light on some  interesting coins that have been subsequently lost. Amongst the articles in the Numismatic Journal/Chronicles from the 1830's- 50's are  plenty of these, though I suspect  some are  just invented  types. Amongst the articles, endless warnings about forgeries (including English  forgers flooding the Turkish market!), and various diatribes  I came across a thief  with the almost  fantastical name  of Timoleon Vlasto. 

Timoleon of course was the saviour of Greek Sicily, and Vlasto was THE collector  par excellence of  the coins of Taras.

The article is here, and below. It is an  interesting defence that, as collecting was his passion, he  should be let off.  For a  name as wonderful as  Timoleon Vlasto, the sentence should  have been  halved, but he was, indeed, sent to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania)  as  one of 250 convicts. (Maryland and Virginia having  been  inconveniently closed to English convicts somewhat earlier...)

 

MISCELLANEA.
THE ROBBERY AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Central Criminal Court, May 9 (1849). - New Court. - Timoleon Vlasto, aged twenty-four, described in the calendar as a labourer , was indicted for stealing 266 coins, valued at £500, the property of the trustees of the British Museum. The prisoner, a gentlemanly-looking man, is by birth a Greek, and of good family, and seemed but imperfectly acquainted with the English language. Upon the various indictments being read over, he pleaded "Guilty." There was also a further charge against him for stealing 71 coins, valued at £150, the property of Charles Richard Fox, in his dwelling-house. To this indictment the prisoner also pleaded " Guilty."

Mr. Clarkson, who appeared on behalf of the prisoner, applied to the Court to defer passing sentence until the next day, when he
(the learned counsel) would call witnesses to show his highly respectable position in society , and also that he had not possessed himself of
the coins for the purpose of either selling or raising money on them ; and, but that he (the learned counsel), thought the Court would
ridicule the idea, he should say that the act was that of a monomaniac , and had arisen out of the prisoner's passion for collecting
coins, there being in his possession a great number of other valuable coins besides those stolen, and which could be proved to be
the prisoner's own property.

Mr. Bodkin, who appeared for the prosecution, said he had no opposition to offer to the application, and wished the Court to
understand that the prosecution had been fairly got up. It was the Court who felt at a loss how to proceed . They had but one
duty to perform ; and although the prisoner was a young man of good family, he must be dealt with by the Court as all others
were. After some further conversation, the Common-Serjeant said that he should postpone passing sentence until a future day of
Session.

[We call the attention of our readers to the passages in italics reserving for the present our own comments. Sentence has since been pronounced on this man ; namely, transportation for seven years. Great interest, it is reported, will be made to procure a
mitigation of his punishment -Ed.]

 

 

This story reminds me of the 19 Crimes Wine that is made in Australia. Each type of wine has a prisoner depicted on the label who was banished to Australia for crimes against England. Some of these wines are excellent quality for the money 🍷🍾😄.

15 hours ago, robinjojo said:

Here's a late addition.  This small figurine is part of a group of jadeite figurines that appeared on eBay around 2004-05.  As far as I can determine they were produced in the 1990s.

Dragon-Turtle jadeite figurine, circa 1990s.  

98.1 grams

That's a finely carved jadeite tortoise 🤩! In Chinese mythology it is believed when a tortoise becomes 1,000 years old it will turn into a dragon.