Alegandron

Old Gold

PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Darios I to Xerxes II.
Circa 485-420 BC.
AV Daric (14mm, 8.30 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint.
Persian king or hero, wearing kidarisand kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear in right hand, bow in left /
Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XIII, 27);
Meadows, Administration 321; BMC Arabia pl. XXIV, 26.

Twenty-five drachmas equals one Daric

Elephant on Seleukid AR


Seleucid Seleucus I 312-280 BCE AR Tet 14.46g Seleucia on Tigris. Zeus - Athena driving a quadriga of 4 horned elephants SC 130

Seleukos I NIKATOR AE


Seleucid Seleukos I 312-280 BCE AE 20 Athena-Elephant Spaer 129

YOUNG PLATO

Athens Attica
454-404 BCE
AR hemidrachm
16mm 2.08g
Athena frontal eye -
facing Owl wings closed olive branches
COP 70 SG 2528

PLATO TIME (well, a bit after when folks were lamenting…)

SICILY. Syracuse. 
Timoleon and the Third Democracy (344-317 BC). 
AE Hemidrachm, 
23mm, 17.2g
Obv: ZEΥΣ ΕΛΕΘΥΕPΙΟΣ; Laureate head right.
Rev: ΣYPAKOΣIΩN; Thunderbolt, barley grain to right.
Reference: SNG ANS 472 ff

On 5/2/2024 at 3:26 PM, Qcumbor said:

Absolutely. I have several coins from the Dombes principality about which no one on earth would give a shit (apart from me), including two unique to date gold ones, that would make me a millionaire were they 19th century US

And I'm glad no one cares, as I couldn't aford them otherwise

Q

Agreed, Cuke, but I would probly give you TWO SHITS for some of your great coins. 😄

50 yrs later from Tranq, with sails DOWN on the galley…

RI Allectus 293-296 AE Quinarius London Virtus Galley AE17 2-3g S 13870 RIC 55

Awesome @JayAg47 ! And one of my fave Emperors. Well done.

I think this was end of the line for the Argeads…

Here is one AFTER Alex III, for the joint rule of his Elder Half-Brother and Alex III's Son:


Makedon
Philip III Arrhidaeus and Alexander IV
Drachm Amphipolis mint 2.59g 13mm
Apollo-Youth horse
VERY RARE
SNG ANS 621 Le Rider123

a few Kings of Makedon AFTER Alexander III


MAKEDON Philip III Arrhidaios 323-317 BCE Æ 1-2 Unit 17mm 4.2g Miletos mint Makedonwn shield Gorgoneion - Helmet bipennis K Price 2064



Makedon Antigonos I Monopthalmus 319-305 BC AR Drachm Magnesia and Maeandrum Mint 3.9g 16-5mm Herakles lion-Zeus


Makedon - Kassander 305-297 BCE AE 20 Herakles - Youth on Horse prancing SG 6754



Makedon AE 15mm Demetrios I Poliorketes 294-288 BCE Zeus Athena


Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhus King of Epirus 278-276 BCE AE Litra 11.4g 23.3mm Herakles Nemaean Lion scalp - Athena Promachos thunderbolt shield SNG Cop 813, SNG ANS 852
King of Makedon 274-272 BCE


Makedon Amphipolis Philip V - Perseus - Makedon Amphipolis Philip V - Perseus - lost empire to Romans - helmet Tetrobol 187-168 BCE



Makedon Philip V AE17 3.7g 221-179 BCE Perseus Hd R helmet w winged vulture - Horse rearing R SNG Cop 1239



Makedon Perseus 178-168 BC AE 23 Poseidon Club
lost empire to Romans

Mine from BEFORE Alexander III…

I


MAKEDON
Alexander I 498-454 BCE
AR Obol 10mm 0.75g
Horse - Quadripartite incuse square
SNG ANS 32 Rare
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Perdikkos II 454-413 BCE 
AR heavy tetrobol 2.4g 15mm 12h mint 437-431 BC
horseman holding two spears prancing
Forepart Lion in incuse square
Raymond 184ff SNG ANS 47ff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perdiccas_II_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Amyntas II 395-393 BCE
Æ12, Dichalkon 2.0g, 12h; Aigai or Pella mint.
Obv.: Head of Pan right.
Rev.: Forepart of wolf chewing on bone.
Ref: Westermark, Remarks, 2; SNG Alpha Bank 179-80.
Very Rare.
Ex: @John Anthony
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyntas_II_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Amyntas III 393-369 BCE
GRANDFATHER of Alexander III the Great
AE 17mm, 3.2g
Obv: Head of Herakles r, wearing lion skin
Rev: AMUNTA, Eagle devouring serpant
Ref: SNG ANS 100ff
Ex: @Blake Davis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyntas_III_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Philip II 359-336 BCE
Mastermind of all the Makedon Kings - Father of Alexander III the Great
AR Tetradrachm.
Mint: Pella, lifetime issue, struck circa 353-349 BC.
25 mm. 14.4 g
Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ,
Rev: Philip on horseback left, wearing kausia and raising right hand; spearhead below, star below horse's raised foreleg.
Le Rider 102 (D58/R82).

BRUTUS:

Roman Republic
AR Denarius
BRVTVS / AHALA
Struck by the famous Marcus Junius Brutus when he was moneyer in 54 BCE
Obv: Bust of L. Junius Brutus, the Consul of 509 BC
Rev: Bust of C. Servilius Ahala, master of horse, 439 BC.
Ref:Sear 398. Crawford 433/2. Junia 1
Ex: @Valentinian


Brutus
EID MAR
Slavei

ex: Frank Robinson

18 hours ago, DonnaML said:

I don't have a great many Imperatorial coins -- they tend to be extremely expensive! -- but this one is probably my favorite:

Roman Republic, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, 47/46 BCE, N. Africa, Utica (provincial capital 30 mi. NW of site of Carthage) or mobile military mint traveling with Scipio’s camp [see Sear Imperatorial (CRI), infra at p. 34]. Obv. Laureate head of Jupiter right, Q. METEL around to right, PIVS in exergue (PI ligate)/ Rev. African elephant walking right, SCIPIO above, IMP in exergue. Crawford 459/1, Sear Imperatorial (CRI) 45 (pp. 33-34) [David Sear, The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC (1998)], RSC I Caecilia [Babelon] 47 (ill. p. 21), Sear RCV I 1379 (ill. p. 262), RBW Collection 1601 (ill. p. 337), BMCRR Africa 1, Claire Rowan, From Caesar to Augustus (c. 49 BC - AD 14), Using Coins as Sources (Cambridge 2019) at pp. 44-45 & Fig. 2.22. 19.5 mm., 3.78 g. Purchased from Germania Inferior Numismatics, Netherlands, Dec. 2021.*

 

*Issued by Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio (ca. 95-46 BCE), a great-great-great-grandson of Scipio Africanus [see Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Caecilius_Metellus_Pius_Scipio], and also a member of the Caecilii Metelli family by testamentary adoption [id.]. He issued this coin as the commander-in-chief of the remaining Pompeian forces in North Africa after Pompey’s defeat at Pharsalus and subsequent assassination, leading up to their defeat by Caesar at the Battle of Thapsus (in present-day Tunisia) on 6 Feb. 46 BCE. In CRI at p. 34, Sear states as follows about this coin: “Both stylistically and in volume this coinage stands apart from the rather limited issues in Scipio’s name which can safely be attributed to the provincial capital of Utica (nos. 40-43)/ The inescapable conclusion is that this type, which is in the sole name of the commander-in-chief, is a product of the military mint operating within the security of Scipio’s camp. It would appear to belong to the latter stages of the campaign as the Pompeian army was moving around the province prior to being enticed into the fatal engagement at Thapsus.”

See Metellus Scipio’s biography in Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition, Vol. XVIII, pp. 258-259 (1911):

“QUINTUS CAECILIUS METELLUS PIUS SCIPIO, son of P. Scipio Nasia, was adopted by [Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius (d. ca. 64 BCE), issuer of Crawford 374/1 in 81 BCE, through the latter's will.]. He was accused of bribery in 60 B.C., and defended by Cicero, to whom he had rendered valuable assistance during the Catilinarian conspiracy. In August 52, he became consul through the influence of [his son-in-law] Pompey, who had married his daughter Cornelia [as his fifth wife. Pompey was Cornelia's second husband; her first, the son of Crassus, died at Carrhae.].  In 49 [Metellus Scipio] proposed that Caesar should disband his army within a definite time, under pain of being declared an enemy of the state. After the outbreak of the civil war, the province of Syria was assigned to him, and he was about to plunder the temple of Artemis at Ephesus when he was recalled by Pompey. He commanded the centre at Pharsalus, and afterwards went to Africa, where by Cato's influence he received the command. In 46 he was defeated at Thapsus; while endeavoring to escape to Spain he fell into the hands of P. Sittius, and put himself to death. His connexion with two great families gave him importance, but he was selfish and licentious, wanting in personal courage, and his violence drove many from his party.”

Clare Rowan discusses Metellus Scipio and his coinage, including this type, at length at pp. 42-46 of her book (see citation above):

“After the defeat at Pharsalus and Pompey's death in Egypt in 48 BC, opposition to Caesar continued in Africa under the command of Metellus Scipio, who had previously commanded forces in Syria. Along with other Pompeian commanders, Scipio was subjected to criticism by the Caesarian side -- in The Civil War Caesar attacked their legitimacy, noting that Scipio (and others) did not wait for the ratification of the appointments by the assembly and left Rome without taking the appropriate auspices, amongst other irregularities (Caes. BCiv. 1.6.6-7). Caesar wrote ‘all rights, divine and human, were thrown into confusion.’ Whether Caesar's accusations are true or not, we find a clear response to them on Scipio's coinage, which display an inordinate emphasis on Scipio's offices, and their legitimacy. . .  [Citing, among other things, obverse references to Jupiter as "underlining Scipio's divine support."]. . . .[Discussion of Scipio's other coins omitted.] Th[e] combination of familial history and contemporary politics can also be seen on Fig. 2.22 [illustration of Crawford 459/1, this type], which has a reverse decorated with an elephant accompanied by the legend SCIPIO IMP. Although one might be tempted to see this as a 'reply' to Caesar's elephant (Fig. 2.1, Crawford 443/1), there is little to support this hypothesis. The elephant had been a symbol of the Metelli since the victory of L. Caecilius Metellus over Hasdrubal at Panormus during the First Punic War in 250 BC, and elephants had previously appeared on the coinage of several moneyers from the family. [See Crawford 262/1, Crawford 263/1a-1b, Crawford 269/1, and Crawford 374/1] . . . . Indeed, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius [Scipio's father by testamentary adoption] . . . released an issue displaying an elephant with the initials of his name in the exergue: Q.C.M.P.I. (the ‘I’ referring to his title as imperator).” [See Crawford 374/1]: [insert photo]

See also, e.g., Crawford Vol. I at p. 287, explaining the significance of depictions of elephants to the Caecilii Metelli family, recalling the victory of L. Caecilius Metellus, Cos. 251, over Hasdrubal at Panormus in 250 BCE, and the capture of Hasdrubal’s elephants.

Rowan continues at pp. 45-46:

 “Scipio may have been using an ancestral type in keeping with Republican tradition. Nonetheless, the elephant was a topical motif, particularly since Casear's own elephant issue [Crawford 443/1] was very large, and so others may have interpreted the image within the competing claims of the civil war (particularly if they didn't have an intimate knowledge of Roman elite family symbols). Since the issue was struck in Africa, the image might also have been interpreted as a reference to the elephants of King Juba I, who supported Scipio against Caesar (Dio 43.3.5-4.1). Juba himself released coins with an elephant on the reverse (Fig. 2.24), and so any users of Scipio's currency in Africa may have seen the elephant as a local symbol rather than (or in addition to) a reference to the Roman general.

Metellus Scipio had a strong client base in Africa, assuring him local support. Literary sources mention prophecies that a Scipio could not be defeated in the region (Suetonius, Julius Caesar 59; Plutarch, Life of Julius Caesar 52.2, Dio 42.57.5.)  Pro-Caesarian literature attempted to blacken Scipio by suggesting that the commander and his supporters were deferring to Juba, going so far as to suggest that Scipio had promised the province of Africa to the king [citations omitted]. It is clear that we cannot take this tradition at face value, but Scipio's coinage does reveal that he actively sought and/or commemorated local support.”

In CRI, at pp. 24-25, David Sear takes a highly negative view of Metellus Scipio:

"The guiding spirit in the anti-Caesarian movement [in Africa after Pharsalus] was Marcus Porcius Cato, later known as Cato Uticensis, the great-grandson of the famous Cato the Censor. . . . The universal respect which Cato commanded amongst his contemporaries enabled him to arbitrate in the rivalries and disputes which arose between the military leaders of the Pompeian party. Probably the general who came closest to matching Caesar's genius as a strategist was Titus Labenius, formerly Caesar's legate in Gaul though subsequently an ardent supporter of Pompey and his cause. But Labenius was a man of relatively low birth, his family having originated from the Picenium region of Italy, and this counted against him in the aristocratic hierarchy of the Pompeian leadership. Merely because of this brilliant tactician's lack of an illustrious ancestry Cato foolishly insisted on passing him over and bestowing the overall command on Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio. Although certainly the possessor of an awe-inspiring name, and formerly the father-in-law of Pompey himself, this did not, unfortunately for his cause, compensate for his total unfitness to confront an opponent of the calibre of Caesar.  [List of other leaders of the Pompeian army in Africa -- as well as its "powerful, though unstable, ally, King Juba of Numidia, who, "if he could be counted on, added greatly to the manpower ranged against Caesar and could even contribute a large contingent of war-elephants" -- is omitted, as is Sear's detailed discussion of the Battle of Thapsus itself.]  [After the defeat,] [o]f the Pompeian leaders only Sextus Pompey, Labienus, and Varus survived to join Gnaeus Pompey in Spain. Scipio fled by ship but was overtaken by enemy forces and took his own life rather than surrender and become Caesar's prisoner." [See pp. 26-27 for discussion of suicides of Juba and Cato.]

Yours is a great coin. Really like it.

4 hours ago, Sulla80 said:

You and @Qcumbor are both posting some very nice coins from my early RR wishlist.

I'll add this worn beauty from Egypt that recalls the end of the Roman Republic. I have no plans to spend tens of thousands on a perfect bronze coin of Cleopatra VII. However, I do find this well-aged lump of Egyptian bronze quite satisfying. It was issued by Queen Cleopatra. Her title, ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ, is just readable on the reverse. Cleopatra was allied with Mark Antony, who was fighting Octavian for control of the republic.  Octavian used this alliance against Mark Antony.

More on Cleopatra here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/cleopatra-queen-of-egypt

@Qcumbor (Cuke) has a great Hercules RR Didrachm that is super. Between the two of us, we have most of the Series. They are all purdy scarce.

3 hours ago, JeandAcre said:

Yeah, allow me to second @DonnaML.  Terrific to see you back here, @Alegandron!!!

And your return may have been propitious, since I missed this post the first time.

@Väinämöinen, all I could say was,

'Oh. 

My. 

God....' 

This will be no surprise, but I couldn't have guessed in a lifetime that there were coins of Cicero.  Right, in a colonial post.  Isn't there a tradition of exile, of one sort or another, among major literary figures of the period?  And (edit:) the full (the <--edit: no, not there; I was too excited) legend, clear as you would ever need, In. Latin.  Despite the continuation of the original design.  This is all you could ask for.  As far as the forum in general is concerned, this summarily made my day, if not week.  Please receive my most profound congratulations on being the very evidently Worthy owner.

Thank you for the kind words. I will try to be around more. Miss yall. Some life changes over the past few months. But alles ist gut.

1 hour ago, Qcumbor said:

That one drives me crazy @Alegandron, it's so beautiful, and should really stand together with my two own heavy denarii !! 😄 

BTW, one of them reaches the OP requirements : it shows its age and I love it as it is

Roman republic, anonymous didrachm (heavy denarius) - Rome mint c. 240 BCE
No legend, Head of youthful Mars to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a griffin springing right
ROMA Head of a bridled horse to right. To left, sickle
6,33 gr - 19 mm - 6 h
Ref : Crawford # 25/1, RCV # 26, RBW # 38, RSC # 34, Sydenham # 24 Albert # 50

Q

Thank you very much.  And, Yours are GREAT!!

I really like these coins from that original AR series.  I have a few more:

This is the Quinarius / Drachm version of yours:

RR Anon Ca 240 BCE AR Heavy Quinarius Drachm 16mm 3.0g Rome Helmet Hd Mars r - Horse’s hd sickle Cr 25-2 Syd 25 RSC 34a VeryRare

RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius -  Didrachm 275-270 BCE ROMANO Apollo Left-Galloping Horse Sear23

RR 265-242 BCE AR Heavy Denarius -  Didrachm Roma-Victory Crawford 22-1 Sear 25 Eucharius R

RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius -Quadrigatus - Didrachm 225-215 BCE Incuse Roma Janus Jupiter Cr 28-3 S 31

RR Anon AR Heavy Quinarius Quadrigatus Drachm 216-214 BCE Janus ROMA Jupiter Victory Quadriga LEFT Cr  29-4 S 35

@Roman Collector

TRANQUILINA


RI Prv
Thrace, Deultum. 
Tranquillina. Augusta, 
CE 241-244. 
Æ 22mm 6.6 gm. 
Diademed and draped bust right / 
Hermes standing left, holding purse and caduceus. 
SNG Bulgaria 1504-8; Youroukova 400; Varbanov 2932

7 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

I have to say it's great to see you posting here again, @Alegandron! Welcome back.

Thank you. I appreciate that!

am trying to post here more. Going thru some life changes, but all is well.

Hope you are well, my Friend!

On 10/6/2023 at 9:14 PM, Sulla80 said:

An exciting find @Väinämöinen, congratulations on your wonderful coin!  Here's a quite common coin that seems appropriate for this thread, Cicero defended Gnaeus Plancius, named on this coin, against charges that he bribed his way to victory in his election to curule aedile.

https://www.sullacoins.com/post/pro-plancius

Roman Republican, Cn. Plancius, 55 BC, AR denarius (4.03g)

Obv: AED CVR S.C. CN PLANCIVS, head of Diana right, wearing causia, earring, and necklace

Rev: Cretan goat standing right; bow and quiver behind

Ref: Crawford 432/1; Sydenham 933; Plancia 1

 

Thank you for that tidbit @Sulla80

Roman Republic Cn Plancius 55 BCE Macedonia causia Cretan Goat quiver Sear 396 Craw 432-1

mine appears heavily worn from all the bribing hands that it passed through…

🙂

Roman Republic
Minicuis Thermus 103 BCE 
AR Denarius
Mars beardless looking left
2 Warriors fighting over fallen warrior
Sear 197 Cr 319-1

Great capture @Amarmur.

Here is his buddy…

RR 
GAIUS CASSIUS LONGINUS & PUBLIUS CORNELIUS LENTULUS SPINTHER 
AR silver denarius. 
Struck circa 42 BC, at a mobile military mint moving with Brutus & Cassius, probably located in Smyrna. 
C CASSI IMP LEIBERTAS, veiled & draped bust of Libertas right. 
Reverse - LENTVLVS SPINT, jug & lituus. 18mm, 3.3g.
Craw 500-5

RR 234-231 BCE AR Heavy Denarius - Didrachm Apollo-Horse prancing Crawford 26-1 Sear 28 R

RR Anon AR denarius Roma 211-206 BCE ROMA incus Dioscuri single horn-helmet Sear-- Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE R

5-Asses: (Similar to a Roman AR Quinarius)

ETRURIA, POPULONIA.
Etruria Populonia
AR 5 Asses 2.0g
3rd C BCE
Obv: Young Head L, V (denomination) behind
Rev: blank
HN 173 Vecchi Rasna III 52 ex NAC 29 No 9 R

I have 3. None in pics. Some of my favorite coins.

same with my Confederate Cent Restrikes.

and of course my Civil War token collection. Sold most of them 35 years ago… but a fun collection!