Harry G

That is a very interesting coin! The lines are a bit blurry when it comes to barbarous / official issues of Carausius, and this looks like it is a bit of both. The legend is blundered, and the style is quite crude, but it looks like it's made of silver, which barbarous issues typically aren't. Perhaps it was overstruck on an earlier denarius to make sure it has good silver quality?

I don't own any Carausius denarii (unfortunately), but here are a few of my "barbarous" antoninianii of Carausius.

IM[P CARA]VSIVS P F AVG / Radiate bust of Carausius facing right

[PTO(?)]IIIIC, σ+∩ in exergue / Wolf facing right, suckling Romulus and Remus

IMP CARAVSIVS [AVG] / Radiate bust of Carausius facing right

PA[X A]VG / Pax (?) standing, facing left, holding spear and shield.

Thank you! After using that in my searches, I found a match!

Louis XII Douzain Au Porc-épic De Bretagne, 2e Type N.d. Nantes

Hi all!

This coin came to me recently as part of a group lot, and I've been trying to research it, but have had no luck.

I can read: "[...]VX ↑ LVDOV (or LVBOV?) [...]" on the obverse, and "[...] M:N:↑:SITRO[...]" on the reverse, so I'm guessing it's of one of the Louis. The closest match I can find is this Grand Blanc of Francois I from Nantes & Rennes:

although mine has something below the shield on the obverse (a griffin?)

My coin weighs 2.02g and has a diameter of 25mm.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for the info, everyone! It's great to hear it's probably genuine. Looking at it closer, I think it was definitely in a mount (so the edges are filed in places), and there are spots of darker metal around the edge of the coin, which I'm guessing is probably solder.

On 5/28/2024 at 2:22 PM, JayAg47 said:

Also, you have the test cut perfectly placed like a giant earing, doesn't take away anything from the eye appeal! 

When I was looking at the auction photos after I bought the lot, I saw the "earring" and was trying to find other owls with something similar lol. It was only when I received the coin I realised it wasn't!

On 5/28/2024 at 2:55 PM, kevikens said:

If the price had been right I think I might have bought it. I can't see any problems with it and the weight is correct.  if you ever send it out please tell us what the results were when it came back.

The whole group was only £50, so I think it was a good deal! I don't plan on grading it, as the edge is damaged and I doubt it would receive a straight grade.

On 5/28/2024 at 7:07 PM, robinjojo said:

That owl looks okay to me.  That's a test cut on the edge and a test punch on the obverse. The reverse is quite nice.

Also, the owl might be a pharaonic owl.  There's some debate about this type, with the "droopy" frontal eye.  Some experts say this type was produced in Athens, while others contend that Athenian dies were exported to Egypt.  This contention is supported by the discovery of Athenian owl dies in Memphis, dating to the late 5th to early 4th century BC.  

That's fascinating - yes, it definitely looks like the eye is angled a bit lower. I'll research that die discovery!

Hi everyone!

I recently bought this coin as part of a large lot of mostly modern coins at auction. The pictures were quite blurry, but I've now received the coin and have taken better pictures of it.

The edge of the coin is concerning me. It appears to have been filed down at several points, which could mean that either it's been cast with the edge filed down to hide the casting seam, or that it's ex jewellery, and has been filed to fit in a mount.

There are also some prominent deposits on the reverse, and a drilled "dent" on the obverse (to check if it is silver?). It is also quite yellow, which could just be tarnish.

It weighs 16.95g and has a diameter of 24mm

It was very cheap, so it's not a huge loss if it's fake - the rest of the coins in the lot should pay for it!

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Hi all!

I managed to save all Roma's historical articles on The Wayback Machine, and I've also made a quick website with all the links to all the articles they wrote.

https://roma-archive-unofficial.weebly.com/

Hopefully it'll be useful if/when their website shuts down!

Fantastic coins! That portrait is superb.

I don't have any particularly fancy busts of Gallienus, other than my "VICT GAL AVG" type.

Gallienus Antoninianus (Rome):

Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right, wearing lion's skin headdress (two ribbons)

Reverse: VICT GAL AVG, Three Victories standing facing, heads left, each holding wreath and palm branch, V in exergue.

It has quite rough surfaces, but is nicer in hand.

Here are a few of mine!

I also have a Carausius antoninianus, but this one has been struck over an antoninianus of Victorinus (his nose is pointing towards 4-o-clock in my picture).

I also have this unusual antoninianus of Maximianus, which appears to have been overstruck on a coin with "SEV" on the obverse, and something I can't make out on the reverse. If anyone has any ideas please let me know! 

That's a big shame - I've spent far too much money with them, and consigned quite a bit as well!

I can't seem to use my points on a purchase from their shop unfortunately. It just managed to add an item to my cart and now I can't seem to remove it!

Also, I had some lots go unsold in their last auction. Hopefully they... uhh... send them back to me...

This is probably the worst case of "bad seller photos, nice coin" that I've experienced:

eBay seller's pics:

Auction pics from when I sold it:

4 hours ago, seth77 said:

Tell you what it looks like to me:

- the last two coins 'Smyrna phase 2' Temp 847 and the 1st issue Cyzicus are both Cyzicus issues

- the type 847 in general is Smyrna, but on the coin you posted (FAC coin) the obverse is Cyzicus to my eyes, early SPQR series early 269 rather than Smyrna

- the reverse die on the other hand is possibly Smyrna

- which would make perfect sense if the operation moved from Smyrna to Cyzicus, such 'continuation' of older dies is to be expected

- I don't think the two are obverse die-matches, if you check out the imaginary line from the tip of Claudius nose to the legend on the obverse on the SPQR coin the line would end mid S of CLAVDIVS while on the no mark coin just after the S, but they are certainly very close

- a die sharing between SPQR and no mark would probably suggest what you mentioned above, the SPQR operation moved to Cyzicus while the no marking operation was undergoing there, so the 1st emission of Cyzicus could in theory be contemporary with the last SPQR coins struck at Smyrna, the physical moving of the operation, cutters paraphernalia, including used dies, and the first coins struck with SPQR at Cyzicus probably late winter-early spring 269

All in all that FAC coin is really interesting.

Interesting coins! I think I actually own a double die match to that VENVS AVG example, and (hopefully) have some pictures of it that are better than RIC:

And here's my FORTVNA AVG (no mintmark) example, with a more Smyrna-y looking bust.

As for the last 2 coins, I would tentatively say they share an obverse die - the crown spikes seem to point to the same parts of each letter, and the D and I of CLAVDIVS are pretty close together on both coins.

I saw those coins - luckily they don't seem to be selling for much. I wish eBay would ban those sellers, but they just seem to turn a blind eye to it.

I actually own a couple of those types of fake - both are die matches to the coins you've posted.

Probus - ADVENTVS AVG. Bought from a small lot sold by a reputable London dealer several years ago thinking it was genuine.

Constantine II - CONCORDIA AVGG. I knew it was fake before I bought it, but the die pairing is so ridiculous I had to buy it.

8 minutes ago, CPK said:

Nice coins. I like the Divus Commodus, and the depiction of Anubis on the last coin.

The photos are great too - do you take them yourself?

 

 

I do! I use a Canon EOS 250D with 105mm Sigma macro lens with the coins on a plain white background. I then remove that background using Adobe Express (which doesn't compress the image like most online background removal tools).

1 hour ago, Qcumbor said:

Great selection.

What makes you think the Gallienus zoo (#5) is from Siscia rather than Rome (I honestly don't see the exergue) ?

Q

The busts of Gallienus from Siscia are generally quite distinctive (with a long neck and big nose), and I believe there was an obverse die match to a specimen from the Reihardt collection, which also has similar silvering (but with a doe on the reverse instead):

I can't say for certain what is in the exergue, but it looks like something definitely was there at some point, and as almost all other Siscia zoo series coins have "SI", so I think it's probably that.

Here's the MIR coin, which has a centaur facing right.

Hi all!

Here is my (2 months late) top 10 list of coins from 2023! I haven't managed to buy too many coins (as I've been very busy studying), but these are my 10 favourites! (Plus an extra one that I bought a few weeks ago...)

So, here goes:

10. Claudius II Gothicus - Unpublished & Unusual

IMP CLAVDIVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust r.

IOVI STATORI - Jupiter standing, facing right, holding thunderbolt and sceptre.

At first glance, this appears to be a very normal antoninianus of Claudius II. However, the mintmark "XXIZ" wasn't used as a mark on antoninianii until Aurelian's reign! Probably barbarous, but still an interesting piece.

9. Postumus - Diana and her Stag

IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust r.

DIANAE REDVCI - Diana walking left, leading stag.

In pretty poor condition, but an iconic type nevertheless. A bargain find on eBay.

8. Aurelian - SERD(ica)

IMP C D AVRELIANVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust r.

CONSERVATOR AVG  - Asclepius standing facing, head left, leaning on serpent-entwined staff, SERD in the exergue

I've been after an example with this mintmark for a while, and this one has decent detail. I find it interesting how Serdica used such a different mintmark to all the other mints under Aurelian.

7. Commodus - by Trajan Decius

DIVO COMMODO  - Radiate head r.

CONSECRATIO - Flaming altar

Somewhat crystalized, but with otherwise good detail. This brings my total number of DIVI coins by Trajan Decius up to 3.

6. Aurelian & Vabalathus

VABALATHVS VCRIMDR - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Vabalathus r.

IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Aurelian r.

I already have several of these, but none with this much silvering! An unusually well struck example of this type.

5. Gallienus - Not a Normal Zoo Coin...

GALLIENVS AVG - Radiate head r.

APOLLINI CONS AVG - Centaur standing holding branch, facing left, SI in exergue.

An extremely rare zoo series antoninianus of Gallienus from Siscia (not Rome) mint. I think I've found an obverse die match, but the reverse is apparently unique.

4. Julia Domna

IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG - Diademed, draped bust r. on crescent.

VENVS GENETRIX - Venus seated left, extending right hand and holding sceptre.

A relatively common coin, but in good shape for the issue. I keep meaning to get coins of the earlier empresses.

3. Claudius II Gothicus - A Silvered Smyrna Issue

IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust r.

SALVS AVG - Salus standing right, holding serpent, SPQR in exergue.

An unusually well struck example of a Smyrna mint coin, with some nice obverse silvering. I keep trying to get more Smyrna coins, but they're pretty hard to come by.

2. Claudius II Gothicus - a Smyrna Issue with Even More Silvering

IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust r.

AEQVITAS AVG - Aequitas standing left, holding scales and caduceus, SPQR in exergue.

An fully silvered example of a Smyrna mint coin, also with a slightly scarcer reverse.

1. Laelianus - my Final Gallic Emperor

IMP C LAELIANVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust r.

VICTORIA AVG - Victory advancing right holding wreath.

A nicely detailed example of this very rare usurper, which completes my set of Gallic emperors (apart from Domitianus of course). Still my biggest single-coin purchase so far!

Bonus: The Festival of Isis and Anubis

DEO SERAPIDI - Draped bust of Serapis r., left arm outstretched.

VOTA PVBLICA - Anubis standing l. with sistrum and caduceus.

A very charismatic coin, struck during the reign of Julian II to commemorate the Festival of Isis, which heralded the arrival of the "Ship of Isis" at Alexandria. This coin has Anubis - an Egyptian God - on the reverse, and is possibly unpublished (or maybe unique) with this obverse. This isn't a coin I would normally collect, but I think it's an incredibly cool piece, so I'm going to keep it.

I had this issue a while ago (I'm not sure which auction house, but it was a Biddr one). I ended up creating a foreign currency account with my primary bank, which I use for all payments in Euros now.

Nice coin, despite the damage! Vabalathus is a tough one to get.

Here are both of mine:

AETERNITAS AVG

VENVS AVG

Just found an obverse die match in my daily scroll through eBay.

It's listed as a "Metal Detecting Find", which all the seller's other items apparently are too. I doubt this.

Welp, I guess I would then own around 10,000,000 18th & 19th century tokens.

My most recent buy was this lot of around 200 19th century tokens, along with some other miscellaneous coins.

This was the only "good" photo that the auctioneer had, but I saw that there were some tokens on the top and thought I'd give it a shot. I bought it for ~£150, as I wanted to have a bunch of stuff to dig through and research.

Amazingly, there were some good tokens inside, and they weren't completely worn flat!

Here are the best 3:

Ireland 1760 VOCE POPULI (C over O) halfpenny

Edward VI 1549 shilling - the first dated English hammered silver coin

1649 Elephant "LONDON GOD PRESERVE" colonial token. This will be my first ever attempt at grading a coin!

If I had 50,000 of each of these, It would almost completely crash the market for each of the tokens, and I'd probably be left with around 100 tons of the other tokens!

I look forward to seeing your write up of the coin!

I've used Wise in the past; their fees are quite small, and payment is pretty quick

17 minutes ago, SimonW said:

Looks like I just wasted £3000 plus juice on a fake/tooled coin... or did I? 🙂

I agree with David and everyone else here in that the reverse looks off, especially compared to the usual ship types with either Domitian or Ceres on the obverse (both extremely rare). The obverse's connection to a denarius makes it even more curious.

BUT, here is why I bought it anyway:

1. Cross-denomination die-links are rare, but they do exist for the Flavian period.
2. The 1/2 century roman AE fractions are a bit of a mystery to this day. There's an unusually high number of gilded pieces (more than for any other denomination, relatively speaking), there are a number of AE denarius off-strikes, mules, and many other fun things.
3. Despite the "special" ship style, I don't see any obvious traces of tooling. The surfaces look smoothed, but otherwise not tooled. At my request, Naville examined the coin closely a second time, and they are certain that there is no tooling.
4. According to Naville, the "Mentor collection" refers to "the director of an auction house in London from '60 to '90".

If the coin is authentic and untooled, it is unique. If it's not (which I will hopefully find out once I have it in hand), I will return it and have no doubt that Naville will accept the return.

That makes sense - there's not much risk; if it turns out to be fake, Naville will surely refund you.

Good luck!

Here are some of mine! None are in particularly good condition, but I've managed to get a good variety of reverses.

MONETA AVG

PAX AVG

PIETAS AVG

PROVIDENTIA AVG

SPES PVBLICA

VIRTVS AVG

This could very well be the first genuine antoninianus of Pacatian ever sold on eBay. Great score! Definitely one of my grails.

32 minutes ago, JayAg47 said:

According to myth, the giants, including Enceladus, rebelled against the gods, seeking to overthrow them and take control of Mount Olympus. The gods, led by Zeus, engaged in a fierce battle against the giants. In which, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, played a significant role in the conflict. During the battle, Athena faced off against Enceladus, ultimately defeating the giant by burying him under the island of Sicily. People believed he was the cause of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

From Virgil:

Enceladus, his body lightning-scarred,
lies prisoned under all, so runs the tale:
o'er him gigantic Aetna breathes in fire
from crack and seam; and if he haply turn
to change his wearied side, Trinacria's isle
trembles and moans, and thick fumes mantle heaven.

Valerian I
Seleucia ad Calycadnum 
Obv.    laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian, ΑVΚ ΠΟ ΛΙΚ ΟΥΑΛƐΡΙΑΝΟϹ
Rev.    Athena Promachos l. spearing at anguiped Enceladus who raises hands in resistance- ϹƐΛΕΥΚƐΩΝ ΤΩΝ Π[ ]ΚΛΥ(?)
253-260 AD
6.3 g
SNG 1059

Luckily the chipping didn't take-away anything from the main elements and also left the bust of Valerian intact! Just for perspective, if Enceladus was supposed to be a giant, then how big Athena would've been as represented in the coin?!

I actually bought this as an unattributed coin on ebay, I assume its from @Harry G's shop, correct me if wrong (great dealer by the way). I bought it simply for the reverse showing a guy having tentacles for legs. Further research on provincial coins and topics on CT showed the coin actually depicts the battle scene of Athena spearing the Anguiped giant (serpent-legged) Enceladus. 

And I actually found a die match!

 

Please share your Greek giants! 

Yes, I was the seller! 

Great write up - that's some fascinating mythology. I'm glad you like the coin!

Here are mine!

Laelianus - VICTORIA AVG

Bought on eBay. The most I've ever spent on a single coin lol

Marius - VICTORIA AVG