Harry G

This one was for:

"A metal detectorist unearthing a large hoard of ancient Roman gold aurei coins"

I'm not entirely sure why he's still digging, given that there are already lots of very visible coins!

Hi all!

I just thought I'd share a recent purchase I made - a copy of MIR (or, more formally, "Die Münzprägung der Kaiser Valerianus I./Gallienus/Saloninus (253/268), Regalianus (260) und Macrianus/Quietus (260/262)")

While browsing the plate book, I found an interesting coin! It looks like my "TIA AVG TIA AVG" error coin of Gallienus is the plate coin in MIR!

(apologies for the glare in the picture)

It appears a plaster cast of this coin was sent in to MIR, rather than the coin itself. So far, this is my one and only plate coin!

Incidentally, here's the listing in MIR:

If anyone knows anything about the collection of "Knudsen, Hamburg", please do let me know 😄

Show me some of your books and plate coins!

4 hours ago, Heliodromus said:

😀

Except I somehow doubt the amount they're paying would require a very big bag.

 

To be honest, I do wonder what their rates are (they say it's paid "per coin")

1 hour ago, Heliodromus said:

This seems like a job that is screaming to be automated. With modern image recognition and a large dataset to learn from, I'd have to guess that 99% of the stuff being sold by auction houses (typically higher quality coins where attribution isn't made difficult by lack of detail) could easily be identified.

 

Step 1: Apply for job

Step 2: Get job

Step 3: Train an AI to recognise each coin ruler, type, reference number, pedigree, and write a little paragraph about each coin

Step 4: Apply it to all coins you've been sent to identify

Step 5: Buy a big bag to put all the money in

Here are a few of mine!

Imitating Victorinus/Sol

Imitating Tetricus II bust left holding spear. I found a die match at auction, and will try and find the link

Victorinus imitating INVICTVS (looks more like INVAPAS). Brassy

Tetricus I, CONSECRATIO reverse. Nearly looks official

Tetricus II "As Cesar". I'm impressed the engraver knew enough Latin to understand "CAES" was short for "CAESAR". Shame he couldn't spell...

Tetricus II, SPES AVGG reverse. Possibly as Augustus (looks like C PIV ESV TETRICVS AIVS). Decent style but definitely barbarous

Hi all!

I was just wondering if anybody has a copy of The Medallic History of Marcus Aurelius Valerius Carausius, Emperor in Britain by Stukeley that they'd be willing to send a picture of a plate XXIX, or know where I can access one? I've tried looking for it on Google Scholar, but no success. It was published in 1757, so I'm guessing it's quite uncommon

The coin in question is my unusual wolf & twins antoninianus of Carausius, with an unusual mintmark in the exergue, which I now believe to be a CLA. I managed to find the coin referenced in RIC, with Stukeley, XXIX (2) referenced at the side

And here's the reference in RIC

If anyone has the reference, or knows where to find it, I'd be very grateful!

Thanks!

Seeing as I now own a miliarense, here it is!

DN VALENS P F AVG - Diademed, shoulder-draped cuirassed bust of Valens

VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / RP - Victoria standing left, foot placed on a globe, inscribing VOT / V / MVLT / X on a round shield supported by column

Nice coins!

Can I plug mine?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/mg9903

Here are some of mine! I'm still after a Zenobia, and need to take some pics of my Aurelian/Vabalathus types

Aurelian/Vabalathus serrated antoninianus. Possibly used as a gaming piece?

Vabalathus - AETERNITAS AVG. Sole reign

Vabalathus - VENVS AVG. Sole reign

6. Carausius - ADVENTVS AVG (?) - RSR

IMP CARAVSIVS P AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust r.

ADVENTVS AVG / RSR - Emperor on horseback left, raising right hand and holding sceptre

Horrible condition, but an otherwise very rare coin. It uses the RSR mintmark, which I believe translates as "Redeunt Saturnia Regna" (or "The Saturnian Kingdom Returns")

7. Vabalathus - VENVS AVG

IM C VHABALATHVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.

VENVS AVG - Venus standing left, holding helmet and transverse spear; star to left, shield behind.

I already own a sole reign ant of Vabalathus, but this was very cheap in a group lot at auction, and I couldn't resist lol

8. Titus by Trajan Decius - CONSECRATIO

DIVO TITO - Radiate head right

CONSECRATIO - Flaming altar

A nice coin from Trajan Decius' commemorative series that I got in a trade. It's an upgrade on my abysmal one of Antoninus Pius

9. Gallienus - AETERNITAS AVG, A under bust

GALLIENVS AVG / A - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right

AETERNITAS AVG / PXV - Saturn standing right, holding scythe

I saw this in a small lot on eBay and had to buy it. It uses the officina mark "A" underneath the bust on the obverse.

10. Valens - VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM - Miliarense

DN VALENS P F AVG - Diademed, shoulder-draped cuirassed bust of Valens

VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / RP - Victoria standing left, foot placed on a globe, inscribing VOT / V / MVLT / X on a round shield supported by column

I never thought I'd own a miliarense, but this was relatively cheap on eBay due to the damage, but is still the most amount of money I've spent on a single coin so far. Apparently only one other exists with RP in the exergue.

I don't collect miliarenses, and would like to buy more, but unfortunately...

Hi all!

Here are my top ten coins of 2022!

This year, I haven't actually added that many coins to my collection, as I've been expanding the number of coins in my eBay store (I had ~200 this time last year, but now I have ~650 currently listed, peaking at 750 listed), and have experimented with consigning coins to auctions. The goal of this is to (hopefully) pay for at least some of my university tuition fees, so unfortunately, I haven't bought a huge amount for me. With that said, I picked up a few rarities that I have been hoping to own for a while.

1. Victorinus - COMES AVG

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

COMES AVG - Victory standing left holding wreath and palm

This is one of the scarcer coins struck under Victorinus, and part of a lot that I bought at auction. Also in the lot was this coin

2. Victorinus - INVICTVS, Leaf Heiroglyph

IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right

INVICTVS - Sol advancing left holding whip, his right hand raised, leaf in right field

Unfortunately, the mark in the right field has damage, but it is clearly the "leaf hieroglyph" type.

3. Gallienus - SALVS AVG, SPQR

GALLIENVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, •• below bust

SALVS AVG / SPQR - Salus standing right, feeding serpent in arms

It's one of the commonest coins of the SPQR series, but in OK condition, and with nice silvering

4. Gallienus - TIA AVG TIA AVG - Error

GALLIENVS AVG - Radiate head right

TIA AVG TIA AVG - Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor

A very interesting double struck antoninianus of Gallienus, where the reverse die (LAETITIA AVG) has been flipped before striking for the second time (although the obverse has been struck with the same orientation both times?). The reverse reminds me of the style of a playing card (looks the same both sides)

5. Tetricus II - SPES AVGG - Bust left

C PIV ESV TERTICVS CAES - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust left

SPES AVG - Spes walking left, lifting skirt and holding flower

A scarcer antoninianus of Tetricus II that I've wanted for some time. The obverse is a little weakly struck, but is in otherwise OK condition. This came from the same collection (but different auction) as the Victorinus ants.

The double antoninianus does exist, in "regular size" issues of Tactitus, and also in rare joint issues.

One of my biggest regrets in coin collecting is not buying this double antoninianus of Carus/Carinus on eBay when it came up for sale 4 years ago. It sold for around £40 I believe

It's broken, but I wish I'd bought it, as it's a type I'm unlikely to see come up for sale at a reasonable price again.

Probably this horrible (but interesting) serrated antoninianus of Vabalathus/Aurelian

Does anyone know if Verdicare is for sale anywhere in the UK? I have several coins with (suspected) BD that look like they might need treating

Excellent coins! That "Karus" is super nice

I think that Claudius II ant in the bottom left used to be mine lol - I sold it very early this year!

Looking at my Biddr history, I've bought from them 4 times before, and they've always shipped what was advertised promptly

1 hour ago, Amarmur said:

This probus? 90% sure its fake

It looks ok to me - I don't see any glaring issues with it. Why do you think it's fake?

On 11/26/2022 at 5:18 PM, Steppenfool said:

eBay UK is full of random low grade fakes now, I'd say about 2/3 of listings fall into this category. Thankfully they do have a distinctive appearance and are blatantly cast. I mainly buy exclusively from trusted sellers now. Otherwise the coin needs to pass my eye test and be a great deal on top of that.

I know! It's really annoying, and clogging up my feed when I look for new coins.

It's also slightly depressing that they often sell for more than my similar grade (but genuine) coins...

Surprisingly, the coins did arrive today! (The day after posting), and it is indeed (mostly) the lots I ordered from Numismad. It looks like they mixed up one of the small groups I bought (I paid 26EUR for a lot of antoninianii and got a 70EUR lot of Byzantine folles!) Will reach out to them and see what they want to do

1 hour ago, zadie said:

Woah! That is interesting and probably only highlights the suspected link between the two. Numismad and Bucephalus accidentally listed the same coin a few weeks back, prompting biddr to get involved. I'm fairly certain at this point that they're owned and operated by the same people

Ah yes, I forgot about that (I think I was the one that originally posted it here lol).

Interestingly, the package seems to be coming from Belgium (where Bucephalus is located), rather than Poland (where Numismad supposedly is).

I can't say for certain this package is from Numismad, though, although it seems logical given that I'm not expecting anything else! The estimated delivery date is tomorrow, but that seems unlikely given that it's still in Belgium!

Will update this post if it is the coins from Numismad.

Just got a tracking number!

... from Bucephalus? Apparently.

I haven't ordered anything from them before, so I can only assume that the package is from Numismad

On 11/30/2022 at 10:28 PM, AncientOne said:

I won nine coins. My package is in customs and will probably be there for a couple of weeks. 

Was yours sent tracked? There wasn't an option for me to send mine tracked

Still haven't heard anything - they haven't responded to my emails.

I'm a bit concerned as I paid through Wise, which doesn't offer buyer protection

Just chipping in as a complete non-expert in all this.

With absolutely no evidence whatsoever, I would guess that if the coins are genuine "ancient" coins, then Sponsianus was probably a rich citizen in a remote part of the empire, that for whatever reason, decided to proclaim himself as emperor. He struck a couple of high weight issues with his name, with a reverse of a republic denarius that he liked the look of, and gave them out as bribes or gifts to friends and officials (i.e. they're not coins - rather presentation pieces). He was probably murdered before he could continue his "reign".

Like I said, just a guess, with no evidence to back this up. 

Hi all

Did anyone else buy anything from Numismad auction 5? It was on the 12th November, and I'm a bit concerned they haven't marked my coins as dispatched yet, and was wondering if they normally take a while to post.

I sent Numismad an email on the 19th, and they replied quickly saying that it would be posted that week (but it hasn't).

Any thoughts?

Many thanks!

I made a couple, but I now realize that my phone autocorrected to"Sposianus" rather than "Sponsianus"!

I still wouldn't mind having one though