Theoderic

The most hurtful loss and "open wound" in my collection is an aureus of Matidia that I won at Oslo Myntgalleri's Auction 28 in May 2022.  A rarity in any condition, it had an impressive provenance of 100+ years and in my opinion was an absolutely beauty.  I also think I got it at a great price!  What could go wrong?

Well, on its way to me from Norway it disappeared after arriving at the Fedex hub in Memphis TN.

The folks at Oslo Myntgalleri were very cooperative and did their best to follow up with Fedex to investigate and track it down.  However, it was all for naught and after a couple months of fruitless searching I was refunded the money for the purchase.

Although I didn't lose a dollar, I was heart-broken at the loss.  The only aureus I own is a Forum issue of Trajan and I viewed this coin of his favorite niece as an appropriate companion that would have been the centerpiece of my collection.  I always wonder where it is now.  

Matidia, Augusta, AD 112-119, AV aureus, 7.01 grams, struck under Trajan AD 112-117, Rome mint

Obverse:  MATIDIA AVG DIVAE MARCIANAE F, Draped bust of Matidia right, wearing stephane

Reverse:  PIETAS AVGVST, Matidia as Pietas, standing facing with head to left, placing hands on the heads of Sabina and Matidia the Younger

Reference:  RIC II 759 (Trajan);  Calico 1157a

Provenance:   NAC 34 (24-Nov-2006) lot 158; Aufhaeuser 17 (2003) lot 293; M&M XIX (1959) lot 211; Egger XXXIX (1912) lot 911 

Anytime I see the word dodecahedron (and how seldom is that?) I always think of the old Simpsons episode where Lisa is trying to teach little sister Maggie her first word:

What about Georges Depeyrot's "Le Numeraire Merovingien L'Age de L'Or" published in 1998?  It's only 199 pages with 8 plates (black & white, not color) but it seems to be the most recent overview and is usually cited in auction listings alongside Prou and Belfort.  I can't read a word of French though, so I never bought it or any of the additional 4 volumes covering the silver deniers.  If any of our French readers have an opinion on Depeyrot's work I would appreciate their comments.  Perhaps it is worth slogging through it with Google Translate? 

I would say the first with its uniform patina and problem free surfaces.  Regarding the second one, I haven't had much experience in treating BD but I understand from others who've posted on how to do it that the treatment may affect the patina.  I also wonder if someone has already polished or rubbed areas of the second piece - it seems too perfect that the smoke clouds contrast so well with the surrounding areas.  

Thanks for posting this Donna.  I used to work in Manhattan and would regularly bring my daughter in to see exhibits of interest at the Met - the magnificent re-opening of the Greco-Roman galleries in 2007 being a particular highlight - but I rarely have opportunity or desire to head into the city these days so I appreciate this review of a new show that I wasn't aware of.  I just might have to drag that daughter of mine on to the train to see this.  I especially like the reverse photo of the medallion and coin pectoral because I've been seeing only the front of that piece in their display case for years!   

It was the Rowdy Roddy Piper line from the cult classic movie "They Live" that brought me here; it was the coins of Julian that made me stay.

Here is my one coin of his:

AE1 (29 mm, 9.78 grams, 6h), Sirmium mint (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia), 2^nd officina

Obverse:  D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: SECURITAS REI PVB, bull standing right, two stars above; BSIRM (wreath) in exergue

Reference: RIC VIII 105

Auction: Elsen 64 (December 2, 2002), lot 636

50 minutes ago, Edessa said:

Edessa,  thank you so much - I really appreciate it.

Comparing both sets of images I think they may indeed be a die match but difficult to tell since mine's not in as good as condition.  Besides the example from the British Museum, which is from different dies, I haven't been able to find online photos of any other RIC 1 aureus.  

If anyone has a copy of Calico's "The Roman Aurei" and could post a screenshot of the entry and image for 2449 I would be most grateful.  I recently won this holed but rather rare aureus of Septimius Severus that supposedly is a die match to the example cited in Calico so I'd like to double-check it.  RIC 1 (denarius), BMC 5.

Thank you!

12 hours ago, akeady said:

This arrived during the week.

Ruler:	Caracalla (Augustus)
Coin:	Gold Aureus ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT - Head of Caracalla, laureate, right P M TR P XV COS III P P IOV VIC - Jupiter, nude to waist, seated left, holding Victory in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand; at feet, left, eagle
Mint:	Rome (212 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis:	7.46g / 20mm / 6h
References:	RIC 200
Acquisition:	Naville Numismatics Online auction NN Live 80 #644 2-Apr-2023

Congrats on this aureus acquisition as I was one of the unsuccessful bidders on it.  I did just win the similarly holed Septimius Severus aureus from their auction last week but haven't received it yet.

I'm intrigued by the double piercing which is somewhat typical of Roman aurei found in India.  If one could only know the story of these well travelled coins!

Yes!  We constantly hear in these collectors' forums how coins of Gordian III are so common even in excellent condition that they are almost worthless.  I am a picky (= condition snob) collector and I'm afraid that this mindset has virtually paralyzed me in pulling the trigger on a Gordian III purchase.  I've seen so many beautiful examples at auction but if it has even the slightest imperfection, real or imagined, I think to myself "I'll pass on this one; I can 'always' find better".  Well I've been collecting Roman Imperials since 1994 but I still don't have a single Gordian III in my collection.  As Hans and Franz said, "Hear me now; believe me later!" - if you see a Gordian III that speaks to you just get it!     

Lovely siliquae from everyone.  For a long time I've being looking to obtain a nice example with a hoard provenance such as East Harptree but still no luck.  However, I am fortunate to have a rather handsome early and heavy siliqua of Constantius II:

AR Siliqua (20 mm, 3.09 grams, 12h), Struck A.D. 340-350, Siscia mint (Sisak, Croatia)

Obverse: CONSTANTI-VS P F AVG, laurel and rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and trophy; SIS (pellet in crescent) in exergue

Reference: RIC VIII 170

Provenance: Helios 3 (April 29-30, 2009), lot 268; ex Triton XI (January 8-9, 2008), lot 1002

Great piece Victrix.  A fragment of Roman armor is indeed a rarity and a distinct lobate hinge like yours just seems to have personality of its own. 

I have to admit that as an easily impressionable boy it was their very cool armor and helmets that sparked my interest in all things Roman.  Now as a boring adult I content myself with a copy of Bishop and Coulston's "Roman Military Equipment" 2nd edition.  It's a scholarly read for sure, but I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Roman army, its soldiers' gear and how it was used.  

Very nice dynastic issue - all 3 portraits are well done.

Here is my one Vitellius...

AR Denarius (19 mm, 2.93 grams, 6h), Struck late April – 20 December A.D. 69, Rome mint

Obverse:  A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P, bare head right

Reverse: Victory seated left, holding patera and palm frond

References: RIC I 88 variety (bust type); BMCRE I 19 

Auction: Kölner Münzkabinett 117 (October 28, 2022), lot 400

Provenance: Ex Münz Zentrum Rheinland 164 (January 9, 2013), lot 378

tomtjup,

Adding to what the others have written, this type seems to be attributed to the Merovingian mint at Orleans.  You can find several examples online but here is a similar one that was sold by CNG in 2017.

MEROVINGIANS, Orléans. Circa 620-640. AV Tremissis (11mm, 1.30 g, 12h). Angiulfus, moneyer. Diademed head right / Cross ancrée. NM 11; Belfort 535; cf. MEC 1, 461-2.

Excellent find!

On 10/12/2022 at 10:50 PM, panzerman said:

I have a ton of world AV coinage/ I will begin with one that you rarely ever see in auctions/

Imperial Russia

AV Dukat ND   3.26g.   22mm.    .986       

St. Petersburg Mint

Ivan V Alexievich/ Potr I Alexievich/ Sophia Alekseyvna 1682-89

Translated obverse states: "By the Grace of God/ the ruling Lords/ Czars and Princes/ Ivan Alexievich and Potr Alexievich"

Reverse states: "And their Sister the Regent Czarina Sophia Alekseyevna of Greater and Lesser Russia"

Fantastic coin.  I like that it really shows the Byzantine influence on Russian coinage.  The designs within the beaded borders, the obverse 3/4 bust with scepter and the reverse with the facing relatives, directly recall solidi from 1200 to 1000 years earlier. 

I have many random and circulated QEII world coins from travel but below is one of my favorites - a 1965 crown with two great Brits, the Queen and Churchill.  Purchased as a youth vacationing with my family in Bermuda back in 1983.  I remember the owner of the stamp & coin shop there in Hamilton offering me either this coin or a Charles & Diana wedding commemorative coin.  I never regretted the choice.  RIP to a wonderful woman who was the epitome of class and perhaps the best ambassador that her nation ever had. 

11 hours ago, DonnaML said:

Interesting. I've never bought from NAC to the best of my recollection. Are they known as extremely high end? Because Shanna Schmidt (HJB's daughter, I believe) certainly is -- I don't know if I've ever seen a coin of hers offered for much less than $1,000!

I haven't dealt with Shanna myself but as for NAC, yes, they are very high end.  However, their related firm of Naville in London handles mid-grade coins and they're included in the comments about being able to make auction consignments to and receive won lots from the new USA location.  Hopefully that makes it easier and cheaper to deal with them directly in USD.

For those of us in the USA who are customers of NAC, this is interesting news from them...

On 6/10/2022 at 1:46 PM, DonnaML said:

Here is Cayon's response to my latest email about the fact that my package from the Feb. auction, sent in mid-April, has still not arrived:

"We are following the claim, and will ask about this shipment again.

Sometimes shipments use to take longer than expected… last year one shipment was missing and took five months
6 weeks is long, but not dramatic. This is not common… but sometimes happened. I have had more problems with Courier (Fed Ex) than regular mail.

It will be recommended also if you can check at general Service and also your post office about the shipment. Just in case they can do anything
 

We will try to get news and let you know. Anyway shipments are insured. But let´s keep still patience and faith."

So, nothing substantive other than confirming that the shipment was insured. So eventually I suppose I'll get my money back if the coin never arrives.

I can't imagine that checking at my local post office in NYC would accomplish anything. If they had my package that would mean it was correctly addressed, and they would have delivered it!

Also, I would be willing to bet a rather large sum of money that had Cayon sent the package via Fedex, I would have had it more than a month ago.

Donna, I also won a coin from Cayon's February sale that never arrived to me in New Jersey.  Spain's Correos tracking showed it departing on April 22 but nothing after that.  I contacted Cayon and they also told me they were filing a claim but no word of a refund yet.  Mine wasn't as valuable as yours - a run of the mill Tiberius denarius with a prominent scratch but still a bummer.