Oldhoopster

Nice write ups on an interesting period of history. I like 1, 8 and 10 than for no other reason than the look cool (plus I always liked the Cnut examples and am still kicking myself for not buying one 20+ years ago). Thanks

Wow, I was never interested in medallic issues, but your pieces are amazing in my opinion. Thanks for posting pics of them

19 minutes ago, Octavius said:

 Here are several of his coins. It is true that he often gets overlooked; probably over-shadowed by his famous father. He is . however , a very interesting character in his own right with some interesting coins as well.

My favorite here if the sestertius with Cybele riding on the back of a lion.

 

Great looking coins.  Thanks for sharing

3 hours ago, DonnaML said:

@kevikens, I believe that's definitely a cubit rule or rod, and agree that the wheel represents the cyclical nature of human fortune. 

I have two ancient coins personifying Nemesis, one in the form of a female deity, and the other in the form of a griffin. One is from Thrace, and the other from Moesia Inferior -- the former in today's Bulgaria, and the latter in today's Romania. Both provinces are among my favorite sources for Roman Provincial coins. One was issued by Philip I and Otacilia Severa, and the other by their son Philip II. Here they are:

Philip I & Otacilia Severa, AE 26, 244-249 AD, Mesembria, Thrace [Nessebar, Bulgaria]. Obv. Confronted busts of Philip I, right, laureate, draped, and cuirassed, and Otacilia Severa, left, wearing diadem (or stephane), ΑΥΤ Μ ΙΟΥΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC Μ WΤ; in exergue (in two lines) ϹƐΒΗΡΑ-ϹƐ / Rev. Nemesis standing facing, head left, holding marked cubit rule with extended right hand and bridle* with left hand, wheel  at her feet left, ΜΕ-ϹΑΜ-ΒΡΙΑΝΩΝ. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. VIII Online 48407 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/48407 ); SNG Cop. 664 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 6: Thrace 1: The Tauric Chersonese-Thrace (Mesembria) (Copenhagen 1942); Varbanov 4254 [Ivan Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume II: Thrace (from Abdera to Pautalia) (Bourgas, 2005)]. [Obv. Die match: Naumann Auction 49, Lot 354, Jan. 8, 2017 (RPC VIII Online ID 48407, Specimen 17; see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/obv/333697/high.]  26 mm., 10.5 g.

*Described by dealer as “cubit rule and ribbon,” with type described by some other dealers as “cubit rule and rod,” both of which are clearly incorrect: the “ribbon” is actually a bridle, and a cubit rule and rod are the same thing, except that the former has markings for measurement.

Philip II, AE Tetrassarion, 247-249 AD, Moesia Inferior, Tomis [now Constanţa, Romania]. Obv. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, Μ ΙΟΥΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC ΚΑΙCΑΡ / Rev. Griffin seated left with right paw on top of wheel [representing Nemesis*], ΜΗ-ΤΡΟ-Π-ΠΟ, continued in exergue in two lines: NTOΥ ΤΟΜΕ/ΩϹ (ME ligate), Δ in right field [signifying the denomination, 4 assaria]. 27 mm., 12.22 g. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] VIII Online 28171 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/28171) [this coin is Specimen 7, used as primary illustration for type, see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/156187 ]; Varbanov 5781 [Varbanov, Ivan, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005)]. Purchased from Herakles Numismatics, Jan. 2021; ex. I-Nummis, Paris, Mail Bid Sale 6, Nov. 7, 2008, Lot 399  (see https://www.coinarchives.com/a/openlink.php?l=239902|348|399|a3b582d0b87f863b39d084dd851a7a89). [“Scarce”: 11 specimens in RPC (including this coin), 6 examples in ACSearch (including this coin).]

*See https://www.getty.edu/publications/romanmosaics/catalogue/8/ : “The image of a griffin supporting one of its forepaws on a wheel appears in Roman art by the first century AD. The wheel, a symbol of the cyclical movement of human fortune, and the winged griffin are both distinctive attributes of Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance, who is also often represented with wings. In a first-century AD wall painting from the House of the Fabii at Pompeii, Apollo and two female figures are accompanied by a winged griffin with a wheel. This motif also occurs on coins of Alexandria dating to the reign of the emperor Domitian (AD 81–96). Scenes depicting Nemesis with a griffin are especially common during the second and third centuries AD and occur in many different media, including coins, gems, statues, and funerary and votive reliefs. The particular image of a griffin resting its paw on a wheel, typically seated at the foot of Nemesis, is so pervasive that it eventually became a symbol for the goddess herself. For example, a limestone mold of the second to third centuries AD from Egypt, possibly from Alexandria, shows a griffin and a wheel with the Greek inscription Nemesis.

Representations of the griffin with a wheel unaccompanied by Nemesis, as in the Getty mosaic, are particularly common in North Africa and the eastern periphery of the Roman Empire. The motif appears in the second and third centuries AD in Egyptian statuettes in faience [see image at https://www.getty.edu/publications/romanmosaics/assets/images/pics/pic_30_faience-egyptian-statuette.jpg], relief stelai from the amphitheater at Leptis Magna in present-day Libya; tomb paintings in Jordan; a votive marble statue from Erez, Israel, bearing a dedicatory inscription in Greek (dated AD 210–211); gems from Caesarea Maritima in Israel and Gadara in Jordan; and terracotta tesserae from Palmyra. While the worship of Nemesis was widespread across the Roman Empire, it was particularly prevalent in Egypt, where she had a pre-Roman cult, and in Syria and the surrounding regions, where she was associated with several important local deities, including the classical goddesses Tyche (personification of fortune) and Nike (personification of victory) and the Arabic deities Allath (goddess of war) and Manawat (goddess of fate).” [Footnotes omitted.]

 

Great looking tetrassarion.  Nice write up that helped me learn something today and its always a good day if I learn something new (that's why I keep lurking on numis forums)

IMO, the coin is ugly, but the portrait and reverse details are nice.  I agree that "ugly beauty" is a good description

3 hours ago, panzerman said:

 

When I was in grade five/ my favorite course was "history". That grade we learned about the brave explorers who ventured into the great unknown to find new trade routes/ gold/ mysterious new lands. Portugal under Manuel I/ Joao II/III/ Sebastian I financed men like Cabral/ Diaz/ Henry the "Navigator"/ Magellan to expand Portuguese trade/ influence around the World. Portugal used the symbol of the Cross a lot on their coinage/ many depicted the Calvary Cross that the Romans cruxified Jesus on. This coin I picked up this morning from Sonntag Auction/ shows a ghosting of the Cross/ really neat. Please post your Portuguese coins from that time in history.

 

AV Cruzado Calvãrio ND

Lisboa Mint

3.60g.     34mm.    1h

Joao III 1521-57

Crowned Arms/ with ghosting of reverse Cross

Calvary Cross

IAONES:III:R:PORTVGALIE

+IN HOC SIG NO VINCES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice coins. I love coins that remind me of the history I learned when I was younger.  Those always have a special meaning even if many are in  low grades in my case.  Its always fun when I can pass a good story along to my children and they're actually interested (they have no interest in numismatics)

i like 8 and 10.  Thanks for sharing

Wow!!  Amazing coins.  Usually it's easy for me to pull out 1 or 2 that I really like,  but i m stuck voting on all of the above for your stuff. 😁  Outstanding. Thanks for sharing. It's always nice to see cool coins from other members.

I'm Not usually a Trachy fan but #4 is a nice looking coin. Thanks for sharing

Great list of coins.  I'm partial to 5 and 6 but all are very nice.  Thanks for sharing

20 hours ago, Qcumbor said:

Nice and interesting artefact.

Here's my example of a Philip IV gros tournois

Philippe IV "Le Bel" (1285-1314) - Gros tournois à l'O rond - Atelier de Lille ? (2 petits points a droite du lis superieur du revers)
+ BNDICTV SIT NOME DNI NRI DEI IhV XPI dans le cercle exterieur, +PHILIPPVS REX dans le cercle interieur, croix au centre
TVRONVS CIVIS + dans le cercle interieur, chatel tournois au centre, bordure de douze fleurs de lis a l'exterieur
4.13 gr
Ref : Ciani # 203

Q

Great looking coin.  Thanks for sharing. 

Now I can get back to my ratty, low end, poor condition, medieval collection ☠️ 😁

1 hour ago, voulgaroktonou said:

Yes. Bendall 110 (top). 0.63 gr. 12.7 mm. 11 hr; on bottom, Bendall 129. 0.63 gr. 13 mm. 12. hr.

Nice, Interesting coins. Not a topic I'm familiar with, but it's always nice to see and learn about different things.  Thanks

Some XRFs claim the can accurately measure the comp when the head is not in contact with the sample, the one you used is obviously not one of them. I have never tried to XRF through a slab so I cannot provide a good opinion, but I would be very cautious in making interpretations with the algorithm showing such a high level of light elements (maybe Carbon, and oxygen from the plastic)

I think your math looks good but would still be hesitant to claim that is the calculated comp.  Too bad you didn't get more readings

I also use Saflips

2 hours ago, kirispupis said:

Oh well...I guess I learned something at least from the research. 😞 

Always a good day when you learn something. 

Reading many of the posts on numisforum has increased my knowledge of ancient coins and ancient history.  I thought I was reasonably knowledgeable on ancients, but you guys blow me away.  It's good to be humbled every once in a while.

21 hours ago, happy_collector said:

One of my collection focus is on bigas driven with unusual creatures. I have slowly picked up snakes, stags, goats, lions, and centaurs. A hippocamp biga is on the very top of my lookout list. Recently, I am very pleased to add a decent example directly from vcoins. No need to wait for auctions. This one has serratus along the border, which is a nice feature to me. It probably will end up as one of my top 10 pickups this year. 

I have also added two panther biga coins earlier this year. The first one is a bit flat, but I like the large size of the biga coin. The second one is from Greek Sicily. 

Please post any biga coin you find interesting.  

QUINTUS CREPERIUS M. F. (Marcus Filius) ROCUS. Rome, 72 BC.
Serratus denarius. 18.5mm, 3.7g.
Obv: Draped bust of Amphitrite, wife of Neptune and goddess of the Ocean. Octopus behind her head.
Rev: Neptune, holding reins and brandishing trident, driving sea-chariot right, drawn by two hippocamps; Q CREPER M F ROCVS in exergue.
Craw. 399/1b; Syd. 796a. 
Incitatus Coins. Sept 2022
 

Sebaste in PHRYGIA.
Severus Alexander 222-235 AD Tetrassarion (Bronze, 30 mm, 10.41 g, 1 h). 
ΑΥ Κ Μ ΑΥ CЄΒ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander right.
Rev: CЄΒΑCΤΗΝΩΝ Dionysos driving biga of panthers to right, holding a long thyrsos in in his right hand and reins in his left. 
BMC 38. RPC VI online 5672. 
Leu Numismatik, July 2022
 

Katane, Sicily. Æ20. 212 BC
Obv: KATANAI-Ω-N, wreathed head of Dionysos right
Rev: Dionysos seated in biga pulled by panthers
20.09mm, 7.51 grams
SNG Copenhagen 200
Marc Breitsprecher, April 2022. 
Ex Ray Johnson Collection, purchased from Irv Carroll in 1965, with his ticket
 

Very cool collecting specialty 

I'm the only collector in my family, so I did the same as some other members. The family member will ask me to purchase a coin in a certain price range, I would acquire it, they would wrap it up and give it as a birthday Or christmas gift.

I understand it may sound a little sterile, and does take the surprise out of the gift, but I ended up with the coin or reference book that I wanted, given to me by a family member who felt good about getting the right gift without worrying.  Might not be right for everyone, but In the end, I think it works well for my family

10 hours ago, CPK said:

Here is a new favorite!

I love the special history behind this coin - treasure ships, daring seamanship, desperate battles, set in the far-flung New World coasts of South America - what could be more captivating? It isn't often one can tie a coin to a single historical event so directly!

Here is a painting of this very battle, done in oil by Samuel Scott in the mid-1700's, shortly after the event itself:

 

Anyone else have any LIMA coins?

I have a low grade that I found in a 50 cent junk box in the 80s. I'll have to dig it out.  I remember doing a little research and found the story interesting. It's one of my favorite junk box finds.

Another page from my Irish sets.  Just circulated examples. 

Nice antiquity

When I saw the title, I thought you might have been talking about my ex-wife. 😡 😇

About 15 years ago, ago a bought a bulk lot of common Indian Jitals and Tye's book with the idea of learning to attribute them. They are still buried in a box somewhere.  What was I thinking?

7 hours ago, shanxi said:

@JeandAcre 

An interesting story and a very interesting illustration of an elephant.

In order not to create confusion here a note:

The "Herren von Staufen" do not belong to the imperial dynasty of the Staufer. They were just a small noble family. The "Herren of Staufen" resided in Staufen in Breisgau in southern Germany, the imperial dynasty of (Hohen)-Staufen in the area around Göttingen. The similarity of the name is based on the shape of the castle hill. In both cases a solitary, pointed mountain, in old german called   "Stauf" or "Stuufen". The name describes the shape of a bell-shaped cup.

 

@Oldhoopster

What a coincidence. Did you climb up the castle-hill? 

 

@Al Kowsky

In 1863 there  was hoard find of 400 of these coin in Staufen. They were all pristine and in mint state. Most of them also carefully minted. I am convinced that my coin is from this hoard.

 

 

Shanxi

I was up and down the castle hill a few times, but it was in February and still cold.   I have pics, but need to find them. Who knows where they are after 35 years.  Staufen was a nice little town.  It was also connected to a hiking trail system.

In hindsight, I'm disappointed that I didn't learn more about German numismatics while I was there.  I was an an active collector but just getting intersted in German States at the time.  I always liked bracteates.  I'll have to keep an eye out for them

I actually went to college in Clausthal in the Harz mountains. Clausthal had a mint and struck many Wildemann coins.  Of course, I had no idea it was there during that semester.  Too bad youth is wasted on the young

Years ago, I did a semester abroad in college and spent 3 weeks studying German in Staufen.  Very nice place

Nice to see a coin from there