Orange Julius

ERIC I (the less comprehensive previous edition) is downloadable as a free pdf at the author’s website if anyone’s interested here: http://www.dirtyoldbooks.com/eric.html The first edition has some great color pics and interesting information, even if the attribution numbers are obsolete and the coin types shown are lesser. Worth a look at the price of free!

It’s not actually that expensive. I think you can usually find it for around $75 and I’ve seen it dip to $50 occasionally. The book has great color photos, cross referencing to RIC, and some interesting commentary of the availability/price of coins from all emperors (although any costing/pricing was obsolete the day after it was printed). It’s a pretty book, I like that I have it but it’s just to darn large and heavy.

Same here. I’ve had the book for several years and had not noticed. Although I like the information and photos, the book is just too large to be fun to use… so it’s hardly used.

I have lots of Constantius II coins… too many. Here’s a more recent buy, a mid-series/sized Fallen Horseman from Antioch. I like the rich color, glossy surface and nice style. Antioch and Alexandria produced the most artistic coins of the time in my opinion. Constantius II OBV: DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right REV: FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, soldier spearing fallen horseman who is bearded, hair in two braids, reaching backwards; S in left field, ANB RIC VIII 148, 352-353 Ad

That I still specifically remember your coin from a post I saw in 2015… is a complement! There’s not many coins that I specifically remember that long that aren’t mine. Still on the lookout!

Great coin! Very rare indeed. I’ve not been able to even come close to capturing one of those! Here are two of my favorite Volusian coins.

I like these CONSECRATIO issues and tend to remember interesting variations and look for examples myself. Some years ago I remember seeing a post on FORVM about a Claudius II altar coin with an eagle. At the time, I thought it was pretty cool and have since been on the lookout for one. So seeing your post, I went to FORVM to find that example and… that old example (from a 2015 post) is your coin! So… all these years later you still have some unanswered questions and must not have found many or any similar examples. Glad you have a coin to keep you intrigued in little mysteries! A great coin. I’m still looking for one. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=103563.msg636828#msg636828

I win for latest campgate. 🏆

That’s a great score, congrats! Has it arrived yet, how does it look in-hand? I need one of those now!

Anastasius I - Constantinople mint. Struck ca 512-517 AD. DN ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / Large M, star to left, cross above, star to right, officina letter B below, mintmark CON. DOC I 23i; MIB I 27; SB 19.

Great coin! I live the details on the eagle. I have a few coins from Alexandria Troas but apparently only two (poorly) photographed. VALERIAN, Alexandria Troas, 253 - 260 AD SNG Cop 191 var (obv legend). O: IMP LICI VALERIAN, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: COL AVG TRO, horse grazing right Caracalla AE27 of Alexandria Troas. M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / COL AVG TROAD, perspective view of hexstyle temple with statue of Apollo within holding patera and bow. SNG Cop 134 I really like the Caracalla but was just getting terrible photos of it and eventually gave up… the 3D temple is very cool in my opinion. The Temple of Apollo Smintheus and the legend behind the founding of the city is very interesting and really deserves a write up. ….but my kids are insane and don’t leave me time for such things. Maybe someday.

That’s a great upgrade @GregH! Coins of the period from Cyzicus seem to be of better quality and style than other mints. I really like Claudius II VICTORIAE GOTHIC coins from Cyzicus. Here are a few of my favorite Quintillus coins and a Claudius II from Cyzicus as a bonus. Quintillus - Rome RIC V-1 20 - FORTVNA REDVX Quintillus - Siscia RIC V-1 79 - VBERITAS AVG Claudius II - Cyzicus RIC V-1 252v - VICTORIAE GOTHIC

Great post on an interesting topic! Another difference that I (think I) am remembering… so this will need a fact check… is that Antioch only was operating with “X” number of mint workshops (4, 5?), while the newly opened 4th eastern mint was operating “X” plus a number of additional workshops (9?). Anyway, at the airport and on the run. No time for facts! Here’s my 4th Eastern Mint Probus.

Nice coin! My coin of Justin I is a little different. Justin I, AE Pentanummium, 512-518 AD, Constantinople. DN IVSTINVS PP AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / Large chi-rho, officina letter to left, value letter epsilon (5) to right. SB 75, DO 21c Heres my similar Justinian I: Justinian I, AE Pentanummium, 527-565 AD, Antioch. DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / epsilon with + at centre, star to right. SB 244, DOC 271. Got lucky buying both for around $5 each. This is an amazing hobby where you can get coins this old for less than a breakfast sandwich.

Yeah, I guess that’s the thing… you may be right to say the time of Diocletian may have been the time of greatest (or great) persecution. But In my mind, I’ve never thought of Diocletian as a fire breathing, Christian hating, bad guy (may be selective remembering). So what you say about him trying to drive back to a more traditional belief system, and giving leadership opportunities and latitude to others to go crazy, rather than being filled with blind hate himself… is an interesting insight.

Nice coin and supporting information! I do have to challenge one detail. Was Diocletian’s time really the time when Christians suffered the worst? And even if it was bad, Dio C was probably not the worst persecutor of his time (Galerius or later Maximinus II?). I was thinking the times in the early to mid-250s sounded pretty rough too (Decius/Valerian). Which emperor was THE hardest on Christianity and those that practiced the religion? Here’s a fun Diocletian with Jupiter with man-bun hair, standing next to giant kabobs for the grill, holding a squid and his pet crow at his feet. Edit: ok, I read the wiki on Diocletian’s persecution and it sounds like a bummer. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletianic_Persecution Still! Diocletian can’t be the meanest, nastiest, lion feeder out there. His historical rep is too positive.

@Severus Alexander That's a nice VICTORIA AVG Gordie! Mine is interesting as... it's not like they didn't know what he looked like. They'd been minting coins for him as Caesar for a time and had been getting that portrait right. I'd like to know how it looks like Balbinus... maybe the Balbinus guy had to fill in for the Gordian guy after a long night at the taverns. As many Gordies as I have, I think all of them are from Rome. Seeing your coin, gives me a budget friendly target, Antioch coins! I also like that Pupienus. Seeing so many in this thread makes me feel maybe they aren't as hard to find as I'd thought. I wish there were more primary sources from the period to learn more. As far as I know, the only one we have is Herodian. @Finn235 I love the diversity of your collection. You've got about everyone! That Balbinus and the Pupienus are really terrific. I hate to ask but what's the ball park price for landing the pair? Great toning on that one @Octavius. You've got some wonderful coins. I was just marveling at some of your Marcus Aurelius sestertius portraits in another thread. Pupienus looks like one of those old school philosopher types. I don't think anyone else would watch but a sitcom like the 80s show "Perfect Strangers" but featuring Pupienus and Balbinus living together would be must watch TV for me. @Marsyas Mike That Gordian as Caesar is a find! I'd love to find one of those. I chased one but after I believed I had a shot, it skyrocketed out of reach price wise. I'm looking out and hope go get one soon. Dang @GregH, that's a really cool and eclectic mix. I like the different denominations, it gives a really interesting and varying look at a very precise period in time. I guess I didn't realize Balbinus was around long enough for many provincials to be minted. That's a really cool coin. If you get around to flipping those, I hope you list them here in the "Cabinet"! While I don't have any of the rarer or pricer personalities of 238, I do have a few more 1st issue Gordian III coins and a nice Maximus Thrax from 237 that I guess is unphotographed. Gordian III - Rome - FIDES MILITVM - 238 ad - RIC IV 1 Gordian III - Rome - PROVIDENTIA AVG - 238 ad - RIC IV 4

That sestertius is a beauty. I like the dark uniform patina. Was going to make a Taco Bell joke here but thankfully reeled myself back in. That Pupienus is a nice looking coin. That’s probably the cost/quality bullseye I’m looking to find myself! Great coins as always Donna! I remember you getting and posting about those two denari. That Pupienus is especially a beauty. I think it’s his fabulous beard that makes his coins look so awesome looking. That’s a sweet Gordie! I like the look on Hercules' face in the reverse. My version of this coin has the worst portrait I’ve seen in a Gordian coin. It’s pretty ugly… he looks like he just woke up from a 3 day bender and is wondering what he’s done. Q, every time you post these coins I drool over them. When I think of Pupienus or Balbinus coins… yours are the ones that define these coins in my mind. If you ever decide to sell them, I call dibs on them. Oh how I wish I had the resources to collect everything I’m interested in. They say money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy a lot of sweet coins that definitely wouldn’t make me sad.

Yes mine is a very early Gordian, minted in late 238, not long after his promotion from Caesar. It’s one of my favorites as it does have that Balbinish look to it. I’m loving the Pupienus and Balbinus coins posted above ☝🏻 ! I have a ton (maybe 50) Gordian coins but no Pupienus and Balbinus yet. 😭 What’s the going ratio for Pupies and Balbis to Gordies these days? 25/1?

I've never understood why someone could hate Faustina II so badly! Could be a weight or a game piece but someone wanted to mark this as... not a coin.

Seems so! Although Magnus Maximus was an interesting figure, his grab for power was a huge domino in the final fall of the western empire. What's interesting to me is how fast after about 395/400 ad the coinage completely goes in the toilet. Even through Arcadius and Honorius, the coins were... meh but ok. They were still substantial and struck alright on ok flans. At the end of the 4th century, the empire seemed to be in free fall monetarily with the masses.

I just saw this ringstone on Facebook and found it really interesting due to the limited and interesting timeframe it was engraved. From the post, “A very special red jasper: the ringstone depicts three imperial busts: Pupienus (left), Balbinus (right) and Gordian III. Pupienus and Balbinus were in mid-February 238 n. Chr. raised by senate. However, since the Roman population did not yet quite fourteen-year-old Prince Gordian III. wanted to be the Emperor, he was declared Caesar ("Junior Kaiser") a few days later (although on the 1st) March 238). As Caesar, he does not wear a laurel wreath. The ringstone is said to have been made for a high official or officer who served the three Emperors in those weeks. 99 days later, the two Upper Emperors were brutally murdered by the Praetorians in Rome and Gordian III. proclaimed to be a king (7th) June 238). Coins were minted for all three emperors during their joint rule, but none shows Pupienus, Balbinus and Gordian III. together in the picture. Thus, the ringstone reproduces a singular composition that most likely dates back to a painting template.” * seems like the post was translated so there are some grammatical errors. It won’t let me post the link to the post but search Facebook for the Staatliche Münzsammlung München. Anyway… super cool. Let’s see your coins from 238ad or those shown on the ring stone! Gordian III Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG - Radiate bust right, draped and cuirassed Rev: VICTORIA AVG - Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm Rome mint AD June 12, 238-Dec 238 (1st Issue, 6th officina) RIC IViii, 5 - Cohen 357

Lately I feel like Gallienus. Things are a mess, I’m clawing tooth and nail to keep things together but everyone is thinking “well, he’s not very nice.” Haha. I can only hope that, like Gallienus, hindsight leads people to realize, ‘yeah he was handed a pile of turds and did what could be done considering.’ I’m working toward a more Trajanesque status. Forward!

I like the new photo. The old one was too dark. I struggle with photos that are too dark myself… and am working on making better images but it’s not easy!

Not scholarly research but I’ve had people like Andrew McCabe help me with anonymous RR bronzes and Curtis Clay provide valuable contextual information on Severan coins and others. It’s cool to get these and many other experts look at my scrappy budget buys. I mentioned two experts that came to mind… but here, at FORVM and at CT, there are many very knowledgeable people/experts to help across many topics (Ptolemaic, Flavian, Probus, Byzantine, etc.). We’re lucky to be able to connect so easily these days to such a wide variety of people interested in ancient coins and the history attached to them.