Orange Julius

I asked it if I should dump all of my cash into collecting coins of Quintillus and it seemed to think that was a bad financial move…

Here’s another ChatGPT response that’s a bit generic but fun:

Prompt written in about 10 seconds: Make a case for why late Roman bronze coins are the best subset of ancient coins to collect.

Answer:

Late Roman bronze coins can be an excellent subset of ancient coins to collect for several reasons:

1. Historical significance: Late Roman bronze coins provide valuable insights into the final days of the Roman Empire, a period marked by political and social upheaval. These coins can shed light on the struggles that Rome faced during its decline and fall, making them an essential part of Roman history.

2. Accessibility: Late Roman bronze coins are relatively easy to find and affordable to collect. Compared to other ancient coins, such as gold or silver coins, which are often rare and expensive, late Roman bronze coins are more widely available and can be obtained at a lower cost, making them an accessible option for collectors on a budget.

3. Artistic beauty: Late Roman bronze coins often feature intricate designs and detailed engravings, which make them aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Many of these coins depict important historical figures or events, adding to their appeal for both history buffs and coin collectors alike.

4. Collectible variations: Late Roman bronze coins come in a wide range of varieties, including different denominations, mint marks, and inscriptions. This variety allows collectors to focus on specific areas of interest, such as a particular emperor's reign or a specific mint location, which can add depth and nuance to a collection.

5. Longevity: Late Roman bronze coins have been around for over 1,500 years and have survived the test of time. Owning a piece of history that has endured for centuries can be a compelling reason to collect these coins, and their longevity means that they will likely remain a valuable collectible for many years to come.

Overall, collecting late Roman bronze coins can be an enriching and rewarding experience for anyone interested in ancient history or numismatics. With their historical significance, accessibility, artistic beauty, collectible variations, and longevity, they offer a compelling case for why they are one of the best subsets of ancient coins to collect.

Yeah even with the errors, it’s pretty cool. Imagine how far it will advance in just a few years, it’s really going to be amazing/terrifying.

I’m sure I would have received a more accurate response if I would have typed out the reverse inscription rather than citing a book that is scarce online.

6 minutes ago, Orange Julius said:

I tried to get it to do coin write ups for my records by saying something like “write me an article about my Gordian III “RIC IV 70” coin, describing the obverse and reverse inscriptions, and the symbolism of the reverse figure. Then also give me a brief history of the featured emperor and the time period of the coin.”

Below is ChatGPT’s reply… you’ll notice several errors, including getting the reverse wrong in two incorrect variations… but  it’s still impressive to get something like this in about 30 seconds of work. Then again, it kinda sounds like me writing papers in college where I’m just BSing my way through, using whatever Wikipedia reference I can find, slamming coffee and cigarettes at 3am.

”Your Gordian III "RIC IV 70" coin is a fascinating piece of history that tells a story of the Roman Empire during a tumultuous time. This coin was minted during the reign of Gordian III, who ruled from 238 to 244 AD. 

Let's start by examining the obverse inscription of the coin. The portrait of Gordian III appears on this side, and the Latin inscription reads "IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG." This translates to "Emperor Gordian Pius Felix Augustus," which was a common title for Roman emperors during this period.

Turning to the reverse inscription, we see a figure standing with his arms outstretched. The Latin inscription on this side reads "VIRTVS AVGG" which translates to "the Virtue of the Emperors." The figure depicted on the reverse is Hercules, the Roman god of strength and heroism. This symbolism is fitting for an emperor who was faced with numerous challenges during his reign.

Gordian III was just 13 years old when he was declared emperor in 238 AD. He was a member of the Gordian dynasty, which was a short-lived line of emperors that ruled the Roman Empire for a brief period. Gordian III was seen as a figurehead ruler, as real power was held by his advisors and mother. Despite this, he was still faced with numerous challenges during his reign, including economic troubles, threats from barbarian invasions, and conflicts with the Sassanid Empire in the east.

One of the most significant events during Gordian III's reign was the Battle of Misiche in 244 AD. This battle saw the Roman army defeated by the Sassanid Empire, and Gordian III was killed in the fighting. His death marked the end of the Gordian dynasty and paved the way for the ascension of the next emperor, Philip the Arab.

In conclusion, your Gordian III "RIC IV 70" coin is a remarkable artifact that sheds light on a turbulent period in Roman history. The obverse and reverse inscriptions provide insight into the titles and symbolism associated with Roman emperors during this time, while the figure of Hercules on the reverse speaks to the challenges faced by Gordian III during his reign. By examining the history of this period, we can gain a better understanding of the complex political and military landscape of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century AD.”

 

BTW… here’s the coin:

I tried to get it to do coin write ups for my records by saying something like “write me an article about my Gordian III “RIC IV 70” coin, describing the obverse and reverse inscriptions, and the symbolism of the reverse figure. Then also give me a brief history of the featured emperor and the time period of the coin.”

Below is ChatGPT’s reply… you’ll notice several errors, including getting the reverse wrong in two incorrect variations… but  it’s still impressive to get something like this in about 30 seconds of work. Then again, it kinda sounds like me writing papers in college where I’m just BSing my way through, using whatever Wikipedia reference I can find, slamming coffee and cigarettes at 3am.

”Your Gordian III "RIC IV 70" coin is a fascinating piece of history that tells a story of the Roman Empire during a tumultuous time. This coin was minted during the reign of Gordian III, who ruled from 238 to 244 AD. 

Let's start by examining the obverse inscription of the coin. The portrait of Gordian III appears on this side, and the Latin inscription reads "IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG." This translates to "Emperor Gordian Pius Felix Augustus," which was a common title for Roman emperors during this period.

Turning to the reverse inscription, we see a figure standing with his arms outstretched. The Latin inscription on this side reads "VIRTVS AVGG" which translates to "the Virtue of the Emperors." The figure depicted on the reverse is Hercules, the Roman god of strength and heroism. This symbolism is fitting for an emperor who was faced with numerous challenges during his reign.

Gordian III was just 13 years old when he was declared emperor in 238 AD. He was a member of the Gordian dynasty, which was a short-lived line of emperors that ruled the Roman Empire for a brief period. Gordian III was seen as a figurehead ruler, as real power was held by his advisors and mother. Despite this, he was still faced with numerous challenges during his reign, including economic troubles, threats from barbarian invasions, and conflicts with the Sassanid Empire in the east.

One of the most significant events during Gordian III's reign was the Battle of Misiche in 244 AD. This battle saw the Roman army defeated by the Sassanid Empire, and Gordian III was killed in the fighting. His death marked the end of the Gordian dynasty and paved the way for the ascension of the next emperor, Philip the Arab.

In conclusion, your Gordian III "RIC IV 70" coin is a remarkable artifact that sheds light on a turbulent period in Roman history. The obverse and reverse inscriptions provide insight into the titles and symbolism associated with Roman emperors during this time, while the figure of Hercules on the reverse speaks to the challenges faced by Gordian III during his reign. By examining the history of this period, we can gain a better understanding of the complex political and military landscape of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century AD.”

SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE Reverse. Looks like ANTI for a mint mark, which would be Antioch.

Great coin with a fun reverse!

For winged thunderbolts, I just have this earlier Divus Augustus minted during the reign of Tiberius.

 

Those are beautiful! I have a few… but… with the money I’m willing to spend, they’re Kevin specials. But I love them.

Panther City mint mark 😗

That’s a beauty! I love the rich brown color. I have one of these that came in a lot of 30 low quality Alexandrians that is really ugly and makes me appreciate yours that much more!

Most of my coins fall in this range as kids are expensive and my coin budget is small these days. Here’s a few recent purchases (all in 2023) that I thought were great deals for under $25. I have some great recent deals in the $25-$50 range too but many of those are still unphotographed. 

UNDER $25

Constantine MARTI CONSERVATORI $23

Claudius II Tetradrachm ~$15

Claudius II AEQVITAS from Milan $7

Diocletian Tetradrachm $12

Aurelian Tetradrachm ~$18

Leo VI ~$18

Not long ago I bought this Maximinus II SOLI INVICTO COMITI that’s cool as it reflects a time somewhere around 312 where Max, Licinius and Constantine were friends.

These coins are very common for Constantine and Lincinius, but less so for Maximinus II.

RIC VI Rome 336b

Nice coins all. I really like Gordian’s coins and wish we had more information about his reign.

Here’s my favorite Gordian coin. I really like the early ‘we’re just guessing what he looks like’ bust.

Here’s a bad photo that doesn’t capture how nice the coin is:

Here’s a ring light photo that makes it look really cool but is obviously not what it looks like in hand:

Gordian III / RIC 5, first issue.
Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVG / Victory walking, holding wreath and palm branch.
RIC #5; Sear #8664.

Great post! I learned out die sharing between coins of different cities while researching this coin:

Attaleia

Commodus, AD 180-192.
Æ24, 5.1g, 12h; LYDIA, Attaleia.
Obv.: AV KO-MOΔOC; Laureate bust right.
Rev: ATTA-ΛEAT-ΩN; eagle standing facing on ground line, head left, wings spread.

Not my coins below:

Thyateira

8 hours ago, Tejas said:

"barbarous initiation" sounds really mysterious 🙂

Haha, yes that’s sounds dark and mysterious! Imitation I meant!

While not pretty, here’s my barbarous initiation of Tetricus II, shown here as Augustus:

11 hours ago, Ryro said:

Looking at your coin, it appears (though your be able to tell better with coin in hand) the patina wa scratched away, making me think the damage is modern. 

@Ryro nope, patina in the cuts with dirt on top in some places. Ancient for sure! 

Amyway, great coins everyone. It’s fun to imagine the lives of our coins and all they’ve seen.

With a glass/bottle or two of wine, while holding one of these coins, you can vividly imagine their past adventures.

2 hours ago, Julius Germanicus said:

If anybody needs a nice Sestertius of Volusian, this specimen of the Julius Germanicus Collection is on sale at Künker´s eAuction 77 right now:

IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG / PAX AVGG S C
Sestertius, Rome 251-252

30 mm / 19,30 gr
RIC 256a, Cohen 74, Sear 9790

ex Lucernae Numismatics, 04.07.2016 

This may have been asked elsewhere as I’ve noticed several of your posts… I’m curious, are you selling off your collection or just selling lesser coins to get upgrades?

I’d like to know what this person was up to with this coin.

Could it have been scooped out to match a lighter and later weight standard? …or after the coins of the republic (where scooping was done), was it all clipping to reduce or skim weight? I ask because the face is intact… if I was looking to deface someone’s memory, I’d deface their face.

Haha, well… my understanding is that antelope have straight twisty horns like the two coins below: 

Then you have Elk and Deer. The linked article below simplifies things a bit, “All elk are deer, but not all deer are elk.” https://a-z-animals.com/blog/elk-vs-deer-8-key-differences-explained/

So, your coin is of a deer. Which kind of deer is the question!

Yours is a tough one to decide on. Mine below has some large antlers, so I’m going elk. I guess it would be interesting to learn more about how prevalent elk were in Italy at the time. Not that having them to look at matters much to decide the question because tigers, griffins, Pegasuses (?), and hippocamps! 

…then you have does (or another look at antelopes) of course!

Great coin @DonnaML! You’re making great headway on the zoo collection. I have (I think) the same animal for Salonina. Mine has been sadly stripped, allowing me to snag it for just a few dollars…. But it still has some good detail, even if off-center.

Here’s one a little out of the norm for me. Had to take a quick pic:

ISLAMIC, Seljuks. Rum . Rukn al-Din Sulayman II. AH 592-600 / AD 1196-1204. Æ Fals
Horseman advancing right, wielding mace; star behind / Legend. CMM 1675; Album 1205

I had a great back and forth with a FORVM poster (who I think is a poster here now maybe) a few years ago on the reverse legend: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=114089.msg697003#msg697003

3 hours ago, DonnaML said:

My favorite reverse of yours is also the Hermanubis, and my favorite obverse is probably on your Nike.

I have these two, respectively Emmett 3879.2 (eagle with wreath in beak) & 3892.2 (jugate busts of Nilus & Euthenia):

Nice coins @DonnaML! That double portrait reverse is a very cool coin and now added to my target list. I hope I can get one as nice!

2 hours ago, Pellinore said:

@DonnaML I like your double portrait!

I have only two very ordinary Claudius II tetradrachms. 

 

41 minutes ago, Ocatarinetabellatchitchix said:

I didn’t even remember I have this one in my collection… but I remember I bought it for the nice portrait and not for the clear legend…

@Pellinore and @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Both of your year 3 eagles are very nice! This must have been a huge issue as everyone seems to have one! Thank you for sharing them!

Thanks! I really like your year-3 eagle. I'd take yours over mine any day. I also like the Alexandria personification reverse, especially the turret on her head that you can see better on your coin. Great coins thanks for showing them!