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Here's another CII SPQR, again from Johannessen's collection. It has an interesting reverse combination of Mercury with a PROVIDENTIA legend. This time the tag indicates that it's the "Second known specimen according to Jerome Mairat." In the MER-RIC database, there are indeed only two specimens at this time, including this one . It's by the far also the worst one known. 😳 CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS AE Antoninianus. 3.37g, 21.5mm. Smyrna mint, circa end AD 268 - early 269. New RIC V/1 Online temp #854 (this coin cited and illustrated). O: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; two dots below bust. R: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Mercury standing left, holding purse in right hand and short-handled caduceus in left hand; SPQR in exergue. Ex Finn Johannessen Collection (purchased from Walt Miskavage, 17 Nov 2003)

My nicest SPQR Claudius II is this one formerly from Finn Johannessen's collection. The tag it came with indicated that it was a gift from Charles Euston. It's one of four specimens illustrated in the MER-RIC database, where it's listed as having been acquired from an MA-Shops seller in 2008, possibly by Euston before he gave it to Johannessen. I really like how distinctive some of these eastern mint portraits are. CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS AE Antoninianus. 3.52g, 21.8mm. Smyrna mint, circa end AD 268 - early AD 269. New RIC V/1 Online temp #811 (4 spec., this coin cited and illustrated). O: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: MINERVA AVG, Minerva standing right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield resting on ground; SPQR in exergue. Ex Finn Johannessen Collection (a gift from Charles Euston, 9 Jun 2010)

Great pickups, Donna! I meant to look into that auction because of the Hoard coins but simply forgot too... something that's been happening way too often these days, unfortunately. My Julian siliqua comes with a hoard provenance as well, but is not half as pretty. JULIAN AR Siliqua. 2.37g, 18.5mm. Arelate (Arles) mint, AD 362-363. RIC VIII 309. O: D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bearded bust right. R: VOTIS/ X/ MVLT/ XX in four lines within wreath, eagle in medallion at top of wreath; SCONST in exergue. Ex 1887 East Harptree, Somerset Hoard (IRBCH 1424) MAGNUS MAXIMUS AR Siliqua. 2.06g, 16.8mm. Trier mint, AD 383-388. RIC IX 84b. O: D N MAG MAX-IMVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: VIRTVS RO-MANORVM, Roma seated facing, head left, holding globe in right hand, scepter in left; TRPS in exergue. Ex Michael Kelly Collection

How about an Egyptian frog goddess? CLAUDIUS AE Dichalkon. 2.47g, 15.5mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 10 (AD 49/50). RPC I 5179; Emmett 100 var. (obv. legend); Dattari (Savio) 170. O: [TIB] ΚΛΑY, laureate head right. R: Frog (Heqet?) seated right, LI (date) above. Heqet was the wife of the creator god Khnum, who at his potter's wheel would fashion the bodies of all human babies out of mud. As these mud-babies were ensconced in their mothers' wombs, Heqet would breathe life into them. In this role, the goddess was the patron of midwives, who were called the Servants of Heqet. The midwives would often carry with them ivory wands and knives inscribed with frogs, and give to women about to go into labour frog-shaped amulets to wear in the hopes that "She Who Hastens the Birth" would bless them. Through her role in the resurrection of the god Osiris (as Horus), Heqet would also come to be associated with the afterlife and rebirth, and Heqet frog amulets were often used in funerary rites as well.

Wow, nice one, @Jeremy! The Graces on your coin are posed very elegantly indeed! COMMODUS AE25. 7.69g, 25mm. MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis. H&J 6.10.26.4 (this coin illustrated); RPC IV online 4319; AMNG I 540; Varbanov 702 corr. (direction of heads). O: ΑΥ ΚΑΙ Λ ΑΥΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟС, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛƐΙΤΩΝ, the Three Graces standing facing, heads left, right, and right, respectively: the left holds oinochoe over dolphin, the center drapes arms over others, and the right holds wreath over oinochoe. Ex Dr. George Spradling Collection; ex Alexandre de Barros Collection (CNG E143, 12 July 2006, lot 115); ex CNG 47 (16 Sep 1998) lot 833

Judging from the variable and sometimes awkward legends found on provincial coins of Alexandria Troas, it's very possible the mint workers there may have been die-engraving under the influence. 🥴 They may even have taken inspiration from the reverse of the following type depicting an inebriated Herakles partying with Pan and his satyrs. SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE25. 6.37g, 25mm. TROAS, Alexandria Troas, circa AD 222-235. RPC Online temp #3987 var. (obv legend); Bellinger A335. O: IM AR ƧE AΛEXANDROS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: COL AV-G TROA, drunken Herakles stumbling right, an arm around the shoulder of Pan to his right, a satyr on his left holding his hand and another behind him supporting (or restraining) him with both arms.

Here are Juba II (son of Juba I of Numidia) and Cleopatra Selene II (daughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt), Roman client-rulers of the north African kingdom of Mauretania. KINGDOM OF MAURETANIA, JUBA II and CLEOPATRA SELENE II AR Denarius. 2.91g, 17.2mm. Iol-Caesarea mint, circa 20 BC - AD 20. Mazard 361; MAA 108; SNG Copenhagen 566. O: REX IVBA, diademed head of Juba right. R: BACIΛICCA KΛEΟΠΑΤΡA, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra Selene left. Ex Stein A. Evensen Collection, purchased from John Jencek, July 2009

Glad to see you here, Doug. I don't think it would have felt like a new home to me without your presence. BTW, that tick looks nasty, I hope it didn't give you more than a tickle!

Nice ones, Sev! I've always felt my collection a little lacking in quality asses. 😳 JULIA DOMNA AE As. 10.16g, 26.1mm. Rome mint, AD 196-211. RIC 881 (scarce); Cohen 121; BMC 789. O: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right. R: MATER CASTRORVM, Julia, diademed and veiled, standing front, head to left, sacrificing out of patera over altar with her right hand and holding long caduceus with her left; before her, three standards; S C in exergue. Ex G.G. Collection; reportedly ex Robert Friedinger-Pranter Collection, and privately acquired by him from Oberstleutnant Otto Voetter on 29 January 1913 for 6 crowns. And if not for the generosity of friends, I'd have one fewer!... 🙂 SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE As. 11.04g, 26.8mm. Rome mint, AD 234. RIC IV 540. O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: P M TR P XIII COS III P P S C, Sol advancing left with right hand raised, cradling whip in left, with chlamys billowing behind him. Ex Severus Alexander Collection (Noble Numismatics Auction 122, 21 November 2019, part of lot 3328); ex Cornelius C. Vermeule III Collection (Triton III, Nov 1999, part of lot 1720)

Nice addition, Q! I love the old collection look it has. Here's an RR that has a similar appeal for me. ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Denarius. 3.75g, 19mm. Rome mint, 46 BC. T. Carisius, moneyer. Crawford 464/5; Sydenham 985. O: Draped bust of Victory to right; behind, S•C. R: T•CARISI, Victory in prancing quadriga to right, holding wreath in her right hand and reins in her left.

I've dropped Steve a note to let him know about the forum. I don't know if he'll join since as far as I know he no longer collects, but at least this forum is here if he wants to. 🙂

Hi all... thought this section needed a first post. How about this cool rebel against the Empire then? 😄 It's probably the favorite amongst my few acquisitions this year. POSTUMUS AE Antoninianus. 2.86g, 20mm. Cologne mint, AD 266. RIC 300; Cunetio 2429; Elmer 398. O: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Postumus to right. R: DIANAE REDVCI, Diana advancing right, head to left, holding bow in her left hand and leading a stag with her right. Ex A.K. Collection; ex M. Weder Collection (reportedly from the inventory of the British Museum)