Steppenfool

I thought it was Antioch mint when I looked at it. My reasoning is the Antioch mint minted coins in preparation for Gordian's Persian campaign, hence he often has a bit more facial hair to look manlier, and they straighten out his button nose a bit for the same reason. Yours might have been one of the first attempts from the Imperial mint at Antioch? Compare mine below.

Perhaps! Although I don't think the re-marriage policy was as clear cut as you imply. In his A Plea for the Christians (c. 177), Athenagoras showed that the typical resistance to remarriage was based on the church's understanding of Jesus' teaching on the matter. "Second marriage is only a specious adultery," he declared. "'For whosoever puts away his wife,' says He [meaning Jesus], 'and marries another, commits adultery."[3] Indeed, the marriage bond for many of the Ante-Nicene Fathers was so indissoluble that it continued beyond the grave. A virtually eternal relationship was established between the spouses, living or dead. https://theologicalstudies.org.uk/article_divorce_snuth.html There are numerous texts that testify to the use of the term “digamos” or “monogamos” to indicate the state of widows or widowers in relation to a second marriage. An example, closer to the 5th century, from the letters of St. Jerome witnesses to the technical meaning of the terms (left in the original Greek) with reference to the state of widows and widowers: “Why does a priest, who must be a monogamist (‘monogamia’), urge a widow to marry again (‘digamos’)?” (Letter 52, 16). https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/divorce-and-remarriage-in-the-early-church-1819 Other reasons he may not have re-married: 1. He was 54 by the time of the execution of Crispus, any subsequent heirs could not be safeguarded by Constantine, who would be an advanced age as his son grew up. This would also present a difficult political situation for Constantine's other sons when he finally came of age. 2. He had three heirs already. Having seen the drama that successions could cause he decided not to add any fuel to that somewhat inevitable fire. This idea is further supported by the speculation that the whole Crispus and Fausta debacle was based on dynastic politics. The theory goes that both Crispus and Fausta were nervous about their position in the Imperial succession. Fausta was worried that a Crispus Augustus would rid himself of Fausta and her sons who were also heirs, and Crispus was concerned about a coup from the Faustan side of the dynasty. What follows from this is that either Fausta falsely accused Crispus of something or another, or the two plotted to oust Constantine and (literally) marry their imperial ambitions, hence the talk of affairs. Whether any of this is true, it's impossible to say. But, if there is any truth to it, it would certainly be understandable why Constantine did not want to add another branch to his dynasty. My favourite historian for Constantine is Timothy Barnes. Barnes seems to appreciate how much of a political genius Constantine was, and like Potter, also abstains from moralizing.

A very interesting coin and one I hope to add to my collection. Oftentimes, the reverse die is quite worn to the point that the word PANNONIAE is hard to make out and you can't see much apart from two people standing there. Converesely, your example is very beautiful, to the extent that I thought you'd started your post with the best example of the reverse you could find pictured, rather than your own. Your specimen is also very artistic, with the left figure leaning forward towards the one on the right as they join hands. Probably the best example of this type I've ever seen using my main criteria of Beautiful/Historical reverses.

The Rome Mint produced quite a lifelike nose.

I don't think the portrait type has ever been pointed out and defined in any catalogue. When it does appear for sale, the description often comments on the portrait as it certainly is compelling and leaves an impression. Below is my Philip from the Rome mint, where he does appear to look like a native of Arabia. The nose is quite different from the Antioch portraits, although the heavy eyes are similar. You can still see the shame cheekbone shape, but he definitely looks a lot healthier.

Here's another "Cheekbone" in better condition and more imposing, from Den of Antiquity https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/den_of_antiquity/48/product/philip_i_ar_antoninianus_antioch_mint/1053256/Default.aspx

I don't think the implication is that continued to love Fausta. More likely (in my opinion) is that Constantine had to obey Christian marriage rules. Remarriage was strongly discouraged in Early Christianity, and Fausta was already Constantine's second wife. I do strongly agree with Potter's sceptical assessment of the whole debacle. David Potter is an excellent historian and his book The Roman Empire at Bay was extremely formative in my passion for this period of history.

Mine is a bit worse for wear!

The Antioch mint produced coins for Philip I when the Emperor and the army were on their way back from paying off Sapor after the battle of Misiche which saw the death of Gordian III. One portrait style sticks out to me, I call it the "cheekbone portrait" due to Philip's gaunt appearance with exaggerated cheekbones.. I was happy to add an example to my collection recently, paired with the propagandistic"Peace with the Sassanids (Persia)" reverse. I've seen this portrait style on the SPES FELICITATAS ORBIS issues too Philip I "Arabus" AR Antoninianus of Antiochia 26mm 5.08g IMPCMIVLPHILIPPVSAVGPM Radiate draped and cuirassed bust R seen from behind Reverse PAXFVN-DATACVMPERSIS Pax standing facing head L holding up olive branch and Transverse Sceptre 1st issue, 244 ce RIC IV 69 Variety Compare to my previous example, the cheekbones are still pronounced, but not to the same extent. This also marks the first time I've bought a "double" of a coin I've already owned. Philip I. AD 244-249. AR Antoninianus (Peace with the Sassanids) (21mm, 4.22 g, 12h). Antioch mint. Struck AD 244-245. IMP C M IVL PHILIPPVS P F AVG P M, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / PAX FVNDATA CVM PERSIS, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and transverse scepter. RIC IV 69. POST ANY FASCINATING PORTRAIT STYLES THAT HAVE FLOWN UNDER THE RADAR, OR ANY COINS YOU'VE BOUGHT "DOUBLES" OF BUT NOT DUE TO CONDITION!

It's probably more true to life than the generic and heavily stylised Tetrarchic portrait styles as @Hrefn said. Here's a side profile of a bust attributed to him.

Hello. Your website and the stills from the app certainly look very professional. I'm wondering what it is that sets you apart from biddr to the point that it worth paying for a subscription? Biddr has most auctions on it and you can set reminders for auctions, or particular lots in the auctions that you receive via e-mail or text. You also have a choice to be reminded when your target is a chosen number of lots away. This is a service that comes with a free account.

Hello Brad and welcome to the forum. The photo that has posted looks like an authentic Roman coin to me from the late third century. I'd wager Claudius II from the reverse alone. I personally (and other forum users too probably) won't feel safe clicking the download link to the dng file. Try and post those images the same way the first one and I'll be able to say with a bit more certainty.

In case you missed it I made a second reply with my theory. What do you think? @madhatter

I think I've cracked it. Here's the sellers second photo: the R is a coiled up fibre that is no longer coiled, or has been removed, on the second set of photos.

Fascinating. I have bought from that seller numerous times and have had nothing but positive experiences and could not recommend them highly enough. Very knowledgeable and offers a wide variety of genuine coins. I'm definitely for giving him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Looks like modern scrapes to me. I'm also not concerned about the surfaces on the reverse, looks more like heavy duty cleaning to me. Happy to be proven wrong though. Weight is 20.14 and diameter 30mm. I have it on my favourites so can check despite listing ended.

I only posted it because the current bid is already £200 with some time to go. So there's at least a bid of 190 and a bid at 200 or greater already, which to me means the cat is already out of the bag! My biggest question was whether the coin was perhaps altered or of dubious authenticity or something, hence the necessity to stick it in a sold as seen, no returns group lot. Perhpas taking the hit by sticking a great coin in the odd group lot, ensures people will continue to actually browse them rather than writing them off?

Roma aren't averse to boring group lots, all the other ones are! I wonder how the consigner is taking this? I'd be upset if it was my coin, but perhaps there is some additional context that explains it.

I was very shocked to see such a beautiful Caracalla antoninianus with radiate Lion holding thunderbolt reverse in this job lot! Why could this be? This coin is very valuable, especially in this condition which is maybe just shy of EF? It doesn't even fit with the time period of the other coins which are from the Third Century Crisis. Estimate £50 and the current bid is already £200 so people have noticed!

I don't mind long delays. I give every coin from overseas 6 weeks from purchase before I send an e-mail with an enquiry, provided I have received confirmation of shipping. If I haven't received shipping confirmation I will send an e-mail after 1 week to ask if it has been shipped. The long delay almost seems appropriate for the august items we are buying, and often makes the arrival more joyful. I imagine the coin reliving the long and arduous journey across the Empire to its most northern province. Sometimes, I think it is like waiting for a great meal, where the anticipation is as much of the experience as the dining itself. Like most of my opinions on coins, this one is altered by my particular buying habits. My anxiety is probably diminished by the low value of the majority of my purchases. I imagine when there's large amounts of capital involved, the wait is a negative experience.

The chin, nose and jaw are very ugly! The portrait has none of Faustina's dignified nobility about it. Looks like some botched cosmetic procedure from today's era. 🤣

With the arrival of London Ancient Coins on MAShops and CGB on Vcoins, it appears to me that both of these sites are slowly moving towards offering the same selection of coins. This is a more relevant observation for Europeans, as dealers from North America remain mostly exclusive to Vcoins. Is it inevitable that all dealers will end up on both sites eventually? If so, which marketplace would you make your purchases from, and if the sites end up indistinguishable in terms of offerings, do you think both will continue to operate long term? I personally prefer MAShops, purely for the additional functions: Marking when money is sent/received, and package is sent/received; the offer function; the feedback function; and the ability to see postage costs before adding to cart. As a result, when the same coin is offered on both marketplaces I usually use MAShops, I'd like to know which one you use when you have the choice? Any discussion about this is encouraged below, in addition to pictures of your last purchase from a marketplace, and which one it was, and whether you had the choice. My last purchase was from Incitatus coins on Vcoins. Incitatus is one of my favourite dealers, and one of the only North American ones I use. They are only on Vcoins so I didn't have a choice about which marketplace to use. PHILIP I THE ARAB AR silver antoninianus. Struck 248 AD. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right. Reverse - SAECVLARES AVGG, she-wolf standing left, suckling the twins Romulus & Remus, II in exergue. RIC 15. 22mm, 3.9g. Very scarce.

The devices seem to stand out more? I wonder if the fields were smoothed in order to remove the imperfections there, and the gold from this process was harvested and used to manipulate/fill in the existing devices? The coin seems to "pop" more in the after photo, and the relief looks higher. Perhaps some gold was left over after this process, or some "dust" couldn't be recovered?

Very lovely collecting idea! Some other moons of other planets could be added too! The comet of Julius Caesar should be on the far edge of the solar system, rather than near Earth?

My example from Aquileia . Rugged but quite charming. I'm currently selling it on eBay as I have replaced it with a Bull Reverse.