El Cazador

5 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

I think it's a pity - I liked buying coins at Roma. Roma often had coins that I really liked. The service was impeccable - pay - get the goods safely. I have nothing bad to say about Roma, I have only had positive experiences.

 

What I don't understand, partly in the forums, partly on social media like Facebook, is the malice or even the opinion that Roma were criminals anyway - and some users unpack the moral club.

I would bet that these users have no problem buying a coin they really want from a dealer or an auction - without caring where exactly this coin comes from. Morality then quickly stops at their own favourite coin.

Anyone who pillories Bale should ask himself whether he has done everything he can to make 100% sure that his coins have all gone the legal way! Neither I nor my dealer colleagues have ever experienced buyers wanting to know exactly which way the coin they have just bought went. What I don't know doesn't make me hot? Or, if I don't know exactly, then I'm not guilty?

The only difference between Bale and us is that Bale illegally moved very expensive and valuable coins in a media-effective manner. But just because our coins are only worth 100 USD and we don't really care where they come from (or shift the responsibility to the seller) - we are morally better than Bale.

Somewhat provocatively written, I know. But I'm not throwing stones at Roma or Bale - because I think I've had enough coins in my hands whose paths I don't know.

Well said!

Great Auction House , sad day for Numismatics 

2 hours ago, Salomons Cat said:

@lordmarcovan, your Augustus, Claudius, Vespasian and Domitian are excellent and in very high grade; it's also nice that you have 2 aureii... 
Otho and Galba are great, too, with their complete names in the legends. It's a beautiful composition of coins that you have.

I find it particularly enjoyable to view entire collections. 
When I have a sense of the collection a coin belongs to, it alters my perception of each new acquisition. A collection, in my view, is usually more than the sum of it's parts. Regrettably, I haven't had the opportunity to create a comprehensive virtual overview of my collection yet.

As of now, I'm still missing Caligula. However, I've decided against purchasing coins featuring Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. I'm not sure if I will ever build a complete 12 caesars set. To provide some insight, I've captured a screenshot of the initial segment of my collection:

Really cool Nerva!👍🏻

Happy Easter!

26 minutes ago, Postvmvs said:

Postumus Antoninianus

Obv:– IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Rev:– PACATOR ORBIS, Radiate, draped bust of Sol right.

ca. 269 AD

 

Next: an official mint coin with a spelling mistake

Absolutely fantastic coin!🔥

On 3/24/2024 at 8:30 PM, Octavius said:

1. As of Nero with Victory and shield inscribed SPQR....

 

2. sestertius of Caligula with SPQR reverse....

 

3. denarius of Caligula with SPQR reverse....

 

4. sestertius of Claudius with SPQR reverse....

 

5. denarius of Vitellius with SPQR in wreath reverse....

 

6. denarius of Trajan with SPQR /  Eagle and standards reverse...

 

Really nice Vitellius

2 hours ago, DonnaML said:

I write up and post most coins within a few days or at most a week of their arrival. Roman Republican coins are an exception, since there's often so much to research and write about each type in my footnotes, and I tend to procrastinate. So it sometimes takes a very long time before I post them. 

I've bought only one Roman Republican coin this year (an example of Crawford 423/1), at the Burgan Numismatique auction of the Bernard Poindessault Collection back at the end of January. I've had it since mid-February, so for more than a month:

But I still haven't finished writing the description or written any of the necessary footnotes. Partly because I was out of commission with Covid for quite a while, and partly because I have no idea how to identify a portion of the reverse design -- something nobody seems to have tried to do in the past. Probably because it appears, to the best of my knowledge, on only one of more than 100 different reverse dies, with only a handful of examples (including mine) in the RRDP.  It's the object on my specimen that looks sort of like a kickstand, going from the end of the right-hand warrior's scabbard(?) to the ground. See the same object, marked with a red dot, on these four examples from the RRDP. (The third one is my specimen, from a previous auction by Auctiones A.G., Basel in 1973, for which the ANS kindly sent me the relevant portions of the catalog.) All the other reverse dies depict a scabbard(?) without any extension. This one reverse die, along with a few others without the "kickstand," also differs from the rest in having an orb within a circle on that warrior's shield, rather than the usual star. 

If anyone has any bright ideas for identifying this object, please let me know. Maybe that will inspire me to finally finish the writeup!

Really nice coin👍🏻

5 hours ago, KenDorney said:

Seems many of us are in a similar situation.  As others have pointed out, there is only so much time in the day, so I only work on my collection when I have time (which is not often these days).  I have trays of coins sitting on the bookshelves atop the books, stashed waiting to be processed.  In this pic you can see I have one tray worked up and another not, none of it photographed at all.  It can often take months to get it done.

That Aeolis Tetradrachm is 🔥

On 3/20/2024 at 12:23 PM, CassiusMarcus said:

Hello all,

This is my first post on the forum I'm excited to get to know everyone and check out some of your awesome collections, learn stuff and talk with like-minded people.

Here are my two recent pickups from LEU. I primarily collect tetradrachm of the Diadochi but I got something quite different this time and went for a Persian Daric. As well as a tet of Antiochos the Great, one of my favourite Seleucid Kings. I'm really in love with the strike on this tetradrachm and the detail on it, I have had a hard time finding one of Antiochos III that stood out to me so this one has fit that bill.. 

let me know what you think! 

SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos III ‘the Great’, 222-187 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 16.69 g, 12 h), Nisibis, circa 211-209/8. Diademed head of Antiochos III to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ

PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, circa 420-375 BC. Daric (Gold, 18 mm, 8.33 g, 12 h), Lydo-Milesian standard, Sardes

Really neat tetradrachm!

54 minutes ago, David Atherton said:

Maybe it's just me, but the 'doofus purchase' segment is the least interesting thing in the podcast. I see them all the time, especially on eBay. 

Edit: There's actually one in tomorrow's CNG auction, so I'm not just eBay shaming!

To me, is actually the best part of the podcast- teaching u what not to do…

3 hours ago, Romancollector said:

Hi Everyone, 

Please check out my lots in CNG's upcoming E-Auction 558. There are 20 roman imperial coins and one ostrogothic coin, all in excellent condition! 

1. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Quinarius (14.5mm, 1.81 g, 11h). Emerita mint; P. Carisius, legatus pro praetore. Struck circa 25-23 BC. Good VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIG4/augustus-27-bc-ad-14-ar-quinarius-145mm-181-g-11h-emerita-mint-p-carisius-legatus-pro-praetore-struck-circa-25-23-bc-good-vf

3. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 24.98 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 145-147. Near EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIIR/antoninus-pius-ad-138-161-sestertius-34mm-2498-g-12h-rome-mint-struck-ad-145-147-near-ef

3. Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. Æ As (25mm, 11.29 g, 10h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 141-146. Good VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIIW/diva-faustina-senior-died-ad-1401-as-25mm-1129-g-10h-rome-mint-struck-under-antoninus-pius-circa-ad-141-146-good-vf

4.Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 25.60 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 150-late 150s. Good VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIIZ/diva-faustina-senior-died-ad-1401-sestertius-32mm-2560-g-6h-rome-mint-struck-under-antoninus-pius-circa-ad-150-late-150s-good-vf

5. Commodus. As Caesar, AD 166-177. Æ As (26mm, 10.95 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, AD 175-176. VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIJH/commodus-as-caesar-ad-166-177-as-26mm-1095-g-6h-rome-mint-struck-under-marcus-aurelius-and-commodus-ad-175-176-vf

6. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.79 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 201. EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIJT/septimius-severus-ad-193-211-ar-denarius-185mm-379-g-12h-rome-mint-struck-ad-201-ef

7. Maximinus I. AD 235-238. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 21.59 g, 12h). Rome mint. 3rd emission, late AD 236-237. Good VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIML/maximinus-i-ad-235-238-sestertius-30mm-2159-g-12h-rome-mint-3rd-emission-late-ad-236-237-good-vf

8. Gordian III. As Caesar, AD 238. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 22.41 g, 12h). Rome mint. 1st emission of Balbinus and Pupienus, circa April-June AD 238. VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIMV/gordian-iii-as-caesar-ad-238-sestertius-30mm-2241-g-12h-rome-mint-1st-emission-of-balbinus-and-pupienus-circa-april-june-ad-238-vf

9. Otacilia Severa. Augusta, AD 244-249. Æ Sestertius (29.5mm, 19.90 g, 12h). Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) issue, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Rome. Rome mint, 4th officina. 9th emission of Philip I, AD 248. Good VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIND/otacilia-severa-augusta-ad-244-249-sestertius-295mm-1990-g-12h-ludi-saeculares-secular-games-issue-commemorating-the-1000th-anniversary-of-rome-rome-mint-4th-officina-9th-emission-of-philip-i-ad-248-good-vf

10. Aurelian. AD 270-275. Antoninianus (22.5mm, 4.43 g, 6h). Serdica mint, 2nd officina. 8th emission, November AD 274-September 275. Near EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YINV/aurelian-ad-270-275-antoninianus-225mm-443-g-6h-serdica-mint-2nd-officina-8th-emission-november-ad-274-september-275-near-ef

11. Tacitus. AD 275-276. Antoninianus (21.5mm, 4.24 g, 11h). Rome mint, 1st officina. 2nd emission, November-December AD 275. Choice EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIO3/tacitus-ad-275-276-antoninianus-215mm-424-g-11h-rome-mint-1st-officina-2nd-emission-november-december-ad-275-choice-ef

12. Carus. AD 282-283. Antoninianus (21.5mm, 3.79 g, 12h). Siscia mint. Pre-emission, mid October AD 282. Near EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIOD/carus-ad-282-283-antoninianus-215mm-379-g-12h-siscia-mint-pre-emission-mid-october-ad-282-near-ef

13. Carinus. As Caesar, AD 282-283. Antoninianus (22.5mm, 3.05 g, 12h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 3rd officina. 3rd emission, November-late AD 282. Near EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIOF/carinus-as-caesar-ad-282-283-antoninianus-225mm-305-g-12h-lugdunum-lyon-mint-3rd-officina-3rd-emission-november-late-ad-282-near-ef

14. Diocletian. AD 284-305. Æ Follis (27mm, 10.28 g, 12h). Aquileia mint, 2nd officina. Struck circa AD 300. Near EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIOH/diocletian-ad-284-305-follis-27mm-1028-g-12h-aquileia-mint-2nd-officina-struck-circa-ad-300-near-ef

15. Constantius I. As Caesar, AD 293-305. Æ Follis (26mm, 10.40 g, 12h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 1st officina. Struck AD 300-302. EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIOX/constantius-i-as-caesar-ad-293-305-follis-26mm-1040-g-12h-lugdunum-lyon-mint-1st-officina-struck-ad-300-302-ef

16. Galerius. AD 305-311. Æ Follis (25mm, 7.21 g, 6h). Cyzcius mint, 2rd officina. Struck circa AD 308. Good VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIP7/galerius-ad-305-311-follis-25mm-721-g-6h-cyzcius-mint-2rd-officina-struck-circa-ad-308-good-vf

17. Divus Romulus. Died AD 309. Æ Follis (21.5mm, 6.04 g, 6h). Rome mint, 1st officina. 5th emission of Maxentius, Phase 2, early AD 310-early 311. VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIPB/divus-romulus-died-ad-309-follis-215mm-604-g-6h-rome-mint-1st-officina-5th-emission-of-maxentius-phase-2-early-ad-310-early-311-vf

18. Licinius I. AD 308-324. Æ Follis (25.5mm, 7.58 g, 6h). Cyzicus mint, 2nd officina. Struck circa AD 309-310. Near EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIPD/licinius-i-ad-308-324-follis-255mm-758-g-6h-cyzicus-mint-2nd-officina-struck-circa-ad-309-310-near-ef

19. Constantine I. As Caesar, AD 306-309. Æ Follis (26.5mm, 7.74 g, 6h). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck circa Summer AD 307. Superb EF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIPF/constantine-i-as-caesar-ad-306-309-follis-265mm-774-g-6h-treveri-trier-mint-struck-circa-summer-ad-307-superb-ef

20. Valentinian III. AD 425-455. AR Half Siliqua (13.5mm, 0.92 g, 12h). Rome mint. VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIPX/valentinian-iii-ad-425-455-ar-half-siliqua-135mm-092-g-12h-rome-mint-vf

21. OSTROGOTHS. Athalaric. 526-534. AR Quarter Siliqua (10mm, 0.69 g, 6h). Struck in the name of Justinian I. Ravenna mint. Struck 526-534. VF. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-D0YIRF/ostrogoths-athalaric-526-534-ar-quarter-siliqua-10mm-069-g-6h-struck-in-the-name-of-justinian-i-ravenna-mint-struck-526-534-vf

Thanks @Romancollector… Any chance you will be selling your silver denarii of 12 Caesars? Thanks

3 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

One popular trend that is still popular is taking raw high grade ancient coins sold at auction & getting them slabbed. Sometimes this can really payoff & at other times you can end up losing money. A good case to point at is a Siculo-Punic tetradrachm that will appear in a major Heritage auction, see photos below. This coin sold at Nomos Auction 20, lot 51, July 10, 2020, for a price realized of 2,800 CHF (Swiss francs). Add on the buyer's premium of 22.5 %, and take into account the fall in value of the U.S. $ since nearly 4 years ago, & this coin would have to sell for over $3,893.31 to show a profit 😮. I'll be curious to see what Heritage gets for this coin & would be surprised if it exceeds $3,000.00. The coin is well struck & attractive but has an annoying die-break on the cheek of Melqart-Heracles.

I actually think it will go closer to $4,000+

in my opinion it is superior to your example @Al Kowskythat you showed a year - two ago!

this is easily $4,000 - $5,000 coin

32 minutes ago, Edessa said:

Have not shown this one in a while. 

Roman Asia Minor. Ionia, Uncertain mint (Ephesus?). Claudius, AD 41-54. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (21mm, 10.77g, 6h). Uncertain mint in Asia, Group I, struck circa AD 41-42. Obv: TI CLAVD CAES•AVG; Bare head of Claudius to left. Rev: DIAN-EPHE; Tetrastyle temple on podium of four steps, enclosing cult statue of Diana of Ephesus with polos on head and fillets hanging from wrists; pediment decorated with two figures flanking large disk set on central table, and two tables and recumbent figures in angles. Ref: BMC 229; RSC 30; RIC I 118; RPC I 2222. Beautifully toned and with an enchanting portrait. Minor flan faults on the obverse, otherwise, Good Very Fine. Ex Münzen und Medallien AG Basel 500 (Jun 1987), Lot 34. From the J. M. A. L. Collection, formed between 1970 and 2000, Chaponnière & Firmenich 13 (16 May 2021), Lot 279 (with collector's ticket). Ex Leu Numismatik (18 Jul 2022), Lot 2368. Leu Auction Note: The Ephesian Temple of Diana, better known as the Artemision, was one of the largest Greek temples ever to be built. It was reconstructed in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC after having been burnt down by Herostratos in 356 and was considered by Antipatros of Sidon to be the crown of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Great festivities and processions surrounded the cult of Artemis Ephesia, attracting large crowds of visitors and pilgrims from all over the Graeco-Roman world. The famous passage in the Acts of the Apostles, in which the silversmith Demetrius, feeling threatened by Paul's sermons against the worship of devotional objects, gives a speech against the apostle, is evidence of the popularity of the cult and its great economic importance to the local community: 'You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.' (Acts 19,25-27). Paul was saved from the raging Ephesian mob by a friend, but the Artemision was burned down some two hundred years later by Gothic raiders and abandoned in late Antiquity. Most of the columns and stones were used as spolia in late Roman and early Byzantine churches such as the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The site of the Artemision today is basically a large swampy hole in the ground, dug up by its excavators in the 19th century, which has since become overgrown with grass. To modern visitors, little recalls the original monumentality and beauty of the sanctuary as we know it from historiographical descriptions and artistic renderings, such as that on our coin.

Next: Claudius.

Fantastic, has been on my “Buy list “ for over 3 years now, where did u get it?

3 hours ago, panzerman said:

Please show  your stuff...

Mine/

Frei Stadt Danzig

AV 25 Gulden 1930

Danzig Mint

Arms/ Neptune

Really cool

On 3/9/2023 at 4:40 PM, panzerman said:

I have five from Norweb Collection/ here is one....

Beautiful 

4 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

You've skimmed through a text again and didn't read it properly - but maybe you just don't understand some things. I wrote that trading is completely okay if it is done openly and fairly. But not with any flimsy arguments. I often trade with my buyers - and it's completely okay if you trade openly and honestly with each other. But not like in this case.

But as I wrote - lately you've just been reading through the texts quickly and making some kind of comment underneath - and when people want concrete arguments from you, you just evade them.

And I don't just refer to my posts. Maybe you'll think about why you're now on the forum's ignore list for some users here.

Just think about it. In this sense... 😉 

whatever makes you happy!

I guess,for the same reason you are on buyers - “no buy list”, given nature of your pricing strategies and listing tooled and smoothed coins for absurd sums…. 
 

or writing 5-pager essays that nobody has time or desire to read…

let’s close the topic, please!

13 hours ago, Ocatarinetabellatchitchix said:

Archeology is second nature to many lovers of ancient coins. Here are my top 4 of the best archaeological discoveries of the year 2023, all for the pleasure of your eyes!

 

MARCH – Funding has been signed to restore more than 20 large ancient statues, unearthed in recent years under the ruins of ancient sacred Roman baths (San Casciano dei Bagni). Artifacts from the 1st century B.C. depict ancient gods and offerings.

 

 

 

JULY – Four very well preserved swords (three of which are still in their wooden sheaths) are found in a cave near the Dead Sea. They date from the year 134 or 135 B.C., when the Jews rebelled against Roman rule.

 

 

 

JULY – A fragment of what appears to be the world's oldest book, 2,300 years old, was discovered on a mummy. Papyrus had been used to wrap it. There are written, in Greek, the details of taxes on beer and oil. The discovery pushes back the origin of books by several centuries.

 

 

JULY – The exact location of the theater of Emperor Nero (AD 54-68), known for his love of the performing arts, was until now a mystery. The ruins were discovered during renovation work on the Palazzo Della Rovere in Rome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are fascinating, thanks for sharing!

On 1/1/2024 at 6:52 AM, Prieure de Sion said:

And I'll use the thread right away - but first a Happy New Year 2024 to you all! Please all stay healthy!

 

What I am upset about today is a phenomenon when you are selling something and a prospective buyer wants to start a price negotiation. 
 
It's not a problem for me if someone writes to me saying "I really like your goods, is it possible to do something about the price? That's a completely legitimate question - and I have no problem with perhaps negotiating the price.
 
What I don't always understand, however, is when a prospective buyer writes to me with the words: "Hello, I'm interested in your goods - but there are lots of them at better prices! So how much discount can you give me?".

I don't understand this! If - according to the interested party - there are a lot of offers (like my goods) and at better prices (so that my price is not realistic) - then why doesn't he just buy one of the apparently many other offers? 

The truth is - I think - he still likes my offer best (look, condition, quality, features, etc.) - but he wants my goods at the lower price of the not so good goods. But that's just the problem. Item A only costs 500 USD because the quality and features are perhaps slightly worse. And my item B costs 750 USD because it has better features or condition. It is simply worth a little more than the other (poor) goods on the market. But the interested party now wants goods B at the price of goods A. Because if goods A were in the same condition as my goods for 500 USD - then he wouldn't have contacted me in the first place.

Just say you like my products best and whether it is possible to get a small discount. But don't say that there are so many of your goods on the market, I'm too expensive and you can get the same thing for less money everywhere else. Then don't write to me - and buy there! But why don't you do that? 😄 

 

First day of the new year and something like that. No - it doesn't really upset me. But it's a phenomenon that I have again and again when I sell something.

Do you know that too?

Totally fine, i see nothing wrong with it! Its a market, so everyone has to negotiate…

10 minutes ago, kirispupis said:

Given the off topic nature, I thought I'd share some photos from our recent trip to Curacao.

It will be about 2000 years before there's any ancient coins from Curacao, so just the photos for now...

 

Curacao is super cool, especially the island itself, diving is superb and its more fun than more marketed Aruba!

great pictures, as always!

On 1/1/2024 at 2:25 PM, panzerman said:

In 2023 there was one leader who inspired resistance to tyranny/ evil just as Arminius had in 9AD Germany vs Rome.

Slava Ukraine!!!🇺🇦 

Solid list @Kazuma78

 I voted for #1,# 4 and #9 Lysimachos 

4 hours ago, Brennos said:

The year 2023 only brought 36 more coins to my trays, but some of them have a place of honour. The advantage is that selecting the top 10 is an easier task 🙂. I post the acquisitions in chronological order.

 

I had to wait until March to win my first coin, but what a coin! This type has been on my wish list for a long time.

1. CARTHAGE. Circa 270-264 BC. AV  Trihemistater (22mm, 12.48 g). 
O/ Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with eleven pendants 
R/ Horse standing right, head left. 
Jenkins & Lewis group IX, 389 (same dies); MAA 26; SNG Copenhagen (North Africa) 181; de Luynes 3749 (same obv. die). 

An addition to my "Sicilian big bronzes" sub collection, the famous δραχμαὶ καττιτέρου (drachm in tin), the cornerstone of Dionysios of Syracuse's reform of the monetary system.

2. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. Æ Drachm (28.5mm, 34.15 g). 
O/ ΣYPA. Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with neck guard and bowl decorated with wreath 
R/ Sea-star between two dolphins. 
CNS 62; HGC 2, 1436. 

An interesting addition to my "incuse coinage of Magna Graecia”: A very rare stater of Kroton from the early stage coinage with a spread flan depicting an eagle incuse on the revers.

3. ITALY, Bruttium, Kroton. c. 530-500 BC. AR Stater, (28.0 mm, 7.95g).
O/ ϘPO. Tripod, legs surmounted by wreaths and terminating in lion's feet. 
R/ Eagle flying right, incuse. 
HN Italy 2084; HGC 1, 145.

4. SICILY, Gela. circa 490-475 BC. AR Didrachm 8.64 g. 
O/ Naked and helmeted rider on prancing horse r., wielding spear in raised r. hand, l. arm behind horse's mane, holding reins. 
R/ CE – ΛΑ partially retrograde Forepart of man-headed bull r.; all within shallow circular incuse. Boston, MFA 241 (these dies). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 55, 156 (these dies). Hunterian 210 (these dies). Jenkins, Gela 28.

5. KINGS of THRACE. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AV Stater (21.0 mm, 8.55 g). Alexandria Troas mint (?). Struck 297/6-281 BC. 
O/ Diademed head of the deified Alexander right 
R/ BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΛYΣIMAXOY. Athena Nikephoros seated left; HE monogram to inner left, eagle head in exergue. 
Cf. Thompson 141 (same obv die). 

The next coin comes from the collection of professor, grammarian, hellenist and numismatist Marc Bar which was dispersed by Elsen this year. For many years he edited the "Bulletin du Cercle d'études numismatiques" and donated his collection of Greek bronze coins to the Brussels cabinet which published it (SNG Belgique La collection de Bronzes grecs de Marc Bar) together with interesting personal notes by the collector. 

6. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter as satrap, 323-305/4 BC, or king, 305/4-282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 15.26 g). Ptolemaic standard. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Uncertain Mint 3, probably Memphis. Struck circa 306-303 BC. 
O/ Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin, aegis around neck 
R/ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔPOY. Athena Alkidemos advancing right; monogram to inner left; to right, monogram and eagle standing right on thunderbolt. 
Svoronos 139; SNG Copenhagen 23

another coin that has long been on my wish list.

7. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AV 100 Litrai – Double Dekadrachm (13.5mm, 5.79 g). Struck circa 405-400 BC. Unsigned dies in the style of Kimon.
O/ ΣYPAKOΣION. Head of Arethusa to left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, hair in sphendone ornamented with two stars; A behind.
R/ Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean Lion; rocks below.
Bérend 30; Gulbenkian 324 (same dies); SNG ANS 332-333 (same dies) HGC 2, 1275

SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-400 BC. AV 20 Litrai – Tetradrachm (11mm, 1.13 g). Struck circa 405-400 BC. 
O/ ΣYPA. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin 
R/ Quadripartite incuse square, ethnic in quarters; in deeper incuse circle in center, small female head (Arethousa?) left, wearing necklace. 
Bérend pl. XI, 3; HGC 2, 1289

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV stater (19mm, 8.64 gm). Posthumous issue of Phoenicia, Tyre, ca. 305-290 BC. 
O/ Head of Athena to right, wearing Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, the bowl adorned with coiled serpent 
R/ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Nike standing left, holding wreath in her right hand and stylis with her left; monograms within circles in left field and below right wing. 
Price 3528 (same dies). Müller 1588. 

I had no intention of buying the next coin when I attended the sale but I couldn't resist once I had it in hand 😇
An old pedigree was pretty easy to find : a 1932 Bourgey sale, two years too late to be included in the Gallatin's corpus. 

SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (37mm, 41.65 g). Reverse die signed by Euainetos. Struck circa 405-390 BC. 
O/ Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness], shield, greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [AΘΛA below] 
R/ Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥ-ΡΑ-ΚΟ-ΣΙΩΝ behind hair, four dolphins swimming around, [EY-AINE] along lower edge. 
Gallatin R IV C X; Ex: collection Galice sale Bourgey 4/12/1932

 

I wish you all, your family and your dear loved ones a Happy New Year, joy, good health and great acquisitions !

 

@Brennos

Happy New Year!

I am always excited to see your list and my vote goes for your #1 , Gela didrachm and Lysimachos stater!

overall fantastic list, congratulations!

Nice coins, but top for me are Nerva denarius and Hispan RR denarius 

This was absolutely amazing to read, thank you and happy New Year!!

37 minutes ago, Shea19 said:

Thanks!  Yours is one of the best Valerian portraits I’ve seen, great coin.

I got lucky on mine…I got it on the last day of one of those 4-day marathon Leu auctions for very cheap (I think most bidders had lost interest by the time it got to Valerian 😁)

Absolutely fantastic Valerian you got, really neat as those usually pretty ugly 🤣