Dafydd

Here is a relatively common one but nice portrait IMHO. Vespasian, 69-79 Denarius circa 75, AR 19.5mm., 3.58g. IMP CAESAR # VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. PON MAX # TR P COS VI Pax seated l., holding branch. C 366. BMC 161. RIC 772. CBN 139.

Thank you. I had intended to write a report on my visit to the British Museum earlier this year after visiting their "Legion - life in the Roman Army" exhibition but the reports by @John Conduitt were so extensive and with such great photography there was nothing I could really add.

Here are some interesting "snake coins". PESCENNIUS NIGER. 193-194 AD. AR Denarius (2.82 gm). Caesarea in Cappadocia mint. SALUS STG R, FEEDING SNAKE HELD IN HER ARMS. ALTAR AT FEET. 17 mm 2.5gm v Victorinus SALUS FEEDING SNAKE RISING FROM ALTAR AND HOLDING SCEPTRE L. Roscius Fabatus Hd of Juno Sospita. r clad in goats skin, control symbol behind. L.ROSCI below ( partial) Maiden standing feeding snake erect before her, control symbol behind. FABATI in ex.

The pick bins were being sold by Educational Coins USA See https://www.educationalcoin.com/ It was good to share a positive experience. There was a really good editorial by John Mussell just before he passed following Covid in which he extoled the benefits of physical coin shows as opportunities to discuss and compare physically with like minded people to an extent that transcended the Internet. I'll see if I can find it and obtain permission to post it. I am not able to visit many coin shows but whenever I do, I leave better educated and fulfilled seeing things that outside of a museum I would never see. The example of so many Aurei on one table being one.

The tray above the Probus coins were all Constantine 1 Follis, some very reasonable, and the bag above it were all shipwreck recovery coins from HMS Admiral Gardner such as this one. They were 10 X cash coins destined for East India and were owned by the famous Matthew Boulton who perfected the steam press for minting coins. I regret not having bought one as they were inexpensive and another quite famous shipwreck salvaged coin.

Following up from requests by @Hrefn @Valentinian @Romismatist @Anaximander Here are my observations as a visitor. Parking is in the West Car Park, the facility is huge and it is at least a 20 minute walk to registration, bear this in mind if you have mobility issues but I believe at this entrance there is a shuttle available to take you around the building but I didn't see it. There was a FUN official there but I forged ahead. Registration is a breeze and the officials are friendly, enthusiastic and engaging. As previously I was given a tote bag with some freebies. Last years FUN coin, a pressed cent showing this years theme and an inspection torch with a blue light for notes and stamps. This would be great for kids. The theme of the show was "Coins and Kids, raising the next generation of numismatists". In my opinion this is a great theme. I didn't see many children at all but I visited on a school day. Maybe there were busloads on Saturday but I believe the show finished early on Saturday. The registration staff of FUN were friendly, enthusiastic and engaging, what a great way to start your day! Here is the entrance door. The exposition area is large and I headed to the Ancients section which is signed. Now here is a tip, don't assume all the ancients are here because they are not. General dealers throughout the hall occasionally have trays of ancients and because they are not expert, you can find some bargains but sometimes overpriced. I found two fake Otho on such tables. I'm good at spotting fake Otho's as I have bought one and have been helped by forum members to identify them. My priorities for the show was to find an Otho to finish my 12 Caesars and a Julius Caesar lifetime portrait and a Marc Anthony Legate IIII denarius, Echoing @Hrefn's comments I had choice and could physically handle and compare coins. I found 7 Otho's at least 2 fakes and the rest had problems such as great obverses and awful reverses or vice versa and the prices ranged from $600 to $1350 . I passed on all. As for my lifetime portrait of Julius Caesar I found two but one was $3500 and I thought this excessive as it wasn't outstanding and the other was pretty dismal. Generally I felt that the "good" coins were more expensive than many auctions but you have the option of choice and comparison which you don't have at auction. One dealer reckoned he has a Marc Antony Legate IIII denarius and said he would email me on Monday. If this is so, I would be delighted. I met some great collectors and dealers and here are some images of tables. I'm sorry about the reflections of lighting but it was difficult to take images with my phone. This last image is interesting when I think of a recent thread. Several hundred Probus at $5 each, take your pick. A pickers paradise. I also saw a table with 40 gold Aureus! yes 40. In my opinion these were all about $1000 more than recent auction prices but if I had a deep pocket and really wanted one, I had an amazing choice. I met several dealers and all were engaging. Tiber Numismatics had several tables and a great display. I really like the owner. He had a Didiius Julianus Sestertius at a reasonable $900 that had eye appeal and I was seriously interested but he spent an amount of time explaining what was wrong with it including older smoothing and potential tooling. In my opinion the sharp 90 degree edges on the hair shouted tooling but it was a coin that many , and nearly me, would accept. In my opinion his candidness was a barometer of his integrity and I would not hesitate in recommending him. He also gives coins to children. He has a $5 box and I witnessed him engage with a parent and give a coin to a child which is great. I witnessed this in a previous show so this is not new. He sells some ancient coin jewellery which doesn't really impress me but he is erudite and knows more about ancients than me so I won't criticise that part of his business. Here are some of the dealers I engaged with and all were great. There were some great collector exhibits too. This is one that interested me as I have been seeking a William 1 penny. I found one at the show but it was corroded. What did I buy? Not a lot as my initial targets were not available but I wanted to leave with something so left with two Ancients that improved my collection. The first was a Vespasian Judea Capta to replace my well worn example. I have wanted a better example for some time. Argenteus coins had three examples! One was a full flan with the legend extant but no better than the one I have, One had a reasonable obverse but weak reverse. The one I bought was a nice EF missing the obverse titles but a really sharp reverse , here it is. Vespasian Judea Capta AD 69-70 AD 2.4 gms. The same dealer also had a great upgrade on my Postumia C Postumiius 74 BC Hound reverse. One of our dogs is a sight hound ( Lurcher) and it is interesting to see this image after thousands of years which I often see in real life. My dog Ginger @David Atherton would like this image as it was taken on a Ley Line. Moving on. This hobby is really addictive and you can literally be distracted and go down rabbit holes. I had brought across a Mexican 8 Reales salvaged from the HMS Hollandia wreck to be slabbed by NCG. This is the coin. I don't collect slabs and have negative views on them but my coin had provenance of an early auction envelope which could easily be lost when I pass and as a diver I wanted to ensure that its history is perpetuated. What an eye opener at this show! Several dealers were selling Shipwreck coins from across the globe and I found this book. I can really recommend this book . In the forward by Daniel Frank Sedwick who I have learnt is a major dealer and whose tables I viewed states " All five W's- who, what, where, when and why - are not just answered but shown, Such a beautiful book is nothing but inspiring". I have already made an Ebay purchase today direct from a diver who salvaged from the HMS Association and guess I will try to put together a collection of one coin from each wreck salvaged. A lot easier that collecting all the Emperors! The Roman Emperor task will probably outlive me. One great interaction was meeting a dealer who said " I like your accent where are you from?" I said Wales. He then said " I love the TV show "Against the Wind" It's all about how you guys were all convicts and transported to Australian and the founding of New South Wales. I had to explain that although there were many Welsh of doubtful pedigree we weren't transported from England and Wales is in the UK.... One observation I made is that clearly the US Mint melting Morgan dollars down is an urban myth because for every Morgan collector there must be at least 50 coins of every date available. I have never seen so many Morgan Dollars, some in date piles. I have to confess that as a frequent visitor to the States I am putting a collection together but casually and not obsessively. At the show I heard conversations about VAMS, crossovers, hairlines, and the most myopic details of these coins. As an ancients and British historical ,collector the fascination of these coins eludes me , yes they are an iconic and beautiful coin but such a short period to study does not interest me. Nevertheless I bought one ,and here it is. The 2024 coin was released on July 11th but not available at the show graded. I tend to buy one of these modern coins when I visit and no doubt next year will pick up a 2024 issue. My conclusions of the show is that it really is "FUN". with such a large number of dealers you will probably find something to suit your budget. You will meet like minded people and have a better experience than sitting at a keyboard. People are great, so go and meet them! FUN really do a great job and deserve to be supported. Also , entrance for the public is free which I took advantage of. My philosophy at my age is "old bull and young bull at the top of the hill "so I don't need to buy early entry passes. If you can visit such a show, do so, you won't be disappointed. The FUN January show is much larger apparently and with better weather so that might be a great show to visit. If you don't visit Mouse Land, lodgings are inexpensive in Orlando as are flights,

I’m on vacation diving this week and will pass through Orlando and visit the FUN show. If anyone from here is there and wants to say hello let me know. I did surprisingly well two years ago and would like to visit the January show when the weather is cooler and the show bigger but work has not allowed.

Nice coin, Here is my left facing Vespasian. Vespasian, 69-79 Dupondius circa 74, Æ 26mm., 9.41g. Radiate head r. Rev. Felicitas standing l., holding caduceus and cornucopiae. C 153. RIC 716.

Great post and great graphics. Thank you. This was also on my "hit list" for some time and I noticed fluctuations in price , I guess dependent on how many were offered and how many people were looking for one at auction. I suggest this is a "rite of passage" coin for most collectors as it is so iconic. T. Carisius. Silver Denarius (3.89 g), 46 BC. Rome. MONETA behind, draped bust of Juno Moneta right. Reverse: T CARISIVS, coining tools: tongs, anvil with garlanded die above, and hammer; all within wreath tied at the top. Crawford 464/2; HCRI 70; Sydenham 982a; Carisia 1a. Some light porosity noted. NGC Photo certificate grade Ch XF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Now liberated from slab. Ex - Ira and Larry Goldberg. Ex The William Oldknow Collection.

Here is my example. Ref Julius Caesar RSC 49 denarius Julius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius. CAESAR in exergue, elephant right, trampling on serpent / Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat. Cr443/1; Syd 1006; BMCRR (Gaul) 27. 3.44 gm 7.97 mm

Thank you @Nemo yes you are absolutely correct this was raised several years ago on the "other" forum and was returned then. I meant to post something else, posted this one , realised it was an old image and did not post the reverse and thought I had deleted it before hitting the button. I'll keep it up because your following images are really helpful and bound to help someone else in the future.

Here are a couple. Galba, 68-69 As Tarraco (?) September to December 68, Æ 27mm., 11.17g. Laureate head r., with globe at point of the bust. Rev. Libertas standing l., holding pileus in r. hand and rod in l. C #. RIC 73. VITELLIUS (69). Denarius. Rome. Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P. Laureate head right. Rev: XV VIR SACR FAC. Tripod surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven right. Rev: XV VIR SACR FAC. Tripod surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven right. RIC109 Vespasian, 69-79 Denarius circa 75, AR 19.5mm., 3.58g. IMP CAESAR # VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. PON MAX # TR P COS VI Pax seated l., holding branch. C 366. BMC 161. RIC 772. CBN 139.

Thank you @Heliodromus I lived in Sully 40 years ago but had never heard of this hoard. How strange to see a pinprick on the map where I used to live mentioned here.

Nero, 54-68 Semis circa 64, Æ 18.5mm., 4.69g. Laureate head r. Rev. Table seen from front, bearing urn and wreath; round shield resting against table leg. C. 47. RIC 233. This has a very dark green patina which the image doesn't really portray. This following coin is very light, not shiny but "white." VITELLIUS (69). Denarius. Rome. 19mm 2.89 gm Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P. Laureate head right. Rev: XV VIR SACR FAC. Tripod surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven right. Rev: XV VIR SACR FAC. Tripod surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven right. RIC109

Let's try this one instead...