Dafydd

These are all superb coins and I would rather purchase toned denarii than clearly recently cleaned ones although more than often a "must have" type coin overrules this preference. A well know contributor on this site once advised me to keep coins in old manilla invoices for a year and I would see wonders! I did and it works but if toning is a result of time and atmosphere is this artificial toning? Possibly ?

I have been very grateful over the years on this forum ,and another, to have a couple of PM messages about a fake that I had not found on other sites despite my research. Having made a major mistake several years ago I know that my enthusiasm sometimes overtakes common sense. Ancient coins are a recent interest of mine in the past eight years having a 40 year interlude from collecting ancients to pursue other collecting interest so I bow to the fantastic and generously shared experience of others. The PM saves embarrassment although I never considered education as being embarrassing and I would normally share my news. Until I retire, my time for studying is split between Ancients and a plethora of other interests including work so I have always been grateful and humbled by the advice I have received. The one time I did raise public awareness about a serious legitimate concern about unscrupulous dealings that was brought to my attention, and confirming my own experience, I was severally "rapped across the knuckles" so will not do that again as this is my hobby not a profession. Normally my philosophy is that "still waters don't make great sailors" but as I want to enjoy this site my appetite for confrontation is now quite low. It is true that "evil prevails when good men do nothing" so I am firmly of the opinion that if a fake is spotted, call it out, just be oblique about naming the source as you will end up having your comments redacted.

I have a packet on my desk that possibly has travelled the farthest. All the way from Australia roughly 9500 miles. My Secret Saturnalia will know who they are and this is an acknowledgment that the packet arrived safely. I have resisted the temptation to open it and will wait for the day. I was wondering about a role reversal on the day and asking my wife to do the cooking for a change. Maybe not......

Valerian. 256-260 AD. Uncertain Syrian mint. Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG legend with radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: PIETAS AVGG legend with Valerian and Gallienus standing, facing each other, sacrificing over altar, one holding eagle-tipped sceptre, the other a parazonium. RIC 285; Sear 9955 (obverse variant").3.64 grams. ("). From the private collection of a retired Suffolk gentleman; with old faded handwritten collection ticket. Valerian was born to a distinguished Roman family and had experience as a general and an administrator. Once emperor, he arguably faced a more critical situation than any previous regime. He attempted to negotiate peace with Shapur and the Sasanids at a conference in 260 AD, but he was attacked and taken into captivity in Persia, the first Roman emperor ever to fall into the hands of a foreign power. At this point, Rome was on the brink of collapse.

Link Janus ANONYMOUS. As (169-158 BC). Rome. Obv: Laureate head of bearded Janus; I (mark of value) above. Rev: ROMA. Prow of galley right; I (mark of value) above. Crawford 56/2. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 29.35 g. Diameter: 35 mm.

What a coincidence. Divide square miles or kilometres with the population of the world and you probably have more chance of winning a Lottery 100 times! Strange to think when you were in the hospital this was waiting in the ground probably within walking distance of you!

Happy birthday Nerva! Crawford 544/8, Sydengam 1213; O: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head right. AS. R: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM S-C, clasped hands. 9.23 g Nerva Æ Dupondius. Rome, AD 96-98. IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, radiate head to right / [CONCORDIA EXER]CITVVM, clasped hands; in background, legionary eagle set on prow; S-C across fields. RIC II 81; C. 32; BMCRE 122, pl. 6, 4 (same dies). 13.69g, 28mm, 6h.

Here is one I received today that has been on my wants list for some time. Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus Silver Denarius Rome mint, (54 BC). Obverse: Bust of Libertas facing right; LIBERTAS downward behind. Reverse: Consul L. Junius Brutus, between two lictors, each carrying axe over shoulder, preceded by accensus, all walking to left, BRVTVS in exergue. Crawford 433/1; BMCRR Rome 3862; RSC Junia 31. Weight 3.71 g 21 mm It has some old collector labels including one from Michael Trenerry that I always appreciate. A bonus is that one of the labels state it was found in Ely Mildenhall on 15/6/82

I picked this up yesterday. I would have preferred more legend extant but loved the portrait. Marius, 268 Antoninianus Cologne 268, billon 17.00 mm., 3.25 g.

To go through so much trouble to break into the building and "target" such artefacts displays a modicum of intelligence beyond that of casual thieves. I agree with @John Conduitt and strongly suspect that the intention would be to "ransom" them against an insurance claim. Scrap silver is hardly worth the effort they have undertaken and they would probably know this. I'm pretty sure @DonnaML that there are such inscrutable and dishonest people who would arrange such a theft simply for the sake of depriving others from access to them because they would never be for sale. Many of these pieces of regimental silver are truly magnificent and only decorated the mess tables on high days and holidays. The late Naval Historian Roger Perkins published a book Military and Naval Silver: Treasures of the Mess and Wardroom. One of the best pieces of silver I have seen is a large silver table decoration that depicts a Polar exploration sledging team. It is only aired once a year at the Captain Scott Society memorial dinner held in Cardiff which was Scott's port of embarkation on his final journey to Antarctica.

I have long admired Wyon’s engraving of William IV’s hair. You have a lovely example @DonnaML complimented with your usual excellent post. A good grading point too. Similarly the line across George III and IV coinage’s laurel leaves instantly allows grade indication. You have an outstanding collection.

Link Henry VIII Henry VIII Groat, looking stern! SPINK 2337A Next An Elephant.

Here is another Vitellius. OBVERSE VITELLIUS RIGHT As Sear 2196 but provincial ? GERM IMP AVG TR P CONCORDIA PR Concordia seated left Ex-Lodge Antiquities.

Here is one my mine. Carausius, 287-293 Antoninianus Londinium circa 290-292, billon 22mm., 3.08g. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Pax, draped standing l., holding olive-branch in r. hand and vertical sceptre in l. hand. C 215. RIC 99. Ex-Navilles.

I was displaying some Welsh irony 😂 Some crazy person has spent more than the coins are worth to slab them. Maybe some philanthropist or idealist will buy them to crack them out….

Yes, the slabs will be the antiques of the future and can be collected by date.

I didn't know this @Deinomenid so that throws a new theory on the subject. The truth will out eventually. Of course the simple matter to resolve this interest is to call them and ask them. I may do this tomorrow as it probably doesn't do them any good to be the subject of conjecture and our curiosity has been piqued by the curiosity.

That's the one @Al Kowsky another beautiful coin! Thank you for sharing.

A really interesting interview and wonderful coins. Thank you both. I have been looking for a Marcus Junius Brutus denarius depicting him as consul walking in procession between two lictors for some time so my eye was immediately drawn to your second Thracian coin which is quite superb and this is my favourite because of a recent interest. All of your coins are so good it would be difficult to prioritise.

Exceptional -Wow , what hair!

Link Trophy and Captives Iulius Caesar. Denarius Spain 46-45, AR 18mm., 3.68g. Diademed head of Venus r.; behind, Cupid. Rev. Two captives seated at sides of trophy with oval shield and carnyx in each hand; in exergue, CAESAR. Babelon Julia 11. C. 13. Sydenham 1014. Sear Imperators 58. RBW 1639. Crawford 468/1.

Link Caracalla Caracalla and Geta GIC 2716 Obv: AV K M AV ANTONINOC AV K ? CE? GETAC Laureate, cuirassed and draped busts of Caracalla & Geta facing. (Sear GIC 2716v / Moushmov 469) Rev: V F? OV??IANOV-MAPKIANO?O?[ITON?] Tyche standing left with rudder and cornucopia. E in left field. 32.45 mm 17.45 g

Nice coin @JayAg47 Here is one of my 12 Caesars. 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. RIC109 Ex Neumismatik Neumann

Gosh @Ryro, I do apologise. That was a senior moment. My mind told me I was playing Coin Uno not post-it-and-pick- it. A long day and I should stay focused.