Dafydd

This is a little tongue in cheek as it is a lion skin on someones scalp so lets continue the theme that next is a lion scalp. AR DIDRACHMA, Rome, 270-260 B.C. Obv. side depicts diademedhead of Hercules right, wearing lion skin around neck and with club overshoulder; Rev. she-wolf standing right,head reverted, suckling Romulus and Remus. ROMANO in exergue RSC 8, CRAW 20/1

A great coin @CPK I don't have a lifetime portrait but a great ambition of mine. This was my first Julius Caesar. 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. Ex-Navilles

Thank you, shame the reverse is not as good.

Link Flower. BRASS DUPONDIUS OF DOMITIAN AS CAESAR: SPES. ROME, AD 81. RIC II 351. E.F Obverse: CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIAN COS VII, Laureate bust of Domitian facing left. Reverse: S C, Spes advancing left, holding flower and lifting skirt. RIC II 351? [Rome, AD 81]. Diameter: 28 mm. Weight: 12.8 g.

Get well soon @Roman Collector Here is a Faustina I haven't posted. And a wish for eternal good health. Aeternitas or Providentia standing front, head l., with veil blown out behind, holding globe in r. hand and veil in l. AETERNITAS RIC III 351; RSC II 32 Possibly posted with a context that could be misinterpreted but what the heck, it is a Faustina!

And here are the coins you mention @John Conduitt He was a fascinating character who bought the Island and declared himself King! These of course are a later reproduction. I have the originals but not photographed. Here is a link to his Wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Coles_Harman

Here is one of mine. 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.

Somebody once said , why not stick a real persons head on a coin that would be something, we all know where that led...... I like them too and I think that the offset numeric for the value helps as it allows a bigger image for the subject. I think the UK holds the record for one of the ugliest coins in the world . And also some of the finest. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I really don't like the 1p Dormouse but the Salmon and Bees are great in my opinion. The puffin is our counties adopted bird and nest in our area. For those that have not seen one, here is one returning to feed its young on Skomer Island about 5 miles offshore.

KM 1002 Elizabeth II Millennium Sovereign, you can trace Benedetto Pistrucci's famous George and the Dragon back to 1817. Next any Dragon any century.

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. Next , any Galba

Here is one of mine, the tone attracted me. Domitian dupondius with COS XV in the obverse legend. Roman Imperial Domitian (81-96), Dupondius 90-91, Rome mint Obverse: radiate head right IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER P P Reverse: Virtus standing right, foot on helmet, holding spear and parazonium, SC in fields VIRTVTI AVGVSTI Weight 12,67 g.

This is a fantastic post @Curtisimo, as one who struggles with a PC never mind a smart phone, I am astonished that this could be achieved on a phone, mid flight! Here are the shilling and threepence to accompany your sixpence. I only have one "Elizabeth" Gold coin, not so relevant but I'll share it.

Thank you Peter, I need to take another photograph as this image was lifted from the original auction catalogue.

Goat ( skin ) tenuous I know.... PERIODNAME REPUBLICAN TITLE L.ROSCIUS FABATUS DENARIUS DENOMINATION DENARIUS MATERIAL SILVER RULER L.ROSCIUS FABATUS REGION ROME DATE 64 BC MINT ROME CATALOG RCV 363 RRC 412/1 CRR 915 CONDITION G.VF OBVERSE Head of Juno Sospita. r clad in goats skin, control symbol behind. L.ROSCI below ( partial) REVERSE Maiden standing feeding snake erect before her, control symbol behind. FABATI in ex. WEIGHT 3.81

Here's one ( I think ) correct me if I'm wrong. 161 AD. Rome mint. Obv: IMP CAES M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG P M legend with bare head right, slight drapery on left shoulder. Rev: CONCORD AVGVSTOR TR P XV legend with Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus clasping hands; COS III below, S-C across fields. RIC 795; Sear 4962 variant (bust type"). 25.26 grams. Next same theme

Because you were overwhelmed with the quality of the engraving ? 😄

I believe the machines are made in the USA @expat Before moving on from FUN last year my wife and I visited Gatorland in Orlando and I saw one embossing alligators onto cent coins. I have seen them in the UK too but remember seeing one in a "museum" at Niagara Falls around 30 years ago. I use the word "museum" without recommendation. I have some of these from some obscure places and will try and find them and post them sometime. I can remember an argument many years ago that these were illegal as they were defacing "coinage of the realm" but the counter argument was that there was no fraud involved unless of course you consider paying $1 to convert 1 cent into a new artefact. These may cause some confusion for the numismatists of the future. "Did Disney mint their own coinage???"

L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi 90 BC. Rome Denarius AR 18 mm., 3,68 g. Laureate head of Apollo right, uncertain symbol or figure behind / Horseman galloping right, holding palm, [L #] PISO FRVGI above LXXXX. Ex Savoca 2019 Lot 372 31st Auction.

Marcus Antonius AR Denarius, LEG IV Marcus Antonius (+30 BC). AR Denarius (17 mm, 3.52 g), Patrae (?), 32-31 BC. Obv. ANT AVG / IIIVIR R P C, galley right. Rev. LEG IV, legionary aquila between two standards. Crawford 544/17 Next keep the galley theme.

Sextus Pompey Magnus 43-36 BC. Sicily. As AE 23.90g 29mm Next : more nautical.

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Plautius Plancus. 47 BC. AR Denarius.. Rome mint. Facing mask of Medusa with dishevelled hair; coiled serpents flanking / Aurora flying right, conducting four horses of the sun and holding palm frond. Crawford 453/1a; CRI 29; Sydenham 959; Plautia 15; RBW 1583. Next Rufus

GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / SOLI INVICTO. Sol, radiate, standing right, head left, with raised right hand and holding globe Next More Sol.

Roman Republic - L. Roscius Fabatus. Silver denarius (4,00 g. 18 mm.) minted in Rome, 64 B.C. Head of Juno Sospita right behind, control symbol (Gladius), L ROSCI / Girl standing right, feeding serpent to right on left, control symbol (fasces ?); in exergue FABATI. Crawford 412/1; Sydenham 915; Next Salus

I've covered this before but I moved from coins to medals because of reputable ( ha ha) dealers downgrading coins when I tried to improve them. Medal values are based on historical association not condition in most instances. In recent years I have bought several modern ( 18th and 19th Century) coins in slabs as I was lucky with low ball offers. They will remain in their caskets because sometimes their slabbing cost more than the coin so it would be foolish to remove them and then expose myself to subjective "appraisal" and "grading". My genuine fear of buying and then feeling compelled to cracking out an ancient coin from a plastic slab would be damaging it. Ancients are different . To connect with history is fantastic and the physical connection with an artefact held by someone 2000 years ago is electric. Contact with coins does not have to damage them if you are sensible. Body oils are acidic so be sensible, dry hands always, and possibly a cloth or gloves. Keep in plastic and you lose the connection. Unless you rub it like a charm, physics dictate you probably won't wear it, this needs a lot of friction and chemical simply hold it by the edge in most instances. This is my latest ancient received today from Denmark. You can see more details on "post your latest ancient" . My hands were clean and dry when I took the photograph. In conclusion I would say slabs are all about money. If you invest in modern coins,and are an investor and not a collector, you need them. If you are interested in the artefact as a remnant of history, they are not needed. My opinion is a bit sweeping but Slabs = investor or not prepared to research and need third party confirmation. Raw = collector. As with everything, there is a middle ground and there is an inevitability that anyone involved with coins will be presented with both raw and slabbed. I prefer raw.

I was inspired several years ago by Michael Harlan's excellent books on Republican Moneyers to collect them. A coin that has eluded me for reasons of condition and cost is the cover coin of his title covering 81 BCE to 64 BCE so I was really pleased to find this one on MA Coins that I thought was a reasonable example with a reasonable price. In fact the dealer accepted an offer as I thought the carriage was excessive. A. Postumius A.f. Sp.n. Albinus. 81 BC. AR Denarius (3.88 gr). Rome mint. Draped bust of Diana right wearing hair in knot earring and necklace bow and quiver over shoulder bucranium above / Togate figure standing left on rock holding aspergillum over head of ox standing right lighted altar between them. Crawford 372/1 Sydenham 745 Postumia 7. Condition: VF Dark toned. Ex. Leu Numismatics