Dafydd

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. Mn. Cordius Rufus. 46 BC. AR Denarius. Rome mint. Crested Corinthian helmet right, surmounted by owl; RVFVS upward to left / Aegis of Minerva decorated with head of Medusa in center; (MN) # CORDIVS around. Crawford 463/2; CRI 64; Sydenham 978; Cordia 4; BMCRR 4042; Kestner 3598-9; RBW 1607. Condition: Very Fine Weight: 3.90 gr Diameter: 17 mm And a more distinct Owl.. HELMETED ATHENA FACING RIGHT OWL STANDING RIGHT WITH OLIVE SPRIG IN INCUSE SQUARE Ex-Dix,Noonan , Webb.

What an interesting website and definitely hours of fun there! Thank you @TIF and thank you @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix for signposting.

Personally I wouldn't, condemn it, I simply wouldn't participate, but good luck to those that do. Whoever the marketing guru or entrepreneur who came up with the idea was, it certainly worked. We are fortunate that we can make choices compared to some societies who are heavily censored and don't have the Internet access we have. This auction certainly piqued my interest and I await the outcome with some fascination and wonder where it will lead to. The numismatic world never ceases to surprise me, this week we have seen an auction house selling modern forging equipment which should be an anathema to collectors and now mystery lots at auctions. There is always something new to consider and an ever changing landscape.

This is one currently resting in distilled water! TRADE GUILD BEHIND HEAD SEAR 311 EX KOLNER

That intrigued, me as they were added later and initially I thought they were bankers marks. To me , bankers marks can indicate authenticity however anything can be added. I advised somebody recently that a 18th Century flintlock pistol that someone had bought was a fake and the buyer said it could not be as it had proof marks. My comment was anything added before can be added again. In this instance the "give away" was that the touch hole had not been drilled through which would have made it a modern firearm as it was a new one that had been "aged" to deceive. I intend to agree with the other comments but will hang onto it to show it physically to someone more educated than myself at a coin fair. The price paid does not indicate authenticity as it was part of a mixed lot.

This coin turned up in a mixed lot some time ago and I have my doubts about it and would love an opinion. Size is 19 mm and weight is 3.9g.

Thank you @DonnaML It turned up the following day after I paid for it which was a pleasant surprise. It looks a little better "in hand" than the catalogue images.

I agree with @Steppenfool quite mad. I bought a couple of coins from them last month assuming they were based in London. The initial invoice added £35 and I complained as I said they had insinuated they were based in London. The charge was withdrawn and I had the opportunity to pay £10 for mail. The coins turned up a couple of days later with no drama. In the past I have bought a couple of inexpensive coins at Savoca and they held them for me until the next auction as the DHL charge was more than the coins so I consolidated them with something else. The coins I bought from N&N were Lot 343 Honorius Follis Hammer £4.00 GBP HADRIAN, (A.D. 117-138), AE AS, (12.56 Gr. 25 mm.) RomeLaureate draped bust to right of HadrianRev. Fortuna-Concordia standing left holding patera and cornucopiae, S C across. Hammer £20.00 GBP. Lot 411

I was surprised to see this lot offered in next Saturday's N&N of London Auction 20. Here are the lot details. This lot represents a pleasant surprise directed towards our esteemed customers. The image of this particular lot is exclusively accessible to the Biddr management and will remain undisclosed until the completion of the auction. Subsequently, the highest bidder shall be granted the privilege of acquiring this coin, which could potentially be of low or high value, thereby contributing to the overall anticipation and element of surprise. We cordially extend an invitation to participate in the bidding process for this undisclosed item. May fortune favor your endeavors! You have read it correctly, you are bidding blind for something that could be of low or high value! The current bidding stands at £300 /$385 with 11 bids. This is a clever device based on greed and intrigue. Most people would assume that the coin would have to be good for the auction house to avoid criticism. Am I missing out on a Aureus or that elusive lifetime portrait of Julius Caesar for maybe $500, or would my surprise be another Gloria Exercitus Contantine Follis but in great condition? Personally I am not prepared to take the gamble of possibly acquiring something outside of my collecting interests for hundreds of pounds. However, whatever the coin is, you could hardly complain having bid blind. I am not that cynical but it did occur to me that once the initial auction is finished, this would be a great way to unload high value but unattractive coins in the future. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and priced catalogues can never determine an individuals preference for colour or tone. But I digress. I thought I would celebrate this interesting new auction house device with a competition to run simultaneously. I will offer a prize to whoever guesses the closest to what the surprise lot is. Please be specific to avoid ties and first closest answer wins. I will take a little mystery out of the prize by stating that the winner can choose between a Roman coin or a British coin and I will ship anywhere. My money, metaphorically speaking, is on a Greek coin as this auction features more Greek coins than anything else. I know little about Greek coinage so wouldn't hazard a guess myself. Winner will be announced after the Auction reveals what the surprise lot is. Good luck to those that enter.

This is my latest ancient although not in hand yet. I bought it at Noonan's this week and as they are based in London I do not expect any drama in delivery . Roman Republican Coinage, Anonymous, Didrachm or Quadrigatus, Rome, c. 225-212, laureate Janiform head within beaded circle, rev. Jupiter and Victory in quadriga right, roma incuse on tablet below, 6.45g (Craw. 28/3; RSC 23; RCV 32). Some pitting on obverse, about very fine, reverse better.

Here is my Stephen Penny @John Conduitt Sadly I cannot say that I feel that is reminds me of face peering out of silver like Macbeth's ghost. but more like the King disappearing into Quicksand! I have had buyers remorse since I bought it. I am more than open to trades! CROSS MALINE "WATFORD" TYPE PENNY ON NON NORWICH S.2178 SEE ALLEN BNJ 2012 PAGE 113 Ex-Michael Trennary.

I was given a Churchill Crown as a school boy and even as a child found it ugly and lacking. I remember thinking why didn't they finish it? My late friend Joe Cussen was instrumental in the move of the Royal Mint from London to Wales and was honoured as a young man for his work with an OBE. At one stage he used to present patterns to the Queen for her approval and he said that he never made a comment except for one obverse which he considered a monstrosity and here it is. Not a coin but a medal. Joe made the comment that it was ugly and unbalanced and was disproportionate to the Queens head and the Queen said, it's not about me but about the institution and the Crown and I like it. It was not designed by the Royal Mint but by the Queen who was focused on the Crown. Joe commented that if that obverse had migrated to the coins of the realm he would have resigned as he thought it was dreadful. He was a great enthusiast of William Wyon. I don't own a Charles 1st Halfcrown but would describe them as naive more than ugly and I would like one one day. Do you notice any similarities ? A really entertaining post @John Conduitt Thank you.

My opinion is that this is outrageous. I have been duped a few times over the years with forgeries, thankfully highlighted by more erudite collectors than myself. Usually, I have been fortunate as I have been able to return them to dealers, however, I have bought a few from private sellers I couldn't return and ended up throwing them into the sea. I did this for two reasons, the primary reason is that I would not want anyone to be disadvantaged in the future by my proven stupidity, the second reason is that I don't want to be reminded of my stupidity. Now if a 23rd Century marine archaeologist is perplexed, I've given them something to think about! That doesn't worry me. Possibly if people are still able to make intellectual decisions about property ownership in the 23rd Century ( I doubt it ) , it will be catalogued as a rare 21st century forgery provenanced to equally rare forgers dies, possibly ex-Katz?

Otho. AD 69. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.02 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 15 January-9 March AD 69. OBV: IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, draped bust right REV: SECVRI TAS P R, Securitas standing left, holding wreath in right hand and scepter in left 3.06g. 18mm.

I thought that members would find this interesting in respect of Aquaducts. See https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJVYfuCj/

Great idea, why didn't I think of that? I should give their names to the UK and USA Border Forces!

I've been battling UPS for a three weeks over a 20% import duty + "handling charges" on a couple of coins. I have sent them copies of the auction catalogue , a description of the coins and quoted the tariff number but they ignore this and simply sent me an overdue invoice reminder. The original auction house was uncommunicative, in fact useless. The auction took place on March 24th. The auction house was Italian and after six weeks and several emails from me, told me they required an export permit for a modern British coin and a couple of gun money coins. I will not be using them again. It looks as if my problem was the auction house declaration which basically said nothing, this coupled with insouciance from UPS has made for a pretty dismal experience. I refuse to pay the equivalent of $200 and will persevered, learning from the experience. My experience with UK Customs is that if you pay the carriers estimated charges, it takes for ever to obtain a refund if ever at all. It appears that the strategy is one of ignoring requests in the hope that you give up.

What fabulous photography @kirispupis Thank you for sharing. Antoninus Pius, 138-161 Denarius after 161, AR 19mm., 2.98g. Bare head r. Rev. Eagle standing r., head l., with wings spread. RIC M. Aurelius 429. C 154.

I don't have any Greek coins. Here is a coin that I was pleased with as it was my first serrated denarius. Laur. head of Jupiter right , SC behind. Appears to be the principal coinage of the faction opposed to the return of Sulla to Rome. Balbus strikes as praetor by special decree of the Senate. Victory in quadriga right holding wreath and palm. Control letter M below. Ex-Navilles 2014.

Here is my Pupienus Sestertius and a favourite of mine too @Ancient Coin Hunter Pupienus, 22nd April # 29th July 238. Sestertius April-June 238, Æ 29mm., 18.91g. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Victory standing facing, head l., holding wreath and palm branch. C 38. RIC 23a. Attractive brown tone, Very Fine. Ex Navilles 2021

Antoninus Pius Æ Dupondius. Rome, AD 140-144. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS I[II], radiate head to right / GENIO [SE]NATVS, Genius of the Senate standing to left, holding branch and sceptre. RIC III 660a; BMC 1336. 9.95g, 29mm, 12h. Near Very Fine; cleaning marks. Purchased from Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, September 2009.

This is my latest to fill a gap. Hostilian (Caesar, 250-251). AR Antoninianus (21mm, 3.13g, 12h). Rome, AD 251. Radiate and draped bust r. R/ Hostilian standing l., holding signum and spear. RIC IV 181d (Decius); RSC 34. VF Ex-LAC.

MAXIMINUS THRAX (235-238 AD) Sestertius. Rome. Obv: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus Thrax, right. Rev: PM TR P IIII COS PP / S - C. Emperor in military dress standing left with three standards and sceptre. RIC IV, 40. Condition: VF. Weight: 17.95 g. Diameter: 30.2 mm. Ex Bucephalus Numismatic, Auction 4 Belgium Maximinus I Thrax AD 235-238. Rome Sestertius Æ 31mm., 18,59g. Ex Savoca Auction 16 2019.

Postumus Roman Imperial Coinage, Postumus, Double-Sestertius, Trier, 260-9, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, rev. Fides standing left, holding two standards, 20.94g (RIC 123; Banti 12; Holmes 604)

Bow = Archer. Roman Empire Aemilian (Jul-Oct 253) Antoninianus, Rome Obv: IMP AEMILIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Rev: ERCVL VICTORI, Hercules standing r., resting on club and holding bow and lion's skin on left arm. 3.06g, 21-22mm dia. RCV 9832, RSC 13. Good Very Fine.. Ex Baldwin, October 2005.