ambr0zie

An empress with a bunch of wonderful coins. I highly recommend RIC IV Septimius Severus 536 😝

A very tasty snack, @Roman Collector. Cool reverse - I am not a big fan of reverses with *somebody* sitting or standing, but you can't avoid them, anyways reverses with Apollo and his lyre are attractive. Here is my latest snack (for me, snack means "a coin not in my primary interest list, but catching my eye and cheap" - for you, any Faustina coin does not meet the first criteria :D" Maxentius AD 309-312. Ostia Follis Æ 25 mm, 6,74 g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG: Head of Maxentius, laureate, right / VICTOR-IA A-E-TERNA AVG, Victory, winged, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left hand //MOSTS RIC VI Ostia 54 I don't actively collect LRBs but adding a new emperor wasn't something I want to miss especially since the details are very much there and the coin was cheap.

Very cool! When I decided to start collecting ancient coins (not that long ago) I didn't know coins with empresses portraits were available. But on my first coins, there were a Julia Domna and Faustina I denarii and soon enough this theme became one of my major preferences. Julia Domna and Septimius Severus (this coin, also from my first coins) I acquired other coins from them - including one where both are present 🙂 Here is a non-Roman couple: Thrace, unknown mint Augustus 11 BC - 12 AD 23mm 8.7g ÆΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΟΥ, jugate heads of Rhoemetalces, diademed, and his queen Pythodoris, r. / ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ, head of Augustus, r.RPC I, 1711, Youroukova 204–8, pl. XXIV

Mysia, Kyzikos Augustus 27 BC - 14 AD, 17 mm 3.24 g Æ. Bare head of Augustus, r. / ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ, capricorn, l., with head turned back; monogram including ΖΚ. RPC I, 2245, F.W. Hasluck, NC 1906, 27, no. 3, AMC 1183 A very interesting article about the correlation between Augustus and the capricorn astrological sign: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02267867/document

cf RIC IV Septimius Severus 284 – fourree Date Range: AD 202 - AD 210 Obverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG: Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right Reverse : PROVID AVGG: Providentia, draped, standing left, holding sceptre in right hand and in left hand wand over globe set on ground Next - limes denarius

I love Vespasian coins. Common (well, most of them) so you don't need to sell a kidney but interesting and diverse. For these reasons, he is well represented in my collection From the 12 Caesars, he is the first chronologically where getting a denarius is not an expensive task. Here are some of my examples, this one (along with 2 similar denarii) were from my first ever purchase Vespasianus (69-79) Denarius AD 70 IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Head of Vespasian, laureate, right COS ITER TR POT Type: Pax, draped. seated left, holding branch in extended right hand and winged caduceus in left RIC 29 Vespasian AR Hemidrachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia. AD 69-79. ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΟΥƐϹΠΑϹΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒΑ Laureate head right. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm. RPC II, 1659. 1.65 g, 17 mm Vespasian AD 69-79. Rome 18 mm, 2,68 g Date: AD 74 IMP CAESAR VESP AVG Head of Vespasian, laureate, right Legend: COS V Two laurel branches, upright RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 681 Vespasian (69-79) AR Denarius, Rome, 77-78 IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG - Laureate head right Rev: Pair of oxen under yoke left, In exergue, COS VIII. C 133. BMC 206. RIC 943. CBN 184 Old RIC 107 (C) 2,67 g, 18 mm Vespasian AD 69-79. Rome As Æ 23 mm, 11,02 g RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 287 Date: AD 71 Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, Head of Vespasian, laureate, right / Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVSTI S C, Aequitas, draped. standing left, holding scales in right hand and long vertical rod in left ... a Divus issue, where Vespasian looks like he just let out a big one Divus Vespasian after AD 79. Rome Denarius AR 19 mm, 2,71 g RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Titus 357;OLD RIC II Titus 63; RSC Titus 497 Date Range: AD 80 - AD 81 Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS, Head of Divus Vespasian, laureate, right / Rev: Capricorns, left and right, back to back, supporting round shield inscribed S C; globe, below ... and my latest addition Vespasian AD 69-79. AR Denarius 3,38gr. Rome July- December AD 71. IMP CAES VESP AVG P M, head of Vespasian, laureate, right / AVGVR TRI POT, Simpulum, sprinkler, jug and lituus RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 4, old RIC II Vespasian 30, RSC 43, BMC 50

Adding coins with a mythological background is one of my major goals. Managed to add one, a good present for my incoming birthday (along with another one I was chasing for a long time, the T. Carisius denarius with a reverse showing minting tools) L Titurius L f Sabinus - Sabine Denarius. 89 BC. Rome mint. Sabine Women Denarius. Obv: bare head of King Tatius right, bearded, SABIN behind, palm-branch before. Rev: two Roman soldiers running, each bearing a Sabine woman in his arms; L TITVRI in exergue. Craw. 344/1b; Syd. 698; RSC Tituria 2; Sear 249. From Wiki page about this incident According to Roman historian Livy, the abduction of Sabine women occurred in the early history of Rome shortly after its founding in the mid-8th century BC and was perpetrated by Romulus and his predominantly male followers; it is said that after the foundation of the city, the population consisted solely of Latins and other Italic people, in particular male bandits. With Rome growing at such a steady rate in comparison to its neighbors, Romulus became concerned with maintaining the city's strength. His main concern was that with few women inhabitants there would be no chance of sustaining the city's population, without which Rome might not last longer than a generation. On the advice of the Senate, the Romans then set out into the surrounding regions in search of wives to establish families with. The Romans negotiated unsuccessfully with all the peoples that they appealed to, including the Sabines, who populated the neighboring areas. The Sabines feared the emergence of a rival society and refused to allow their women to marry the Romans. Consequently, the Romans devised a plan to abduct the Sabine women during the festival of Neptune Equester. They planned and announced a festival of games to attract people from all the nearby towns. According to Livy, many people from Rome's neighboring towns – including Caeninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates – attended the festival along with the Sabines, eager to see the newly established city for themselves. At the festival, Romulus gave a signal by "rising and folding his cloak and then throwing it round him again," at which the Romans grabbed the Sabine women and fought off the Sabine men. In total, thirty Sabine women were abducted by the Romans at the festival. All of the women abducted at the festival were said to have been virgins except for one married woman, Hersilia, who became Romulus' wife and would later be the one to intervene and stop the ensuing war between the Romans and the Sabines. The indignant abductees were soon implored by Romulus to accept the Roman men as their new husbands. The word "rape" (cognate with "rapto" in Portuguese and other Romance languages, meaning "kidnap") is the conventional translation of the Latin word raptio used in the ancient accounts of the incident. Modern scholars tend to interpret the word as "abduction" or "kidnapping" as opposed to a sexual assault. Just to clarify - I am not supporting any actions depicted on this coin. But adding a coin with a documented story in the background is something I always want. I am a little annoyed that there were 3 similar coins in the auction, but I chose (without paying proper attention) the one where the strike is that bad that Tatius looks bald. However, I like the details and the clear branch symbol. Since I was looking after a decent example without breaking the bank, I am happy! Please post coins depicting facts from mythology/history!

Just got a Carisius with this iconic reverse as well! It was on my wish list for a long time.

10 mm., 1,04 g. Klazomenai, Ionia, AR diobol. 499-494 BC. Forepart of winged boar right / Quatripartite incuse square. BMC 14; SNG von Aulock 1983; SNG Copenhagen 6-8; Sear 3503. Next - another absurd thing, action, animal or person on an ancient coin.

Troas, Alexandreia. Severus Alexander 222-235 AD. 25 mm 5.2 g. M AV S ALEXANDRV (sic), laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander, r. / COL ALEX AVG TROA, Apollo nude standing, l., placing foot on pedestal, holding laurel branch RPC VI, 4031 (temporary), Bellinger A334 Next - same city

Happened to me. I was watching an auction on both my computer and phone. For the next 30 minutes or so there were no coins I was interested in so I wanted to close the browser on my phone. Somehow I managed to press Bid. And got this. Actually, for 36 EUR this wasn't bad at all. But it gives me the chills when I remember that in that auction there was a modern gold coin with a starting price of 8.000 EUR and no bids. That wouldn't have been a smart move. Usually I don't like using the phone for any activity that can be done on the PC. Not old fashioned but I simply like a big screen, a keyboard and a mouse more. But I won some coins using my phone, for example I was on the train once and I got a few cheap 3rd century antoninianii. Or I was returning from shopping, I was in the bus, noticed a Maximinus Thrax with Three Graces reverse, why letting it go?

This thing - browser crashing or similar issues - happened to me once or twice. And of course, in situations when I was just about to win a coin. Frustrating. After that I have a personal backup when I am participating in an auction and I really want a coin - I watch it on both my computer and on my phone (different network). This might sound like overkill but I clearly remember 2 situations closer to yours - 1st my browser crashed and closed. 2nd - my mouse click refused to be registered. Recently I was in an auction and I won an Otho from Antioch. The browser crashed, of course, why shouldn't it since it was the coin I was most interested in. But my phone was open and on the auction. Won it from there.

Great additions. Yes, I also think that's the last one. I wouldn't mind one, and surely I wouldn't mind a Sabina one 😐

Volusian AD 251-253. Antioch Antoninianus AR 22 mm, 2,97 g IMP CV AF GAL VEND VOLVSIANO AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r., Rv. ROMAE AETERNAE AVG, Roma seated left with Victory and spear, shield at side. In exergue, 3 pellets Cf RIC 234a Next - same type of Roma reverse.

Nothing special about my new Trajan as, it arrived a few hours ago. An impulse purchase, I started an auction with it, cheap, with some issues and nothing our of the ordinary, but I like it! My Trajan dupondius is also unspectacular, but why should have I refused it for 10 EUR?

Julia Paula. Augusta AD 219-220. Rome Denarius AR 17 mm, 1,93 g RIC IV Elagabalus 211 S; BMCRE 172 (Elagabalus); RSC 6a Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, Bust of Julia Paula, hair waved and fastened in plait, draped, right / Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia, draped, seated left, holding patera in extended right hand; in field, star Next - Concordia

Exceptional article, @Roman Collector. Here is my Verus example Divus Lucius Verus AD 169. Rome Denarius AR 18 mm., 2,70 g. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 596B; RSC 55, BMC 503 Date: AD 169 Obverse Legend: DIVVS VERVS Type: Head of Lucius Verus, bare, right Reverse Legend: CONSECRATIO Type: Funeral pyre in four tiers (ustrina), adorned with statues and garlands, quadriga on top I don't know Latin grammar so not sure if ustrina/ustrinum is a declination or not. Funerary motif Faustina II Pius

Top quality towels there!

Finally my FedEx package has arrived! Usually it took 4-5 days but for a few months now FedEx services are getting worse and worse. I strongly suspect they are using a new transport method but it is still in testing phase. But anyways I am more than happy with the new coins I got (the silvered 3 Gallienus coins are beautiful in hand) but the coin I was expecting the most was ... ... a chunky Julia Domna sestertius, this being my 10th sestertius and my first from Julia Domna. Julia Domna. Augusta AD 193-217. Rome Sestertius Æ. AD 193-196 30 mm, 25,51 g IVLIA DOMNA AVG, bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, right / VENERI VICTR S C, Venus, naked to waist, standing left, holding apple in extended right hand and palm sloped over left shoulder in left hand, resting left elbow on column RIC IV Septimius Severus 842 This is a very popular reverse type. The wear pattern is obscuring the, ehm, features, but I am very hapy with this sestertius, I like the brown patina and contrasts, the overall details and portrait and I was very happy to win it with a decent price. I know it is not an extremely rare piece (although marked as R in RIC, but I know this is not 100% accurate). A good article about this reverse type was written by @dougsmithere https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/feac41ven.html I remember reading this article before owning any coin with this reverse and I decided I need to get one - now the total is 4 as I have 2 Domna denarii, this sestertius and a Titus denarius. This is just my 2nd situation in my collection when I manage to add the same coin type but in 2 different denomination (first being the Decius Dacia sestertius + antoninianus) and I think the group photo looks very good As this reverse type was already discussed several times, let's see - freshly acquired Severan coins - Sestertii with empresses portraits - (one of my favorite themes although I only have 2 instances) - coins with the same obverse/reverse but different denominations.

@Prieure de Sionyou have my word that I was just about to post the same coin and right when I was preparing the post you were faster =)) So on your request Aelia Flaccilla AD 383-386. Constantinople Follis Æ 23 mm, 4,80 g From the Tareq Hani collection RIC IX Constantinople 82 Date range: AD 383 – AD 388 Obv: AEL FLAC-CILLA AVG, bust of Aelia Flaccilla, with elaborate head-dress, draped, necklace, and mantle / Rev: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Emperor, head right, standing facing, arms folded on breast, Christogram to right. Mintmark CONSϵ Next: another coin the Tareq Hani collection Btw who is Tareq Hani exactly? I have some coins (bought in different auctions) where the auction house mentioned his name but I cannot find any extra info. P.S. if my post is incorrect (Aelia Flaccilla was the wife of Theodosius and only after his reign we can speak about Western Roman Empire) - it's OK, but I don't have a later coin with an empress.

Nobody? OK. This Apollonia Pontica drachm shows a gorgoneion wearing a diadem. Next - let's see any kind of Greek drachm.

Congrats on the acquisition, this is all that matters. Coins with similar theme to yours are (of course) popular and it is unlikely to manage to steal one from an auction and nobody spots it. Even very bad examples. In regards to breaking numismatic rules - principles - good topic. My area of interest is quite big so I don't fully specialize on anything in particular. Financially speaking, this is OK because I don't hunt coins from rare rulers for example (especially if I am not deeply interested). Or specific coins from specific rulers, like a specialized collector does. Therefore I don't even have a Galba in my collection because an "unofficial rule" I have is not spending more than 100 EUR + fees on a coin. A Galba < 100 EUR would be a) a very bad coin (I find nothing wrong with worn coins, but everything has a limit) or b) I am in an auction where nobody else is paying attention, but this is very unlikely. In regards to me 100 EUR rule, here is the only instance where I broke this rule. Successfully. There were other coins where I wanted to pay 200+ EUR, but lost. Again, everything has a limit. For me, the value of the coin I was happy to get it for was exactly my maximum bid. Anything more is overpaying for me. A Julia Titi, not the best out there. I was hoping to steal it for under 100 EUR. It didn't happen. Since I had no other major targets in the auction, I entered the mini-bidding war. Won it for 120 EUR + taxes. I am not the biggest fan of this coin, but I don't dislike it. As a personal preference, perhaps it would have been better to buy 3 common denarii with this sum. Here is an instance where I broke my rule but did not win the coin. This was my major target in that auction. Adding a Column coin was on top of my numismatic goals list. (I am still interested in adding a bronze coin). This looked like a perfect candidate - even if the condition is not great, being a popular type I was willing to pay 100 EUR, maybe slightly more. But my 150 EUR bid was not enough. I simply got annoyed and let it pass as the Column types are not rare and I only wanted a random one. A few lots later, when I was preparing to close the browser as there was nothing interesting for me, I saw this coin. It is inferior, by all means, but for some reason I missed it when checking the auction (I always check properly all the lots before an auction and I write down everything that's interesting for me). I probably overlooked it because of the reverse spots (that are very different in hand and not as distracting as they seem). So I decided to have a go and I clicked on bid exactly when the coin was about to be sold. Won it for 26 EUR. Again - the coin I lost is superior, no arguments here. But frankly, I prefer the coin I won for 26 EUR rather than getting the other one (my bid would have been 170 EUR minimum to get it and this wouldn't have guaranteed winning it).

Macedon. Neapolis circa 425-350 BC. Hemidrachm AR 13 mm, 1,68 g Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue. Rev. N-E-O-Π Head of the nymph of Neapolis to right, her hair coiled around her head and with a bun at the back. SNG ANS 430-454. Next- another beautiful and cheerful gorgoneion, like on my coin.

Thanks, Al. I am still a beginner in photography. In fact this is my first digital camera I have ever owned. It is an old Panasonic Lumix from 2007 (it wasn't a very high end model even then). My phone does awful pics so I decided to have a go with a second hand camera i found on a local ebay-like site and bought it for the equivalent of 30 EUR. Very happy with it. My problem is that I have a terrible lack of patience and get annoyed very quickly. I wanted to take pics of ~150 coins but gave up after 5 failed photos.