ambr0zie

Comgratulations on the new acquisition! I recommend you to start reading about the various cities that minted posthumous Alexander drachms. Suffice to say it's a long story. Also it's interesting to know how to establish if a drachm is lifetime or posthumous. I have one posthumous drachm as I also wanted an example of the type. 17 mm., 3,75 g. Alexander III, AR Drachm, 323-319 BC. Philip III Arrhidaios Struck under Menander or Kleitos. Magnesia ad Maeandrum mint. Head of Herakles right, wearing lionskin headdress. / AΛEXANΔΡOY to right of Zeus seated left, right leg drawn back, holding eagle and sceptre. bee left in left field, spear-head in outer right field. Price 1937-1938; Mueller 322-323; SNG Cop. 952.

It's the same coin, but first pic is from the auction house and second is mine, when I was still experimenting with backgrounds/light. I am not educated enough when it comes to LRBs barbarous imitations so I cannot confirm (although you probably gave a verdict, and for me this is a plus if the coin is a barbarous imitations). There is only 1 barbarous double maiorina on acsearch This Siscia has something in common with my Heraclea. Letters are well executed on both coins. Portraits are both horrible but on the acsearch coin this might be because of the wear. My bull seems pretty official, the Siscia bull has exaggerated hooves and as a bonus, it's a cyclops/bull hybrid. Can't tell. What I can tell is that for 14 EUR, my coin was an excellent addition as I'm cheap and stingy and I just don't want to pay more than 30 EUR for a coin out of my normal collecting areas. Half of the price was just perfect.

I only have two. My first was a budget Trebonianus Gallus Prieur 666 (4), McAlee 1172f, RPC vol IX 1805 and a Decius I like a lot Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Trajan Decius AD 249-251. Billon-Tetradrachm 26 mm, 12,18 g ΑΥΤ Κ Γ ΜƐ ΚΥ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΔƐΚΙΟϹ ϹƐΒ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Decius, r., seen from rear; below bust: ••••• / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ƐΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ, S C, eagle standing on palm, l., spreading wings, holding wreath in beak Group 3, officina 5 RPC IX, 1745, Prieur 584 (15), McAlee 1126e

A barbarous Tetricus I Tetricus II Victorinus

I have 2 VOTA coins, a Pius dupondius RIC III Antoninus Pius 1020 158-159 ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII, head of Antoninus Pius, radiate, right / VOTA SVSCEPTA DEC III COS IIII S C, Antoninus Pius, standing left, sacrificing with patera over tripod, left arm at side ... and a Marcus Aurelius denarius A.D. 170-171 AR Denarius IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV; Laureate head right. VOTA SVSCEP DECENN II COS III; M. Aurelius veiled, standing l., sacrificing at a tripod. RIC III Rome 251

I'm surprised nobody posted a Procopius, so I can post my poor excuse for a Procopius coin (just kidding, it's horrible but at least I ticked another name) Procopius AD 365-366. Nicomedia Follis Æ 20 mm, 2,38 g D N PROCO-PIVS P F AVG, bust of Procopius, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed, left / REPARATI-O FEL TEMP, emperor, head right, standing facing, holding labarum in right hand and resting left on shield. At foot, left, a small indeterminate object; above, in field right, ☧ RIC IX Constantinople 17B And the most popular usurper because everybody likes his portrait. Same coin type and reference as posted by @DonnaML but without the prow in background.

Probus, like Gallienus for example, has a wide array of affordable and beautiful coins with various portraits and reverses. It's certainly a good idea to grab a few Probus coins as you won't go bankrupt (alhough the beautiful Adventus coins might contradict me). I remember I lost a very decent Alexandria tetradrachm with the eagle reverse, back in October. Very bad decision as the coin was cheap and pleasant. Funny, a Probus coin was one of the first ancients I have ever touched, about 7 years ago, when collecting ancient coins was not a goal. Found it in a numismatic show. Price was 3 EUR back then. Even if usually I do not refuse worn coins, after years, when I started collecting ancient coins more seriously, I probably overpaid 😐 But in my own defence, I never bought another coin in a similar condition after starting collecting, which was 5 years later. Here are my only 2 Probus antoninianii - I particularly like the second Probus AD 276-282. Antioch Antoninianus Æ 22 mm., 2,86 g. C RIC V Probus 922 AD 276 - AD 282 IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG Bust of Probus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right CLEMENTIA TEMP Probus, standing right, holding sceptre, receiving Victory set on globe from Jupiter, standing left, holding sceptre MintMark: A//XXI Probus AD 276-282. Rome.Antoninianus Æ. 22 mm, 3,59 g RIC V Probus 187 Date Range: AD 276 - AD 282 PROBVS P F AVG Bust of Probus, radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand ROMAE AETER Hexastyle temple, Roma seated in centre, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand MintMark: -/-//RVA

@Heliodromus- thank you for the examples. To be honest I like the Licinius examples more, but I still think mine is a good addition. Almost missed it as I rarely browse the Late Roman section in auctions - only reason being that usually my budget is already spent, these coins being towards the end of the auctions....

Hello ladies and gentlemen, Just won an interesting Late Roman coin. I would say LRB, but it's not exactly the case. Constantine I the Great AD 306-337. Treveri BI argenteus, AD 310-313. IMP CONSTANTI-NVS AVG, cuirassed bust of Constantine left, wearing helmet with high crest, spear in right hand over shoulder, mappa in left / VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP, two Victories standing facing each other, holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar; PTR in exergue. RIC VI -- (cf. RIC VII 208a). Note from Beast Coins research site: RIC VII describes this coin as an AE folles (or AE3), however, this series coincides with other series from other mints, where Constantine introduced a billon argenteus denomination. Both the AE3 module and AR argenteus will be listed under the same RIC number, even though this issue begins this reverse type and was actually minted in AD 310-313 and should have appeared in RIC VI with the other billon argentei issues of Licinius I and Maximinus II. Obviously I was attracted to the idea of having a Late Roman coin that is not bronze. And I can't say I dislike the portrait either. Although the condition is not great, in my opinion the coin is very interesting. On research I found some interesting info, for example for this much better Heritage specimen https://www.biddr.com/auctions/heritage/browse?a=654&l=675958 where I took the description from. Note that the obverse legend break is different, but I found legends similar to mine on other specimens. As checked RIC VII 208a, the coin listed is indeed a follis, so the description and theory that this coin was omitted from previous RIC volume is correct. Would you support this theory? and of course, please post silver or billon Late Roman coins.

I have only one Julian the Apostate coin, but I wouldn't change it. It's the double maiorina with the bull from Heraclea. I find this design emblematic for the ruler. But the coin is exceptionally ugly. When seeing the picture, I couldn't stop wondering if it's a bad case of tooling, a strange pic, a barbaric imitation or anything similar. Julian II AD 360-363. Heraclea Double Maiorina Æ 28 mm, 7,71 g RIC VIII Heraclea 104 Obv: D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS P F AVG, bust of Julian, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right / SECVRITAS REI PVB, Bull, standing right, head facing; above, two stars. Mintmark •HER(A on •)CL•A In my opinion, a very bad day for the engraver.

Nothing wrong with building a 5 Good Emperors provincial set (would have added the extra Flavians and Verus, but I don't have a Titus or a Verus provincial ....)

Strange, I can't react either to the OP - it looks nobody can. Building the Good Emperors set is fun and considerably easier than building the 12 Caesars set (I am far from that, even cheating with provincial coins) Here are my imperial silver + bronze sets (for Marcus Aurelius I had to use a provincial as I don't have an imperial bronze coin And since you mentioned some Flavians, they deserve at least a mention (yep, I know I swapped Domitian with Titus, but I am too lazy to compose the image again). And even if he was no Marcus, Lucius Verus wasn't the worst emperor out there.

600 EUR + fees. I can't find a reference or a similar one, so not your every day Salonina, also the coin has excellent details and a very generous flan, but ... 600 EUR + taxes ....

I did, but it is way over the price I would pay for a Salonina coin, no matter the rarity and condition 😕

There were other Diana reverses in the auction, and the one I got was not my favorite (bad reverse strike, Diana should have a crescent on the head, but this is what happens when the strategy is not correct. But it's still a nice coin. Forgot about my RIC 18, that also shows traces of silvering (another pic needed sometime in the future ...)

After I managed to obtain one of my main targets in an auction today, I noticed something that always grabs my attention - some nicely silvered Gallienus coins. Every ancient coins collector instantly thinks about Zoo series, but the coinage of Gallienus still offers other attractive types. And the mint workers had some imagination, in my opinion above the period's average. I like the Zoo series a lot and have some examples, but from what I saw finding a coin from this series with some silvering and also well struck and centered is not exactly easy. For the non Zoo series, things are better. Here are today's purchases: Gallienus AD 266-268. Antioch Antoninianus Æ silvered 21 mm, 3,77 g AD 266 - AD 268 GALLIENVS AVG, bust of Gallienus, radiate, draped, right / VENER VICTRICI, Venus, draped, standing left, holding helmet in right hand and spear and shield in left hand. In exergue VIIC dot Cf RIC V Gallienus 660 Gallienus AD 260-268. Antioch Antoninianus Æ silvered 21 mm, 3,60 g GALLIENVS AVG, bust of Gallienus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right / VICTORIA AVG, Victory, winged, draped, standing or walking left, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left hand RIC V Gallienus 663 Gallienus AD 253-268. Antioch Antoninianus Æ silvered 22 mm, 3,00 g GALLIENVS AVG, bust of Gallienus, radiate, cuirassed, right / LVNA LVCIF, Diana, draped, walking right, holding torch. Exergue PXV. RIC V Gallienus 609 These will be good additions near my favorite Gallienus coin and, why not, to my only Gallienus coin from my Zoo series that still shows traces of silvering Do you have Gallienus coins with silvering remaining? Please post them.

I do not have a small niche to collect, but I don't buy whatever comes my way. For a while I contemplated the possibility to specialize on certain rulers, but I didn't find the idea that appealing. I like some rulers a lot - but not enough to buy more than, let's say, 10 coins/ruler. So if I want a new Antoninus Pius coin, for example. it needs to be an interesting reverse design or something similar. For a Pius specialized collector, obviously this doesn't apply. So what I try to buy - Greek coinage - interesting designs depicting animals or mythological scenes - provincial coins - same themes; but when possible, I try to get rulers that are very expensive in Imperial coinage. Adding a provincial, let's say, Macrinus, just a quick example, with an interesting reverse, is better for me than a denarius with a common reverse. I also try to get coins with accurate portraits, as some provincial mints were not exactly well known for the accuracy of portraits - Roman Republican - a theme I started recently because the average RR coin tends to be more expensive than the average Greek/Provincial/Imperial. I like historically important coins, one depicting mythological scenes in particular - Imperial coins - same theme again. I focus on 1st-3rd centuries. For a while I wanted to deploy a 1 coin/emperor collection, but I don't like this idea anymore as some emperors are too expensive and for me, less interesting than others. I also tried to add as many empresses as possible. Reverses are very important for me - after my collection grew I realized I want as few as possible reverses with "somebody seated or standing" as I want my coins to be as unique in my albums are possible. When I buy one of those (and of course I do) it's either an uncommon deity or a new emperor I wanted or a coin I just like. Another rule I follow for my purchases - my wallet needs to like my coin as much as I do. I admire expensive coins, those that are very rare and in good condition but the financial effort needs to be proportional with my pleasure. I don't have expensive coins in my collection. A clear example - just witnessed a Julius Caesar dupondius, in a decent condition, hammering for 320 EUR. That is, probably, a good price. I would like that coin, but I don't like spending ~400 EUR on a coin. There are still plenty of attractive coins missing from my collection, that would cost much less.

This was one of the first cities minting coins I have ever heard about. Here are my examples PISIDIA, Antiochia. Julia Domna. Augusta, AD 193-217. Æ 23mm . Draped bust right / Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia. SNG France 1126-34 Obv: ANTONINVS COMMODVS, laureate-headed bust of Commodus wearing cuirass and paludamentum, l. / Rev COLON(E)IAE ANTIOCH(AE?), Mên standing with foot on bucranium, facing, head, r., wearing Phrygian cap, holding long sceptre and Victoria/Nike; behind his shoulders, crescent; to l., cock standing, l. RPC IV.3, 7377 (temporary), Krzyżanowska 144, V.6–7 and VI.7–9 and VII.9, Cop 26 corr.

Constantiniana Dafne is one of my favorite LRB reverses. This coin as the obverse inferior to the reverse but I still like it a lot .... especially because of the reverse scene and condition. Just realized now that it has an interesting feature - the first N on the obverse legend is not spelled exactly correctly. Constantine I the Great AD 306-337. Constantinople Follis Æ 18 mm, 3,25 g AD 328-329 CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG, bust of Constantine I, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right / CONSTANTINI-ANA DAFNE, Victory, winged, draped, seated left on cippus, head right, holding palm in left hand and laurel in right; before her, trophy; at foot of trophy, kneeling captive, head turned, being spurned by Victory MintMark: A/-//CONS dot; OfficinaMark: ∈ RIC VII Constantinople 38 note And another coin where Victory is taking a break is this Cappadocian Nero (1.56g 14mm Silver) CAPPADOCIA, Caesaraea-Eusebia. Nero, 54-68. Hemidrachm 59-60. Obv: (NERO CLAVD DIVI) CLAVD F CAESAR AVG (GERMANI), laureate head of Nero to right Rev: Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath in both hands. BMC 409; RIC I Nero 617; RPC 3645 But I am not convinced that Victory was taking a break or just continued the fitness exercises

Very nice examples. I think I know about the Q. Pomponius Rufus denarius from you, @Al Kowsky. Would love one of those myself, but ... Here is my Brutus example, not the best you will see out there, but probably the cheapest and for me - an excellent addition. I had some doubts about it, because the weight is very low and the coin is very thin, but I discussed with some specialists who told me the coin is genuine so no worries. Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus 54 BC. Rome Denarius AR 20 mm, 2,74 g [LIBERTAS], bust of Libertas to right / Consul L. Junius Brutus, between two lictors, preceded by accensus, all walking to left; [BRVTVS] in exergue. Crawford 433/1; BMCRR Rome 3862; RSC Junia 31.

My only coin with this motif - cornucopia being emptied - is a denarius from Antoninus Pius. I am sure all the collectors enjoy this reverse (and not because of condition) Antoninus Pius AD 138-161. Rome Denarius AR 19 mm., 2,64 g RIC III Antoninus Pius 234 Date Range: AD 153 - AD 154 ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVII, Antoninus Pius, laureate, right / LIBERALITAS VII COS IIII, Liberalitas, draped, standing left, emptying coins out of cornucopiae, held in both hands

I think I see a helmet on the obverse character so I would suggest https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8960224

Thrace, Hadrianopolis Faustina II 161-176 21 mm 6.6 g ΦΑVϹΤΕΙΝΑ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, r. / ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ, Tyche standing, l., wearing kalathos, holding rudder and cornucopia RPC IV.1, 3917 (temporary), Jurukova 68, 72 and 74, BMC 7 Next - Hadrianopolis

Probus AD 276-282. Rome.Antoninianus Æ. 22 mm, 3,59 g RIC V Probus 187 Date Range: AD 276 - AD 282 PROBVS P F AVG Bust of Probus, radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand ROMAE AETER Hexastyle temple, Roma seated in centre, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand MintMark: -/-//RVA Next - distyle temple

The Nicopolis coin is superb - reverse is "busier" than any Provincial I have seen, but for me this is a plus. Especially since the condition is excellent and all the reverse elements are clearly visible. I also like the obverse being "busier" than classic obverses - aegis with snake, Medusa on breastplate. I don't have an imperial Macrinus - it is not a major priority for me. But here are my 2 Macrinus provincials. I like Antioch coins mainly because of their obverses, I think Antioch is one of the top mints when it comes to asccuracy for portraits. Generally speaking Macrinus (217-218) Syria: Antiochia ad Orontem, c. AD 217-218 AE20 AVT K MOC MAKPINOC CE - laureate head right. Rev. SC within laurel wreath above (wreath closed with diamond), Δ below, ε. McAlee 723; Butcher 463a. 3,91 g, 20 mm But although I was happy to tick another emperor in my collection, I can't say I like this coin too much so I tried to get another Macrinus coin, in a better condition and with a more interesting reverse. This one was just what I wanted. Seleucis and Pieria. Laodicea ad Mare. Macrinus AD 217-218. Bronze Æ 27 mm, 13,60 g IMP C M OP S-EVE MACRINO-S AVG, laureate head of Macrinus right / ROMAE above, FEL in exergue, she-wolf standing right, head turned to look back at the suckling twins, Romulus and Remus. Cf. SNG Hunterian 3218 (obv. legend); SNG Righetti 2121; SNG Copenhagen 369; BMC 98.