ambr0zie

Although I am aware that this might not sound expensive for other members, for me it was and I am not 100% happy with this coin (120 EUR+ taxes. my most expensive individual purchase). However, not a disaster since you can't find Julia Titi every day. Next - another coin of a rare ruler, in modest condition, that you bought because you wanted that specific ruler and a decent coin from him/her would have been very expensive.

Popular Nero design Nero AD 54-68. Rome As Æ RIC 351 Date Range: AD 62 - AD 68 IMP NERO CAESAR AVG GERM Head of Nero, laureate, right S C Victory, winged, draped, moving left, holding in both hands shield inscribed S P Q R 27 mm., 8,45 g My latest addition, a Caesarea hemidrachm (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

Sabina. Augusta AD 128-137. Rome Denarius AR 17 mm, 2,69 g RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2576 Date range – 136-138 SABINA AVGVSTA Bust of Sabina, diademed, wearing stephane with hair in queue, draped, right VENERI GENETRICI Venus standing right, arranging drapery and holding apple Next - Sabina

That is a fantastic series. Congratulations. I was not even aware that Severus Alexander as Caesar coins existed. Particularly like also the Diva Maesa coin, Caligula as Caesar and Divus Hadrian/Diva Sabina. Many thanks for posting all the coins.

@Dafydd- your legionary coin is clearly an upgrade so that is not a bad situation. I don't think you would have issues in trying to sell the initial coin. I had a similar situation when I bid on an Antoninus Pius denarius I already had. I like clasping hand reverses so I bid (live) on a denarius I already had, and in a decent condition. Fortunately, I lost - my bid could have been the winner.

(26.1 g 37mm Bronze) CILICIA, Tarsus. Maximinus I. 235-238 AD. AE Hexassarion Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Γ ΙΟΥ ΟΥΗ ΜΑΞΙΜƐΙΝΟϹ Π Π, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear / Rev: ΤΑΡϹΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ Α Μ Κ Γ Β, the three Graces standing facing with arms around each other, one head l., the others head r., each holding flower. RPC VI, 7113 (temporary); SNG Levante 1096, BMC 233–4 Next - another provincial over 15 grams

Thrace. Thasos circa 500-480 BC. Diobol AR 13 mm, 1,08 g Obv: Ityphallic satyr on his knee to the right. Rev .: Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider 4, SNG Cop 191-194 (Lete), HGC 6, 333 Thrace. Thasos circa 404-340 BC. Obol AR 10 mm, 0,73 g Satyr kneeling left, holding kantharos / ΘAΣIΩN, amphora. Le Rider, Thasos 27; SNG Copenhagen 1029 I also intend to buy the OP coin sometime in the future.

Good write-up. My Crispus coins from the "Duplicate" thread An Alemannia Devicta from Sirmium My only Beata Tranquilitas is also from Trier, but with Constantine II's portrait

Late for the party, but here is my stag with X mintmark

Every ancient coin is different, even the ones having the same reference number. Dies can be different, wear levels can be very different, toning... To clarify - I am not talking about similar coins (same obverse/reverse but different year or different mintmark. It is very unlikely (although I have seen cases) for a collector to have a double die match in the collection (although I have seen this happening, I know @dougsmit owns 2 Julia Domna denarii, double die match). However, when not a double die match, you can consider the coins non duplicates... or not fully duplicates. I checked my personal catalogue to see what coins I have with the same reference numbers. They were not bought on purpose (I never felt the need to upgrade my coins. In 2 occasions the pairs were in the same lots; the 3rd one was from a lot, doubling one from an older lot. The 4th was so different in style that I can consider them different coins (although I initially thought they are from different mints) So here goes Both - Crispus AE follis.. 320-321 AD. IVL CRISPVS NOB C, laureate head right / CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around laurel wreath containing VOT V. Mintmark ASIS star. RIC VII Siscia 161. Same mintmark and same catalogue entry (not exactly visible in my pics, I should probably take newer pics. Wasn't particularly happy with the situation (they were in my first even ancients purchase) but it wasn't a disaster. One coin identified for free, since I was a total beginner 🙂 -------------- In the same auction I bought a lot of 8 denarii. I was eagerly expecting them - I still like denarii more than any other denomination. Found 2 Vespasian denarii being duplicates .... but wasn't very bothered. Initially I thought there were 3 of them, and that would have been a slight issue. Vespasian (69-79) Denarius AD 75 Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right. PON MAX TR P COS VI Type: Pax, naked to waist, seated left, holding branch extended in right hand, left hand in lap RIC 772 "False duplicate" - as a total beginner, at first glance I couldn't see the difference between the 2 denarii and this one, until I noticed the clockwise legend (I found this very interesting as I didn't know legends can be written on coins in both ways) plus the reverse showing the same Pax but with a caduceus. ---------- The third one - I am not even sure if it is a duplicate. The first entry is my first denarius, from the first lot (described as "Roman Bronze"). I was extremely happy to have a hidden denarius there. Although I knew it was cheap, holding a denarius (and with Trajan's portrait, very important for me!) was one of the best numismatic feelings. The second (sad fact - wear level is low, but the coin is badly damaged) came in a lot I bought a few months later. Obverse IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC: Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right Reverse P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R FORT RED: Fortuna, draped, veiled, seated left on chair without back, holding rudder set on ground in right hand and cornucopiae in left RIC II Trajan 318 ----------------- The last is my favorite. Julia Domna AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-196. IVLIA DOMNA AVG, b of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, right / VENERI VICTR, Venus, with drapery falling below hips, standing with back turned, head right, holding apple in extended right hand and palm sloped to the left in left hand, resting left elbow on column RIC IV Septimius Severus 536 (denarius), RSC 194 Duplicate? technically yes. but I consider them different coins. Reverses are clearly different styles, the second shows a zombified Domna, and overall a different aspect. Both were bought as individual purchases and - as a coincidence - from the same auction house, but I don't usually buy from them. It just happened. Do you have examples in your collection? Let's see them, and perhaps with the reason for the purchase.

Beauty is pretty subjective but I will post coins from my country that I consider aesthetically pleasing 5 lei 1901, 38 mm and 25 g And its smaller brother, 1 ban 1900 (1 leu = 100 bani) - 15 mm, 1 g.

The legends don't match. Correct attribution is RIC II Trajan 345 IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PARTHICO Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding up caduceus in right hand and cornucopiae in left

Forgot my favorite reverse.

Not enough boars in this thread!

I have 2 Republican coins with Diana, both posted in this thread by other colleagues. C. Hosidius C. f. Geta 68 BC. Rome. Denarius AR17 mm, 3,96 g Obv: Diademed head of Diana draped right, bow and quiver at her shoulder GETA before, III. VIR behind. Rev.: The wild boar of Calydon right, pierced by spear and attacked by dog. C. HOSIDI. C.F. in exergue. Crawford 407/2 .... and the P. Clodius coin, with the usual bad strike P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus 42 BC. Rome Denarius AR 19 mm, 3,81 g Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, lyre. Rev. P.CLODIVS – •M•F, Diana standing facing, with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding lit torch in each hand. Crawford 494/23; BMCRR Rome 4290. Some Artemis coins Bronze AE Lydia, Saitta, Faustina II, AD 147-175 16 mm, 3 g Obv : ΦΑVϹΤƐΙΝΑ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, r. / ƐΠ Φ ΗΡΚΛΑΝΟV ϹΑΙΤΤΗΝΩΝ, Artemis standing, r., drawing arrow from quiver at shoulder, holding bow; to r., dog RPC IV.2, 11561 CILICIA. Soloi (ca 1st century BC) AE19 Obv: Head of Artemis right, wearing stephane. Rev: ΣΟΛΕΩΝ - Double cornucopia; to left, Є above Θ. Ziegler -; SNG BN 1209-10 var. (controls); SNG Levante 865 var. (same) 5,68 g, 19 mm My cistophoric tetradrachm, showing the cult statue of Artemis Lydia. Tralleis circa 133 BC. Cistophoric Tetradrachm AR 26 mm, 11,75 g Magistrate Time. Cista mystica with serpent, within ivy wreath. / TΡAΛ to left of bowcase between two coiled serpents, TIME above, cult image of Artemis Anaitis standing front in right field. BMC 31-32; SNG von Aulock 8287; SNG Cop 661; Paris 2700-2701; SNG Leipzig 1269; Mionnet IV, 1026; Pinder 160; Whittall sale 1325b; GRPC Lydia S470

This is a fantastic advice. And I followed the same idea since I started. Nothing compares to browsing an album and liking all the coins, each of them having an importance for you. Historically, thematically, aesthetically. This is why some rare emperors are missing from my collection (or some rare-ish Greek coins for example). They tell nothing to me and I see no reason to pay, for example, 200 EUR on a coin when I could spend this sum for 4 coins that are more common, or more worn, but they have their story for me.

I would agree. Here is my Macedon Thessalonica with a similar design (but 20 mm and 5.1 g)

My smallest bronze coin Troas, Gargara Æ. 7 mm, 0,63 g ca 350 BC, Laureate head of Apollo right. / ΓAΡ above horse galloping right. Lindgren 362; SNG AUL 7599, SNG AUL 1511, SNG LEIPZIG 1113, SNG COP 20 331 And of course, my first ever individual purchase

I am not a Seleukid coins collector but I wanted to add a few. Seleukid Kingdom. Sardeis. Antiochos I Soter 281-261 BC. Bronze Æ 13 mm., 2,62 g Houghton-Lorber 315a; Newell WSM 1369; BMC Seleucid p. 13, 58; SNG Spaer 233; SNG Cop 77; SGCV II 6883; HGC 9 167 (R2), , Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, bust of Athena facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet; reverse Nike walking left, raising wreath in right hand, long palm frond over left shoulder in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) downward on right, ANTIOXOY downward on right, symbol in circle outer left (control), no control right The second Seleukid coin I bought, in the same auction, is the reason I replied. I was checking my collection today and I was surprised of how beautiful this coin is in hand - plenty of details and an excellent black, homogeneous toning. Seleukid Kingdom. Magnesia on the Maeander . Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-226 BC. Bronze Æ 17 mm., 4,02 Obv: Head of Artemis right, bow and quiver behind. Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY. Apollo standing left, testing arrow and resting bow on ground; all within maeander pattern. Controls: Monogram in field to outer right, two monograms in field to outer left. SC 670. The 3rd one, in the same auction also, was a (weak) excuse to add a coin with an elephant in my collection. Seleukid Kingdom. Sardeis. Antiochos III Megas 223-187 BC. Bronze Æ 12 mm., 1,96 g. Obv - Laureate head of Apollo right, with spiral curls Rev - Legend: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY (vertical left and right), monogram above elephant Elephant standing left SC 981 My last Seleukid was bought for the reverse. I don't have an Athens tetradrachm so this is good to ilustrate the image 🙂 SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. (126/5-121/0 BC) AE20 Antioch, Dated SE 190 = 123/2 Mint: Antioch Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII right Rev: Owl standing right on fallen amphora, head facing; IE to inner right; below, PP (date, first P retrograde) and palm. Legend: BAΣΙΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY SC 2263.2f. 6,66 g, 20mm

Are insects allowed? Ionia. Ephesos circa 500-420 BC. Diobol AR 11 mm., 0,92 g Bee with slightly curved wings, on it spiral decoration. R / Quadripartite incuse square Karwiese Series VI, 2A; SNG Kayhan 124 If not, a ram should be. Caria, Kasolaba(?), c. 420-400 BC. AR Hemiobol. Ram’s head right / Youthful male head right within incuse. Konuk, Kasolaba 5; Klein 496-8 (Uncertain) A raven, a cow and a calf LLYRIA, Dyrrhachion. Circa 250-200 BC. AR Drachm Meniskos and Dionysios, magistrates. Cow standing right, looking back at suckling calf standing left below; above, raven standing right above MENIΣΚΟΣ / Double stellate pattern; ΔYP-ΔΙ[Ο-ΝΥ-ΣΟΥ] around; all within linear circle border. Ceka –; Maier 201; SNG Copenhagen 467.

Wile E. Coyote for me (although it was not on my top preferences as a child Thrace. Hadrianopolis. Gordian III AD 238-244. Bronze Æ 16 mm, 2,32 g AYT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AV, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / AΔΡIANOΠOΛEITΩN, ostrich walking right Varbanov 3833; RPC VII.2, — (unassigned; ID 67356); Jurukova, Hadrianopolis 676; Moushmov 2630A

This is not Victory, but Minerva disguised as Victory. Domitian AD 81-96. Rome. Denarius AR/ 18 mm, 2,62 g RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Domitian 791. Old RIC 194 (s) C. 294; BMC 237; CBN 210. Date Range: AD 95 - AD 96 IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV, head of Domitian, laureate, right / IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P/ Minerva Victrix, winged, flying l., holding javelin and round shield. Note: The iconography of this coin is most intriguing. This is the only depiction of a winged Minerva in all of Roman coinage, and indeed the concept itself has few parallels in surviving classical art. The closest comparable figure may be found in the winged statue of Minerva Victrix at Ostia, which originally formed part of the decoration of the upper gate known as the Porta Romana. This winged form of Minerva may well have been taken from earlier Greek images of Athena, such as that shown on a black-figure vase found at Orvieto and illustrated in Röm. Mitt. XII, pl. xii, which shows two representations of Athena – one winged and one without wings. With the exception of Nike-Victoria, most of the Greco-Roman gods had shed their wings by the early classical period; that such an archaism should be revived in the time of Domitian is therefore quite inexplicable, save perhaps for the possibility that it was simply an act of whimsy by an emperor who was known to favour Minerva above all other gods.

First of all, congratulations for starting this journey. There is a big chance you will be very happy with the outcome. I first saw an ancient coin in hand in 2015 I think, when I bought some very worn LRBs from a numismatic show. Although the price was pleasant (I was under the impression that any ancient coin is expensive - not 4 digits but I was pleased to buy coins for 2-3 EUR. I thought it was a fantastic deal back then, it wasn't in fact 😄 ) I didn't like them too much and in October 2020 I was bored and thought what to do next with my collection, as my modern coins and notes collection was almost complete, for my standards and goals. So I decided to start studying ancients, knowing it's difficult, expensive (not as expected, but not peanuts money for a man who isn't rich). But VERY rewarding. Here are my first ever purchase from auctions. A lot of 34 coins (described erroneously as "Roman Bronze coins" - there were a few silver coins and a Campania, Neapolis) Same auction - a lot of 8 denarii And a lot of 4 denarii (in fact, 3 denarii and an antoninianus) This was my start in this journey. I think they were cheap (the auction was not popular) and suddenly I had a base for my collection. It was extremely educational to identify all the coins myself (like you, I had zero knowledge back them). I recognized a Trajan portrait from the big lot and I was able to read some names on the better coins from the silver lots. So I started researching, finding auction sites, comparing prices, realizing what coins suit my tastes. A month later I was browsing an auction and saw a coin liked very much. I was not aware there are reverses with animals (and studying further I found various reverses I liked a lot). Won this one and was extremely happy. I still consider myself a beginner (I have 1 year and a half of experience with this area). So there is still much to learn. The number of ancient coins is enormous and this is an advantage - as you have a huge number to choose from - depending on what you want to collect - Roman imperial coins? perhaps concentrating on a ruler/dynasty/period? Provincial coins? Greek? Other cultures? There are some collectors who specialize on a niche - I will not nominate them because I am sure they can offer you advice - but I learned myself from colleagues who specialize on dynasties; or certain coin types (Macedonian shields :p); Roman Republican types - probably the most elaborate designs from antiquity; or other cultures, such as Parthian coins. You are starting so I am going to tell you what I did in my first months - I was browsing auctions coin by coin and when a coin looked appealing, I tried reading about it. Who is that guy Antoninus Pius? how was him as an emperor? what is that reverse, is it a deity, what is that object he/she is holding. What is the city for this Provincial coin? does it still exist? who lived there? et caetera. Of course I tried to inform myself about an estimate price and decide if I am comfortable with it and if I want to bid on the coin. Few things in my life were as pleasant as winning a coin I was waiting for weeks, and especially when I won them with a good price. A few months later I started looking at the Greek and Republican sections in auctions (for me they were discouraging initially) and when I liked a coin, I tried to win it. And on many occasions I won. My collection is not as impressive as some collections owned by forum colleagues, but I am proud and I rarely have 2 days without browsing my album. I did not find a certain niche to specialize in. When I buy a new coin, usually it's: - a coin with a pleasant design for me - animals, mythological scenes ... - Imperial coins from rulers I like - Trajan, Vespasian, Titus (to name just a few) - Imperial coins from rulers missing from my collection - when I find one that is appealing and cheap, I tried to add a new name - Republican coins, as it is an area i try to learn more about. I wish you good luck and happy collecting.