ambr0zie

Welcome!

My Parthian sector of the collection consists in this sole coin, bought because I always wanted ... just one.

Kings of Parthia. Ekbatana. Artabanus II (...), cca 10-38
Drachm AR
18 mm, 2,87 g
Obv/ bare-headed bust left with medium square cut beard, wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, hair almost straight, earring visible; border of dots
Rev/ beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand, bow; below bow monogram 26; Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ / ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ legend on left read from outside
Sellwood 63.6

Septimius Severus AD 193-211. Rome. Denarius AR 17 mm, 2,29 g  
RIC IV Septimius Severus 266 (denarius); RSC 222; BMC 335-8
Date Range: AD 202 - AD 210
SEVERVS PIVS AVG
Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right
INDVLGENTIA AVGG IN CARTH
Dea Caelestis, draped, riding right on lion, holding thunderbolt in right hand and sceptre in left hand; below, water gushing from rock

Next - somebody riding something else than a horse.

Next theme is: another non silver coin from Athens - apologies, I was replying to Steve but didn't see Ryro answered before me.

Very cool, Steve.

I also own the L. Papius Celsus denarius - a very unique design. I was lucky enough to get an example with the curious technical feature of this coin - the eagle's wing goes over the dotted border.

Now back to your request

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

Next - an owl - but not on a tetradrachm

This was a popular reverse, from what I read it represents an ancient statue (now lost). It is also found on coins with portraits of Titus (several dates), Julia Titi, Faustina II (an example is owned by, who would have guessed, @Roman Collector) and Septimius Severus. There might be others.

The first Julia Domna from my previous post is a recent acquisition - I bought it thinking that it might be from the Eastern mints. Wrong. Both are from Rome but I am not bothered - the styles are different so I can't consider them identical coins.

It is very difficult to pick one.

My collection is not large (currently consisting in 312 ancient coins) and without spectacular conditions or rarities.

I know many coin collectors (not only ancient coins collectors) have an issue - they love a coin until they get it and then they forget about it. I don't have this problem - I often browse my album and it is very relaxing to remember the adrenaline boost I had when winning the coin, or the days were i impatiently expected the auction, hoping to get a certain coin. They didn't have to be extremely rare or excellent condition - just I had to like them.

Again, very difficult and I already had about 10 coins in mind but here is one who was very popular among fellow collectors.

For this coin I even broke my promise last year - I didn't want to buy any coins in the last 2 months of the year, but this one appeared and I was determined to get it.

Of course the reverse type has been the subject of many jokes (many made by me =)) ) but speaking seriously, the artistry of the engraving makes me think about ancient statues. This type was issued by many rulers, but I have rarely seen an example with this kind of details. I have 2 other examples (both from Julia Domna) and I like them, but the artistry level doesn't compare.

Mirror you say? Hmmm....

In my personal catalogue, I keep the original auction house photos, their description (corrected/info added if needed) plus a photo I take.

Something like

Because the light in my house is not suitable for photos and my phone was simply not designed for macro photos, for a long time I didn't take pics of my coins at all as the results were very bad.

Last summer, I just gambled and bought a 15 years old digital camera, that wasn't very expensive even when it was launched (Panasonic Lumix DZ7). But the results were much better than I was expecting really.

I use my window sill as a background. Cyan background from a notebook, white paper or a black cloth did not produce good results (but I admit I lack patience and skills for photography). An experienced collector taught me to raise the coin a little as this makes the coin more focused plus an aesthetic effect (imo). 

Never tried your idea with the mirror - will sure try it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Gordian III coins. Especially yours.

In my opinion, common rulers like him are interesting to collect as there is a large variety of coins to choose from, so the interesting reverses and/or the good condition coins are affordable. As a side note, I don't own a Galba coin yet. Provincial or Imperial. Of course, one of the reasons is the price for them, but I am often wondering if I am willing to pay 250 EUR on a modest denarius just to have Galba ticked, especially since the reverse would be most likely boring (this is one of the things I look after a new coin, perhaps it's just me). Instead, I prefer to buy 5 coins that are more common, but also more interesting.

Back to Gordian III - the denarius I like the most is this, also because of the reverse - I really like the way Hercules is depicted - ancient punk rocker?

Gordian III AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 241-243.
Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right.
Rev: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI Hercules, naked, standing facing, head to right, resting one hand on hip and other on club set on rock; lion skin beside club.
RIC IV 95; RSC 404
3.27 gr. 23 mm

But my favorite Gordian III is this Hadrianopolis - probably my favorite provincial.

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

Welcome, @Egry

I was fortunate enough to be invited on this forum and frankly I like it better than CT, especially since all the people I knew virtually and learned some secrets of this hobby from are here.

I have an example of your coin. In a completely different condition, but it is one of my favorite denarii nevertheless.

It was from my first purchase of ancient coins, in a lot of 8 denarii (bought for a very decent price in an auction that was very unpopular; much less than I thought a silver denarius costs and anyway a good price even today - this was 1 year and a half ago). Beginner's luck. I was a complete noob but I wanted to identify all the coins myself (which I did) and I remember I had to check who is that emperor (had no idea) and after identifying the coin I also made a check on Lucius Verus as I never heard of him before collecting.

My favorite Verus coin is a Divus Verus issue.

AD 168

DIVVS VERVS, head of Lucius Verus bare, right / CONSECRATIO, funeral pyre in four tiers (ustrina), adorned with statues and garlands, quadriga on top

RIC III Marcus Aurelius 596B; RSC 55, BMC 503

Triple crested Attic helmet

Archaic style Attic helmet

An Attic helmet decorated with Pegasus

Corinthian:

Attic on RR

One of my favorite Provincials is this Augustus from Kyzikos with capricorn reverse

RPC I, 2245,   F.W. Hasluck, NC 1906, 27, no. 3, AMC 1183

A skinny Nero - AD 60, Sardeis

ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙⳞΑΡ, laureate head of Nero r / ΕΠΙ ΜΙΝΔΙΟΥ ⳞΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ, laureate head of Heracles, r., with lion skin tied round neck
RPC I, 3002, BMC 120, Cop 522 corr.

A Claudius from Aizanis

ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΝ ΚΑΙϹΑΡΑ ΑΙΖΑΝΙΤΑΙ, laureate head of Claudius, r. / ƐΠΙ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΓƐΝΟΥϹ, Zeus standing left with eagle and sceptre
RPC I, 3089

From the same city, a coin with the portrait of Agrippina II

A rare lady, tough to acquire in Imperial coinage -

Ionia. Magnesia ad Sipylum. Domitia AD 82-96.
Bronze Æ
15 mm, 2,86 g
ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Domitia, right / ΜΑΓΝΗ ϹΙΠΥ, river god reclining l., holding branch of plant and cornucopia over inverted pot from which flows water
RPC II, 986; BMC 56; Cop 259

One of the most common city to get provincials coins from is Antioch. I don't complain as the portraits are very realistic.

Some of my 1st century coins from Antioch

Claudius

Otho

Domitian

And a Trajan dated 98-99 where I particularily liked another reverse, not the large S C and also the portrait, where it's clear that the engravers had Nerva in mind.

Æ 22 mm, 6,37 g
Pontic Kingdom, Amisos. Mithradates VI. 120-63 B.C, local civic issue of common type under Mithradates VI. 100-85 B.C. Facing Gorgonion as boss of fleece (aegis)-covered, octagonal shield / AMI-ΣOY, ethnic across fields divided by Nike, walking right, holding wreath and palm-branch; monograms in lower fields. SNG Cop.167 var; SNG BM Black Sea 1177-91; HGC 7,

Next - Amisos, but not the Perseus and Medusa reverse.

I have a coin with Drusus and Germanicus portraits. Not the best out there, but ...

MYSIA. Pergamum. Germanicus & Drusus (Caesares, 14-19). Ae. Struck under Tiberius.
Obv: ΓEPMANIKOΣ KAIΣAP.
Bare head of Germanicus right.
Rev: ΔPOVΣOΣ KAIΣAP.
Bare head of Drusus right.
RPC I 2367.

Only 1 in my collection but I liked this coin from the moment I saw it and impatiently waited for the auction

Moesia Inferior. Marcianopolis. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna AD 193-211.
Pentassarion Æ
28 mm, 11,42 g
Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Moesia, Marcianopolis.
Flavius Ulpianus, legatus consularis. Struck AD 210-211. Æ Pentassarion .
AV K Λ CEΠ CEYHΡOC IOYΛIA ΔOMNA CEB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus and draped bust of Julia Domna facing one another / ΥΦΛ ΟΥΛΠΙΑΝΟΥ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ; Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia; Є (mark of value) to left. H&J, Marcianopolis 6.15.35.4; AMNG I 601; Varbanov 868; Moushmov 411.

Macedon. Thessalonica. Tiberius and Livia AD 14-37.

Bronze Æ

21 mm, 8,41 g

Obv: ΤΙ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, head of Tiberius, r. / ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΕΩΝ, bust of Livia, r

RPC I 1567, Touratsoglou, Tiberius 38–61 (c. 22–3 and later)

Next - Tiberius

Isn't that Kebren the one we discussed about on CT and appeared to be Kasolaba?

Toning and deposits, but I love this coin.

A favorite of mine - green/olive

First coin in my album (I keep them in the order I bought them)

Cthulhus or the original name ΓΤΩΛΩΣ .

My favorite countermark ... is one I cannot identify. On this Aspendos stater.

32 minutes ago, Riley said:

I don't think it would constitute 'unique' or anything like that, but I got this Caracalla coin recently. When I looked for the identification tag of 'Bellinger A271' I was only able to find one Vcoins listing. So while definitely not rare, it's still one of my 'scarcer' coins. I'm sure there's more examples online to be found, but in my few hours of searching I mostly came up empty handed haha. Nothing on coinarchives, but I don't have the pro-version.

 

Good coin. There are 3 results on acsearch

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=Bellinger+A271&category=1-2&lot=&thesaurus=1&images=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ot=1&currency=usd&order=0

My quest to find a Volusian coin (not a major target) was more complicated than expected.

In the end I picked one, modest condition, but first thing I noticed was the odd flan. Won it easily and identifying it was a surprise.

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

I couldn't find any similar example with 3 pellets.

Your coin seems in exceptional condition and very well struck.

Here are 2 of mine (that cannot be compared) but the small one is very interesting - being a barbarous imitation.

What is the coin with the shewolf and twins reverse? is it the Roma city commemorative from 4th century?

I know it is present on many coins (and I intend to buy more varieties).

My favorite is this Macrinus from Laodicea ad Mare.

I think this forum has potential to be a very important resource on ancient coins.

@Restitutor, you really deserve big congratulations.

"Countrymen" as in people from my country? (sorry, you know English is not my native language). If this is what you meant - no idea. This hobby is not very popular here (not that I complain).

I have nothing against the guy and I've had my share of questions. And I will in the future.. But I am not sure if he's trolling or serious.

One of his threads made me scratch my head. Badly. He posted a classic "ID Help". He identified it himself (to be honest, I was too bored and I am sure others were too).

And suddenly...

"this is a rare and beautiful coin in very good condition. Thank you in advance if you send me congratulations and admiration for this excellent coin."

When another member (who is here also) pointed that this is an odd statement (very true) than bang, the voice of ration emerged

"this statement is quite normal, everyone here is very congratulations on good coins when people get them. such as huge congratulations. and I will be pleased as a coin collector. And that's fair and good. "

...