ambr0zie

Alexandria

24 mm, 11,94 g.
Egypt, Alexandria. Galba 68-69 AD. Billon tetradrachm. Dated RY 1 (9th of June – 28th of August 68 AD).
[ΛΟΥΚ ΛΙΒ ΣΟΥΛΠ] ΓΑΛΒΑ Κ[ΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΑΥ(Τ)], LΑ, laureate head of Galba, right / [ΕΙΡΗ]ΝΗ, veiled bust of Eirene wearing olive wreath, with caduceus over shoulder, right.
Köln 219; Dattari 302; Milne 309; Emmett 171; RPC I 5328.

16 mm, 4g.
Islands of Thrace, Thasos. AR drachm. Circa 500-480 BC.
Ithyphallic satyr advancing right, carrying off protesting nymph / Quadripartite incuse square.
Le Rider, Thasiennes 3; HGC 6, 332.

Next - quadripartite incuse square

Not sure what you mean. I am pretty sure that April Fools is recent, historically speaking (some sources mention 1582). Also it was strictly in the Western world. I heard about this "celebration" only after 1990. I live in Eastern Europe. 

Also, remember that Catholic and Protestant are not the only Christian churches. I am Orthodox, I will celebrate Easter on 5th of May. The dates of Easter are variable every year and the rules are complicated, anyway, there is no such rule as Catholics celebrate Easter on day X and Orthodox Church on day Y. 

That is an excellent goal, @Parthicus

I will stick to ancients, but I will completely change my tactics. For more than 3 years I buy from auctions and usually get common budget coins, sometimes good deals. Like you, I was interested in history, geography, various events, animals, religion. 

NO MORE. I will stick to ancients like I said, but from now on I will buy only rarities because I want to build a collection with rare or very rare coins (I already sold my entire collection as there was no rarity there so this doesn't fit my collecting goals anymore). 

The first coin I bought is 

Description - Ultra Rare Coin ( Estimated Lydia).
Experts don't even know what it is, no one has ever seen anything like this. Found in Turkey in Manisa.

Well, if the experts don't know, good enough for me. 

This is what I also mentioned, except that my clues were the older appearance + the beard. 

I think the portrait is Philip I, not II, as Philip II is depicted younger and beardless from what I checked. 

Your coin should be similar to https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/29061

Philip II variety with the same bust type: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/47998

A coin showing two wrestlers. When I first saw the type, I thought the reverse also shows an athlete - a javelin thrower. 

21 mm, 10,90 g Pamphylia, Aspendos. AR stater. Circa 415/10-400 BC.
Two wrestlers grappling within a dotted border / Slinger discharging sling right, triskeles in right field, ethnic EΣTEE to left, all within incuse square. Countermarked.
Tekin Series B; SNG Aul. 4525; SNG BN 45ff.

Next - triskeles 

Pietas:

19 mm, 2,68 g.
Trajan 98-117 AD. AR denarius. Rome. 112-114. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Pietas standing left, sprinkling incense over lighted altar to left and holding sceptre.
RIC 262; BMCRE 481; RSC 201.

Today I attended a numismatic show (well, the term is too optimistic - actually, a monthly gathering of sellers of various objects, but not all related to numismatics). Usually I just go to say hello to a a seller I know and I like to discuss with, but today I found something - a little surprising. I suspected it's ancient, I had a rough idea about what it is but it wasn't my area. Since the price was OK, I decided to have a go. Especially since the prize won from @Nerosmyfavorite68's contest demanded a new coin. 

After some struggles in attributing it, I think I managed to do it. 

23 mm, 9,75 g.
Indo-Greek Kingdoms. Bactria. Apollodotus I 174-165 BC. Ӕ square hemiobol.
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ, Apollo radiate, standing facing, holding arrow in right hand and bow in left arm / [Transliteration: mahārājasa apaladatasa tratarasa – “of the great king Apollodotus the savior”] - Tripod; dotted border. Monogram: Bopearachchi Monogram 51 symbol, consists of Ε and Α - 
Original reverse legend (in Kharoṣṭhī): 
Bactrian and Indo-Greek Coinage Apollodotus I 6.4; Bopearachchi 6.D.

I did not have too much info about this history chapter. 

Apollodotus I (some sources - 180-160 BC, others - 175-164 BC) was an Indo-Greek king who ruled the southern and western parts of the kingdom. He was the first king who ruled in India only - therefore the first "proper" Indo-Greek king. 

His coinage is abundant and a representative part are the square bilingual coins - many more interesting than mine, depicting animals. 

Please post anything you feel relevant. 

Happy Easter for all who celebrate (I'm orthodox so I will celebrate Easter in more than 1 month - 5th of May).

Here are my coins with Christ:

23 mm, 6,54 g.
Byzantine Empire. Attributed to John I - 11 December 969 - 10 January 976. Anonymous Æ follis class A1. Constantinople.
+ЄMMA-NOVHL, facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, two pellets in each cross limb, pallium and colobium, holding ornamented Gospels with both hands, to left IC, to right XC / +IҺSЧS XRISTЧS ЬASILЄЧ ЬASILЄ (Jesus Christ King of Kings), legend in four lines across field, circle below.
Sear 1793.

26,8 mm, 10,35 g.
Byzantine Empire. Romanus III or Michael IV, 12 November 1028 - 10 December 1041. Ӕ anonymous follis, class B. Constantinople.
+ЄMMA]NOVH[Λ, facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, holding gospels with both hands, to left IC, to right XC / Cross on three steps with pellet at each extremity, in fields IS - XS / BAS-ILE / BAS-ILE (Jesus Christ, King of Kings).
SBCV 1823.

20,5 mm, 1,9 g,
Venice. Alvise Mocenigo III 1722-1732. Billon soldo – 12 bagattini. DEFENS NOSTER, Jesus Christ standing, nimbate, right hand raised in benediction, book of gospels in left / S M V ALOYS MOC, Doge kneeling left before winged lion of Saint Mark, left paw resting on book of gospels, in exergue value *12* (12 bagattini). KM# 499; CNI VIII# 54; Pap# 39; Paol# 22.

17 mm, 0,87 g.
Byzantine Empire. Romanus IV Diogenes 1068-1071. AR 2/3 miliaresion. Constantinople.
MHP-ΘV (barred), nimbate facing bust of the Virgin Mary, wearing pallium and maphorium, holding with both hands medallion of nimbate bust of infant Christ; dotted single border / + ΘKЄ / BΘ, PΩMA/NΩ ΔЄCΠO/TH TΩ ΔΙΟ/ΓЄΝЄΙ, legend in five lines; three pellets below, linear single border. Sear 1865.

26,5 mm, 2,7 g.
Byzantine Empire. John II Comnenus 1118-1143. Billon aspron trachy. Thessalonica.
MHP – ΘV, Virgin Mary seated facing on throne, holding Christ medallion on breast / + Iω ΔΕCΠΟT Tω ΠOPΦVPOΓENHT, John standing facing, holding labarum and akakia.
Sear 1952.

31,3 mm, 21,27 g.
Mesopotamia, Singara. Gordian with Tranquillina 238-244 AD. Ӕ. 243-244 AD.
ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟΝ ϹΑΒ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΙΝΑ ϹΕΒ, confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate and cuirassed, r., seen from rear, and Tranquillina, diademed and draped bust, l. / ΑΥΡ ϹΕΠ ΚΟΛ ϹΙΝΓΑΡΑ, draped, veiled and turreted Tyche, seated l., on rock, holding ears of corn, with centaur (Sagittarius) l. leaping l., shooting bow, above her; below, lower l., half-length figure of river-god Mygdonius swimming l.
RPC VII.2, 3468.

Next - a coin showing both the emperor and the empress. 

My first (and only) Nero denarius. 

20 mm, 2,65 g.
Nero 54-68. AR denarius. Rome. 64-65 or 65-66.
NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / [AVGVST]VS AVGVSTA, Nero, radiate and togate, standing left, holding patera in right hand and long scepter in right; to right, empress (Poppaea?), veiled and draped, standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left.
RIC I 45 and 57; WCN 55; RSC 43; BMCRE 54-5; BN 201.

Next - a reverse with two people. 

I confirm that I received the prize from Nerosmyfavorite68. Thank you!

@Nerosmyfavorite68 thank you for the generous prize. I hope I didn't get anybody (or everybody) bored with that story. I started it during work while doing very annoying tasks and escalations, it took a few hours, I was doing a task, then writing a line, then another escalation email, then another line. 

I am writing you a PM now. I will spend the prize, most likely, in the following weeks in an auction. 

19 mm, 3,81 g.
P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus. AR denarius. Rome. 42 BC.
Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, lyre / 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.

Next - a musical instrument, but not a lyre. 

Julia Maesa. Augusta 218-222. AR denarius. Rome. IVLIA MAESA AVG, draped bust right / SAECVLI FELICITAS, Felicitas standing to left, holding long caduceus and sacrificing over lighted altar; in left field, star. RIC IV 272 (Elagabalus); BMCRE 81-82 (Elagabalus); RSC 45b.

I guess we can count this as a Provincial as it's minted in Commagene

29 mm, 13,70 g.
Tiberius 14-37. Æ dupondius. Commagene. 19-21 AD.
TI CAESAR DIVI AVGVSTI F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / PONT MAXIM COS III IMP VII TR POT XXI, winged caduceus between two crossed cornucopiae. RPC 3869; RIC I Tiberius 90.

Next - crossed cornucopiae

I bought this one. Can't wait to get it. I only had 1 very modest Germanicus coin so I'm really impatient to see some gold coins! 

It's been quite a lucky day - I received an email that a Nigerian prince wants me to inherit all his fortune (I didn't ask too many questions, why should I?!) and also I saw a banner saying that single ladies in my area are waiting to meet me. Can't get much better than this. 

It was year 863 Ab urbe condita. Or Year of the Consulship of Priscinus and Scipio. Or, how we call it today, year 110 AD. 

Roman Empire was at its peak, lead by the glorious Trajan. The Dacian wars were over, the Column of Trajan was finished after tremendous work. 

Quintus Nigilius Melus was a poor 20 years plebeian from Rome. From his childhood he really wanted to do something with his life. He was skilled in music, liked to hear poetry, but never learned how to read as his family could not afford this. He liked to watch gladiators but he couldn't dream to become one. He dreamed of being a scribe but his life was plain, simple and hard - like his parents' and grandparents' lives and like his ancestors... just dreaming of something better in the family's small apartment in a modest insula, where he was freezing during winters and couldn't stand the heat in summer. With 4 younger brothers and his mother. His father was dead for a few years. 

Ambitious but unlucky. He wanted to be in the army as it was the quickest way to earn a name but this wasn't an option as when he was still a kid, in year 857 Ab urbe condita, he wanted to see the gladiators and chariot races in Circus Maximus, just restored by Trajan. When he ran to get a good seat, he was injured by the crowd, trampled, and got a broken leg that was never completely healed. 

So he couldn't be a soldier, couldn't be an intellectual, not many choices. 

He worked hard as a laborer for the Column. Even if the physical effort was too much for him, the other laborers mocked him or patronized him, he just clenched his fists. There was no other option. 

He needed money to get a nice little home and marry Rastinia Livilia, the neighbour's daughter. He was in love with her since they were kids. This is why he was working, almost like a slave, in the Column. 

Finally he got his pay from the hard work.  With all the savings he had since he was just a kid looking for work, it was just enough. He had all the coins in a small wooden chest he hid in the house, always afraid the insula might catch fire or a thief might steal his fortune. 

He added the pile of coins he earned in the chest and took it to Rastinia Livilia's house.  He wanted to show her father that he's serious and can afford a home. 

All his dreams were in vain as the father, Rastinius Livius, almost kicked him out. "Get out, lame boy! is this a joke? do you think my daughter can't to better? Quintus Nigilius Lameus is your real name"

So he entered the first tavern and drank like a mad man. Only to see his former work mates. "Oh, the lame boy wants to celebrate? Drink's on you then". 

He woke up in the morning, with torn clothes, massive hangover, full of bruises and no chest. And no money. 

---

So he sold the little he had in his home, his personal possessions, and left to Dacia. He knew colonists are wanted and it was the last resort for a new life.

---

After long days on the road, hungry, thirsty, Quintus Nigilius Melus finally reached Tibiscum and decided to settle here. 

He saw a small, poor tavern, nodded thinking about what happened in Rome, entered and asked the inn keeper, an old Dacian with long, white haired, named Davos - "meat, wine and a bed". Davos looked at him, unfriendly, served him after he saw the coins and reluctantly accepted the pile of bronze coins, with one being much larger. 

Davos had a son, a small curly boy named Geta. He saw his father with the pile of coins in his hands. "What have you earned today, father? Something from a mighty Roman soldier? Gold?" "No, son. Just junk. Here is this coin, you haven't seen one that large, have you? I think that's Trajan, our enemy. Play with it, do whatever you want". 

Soon after, Davos spent the sestertius and didn't think about it too much. It circulated in Dacia like a normal currency. Some colonists and soldiers were proud seeing Trajan on it, when they recognized him, some natives were furious. 

---

Year 920 Ab urbe condita. Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Quadratus. Or, how we call it today, 167 AD. 

A "Barbarian Federation" - the Costoboci, the Carpi, the Yaziges, the Roxolans and other tribes, free Dacians and their allies, attack Roman Dacia, Raetia, Noricum and Pannonia. Then the Black Sea coast, Macedonia and Thracia, and even Thessalonica and Athens where they destroy Roman towns and cities. 

Dacia was not the best place to live in. 

Jullars Atius Tudianus was a peaceful farmer living in a small village near Rusidava, Roman castrum. 

One day he sold his famous red apples in the market and received a large coin from an old woman for 3 apples. He had no idea what it was. "This doesn't look like good money, ma'am!" "It is, my son, but it's old. Take it. I am old and I want an apple". "Ma'am, it's dirty and worn! are you sure it's valid?" "Yes, my son, please". So he did but he still found it curious and kept it in a drawer. 

Knowing the armies will soon reach their village, he and his son, who had the same name,  decided to run to the mountains, with other villagers. It was safer. After the war ends, they can return and only hope their house is still in one piece and continue their lives. 

They decided to flee first thing in the morning, but during night the inevitable happened - the barbarian armies arrived in the village and burned it down. There was nothing remaining. Jullars Atius Tudianus and his son died quickly. Their house quickly became ashes. Including the drawer, but the coin remained under a big pile of ash. 

----

Year 1020 Ab urbe condita. Or year of the Consulship of Paternus and Arcesilaus. Or, how we call it today, 267 AD. 

A young villager from Roman Dacia, named Quintus Nigilius Melus, marries his childhood sweetheart, Rastinia Livilia. They are both in a small village near Rusidava. There are stories that this village was burned down completely in a raid of the barbarians, 100 years or so ago. But nobody knows if this is true or just legends. 

Quintus Nigilius Melus decides to build a home for him and his young wife, at the periphery of the village. Not the best area, muddy in autumns, but they want their home rather than living with parents. The village is still prosperous, but more and more people are leaving Dacia and there are rumors that Gallienus will leave the province. 

Quintus Nigilius Melus is not very concerned by this. He wants his wife to be happy and for the moment this is enough. A home, a nice warm fire and a garden. 

While digging for the foundation he finds a big round object covered in dirt. Initially he thinks a small rock but after cleaning it a little with his fingers he sees a portrait.  

"Hey Rastinia, take a look at this! apparently our house is directly above a treasure!" "Come on Quintus! stop fooling around" "No, look!" "An old coin .. who knows how old it is, why are you wasting your time?" "Look, it has a face on it!" "Leave it there and work, if you want us to have a place to sleep!". But Quintus put it into his pocket. 

-----

Quintus Nigilius Melus and Rastinia Livilia were happy, had two lovely kids, but rumors started again about barbarian raids and, even worse, many people left the village. In the end, even if Quintus was very annoyed that they have to leave the freshly built home, they had to. There were less than 50 people remaining, most of them very old. And they had two children to take care of. 

Rastinia Livilia had some relatives in Moesia (this province will be soon named "Dacia Aureliana" after Rome officially decided to leave the Dacia province) so they left to start a new life. 

When Quintus turned for the last time to look at his house, he remembered about the big coin in his pocket. 

"Perhaps it belongs to this land, who knows. It's better to leave it here". So he dug a small hole with his hands and put the coin there. 

----

In 1992 some children were playing in Valea Caselor, near the town of Dragasani, Romania, and found a big coin. They gave it to their father, who thought he had found a fortune, but after speaking with many collectors/antiquarians, he finally understood that he is not a millionaire. He sold it to an antiquarian and with the money he earned, he drank a beer and his kids got a bottle of soda each. 

---

It was 2024 AD. A collector who uses the nickname @Nerosmyfavorite68 on NumisForums bought a Trajan sestertius. 

The Nero example is quite nice. I like the artistic depiction of Victory, the portrait (the hair style is bold) and - important for these issues - that the SPQR lettering on the shield is visible. That wears off easily. 

When I bought the first lot of ancient coins, I had the chance to find a similar type there. Not an XF coin, but for the price per coin of 3 euros, it's satisfactory. Too bad somebody cleaned it as the coin seemed to have an excellent patina. 

26,58 mm, 8,43 g.
Nero 54-68 AD. Ӕ as. Lugdunum. 63-68.
NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P, bare head right, with globe at point of bust / S-C, Victory flying left, holding shield inscribed S P Q R.
RIC I (second edition) Nero 473.

Soon after, I bought this one individually. The delaminaton is an issue, but this was also very cheap and I simply liked it. The color is lighter than in my picture. 

27 mm, 8,45 g.
Nero 54-68 AD. Ӕ as. Rome. 62-68.
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.
RIC I (second edition) Nero 351.

There were already nice Trajan coins posted here with the usual titulature SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, so I will post just one - but this one is, I think, inspired by the Nero coins design. 

28 mm, 12,76 g.
Trajan 98-117. Ӕ as. Rome. 98-99.
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M, head of Trajan, laureate, right / TR POT COS II P P S C, Victory, draped, advancing left, holding shield inscribed SPQR in right hand and palm in left.
RIC II Trajan 402.

Here is something after many hundreds of years. 

14,8 mm, 0,4 g.
Papal State. Senate of Rome, Italy. Billon denaro provisino. 1300-1400.
SENATVS P Q R, comb, S flanked by crescent and star above / ROMA CAPVD M, cross pattée, pellets in 1st and 3rd quarters.
Biaggi 2119.

Oh yes, a great provincial. I also built a Zoo of my own and the ostrich is one of the main attractions. 

Here is my example 

16 mm, 2,32 g.
Thrace, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III 238-244. Ӕ.
AYT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from rear / AΔΡIANOΠOΛEITΩN, ostrich walking right.
Varbanov 3833; RPC VII.2, 806; Jurukova, Hadrianopolis 676; Moushmov 2630A.

20 mm, 5,19 g.
Macedon, Thessalonica. Ӕ. Circa 187-131 BC.
Head of Janus / ΘEΣΣAΛONIKHΣ, the Dioscuri riding in opposite directions.
SNG Cop 369.

Next - Janus

Your coin is beautiful and I would strongly suggest NOT to clean it (in regards to the "bit of dirt" part)

Trajan coinage is excellent for a multitude of reasons

- excellent portraits, quality control appears to have been strict

- variety of reverses, especially imperial coins but provincial coinage is interesting as well

- last but not least, they are affordable.

Before I started collecting ancient coins owning a Trajan was just a dream. I was under the impression that his coins are very rare and expensive. Now I own 24 Trajan coins (18 imperial and 6 provincials) from my total of 463 coins. 

Here are some I find very interesting

a quadrans with a she wolf reverse 

denarius with the Column

Dacian captives 

Caesarea, similar to @Ryro's but the reverse character is less .... ehm ... developed. Also mine is a didrachm (2 drachms)

denarius with personified Arabia and camel 

the river Danube

Trajan's father 

a tridrachm from Antioch 

a dupondius showing personified Dacia 

and my latest acquisition, Alexandrian tetradrachm with canopus of Osiris

Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII. 

20 mm, 6,66 g.
Seleukid Kings of Syria. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. 126/5-121/0 BC. Ӕ. Antioch. Dated SE 190 = 123/2. Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII right / BAΣΙΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY, owl standing right on fallen amphora, head facing; IE to inner right; below, PP (date, first P retrograde) and palm.
SC 2263.2f.

Here is my only coin depicting Demos:

18 mm, 4,57 g.
Phrygia, Apameia. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Time of the Severans, 193-235. Ӕ assarion.
ΔHMOC, bearded and draped bust of the Demos to right / AΠAMЄΩN, Marsyas advancing right, playing double flute (aulos).
Leypold, Vol. II, p. 30, 1441; Martin, Demos Vol. 2, p. 158, Apameia 22; SNG Copenhagen 200.