Sulla80

Thanks, @Roman Collector, interesting to learn that Sabina was the first to be paired with Juno! I don't have a Sabina/Juno to share - here's my Sabina with Concordia.

Links: elegant style (animals on the reverse) A great coin @Phil Anthos IMO the portraits of ancient Rome, continue and build on the realistic style of the Greeks -- these little artifacts from 2000+ years ago are quite amazing miniatures.

I don’t know how to adjust “temperature” or creativity in Claude - in ChatGPT you can set temperature from 0 to 1 where 1 is most creative and zero very conservative.

Thanks, @Heliodromus. I've been experimenting with Claude as well - the biggest advantage I see in ChatGPT 4o at the moment is integration with internet search which Claude (even in Pro version that I am using) does not seem to offer). e.g. ChatGPT has the advantage of being able to integrate current information and cites these two articles in its explanation of the Beale-Alshdaifat connection. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/british-auctioneer-coin-sale-fraud-new-york-richard-beale/ https://news.artnet.com/art-world-archives/richard-beale-coin-provenance-court-2360975

I have been playing around with ChatGPT 4o (latest version) - with a subscription from OpenAI. If anyone else is experimenting - I thought it could be worthwhile to share experiences and learn from each other. My first impression was: "ChatGPT is a numismatic genius!" - until a few people pointed out to me on NF that I was giving it all the answers with my file names 🙃 That said - I have found it to be interesting, entertaining and perhaps even a useful tool. I tried a few tasks with it and gave each a letter grade for how satisfied I am with the results. Upload a Document and Chat (Grade: A) I tried a few different documents - it was fun to talk to the document and ask questions. I tried a brief article and asked it to write a summary - it did this very nicely. I also tried chatting with a copy of Stephen Albums Checklist of Islamic Coins 3rd Edition (2011). You can chat with the full text of the book: (NOTE: I am truncating answers to not have an absurdly overwhelming post size) Get Help Attributing a Coin (Grade: D--) Figuring out a partial legend seemed to work quite well - I will definitely try this more often: In attribution, it was more useful as a helper - where I have some information and context. it didn't do too well on its own. It did surprisingly well with this coin - I suspect because of the ability to read the reverse legend: Here is some evidence that it is just getting lucky when it is right (perhaps because it knows a similar image). It seems to have thought that my coin was this one, and garbled it with an attempt to read the actual words on the reverse of the coin above... It might be helpful, giving me an idea of what to look for - but given I can read better than it can. For now, I will stick with my primary tools for attribution (other than human beings) searching the internet and ACSearch. Get Help Reading Coins (Grade:D--) While results are a bit mixed - it does a decent job assisting in reading inscriptions (or at least inferring them from some combination of image and associated text): Not bad and easy enough to visually check the answer. I still gave it an "D--" overall because it only could read legends when they were very clear and it didn't do great with rotated text and text going in circles around the coin. It also seems to be associating text with images - not just doing OCR on the text that is actually there - this can result in garbled interpretations. Always verify any answer. Ask it to Describe a Coin (Grade: D--) In this case, I had given it some context on the specific coin - the article from David Sellwood (see above). it also described this coin well. ChatGPT does seem to be easily misled by context provided and questions you've asked before in the same session- it thought that my Tetradrachm of Artabanos was a Parthian Drachm referenced by Sellwood. If I didn't know what these coins were, I would also be easily mislead or misinformed. It was particularly unhelpful with this coin - suggesting anything from a Indo-Greek to Roman Provincial and seeing the double cornucopia as intertwined serpents. Historical Context was not so useful either: While it's entertaining and it is sometimes useful - I am not going to start using it for much day to day. Find the Reference Numbers (Grade: B) I don't have Crawford numbers in my head for every RR denarius - so it can be helpful to do a quick lookup with partial information e.g. this table was quickly produced with prompt: (I am interested in producing a complete table of Roman Republican denarii with elephants on them - can you make a table with the following columns: "moneyer", "date issued", "obverse", "reverse", "reference numbers", "estimated hammer price") Although I am not sure the list is complete and "Head of Pius" should be "Head of Pietas" - it was quick and had the reference number that I wanted (374 - Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius, Head of Pietas / Elephant) Translate Text (Grade: A+) Here it is perhaps a little better than Google Translate for languages that you don't read. I have used it to help me trawl through text from RE (Paully's RealEncyclopaedia). Many of the pages are only available as images, so you have to convert to PDF, OCR the text and then translate - which is not to hard to do between Adobe PDF software and ChatGPT or Google translate.. Decode and Find Sources (Grade: B/F) It also can be helpful in expanding abbreviated resources and finding an online source for those resources. However this didn't feel all that revolutionary - It failed to find Archäologischer Anzeiger 1900, 6 = Klio II 248 (Archäologischer Anzeiger 1900, 6) (Klio II 248) Expanding the abbreviations it was more helpful that search (B) but for finding sources it was not useful (F). Summary and Conclusions: Overall - it seems worth experimenting with. There is some promise and some utility today. Here's a summary of what I've described above: Upload a Document and Chat (Grade: A) Get Help Attributing a Coin (Grade: D--) Get Help Reading Coin (Grade: D--) Ask it to Describe a Coin (Grade: D--) Find the Reference Numbers (Grade: B) Translate Text (Grade: A+) Decode and Find Sources (Grade: B/F) Some lessons learned: always take answers as a starting point - expect that answers are incomplete, and don't trust without verification. Do give it as much context as you can in your request, and be careful with the context in your session as it does make assumptions that are incorrect based on context (and of course if you give it the answer - don't be surprised if it gets it right). Deleting and starting a fresh session can be useful. Use the "Customize ChatGPT" option to set expectations for how it should respond. The technology is changing rapidly and it is definitely better than it was even a few months ago e.g. now ChatGPT can search the internet - read images and do a lot more than it could not that long ago. Definitely worth keeping an eye on it as it evolves. I suspect that there is potential in fine-tuning for a class of coins where there is sufficient data. There are some things it does that seem to simplify tasks that used to take a couple of steps e.g. search the internet, format and summarize text as it did with the table of coins - you can improve utility by pointing it to specific sources of information and asking it to check itself. Share your experiences with LLMs and ChatGPT, ancient coins and various tasks associated with researching coins and their history. What do you find useful?

A great collection @Sebastian - all lovely coins. Almost all of my coins are from BCE e.g. Greek Coins, Kings of Cappadocia, Ariarathes VII Philometor (Circa 116-100 BC). Drachm (4.15g, 17mm). Dated RY 9 (107/6 BC), from the Bono Simonetta Collection Obv: Diademed head right. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑIΡAPAΘOY / ΦΙΛΟMHTOPOΣ Athena standing left, holding Nike and spear, and resting hand upon shield; monogram to inner left, Λ to inner right, Θ (date) in exergue. Ref: Simonetta 5; Parthica 2007, Ar. VII 13/2 (this coin); HGC 7, 831. But I do have a couple Imperials that I enjoy e.g. this Vespasian + Titus Didrachm ex @PeteB (http://akropoliscoins.com/)

Congrats @JayAg47 this is favorite RR denarius! My mini-collection of RR denarii with references to voting is up to 5 coins : https://www.sullacoins.com/post/roman-voting-laws Since we've already seen some nice Roman Republican coins, here's a pseudo-autonomous Roman Provincial with the city council voting with a pebble: More on this coin here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/coins-about-voting

I'd vote for a bronze-silver mix for a puzzle. This photo goes a bit more eclectic.

A great coin @Alegandron - there are some words that start to make sense when stare at them long enough e.g. I think your mint is the same as mine قسطنطينية Qustintiniyah (Constantinople or today Istanbul) ۹۲٦ date 926 (below mint) or CE 1520 Obverse is on the right in your photo.

For me numismatist implies a level of academic contribution in the field of numismatics, I am a collector who enjoys hearing/reading/sharing what numismatists & historians have to say about the coins that I collect.

LOL - that song is about as David Byrne as it gets 😉 Surprising that he hasn't showed up as a Talking Head before this. We did hear from Gabriel Mary Byrne a while ago.

There are certainly a lot of poor quality strikes and flans from this period. However I find that there are occasionally some rather excellent portraits - some excellent ones posted in this thread! Here's a favorite from Mediolanum/Milan. ROMAN EMPIRE: Gallienus, 253-268 AD, AE antoninianus, Mediolanum mint, 266, RIC-483, Göbl-1350h, IMP GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / FORT REDVX, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopia, MS in ex Many of my favorite portraits of this emperor come from Roman Egypt (Alexandrian Tetradrachms). I've posted my scarce Gallienus/Neptune Tetradrachm from the Dattari Collection one too many times. https://www.sullacoins.com/post/provenance-rediscovered

What is the connection between song and coin? Tyche on the reverse, goddess of fortune holding a cornucopia filled with groceries? If we study ancient coins we can understand better those who issued them. Paraphrasing David Byrne: I thought that if I held the coins of the ancient people that I was interested in, that I might assimilate the point of view of the people there... Pisidia, Antioch, Septimius Severus, 193-211 AE (23mm, 7.02g, 6h) Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP Radiate head of Septimius Severus to right. Rev: ANTIOCH FORTVNA COLON, Tyche standing facing, head turned to left, holding branch and cornucopia. Ref: Mionnet Supp. 7, 30. SNG France 1120. David Byrne brings a new meaning to "you are what you eat": "When shopping at the supermarket I felt a great desire to walk off with someone else's groceries So I could study them at length And study their effects on me As though if I ate their groceries I would become that person Until I finished their groceries" -David Byrne

Lovely provenance and an interesting coin @Nikodeimos - sadly, I have no coin of Gortyna to share, but I do have a couple of coins depicting Europa which are shared here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/the-naming-of-europe along with more notes. Imperatorial Rome, L. Valerius Acisculus, 45 BC, AR Denarius, (19.8mm, 3.95g, 12h), Rome mint Obv: ACIS-CVLVS, diademed head of Apollo Soranus right, surmounted by star; acisculus to left Rev: L. VALERIVS, Europa riding bull right, holding a billowing veil above Ref: Crawford 474/1a; CRI 90; Sydenham 998; Valeria 17; RBW 1656 Note: the asciculus (a stone mason's pick) shown behind Apollo on the obverse is a pun on the moneyer's name.

I hadn't consider this question and perhaps I should have an affirmative answer (although nothing to do with the condition of this coin). This coin was the first one that came to mind - a coin that celebrates a famous prostitute from Corinth, Laϊs, with the image from her tomb. Athenaeus tells this story of Lais and two of her lovers, Aristippus and Diogenes: "And when Diogenes said, "Since you, O Aristippus, cohabit with a common prostitute, either, therefore, become a Cynic yourself, as I am, or else abandon her;" Aristippus answered him- "Does it appear to you, O Diogenes, an absurd thing to live in a house where other men have lived before you ?" "Not at all," said he. "Well, then, does it appear to you absurd to sail in a ship in which other men have sailed before you?" "By no means," said he. "Well, then," replied Aristippus, "it is not a bit more absurd to be in love with a woman with whom many men have been in love already."" more here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/lais-of-corinth

Sultan Mustafa II sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1695 to 1703, dressed in full armor, early 18th century Unknown author. Image public domain courtesy of wikimedia commons. This coin is far out of my normal range, issued in 1695, but the beautiful caligraphy pulled me in. It wasn't labelled so it took me a bit of digging to decipher and attribute. The scale of this coin was also a big draw: 16.2g. 39.2mm. The mint was the easiest part to decipher: قسطنطینية Qustantiniya. The metal (I still have some doubts) appears to be debased silver copper alloy (425/1000 Silver & 575/1000 Copper) deeply tarnished. The denomination : 1 Turkish kuruş The legend confused me as I was looking for a kalima when I started. The floral embellishments also misled me - eventually getting to: Obverse: سلطان البـرين Sultan of the two lands وخاقان البحــرين and khaqan of the two seas, السلطان بن the sultan, son of السلطان the sultan Reverse: السلطان Sultan مصطفى بن احمد خان Mustafa son of Ahmed Khan (Mehmed IV) ابو الفتح Father of Conquest ضرب في Struck in قسطنطينية Qustintiniyah (Constantinople or today Istanbul) ١١٠٦ AH1106 - 1695 Mustafa II's reign was a period of transition and challenge for the Ottoman Empire, with military setbacks in Europe and internal dissent, which set the stage for the 18th century Ottoman politics. The Great Turkish War (1683-1699) Mustafa II was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1695 to 1703. He ascended to the throne late in the The Great Turkish War (1683-1699). The war ended with the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, which forced the Ottoman Empire to give up significant territory in Central Europe to the Habsburg Monarchy, Poland, and Venice including Hungary and parts of the Balkans. This loss shifted the power dynamics between Europe and the Ottoman Empire and marks the beginning of the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Family Mustafa II had at least eight sons and 10 consorts. Culture & Arts Although Mustafa II would have continued support of the arts and architecture, he had to deal withe the financial challenges of prolonged war and the loss of territory. The empire’s focus was on recovering from military engagements and stabilizing the region, which diverted resources and attention away from the patronage of the arts and new architectural projects. End of His Reign 22 August 1703, the "Edirne Incident", saw a revolt of the Janissaries, the elite force of soldiers that were the personal protective force of the sultan. Mustafa II was forced to abdicate. Mustafa II tried to modernize and strengthen the army by incorporating more contemporary European military techniques and strategies. The Janissaries were dissatisfied with the Sultan’s handling of military affairs and his drift from traditional Ottoman ruling practices. This revolt weakened the authority of the Ottoman sultanate and strengthened the Janissary corps in the empire’s political hierarchy. (for a maintained version of this post with references and additional coins & history see: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/mustafa-ii-ottoman-empire) Post coins with beautiful calligraphy, coins of the Ottoman Empire, or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.

Congrats @lordmarcovan a nice addition to your 12-caesars and 83% complete! Here's how I filled the space for Caligula in my Provincial 12 Caesars set. https://www.sullacoins.com/post/not-the-usual-12-caesars

Thanks, @Roman Collector from a quick browse this looks like an interesting download - I was drawn to some of the discussions about barbarous holed, and plugged denarii: Holed denarii were not uncommon in barbarian regions. The process of drilling was precise, avoiding damage to the coin's imagery or text, suggesting that these holes were likely used for wearing the coins as pendants or for other decorative purposes. One coin with an unfinished hole even suggesting that it was a clockwise drill used.

A pyramid on a coin from Cappadocia issued under Ti Pomponius Bassus in 100 AD (time of Trajan) - couldn't resist the pyramid - and the mystery of "why a pyramid" - Pliny writes to him ~104 or 105 AD "I have been delighted to hear from our mutual friends that you map out and bear your retirement in a way that is worthy of your ripe wisdom, that you live in a charming spot, that you take exercise on both sea and land, that you have plenty of good conversation, that you read a great deal and listen to others reading, and that, though your stock of knowledge is vast, you yet add thereto every day...."

I am always open to collaborating & enjoy exchanges on ancients, pricing, history, ...PMs are welcome, and I am grateful for the advice, references & ideas I've received from members of this forum over time.

Thank you & yes, you are correct MEΓAΛoY is intended by MPΓAΛoY - Thanks to @Alwin for pointing me to the correct attribute: Rhagae Sellwood 30.16 (my coin is missing teh extra legs on the throne of 30.20 and has the long sleeve on the cloak going below the seat level which Sellwood describes for 30.16).

Welcome and congrats on your interesting Tetradrachm! You've found a good place to share coins, notes, and tap into a wealth of experts. I'll share a drachm of Arsakes XVI that may be the same king : Parthia, Arsakes XVI, AR Drachm, (not Margiane but Rhagae) mint Ref: Sellwood 30.20/21 (Thanks to @Alwin I no longer have doubt about the mint - MP-ΓΑΛΟY with a spelling error & a long sleeve on the archer's cloak)

I find it reassuring to think that he might have experienced human moments where he is a little rushed, uninterested, or otherwise mildly imperfect....🙂