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kapphnwn

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  1. Funny thing. A friend of mine was about to make a book order from CGB and contacted me to see if I wanted anything. I went on site and found this book so I ordered it. First time I order a book from this series that you had not mentioned beforehand. As far as I know book is now on order.
  2. Nero Ae Sestertius Rome 65 AD Obv head right laureate. Rv Roma seated left holding Victory in outstretched right hand. RIC 273 27/46 grms 34 mm Photo by W. Hansen These coins were struck to help defray the cost of rebuilding Rome after the great fire of 64 AD. It is likely at this point Nero is beginning to see that he is very unpopular and is trying to burnish up his image with this image coupled with a magnificent image of the goddess Roma
  3. Philip II Av Stater Pella 345-336 BC Obv Laureate head of Apollo/ Rv. Charioteer driving biga right cicada above.Le Rider 47 HGC 844 8.60 grms 17mm Photo by W Hansen An early lifetime stater of Philip II who appears to have only started this coinage after he captured Olynthus in 348 BC On a personal not I just got out of the hospital last Friday. I suffered from a major bleeding ulcer.
  4. Teos Ar Stater 478-449 BC obv Winged Griffin seated right raising fore paw Rv quadpartite incuse square Balcer- 11.99 grms 23 mm Photo by W. Hansen
  5. Persian Empire Av Daric 485-429 BC Sardies Obv Great King in running kneeling pose holding bow and spear Rv Punch Carradice IIIb erly 8.39 grms 13 mm Photo by W. Hansen For over two hundred years the Persian daric enjoyed to status of being one of the most favored means of storing wealth.
  6. Lokri Opuntii Ar Tetradrachm 370-360 BC Obv Head of Persephone left wreathed in grain Rv Ajax advancing right holding shield and sword. Humphris/Delbridge Group 2 9a This coin illustrated 12.26 grms 22 mm Photo by W Hansen The artistic revolution that began in Sicily can be seen to have some resonance at some of the mints in mainland Greece. This head of Persephone does resemble the Arethusa found on the coins of Syraces.
  7. Zagaba Dynast of Lycia 470-440 BC Obv Forepart of a charging boar. Rv Triskeles within dotted square Museler IV 4 7.78 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen The boar is one of the most iconic animals found on the coins from this region. The boar has always been a symbol of fighting spirit and being a dangerous and worthy opponent,
  8. Tyre Ar Tetradrachm 114-113 BC Obv Head of Melqart right laureate. Rv Eagle standing left wings folded HGC 357 Cohen DCA Tyre 2,13 This coin illustrated 14.29 grms 28mm Photo by W. Hansen It is generally considered that the obverse of this coin is an extremely modified portrait of Antiochos VII. The eagle on the reverse signifies that this coin is struck on the old ptolemaic standard, a standard which survived the collapse of Ptolemaic power in this region.
  9. I have to apologies my answer is very tardy. I was involved with a vexing problem involving Canada Customs. One of the bigger issues when trying to assess the value of ancient coins using FPL's is that while the dealer might put the coin out at that price, he may not get it. Auctions are more likely a more accurate window into historic coin pricing however, even they can be misleading. Now before going into my story I should make a few things clear. 1. During the 1990's there was an almost perfect storm which led to in many cases the collapse of coin prices. The first was the fall of the Com Bloc, the second was the advent of the metal detector, and the third was on line sites such as Ebay and V Coins. Thus you had a flood of coins entering the market and a clean simple and cheap means of selling them. 2.Despite what I am about to record, I do have memories of FPLs, getting them, phoning up the dealer only to find that the coins i was interested were long gone. This has happened to me many times and was intensely frustrating. Okay to my story. Back in March of 1991 Munzen und Medaillen published their Liste 541 listing an Aureus od Antoninus Pius for 5800 CHF At the time this would represent a price of about $ 4800 CDN or about $4400 USD. When I visited their shop in Basel Switzerland on October of that year, the coin had not yet sold. In fact at the time M & M had something like 5 aueri in house, all of Antoninus Pius. So when I picked this one out they were willing to deal. My negotiations for this coin were rather complicated. Long story shart it ended up with me paying something like 900 CHF less than the asking price. While i will admit that many coins that are found on FPL's did go for their asking some do not. I cannot say why I got such a deal on my coin. It might be that they had five aurei of Pius or I had simply overstayed my welcome. Antoninus Pius Av Aureus 152-153 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Emperor togate standing left holding globe RIC 226 7.28 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen
  10. Ar Tetradrachm of Alexander II Zabinas Antioch 128-122 BC Obv Head right diademed Rv Zeus Nikephoros seated left holding Nike, SC 2220b HGC 1149d 16.55 grms 29 mm Photo by W. Hansen Zabinas means "the bought one" alluding to this guys rather questionable qualifications
  11. Ephesos Ar Tetradrachm 350-340 BC Obv Bee seen from above Rv Forepart of a stag kneeling right head reverted. To left Palm tree Kinns Class G Obv 119 15. 26 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin was struck just before Alexander III entered the region Both the stag and the bee are associated with the local cult of Artemis.
  12. Demetrios I Soter Seleukid Kingdom 155-154 BC Obv Head right diademed Rv. Tyche seated left holding cornucopia SC 1641 (3)d HGC 798 16.81 grms 27 mm Photo by W Hansen The portrait of Demetrios, though less refined than many is one of the more successful compositions found on the coins struck by the Seleukids. The treatment of the truncation of the neck is superb and the head is small enough to fit the flan. However the reverse is very rudimentary.
  13. Av Stater of Byzantion 250-240 BC in the name and types of Lysimachos Obv Head of Alexander III right. Rv Athena seated left holding Nike. HGC 1374 8.50 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen The cities in this region are known to have struck an electrum coinage for some centuries so it should not be entirely surprising that a gold coinage continued to be struck. One might have expected a continuation of the Philip or Alexander coinage. However the types struck by Lysimachos was chosen.
  14. Ainos Ar Tetradrachm 405-399 BC Obv Head of Hermes right wearing petasos Rv Goat walking right Thrysos before. Obv May Group 28 247 A151 Rv May Group 39 324-332 16. 72 grms 22 mm Photo by W Hansen This coin appears to have been struck on the siglos standard making it if true a triple siglos. This coin would have been struck during the collapse f the Athenian hegemony in the region.
  15. Hadrian Ar Denarius 135 AD Obv Head of Hadrian right rv River god Nilus reclining right holding cornucopia RIC 310 RIC II/3 1544 3.19 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin is part of the very extensive "Travel series" of coins struck by Hadrian. Egypt figures prominently in this series having not only the province represented by the principle river the Nile represented as well.
  16. Excellent work. As I was preoccupied with CNG I had less time trying to assess @Ursus coin. I thought it might be a prow but was still looking in the coins of Asia Minor. The foreleg reverted with the wide stance is a signature style from some of the mints in that area. It is good to see that you have solved the mystery.
  17. Back in 2017 I visited the site of the battle now believed to have been fought at Kalkriese. The day I arrived was a day with leaden skies but with no rain. One of the coins found on the site Aureus of Augustus Some of the artifacts found and where they would have been originally The Roman Parade mask The ground leading up to the German positions Reconstruction of the German field works
  18. I am note sure this coin qualifies but here goes.... Ar Tetradrachm of Cleopatra Thea jugate with Antiochos VIII right Rv Zeus Nikephoros seated left holding Nike in outstretched right hand. Ptolemais Ace 125 BC SC 2271 HGC 1182 g 16.51 grms 30 mm Phot by W. Hansen This coin is unusual in that it places Thea in the dominate position. Her son Gryphus is clearly inferior. At this point in time Thea had arranged to have her husband Demetrios II executed (no time for losers) and then shortly after had her eldest son by him poisoned (mommy dearest) Gryphus managed to survive his mother apparently by forcing her to drink the poison she had prepared for him.
  19. kapphnwn

    Greek Zoo

    Halikarnassos Ar Tetrobol struck circa 500 BC Obv Head of Ketos left. Rv Star within ornamental square Rosen 617 2.02 grms 1o mm Photo by W. Hansen At one time this coin was thought to have be struck at the mint of Kyndia. Greeks certainly like their sea monsters. Perhaps another reason why certain peple should lay off the fermented grape juice.
  20. In response to @David Atherton my attribution of my coin representing the facade of the Temple of Juppiter Capitolinus is incorrect. He is correct and I feel that it is necessary to make that clear. Unfortunately I misread Elkins. However I do believe that my coin does represent another manifestation of Juppiter that of Ultor. I also have a copy of Monumental Coins written by Tameanko. When I studied his book I noted that he had attributed my coin to being the Temple of Divus Augustus. However his illustration (drawing) of the type featured a standing togate figure (page 151). To me my coin features a seated draped figure with one leg, his right reverted back. Now this is neither here nor there, however the subsequent issue featuring this temple showed the cult statues of both Augustus and his wife Live seated facing. Liva was deified by Claudius I believe in 42 AD and she does feature on some coins of Galba. I am not certain that Domitian would chose to ignore her as Pius felt it unwise not to do so. However before getting seduced by the notion that my coin was one of Capitolinus I had long concluded that it wa most likely a depiction of the Facade of the Temple of Juppiter Ultor. Trajan does strike a sestertius of a Temple of Ultor featuring a seated figure and it is an octastyle temple. So maybe I am half right????
  21. Syracuse Fifth Republic Ar 12 Litrai 214-212 BC Obv Head of Athena left wearing Corinthian style helmet, Rv Artemis standing left drawing bow hound at her feet. HGC 1412 9.93 grms 24 mm Photo by W. Hansen The obverse is very reminiscent of the Corinthian style staters struck by the Syracusans earlier in its history. Artemis is new however she is seen in the act of firing her bow no doubt a metaphor for that cities struggle with Rome.
  22. Domitian Ar Denarius 95 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Facade of the Octastyle temple of Juppiter Capitolinus RIC 815 Elkins ARC 106 3,07 grms 19 mm Photo by W Hansen There has been a fair amount of debate on the identification of the temple on the reverse of this coin. However it now appears that the temple has been identified as that of Juppiter Capitolinus. The timy image of the cult statue seen between the two innermost columns does tend to support that identifaction
  23. Looks like one of the coins I recently put up for auction, he decided to purchase. Tetradrachm of M. Licinius Lucullus 86-84 in the style of an Athenian New Style tetradrachm Obv Head of Athena right wearing triple crested Athenian style helmet Rv Owl standing right head facing on overturned amphora HGC 1777 16.10 grms 31 mm Photo by W. Hansen The types are iconically Athenian but This coin lacks the city ethnic of Athens bringing into question whether or not the coin was actually struck there. The traditional view is that Sulla had started striking these coins after the fall of the city, however now they are ascribed to Lucullus, that question does deserve rather more scrutiny.
  24. Severus Alexander Av Aureus 230 AD Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder. Rv Romulus in military garb advancing right with trophy over shoulder and spear at the ready. RIC 103 5.84 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen This aureus compares Severus Alexander to the mythical founder of Rome. This is a curious connection. It is possible that this is a response to the serious crises that was engulfing the Parthian Kingdom. It may be hinting thar Severus is ready to handle any problem that may arise from that crises.
  25. Kyme Ar Tetradrachm 155-143 BC Obv Head of the nymph Kyme Rv Prancing horse right, left hoof raised over one handled jug all within wreath Oakley 3 16.74 grms 30 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin was struck to help finance discord within the Seleucid Kingdom. Oh those sneaky Kings of Pergamon
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