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Q is for Q Denarius of L Sulla circa 81 Unknown mint BC Obv Diademed head of Venus Rv Twin cornucopia Q Below Crawford 375/2 3.85 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen Venus is Sulla's patron deity and the double cornucopia is a symbol of Fortuna a deity claimed by Sulla as one who favored him more than others.

Caracalla Ar tetradrachm Laodicea ad Mare 208-209 AD Obv Bust right laureate and draped Rv Eagle standing facing head left wings open Prieur 1153 This Coin Illustrated 13.90 grms 27 mm Photo by W. Hansen

I cut my teeth with this book A few years into my University career where I studied to be a teacher (This being career #2 that cratered before I was 25 years of age.) I discovered ancient history at about the same time as I discovered ancient coins. (Early 1970"s) The books of this series became my bible for studying Roman coins. I still have my copy though in the shape it is it would have no value. Given that this book was published in 1958 I suspect that it is now rather out of date. Since @Valentinianposed one of my favorite coins of Philip I s I will post this one Philip I Ar Antoninianus 247 AD Obv Bust right radiate draped and cuirassed seen from back Rv VICTORIA CARPICA Victory advancing right holding wreath and palm RIC 66 4.45 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen One of the biggest issue of this period of history is that the sources are less than ideal. In the case of Philip we know little about the man before he became Emperor. He became emperor under circumstances that could best be described as dubious. He apparently won a signal victory over the Carpi. From the sources we have he appears to have tried to rule with moderation and there is some evidence that he might have been trying to improve the quality of the antoninianus before he died.

P is for Ptolemy II Ptolemy II Ae Drachm 261-246 BC Obv Head of Zeus Ammon right. Rv Two eagles standing left on thunderbolt wings folded Svoronos 497 CPE B 261 68.37 grms 40 mm Photo by W. HansenThis coin marks the beginning of the oversized Ptolemaic aes.

Link Ptolemy Ptolemy III Ae Hemiobol Paphos 246-222 BC Obv Head of Zeus Ammon right. Rv. Cult statue of Aphrodite standing facing Sv 1007 CPE B 449 5.30 grms 19mm Photo by W. HansenOne of the many coins that has overtime changed mints. When I purchased the coin it was thought to have been minted in Kyrenaica but now it is Paphos.

Happy B Day Vespasian Hope you have a great day Vespasian Ar Denarius 69-70 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Judea in attitude of mourning seated right. To left military trophy RIC 2 2.96 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen It is unusual that a revolt should gain such prominence on the coinage but given the extraordinary situation caused by the Roman Civil War, the emphasis placed on the suppression of the revolt in Judaea does deflect attention from the dark but necessary deeds that occurred during and even after the civil war.

O is for Odessos Odessos Ar Tetradrachm 280-200 BC in the name and types of Alexander III Obv Beardless head of Herakles right in lions skin headdress. Rv Zeus Aetophoros seated left Price 1167 16.76 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen The coinage in the name and types of Alexander has not only a long history but his coinage has been copied by many mints in different regions and obviously for different reasons.

Athens Ar tetradrachm "New Style" 153-152 BC Obv, Helmeted head of Athena right Rv Owl standing slightly to right on tipped amphora head facing Thompson 69a HGC 1602 16.50 grms 32 mm Photo by W. Hansen I bought this coin back in 1988. I remember after buying the coin reading a number of articles debating the chronology of this interesting series. I believe these are listed above in @NewStyleKing list. The problem for me is that while I agreed with the arguments put forward supporting the "low chronology" it did not give me a precise date for my coin. As such I think I was off by 3-4 years for some time. One thing though after reading all the debate I came to the realization that none of this would have happened had it not been for the book written by Thompson. Thus when I examine the coinage of Alexander the Great I always feel grateful for the work done by Martin Price.

N is of Nagidos Nagidos Ar Stater 374-356 BC Obv Aphrodite seated left cupid standing behind her placing wreath on her head. Rv Dionysos standing left holding scepter and grape bunch, GCV II 5585 19.81 grms 22 mm Photo by W. Hansen

Pharnabazos Ar double siglos Tarsos 380-379 BC Obv Baaltars seated left holding scepter. Rv Head of Ares left wearing crested Attic helmet. SNG France 251 10,53 grms 24 mm Photo by W. Hansen Pharnabazos was a very energetic satrap who was active in Greek politics during the Peloponnesian War. At that time he sided with Sparta but later supported Athens during the Corinthian Wars. He was later involved with the recovery of Egypt a campaign that caused this coin to be struck.

In response to @Nerosmyfavorite68 No I think this is more likely Scene from the first Indiana Jones Film. Never to see the light of day again.

Link Philip I Philip I Antoninianus Antioch 244-249 AD Obv Bust left radiate draped and cuirassed seen from front Rv Felicitas standing facing head left holding scepter and cornucopia RIC 76 3.90 grms 22 mm Photo by W. Hansen Philip minted an extensive series of antoninianii from the mint of Antioch. This mint was also responsible for minting Tetradrachms as well as aes coins. Furthermore some coins meant for other mints were struck at Antioch as well.

M is for Mytilene Electrum Hekte of Mytilene 377-326 BC Obv Head of Dionysos right wearing wreath of ivy leaves and flowers. Rv Head of Silenos facing Bodenstedt 90 HGC 1016 2.55 grms 10 mm Photo by W. Hansen The electrum hektes of Mytilene and Phokaia were minted over a period of two hundred years and there appears to have been some form of cooperation between the two mints. Their function is less well understood and they ceased production sometime towards the end of the reign of Alexander III of Macedon, though it is possible they survived a few years after that

I touched on this topic a few weeks ago, however I was on vacation and did not have access to my notes nor the coins that at one time were in my collection. However coinage of Gordian III from the mint of Antioch in Pisidia is truely vast. Of the larger sestertius sized coins 34 mm or larger there are some 50 dies noted by Kryzanowska in her work published in Warsaw back in 1976 This a a truly prodigious number of coins possibly over a million. The authors of RPC vol VII.2 note that many of these coins have images on the reverse that reflect sestertii minted by other emperors as early as Trajan. At some point Gordian III introduces a half unit with a radiate crown usually in the 26-28 mm range and weighing usually a bit more that 12 grms. These are nit as common as the larger sestertius sized coins. At his death in 244 AD a series of coins featuring a radiate crown and Gordian's portrait were struck for Philip This is an example that used to be in my collection. THIS IS NO LONGER MY COIN These coins are roughly struck at the same standard as those struck by Gordian III. I believe these coins are actually meant to represent Philip I. It is unlikely that the die cutters would have had a portrait of Philip to work with and so they used the image of the previous emperor as a stop gap. Later there was a reduction in both weight and diameter, Again this coin was once in my collection THIS IS NO LONGER MY COIN These coins are now 22-24 mm and weighing about 8.5 grms. At this point we can see that the mint has adopted a more veristic image of Philip. Furthermore the image of the three military standards becomes more or less the standard reverse from this mint. I believe this is a more plausible explanation for the coinage of Philip from this mint. Otherwise we have to assume that the Mint of Antioch in Pisidia minted two sets of dupondii at different weight standards the lesser coin be that of the emperor and though they had an image of Philip I did not get one for Philip II. As Philip II did not become an Augustus until 247 AD and the larger module coin does clearly give him that title, it does stretch credulity

Domitian Ae Sestertius 95-96 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Jupiter seated left holding victory, RIC 794 28.42 grms 34 mm Photo by W. Hansen My coin is very similar to the one posted by @Julius Germanicus which is a bit surpising in that they are about ten years apart. One other thing that can be seen on this coin would be the edge of the die which can be seen on the left side of the reverse.

Closest thing I have is this coin Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I as Satrap Memphis 322-321 BC In the name and types of Alexander III Obv Head of beardless Herakles wearing lions skin headdress, Rv Zeus Aetophoros seated left Price 3971 CPE 19 17.20 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen When I first saw these very impressive coins they were considered to be a lifetime issue and possibly the originators of the crossed legged Zeus seen on the reverse. Naturally as with most things research has shown that that idea was incorrect and that image featuring the Zeus with crossed legs was first struck at the mint of Sidon.

Septimius Severus Ae sestertius 195-196 AD Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder. Rv Fortuna standing left holding rudder and cornucopia RIC 706 26.26 grms 3 mm Phot by w. Hansen After Septimius ascended to the throne, his issues of sestertii were initially while still scarce more common than the period from circa 200 AD to about 207-208 AD when the issue of this denomination picks up again.

K is for Kyzikos Kyzikos Ae Obol 450-400 BC Obv Forepart of a boar running left behind Tunny Rv Head of roaring lion left above K Sear II 3848 0.79 grms 8 mm Photo by W Hansen This mint struck an extensive series of electrum coins as well as these silver obols. While the electrum coinage explored many different designs the silver did not sticking to these two very standard designs.

I have the same type except mine is a sestertius Trajan Ae Sestertius 107-108 AD Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder. Rv, Facade of octastyle temple with cult figure standing within the two innermost columns. RIC 575 Woytek 302bD This Coin illustrated 25.18 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen It is most likely a depiction of the Temple of Honos. On many reverses the cult figure is somewhat indistinct however on others the figure is clearly togate and carrying a cornucopia. On mine the togate figure is rather more clear but the cornucopia less so. Only one deity fits that general description and that would be Honus, Denarius of Marcus Aurelius as Caesar Rv Honos standing facing head left holding branch and cornucopia RIC 429a 3.30 grms 19 mm Photo CNG E Auction 460 Lot 659 January 29 2020 Note Woytek does identify the Temple as Honus? Elkins appears to come to no definite conclusion. Hill concludes that the Temple is one dedicated to both Honus and Virtus. I think much of the resistance to the idea that this edifice is a Temple to Honus revolves around the idea that such an imposing structure would be constructed for such a purpose. Further as Trajan does not explicitly state which deity is being honored it does create an issue.

The guy that does my photographs uses a blue background. I really like a blue background, I think it presents the coins better than some other colors. Further it does make the pictures of my coins more distinctive and easier to locate in some of these threads. Soloi Ae 25 100=30 BC Obv Radiate head of Helios right Rv Athena seated left holding Nike SNG France 1193 7.89 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen

J is for Julia Domna Ar denarius Laodicea ad Mare 193-201 AD Obv Bust right draped Rv Pudicitia seated left RIC 644 3,50 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen Julia Domna had a very extensive coinage minted in her name during the series of civil wars that eventually ended when her husband Septimius Severus emerged victorious. This is somewhat unusual in that not only did she have a strong presence at the mint of Rome but she is well represented at Emisa Laodicea as well as Alexandria.

Elagabalus Ar Denarius Antioch 218-219 AD Obv Bust right laureate draped and cuirassed seen from back Rv Sacred Stone of Emisa in chariot pulled by four prancing horses right, shaded by four parasols. RIC 195 2.97 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen It is interesting that while the depiction of the sacred stone played an important part in coinage issued from the mint identified as Antioch, its presence at the mint of Rome is all but non existent. As far as I know there is a scarce denarius as well as a very scarce antoninianus.

Ar Denarius of Augustus Lugdunum 2 BC-12 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing with two round shields between them. RIC 208 3.81 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen Another denarius that is not X rated. Many years ago I read that the "X" marked denarii of this time were minted sometime after the installation of Tiberius as the official heir to Augustus (sometime after 4AD) I have not seen this idea repeated, so I cannot say that it had found any favor. However such a theory is worthy of further investigation. The X marked coins are much scarcer than the unmarked.

I is for Istrus Istrus Ae 17 350-339 BC Obv Head of Apollo right. Rv Sea eagle stsnding left grasping dolphin SNG Stancomb 169 This coin illustrated 4.05 grms 17 mm Photo by W Hansen Both Istrus and Sinope share this rather interesting reverse type though in many cases the eagle is seen flying. I wonder if there was some sort of alliance between the two cities.

Leontini Ar Stater 476-466 BC Obv. Man on horseback right Rv Head of roaring lion right surrounded by four grain ears. Boehringer 13 HGC 679 8.47 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen Like most of the Sicilian mints the initial issues from the mint of Leontini consisted of didrachms struck on the Attic standard. Later the more familiar tetradrachm was adopted.