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Antiochos VII Ar Tetradrachm Ake Ptolemais 116-114 BC Obv Head right diademed Rv. Zeus Uranius standing left holdinf star. SC 2336(2) HGC 1197h 16.08 grms 32 mm Photo by W. HansenWhen I started collecting ancient coins I concentrated on the portraits found on Roman Imperial coins. I found them to be endlessly fascinating as one could lock at a coin and see an image of an individual that is recognizable. Later when I added Greek coins into my collection I still found portraits to be interesting. Thus I really liked the Seleukid series. They link the first portraits found on Greek coins to those found on Roman coins.

Antigonos III Doson Ar Tetradrachm Pella 229-221/0 BC Ar Tetradrachm Obv Macedonian shield emblazoned with head of Pan left. Rv. Athena Alkidomos advancing left brandishing thunderbolt and holding shield. In left field facing helmet decorated with two feathers. Panagopoulou Period 4 Group 2/16 HGC 1042 (as Gonatos) 17.17 grms 30 mm Photo bt W. Hansen Up to last year most everyone assumed that this particular coin was one of the many variations of the type minted for Antigonos Gonatos However Katerina Panagopoulou's massive new work "The Early Antigonids" places this and a number of other tetradrachms of this type into the reign of Antigonos Doson. The helmet on my coin does not have the usual transverse crest that is found on the majority of these coins. It does in fact have a helmet decorated with two feathers.

Trajan Ae semis 101 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Statue of Hercules facing head right holding club all on pedestal . RIC 690 Woytek 595bC? 2.93 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin shares some similarities with an issue of Aureii and Denarii which feature what appears to be the same statue. One might be forgiven if one came to the conclusion that all of these coins are somehow related to some specific event such as the rededication of a temple or the introduction of a new cult statue. While the semis could easily been fitted into any date, there are some difficulties with reconciling the dating of the other two coins

@thenickelguy Your drachm of Alexander III appears to be a Price 2580 Which is from the mint of Sardies. In the left field you have the monogram NK and below the throne there is a small torch. I have one of these drachms as well Miletus Ar Drachm in the name and types of Alexander III circa 323 BC Obv Beardless head of Herakles wearing lions skin headdress. Rv Zeus Aetophoros seated left Price 2090 4,28 grms 18 mm Photo by W. HansenOne of the more annoying aspects of Price 2090 is that it includes virtually every variety of reverse including the parallel legs as well as the crossed legged variety. The crossed leg variety got its inspiration from the mint of Sidon so it had to take some time to influence the die cutters at Miletus. My coin shows the fore leg slightly reverted type. I have come to the conclusion that this type is also posthumous as I have not been able to find any tetradrachms showing this type that I can safely ascribe to the lifetime issues of Alexander III

Ar Tetradrachm of Elagabalus Minted at Emisa 218-222 AD Obv Obv Head right laureate Rv Eagle standing facing head left and with wings spread on thunderbolt. Prieur 267 13.28 grms 26 mm Photo by W. Hansen The massive outpouring of tetradrachms initiated by Caracalla and maintained at least for part of his reign by Macrinus clearly ended during the reign of Elagabalus. I suspect that after an initial run of tetradrachms needed to pay the soldiers that had supported him against Macrinus all production ceased.

Trajan Ar Denarius 112-113 AD Onv Bust right laureate and draped Rv Divus Trajan Pater seated left holding patera and scepter. RIC 252 Woytek 406b 3.21 grms 18 mm Phot by W. HansenBesides honoring his adoptive father Nerva, Trajan also honored his biological father Trajan Pater as well. Trajan Pater had a distinguished military career eventually becoming governor of Cappadocia and then later Syria.

Constantine I Billon argenteus Trier 310-313 AD Obv Bust right helmeted draped and cuirassed holding spear over shoulder Rv. Altar flanked by two victories who are holding round inscribed shield. RIC 208a 3.44 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen These coins present something of a quandary. When Patrick Bruun penned RIC VII the prevailing theory was that these coins were folles, thus he placed them at the end of the SOLI INVICTO series which he had dated to 318 AD However subsequent research appears to favor an earlier date sometime around 310 AD This is based on the assumption that this series represents the last gasp of the argenteus coinage. Current metallurgical research places the silver content of these coins at about 20%. However even this standard could not be maintained. Subsequent issues lost virtuall all their silver having residual sliver contents much closer to the contemporary folles coinage. @Heliodromus is correct my date of 328 AD was incorrect and I have changed it. Thank you

Aureus of Nero 66-67 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv Jupiter seated left holding thunderbolt. RIC 63 7.33 grms 18 mm Boscoreale Hoard found in 1985 Photo by W. HansenThough found in 1895 this hoard was not catalogued until 1909. After the hoard was discovered the coins were sent to Paris where they entered the market. In the article published in 1909 Cesar Capessa records slightly over 1000 aureii as being a part of this hoard. The aureii of Nero make up a large percentage of the coins recorded with something 212 examples being of the IVPPITER CVSTOS type alone. It seems clear from the numbers of aureii of Nero found in this hoard that the owner of the villa rustica at Boscoreale had profited from the massive rebuilding effort at Rome carried out by Nero in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 64 AD

One of the coins that I had purchased at the NYINC 2022 Nerva Billon Tetradrachm Alexandria 96-97 AD Obv. Head right laureate Rv. Eagle standing right on thunderbolt wings folded RPC 4113 Emmett 361/1 13.42 grms 26 mm Photo by W. HansenIt is interesting how the image on the reverse of this coin evokes the image found on the reverse of Ptolemaic coins,

Commodus Ae 24 Selge in Pisidia 175-177 AD Obv Bare headed Bust of Commodus right draped Rv Tyche standing facing head left RPC IV On line 10913 This coin illustrated. 8.68 grms 24 mm Photo by W. Hansen. If memory serves me right back in October of 2008 I was looking at the unsolds in a recently completed action and found this coin. I thought it was a nice coin and thus purchased it. Some years later as the RPC on line project was gearing up I noted that the type was not represented so I submitted it. Since then some others have been discovered however it is the plate coin for th type.

Athens Ar Tetradrachm circa 465/2-454 BC Obv Helmeted head of Athena right Rv. Owl walking right haed facing Starr Group V A(1) 16.91 grms 23 mm Photo by W. HansenThis coin marks the transition from the earlier archaic coinage to the later mass coinage which current scholarship has commencing in 454 BC. On this example the head of Athena is already going through some of the process of simplification that achieves its apogee in the mass coinage. However in this case the reverse steadfastly maintains its more traditional look.

Denarius of L. Iuli 141 BC Obv Helmeted head of Roma right XVI behind. Rv. Dioscuri on horseback charging right with leveled lances. Crawford 224/1 RBW 949 3.89 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen The new XVI mark does not appear to have been a success and it was quickly replaced. Later the mark of value was dropped altogether. Probably one of those things that seemed to be a good idea at the time.

I checked the SNG France Cilicie CNG Levante as well as the Supplement to Levante and found nothing that matches your coin. I do not know if images are available on the BM ANS or other museum sites but you can try. I have a Stater or Disiglos of Mazaios as well. Stater of Mazaios 361/0 -334 BC Obv Baaltars seated left head facing. Rv Lion attacking bull left. SNG Levante 106 10.85 grms 24 mm Photo by W. Hansen

Syracuse Ar Tetradrachm 466-460 BC Obv Charioteer driving slow quadriga right above Nike crowning driver. Rv Head of Arethusa right surrounded by four dolphins Boehringer 438 HGC 1310 17.40 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen Back in 2019 I decided to sell my Syracuse minted during the reign of Heron I . Thus I needed to purchase a replacement. I noticed that there were a number of likely candidates available at the NYINC in 2020. However upon examining all the likely I saw this coin. In my mind this coin was absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately it was minted during the subsequent democracy a period that I already had represented in my collection. But I bought it anyway.

Sybaris Ar Nomos 550-510 BC Obv Bull standing left head reverted. Rv The same incuse and facing right, HN 1729 7.13 grms 27 mm Photo by W. Hansen Sybaris is given credit for the initiating the _incusum" or spread flan nomoi. The city fell as a result of one of the many epidemic wars the plagued the region as the various Greek city states located on the southern Italian coastline fought each other for dominance.

Thasos Ar Stater 480-463 BC Obv Ithyphallic satyr in a running kneeling stance right carrying off protesting nymph, Rv quadripartite incuse square anepigraphic Rosen 142 480-463 BC 8.88 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen By employing this image the Thasians are in a backhanded way attempting to show adherence to Greek ideas . The ancient Greeks believed that civilization in the form of civic rule brought order out of chaos. However chaos was never far below the surface and had to be feared and respected. Chaos is well represented by the Satyr. Though well muscled and strong he was totally useless for any kind of work. They were slaves to their pursuit of physical pleasure which on this coin ins represented by the nymph. Nymphs are minor female nature deities and usually enjoy an overall positive reputation. Satyrs are obsessed with nymphs. Thus by advertising this image the Thasians are trying to show that their city is a bastion of order and that only a few miles away lies the domain of chaos.

Athens Ar Tetradrachm 500/490-485/480 BC, Obv Helmeted head of Athena right. Rv Owl standing right head facing Seltman Group Gi HGC 1590 17,09 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen According to the most recent information available to me Athens commenced issuing the iconic "owl" coinage circa 525 BC, My coin exhibits a number of interesting features that interest me however as I have thus far been unable to examine contemporary Athenian issues the question remains moot. Perhaps the most interesting feature is that my coin looks as if the metal needed to create the coin was folded over in order to create a thicker flan. This may indicate that this coin was at one time part of somebodies dinner set. It is an interesting question, one that I need to resolve.

I remember my first denarius of Trajan. Back then I had the bad habit (I still do) of showing just about anyone in range my new coins. At that time I was working at a summer job. I showed my new denarius of Trajan to my boss. He had already been subjected to a number of my coins already however when looking at this coin he said " This looks like real money." I have a soft spot for Trajan ever since. This is not that coin but one that is close. Trajan Ar Denarius 112-113 AD Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder Rv. Personifcation of the Via Traiana recling left head reverted holding wheel RIC 266 Woytek 398b 3.09grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen I think the reason by boss liked this coin is the abundance of obverse legend and the tight neat lettering that seems to be a feature of the coins of Trajan during this period. Despite all this information the coins of Trajan do not offer a lot of information that can be used to precisely date the issue.

Not exactly a new coin but an interesting new discovery Denarius of L. Piso L. F. L. N. Frugi Obv Head of Apollo rught laureate Rv naked male on galloping horse right, Crawford 340/1 4.12 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen As many of you know I have been hunting through the RNumis site (cannot recommend this site enough) looking for "hidden pedigrees." I was looking at the Adolph Cahn & Adolph Hess Auction 83 which was held on July 17 1933 in Frankfurt am Main I had already found one other hidden pedigree in this auction and then I stumbled on this image I compared it to my coin and found a match. As the image in the auction is a cast, there are some minor distortions This auction featured the collection of Ernst Justus Haeberlin He wrote one of the primary references on the cast Roman coinage which was published in 1910. s Ernst Justus Haeberlin The only pedigree I had on my coin up to then was the auction that i had purchased it from back in 2018. Going through these on line auction cats reminds me about someone's comments on the game of Golf. You can have a perfectly frustrating day and then you get that one perfect drive and all is forgotten , I had two perfect drives this day.

Ar Denarius of Nero 60-61 AD Lugdunum Mint Obv Head right bare Rv Roma In military attire standing right inscribing shield RIC 28 3.67 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen This is one of the earlier pre reform denarii minted for Nero. The reduction of the denarius from 98 % to 95% does not appear to predate the moving of the mint from Lugdunum to Rome. A rather novel feature of this coin is the legend EX SC which seems to imply that the senate during this period of Nero's reign had regained control of the minting of silver and gold coins. This arrangement also ended when the mint returned to Rome,

Leontine Ar Tetradrachm 455-440 BC Obv Head of Apollo left laureate. Rv Head of roaring lion left surrounded by three barley grains and one laurel leaf HGC 670 17.03 grms 24 mm Photo by W. HansenThe coinages coming out from the Greek colonies in the west show a spirit of innovation generally lacing in the coinages from Greece proper. Already with this coin we can see evidence of the transformation from the archaic to the later classical. Though there are some elements of the archaic still evident such as the smile on the lips of Apollo and the stylized treatment of the hair one can see that the treatment of the eye, and the more natural dimensions of the head as evidence of the move to a more natural treatment of the subject. Also the spread flan allows for a larger canvass for the die cutter to exercise his skill.

Ar Nomos of Kroton 400-375 BC Obv Head of Hera Lakinia facing slightly right wearing stephane decorated with palmets Rv Herakles leaning left HN 2167 7.71 grms 22 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin was one of the many that were influenced by the 3/4 facing heads that had just been issued out of Syracuse. These images set at a slight angle from facing have to be the most difficult to execute properly and it is a testament to the skill of the engravers at Kroton and the other civic engravers as well to have willingly accepted the challenge.

However the invasion of Britain was under the aegis of this individual Claudius Ae Sestertius 50-54 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv four line inscription within oak wreath RIC 112 25.76 grms 35 mm Photo by W. Hansen Claudius succeeded in invading and holding Britain something that his predecessors failed to do. Certainly Caius' efforts failed in the extreme and the subsequent effort by Claudius may have been necessary to overcome the memory of that debacle. Vespasian appears to have been active mostly in the south west, capturing the Isle of Wright

Denarius of T Carisius 46 BC Obv, Bust of Juno Moneta right wearing necklace of pearls Rv. Implements of a coiner Anvil die with garlanded punch above flanked by hammer and tongs All within a laurel wreath Crawford 464/2 CRI 49 3.77 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen This is a rather interesting depiction of the tools needed to produce coins. I suspect that the tongs were needed to steady the punch or hammer die and the hammer is pretty self evident.

Ar Nomos of Metapontion 470-440 Bc. Obv ear of barley upon which to the right a grasshopper sits head facing downward. Rv ear of barley incuse. HN 1486 HGC 1029 8.22 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen It would appear that over time the diameters of this coinage were reduced. It may have been due to the difficulties associated with the striking of the earlier coins or some other factors. The grasshopper present on this coin may refer to a particularly bad infestation of these creatures which was ended through the intervention of the goddess Demeter.