maridvnvm

I was thinking about linking this information on progressive aging and dated items to the undated coinage.

Julia Domna Eastern Issues Obv:– IVLIA DO-MNA AVG, Draped bust right, hair tied in bun behind Rev:– BONI EV-ENTVS, Bonus Eventus standing left, holding plate of fruit in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-194 Reference:– RIC 616 (R) ; BMCRE 328B; RSC 10 Obv:– IVLIA DO-MNA AVG, Draped bust right, hair tied in bun behind Rev:– BONI EV-ENTVS (S modified from C), Fides standing left, holding plate of fruit in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-195 Reference(s) – RIC Emesa 616 (Rare); BMCRE 328B; RSC 10. S modified from C not noted in references.

Early Eastern IMP VIII Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, Laureate head right Rev:– BON EVENT, Fides standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 196 - 197 Reference:– BMCRE 440 Note corr. (BON EVENT not BONI). RIC 467 corr. (S) (467 is IMP VII). Cohen 63 (citing Paris). Evidently no examples of this reverse legend variety were seen by the authors of RIC or BMCRE as they both note the coin but cite Cohen 63 which evidently cites a misread obverse legend of VII likely being VII-I from Paris. Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTVS, Fides standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare, A.D. 196-197 References:– RIC 474 (scarce). BMCRE p. 111, 440; RSC 67b.

Eastern IMP II Obv:– L SEPT SEV P-ERET AVG IMP II, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI E-V-ENTVS, Fides standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 194 Reference(s) – BMCRE 427 (Appears to be the same obverse die, different reverse legend break). RIC 447 var (PERT rather than PERET). RSC 67c Obv:– L SEPT SEV P-ERET AVG IMP - II, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTV, Fides standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 195 Reference(s) – BMCRE -. RIC IV -. RSC -.

COS issues:- IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTVS, Fides standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left. Minted in "Emesa". A.D. 194 Ref:– RIC 352 (Scarce). RSC 66 3.03g, 17.99mm, 0o Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTVS II COS, Fides standing left holding plate of fruit and two wheat ears Minted in "Emesa". A.D. 193 Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC -. RSC -. Between AVG and COS II Obv:– IMP CE L SEP SEV PERT AVG CO, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTVC, Fides (sometimes referred to as Bonus Eventus) standing left holding basket of fruit and corn ears. Minted in Emesa, Late A.D. 193 or Early A.D. 194 References:– RIC -, RSC -, BMCRE -. 2.47g, 18.29mm, 0o Same obverse die Reference– BMCRE -. RIC IV -. RSC - One other example known - ANS Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG II CO, laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTVC, Fides standing left holding basket of fruit and corn ears Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194 Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC -. RSC -. Two double die match examples Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SE-V PERT AVG II C, laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTVS, Fides (Bonus Eventus) standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194 - 195 Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC IV -. RSC -. Two double die match examples Odd Short COS II legends Obv:– IMP CA L SEP SEV - PER AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI EVENTVS, Fides (Bonus Eventus - RIC) standing left, basket of fruit in right, two heads of grain in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194 – A.D. 195 Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC - (369 var.). RSC 68 var. I have 3 double die match examples Obv:– IMP CA L SE SEV PEVR (sic) AVG COS I-I, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI ENTVS (sic), Fides standing left holding basket of fruit and corn ears Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 References:– RIC -, RSC - Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev: – BONI E-V-ENTVC, Fides standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 - 195 References:– BMCRE 343 Note, RIC 369 (citing Third Dura hoard - Numismatic Notes and Monographs 55, page 44, number 203.), RSC 65c Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– BONI EV-ENTVS, Fides standing left holding basket of fruits in right hand, grain ears in left Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194 - 195 Reference:– BMCRE 343. RIC IV 369. RSC 68

The Bonus Eventus / Fides (possibly more accurately Fides Publica, or Bona Fides?) combination in the eastern mints in the eastern mints during the early Severan issues is widespread. It occurs in the earlier issues (from the start of the mints under Septimius Severus) through to either their closure (Alexandria and COS issues (from AVG through to COS II) or conversion to branch mints of Rome (IMP issues, IMP II and Early IMP VIII). Here is a sample of what I mean. Alexandria:- Septimius Severus Obv:- IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, Laureate head right Rev:- BONI EVENTVS, Fides (referred to as Bonus Eventus in RIC) standing left holding basket of fruit and corn ears Minted in Alexandria, A.D. 194 References:- RIC 347, BMCRE 321, RSC 66 There is also a single reverse die where Fides faces the opposite direction. Obv:- IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, Laureate head right Rev:- BONI EVENTVS, Fides (referred to as Bonus Eventus in RIC) standing right holding basket of fruit and corn ears Minted in Alexandria. A.D. 194 Ref:- BMCRE -. RIC -. RSC -. (Not listed with Fides right) 2.72g. 17.10mm. 0o Additional information from Curtis Clay "Not previously known for Septimius Severus but a reverse die match with a Julia Domna in Vienna" Julia Domna Obv:– IVLIA DOMNA AVG, Draped bust right Rev:– BONI EVENTVS, Fides (referred to as Bonus Eventus in RIC) standing left, holding basket of fruit and corn-ears Minted in Alexandria Reference:– RIC IV 608. RSC 10

I have to wonder looking at the range of portraits illustrated here whether anyone has created a progression of portraits of Severus Alexander based on the progression of facial hair, from sideburns through to bearded. I know that this has been done for Geta as Augustus....

My first ancient was a Severus Alexander. Here it is.... Severus Alexander denarius Obv:– IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding a spear and shield Minted in Rome, A.D. 232 References:– RIC 246, RSC 161a This was my first ancient coin and is still one of my favourites. Grey tone. 3.64gms. 19.91mm. 180 degrees

Constantius I Chlorus, AE Follis Obv:– DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO. Laureate, veiled and cuirassed head right Rev:– MEMORIA FELIX. Lighted altar; eagle to left and right Minted in Lugdunum (PLC). Autumn A.D. 307 - Summer A.D. 308 Reference:- RIC VI Lugdunum 264 (Scarce). Bastien XI 499 Weight:- 5.87 gms Size:- X-Axis 26.98mm, Y-Axis 23.81mm Next:- A lighted altar

And there are more examples of this fake illustrated there too.

Now the Balninus. This is another cast fake from the same source. Here are several matchiing copies. The also came from the "Toronto Group".

Now the Macrinus. It is another cast fake. Here are 3 of many matching fakes from a fakes database. These came onto the market from the same sources as the Didius Julianus above. The distribution network was known colloquially as "the Toronto Group" as they were primarily based out of Toronto.

Let me start with the Didius Julianus. It is a cast fake. Here is a matching cast fake from a fakes database. I have seen these coming on to the market since about 2004 :-

Me too. Will wait for the alll clear.

I went along to the exhibition today and spent a very enjoyable hour and a half walking round. It seems very popular. I took a few photos. I will share a few here of some bits not covered already.... A purse and denarii from inside it buried at a Roman fort. Found in Bridoswald fort in Cumbria. Showing the range in dates of coins being held together. Republic through to Trajan with the older coins given more evident wear than the later coins. Draco head - found in Niederbieber, Germany