maridvnvm

8 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

Given how many of his coins are dated, yearly throughout the reign, this would be pretty straightforward, at least for the basic progression.  (Within years would be tricky and probably not consistent.)

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

Not an entry but...

My grandfather was a publican from the age of 18 until he retired in 1977 at the age of 65. As such he operated through the variety of monetary debasement stages in the UK. Pre-1920 silver coins were 92.5% silver, which was debased to 50% silver between 1920 and 1947 at which point silver was replaced by cupronickel.

Throughout the working day and again at the end of the working day he would separate silver coins (initially higher silver coins) from the other coinage and placing them in a jar. He was aware that a similar process was being performed at the bank, where they were removing these older coins from circulation.

I spoke to him about this and naturally the ratio of coins decreased over time. I am not sure what he did with the jars when they became full but I know that he disposed of them for above face value via whatever route. At his retirement he only had a jar that he had been filling since about 1965. This weighed about 15 Kg and had a mix of coins going back to the 1820s and being largely very worn down to the levels seen in the sestertius in the OP. So from this we can see that silver coins circulated for up to 150 years going through more hands than we can count probably passing through many hands on any one day. .

I had  Griffon / Gryphon collection theme going for a while. Here is a small sub-set.

I have about 40 L Papius varieties. Here are a couple.

L Papius Denarius Serratus

Obv:– Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin. Behind head, Shoe.
Rev:– Gryphon running right; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, Sandal
Minted in Rome from . B.C. 79.
Reference(s) – RSC Papia 1. RRC 384/1. RCTV 311.
Symbol variety – RRC -. Babelon -. BMCRR -.
3.78g. 19.71 mm. 180 degrees.

An unpublished symbol pair with five examples currently known. This is likely the best of the five examples. (Richard Schaefer)

Obv:– Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin. Behind head, Dolphin wrapped around anchor.
Rev:– Gryphon running right; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, Hippocamp
Minted in Rome from . B.C. 79.
Reference(s) – RSC Papia 1. RRC 384/1. RCTV 311.
Symbol variety – RRC -. Babelon -. BMCRR -.

A previously unknown symbol pair and the only known example.

Abdera

Stater / Tetradrachm

Obv:– ABDH-RITEWN , Griffin seated left, raising right foreleg.
Rev:– EPI PU-QEW, Laureate head of Apollo right.
Minted in Abdera, 365 - 345 B.C. Magistrate Pytheos.
Reference:– May 549 (May S. 293 und Taf. XXIV, 549. AMNG 156 und Taf. III, 13)

Old edge chip between 9 o'clock and 11 o'clock probably accounts for the slightly low weight

9.10g, 22.52mm, 45 degrees

Drachm

Obv:– Griffin springing left.
Rev:– GR-W-TH-S, laureate head of Apollo left in linear square, within incuse square
Minted in Abdera, 365 - 345 B.C.
Reference:– May 324

Obv:– Griffin seated left
Rev:– PO-MN-EM-ON, Kantharos in square.
Minted in Abdera, Period VII c. 386/5 - 375 B.C.
Reference:– May 440, Group CXVI. Magistrate Romnemon. Same dies citing 3 examples, Oxford (ex May, ex Spink (1947) ex Kedros (1938)), Berlin, Lischine
2.39g, 14.44mm, 180o

Ar triobol
Obv:– Griffin seated left, club beneath, HPA above (Magistrate).
Rev:– ABD-HRI-TE-WN, Laureate head of Apollo right in square.
Minted in Abdera, VIII th period. 352 - 323 B.C. (AMNG)
Reference:– May -. AMNG II, 204, pl. III, #15
1.57g, 15.29mm, 0o

Teos

Ar Drachm
Obv:– Griffin with curled wings seated right, forepaw raised
Rev:– Rough quadripartite incuse square
Minted in Teos, Ionia. Circa 540-478 B.C.

Weight 5.68g. Size 16.44 mm
Test cut.

Ar trihemiobol
Obv:– Griffin with curled wings seated right, forepaw raised
Rev:– Rough quadripartite incuse square

Weight 1.08g. Size 11.93 mm

Ar tetartemorion

Obv:– Griffin with curled wings seated right, forepaw raised
Rev:– Rough quadripartite incuse square
Minted in Teos, Ionia

0.270g. 7.5mm

Her unofficial coinage is also interesting.

Julia Domna barbarous denarius

Obv:– IVLIA DO-MNA AVG, Draped bust right, hair tied in bun behind
Rev:– LIBE-RI AVG, Liberalitas seated left, holding accounting board and cornucopiae
Barbarous mint
Reference(s) – None. Appears to be Barbarous imitation of IV 627a.

@dougsmit I know that you have a penchant for Alexandrians. There are dated Alexandrians known for Domna too.

Julia Domna denarius

Obv:– IVLA (sic) DOMNA AVG, Draped bust right, hair tied in bun behind
Rev:– VIRTVS AVG COS II, Roma, seated left on shield, holding Victory and spear
Minted in Alexandria, A.D. 194
References:– RIC - (Unlisted Hybrid with reverse from Sept. Sev. 350I (which is R2))

I prefer the eatern issues

Julia Domna Denarius

Obv:– IVLIA DOMNA AVG, Draped bust right
Rev:– FELECI[TAS] TEMPOR, Basket of grains and fruit.
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194 - 195
Reference(s) – cf RIC IV 619; cf BMCRE 415;

The FELECI is clear but I am supposing the TAS based upon the spacing and what would appear to be the ghosting of the letter that have been lost through clogging.

I recently updated my photograph of this one:-

Obv:– IVLIA DOMNA AVG, Draped bust right
Rev:– MONETAE AVG II COS, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 194
Reference(s) – RIC -; BMCRE -; RSC -.

One of the rare dated reverse series. The third known example, others in Paris and Vienna. Die match to the Paris example.

Here is the same reverse type but reverse die but used for Septimius Severus

Obv:– IMP CE L SEP SEV PEPT AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– MONETAE AVG II COS, Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand, cornucopiae in left
Minted in Emesa. A.D. 193
Reference:– BMCRE -. RIC IV -. RSC -.

3.18g, 18.87mm, 0o

And a nice looking coin too.

Your first coin (RIC 104) is from the "Later" issue - Issue 6 - A.D. 278 to A.D. 279, rather the the emission 4 type (my green coin above) dating to . Mid to Late A.D.277. Your RIC 129 (TEMPOR FELICIT rather than TEMPOR FELICI) is from the even later Issue 9 dating to January to August A.D. 282. like my example below

There is another oddity where the officina mark comesin the exe that could be part of a potential unpublished 10th issue. I have two examples from two reverse dies

Let me start by saying that the coins that is the subject of this thread is one that very few people will have much interest in but to me, as a specialist in the Probus - Lugdunum issues it is a good find.

Let me start by introducing my new coin:-

Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– TEMPOR FELICI, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
Mint – Lugdunum (I) Emission 4 Officina 1. Mid to Late A.D. 277
Reference(s) – Cohen 723 listed in error. Bastien - (this obverse legend not listed with this type in Bastien). RIC 51 Bust type F (Rate C but it would appear to be far from common)

Taking RIC at face value this coin could be either a variant of RIC 51 or RIC 102.

Here are the relevant sections from RIC 5 Part II

Both RIC 51 and RIC 102 cite Cohen 713, which is TEMPOR FELICI but with a draped and cuirassed bust.

The difference between RIC 51 and RIC 102 is the style. RIC 51 is an early issue coin and RIC 102 is a later issue coin though both have the same description. This despite the fact that they both cite the same coins in Cohen.

Here are the relevant sections from Cohen.

Interestingly they both also list a Bust Type H example. The bust type H example (Cohen 722) is known as Bastien 205 and comes from the 5th Emission. Here is such a coin (which is one of my Holy Grail coins). Not mine. From Paul-Francis Jacquier, Auction 39, Lot 601 from 2014.

Looking through Bastien I cannot find any other coins of this reverse type with this obverse legend other than this gorgeous example from Emission 5.

So what is the difference between early and late issue coins?

Early issue coins have very little cuirass evisdent on the bust and have a less refined style than later issue coins.

EARLY ISSUE

Obv:– IMP C PROBVS P • F • AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– TEMPOR FELICI, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
Mint – Lugdunum (I in exe). Emission 4 Officina 1. Mid to Late A.D.277
Reference:– Cohen 713. Bastien 188. RIC 104 Bust type F.

LATER ISSUE

Obv:– IMP C PROBVS P • F • AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– TEMPOR FELICI, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
Minted in Lugdunum (I) Emission 6 Officina 1. A.D. 278 - 279
Reference(s) – Cohen 713. Bastien 269. RIC 104 Bust type F (C)

It is worth noting that loger legends do also occur but only on the later issues.

Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– TEMPOR FELICI, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
Mint – Lugdunum (I in exe) Emission 6 Officina 1. A.D.278 to A.D. 279
Reference:– Bastien 266. RIC 103 Bust type F

Weight 3.90g. 23.30mm. 0 degrees

The same reverse type occurs with a range of busts and legends during emission 5 but I will not encumber this thread with them.

In summary. The OP coin would appear to be a RIC 51, rated Common by RIC BUT this coin was not known to Bastien NOR has it appeared in either Bastien Supplements thus far. That is what makes this coin of interest to me. It has also highlighted to me that I need to save up so that if my Holy Grail coin ever ruturns to the market that I have funds available (it sold for about $1500 plus fees when last on the market).

It appears that The Cabinet has disappeared for us all.