maridvnvm

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An unpublished symbol pair with five examples currently known.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.

I saw that example too. I don't have an AETERNITAS AVS (sic) type because the only other one I have seen is I think the one you are referring to, which hit the market several times from between 2001 and 2018. This coin illustrated below (not mine - Auction image).

I used to take an interest in this obverse die but have since focussed elsewhere .

Most  of my examples suffer in a variety of ways, wear, off-centre strike etc. My best example of the obverse die is the one above.

Here are some of the examples of the obverse die that I have obtained.

Same die pair as my example above:-

Same obverse die but two different MARTI VICT reverse dies

Martin

Here is another old purchase that I have stumbles across. This one joins the Florian above in the "keep me" pile.

Numerian

Obv:– IMP C NVMERIANVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– PACATO-R ORBIS, Emperor advancing right, holding shield and sword, captive, cowering beneath
Minted in Lugdunum (C in exe) Emission 9 Officina 3. Summer A.D. 284
Reference:– Cohen 41 (30 F). Bastien 618 (2 examples cited). RIC 390 Bust type F var (Officina).

The coin appears to be billon rather than silvered and is the ONLY occurence of this reverse type.

I am rephotographing and reorganising. In the last 25 years I have found my collecting themes. I am now going through the early purchases and taking stock as to whether they are core to my collection, whether they should leave my collection or whether I even have a "keep pile" forming a non-core collection.

Coins I part with now will go towards my main collections.

Just processing another coin. It turns out I bought this one 20 years ago this week.

Florian Antoninianus

Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Emperor advancing right, holding a shield and spear, treading down captive.
Minted in Lugdunum (IIII in exe) Emission 3 Officina 4, from September to October A.D. 276
Reference:– Cohen 107. Bastien 150. RIC 16 Bust type C

@dougsmit

I have an example from your first obverse die but with a LIEBRAL AVG reverse

I think the following is similar in style to but I don't think is an obverse die match to your second coin. Mine has a FORTVNA REDVCI, Fortuna (pax?) type.

There is the "COS" obverse die that has two very fine strokes below the bust that could be II

I also have this one from my "Short obverse legend" sub-collection. I haven't seen any other examples from this obverse die and neither had Curtis Clay when last we discussed it.

Obv:– IMP CA L SEP S-EV PER AVG COS - II, Laureate head right
Rev:– LIBE-R AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand, cornucopiae in left

A quick chat with the seller of the OP coin led me to a second purchase and a second ex. Kelly coin for the collection.

I certainly didn't need another RIC 424 to add to my collection as I already have 5 different examples but this is the only one I have with the slightly odder COS - II obverse legend break.

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS - II, Laureate head right
Rev:– VICT AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 - 195
References:– BMCRE 395, VM 150/1, RIC 424, RSC 675a

Ex Spink Auction 18055, Lot 435. Ex. Michael Kelly Collection

2.74 g, 18.02 mm. 180 degree

100 lots sold so far making about 400 coins at about £3 per coin. More than 200 more lots listed.

They will turn up on the market through other hands.

Sad.

I have seen them sold individually as uncleaned / partially cleaned coins for $20 each. Theye were being offered into the market in 2017 in batches of 1,000.

Just be warned that there is an ebay seller in Germany who is placing several hundred modern fakes onto the market in one go. There are already several bids starting to appear.

Seller:- numis.coins on eBay

I created a montage of a range of die linkages that I found amongst these fakes back in 2017 when they first started hitting the market

(warning - large image)

I have other similar stories. It is generally not worth my while buying anything under around Eur 50 from an auction house in the EU because the commission (18-38%), postage (Eur 15), duties (20%) and handling charge (£8) often exceeds the value of the item.

In the UK the Royal Mail charge a fixed rate of £8 handling fee on top of any duties requested by customs, with duty being paid on any excise goods valued over £39 at a rate of 20%. 

This is what my blurry eyes see...

A byzantine style nimbate bust of Christ facing

Standing figures. 2 possibly 3 with central figure standing facing

My eyes went to a Byzantine Trachea. It is probably better to have said nothing. 

It snow sits nicely alongside coins from earlier issues. These coins form part of a series of Victory coins celebrating Severus' victories in the east. The coin above is an early (though not quite earliest... see below) issue with titles on the Eastern denarii after the capture of Ctesiphon

Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VII-I, Laureate head right
Rev:– ARAB ADIABENIC, Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm (R of ARAB corrected over B)
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 196-197
Ref:– Cohen -, BMCRE -, RIC -.

The reverse refers to victory over Niger. To hide the fact that this was a civil war, it is phrased as victory over Arabs and Adiabenians, who aided Niger's cause. This was pre-Ctesiphon.

The Eastern New-Style mint ("Laodicea-ad-Mare") had taken to copying its legends and most of its types from Rome-mint coins, but it had obviously heard the news from Ctesiphon before the Roman mint did. It would appear that Septimius had accepted the title of Parthicus after the victory and the title was added to the Arabicus and Adiabenicus older titles from the above. As such we get IMP XI, and Parthicus.

The earliest form being shown from the following very rare issue with teh very odd PIV and P M awkwardly placed in the obverse legend.

 Obv:– L SEP SEVERVS PER AVG PIV IMP XI PAR P M, laureate head right
Rev:– AR AD [T]R P VI COS II P P, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left
Eastern mint. A.D. 198
Reference:– BMCRE page 280 *, citing RD page 105. RIC 494a corr.

We know that at Rome, the Senate amplified Parthicus to Parthicus Maximus and the mint used just this new title on the coins, IMP XI PART MAX removing the older victory titles relating to the Arabs and Adiabenici. 

The OP coin fitting here in the series before the following issue

Obv:– L SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, Laureate head right
Rev:– VICT PARTHICAE, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, trophy over left shoulder; captive left.
Minted in Laodicea-ad-Mare. A.D. 198-202
Reference:– RIC IV 514; BMCRE 672; RSC 741.

I have generally stopped collecting the later eastern issues of Septimius Severus. I do make the occasional exception and this is one such occasion. It isn't a scarce coin but I was swayed by the Michael Kelly collection provenance as I didn't have a Kelly coin in my collection.

Obv:– L SEP SEVERVS PER AVG P M IMP XI, laureate head right
Rev:– PAR AR AD TR P VI COS II P P, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm
Minted in Laodicea ad Mare, A.D. 198
References:– BMCRE 625. RIC 495, RSC 361

Ex Spink Auction 18055, Lot 448. Ex. Michael Kelly Collection

3.97 gms, 19.07 mm. 0 degrees

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Almost a year on. I have managed to add another couple of coins relevant to this thread.

Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate, helmeted (Attic Helmet), draped and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield
Rev:– MARS VICTOR, Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy
Minted in Lugdunum (II in exe) Emission 5, Officina 2. End A.D. 277 to Early A.D. 278
Reference:– Cohen 339. Bastien 216 (6). RIC 83 Bust type G (Scarce)

3.55 gms, 23.44 mm. 0 degrees

Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate bust left wearing imperial mantle, holding Victory on globe in right hand
Rev:– MARS VICTOR, Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy
Minted in Lugdunum (II in exe) Emission 5, Officina 2. End A.D. 277 to Early A.D. 278
Reference:– Cohen -. Bastien 219 (5). RIC 83 (Scarce)

3.56 gms, 22.65 mm. 180 degrees