maridvnvm

Link:- Hadrian

Hadrian Denarius

Obv:- HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, Laureate head right
Rev:- COS III, Crescent with five stars. .
Minted in Eastern mint
Reference:- RIC 357 corr. (wrongly attributed to Rome) Cohen 464. BMCRE p. 380 #28 (different dies)

Tooling has been discussed here a few times. There was a thread here where we discussed some before and after images that some found educational.

https://www.numisforums.com/topic/4191-tooling-thoughts/

In my mind entirely a modern fantasy.

Abdera, Ar Stater

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

Next:- Abdera

This one is simply an error but here we have LIVERTAS legend with an Aequitas reverse type.

Link:- similar in many aspects... and yet so different (Nike facing opposite direction...), no monogram on right

Obv:– Diademed head of the Seleukid King Antiochos VII right, fillet border.
Rev:– BASILEWS ANTIOCOU EUERGETOU, Athena standing left, Nike in right, spear and shield in left, ligate DI / A left, Nike extends wreath into laurel wreath border
c. 130 - 80 B.C.; In the Name of the Seleukid King, Antiochos VII, 138 - 129 B.C.
Ref:– Houghton II 642 (same dies), SNG Spaer 1855, Newell SMA 282

Probus 
Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right
Rev:– ORIES (sic) AVG, Sol walking left between two captives, right hand raised, left holding globe.
Minted in Lugdunum (I in exe) Emission 2 Officina 1. from November to December A.D. 276
Reference:– Cohen -. Bastien 164c (same reverse die). RIC 44 Bust type F.

Weight 3.905g. 25.66mm. 0 degrees

Next... yet another legend error

Probus

Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– COMITI PORBI(sic) AVG, Minerva standing left, holding olive-branch and spear and resting left hand on shield
Mint – Lugdunum (I in exe) Emission 7 Officina 1. A.D. 280
Reference:– Cohen -. Bastien 315 (example c). RIC 69 Bust type F var (PORBI in error not listed in RIC)

One of the examples cited by Bastien of 315 - the standard PROBI coin, 315c - Voetter, is also PORBI from the same reverse die. No examples cited in Bastien Suppl. II.

Next.. another legend error

Link:- Gordian III

Gordian III and Tranquillina - AE27

Obv:- AVT K M ANT GORDIANOC AVG CEB, TPANKVLLEINA Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right vis-à-vis diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left.
Rev:- VP TEPTVLLIANOV MARKIANOPOLITWN, Homonoia standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding patera over lighted altar and cornucopia; E in left field.
Minted in Markianpolis under Magistrate Tertullianus.
Reference:– Varbanov 2046.

13.58 gms. 27.13 mm. 0 degrees

Constantius Gallus - AE2

Obv:- D N CONSTANTIVS IVN NBO(sic) C, Bare headed draped & cuirassed bust right; A
Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Emperor standing left on galley, holding Victory on globe and labarum; Victory behind, steering galley
Minted in Siscia (III | * // BSIS)
Reference:– RIC VIII Siscia 329 var (would be C but obverse legend error)

5.16 gms. 23.42 mm. 180 degrees

Next:- A legend error with all the right letters but just in thw wrong order

Link:-Elagabalus

Elagabalus denarius

Obv:- IMP ANTONINVS AVG Laureate and draped bust right
Rev:- P M TR P II COS II P P Fortuna seated left on throne, holding rudder set on globe in her right hand and cornucopiae with her left; below throne, wheel.
Minted in Rome. A.D. 219
Reference:- RSC 149. RIC 19. BMCRE 96.

Weight 3.173g. 18.94mm. 180 degrees

The Clodius Albinus matches  a fake on the Forvm database.  I have spotted lots of fakes in his silvers. Most of the bronze groups look legitimate but low grade junkers. 

5 minutes ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

So Probus got the idea from Aurelian?

Oh yeah.... I have owned quite a few Probus = Heroically nude. I hadn't realised how many AUrelian variants of this bust there were until I looked.

I am not familiar with the type but I am familiar with dubious sellers and their methods. I have looked through the other listings of this seller and they alone give me cause for concern. The same seller is selling a matching cast fake to a known Faustina II (selling it as Faustina I), a known fake of a sestertius of Clodius Albinus (selling as Marcus Aurelius) amongst many other poor fakes. These worry me immensely.

I hope that it it real but I stronly fear that it is a fake.

Very nice. Some of mine.... Not as nice... 

Constantine the Great (as Caesar) - Follis

Obv:– CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right
Rev:– CONSERVATO-RES KART SVAE, Carthago standing facing, head left, within hexastyle temple, holding fruit in both hands
Minted in Carthage (// PKD). circa summer A.D. 307.
Reference(s) – RIC VI Carthage 61

6.04g. 23.96 mm. 0 degrees

Maxentius as Caesar - Follis

Obv:- M AVR MAXENTIVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right
Rev:- SALVIS AVGG ET CAES FEL KART, Carthage standing facing, head left, holding up fruits in both hands
Struck in Carthage late 306 A.D. H in left field, Greek_Delta in exe.
References:- RIC VI Carthage 51a.

The different allocation based on head size is likely in error as the different bust sizes are likely just different engravers.

I did go a little further with another two Caesars....

Severus II - Follis

Obv:– FL VAL SEVERVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right
Rev:– SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART, Carthage standing left, holding fruits in both hands
Minted in Carthage (H | _ //G). A.D. 305 - 306
Reference(s) – RIC VI Carthage 40a

8.46 gms, 27.71 mm. 180 degrees

Maximinus II Daia - Follis

Obv:– GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right
Rev:– SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART, Carthage standing left, holding fruits in both hands
Minted in Carthage (I | _ //A). A.D. 305 - 306
Reference(s) – RIC VI Carthage 40b

10.26 gms, 28.03 mm. 180 degrees

Here are another four new coins.... A Tetrarchy set of Folles from Carthage. Not scarce but nice to see together.

Diocletian - Follis

Obv:– IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Laureate bust right
Rev:– SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART, Carthage standing facing, head left, in long robe, holding fruits in both hands
Minted in Carthage (// A). c. A.D. 299 - 303
Reference(s) – RIC VI Carthage 29a/31a

Some sIlvering remaining, especially in the fields.

10.40 gms, 28.97 mm. 180 degrees

Maximianus - Follis

Obv:– IMP C MAXIMIANVF P F AVG. laureate bust right
Rev:– SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands
Minted in Carthage (// B). A.D. 299-303
Reference:- RIC VI Carthage 29b/31b

Dark brown patina.

10.31 gms, 28.62 mm. 180 degrees

Constantius Chlorus - Follis

Obv:–CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Laureate bust right
Rev:– SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands
Minted in Carthage (//G). A.D. 299 - 303
Reference(s) – RIC VI Carthage 30a/32a

Some silvering remaining in the fields.

10.11 gms, 27.45 mm. 180 degrees

Galerius - Follis

Obv:– MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right
Rev:– SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands
Minted in Carthage (//D). A.D. 299 - 303
Reference(s) – RIC VI Carthage 30b/ 32b

Some silvering remaining.

10.42 gms, 28.95 mm. 0 degrees

Both are great but the Philip is fantastic.

I have lost control. I have been distracted well away from my collecting focus areas after being offered pickings of a small British private collection. Amonst them was this. The grade isn't great but I think the bust is relatievly scarce. I will share some more of my pickings later.

Heroically nude busts of Aurelian appear to be relativey sparse on the market.

Aurelian -Antoninianus

Obv:– IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate bust left, nude with cross-belt, seen from rear, holding spear pointing forward in right hand, shield on left shoulder
Rev:- IOVI CONSER, Emperor in military dress standing right, holding short sceptre in left hand, receiving a globe from Jupiter stg. left, holding long sceptre in left hand
Minted in Serdica. (//P). Issue 2. Autumn – End A.D. 271
Reference:– RIC 260. BNC p.391. RIC temp #2573

3.34 gms, 22.30 mm. 180 degrees

Aurelian, Billon tetradrachm, Alexandria

Obv:– AYT K Λ Δ AYRHΛIANOC CEB, Laureate and draped bust of Aurelian right
Rev– I A C OYABAΛΛAΘOC AΘHN Y A [C R or VT S RW], Laureate, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Vabalathus right
Minted in Alexandria, Alexandria Year 1 of Aurelian (L | A), Year 4 of Vabalathus and Zenobia (L | Δ), 270 AD
Reference:– Geissen 3054; Dattari 5422; BMC 2386; Milne 4308

Link:- Aurelian

Link Nymph

Sinope, Paphlagonia, Silver Drachm

Obv:- Head of nymph left, hair in sakkos, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace
Rev:- Eagle with dolphin in talons facing left, ∆ΙΟΥ (magistrate's name) below wing, ΣΙΝΩ below dolphin
Sinope mint, c. 330 - 300 B.C.
Ref:- SNG BM 1484; SNG Stancomb 772; SNG Cop 284
ex Baldwin & Sons, London, ex Forum Ancient Coins
Weight 4.974g, maximum diameter 16.9mm, die axis 180o

Link:- Turreted Tyche

Alexandria, Troas, AE23
Obv:– CO-L TROA, turreted bust of Tyche right, vexillum behind;
Rev:– CO AVG TRO, eagle, with open wings, standing right on forepart of a bull
Minted in Alexandria, Troas, c. 253 - 268 A.D. reigns of Valerian and Gallienus

22.38 mm. 5.22 gms.

Link:- Hilaritas

Septimius Severus denarius

Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– FORTVN R-EDVC, Fortuna (Hilaritas) seated left holding long palm and cornucopia
Minted in Emesa, 194 A.D.
References:– RIC - would be in the region of RIC 383 but this reverse type with Hilaritas seated not known
Die axis 0 degrees. Weight 3.18g.

Apparently a very unusual type.

Next:- A deity seated who is normally seen standing / walking / advancing....

Whilst one of my primary collections is the estern denarii of Septimius Severus I do like to pick up the odd eastern mint coin from other emperors too. In this case an Antioch Antoninianus of Philip II.

These coins with AVGG come from the 1st issue dating to mid A.D. 247

Philip II Antoninianus

Obv:- IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, Radiate bust right, seen from the front
Rev:- AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopia
Minted in Antioch
Reference:– RIC 240(a)var. RSC 1 var. Bland 64

This one arrived today...

This bust type, seen from the front seems to be much scarcer than the bust seen from the rear

Philip II Antoninianus
Obv:- IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, Radiate bust right, seen from the rear
Rev:- AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopia
Minted in Antioch
Reference:– RIC 240(a)var. RSC 1 var. Bland 61

The comes the AVG variety mid A.D. 247 to end of A.D. 247

Philip I Antoninianus

Obv:– IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia
Minted in Antioch. A.D. 247
Reference:– RIC -; RSC -; Cohen 8; Tulln Hoard 894

These are just a few of these eastern issues that I have gathered over the years. Does anyone else have any coins from these eastern issues?