Justin Lee

I really like this portrait of Augustus after revealing it from under compacted, sooty material on obverse and reverse... So much so that it's my longtime avatar.

I've always liked this Domitian provicial portrait (especially relative to other examples I've seen)... Even captures his chin beard.

And I think this one of the young emperor is pretty nice.

Congrats on the great and special find! Vespasian looks pretty pleased with his new home. Agree with expat that it does look great in your hands! 👏

Great new addition!! I love the stylized visual of the winged (and unwinged) thunderbolt.

Great Sleuthing there, Ryro!  Agree with the others that what you "boldly" propose makes a heck of a lot of sense!

A couple small Carthaginian coins...

And an imitative barbarous coin...

Certainly a fun one! I used to focus on Antiochene coins when I first started collecting... It a deep rabbit hole. 

Books by Butcher or McAlee might be worthwhile (if you can find them).

Here are a few of my AP coins...

The small Arcadius coins are pretty fun to collect and admire! Here's one of my Victory dragging captive type:

Arcadius, Ruled 383-408 AD
AE4, Antioch Mint, Struck 383-393 AD
Obverse: DN ARCADIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory walking right, holding trophy over shoulder, dragging a captive behind her, cross in left field.
Exergue: ANTΓ
References: RIC IX Antioch 67d, LRBC 2771
Size: 12mm, 1.2g

I wonder if old sites no longer live might be archived and accessible using the Wayback Machine on http://archive.org ?

I'm quite fascinated with his coins and those of his father and brother as well. I didn't realize I even had 4 examples of his in my collection... Thank you for sharing your new snack! It's certainly tasty!

Carinus, Ruled 283-285 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 283/284 AD
Obverse: A K M A KAPINOC CЄB, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Eagle standing facing, head right, between two vexilla, LB above, RY 2.
References: Emmett 4005, Dattari 5596
Size: 19mm, 7.5g
Ex: The Reverend Willis McGill Collection (McGill was an American missionary stationed in Egypt, who started collecting there during World War I)

Carinus (as Caesar), Ruled 283-285 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 282/283 AD
Obverse: A K MA KAPINOC K, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae, date LA in upper left field (year 1=282/283 AD).
References: Emmett 4012, Dattari 5576, Köln 3172
Ex: Naville Numismatics, Auction 49, Lot #203 (5-12-2019)

­­Carinus, (as Caesar), Ruled 283-285 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 282/283 AD
Obverse: A K M A KAPINOC K, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Eagle standing facing, head right, between two vexilla, LA above, RY 1.
References: Emmett 4005, SNG Cop 951
Size: 19mm, 7.26g

Elpis reverse, year 2

Those are magnificent examples with truly wonderful legends! Mine from that earlier, high silver content era are far from as elegant as yours.

Here's a Carthaginian overstrike coin type initially posted and pondered a few years ago by @dougsmit and when I saw it, it was quickly added to my want list. I was lucky enough to be able to snag one not too terribly long afterwards.

Zeugitania, Carthage, AE Unit

Struck ~350 BC just before the 3^rd Carthaginian invasion of Sicily 345-340 BC
Overstruck on coin from 400-350 BC
West Sicilian mint
Obverse: Youthful male head (Trittolemo?) to left between two grain ears.

Reverse: Horse galloping right.
References: SNG COP 120, MAA 19 (overstruck on MAA 18)
Size: 18 mm, 3.46g
 

Notes: Interesting overstrike; the head of Tanit is visible on the reverse, and the horse standing before palm tree on the obverse.

(Top two images are of coin, MAA 19, compared to a coin it was overstruck on at bottom, MAA 18.)

The male image lacks signs of a deity and may be one of the leaders of the Punic forces.

Very nice new As, and welcome to the addiction!  I like these IMPERATOR coins... Here's mine with Victory.

 
Antoninus Pius, Ruled 138-161 AD
AE As, Struck 143-144 AD, Rome Mint
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III; Laureate head right.
Reverse: IMPERATOR II; Victory, winged, draped, flying right, holding trophy, pointing upwards to right, in both hands, S-C in field.
References: RIC III 732a; BMCRE pg. 261
Size: 26mm, 10.07g
Notes: Pius was acclaimed imperator for the second time following the victory of Q. Lollius Urbicus over the Brigantes in Britain, and the construction of the Antonine Wall.

Very nice! I've heard of a couple ancient collectors with "pocket pieces" that they would carry in their pocket (probably not with their keys or other change) or wallet as a way to share their passion and hobby with others they meet. Wait... Isn't that what that little fifth pocket is for on jeans?? A perfect size for a worn sestertius?

I too enjoy some nice, honest wear on coins...

Antoninus Pius, Ruled 138-161 AD
AE Sestertius, Struck 140-144 AD, Rome
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, Laureate head right.
Reverse: Spes, draped, advancing left, holding dress and gathering up fold of skirt, S-C across fields.
References: RIC III 626

Divus Antoninus Pius, Died 161
AE Sestertius, Struck 161+, Rome Mint
Obverse: DIVVS ANTONINVS Bare-headed bust of Antoninus Pius to right.
Reverse: CONSECRATIO, four-tiered funeral pyre, decorated with garlands and surmounted by a quadriga; SC below.
References: RIC Marcus Aurelius 1266
Size: 31mm, 25g
Ex: Bing Collection

Lucilla, Wife of Verus, Daughter of Aurelius
AE Sestertius, Struck 164-169 AD, Rome
Obverse: LVCILLA AVGVSTA, Bust of Lucilla, hair waved and fastened in a low chignon at back of head, draped, right.
Reverse: FECVNDITAS, Lucilla as Fecunditas, draped, seated right on low seat, nursing infant; before her, a girl standing; behind her, a boy standing; SC in exergue.
References: RIC III 1738
Size: 32mm, 24.4g

4 hours ago, Curtis JJ said:

Thank you for sharing an image of the collector's envelope as well! Hope you don't mind that I was adding it to my "database" ... (Still too small for a "database," really, but I have used it to ID one coin/tag with lost provenance, hand-written by Rev. Edgar Rogers (1873-1960/1), in someone else's collection, I still don't think I have a Rev. Rogers [FAC 103980, 767591 (21 Feb 2022), Curtis]). BUT...

I discovered I already have a photo of one of these Rev. W. McGill envelopes! (This one can serve as a duplicate photo if you don't mind.) The first one was for a Domitian AE Diobol from Alexandria. Starting to sound familiar? The source.... (hope you don't mind) =

[CT Post 4223676 (8 Mar 2020), Justin Lee/iOmega Coll.]

Sounds like a great idea and service you'd be able to provide! 👍

My Nero from Lugdunum with the similar reverse has a high resemblance from a decade earlier.

Nero, AE Dupondius
Struck 62-68 AD, Lugdunum (Lyon) Mint
Obverse: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P, Head of Nero, laureate, left; small globe at point of neck.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left, S-C in fields, II in exergue.
References: RIC I 410; Lyon 81; BMCRE 350; Cohen 346
Size: 29mm, 14.84g

On 8/6/2022 at 10:07 PM, David Atherton said:

Coins with rough surfaces are hard to photograph, so I always go on the assumption they will look better in hand. Fortunately, that is the case with this common Vespasian as.

 

 

Vespasian

Æ As, 9.41g
Lyon mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; globe at point of bust
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; S C in field; Victory adv. l., with wreath and palm
RIC 1241 (C). BMC 851. BNC 853.
Acquired from London Ancient Coins, July 2022.

Late in Vespasian's reign the mint at Lyon (ancient Lugdunum) struck a fairly large issue of bronze at a time when the mint at Rome was winding down its own bronze production. Presumably this late issue was produced to address a shortage of bronze coinage in the Western provinces. Many of the types were recycled from earlier issues from both Rome and Lyon, such as this common Victory type.

 

Feel free to post your rough coins that look better in hand.

Thanks for looking!

Here's a little Philip III with a tiny horseman...

Macedonian Kingdom
Philip III Arrhidaios, Ruled 323-317 BC
AE Quarter Unit, Miletos mint
Struck under Asandros, Circa 323-319 BC
Obverse: Diademed head of Apollo right.
Reverse: Horseman riding right, BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟY below, monogram to left.
References: Price P65, SNG ANS 1005
Size: 11mm, 1.13g

A provincial Probus

Probus, Ruled 276-282 AD
AE20 Tetradrachm, Alexandria, Egypt
Struck Year 4, 278-279 AD
Obverse: A K M AVP ΠPOBOC CЄB, Laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Eirene holding olive branch and sceptre, LΔ to right (RY 4 = 278/279 AD)
References: Emmett 3986.4, R1
Size: 20.2mm, 7.9g
Ex: The Reverend Willis McGill Collection (McGill was an American missionary stationed in Egypt, who started collecting there during World War I)

[Original collector’s envelope has incorrect attribution.]

A lil rooster...

A hungry silver eagle...

An AE Antiochene eagle...

A Mamertine eagle...

The only bust of Serapis I have is a pretty tiny one being held by Alexandria on this Diocletian reverse... 

Diocletian, Ruled 284-305 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 285/286 AD
Obverse: A K Γ OYAΛ ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CЄB, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Diocletian to right.
Reverse: Alexandria, mural crown, standing left, holding bust of Serapis and sceptre, date L-B across field (year 2=285/286 AD).
References: Emmett 4025, Dattari 5622, Köln 3210
Size:          mm,         g
Ex: Naville Numismatics, Auction 49, Lot #203 (5-12-2019)

On 8/5/2022 at 12:28 PM, Jeremy said:

Here's a tetradrachm from Alexandria with a nice depiction of Serapis:

Egypt, Alexandria, Gallienus potin tetradrachm

253-268 AD
Struck in RY 14 = 266/7 AD
Obverse: AΥT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CЄB; Laureate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right.
Reverse: L / I - Δ Draped bust of Serapis to right, wearing kalathos; to right, palm frond.
References: Dattari (Savio) 5261 ; Emmett 3829.14; K&G 90.95.
23mm; 10.72g; 11h

I REALLY LOVE 😍 your Gallienus tet!! He's one of my faves to collect tets of! 

The earliest I have are a pair of Victoriatus (Victoriatii?)

One of my favorites, condition be damned, is this Augustus restitution issued by Titus. I love it so much I think cuz I saved it... It had been coated in a black tarry and charcoal coating. 

Divus Augustus, Died 14 AD

AE As, Restoration Issue,

Struck under Titus 80-81 AD, Rome Mint

Obverse: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head left.

Reverse: IMP T VESP – AVG REST, Victory alighting left, holding shield inscribed SP/QR, S-C across fields.

References: RIC Titus 446

Here's a few more of my favorite for honorable mention... 

3 hours ago, Curtis JJ said:

Yeah, that's a big problem even for putting in them in flips or capsules. With 2x2 plastic SAFLIP types, they can easily slide right out. A lot of my tinies I keep in groups, loose in boxes with cotton/felt/etc., or sealed in plastic bags or paper envelopes. I always keep a little count or inventory on the outside and double-check whenever I handle them.

Again, slightly off topic (tiny Greek AR not tiny Roman AE)... but I recently got a group (18 low grade fractions ex-Herbert Cahn (1915-2002) Collection, via CNG e-auction) that I wanted to keep separate. I've been having to really closely monitor the flips (I keep those flips all grouped together in a little plastic box), since a couple times already some have slipped out without my noticing.

I've posted a video (0:30s) elsewhere showing how I keep a Carian hemiobol in a plastic capsule with custom fitted foam gasket.

Here are 8 of those tiny Cahn Collection Greek archaic fractions:

 

 

Very nice group there! And nice job working the problem and find a way to keep them safe! 

--Edit-----

Something like this? 

SPLF 100 Pieces 30mm Coin Capsules and 5 Sizes (17/20/25/27/30mm) Protect Gasket Coin Holder Case with Plastic Storage Organizer Box for Coin Collection Supplies https://a.co/d/1OqYDjb

I really like these little AE4s from the late 4th and early 5th centuries. Would love to see others that you've got... 

Arcadius with the 3 rulers on reverse. 

Dragging captives

A fun mule with Aelia Flaccilla on obverse and a reverse for one of her sons. 

Here's 2 temples... 

Syria, Trachonitis. Caesarea Paneas

AE20, Struck after 65 AD

Diva Poppaea Sabina, with Diva Claudia, died 65 and 63 AD, this coin deified the two.

Obverse: DIVA POP-PAEA AVG, statue of Diva Poppaea seated left within distyle temple set on high podium.

Reverse: DIVA CLA-VD NER F, statue of Diva Claudia standing left on basis within hexastyle belvedere set on high podium.

References: RPC I 4846, Hendin 1270

Size: 20mm, 5.0g

Next, a relative of Nero... 

Here's my not-so-great-looking Trajan Hercules/Boar quadrans...

Trajan, AE Quadrans
Struck 114-117 AD, Rome mint
Obverse: IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GERM, Bust of Hercules, diademed, right, wearing lion-skin over shoulders.
Reverse: Boar right with head down, SC in exergue.
References: RIC II 702
Size: 15mm, 2.8g