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I have good news for you Joseph. I took the liberty of talking to Mark Fox about your coin. He’s an expert on Provincial coinage, a collaborater in the RPC online project and…a living encyclopedia. Here are the informations he found. Hope you’ll be happy with it ! « What an interesting find, which is almost certainly genuine. A very similar, but larger, coin was cataloged in Rec 1.3, page 397, no. 1: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5494788f/f11.item https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8555930g The authors also had a bit more to say about the coin in the introduction: "Le monnayage autonome de Nicée est représenté par une pièce de bronze unique (n° 1) de la collection Waddington dont la mauvaise conservation ne permet guère de préciser l'époque : on peut hésiter entre la période qui s'écoula depuis la mort de Lysimaque (281) jusqu'à l'annexion bithynienne et une des éclipses de la domination romaine au temps des guerres mithridatiques." From these observations, we can see why the type does not appear on RPC Online. But, in light of Dimitar Pavlov's(?) discovery of the new, smaller denomination, I am not so certain if the original dating can be maintained. On the new coin, there is definitely something written in the exergue, which resembles possibly at least one monogram. If so, the symbol(s) may belong to a Roman governor/proconsul, in which case the coin is actually an early Roman provincial issue! Some years ago, I discovered this small coin type issued under Claudius: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/2048A ...so the existence of a similar sized bronze issued earlier should not be too surprising. »

Bought a hoard of slugs, not sure if Roman or Greek since the legends are unreadable. Under microscope, just not sure either what these mineral deposits are.

Are you sure you haven’t gone to the dark side of the Force ?

Maybe the owner doesn’t know it, but he may have just attracted a bunch of new customers with his reaction !

It’s very disturbing Donna. Why don’t you send it to NGC to know their opinion ?

These Faustina’ Sestertii (jr or sr) were very popular for Postumus’ engravers. Here are some examples sold over the last few years:

Just for fun on a nice Thursday evening. We all appreciate when @galba68 shows us here his spectacular MD discoveries. Here’s a story that took place 10 years ago and that I wasn’t aware of. It happened on a detectorist site in 2013, when a guy (Olivier16) asked the other members to help him identify this coin he just unearthed and clean half an hour before. He believed it may be a denarius of the Roman Republic… You can read the ASTONISHED reactions of the other participants in the discussion here: http://www.la-detection.com/dp/message-113156.htm But the question we all ask ourselves: what is the REAL thing ? The answer was given about a year later in the NAC 78 auction in Zurich. The same Eid-Mar specimen, 3.58g and found in the vineyard of a little city in France… Estimation at the amount of 35,000 CHF (Swiss Franc). But for how much did it sold ? I think our friend was able to afford to buy a brand new metal detector, wasn’t he ?🤩

Coins of the Gallic Empire (Monnaies de l’Empire Gaulois). The best place in the world to talk about these rulers’ coinage. It’s in French, but you can post in English if it’s easier for you. Not very busy and and only a few dozen members, but all experts frequent this site. You are all welcome. https://medg.forumactif.org/forum

Please @Mauseus HELP !

I used Mail Pigeon many times without any problem. They deliver within a 1000 mile radius, can’t be intercepted at customs and can carry anything up to 75g.

Hello Mike. This is a very good question. It reminded me this old thread on Forvm. Hope it will help. Dominic https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=54044.msg334967#msg334967

This is the technique of slicing « washers » in a metal rod, so they did the same thing to produce new blanks.

Discovered only a few weeks ago (August 12th), comet Nishimura, greenish in color, will make a remarkable passage through the sky of the Northern hemisphere. It was named in honor of the amateur astronomer who detected it, Hideo Nishimura. The comet completes its orbit every 430 or 440 years, meaning this is its first visit near Earth since the late 16th century. Its next passage is therefore likely to be around 2450. This is an opportunity not to be missed! If it continues to gain brightness, it is even possible that it will be visible to the naked eye by mid-September. If not, a simple pair of binoculars should suffice. It will reach the closest point to Earth on September 12, which may be the best time to admire it. A place away from light pollution will therefore be ideal for enjoying the show. However, its angle relative to the Sun risks confining its observation to dawn and dusk. Additionally, over time, it will tend to move closer to the Sun - which will limit opportunities. It will reach its closest point to our star around September 17. Talking about comets, here is a brief overview of the presence of comets in the iconography of Roman coinage. (Not my coins) AUGUSTUS: The comet appeared suddenly during the festival known as the Ludi Victoriae Caesaris that was being held in July 44 BC, just months after the assassination of Julius Caesar, which also happened to be Caesar's own birth month. According to Suetonius, as celebrations were getting under way, "a comet shone for seven successive days, rising about the eleventh hour, and was believed to be the soul of Caesar" (Suetonius, Divus Julius, 88). Its seven-day visitation was interpreted by Romans as a sign of the deification of the recently assassinated dictator, and it quickly became a powerful symbol in the political propaganda of Octavian, who was just then launching his career. AUGUSTUS WITH DIVUS JULIUS CAESAR: The idealized head on the reverse has been variously identified as a deified and rejuvenated Julius Caesar, Augustus himself, or a male personification of the dawning Golden Age. The presence of a comet above the head, likely intended as the "Julian star" that appeared shortly after Caesar's death, argues for the first identification. CALIGULA: The presence of stars flanking the deified bust of Augustus is possibly a representation of Halley’s comet. Early in the reign of Augustus when Halley’s comet passed over Rome, Augustus claimed it to be the spirit of Julius Caesar entering the heavens. Caligula chose to use the same symbolism Augustus used for his predecessor, in honoring Augustus with this deification issue. HADRIAN: This remarkable type depicts a youthful portrait of Hadrian with sideburns rather than the full beard normally depicted on his portraiture. The reverse displays a very artistic depiction of the portraits of the Emperor’s adoptive parents, Trajan and the Empress Plotina. The reverse description “DIVIS PARENTIBVS” leaves little to interpretation as a deification issue of the emperors late adoptive parents. Both parents are depicted with stars above their portraits as a symbol of their deification. This tradition dates back to the reign of the emperor Augustus. Early in the reign of Augustus when Halley’s comet passed over Rome. TIBERIUS AND AUGUSTUS: This issue was produced under Tiberius as a deification issue for Augustus. The reverse depicts a laureate portrait of Augustus with a star or comet above. COMMODUS: The presence of the star on some coins issued late in Commodus' reign is referred to in BMC merely as a good omen, however Herodian records that a comet appeared at that time. PERTINAX: The reverse type suggests that the gods sent a star to presage Pertinax' accession, apparently a reference to a comet which appeared late in Commodus' reign according to Herodian Other examples ? Please show them here.

Hint: the X is part of the reverse legend…

Same for me my friend-collector. And by the way, I’ll never forget this Friday in January 2022 when we witnessed « live online » the birth of your fourth kid !!!

It’s a nightmare: you made some friends who are collectors on different discussion forums, and one day you realise that you are coveting the same piece at an auction…Have this ever happened to you in the past ? If you find out after the battle, it’s less bad than if you know before the sale. I’ve already experienced it, but with two different members for the same coin, it’s the first (and hopefully the last) time ! I was bidding on a two coins lot a few weeks ago, and I won it after 5 other bidders battled with me. After I posted my new acquisitions here on NF, two friends PM me to inform me that they were after the same coins…: @Furryfrog02 and @Agrippa. I felt kinda sad after I read their messages. Will we still be friends ? Will they still want to talk to me ? But after a few hours of reflexion, I completely changed my point of view: no remorse, no pity for these traitors. Indeed, because of them, perhaps I overpaid for these latest acquisitions ? 😡 I hate them now ! 😡 PLEASE TELL US YOUR STORY !

My « interesting » experience with Ebay International Shipping service. Bought two coins from a seller based in Massachusetts August 14th. Tracking number provided the day after. The 16th my coins arrived in Nashua NH distribution center (it’s normal, getting closer to Montreal Canada !). August 18th it arrived in Chicago IL !!!, then to Carol Stream IL. So USPS send me this email: READY FOR PICK-UP ??? At 870 miles from my place ??? I’ve contacted the seller to understand what happened, and here is his reply: We generate shipping labels through ebay. The shipping address they have for your account is the one that is used for shipping. Here's the shipping address that was used... eIS C/O dominic tessier 110 Internationale Blvd evtn:a329nzm Glendale Heights IL 60139-2080 That is not my shipping address at all, in fact I’ve never lived or even visited Illinois… So I was imagining someone picking up my coins in his mailbox and putting them in the trash can or selling them back on marketplace… The fallowing day (after spending a whole night crying), I received a notification from Ebay telling me a new tracking number was created… August 26th Customs Clearance. August 28th Processed through Facility in Toronto ON. August 30th DELIVERED ! After talking again with the seller, we both learned that the address in Glendale Heights IL is in fact a big Ebay Distribution Center… Finally my two new babies were in my hands, they had some problem with the jet lag, but now they’re feeling better alongside their companions…

Very nice and sharp strike Coinmaster. Just a little detail in the attribution: your coin is Mairat 876, not 466.

My two last purchase from Spain were August 16th and 18th, usually it takes 2-7 days to leave the country, and after that 7-10 days to be at my door (I received the two coins last week). « En route to it’s destination » means it has left Spain… so the problem is not with Correos anymore… I believe you are in Australia, aren’t you ? For myself here in Canada, it’s impossible to track the parcel when it’s within my country.

The felony charges were directed at Beale and not Roma Numismatics, weren’t they ? If so, the authorities will have no reason to specifically check that company.

Welcome aboard Rich ! We will all appreciate your numismatic expertise here. And for members who do not yet know your fantastic Carausius’ collection and your blog, here are the links. Dominic https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=157 http://mauseus.blogspot.com

By the way Milan, the skin of your hands looks a bit rough and dry. I think you should moisturize…

Double struck, Flip over, Brockage and Incuse.

Another interesting one for sale now. The seller described it as «very very rare, only known from imitations. The only example that seem official ». (The reverse FIDES MILITVM is not known with the short obverse legend for Victorinus). You can get it for the modest price of 350 euros. By the way, another specimen (double die matching) was sold by Roma two weeks ago for… 30 GBP… The Roma specimen: The real thing:

81 years old (1942). https://www.amazon.com/Introductory-Guide-Ancient-Greek-Coinage/dp/1912667878/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3GC0YAB5X835F&keywords=An+introductory+guide+to+Ancient+Greek&qid=1693429488&sprefix=an+introductory+guide+to+ancient+greek%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-4 https://spinkbooks.com/products/an-introductory-guide-to-ancient-greek-and-roman-coins-volume-ii-regal-coins-of-the-hellenistic-age-by-david-sear