akeady

It happens (auction exhaustion!) Funnily, in January I had an auction house bill me for a coin didn't bid on - when I said this, they forwarded the bid sheet (from biddr) - it was from a previous auction and had the auction number as well as the lot number for each lot! So, it was easy to point that out. As well as the coin they had me winning, I was the supposed underbidder on some other coins - I don't know if they unwound all my imaginary bids and gave the other coins to their winners at lower prices. ATB, Aidan.

I mentioned these farthings in some previous thread - I bought a lot from Triskeles (Barry Murphy) some years ago - 2013 - and only today have photographed a few of them. There are 39 farthings and 7 farthing fractions. Anyway, this 1851 half farthing is of a variety I only found out about today - 1851 over 5851. I hope it can be seen in the photo' (being lazy, I use the same distance for all coins, from sestertii down to coins smaller than this, I should have zoomed in for a bigger photo') The bright spot on Victoria's neck s a piece of paper, not part of the coin! I look forward to what other varieties there are. ATB, Aidan.

I don't think it's the Segovia aqueduct - at least, not near the city centre, where it's best-known. This is from 2006. And 2002. I had a primitive digital camera then and a tiny memory card, so stuck with 640x480 photos! Merida (Augusta Emerita) is well worth a visit, as it has many Roman remains. A bridge... Which leads to what used to be the Double Gate: As seen on the coins! Temple at night. And the next day. Aqueducts - I had a nice run in a park in which this aqueduct lies A nice roundabout. Theatre. Amphitheatre. And a lot more. I had a Spanish girlfriend years ago and saw a lot of the country, though wasn't always seeking out the Roman ruins. ATB, Aidan.

Here's an oddity - the only Irish coin since the time of Henry VIII not to feature a harp. Instead, the obverse features a profile bust of Patrick Pearse, leader of the 1916 rebellion commemorated by the coin. The reverse has a statue of Cúchulainn tied to a standing stone to face his enemies, who only approach him when a raven lands on his shoulder and they know he's dead. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/modern-ireland-in-100-artworks-1935-the-death-of-cuchulainn-by-oliver-sheppard-1.2154483 The 1966 10 shilling coin was issued both for circulation and as a proof - it was the only 10s coin issued in Ireland, where the largest denomination was the halfcrown (2s6d) and the first silver coin minted since 1943. It wasn't popular and the majority of the 2 million minted were melted down. Interestingly, they weren't demonetised until the introduction of Euro coins and notes in 2002, probably because nobody remembered that they were still officially legal tender. After decimalisation in 1971, the 50p coin replaced the 10 shilling note and this coin. Here's an uncirculated example and a proof example. The proofs didn't come in capsules, but were exposed to the elements and so can become a bit grotty, like this example. I could probably manage a better photo', though. The uncirculated example came straight from a roll when I got it. Weight: 18.144g Diameter: 30.5mm Alignment: 0h Mintage: 2,000,000 + 10,000 proofs ATB, Aidan.

I agree with @Prieure de Sion - it's Cr. 65/6, with an A͡V͡R written vertically. ATB, Aidan.

I visited Italica in 2014 (how time flies!). Lots of mosaics, this was another one from there: Merida well worth a visit too. Maybe Spain for quick vacation soon - have time off to take and needing inspiration 😄 ATB, Aidan.

Here's another one - struck by or over a coin by the same guy as your example, @Ryro. It was sold saying that the undertype was Cr. 461/1 (Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius denarius with small Africa head and Hercules on reverse), but perhaps this is the overstrike and the head on the other side is from the undertype - maybe Apollo from a Piso Frugi (Cr. 340/1)? If it's the overtype, I don't know who it is 😄 Come to think of it, the convex side has the unidentified head, while the Africa head is on what seems to be the reverse, while it should be on the obverse, so that would presumably be the undertype. I thought it was worth £40 to puzzle over - nobody else did, so I got it for the opening bid 🙂 Gens: Caecilia Moneyer: Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Coin: Silver Denarius - Laureate head right; traces of undertype at the rear of the neck, rock (?) [SCIP]IO.IMP - Small head of Africa right, wearing elephant skin headdress; grain ear before Mint: Uncertain (After 47-46 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 2.58g / 20mm / 7h References: RSC 50a (Caecilia) Sydenham 1051 Crawford 461/1 HCRI 44 Acquisition: Roma Numismatics Online Auction E-Live Auction 2 #519 30-Aug-2018 Notes: Sep 29, 18 - References are to undertype - a denarius of Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio (pic. from Roma, I didn't get around to taking photos myself) Gratuitous picture I did take of a worn-but-attractive-to-me example of Cr. 461/1 (large head variety) ATB, Aidan.

The Carthaginians, by Telefís, from the upcoming A Dó album - sadly, it'll be the last from Cathal Coughlan, as he died in May shortly after completing recording. Some interesting clips on the video - from showbands, to Nun Attax, The Virgin Prunes, Microdisney and U2. Here's a Carthaginian coin to go with it. Coin: Gold Stater - Head of Tanit (Kore-Persephone) left, wearing barley-wreath, bar and triple pendant earrings and necklace with pendants - Unbridled horse standing right Mint: Carthage (ca. 350-320 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 9.12g / 19mm / 0h References: Jenkins-Lewis Group III MAA 4 Provenances: Ex. M.J. Collection Acquisition: Naville Numismatics Online Auction NN Live 54 #47 15-Dec-2019 ATB, Aidan.

Here's a Mars. Moneyer: Quintus Minicius Thermus Coin: Silver Denarius - Helmeted head of Mars left, with richly ornamented helmet Q THERM MF - Roman soldier left, fighting a foreign warrior, right; protecting fallen comrade Mint: Rome (103 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.73g / 20mm / 5h References: RSC 19 (Minucia) Syd 592 Crawford 319/1 RCV 197 Acquisition: CGB Monnaies 41 #376 26-Nov-2009 Next - fancy helmet

There's no problem stating where you bought the coin - previous sales appearances are usually quoted in auction listings, especially older ones. The older the provenance the better. Potential buyers may have more confidence in a coin if they see it has been sold previously by a well-known dealer. The only reason a seller would omit such information is if they bought it for X in an auction last month and are now listing it for 5X 🙂 ATB, Aidan.

The discussion about the possibly overstruck, but maybe more likely just a few big die breaks denarius reminded me of this Roman Republican denarius which I've always been pretty sure is overstruck. Gens: Hostilia Moneyer: L. Hostilius Saserna Coin: Silver Denarius - Female head right, wearing oak-wreath and diadem L. HOSTILIVS SASERNA - Victory walking right, holding trophy in left hand, over left shoulder, and caduceus in right hand Mint: Rome (48 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.87g / - / - References: RSC 5 (Hostilia) Sydenham 951 Crawford 448/1a Acquisition: Jean Elsen Online Shop List 291 #101 22-Jan-2020 On the obverse, there's a shape which looks somewhat like an X behind the head (though it may extend up and be something like a curule chair), though the coin shouldn't have any X or anything else there. On the reverse, there's an outline of something under and to the left of Victory's dress. Here's something a bit different - an Augustus denarius overstruck, I asssume, on a Republican serrated denarius. Coin: Silver Denarius AVGVSTVS - CAESAR - Bare head right M DVRMIVS / III VIR - Calydonian boar right, spear in shoulder Mint: Rome (19-18 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.88g / - / - References: RIC 317 Provenances: Ex. T.R. Hardaker Collection Acquisition: Baldwin's Online auction BSJ Auction 48 #592 24-Sep-2020 ATB, Aidan.

Richard Beale of Roma replied to a post of mine here suggesting that they open up in Belgium for 6% import VAT like Naville. He wasn't interested in Belgium, but maybe Germany, if I recall correctly. Yes, I threw in a few bids in Kuenker, but I'm sure I'll win nothing 😄 ATB, Aidan.

Same as here (Ireland) - I regularly get charged 23% instead of the correct 13.5% for items over 100 years old. I have appealed, showing that the items are clearly much older than 100 years and no effect. On the plus side, I often get items without paying anything, so it may even out over time. I'm buying less from outside the EU since Brexit. ATB, Aidan.

Thanks, Severus & Donna. It certainly looks like a match for those two. Where I thought I saw an X doesn't match the orientation of those - one line which I thought might be part of an X is close to horizontal, while these above and all on CRRO, have a line running roughly Northwest to Southwest. So, I suppose it's just not well struck. I have another unusual denarius that I must photograph. ATB, Aidan.

I think it's an X, mostly because they're more common, but I can't see much - maybe part of one letter which could be either an X or a V. ATB, Aidan.

Thanks, all! Overstruck, it is! I have the Cr. 228/2 already - actually, I probably have 2 of them now 😄 I'll try the RRDP to see if I can make a positive ID 🙂 This is my Cr. 228/2: ATB, Aidan.

Today's haul (victoriatus, 3 denarii, semis) is from Artemide.

This arrived yesterday, from a recent Tintinna auction. It was sold as Cr. 228/1, but it's more likely Cr. 228/2 from 140 BC (the difference being whether the obverse legend reads XVI or X - there appears to be a shadow of an X and no other letters, but it's hard to see). In any case, it's either overstruck on an earlier coin or has some die breaks on the obverse which add to Roma's face. It weighs 4.00g and is about 19/20mm in diameter. Anyone hazard a guess as to the undertype or is it a couple of die breaks? Thanks, Aidan.

Etcherdude is right - I decided to add a few RR coins to illustrate a talk I was doing - just to have a few representative examples, you know. 850+ RR coins later, I think it will take another fifteen or sixteen years to get there 😛 Even then, who knows. ATB, Aidan.

A few more RRs from Tintinna today. One Legionary Denarius from Coincraft in 1994, another from an Italian Fixed Price List from 1996 and the rest, who knows 😄 ATB, Aidan.

I've had this since October 2013 and just photographed it this month. At least, I was able to find out where I got it, some others seem to have been deposited by aliens while I was out. Ruler: Gnaeus Pompey (Imperator) Coin: Bronze As I - Laureate head of Janus; mark of value above CN·M͡AG / I / IMP - Prow of galley right Mint: Spain (46-45 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 33.34g / 35mm / 3h References: Sydenham 1040 Crawford 471/1 BMCRR Spain 84 HCRI 53 Acquisition: Paco Private sale 20-Oct-2013 Next - another coin which has taken a while to process

H is for Harpagion (Caria) - AMNG IV, 597: Heraclea (Lucania) - HN Italy 1437: Helikarnassos (Caria) - CNG Von Aulock 2361: Himera (Sicliy) - HGC Sicily 438: Hyria (Campania) - SNG Cop 377: Histiaia (Euboia - though this may well be a modern fake, or at best a contemporary copy) - BMC 46: For the Romans, we have a Helmet symbol Semis (Cr. 118/2): Hosidia (Cr. 407/1 serratus and Cr. 407/2 non serrates): And Hostilia (Cr. 448/1a): ATB, Aidan.

Thanks, Donna. There was a gold 50 Ecu coin struck before the Euro name was fixed - ECU stood for European Currency Unit. I have a couple of the silver ones struck at the same time (5 & 10 Ecu): A similar design with a red deer was used for the £1 coin which was also first struck in 1990. I suspect the Ecu name was dropped as it was too French! ATB, Aidan.

The only gold coins struck in Ireland for circulation were pistole and double pistole coins of 1646. Today, some non-circulating gold coins are struck - usually very small €20 coins - they started at 1.24g, fell to 1.00g and now are only 0.50g. Occasionally, there are larger coins - the 50 Ecu coin, the €100 Antarctic Explorers coin, the 2016 0.5oz & 0.25oz coins and the 2019 0.5oz coin. Here are a couple of the larger ones. 2016 0.25oz coin (€50). The larger €100 coin had sold out when I remembered to try to order one: The 2019 100th anniversary of the First Dáil (parliament) 0.5oz (€100). I don't think much of the design of this coin, but I try to keep up with the issues (there aren't too many): ATB, Aidan.

G is for lots of Good things. Gargilia - one the three moneyers of 86BC, the anonymous coins are more common, but this is one with the Gargilius name first (Cr. 350A/1a): Gellia (Cnaes Gellius), 138 BC, Cr. 232/1: A gryphon, ca. 169-158 BC, Cr. 182/1: Gnaeus Pompey, 46-45 BC, Cr. 471/1: Head of Gallia, 48 BC, Cr. 448/3: Goat being riden by Cupid, 85 BC, Cr. 353/2: Goatskin headdress, 64 BC, Cr. 412/1: Gallic War Stater, ca. 58-55 BC, ABC 16var: Gold, 323-315 BC, Le Rider 522: Edward III Groat, ca. 1356-1361, Spink 1570: Eileen Gray (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/apr/29/most-expensive-22m-chair-eileen-gray-design-genius-scared-corbusier-naked) : Germany: etc.! ATB, Aidan.