zadie

Great work indeed! There appears to be at least to two different reverse dies used. Unsure if that has any implications on the issue as a whole but probably safest to disregard them entirely at this point

If only the trachy section was longer!

This is a forgery that has been sold my most every major firm at some point. We're all human, forgeries slip in sometimes. IBSCC used to publish bulletins meant to aid auction houses and dealers to detect fakes. This one in particular was published way back in 1980.

Mine is probably this one: Promagisterial Cistophori. Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther as Proconsul of Cilicia. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Laodicea on the Lycus, 56-53 BC. Anaxagoras son of Artemidoros, magistrate. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / P · LENTVLVS · P · F · PRO · COS. Two serpents entwined by a bow case. In the left field, ΛΑΟ. In the exergue, ΑΝΑΞΑΓΟΡ[ΑΣ] / ΑΡΤΕΜΙ[ΔΩΡΟΥ]. 26 mm, 12.03 g. Stumpf -; Metcalf -. Unpublished. One of only two known: cf. Nomos, Web 16. Lot 872 (Hammer 600 CHF). Overstruck on a previous cistophor from Laodicea. I'm wild about cistophori general but especially so when it comes to these promagisterial issues. This coin continues to be a source of great satisfaction for a few different reasons, here are the key takeaways: It's unpublished. It has been overstruck on an older cistophor from Laodicea. It's by far the finest known (considering there are only two examples known, perhaps that isn't so impressive eh?) The bidding was intense and also very enjoyable. When it comes to the cistophori issued by Roman governors in Asia Minor, two references are primarily used. These are Stumpf's Numismatische Studien zur Chronologie der römischen Statthalter in Kleinasien (1994) and Metcalf's Later Republican Cistophori (2017). Both works try to extensively catalogue each and every type in the series and considering Metcalf's die study was only released in 2017 this is quite a find! Numismatically, it adds insight into the beginning of Lentulus' time as Proconsul in Cilicia (He was quite early in his term hailed as imperator and from then on seems to have only issued coins using that title). Previously, we knew of only one other type that employed the title PRO · COS instead of IMP/IMPERATOR. While the rambling above might put the average collector to sleep, this coin also provides a caveat that is perhaps a little more appealing to the masses. It's actually overstruck and not only that, there is discernible traces of the undertype. Now most everyone who is familiar with cistophori would know that overstrikes are not that uncommon. However, this is the first instance of the practice I've found on a promagisterial cistophor. Highlighted detail of the undertype. It shows what remains of a a winged kerykeion commonly employed on cistophori from the mint at Laodicea. A civic cistophor from Laodicea showing the winged kerykeion in the right field.

This coin was sold by Tauler & Fau in 2021 and they list it as being from the "Poinssot" collection, apparently formed before 1967. Not the most interesting update considering it wasn't holed back then either, but still Tauler & Fau 95, 252.

I can't help but add to the impressive coins shared in this thread! Thanks to @velarfricative for his help in giving my indo-greek's a worthy attribution in kharosthi. Indo-Greek Kingdom. Menander I (155-130 BC) AR Drachm. Diademed head of Menander right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗPΟΣ ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ / Athena advanding left, thunderbolt in hand, 𐨨𐨱𐨪𐨗𐨯 𐨟𐨿𐨪𐨟𐨪𐨯 𐨨𐨅𐨣𐨡𐨿𐨪𐨯. 19 mm, 2.46 g. Bopearachchi-Series 13, 85Q. Indo-Greek Kingdom. Philoxenos Aniketos (125-110 BC) AR Tetradrachm. Diademed bust of Philoxenos right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANIKHTΟΥ ΦIΛOΞENOY / King advancing right on horseback; monogram below, 𐨨𐨱𐨪𐨗𐨯 𐨀𐨤𐨫𐨁𐨱𐨟𐨯 𐨥𐨁𐨫𐨯𐨁𐨣𐨯. 27 mm, 9.75 g. Bopearachchi 3E

Aside from the great coins, I absolutely love the kharosthi transliteration. It's a pity that most attributions stick with latin when mentioning kharosthi legends

Interesting punch holes on last trachy. I'm reminded about the common-place employment of these punches on the larger bronze denominations of ptolemaic coinage.. Any consensus as to why they were made on a trachy?

Amazing! I'm in love with the John III

In case anyone missed it, definitely worth a watch!

Great write-up! Are there any known sale records of Peloponnesian issues that you know of? Would be interesting to see how large of demand for these there are.

Courtesy of @TheTrachyEnjoyer

Have you ever found yourself stuck when trying to ID a coin? I'm sure we've all been there. This coin belongs to a friend of mine, he recruited me to help find an ID and ever since then it has been a huge thorn in my side. Despite having multiple people look, no one has been able to narrow down the region it comes from or even the time period it was struck. I know for a fact that a few of the heavy hitters in the industry has looked at this coin and not been able to find anything useful. We need help to solve this mystery! Here's a few key points that most everyone has agreed on thus far: Most likely Roman Provincial or otherwise greek-related. Legend on the "obverse" reads: AN. Legend on the "reverse" reads ΛE. The coin weighs 8.6 g and has an extremely thick flan. Thanks in advance!

🥱😩🛏️ Satraps of Caria, Maussolus, 377 – 353 Halicarnassus Tetradrachm after 367, AR 24.00 mm., 13.76 g. Laureate head of Apollo facing three-quarters r. Rev. Zeus Labraundus standing r., holding double axe and spear. BMC 1 – 2. SNG Copenhagen 590.

Yep!

I've consigned with CNG multiple times, never had any major issues. The submission process is pretty straight forward. This is how I usually do it: Send pictures accompanied with attributions and provenance (if available) via email. Wait for a green light from someone on staff. Send the coins. Fees are quite standard, they'll start you at 15% hammer or $40 per lot, whichever is greater. $60 for group lots. You can usually negotiate these terms somewhat, obviously your leverage varies depending on how expensive the coins you're sending are. I've consigned coins with a few of the bigger houses but CNG has always worked out best for me personally.

Welcome! Great to see you join

I was fortunate to add another cistophor last week. What makes this a particularly exciting pickup for me is that not only is it an unpublished and extremely rare type, it is also a governor that I was missing entirely from the collection. Promagisterial Cistophori. Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther as Proconsul of Cilicia. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Laodicea on the Lycus, 56-53 BC. Anaxagoras son of Artemidoros, magistrate. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / P · LENTVLVS · P · F · PRO · COS. Two serpents entwined by a bow case. In the left field, ΛΑΟ. In the exergue, ΑΝΑΞΑΓΟΡ[ΑΣ] / ΑΡΤΕΜΙ[ΔΩΡΟΥ]. 26 mm, 12.03 g. Stumpf -; Metcalf -. Unpublished. One of only two known: cf. Nomos, Web 16. Lot 872 (Hammer 600 CHF).

Unique and unpublished cistophor of Gaius Claudius Pulcher from Tralles. Divergent from any of the bilingual cistophori issued in Asia, this coin boldly highlights who it was issued for, naming the governor by his full name: Gaius Claudius son of Appius Pulcher, proconsul. It also adds a previously unknown magistrate, Demostratos, to the corpus. Promagisterial Cistophori. Gaius Claudius Pulcher as Proconsul of Asia. Demostratos, magistrate. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Tralles mint, 55-53 BC. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / C · CLAVDIVS · AP · F · PVLCHER · PROCOS. Two serpents entwined by bow case; In the right field, Isis headdress resting on two grain ears and inverted crescent. TPA to outer left. ΔΗΜΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ in exergue. 25 mm, 12.29 g. Stumpf -; Metcalf -. Unpublished.

Coins issued or otherwise associated with the quaestor Aesillas!

Inaugurating my first coin post on the board with a few promagisterial cistophori. Most of you will not have heard about Gaius Fannius before. I don't blame you, trying to piece together the career of an obscure mid-level roman bureaucrat does not sound riveting. However, stories that lie in obscurity often bring vital context to the history being studied. Gaius Fannius served as tribune of the plebs in 59 BC during the consulship of Caesar and Bibulus. As a follower of the conservative faction, Fannius alligned himself with Bibulus in staunch opposition to Caesar's populist agenda. After his term as tribune was over, he would have likely served as praetor in the latter half of the 50s BC. Having climbed the upper steps of the cursus honorum, a provincial command was sure to follow. From here the chronology gets a little iffy but this is what we know: On the 26th of January 49, Cicero in a letter to Atticus (Att 7.15.2) tells us that Fannius was appointed to Sicily with imperium. This appears to have been a temporary measure however, as we later in the year find Fannius not in Sicily, but in the province of Asia. Why all this zipping around? We don't really know. With Caesar having crossed the Rubicon on the 10th of January, the political situation in Rome was extremely tense. It is possible that the Pompeians in the senate desired to keep key provinces staffed and governed by individuals they could rely on, and perhaps this is why Fannius was reassigned to Asia in the midst of his assignment in Sicily. Fannius was the last governor of Asia to issue cistophori in his own name. His coins are known from four of the five mints in the province; Ephesus, Tralles, Laodice and Apameia. The coins of Fannius' deviates from previous issues and feature an impressive portico of what can only be surmised to be the Temple of Vesta in Rome. The connection to Vesta can possibly be explained by the legend employed on the coins: C[AIVS]·FAN[NIVS]·PONT[IFEX]·PR[AETOR]/PR[O·PRAETOR]. Being a member of the College of Pontiffs, Fannius could have had some special responsibility or relation towards the cult of Vesta. Promagisterial Cistophori. Gaius Fannius as Propraetor of Asia. Aratos, magistrate. AR Cistophoric tetradrachm. Ephesus, dated Year 86 (24 September 49 BC - 23 September 48 BC). Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / [C]•FAN•PONT•[PR]. Two serpents flanking a tetrastyle temple, surmounted by a female cult statue holding patera and sceptre. In the left field, Πς (date), EΦE, Isis headdress below. Torch in the right field. ARATOC in exergue. Stumpf 58; Metcalf 78-87 (O-, R-. Dies not listed) Promagisterial Cistophori. Gaius Fannius as Propraetor of Asia. Mantitheos, magistrate. AR Cistophoric tetradrachm. Apameia, 49/48 BC. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / C•FAN•PONT•PR. Two serpents flanking a tetrastyle temple, surmounted by a female cult statue holding patera and sceptre. MΑΝΤΙΘ[ΕΟΣ / MΑΝΤΙΘΕΟΥ]. Stumpf 57; Metcalf 473 (Dies O24/R72)

Great to see so many familiar names here! Thanks for the link.