Coinmaster

Oh, there is so much to see, just incredible! Hope you like the photos. 👍🏻

More will follow!

That's indeed on the planning today, thanks!

I agree! Thanks for sharing this beautiful coin

I don't know, I imagine below the hotel!

A bit of topic, but my wife and I just arrived at the Ibis hotel at Trier for the weekend! I like they've got coin pictures on the wall..!

Hi Jon, I do not, but it would be great to collect somewhere relevant publications per coin type. This should be possible, when making reference descriptions per medieval coin type with description and (with links to online available) used sources. For only the medieval coins from The Netherlands this would be a major task, with thousands of coin descriptions. But, I hope, in future this will be done in cooperation with many people and perhaps with EU-funding. For now, this might be of some help: https://web.archive.org/web/20210504024150/https://sites.google.com/site/digitallibrarynumis/subjects/later-medieval-modern-coins.

Hi all, just encountered this great overview of open access numismatic publications: https://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2010/10/open-access-ancient-numismatics.html. However, it seems a bit outdated. Does anyone know of any updates and/or other overviews?

Interesting..! https://greekreporter.com/2024/01/29/greek-city-rome-before-romans/

Arent Pol from The Netherlands (university of Leiden) is working on a book for several decades now. He has (I've heard) a database of c. 15.000 coins from this era. I realy hope he can finish his life's work real soon...

Between numismatics, there is no overall consensus, when a coin is a type, subtype or variant. I'd say your coin qualifies as a (text)variant. 👍🏻

These are typical symbols for a solar eclipse. You can check this on the NASA website. Earlier I wrote an article about this, see here. Although in Dutch, you'll get the idea.

I like the details, like the statues(?) in the middle.

Wow: Set of Colosseum Sestertii by Titus and Domitian. ; Set of Colosseum Sestertii by Titus and Domitian; Two coins in lot. [source] Coin #1: Titus; 79-81 AD, Rome, c. 80-81 AD, Sestertius, 27.99g. BM-190 pl. 50.2 (same rev. die), Paris-189 pl. LXXXI (same dies), RIC-184 (R2), Cohen-400 (80 Fr.). Obv: Colosseum seen from front and above between obelisk on base (Meta Sudans) and porticoed building of two stories (Baths of Titus), without legend; Rx: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII S - C Titus seated l. holding branch and roll on curule chair set on globe among arms. Ex Gemini XIII, 6 April 2017, lot 162. From a British collection, acquired in 1978 by Paul Munro Walker, Bournmouth. See N.T. Elkins, The Flavian Colosseum Sestertii, Numismatic Chronicle 166, 2006, p. 216, 6, pl. 31 (our dies). To demonstrate the popular nature of Vepasian's rule, the Colosseum was built on the site of Nero's demolished Golden Palace. The reverse type of Titus seated as master of the world (his curule chair set on globe), bringing peace (olive branch) by means of victory over enemies (captured arms), fits well with the recently discovered dedicatory inscription of the Colosseum, stating that the emperors constructed it "from booty" (ex manubis), doubtless chiefly the booty of the Jewish War. Coin #2: Domitian, Divus Titus; 81-96 AD, Rome, 81 AD, Sestertius, 25.02g. C-399 (80 Fr.), BMC Titus-191 note, RIC-131 (R), pl. 137 (same dies). Obv: No legend. The Flavian amphitheater filled with spectators, seen partly from above; Meta Sudans to l., two-storied porticus of the Baths of Titus to r. Rx: DIVO AVG T DIVI VESP F VESPASIAN Togate Titus seated l. on curule chair, holding branch and roll, and placing his feet on a captured cuirass; the curule chair rests on a globe, and other captured shields, spears, and a helmet are scattered before, below, and behind the emperor; S C in exergue. Titus himself struck the first Colosseum sestertii, but their production was then briefly continued by Domitian for Divus Titus, using one of the same Colosseum obverse dies that Titus had already used, coupled with two new reverse dies naming Divus Titus. Elkins knew just ten specimens of this Colosseum sestertius struck by Domitian for Divus Titus.To the best of our knowledge, a pair of Colosseum sestertii of this original period has never been offered together. The only other Colosseum coins issued are an exceptionally rare aureus and sestertius issued by Severus Alexander in 223, to commemorate the re-opening of the Colosseum after it had been struck by lightning in about 218, under the reign of Macrinus. These coins were struck 142 years after the coin of Domitian. Further study in the British Royal Numismatic Chronicle of 2006, in an article by Nathan T Elkins, "The Flavian Colosseum Sestertii: Currency or Largess?" shows that our Titus Colosseum is Elkins 7, of which 11 examples are recorded. But in total, there are about 40 examples from all recorded dies. Of Domitian colosseums, there are 10 recorded by Elkins. Our die is Elkins 9, of which there are six recorded, giving us a total of 10 by both dies, with our coin being the eleventh. Our coin is certainly unrecorded, as when we obtained it, it was in a slab from a far-less-used slabbing company, identified as Titus, and listed as corroded. In fact, our coin was not truly corroded at all, but rather heavily encrusted, and when it was artfully cleaned, it revealed the legend "DIVUS TITUS", which made it the excessively rare issue of Domitian. These coins are expected to feature in multiple upcoming publications; our Titus Colosseum is anticipated to replace #625B in David Hendin's "Guide to Biblical Coins" after the current 6th edition sells out. In this edition of David Hendin's Book, he lists the Domitian issue of the Colosseum, #626, as "RRR", the highest level of rarity. Even though this coin is listed in his book, it is not illustrated. Additionally, Whitman has hired Harlan J Berk to re-write Zander Klawans's book on Greek and Roman coins; in that book, this coin will certainly be illustrated. This pair of Colosseum Sestertii is being offered only as a pair at this FIXED PRICE of $325,000. . Coin #1: VF Coin #2: Some isolated corrosion, otherwise EF / VF Estimate: 325000 USD

Well..., Surely you know this coin: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-6068 ('In 44 BC, following the death of Julius Caesar, a comet appeared in the heavens over Rome and was accepted to be a manifestation of the divine soul of Julius Caesar. It was thought to herald a new age of peace and prosperity. Augustus used this event to emphasize his familial association with the deified Julius.') Of course not all stars on coins relates to comets, meteorites and solar eclipses. But..., many do. Read this book and you'll look and think different at/about coins with stars: https://www.amazon.com/Astronomical-Symbols-Ancient-Medieval-Coins/dp/0786469153

Ahh, just ordered the book with discount! Delivery cost is high, but still is a good deal. See: RIC V.4 - The Gallic Empire (AD 260-274) Order now with Leu's discount code 'LEU' and save 20% –– 2023 marked the 100th anniversary of the publication of the first volume of the Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC) series by Harold Mattingly and Edward Allan Sydenham, the standard reference work for coins issued by the Roman emperors. Originally conceived as a ten-volume series, the final volume of RIC was published in 1994. By this point, many of the earlier volumes were already outdated, which is why they are since gradually revised. An updated RIC I (Augustus to Vitellius) appeared in 1984, RIC II (Vespasian-Hadrian) was split into three parts, two of which were published in 2007 (Vespasian-Domitian) and 2019 (Hadrian), respectively, while the volume dedicated to Nerva and Trajan is still in the making. Perhaps the most outdated of the original RIC volumes now is RIC V, which is dedicated to the coinage of the barracks emperors from Valerian I. to Florian (RIC V.1, published in 1927) and Probus to Maximian (RIC V.2, published in 1933), respectively. In the nine decades since the publication of RIC V.2 in 1933, new discoveries and research have greatly expanded our knowledge about the coinage of this turbulent yet crucial period of Roman history. We are thus very excited that our friend Dr. Jerome Mairat has just published RIC V.4: The Gallic Empire (AD 260-274) to coincide with RIC’s 100th anniversary.

Yes, I agree it's not from a Carolingian mint. But I do think it's related (inspired by) and from the same time. So possibly from an unknown (illegal?) mint. It would be nice to see if there exist other examples from the same time that might be related/inspired as well.

Here another early example with little cross and dots: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces345339.html And here with a longer and thinner cross like on your coin: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces345772.html.

Great and interesting coin! It looks like it's a coin that's inspired by the early Carolingian coins, like this: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces115063.html and this: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces346012.html (and check here for more: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/carolingian_empire-1.html). Possibly it's an 8-century coin. Did you check Simon Coupland? Maybe he encountered this coin type before or knows more about Carolingian-inspired coins.

That's great @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, thanks! There was also debate if the coin was a coin or a pendant. I think it's a coin!

Thanks for this @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix! I just contacted Jerome about an interesting find of a new Postumus coin type in The Netherlands. The obverse is new, the reverse is a die match with an aureus in his dissertation (no. 323) and dated late 264-early 265. I will write a short article about it next year. Interestingly, the reverse shows a temple of Roma. Because of the special obverse (with frontal emperor) I think the issue marks therefor some kind of celebration. Perhaps the opening of a new built temple, or an offering at the temple after a won battle or so. I was looking into Roma-temples and it seems there are a few in both Köln and Trier. I found this website, but was not yet able to use it to select the known Roma temples.

Congrats!!

Hi all, I've done some in depth research and made a complete inventory of all the PIETAS-TRIB coins that I could find from Aelius. This learned me a lot. First, I've found 28 aurei of this type. 16 aurei are with head left and 10 of those are a double die match. I also found 12 aurei with head right: 11 with double die match. One of these turned out to be a new variant(!) (almost without drapery). Only 4 denarii seems to exist (all with head right), none with a die match with the aurei. So it seems the denarii are much more rare than the aurei. Of the denarii, 2 are with double die match and all 4 have a reverse die match. I also found 2 plated denarii with head left (both different than the other coins) and 1 fake denarius, based on an aureus - see below (see also this page for more (different) fake coins from Aelius). To conclude: this whole Aelius-PIETAS-TRIB-cointype is rare, with mostly double die matches. The double die match of my own denarius seems now to fit with the rest. As the oldest two denarii from the Vienna collection have a collection history before 1923 (see before) and have a reverse die match with my coin, it seems highly unlikely my own denarius is a (modern) fake. I hope you agree. Below are the unique obverses and reverses of the coins. The numbers correspond with the coins (from left to right).

Thank you for your oppinion @Valentinian! This really asks for a deep dive into the Aelius coins! You might be wright (I hope you don't haha!), so let's analyze this coin production. Abdy (2019) writes in RIC about this coin type: RIC II, Part 3² Hadrian 2714 (with image plate 48, see also above), with reference to Strack 399 and to 'RÖ 10039' (see below). Seaby (1979, 3rd ed.) writes on p.163 about this coin type (42a, see attachment), with reference to BMC (see below), and again to Strack 399 (collections 'Sofia and Vienna'). The 2 coins from Vienna I have found (see attachments), the one from Sofia I couldn't find online. Strack (1933) refers to this publication: Strack, Paul L. Untersuchungen zur römischen Reichsprägung des zweiten Jahrhunderts, Teil II: Die Reichsprägung zur Zeit des Hadrian. (Stuttgart, 1933). Unfortunately, I can't find this PDF online. If somebody have this publication, I'd be grateful if coin no. 399 could be found and shared? I think Strack 399 and RÖ 10039 is the same coin, but I'd like to be sure. Mattingly (1936) writes about the BMC. On page 368 in note 1003 there is mention about a PIETAS denarius of this type in Mouchmov (1912), p.45 (see also the attachment). I've checked this publication, but could find it(?), see here. At least this coin type seems to exist in 1912. In the online collection of Vienna/Wien I found this beautiful denarius of this Aelius type, which originates from the collection of Ernst Moritz Herzfelder (1865-1923). See attachment (RÖ 40893) and here. In this same collection also the above mentioned RÖ 10039 (see attachment and here). Finaly, two plated coins are known, this one from the BMC and this one from the CNG auction. The reverse differs but the obverse is a die match I think. Both with head left. About the 'waves', I'm not so sure. I do see them like the downward curl on the mustache. Here some examples with more or less waves: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. But than again: I'm realy not sure. To conclude: there seems to exist, at least from 1912 onwards, this rare denarius coin type from Aelius with the letters TRIB on the reverse instead of TR. The coins from the collection in Vienna have a reverse die match. The earlier shown coins have both a obverse and reverse die match. I think they are also reverse die match with the older coins from Vienna, look for example to the letter P from PIE, that is a little elevated and almost touch the letter B from TRIB (see the four reverses in the latest image below). I think it's save to conclude this coin type is at least rare. Many thanks for your opinions!

Hi all, I've checked all the coins I could from this denarius type. It looks like my coin is a double die match. What do you think? Also, the reverse of the plate coin from RIC II, Part 3² Hadrian 2714 looks like a die match with the other two? PS: I still don't know what the reference source: RÖ 10039 stands for. Who knows this riddle? PS2: I don't know how to customize the photos, they are a bit too large now when pasting.