Coinmaster

Thank you as well @Steppenfool, I couldn't find where the TF stands for (even ChatGTP couldn't provide me with an answer), so I'm curious if this is indeed TEMPORVM FELICITAS?

Many thanks @Heliodromus! I didn't know this coin type is split between RIC VI and VII (more heavy and older versus lighter and younger). For those interested the below info.

How interesting and congrats with this acquisition! Is anyone doing research on these coins? I believe the RICs are slowly updated via Spink Books.

Hello my dear coin friends, I'm happy to share my latest acquisition. I must say it wasn't cheap, but I kind of fell in love with it, you know the drill & thrill. According the auction info: For this RIC-number I found this similar coin: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6632557 The coin corresponds however with RIC VI-876 (310-313), AE2. See also this example: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5867689 and https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.6.tri.876. Only after acquiring the coin I took a better look and noticed some aspects. Sol is standing on the left leg, instead of right. Also sol has a straight arm instead of a bent arm. And how about the letters ‘VI’ between hand and head (I couldn't find online a similar example)? Plus sol has a beautiful cloak, don't you think? In all, an interesting variant in beautiful condition, don't you agree? A question I have is about the mint mark. I read TC instead of TF, is this correct? Further readings: https://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/ https://www.lateromanbronzecoinforum.com/index.php And the publication: ‘Constantine the Great, the coins speak’, Victor Clark, page 18.

It seems quite impossible to find a decent Tetricus II coin, so I'm happy with this one I recently acquired. Tetricus II, Caesar. 273-274 AD. AE Antoninianus (2.36 gm, 18mm). Colonia Agrippinensis mint. Struck 273/4 AD. Obv.: [C P]IV ESV TETRICVS CAES, , radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: SPES AVG[G], Spes advancing left, holding flower in right hand and raising skirt with left. RIC 270; AGK 9a. gVF. Fun to read the last sentence about the 'ratty coin', haha! (source) Some more info: here.

This is such a great coin and definitely on my wish list! I really hope it's a genuine one, and not a fake. I recommend that you ask Ilya Prokopov about this coin, and send him the images (ilya.prokopov@gmail.com). Either way, fake or not, it's a great joy to look at this coin type. And to share my inner feelings, I hope this picture brings a smile on your face. 😉

Hmm, always interesting, thanks for sharing. I think the coin is fine. The point could be a punch mark (as it's not centered and has a ring). If fouree, I'd expect more corrosion and a much lighter weight. A laser alblation could give the answer.

Today I bought this one of Tetricus: Tetricus I (270-273), AE Antoninianus (19x21 mm, 2,30 g), Cologne. IMP TETRICVS PF AVG; radiate and cuir. bust r. LAETITIA AVG N; Laetitia standing l. holding wreath and anchor. If I'm not mistaken this is: RIC 90; Mairat 907 (p.373+827); issue 5, c. early – mid 272 (p.94); Elmer 786. Laetitia isn't shown at best, but I couldn't refuse this nice portrait combined with an affordable prize (20,- Euro). In hand much better! About Laetitia:

Many thanks to all! I see some mighty lions and @DonnaML is of course years ahead of me with her wonderful series. Interesting to read about the cippus, that's what I like about this forum: everyday a numismatic knowledge snack comes by! 🤗 Also of interest are the double G (AVGG). As I understood, these revers to the two Augusti: Philip I and his son Philip II. Plus of interest: (source: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3359272)

I just bought my first celebration-coin, so it's time for a party! 😉 Philip I (248), RIC 24. For further reading, see this article in Coin World from David Vagi (with thanks to @DonnaML! https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/coins-games-mark-roman-millennium.html and the below excellent topic from @curtislclay which I quoted (hope that's ok, if not I'll remove of course). I guess it will take me a while before I can expend my collection with the more decent examples from this interesting series. But surely you all can make me happy with some nice pictures from your collections? As this is a party, please join! What interest me is the question why these specific animals where shown on the coins. As Vagi stated: The she-wolf could be symbol for the start of Rome, etc. About the hippo Vagi says: It seems to me this was no coincidence, as a hippo was symbol for fertility, prosperity, rebirth, and regeneration. So an excellent symbol for the (female) spouse of Philip and hope for the future (as the times were troubled). What are your thoughts about this?

How exciting Donna! Good luck with the sale and all the best with your health as well!

Nice coin, congrats! Just contacted Simon, another great article is on it's way. For those interested, see also: https://cambridge.academia.edu/SimonCoupland

I know the person who build this website. Let me know if you want to contact him. 👍🏻

Aha! Yes, these coins and the history is most interesting. Perhaps this site is helpful: https://www.mittelaltermuenzen.com/the-coins. 👍🏻

Very nice! The sceptre is a lily sceptre. One of the two people on the reverse is a bishop (who?). The other one seems not the emperor as he wears no crown. So who is this and what is the image telling? Some kind of pact, alliance or treaty?

'In the 3rd century B.C. it is recorded that Wu Ti of the Ch'in dynasty received 1,000 strings of jade-money carved into rings (...). Rings of bronze succeed to rings of stone, and appear to have been in use very early.' Source: A. Hingston Quiggin, A survey of primitive money (Florida 1991), p. 241. Very interesting book about the 'The Beginnings of Currency'! I almost forgot I have this book on the shelve..! ☺️

I am an archeologist myself, but not familiar with these Chinese objects. However, I think it's important to understand that past societies could have had different believe systems than in the present. Money was used in different ways as we now do in many societies. They could have had multiple meanings or values at the same time, even social, spiritual or religious. This is also the case with certain 12th century coins in Europe. As I understand the jade objects were appreciated as objects of value and were exhanged when someone was defeated and were put in graves. That's not 'money' as when buying a bread at the bakery, but it had value and other properties that are often related to monetary objects (it can be exchanged, counted, stored, is hard to come by, can be transported, does not spoil, etc.). The same as specific shells or glass beads in post medieval times (they were also used for juwelry) or certain axes in bronze age with high tin alloy (these were not suited for chopping wood, but are considered as high prestige and ceremonial objects and possibly exchanged as wedding gifts between tribes).

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. I think the objects could have had multiple values, meanings or purposes. Perhaps pending on the context or situation. I didn't read a suggestion the jade objects had (also) a monetary function. It seems another culture did make use of donut shaped stones for money: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180502-the-tiny-island-with-human-sized-money.

Many thanks!

Hi all, just bought this nice Tetricus at Tom Vossen (only 32,- Euro): Tetricus I. 271-274 AD. AE Antoninianus (3.54 gm, 20mm). Treveri mint. Struck 272/3 AD. Obv.: [IMP] C TETRICVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: SALVS AVGG, Salus standing left, holding rudder with left hand and with right feeding from patera serpent rising from altar to left. AGK 11b; Braithwell 181; Mairat 466; RIC 127. gVF. For those interested, in the store of Tom Vossen there are some more to find. This portrait is also a catch, so good luck for who is first! 😉

That's a great find, worth publishing! Congrats!!!

Thanks Donna! For everyone, here's the link: https://livyarrow.org/.

What a great book this is, just received it this morning. Happy with it!

Congratulations!!! Would you think the use of the reverse die was just a mistake or is there another explanation? Maybe a stupid question, but why the IMP XV as Titus was only emperor between 79-81? And what's the story about the raven and dolphin?

Hi all, Some while ago, I bought this coin from Tetricus I (271-274) because of the decent portrait and low prize (15,- Euro) (16 mm, 2.7 g) I have some difficulties attributing the coin, but maybe it's a 'barbaric' one, not from the official mints? The obverse reads (I think) IMP C TETRICVS, corresponding with nr. 5 in this ERIC-overview. And, while we're at it, show me your Tetricus!