ComicMan

1 hour ago, Ocatarinetabellatchitchix said:

In his book "Ancient Coin Collecting'" Wayne Sayles wrote that "we would speculate that 50,000 (active collectors of ancients) is not an unreasonable estimate, and that indeed may be a conservative figure." The number is based 1) on the number of coins dealers (in 2003) and 2) the number of people on their mailing list. He also recognizes that it is impossible to know the exact amount. Many collectors don't buy in auctions (especially overseas one), the market is now on sites like ebay where you can find a lot of low-medium grade coins. 

Reddit's /r/ancientcoins has almost 50,000 members, not that everyone there is a collector, but it indicates a pretty large interest in the hobby (though with the top post only having 1k upvotes the engagement isn't quite there). 50,000 seems really conservative now (though maybe it was a good guess 20 years ago). But communities are rather fragmented, a lot of collectors are on different forums, Facebook groups, maybe a lot of the old guard doesn't even interact with anyone online. Also, this is an English-language forum, there are probably groups in other languages as well too.

51 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said:

Link: 

 

Imperator Caesar Divi filius Augustus; Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 21/20 BC; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19mm; Weight: 3.74g; Mint: Samos, Ionia; Reference: RIC I (second edition) Augustus 475; Obverse: Head of Augustus, bare, right. The Inscription reads: CAESAR for Caesar; Reverse: Young bull standing right, head erect. The Inscription reads: AVGVSTVS for Augustus.

 

 

Bull. Been a while since I showed this one off last, but one of my favorite coins:

Julian II. 360-363 AD. AE Maiorina (8.75 gm, 29mm). Antioch mint. Struck 361-363 AD. Obv.: D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right. Rev.: SECVRITAS REIPVB, bull standing to right, two stars above; (palm)ANTΓ(palm) in exergue. RIC 216; LRBC 2640. aVF.

Just now, John Conduitt said:

I can only do more Domitian with that.

Domitian Denarius, 81-96

Rome. Silver, 18mm, 3.36g. Head of Domitian, laureate head right; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIIII. Minerva standing, head left, holding spear; IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P (RIC 692). From the Westbury Sub Mendip (Somerset) Hoard 2016, Portable Antiquities Scheme: SOM-F1847A.

Let's keep the Domitian streak going then! This was my second silver coin by the way.

DOMITIAN.(81-96).Rome.Denarius.

Obv : DOMITIANVS CAESAR AVG F.
Laureate head right.

Rev : COS V.
She-wolf standing left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, in exergue, boat.
RIC II 961.

Weight : 3.18 gr
Diameter : 18 mm

On 7/30/2023 at 8:23 PM, Dafydd said:

Well that was certainly a "nice surprise" for someone, I hadn't considered a Hyperpyron and the Pamphylia Tetradrachm was better than I had anticipated. I guess as @ComicMan was the first to guess a Tetradrachm, he wins.

🥳 Now you guys gotta guess which Roman coin that I will get 😇

I won't lie I would be curious to see what it is (if they don't reveal it at the end, only to the winner I think there will be a riot), and since Biddr knows so there can be no switcheroo. And if it is a low value coin then there will similarly be an uproar, and nobody will participate in the next such thing. So, I think that it is something that is high value, probably not rare or in exceptional condition.

Since you are offering a prize I might as well hazard a guess, I think that it will be a Lysimachos Tetradrachm. Not based on anything, but that is what my gut is telling me.

But I think that this is a really scummy tactic tbh, and I do not support auction houses making use of this kind of Gatcha method.

Cool thread, I will give it a more comprehensive read when I am less busy. But in the meantime, here is my Alexander tet apparently from Tarsos, apparently lifetime. @Kaleun96 and I talked about it on Discord 😇

Got it from Tom Vossen, he listed it as Price 2991 though we are not sure. I am just really happy with it, it is a thick one! 😁

10 minutes ago, Ryro said:

Next: a favorite from your collection

Eraviscan denarius imitating the types of L. Papius. 79 BC - 1 BC

Obv: Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin headdress, T behind.

Rev: Griffin leaping right, berry (?) below.

Probably a die match with this one in the article (Fig. 7): https://numismatics.org/pocketchange/eraviscan/, the obverse is obviously a quite corroded but it is actually not as bad as on this picture, the lighting really brings out every flaw while in hand it is quite nice. Why a favorite? I like Roman coins and this was an imitative minted and used in Hungary so it has a connection to me.

Next: A flawed coin that you like (corroded, worn dies, etc.), if you wanna be spicy something expensive that is flawed.

18 minutes ago, Ryro said:

I gotta go with Seleucids overall. Just a more diverse amount of styles and types of coins. But enjoy them both.

A few Seleucids 

And some Ptolemaic 

 

Yeah those Ptolemaic monarch sure did love their eagles while the Seleucids had many symbols, anchor, horse, elephant, etc.

Really like the first Seleucid coin that you posted, that is a badass helmet and a nice reverse.

Really liking this one on Ma-Shops, might make that my first Ptolemaic tet. Any opinions here from people who collect Hellenistic coins?

Just watched a very interesting video about Seleucid coinage: 

I personally don't have any coins from them, and only one Ptolemaic coin. Does anyone here collect coins from these Hellenistic dynasties? Which one do you prefer? I would love to get into some nice tets from this period, especially have my eyes on Demitrius I Soter, and the early Ptolemies and Seleucids.

My coin, certainly a chunky one:

Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy II Philadelphos. 285-246 BC. AE Diobol (14.78 gm, 29mm). Alexandreia mint. Series 2F. Struck circa 275/4-260s BC. Obv.: diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right. Rev.: eagle with open wings standing left on thunderbolt; monogram above shield to left, O between legs. CPE B177; Svoronos 586; SNG Copenhagen 123. aVF.

Just now, Ocatarinetabellatchitchix said:

This one is a holed fourrée aureus imitating a Probus’ victory issue from Serdica in 290 AD, and probably produced by uncertain Germanic ( gothic ?) tribes. Here is also the aureus it supposed to copy:

Very interesting that whoever was making these copies /counterfeits would have seen the original aureus! Thanks for sharing.

8 minutes ago, JayAg47 said:

I got this holed denarius of Commodus for cheap, and added the silver jump ring.

Have you worn it as jewelry? Or did you just add it for completeness?

4 minutes ago, ambr0zie said:

I have a Severina antoninianus with 2 small holes. I like the coin because of style, silvering and general aspect. 

The coin came with this ticket - never heard about this dealer. 

Nice coin! And it looks like you have a phone number to call then 😁

9 minutes ago, Heliodromus said:

I've got a couple ...

 

The top coin here (legend: VIRT EXERC) is somewhat of a mystery in that there are numerous theories as to what the "X" design represents or means, but this seems to be one of the most commonly holed (hence worn) Constantine reverse types, which tells us the design must have had some significance back in the day.

Ooh, really cool info, since that is not exactly the most common type for him or anything. What are the theories about the X? Very nice gold coin too by the way.

Coins with a banker's mark, a countermark, just some scratches, they all "deface" our coins to some extent, but I also think that they are cool to some extent. I am looking at a Roman Republican coin, well actually two of them. One in really nice condition and the other with a hole in it that looks worn and shabby, but I think that owning both might be fun.

So do you have any coins with holes in them? Do you know of any interesting literature related to coins with holes? Feel free to share I would love to see some ancient (or in some unfortunate cases not so ancient) jewelry!

Coin below from my personal collection, found it in a coinstar, it is crazy what people leave in a coinstar at your local Walmart!

😉

14 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

It was 240 GBP plus the buyer's fee in the Noonans Vale of Pewsey Hoard auction last May.

Congrats! I would love to find one for that price haha. You definitely have one of the more attractive beareded designs too, compared to this:

The second one is also Harptree by the way.

I am also looking for a good Constantius II now that I think about it, but the thing is that I don't really care for Votive obverses so either the portrait really has to sell me (as is the case on bearded Julian) or I am looking for one with a Victory on it, or one of the other less common designs.

1 hour ago, Orange Julius said:

I’d like to know what this person was up to with this coin.

I have seen scatches like this described as graffiti, somebody was probably just very bored with a knife on hand or something. Kinda like what happens in public restrooms haha.

17 hours ago, DonnaML said:

Julian II (from Vale of Pewsey Hoard):

 

I really want a bearded Julian Siliqua, so words cannot describe how jelly I am of this one, congrats! How much did it go for if you don't mind answering that?

8 hours ago, Cordoba said:

A demetrios tetradrachm. I passed up one being sold at Nomos, but in hindsight I wish I bid on it since it hammered for a pretty reasonable price. Luckily they pop up fairly often at auctions, but I'll for sure have to shell out for one

That's a nice one with the elephant hat! I do agree that the top one is nicer, I don't know anything about this type but the one on the bottom looks way less nice on both the obverse and the reverse.

7 hours ago, kirispupis said:

That's a nice one! How big is it?

6 hours ago, Kali said:

An ancient coin featuring, Fulvia. I haven't found the "one", yet.

I hope you find one! I just saw this one on vcoins (Tom Vossen). A bit pricey though.

7 hours ago, JayAg47 said:

Julia Domna with Venus reverse- all the coins right now I see has her 🍑 worn, I need it plump!

I get that, this will probably be one of the most important coins in your collection so you want to get it right!

6 hours ago, JeandAcre said:

Yeah, I was outbid on this one, mainly because I wasn't ready to commit armed robbery.

That is just weakness speaking, do it! Interesting coins though I do not collect medieval.

6 hours ago, ValiantKnight said:

Any Carolingian other than Charles the Bald and Louis the Pious. And coins that are definitively of Charlemagne and Charles the Fat (I have coins that are probably of them, but not 100% certain).

You actually have a (possible) Charlemagne? Aren't those pretty rare? That is cool.

6 hours ago, Ryro said:

I do have several of the beautiful and popular nymphs:

As for what I haven't gotten yet that I've wanted for so long, we'll that just came in the mail earlier today!

Not only is it Gaius Caligula's sisters, but also a damnatio memoriae!

I wrote about it in a thread after winning this bad bitch. Bigger and chonkier than you think. Rewarding:

 

Nice Nymphs! The first one is beautifully double-struck and the third one has an amazing portrait! Also great Caligula, going to read your thread on it.

6 hours ago, CPK said:

Well...I really want a lifetime JC denarius, but to say I simply haven't gotten around to it yet suggests that it's currently within my means and I just need to take the time, which is not the case. 😉

Ditto Shekel of Tyre and Herod Antipas. 🙄

Someday I would also love to get one of those Ptolemaic tetradrachms with Alexander and elephant headskin, but those are more expensive still!

I suppose one coin within my means I'd like to get, but just haven't gotten around to it/found one I like enough, is a good portrait coin of Crispus. They are inexpensive enough that I can be ruthlessly picky about style, and the vast majority of his coins aren't what I'd consider good enough.

Hmmm...I will have to think of some others...

 

Sounds like you too need some advice about armed robbery haha, but nice goals!

5 hours ago, Cinco71 said:

Easily for me it would have to be a lifetime, portrait denarius of Julius Caesar like the one below.  Sure they come up at auction fairly frequently, but I just haven't been able to pull the trigger on buying one.  I don't want a lesser specimen, so I know I'd be putting out a sizeable amount of cash to own one.

 

That's a really nice portrait!

1 hour ago, Limes said:

A Hadrian denarius with Italy reverse, to complete my silver travel series. They come up often, but somehow I never bought / bid on it. 

Another one is a denarius of Caracalla as sole ruler. Too many coins available, but "they just don't do it for me ". 

You have all the other provinces? As for Caracalla didn't he have a pet lion? Maybe you could look into a lion coin of his, of course he needs to be sufficiently angry looking on the obverse 😠

4 hours ago, AETHER said:

In a realistic realm, a Caesar elephant silver. 

I actually think those are almost as cool as the portraits, they just have very charming designs.

1 hour ago, ambr0zie said:

@ComicMan - the good thing is that your targets are realistic.

A Histiaia coin was also on my wish list - I got a cheap tetrobol, that is not problem free, but better in hand (someday I need to take my own photos of all my coins) 

Thanks, and that is a cool one! Now that you mention it I would definitely go for a Trajan's column too without hesitation.

58 minutes ago, rhj959 said:

All I would like is a silver denarius of Caurasius

Wasn't the denarius already phased out by that point? Or did it still exist and that makes it rare or something?

You were outbid at auction, there are no nice types on Vcoins, something else came up and ate your budget, etc.

What is something that you have wanted for some time, but managed to elude you until now?

I would love a nice beareded Julian siliqua.

I also love this design on the coins of Histiaia, but I never made it a priority at auctions. I could probably pick up one pretty easily because they are quite common.

Link: Gallienus, also from his joint reign.

Gallienus. 253-268 AD. AR Antoninianus (2.98 gm, 22mm). Rome mint. Struck 254 AD. Obv: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from front. Rev.: VIRTVS AVGG, soldier standing facing, head left,, resting on shield and spear. RIC 182. Ex: Tom Vossen

Is it me or are Gallienus' coins just really cool?

30 minutes ago, TuckHard said:

Next: more unusual flans!

Been a while since I last posted this one.

Julian II AE20, 4.65g; 20mm, 361-363 AD. Antioch. DN FL CL IVLI-ANVS PF AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust left holding spear and shield / VOT X MVLT XX, within wreath. Mintmark palm branch ANTΔ palm branch. RIC VIII Antioch 220.

Somebody said this one might have been overstruck over an old coin, idk about that but the flan is pretty dang funky.

Next: Julian with a bull reverse.

Gallienus. 253-268 AD. AE Antoninianus (3.12 gm, 20mm). "Animal/ Mythical series" issue. Rome mint. Struck 267/8 AD. Obv.: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right. Rev.: APOLLINI CONS AVG, Centaur walking left, holding globe and trophy; H in exergue. RIC 164; MIR 36, 738b; RSC 73. VF

Idk I just like the centaur's abs 🤣

1 hour ago, Spaniard said:

Link: Constans

Constans. 337-350 AD. AE4 (1.53 gm, 15mm). Siscia mint, 347/8 AD. Obv.: CONSTAN-S P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right. Rev.: VICTORIAE D D AVGG Q N N, two Victories standing facing, turned and looking at each other, each holding wreath upward in right hand and palm in left over shoulder, ASIS in exergue. RIC 182; LRBC 790. VF

16 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

Link: Marcus

Pontos, Amaseia. Marcus Aurelius. 161-180 AD. AE 28mm (14.33 gm). Dated year 164 (161/2 AD). Obv.: [ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ] Μ ΑΥΡ ΑΝΤΩΝ[ΙΝΟϹ C]ЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: ΑΜΑϹ Τ ΜΗΤ Κ ΠΡΩ ΤOΥ ΠOΝΤ ƐΤ ΡΞΔ, Tyche standing left, wearing kalathos, holding rudder and cornucopia. Dalaison 80 (D32/R65); RG 19; SNG von Aulock 26 (same dies); RPC Online 10381.

My first coin of Marcus! Bought when I got my first coins from Tom Vossen.

1 minute ago, Prieure de Sion said:

Next: a coin from his father.

My least expensive coin at about 2 euros.

Syria, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia ad Orontem. Macrinus. A.D. 217-218. Æ (17mm, 4.1 g). AVT KAI M O CЄ MAKPINOC CЄ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / S·C, legend within laurel wreath, tied by star above; Δ above, Є below.

Next: A coin that just really makes you happy and explain why 😁