CPK

Lovely specimens @Spirityoda !

Fun!

A Crusader coin of some type?

I just discovered a coin I have with bronze disease - a LRB that came in a lot. It was a powdery light green deposit that left dust on my finger when I rubbed it. I went to work with a toothpick and it's currently sitting in some distilled water, so we'll see how it turns out. At least it's not a valuable coin! Regarding the OP and others, all I can say is if that blotchy verdigris appeals to you, more power to you! Personally, I find it hideously ugly. 😝 😉

That's a bummer to put it lightly! Glad you didn't have an accident or anything. I know what it's like. One time my truck brakes gave out on me while I was driving, thankfully nothing bad happened. But it was strange having to consciously plan ahead exactly how I was going to slow, turn, etc.

That's so cool! Thanks for sharing. Someday I would love to add an 8-reale shipwreck cob to my collection.

Actually, the most recent data suggests that the GBR is doing surprisingly well. According to a 2020-2021 survey by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, all areas of the reef showed a moderate to high increase in hard coral cover, some up to 39%. As for bleaching, none of the 127 reefs surveyed showed high or medium damage; 60% showed no bleaching at all and the remaining 40% showed only low levels of bleaching. "Over the 35 years of monitoring by AIMS, the reefs of the GBR have shown an ability to recover after disturbances." "In periods free from acute disturbances, most GBR coral reefs demonstrate resilience through the ability to begin recovery." Here is the survey, for those interested: Long-Term Monitoring Program - Annual Summary Report of Coral Reef Condition 2020/21 | AIMS So while it's important to continue the conservational efforts, neither is the case as dire and irreversible as many would have you believe. Nature, as it turns out, is surprisingly resilient. 🙂

Somehow I missed most of this. @Prieure de Sion that little microscope setup did surprisingly well! I can see of course why you'd want to minimize your photography apparati (?) though. I have a Nikon DSLR - 3200 - it's a little old for modern electronics, but still takes good photos - but the only lens I can use is an 18-140mm zoom lens. The closest I can get to the coin still results in a tiny, poorly focused image that requires a lot of cropping. Most times I use my defunct smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy 6, to take the photos. It usually does better at close-ups than my other lens. I am really wishing I had a better method/setup though...

🤔 Why single out the Byzantines? Do ancient Roman or Greek coins have any less religious symbolism? If it's bad, then it's all bad. Or maybe your bias is a little more specific? However, I do agree with you on the lack of artistry. I much prefer the vivid realism of the early-middle Roman Empire. I only have one Byzantine coin - Justinian I - and it's cool in a historic way, but as a numismatic object it leaves some to be desired IMO.

That's a great point. The coin does seem to be virtually identical to the denarius - this particular specimen was listed as 19mm and 3.58g, and RPC states that the silver content is 86%. I need to stop thinking about this or I'll start regretting that I didn't up my bid more...😞 😜

I didn't even know this particular type existed until I saw this one in a recent auction. I guess they're pretty much the first Cappadocian drachms? @ambr0zie, I fully agree! The portrait style, reverse design, and Greek legends really appealed to me. Unfortunately, I was outbid. *NOT MY COIN*

The music - Beethoven's first symphony. Largely glossed over today in favor of his more iconic works, the First is notwithstanding an impressive piece of music and was Beethoven's most popular symphony during his lifetime. The coin: Okay it's not an ancient, but it's the closest coin I have that dates to the writing of the 1st Symphony (1800)

The purposeful abstraction on Celtic coins is intriguing. Nice coins!

Interesting!

Sounds like fun!

Looks like there's some interesting stuff in this auction. I'm a newcomer to FRS auctions but I must say, I really, really like the 0% "buyer's premium". I'll gladly overlook the photo quality for that. 😄 I won a really nice Constantius Fallen Horseman on his last auction. Perhaps I will get lucky this time too.

Bummer.

@thenickelguy Thanks! I should add that the coin looks a lot better in hand. These small dark bronzes are tough to photograph to their fullest potential!

Nice! Here is my only coin struck under that tyrant:

My only camp-gate:

My latest. Also my first "slabbed" coin. It's the second Syrian Augustus tetradrachm I own, the first being an earlier issue from 2 B.C. Of the two, I prefer the portrait on this one, but the reverse is not as interesting as the older, Tyche/Orontes design. Unlike many here, I don't have strong feelings either way about slabs. On the one hand I like the organized presentation it gives. On the other, I would have liked to have more information included, and of course I like to handle the coins sometimes. I'm not sure yet if I will be breaking this one out.

Someone got a little carried away with the dremel tool.

3 ounces of silver with a "face value" of $5...where can I exchange my US dollars for these?? 🤣

Interesting! Looks like it could easily go either way. I'm also interested in seeing how it works for you!

I agree that Nerva doesn't get the credit he deserves, probably due to his short reign and being overshadowed by his successor. Whether or not he was involved in the plot to assassinate Domitian, he came to power and was known for his temperance, fairness, and sense of propriety (all of which were sharply lacking in his predecessor.) Among other things, Nerva released those who were on trial for maiestas - ostensibly, the crime of acting in a way that degraded the Roman name, but which quickly became a catch-all charge for practically anything the emperor didn't like - employed with carefree abandon by Domitian. Nerva also (in a more conservative vein) forbade servants from conspiring and accusing their masters, which had been encouraged under Domitian and which was wreaking havoc in Roman society. Nerva also forbade that gold statues be made in his honor, he restored to many their property which had been confiscated under Domitian. He may have been older, but the man had nerve (pun unintended but welcome) - being made known of a senatorial conspiracy against him, Nerva had the two leaders of the conspiracy sit beside him at the public games (they were unaware that he knew of the plot.) Nerva then had the cool to hand the pair a couple of swords, "just to check and make sure that they were sharp", as a part of the ceremony, but also sending them a subtle yet powerful message that he knew and did not fear their disloyalty. And of course, one of the last acts of Nerva as emperor was to appoint his successor, Marcus Ulpius Trajanus. In doing this, he broke from the vaguely hereditary system of dynastic succession which had been unofficially adopted by Augustus, and instead, not wishing to appear guilty of favoritism, chose to nominate a successor based solely on merit. Not only was his choice a great one for the Roman Empire, but he also set the precedent for what many have called the most humane and peaceful era of the Empire - the time of the Adoptive Emperors. Hats off to Nerva is about what it amounts to!