CPK

Thanks! Not in RPC?

I agree. I think you did the right thing @kirispupis in forwarding your concerns. What happens next is up to them. I could be wrong, but it sounds to me like this is a coin where attribution isn't as decisive as, say, a Roman Imperial issue, and where there can be room for other opinions. In such a case it's hard to see how the auction house is obligated to overwrite its own attribution in favor of what to them is probably a random emailer, even though it may seem pretty cut-and-dried to you. No disrespect intended, of course - just trying to see it from their point of view. 🙂 I'd be interested in seeing the coin, and your arguments, if you feel like posting it!

That's a superb example!

Thanks! I had my eye on one in an auction a while ago, but passed because the reverse was too off-center. Glad I waited! Thanks! Wow! I've never seen that type before. That is a terrific coin! What time period was it struck?

Nice consolation prize @Ryro. That was a good chance at a low-cost Ostia sestertius, but seems too many people had the same thought! Here's an SPQR coin, struck a couple hundred years after Trajan made it so popular. That middle standard looks suspiciously like a basketball hoop. CONSTANTINE I, AD 306-337 AE2 (23.15mm, 4.51g, 12h) Struck AD 312-313. Rome mint Obverse: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and draped bust of Constantine I right, seen from behind Reverse: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, legionary eagle facing with wings spread between two standards; RS in exergue References: RIC VI 348a, RCV 16128 A scarce variety. The reverse on this coin is a revival of a similar design employed by the emperor Trajan some two hundred years before.

Interesting way to put it. A little hard for me to answer since I don't know much about cleaning ancients, but I would imagine that some 'smoothing' would be inevitable on some coins as the dirt and deposits are removed. So, I voted 'yes'. Personally, I'm with Aaron Berk on this one. I don't mind coins that are lightly smoothed.

That is an astonishing pendant, @JeandAcre! A great acquisition!

Thanks all! 🙂 @Roman Collector That is a great tigress - I love that you can see the stripes! I'd love to add one to my collection someday. @ambr0zie Oh that is a nice one! Thanks for posting!

As many of you know, I enjoy collecting coins with animals on them - particularly African animals. One of the more interesting animal coin types are a small assortment of Roman provincial coins, struck in the 3rd century, featuring an ostrich either standing or running on the reverse. These types are rather scarce to begin with and their popularity means that they are even scarcer on the market. Good specimens rarely stick around long. So when I spotted this coin come up for sale at a reasonable price, I did not hesitate! THRACE, HADRIANOPOLIS Time of Gordian III AE (16.83mm, 3.35g, 7h) Struck AD 238-244 Obverse: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right, seen from rear Reverse: ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ, ostrich standing right References: RPC Online, Vol. VII.2, No. 806.12 (this coin) A rare type, with good detail and a beautiful emerald green patina. This coin has its flaws, but overall I am very pleased with the purchase. The ostrich is clearly identifiable, well-centered on the flan and even has some feather details left. The obverse is also in good shape and the coin has a vivid, if somewhat patchy, emerald green patina. Thanks for looking! Please feel free to post your own ostrich coins, animal coins, or anything else you consider relevant.

Indeed!

That's a lovely coin!

High grade and a beautiful patina!

Welcome @Spargrodan!

Great post @Roman Collector! I don't think I have Iustitia but here is a Nerva denarius which I've not posted before: NERVA, AD 96-98 AR Denarius (18.38, 3.36g, 6h) Struck AD 96. Rome mint Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head of Nerva right Reverse: FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding rudder set on ground in right hand and cornucopiae in left References: RIC II 4, RCV 3025 A choice specimen, with attractive toning and a finely styled portrait. Well-centered and struck on a good flan. From the Tony Chibbaro Collection.

@Herodotus and @Jims,Coins, very nice Domna coins! Thanks! Excellent pair you have. 👍 Thanks HD! Great coin - and nice photography job too. I like how you've arranged the coin's information along with the image. 👍

Yep, I have coins waiting too! Just finished photographing and researching one last night, which I plan to post soon. Besides that I have a couple prutot and a Trajan provincial that I need to photograph and research yet. Been so busy this past week I haven't had much time for coins! (The Aegean tag/flip is from a different coin.) My process is pretty straightforward: examine, identify, photograph, and upload!

Thanks @LONGINUS - that is a wonderful set of denarii! I especially like the top left - a very finely done portrait!

That coin is a stunner! 🤩

My guess is Domitian.

What makes it really apt is that the die engravers didn't even cut a new die, they just sneaked that extra 'I' in between the existing reverse legend!

Congrats on the acquisition! It's a nice specimen, too.

Nice coins! The Stobi mint seems to have produced some very nice portraits of Julia Domna.

Man! What a great opening post! Those are beautiful coins - I've often dreamed of buying a daric some day but for now I have to be happy with sigloi. 😉 Welcome to the Forum!

Wow, I'm no expert but even I can see that is tooled.

Thank you! Thanks! That is a spectacular sestertius (from your collection I'd expect nothing less! 😉 ) - great details on both obv. and rev., and a lovely patina! Thanks! There are great portraits to be found among provincial coins too. Thank you! That's a great assortment that really shows how wide the portrait variation can be. I really like that Year 2 Alexandrian tetradrachm. Nice coins! Is that bottom one ex Dieterle / AK Collection, by any chance? Very nice coins, especially the sestertius!👍