CPK

Here is a random coin from my collection. Interesting, since I was just reading about Agrippa's death in Cassius Dio's history of Rome: "Such was the end of Agrippa, who had in every way proved himself clearly the noblest of the men of his day and used the friendship of Augustus for the emperor's own greatest benefit and for that of the commonwealth. So much as he surpassed others in excellence, to such an extent did he voluntarily make himself lower than his patron. He employed all his own skill and bravery for what would prove most profitable to Augustus and expended all the honor and power received from him on benefitting others. As a result he never became in the least troublesome to Augustus nor the object of jealousy on the part of others. He helped his friend organize the monarchy like one who was really in love with the idea of supreme power and he won over the populace by his kindness, showing himself most truly a friend of the people." Cassius Dio, Dio's Rome, book 4

Nice coin, and very interesting history, @Restitutor! I would love to get a nice Trajan's Column coin sometime.

Is it perhaps because a round shape is more conducive to handling and transportation? I can imagine a square coin would be quicker to wear through bags, pockets, etc., while the other irregular shapes (dolphins, etc.) would be more difficult to produce in a consistently uniform weight. I don't know if this is why but it seems reasonable at least.

@expat Congrats! That's a nice one. And I will bet it won't be your last either. 😉

Thanks for the replies! I've been kind of averaging the measurements, but I like the idea of just measuring the maximum and labelling it as such.

Just curious, since ancients often tend to come in irregular shapes, what is the "proper" way to measure the diameter? Longest, shortest, or just try to average? Thanks!

I put bids on a few, but lost. I bid on a decent Lysimachos drachm (with the deified Alexander) but it went for higher than what I wanted to pay. There was a nice Divus Augustus I was hoping to get, but it also went higher than what I wanted. Actually there were two Divus Augustus asses but I lost both. I think that was it. I would have probably bid higher if I hadn't just placed an order from another dealer. 🙄😉 I did win one item, a book: Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 BC to AD 700, by Kenneth W Harl. Should be interesting!

@JeandAcre Thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad that you like the coin! 👍 Yes, the flips I use are all PVC-free. The one from CNG is not, I believe. I find I prefer typing up my own information papers. I like the uniform look it gives my collection, and often I can add details that the dealer flips leave out. 🙂

Thanks! That helps a lot. It looks like number 3873 is the closest match. I have the first volume of the "Millenium Edition" (Republic - Domitian) and it's a lot of fun checking coins even if I already have the RIC number. 🙂 Someday I would like to get them all.

Just one right now, the RIC reference is RIC VII Arelate 233. It matches either SR4 3873 or SR4 3878, I'm not certain which. Constantine I. Thanks!

Checking out some of my latest coins which arrived today. Here is one of them: (dealer photo; I haven't had time yet to take my own.) Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Hui Zong, 1101 - 1125 AD AE Cash circa 1101 - 1106 AD, 25mm, 4.11 grams Obverse: SHENG SONG YUAN BAO in Seal Script. Reverse: Inner and outer rims. Hartill16.356 ...while listening to this: A combination of East and West.

In general you are right, however it seems the specific Sear numbers I was hunting for aren't included in Wildwinds.

@DonnaML Very nice coins, particularly that Julia Titi!

That first one looks a tad off-center, but the rest look fine to me! 😜

Sorry to hear that, @ValiantKnight!

Um...most of them? 😜 Here is one that I bought mainly for the novelty. A one thousand year-old coin made out of iron! Next, another coin you bought for the novelty of it.

Hey everyone, hope your evening (or whenever it is in your part of the world!) is going well. It's been hot and humid here in Missouri, and I've just discovered that our AC unit is acting up. 🙄 Still cooler inside the house than out I guess! Anyway...I was wondering if any of you know if there's any online Sear database like there is with RIC? Reason is I have some coins with just Sear numbers, and it would help if I could cross-reference them with RIC. Thanks!

Welcome, @Britannicus! I almost chose that as my new forum name, myself! (I'm know as Britannicus on other platforms.)

Yes, I realize that not everyone agrees with Berk. Still, I think he does make a good (and interesting) argument.

I believe you are right on the reverse inscription. "Of Alexander" or "Of King Alexander" is what it translates to in English. One point of interest is that while the obverse portrait is ostensibly Heracles in the lion skin headdress, it's quite widely believed to actual depict Alexander himself as Heracles. Harlan J. Berk had this to say about it in his book, 100 Greatest Ancient Coins: "Until the discovery of what is thought to be the tomb of Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedonia, we did not know with absolute certainty what Alexander looked like. As noted earlier, on Philip's tomb at Vergina were two small ivory portraits of Philip and Alexander. The beardless portrait on Alexander's tetradrachms is strikingly similar to the portrait of Alexander found in his father's tomb. Additionally, the sarcophagus of Abdalonymos, known also as the Alexander Sarcophagus, shows Alexander on horseback wearing a lion's skin, like the Hercules figure on Alexander's tetradrachm. Abdalonymos, the last king of Sidon, was a personal friend of Alexander the Great and dedicated his sarcophagus to Alexander and himself. Moreover, a tetradrachm struck by the Bactrian king Agathocles in 171 to 160 B.C. bears a portrait of a beardless young man wearing a lion's skin - similar to that on Alexander's own tetradrachm - and bears the legend "Alexander Son of King Philip." These facts make it clear that the tetradrachms of Alexander bear the actual portrait of the first man to conquer the known world." Harlan J. Berk,100 Greatest Ancient Coins (2nd Edition), Whitman Publishing, 2019 (p. 63) Berk was speaking here of the tetradrachm, but the design on the drachm is identical.

As a blanket statement? Of course not. I can understand there being cases where punishing the seller, buyer, or both might be justified. But lots of honest and innocent people might be fooled into buying looted stuff. If they aren't complicit then they aren't guilty of a crime and shouldn't be punished.

I believe it's this one: Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC I (second edition) Nero 546 (numismatics.org) Very nice coin! Love the portrait. I'd say you got a good deal. 🙂

Welcome, @Old Miser!

Have to credit @Lhevae and this great thread for sparking more of a personal interest in these ancient Chinese coins! The calligraphy is beautiful, and the variety and styles are intriguing. Long story short, I have a bunch of new Chinese coins coming in the mail. (isn't that always the "long story short" - more coins?😉 ) I can't wait to see them in hand, and post them up here! In the meantime, thanks @Lhevae and keep the posts coming! 🙂