David Atherton

I was going to link the video in the OP so folks could hear his own explanation, but couldn't remember which episode it was (I think it was in January).

Recently, Aaron Berk on his Ancient Coins Youtube Podcast stated light smoothing on bronze coins doesn't bother him at all. He equated it as part of the cleaning process. So, I was wondering how everyone here felt about it. Light smoothing of corrosion or patina in the fields as part of cleaning the process, yay or nay?

Thanks! I think with videos, especially for big bronzes, you get a better idea of their heft.

Probably this one as Caesar under Titus. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=156227 They really don't come much better than that. I think it's no accident it's provenanced to a portrait painter.

I'm never disappointed when receiving a Domitian bronze ... especially his early ones, which can be quite pleasing in hand (the video shows this aspect off better). Domitian Æ Sestertius, 26.73g Rome mint, 82 AD Obv: IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG P M; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: TR P COS VIII DES VIIII P P; S C in field; Minerva stg. l., with spear RIC 105 (C2). BMC 274. BNC 285. Acquired from Classic World Coins, February 2024. Minerva's prominence on Domitian's coinage first showed up on his early bronzes produced in 81-82 before she dominated his denarii. While Domitian's initial denarius output is dominated by the carry-over pulvinar types from Titus, his first two issues of sestertii have a more personal touch with the reverses featuring his patron deity. This common sestertius struck in early 82, just prior to the mint's overhaul later the same year, demonstrates that the finest engravers were not just reserved for Domitian's aurei. A superb portrait and fine reverse. In hand. Thanks for looking!

Welcome back to the fold! Stay away from Flavians, they're overrated.

Your new Hadrian is superb Donna. And a wonderful write-up to go with it. Congrats!

I love your term 'sleeper rarity', suits it rather well.

I've been after this Domitian denarius variety for many years. For one reason or another it has always managed to slip just out of reach ... not forgetting they are notoriously hard to attribute from photos alone since old dies were often re engraved with an additional numeral squeezed in between the legend. Although this may be considered a minor 'grail', it was so satisfying to finally acquire one of these elusive specimens! It now completes this very rare denarius issue in my collection. Domitian AR Denarius, 3.16g Rome mint, 92 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P; Minverva stg. r. on capital of rostral column, with spear and shield; to r., owl (M2) RIC 736 (R2). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -. Ex Tater's Relics, eBay, 14 February 2024. Domitian struck the same series of four Minerva types for his denarii regularly every year from 83 onwards. Some issues are more rare than others - a few are very rare. This coin is from a very rare issue struck towards the end of summer 92 and can be dated by the TR P XI and IMP XXII, an exceedingly rare combination. This series commemorating his 22nd imperial acclamation was most likely awarded for a victory against the Sarmatians and Suevi near the end of the campaigning season just before he became TR P XII on 14th September. The rarity of this dating combination indicates how tight the window was for this issue's production. Struck in such haste, the second 'I' in the imperial acclamation date is often squeezed in on the reused dies from the previous issue (as is the case with the present coin). Missing from both the BM and Paris collections. In hand. Thank you for looking!

I suppose for a generalist it's of some value... but like I said, it's not that pressing for me. I only have to worry about 27 years of ancient coinage! 😆

Maybe it's just me, but the 'doofus purchase' segment is the least interesting thing in the podcast. I see them all the time, especially on eBay. Edit: There's actually one in tomorrow's CNG auction, so I'm not just eBay shaming!

I was very thrilled to have recently acquired this possibly second known Domitian denarius from 95/96 AD sporting an aegis portrait! Domitian AR Denarius, 3.44g Rome mint, 95-96 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV; Bust of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P; Minerva stg. l., with thunderbolt and spear, shield at her l. side (M3) RIC 789A (R3). BMC -. RSC -. BNC -. Ex JLB Coins, eBay, 7 February 2024. Formerly in NGC holder # 4184475-010, Ch VF. A second known example of the M3 Minerva type from the 95-96 denarius issue with aegis portrait. Domitian's aegis portraits on denarii were more commonly struck in 84 and 85, sparingly so afterwards. The Rome mint was experimenting with new reverse designs and portrait types for the denarius issues during the last year of the reign. Perhaps the reintroduction of the aegis may have been part of this new programme? Of course we shall never know - Domitian's assassination in September 96 cut short any experimentation with his coinage. This rare variant only came to light recently and has been added to the RIC II.1 Addenda as RIC 789A. In hand. Thank you for looking!

Yes, it's very optimistic.

Well, well, well .... https://www.ebay.com/itm/256448318747?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=8HIsjhCrRb-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=mMsDejf_TOu&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Someone's cashing in their chip.

It's an extremely common type ... a better one could be found.

I think I paid @ $500 for my RIC 1 nearly 20 years ago. Prices have indeed risen! And that Goldberg specimen is an obverse die match with mine!

If you don't mind me asking, which coin was it?

Alexandrian reverse types under the Flavians typically displayed both ethnic and Greek themes, sometimes both (Sarapis). My latest coin from Alexandria has a decidedly 'Greek' reverse. I think it's quite fetching. Domitian Æ Obol, 5.12g Alexandria mint, 91-92 AD Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤ ϹƐΒ ΓƐΡΜ; Head of Domitian, laureate, r. Rev: LΙA; Dolphin coiled round anchor RPC 2649 (13 spec.). Emmett 308.11. Dattari-Savio 600. Acquired from Herakles, January 2024. Ex Naville Auction 76, 2 October 2022, lot 183. A decently rare Alexandrian obol from Domitian's regnal year 11. The dolphin is the totem animal of Poseidon and likely can be viewed in that context here. One cannot help but be reminded of an identical dolphin and anchor pulvinar type struck previously by Titus and Domitian between 80-82 at Rome on the denarius. This coin is cited in the RPC online database. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/438475 In hand. Thank you for looking and watching!

Incredible cleaning job!

Are these NGC coloured cores unique to VaultBox? If so, why?

Who? Is he a mystery box dealer?

Another rare middle bronze to share - this time a newly discovered dupondius possibly struck in Thrace under Titus. Admittedly it's a bit worn, but has honest surfaces. It's what I'd call 'eye-appealing wear'. Titus Æ Dupondius, 12.03g Eastern Mint (Thrace?), 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAESAR DIVI VESP F AVG P M; Head of Titus, radiate, bearded, r. Rev: ROMA; S C in exergue; Roma std. l. on cuirass, with wreath and parazonium RIC 503A (R2). BMC -. RPC -. BNC -. Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 96. Ex Curtis Clay Collection. Ex Savoca Blue E9, 15 July 2018, lot 965. A mystery mint struck coins for Titus sometime between 80-81. The style (heavily seriffed letters, large portraits, and massive reverse figures), unique obverse legends, and uncommon fabric (flat, almost convex flans) all suggest a mint other than Rome. Attributing exactly where these coins were struck has historically been a moving target - Mattingly in BMCRE thought Lugdunum, H.A. Cahn believed somewhere in Bithynia. More recent scholarship has looked towards Thrace as a possible location for production based on the Balkan distribution pattern of found specimens. Although the region of mintage has been narrowed down, the city itself remains elusive. RPC has suggested possibly Perinthus. Presumably a shortage of bronze coins in the region during Titus' reign prompted a localised imperial issue. The striking of imperial bronze outside of Rome was an exceptional step at the time considering the last imperial branch mint at Lugdunum had shuttered late in Vespasian's reign. The issue consisted of sestertii, dupondii, asses, and semisses which copied types struck at Rome. This rare dupondius features a variant obverse legend previously unattested at this mint. A recent discovery, just two specimens are cited by the RIC II.1 Addenda, Curtis Clay had two others ... so possibly only four known. Clay proposes his two former specimens, which share an obverse die, were struck at a separate eastern mint rather than the 'Thracian' one. In hand. Here is the 'standard' ROMA type from the Thracian mint. Titus Æ Dupondius, 12.49g Eastern Mint (Thrace?), 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII; Head of Titus, radiate, bearded, r. Rev: ROMA; S C in exergue; Roma std. l. on cuirass, with wreath and parazonium RIC 503 (R). BMC 314. RPC 507. BNC 325. Acquired from eBay, April 2019. Formerly in NGC holder 4680932-001, grade 'XF', strike 5/5, surface 3/5. As always, thank you for looking!

I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. I have a keen interest in RR coinage, mainly because of its later relation to Flavian era coinage, so this was a treat to read!

I'd leave the coin alone and keep an eye on it. From the photo I don't see any overt signs of BD ... but an unfriendly environment could trigger it.

According to the Barrington Atlas it certainly appears to have been a hub of some importance.