David Atherton

My first 'Off the Beaten Path' coin for the new forum. Nothing too fancy, just a neat and inexpensive provincial that proves you don't have to spend 'flipping great wadges of cash' to enjoy yourself in this hobby. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ19, 6.21g Antioch Pisidia (Galatia-Cappadocia) mint, 76 AD Obv: T CAES IMP PONT; Head of Titus, laureate, r. Rev: ANT COL; Priest holding vexillum ploughing with two oxen, r.; above, crescent RPC 1605 (9 spec.). Acquired from eBay, June 2022. Antioch Pisidia became a Roman colony under Augustus. Coins were sparingly struck under Augustus (probably a foundational issue) and Nero. Under Vespasian a small issue was struck commemorating the foundation of the colony by the veterans of the 5th and 7th legions. Although this coin is undated, it is in similar style to those struck in 76 with Vespasian as COS VII and Titus Caesar as COS V. The ploughing ritual depicted is the creation of a boundary known as the sulcus primigenius, the first furrow, which delineated the line of the pomerium. The pomerium was a city’s ritual boundary which demarcation the sacred from the profane. The creation of this boundary was the first step in the foundation of a new colony. Please post your coins from Pisidia or the surrounding region! Thanks for looking!

I simply love the coins struck at Alexandria during the Flavian era, especially those of Domitian. My latest coin is a good example why! Domitian Æ Obol, 4.49g Alexandria mint, 90-91 AD Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤ ϹƐΒ ΓƐΡΜ; Head of Domitian, laureate, r. Rev: LΙ; Hippopotamus, r. RPC 2591 (0 spec.). Emmett 320.10. Dattari-Savio 615. Acquired from London Ancient Coins, May 2022. Ex Naville Numismatics 72, 27 March 2022, lot 254. The Alexandrian mint under Domitian around regnal year 10 experienced a 'dramatic improvement in style' and the 'adoption of a wide range of new types' (Milne). One of those new types was this ethnic hippopotamus reverse that had previously been struck under the Julio-Claudians. The hippo in local Egyptian mythology was a potent symbol of prosperity, rebirth, and regeneration. In the days of the pharaohs the killing of a hippo was symbolic of courage and strength. Hippo hunts were necessary due to the animal's habit of grazing and destroying precious crops. Today the Nile hippopotamus is extinct in Egypt. This Domitanic hippo obol is extremely rare, likely due to it being sparingly struck for just a couple of issues. Feel free to show off your hippos, Alexandrian coins, or anything else you think appropriate. Thanks for looking!

Thankfully, this one actually arrived safe and sound this morning with very little tracking info until yesterday. I'll be posting it here later tonight or tomorrow.

This is correct. When I order from Spain I always have the packages shipped DHL or FedEx, both for speed and tracking transparency. Norway and Ireland are two others.

Also, international Registered mail is handled as First Class mail once it arrives in the US! https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-Registered-Mail-International

I've had a coin stuck at Heathrow since 26 May. I'm starting to get a sinking feeling about this one ...

Just wonderful! Thank you Curtis for the Kraay comments concerning this rare issue. And your Concordia die match really leaves no doubt these coins were struck at Rome, despite the odd obverse legend. Also, I'm glad to see you made it to the new discussion forum!

Unbelievably I came across this fabulous coin in trade a couple of weeks ago ... I am absolutely thrilled beyond measure! Vespasian Æ As, 10.12g Rome mint, 70 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR AVG•VIISPAS•SIAN ; Head of Vespasian, bare, r. Rev: PROVID in exergue; S C in field; Altar RIC 10 (R2). BMC -. BNC -. Acquired from London Ancient Coins, May 2022. A rare Rome mint first bronze issue as struck for Vespasian in early 70. The standardised legend formula and portrait for Vespasian had yet to be developed. Instead, we have an unusual obverse legend featuring the odd misspelling VIISPAS•SIAN(!) paired with a bare headed portrait of the newly throned emperor. Although attributed to Rome, RIC speculates this could be an early Spanish issue, however, there are no Spanish findspots attested. The reverse copies a Provident Altar type struck for Divus Augustus by Tiberius which was later revived during the Civil War by Galba and Vitellius. This is the first occasion of the type on Flavian coinage. Bronze coinage was not the Rome mint's primary concern at the outset, as evident by the extreme rarity of this early as. It may have predated the massive denarius issues which were struck later that same year. Missing from both the BM and Paris collections. Obverse die match with the lone Oxford specimen cited by RIC. I can forgive the off-centre obverse legend and worn state, especially for such a scarce piece! Feel free to post your own 'first' coins. Thanks for looking!

I got mine too. Their previous expediency spoiled us!

A surprised eagle! Domitian AR Denarius, 3.53g Rome mint, 82-83 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IVPPITER CONSERVATOR; Eagle stg. front on thunderbolt, wings outspread flat, head l. RIC 144c (R). BMC 52 var. RSC 320 var. BNC 53 var. Acquired from Kölner, June 2021. Ex Obolos 19, 8 May 2021, lot 835, Ex Brett Telford Collection. Ex CNG E302, 8 May 2013, lot 359.

Thank you for posting that wonderful coin! I too have the TR P XV variant, but this super rare TR P XVI has to be my favourite. Domitian AR Denarius, 3.42g Rome mint, 96 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XVI; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P; Minerva, winged, flying l., with spear and shield RIC 821 (R2). BMC 237D. RSC 297b. BNC - . Ex jerusalemhadaya2012, eBay, 4 March 2019.

Not to hijack the thread, but I have a related question regarding CNG: Did anyone win a coin in their last auction which closed Weds? If so, have you received an invoice? I won a coin and currently haven't had anything come through, which is unusual for them (normally they've shipped by now!).

This is a coin you don't come across everyday, granted it's not in prime condition, but still it's fairly rare and stylish. Domitian Æ As, 9.63g Rome mint, 84 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS X; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r., with aegis Rev: S C in field; Victory adv. r., holding aquila with both hands RIC 230 (R). BMC -. BNC -. Acquired from CGB.fr, May 2022. The Victory holding aquila reverse was fleetingly struck for Domitian in 84 and 85 amidst the flurry of Germania Capta types, which it is undoubtedly a part of. Of note, the COS X issues are the first appearance of the Domitian's new title of Germanicus (GERM), awarded for his recent triumph over the Chatti. This rare variant of the type with an abbreviated obverse legend is missing from both the BM and Paris collections, RIC cites only one specimen in Glasgow. Please post your Victory coins! As always, thanks for looking!

Has anyone reached out to Ken Dorney? If I recall, he was an early victim of the mysterious CT banning.

Wonderful example with a very stylish portrait! The Rome mint could on occasion produce some exquisite miniature art. Here is a less common bronze example of the same type. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=170108

Flavian denarii will always hold a special place in my heart ... especially those rarities with intriguing mysteries! Vespasian AR Denarius, 2.80g Ephesus mint, 71 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: AVG in oak wreath, no mintmark RIC 1426(5A)1 (R2). BMC -. RPC -. BNC -. Acquired from Kornblum, May 2022. Ex Gorny and Mosch 216, 10 October 2013, lot 2968. Ephesus struck a series of stylish denarii early in Vespasian's reign. Previously, it was thought all but the first issue were produced with mintmarks, that is until several specimens dated COS III recently surfaced that unquestionably lack any such control marks. The new RIC II.1 Addenda & Corrigenda records three COS III reverse types lacking mintmarks: AVG in oak wreath, confronting heads of Titus and Domitian, and Turreted female bust. All three types are known for Vespasian, just one specimen (turreted female bust) is recorded for Titus Caesar. All of these types are known from unique specimens, except for the AVG in oak wreath type with just two specimens cited by the A&C, the present coin being the second one listed. In all, only five no mintmark specimens for the entire issue are recorded in the A&C - with this latest addition four of them now reside in my collection. Ted Buttrey wrote in the RIC II Addenda the following concerning the no mintmark issue: 'I’m not terribly happy about this. It’s a convenient way to draw together several pieces which lack the mintmark, placing them after the completion of the ΘΙ and ΘΥ Groups 3-5 and the inception of Group 6 with ΕΡΗ —. But why should they have given up on a mintmark in mid-course, when all of Groups 2-9 are marked? The choices are – (i) mintmark on coins worn away; (ii) engraver forgot to add mintmark to the dies; (iii) issue deliberately produced without mintmark. Assuming (iii) for the moment, the new Group takes the place of fnn. 46-47, pp.162-3, and fits here nicely with V’s title for Groups 5-6, and T’s for Group 6, But I have no fixed opinion, and await the appearance of others of this variety.' I lean towards iii being the likeliest option - if accidental, why do we not see no mintmark specimens throughout the series? Why are they only dated COS III? IMHO, the likeliest explanation is that the no mintmark denarii were deliberately struck, albeit rather briefly (perhaps only for a few days), prior to or just after the COS III ΘΥ issue and before the much larger EPH issue was struck. At any rate, I was absolutely thrilled to acquire this fantastically rare denarius with its intriguing mystery! Please post your mysterious coins! Thanks for looking!

A unique no mint mark Titus Caesar denarius struck at Ephesus. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] AR Denarius, 2.78g Ephesus mint, 71 AD Obv: IMPERATOR T CAESAR AVGVSTI F; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: PACI ORB TERR AVG; Turreted and draped female bust, r., no mint mark RIC 1426(5A)4. BMC -. RSC -. RPC -. BNC -. Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection. This coin should have the EPHE mint mark on the lower left of the reverse, however it is clearly not there. This is the second coin from the series I have seen which has no mint mark. It has been added to the Flavian RIC II Addenda with the rarity raring of R3 (unique).

Quite timely that the ANS just posted this video.

Fantastic write-up VK! I agree with AncientJoe, the video game graphics are magnificent! Here is my Flavian Pharos. Domitian Æ Hemidrachm, 12.15g Alexandria mint, 92-93 AD Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΘƐΟ(Υ) ΥΙΟϹ ΔΟΜΙΤ ϹƐΒ ΓƐΡΜ; Head of Domitian, laureate, l. Rev: LΙΒ; Pharos RPC 2677 (0 spec.). Emmett 273f.12. Dattari-Savio 6784. Ex CNG eAuction 484, 27 January 2021, lot 559.

I'm assuming his coinage was still in active circulation during the Flavian era before it was recalled and then subsequently recoined by Titus. Perhaps not a household name today, but maybe he was in a Roman household of the late first century?

Hershey is the boss. Need I say more?

Take your pick! LOL https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1192

Another neat coin added to my sub collecting niche of Flavian Restoration coinage. Best of all, it was pretty cheap! Drusus, Restored by Titus Æ As, 9.40g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N; Head of Drusus, bare, l. Rev: IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG REST; S C in centre RIC 437 var. BMC 286 var. BNC 298 var. Acquired from Aegean, May 2022. Titus struck an extensive restoration series of bronze coins of Flavian approved past emperors and imperial family members which reproduced the original coins in their entirety. While this veneration of past coinages was not a new idea (Vespasian copied past types on many reverses for the precious metal issues) it was quite an innovation to copy both the obverse and reverse of these past coinages. To do so likely had a dual purpose - one, to recoin types that were being recalled or falling out of circulation and to keep their memory alive, and secondly to link the Flavian house with those past revered personages. The meaning is quite clear on the reverse with Titus declaring he has restored (REST) this coin. Drusus was the son of the emperor Tiberius. This coin faithfully reproduces a similar type struck for him under his father. Have a Drusus? I'd love to see it! Thanks for looking!

Hershey approves of this thread! On another note, are you able to post the content of your lighthouse coin thread here? I did a similar one a year or so ago, but yours is magnificent. Nice to see you here!

I'm here too! It's been a busy week, but I promise I'll be posting content soon!