Valentinian

I won a Roman Republican coin at the recent Noonans auction. I wonder why thy packed it as they did. Here is the packing for one denarius: Coin heat-sealed in a large plastic flip-like holder inside folded-over sheets of double-thick corrugated cardboard inside a bubble wrap envelope inside inside a slightly larger bubblewrap envelope inside a larger heavy-duty bubblewrap envelope Why do you suppose they packed it with so many layers? By the way, here is the coin: Q. Fabius Maximus (restored under Sulla), Denarius, c. 82-80, laureate head of Apollo right, ROMA behind, lyre before, Q MAX below truncation, rev. cornucopia over thunderbolt within wreath, 3.90g. Craw. 371/1; RSC Fabia 6.

@Prieure de Sion, I went to your linked images and hunted around a bit. Your page of coins of Commodus: https://yothr.me/cri/ has many excellent examples and each is linked to a page with extensive commentary. There is also a remarkable page with Roman provincial coins of Commodus: https://yothr.me/crp/ If any reader cares about Commodus, I recommend visiting those pages. One of my largest coins is a Roman provincial coin of Commodus. 40-38 mm. 27.36 grams. Commodus, 177-192. Cilicia, Aegeae. Struck CY 234 =AD 187/8 Countermark of Victory on each side, Howgego 258 "no later than 218" and only on coins of Aegeae. The reverse has a diademed head of Asklepios right, with [weak] serpent in front RPC IV.3 online 9754 [temporary] (2 pieces)

If you want to see Byzantine coins with this type of detail, I cataloged a collection of them and put them on-line here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ByzCross/Cross-above-head.html Here is my favorite--a really outstanding example: Justin I. Antioch. Sear 100.30 mm. 17.98 grams. 6:00.Bold cross above head.Officina Δ.Higher than usual relief on the portrait.

On March 11 I posted a tiny posthumous Alexander the Great and noted that it was remarkably well-centered. https://www.numisforums.com/topic/3745-a-well-centered-tiny-posthumous-alexander-the-great
/ Here is an even smaller coin that is also well-centered. 5.6 mm. 0.22 grams. Tiny! (I am enjoying my electronic digital caliper, useful for getting that last tenth of a mm: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Caliper-Adoric-Calipers-Measuring/dp/B07DFFYCXS/ ) Cilicia, Soloi. c. 425-400 BC. Helmeted head of Athena left Bunch of grapes. A bunch of grapes is the usual type on coins of Soloi from staters on down to this tiny coin, perhaps of tetartemorion (1/4 obol). BMC Cilicia, Soli [sic] 24, also 0.22 grams. Sear Greek -- but the design of 5605 which is heavier. Klein --. 675 is the same design but 0.82 grams--an obol. SNG Kayhan --. Rosen --. SNG Danish VI Cilicia, Soloi --, but 227 and 227 have the same design at 0.76 grams and 0.33 grams. SNG von Aulock III 5861 is 0.32 grams and the same diameter. There are far more tiny Greek silver fractions on the market than there were 30 years ago. They were hardly studied by scholars until the 1990s (and not much since then) and not much collected, either. Now the internet has made it much easier to sell coins--especially those without much value. I think there are more tiny fractions on offer today (this particular day) than there were, total, in 20 years of ancient-coin sale catalogs from the 1970s and 1980s. They are not big chunks of silver like tetradrachms that could impress your friends, but I have no local friends who would care anyway. It is the community of on-line ancient-coin-collecting friends that might care. I hope the hugely magnified photo does not inhibit you from grasping just how tiny this coin is.

@Qcumbor, every one of those has an expressive portrait that looks like it could be a photographic image of a real person. Excellent!

That first Quintillus is wonderful. It has a great portrait.

Here are some coins of Trajan (AD 98-117) that have turned green. The first two are sestertii. The next one is an as. I love a nice green patina.

The half-follis is from Antioch under the name "Theopolis". There are examples of mintmarks of Antioch here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/Justinian.html

I have one that is 2/3 nice and 1/3 flat: 33 mm. 19.35 grams. Sear 378. DOC (143) [The parentheses mean it was not in DO at the time. Also, officina B not listed there] MIBEC Justin II, 55b. (several are cited, including officinae A, B, and Γ).

Everyone has heard of Alexander the Great. His large tetradrachms and smaller drachms are very common, although many—maybe even most—are actually not his, rather struck posthumously with his basic type. He died in 323 BC and many of “Alexander the Great” coins are dated later. I got this one for several reasons. It is an obol, which is an uncommon denomination for his coins. Among those obols, it is an uncommon type. Finally, it was remarkably well-centered for such a tiny coin—the whole head is on the flan. Even with this enlargement the head is centered just right. 8 mm. 0.48 grams. Usually called an obol. Price calls it 1/30 tetradrachm. Philip II (Alexander’s father) issued a coin denomination that scholars think was 1/5 of a stater (i.e. 1/5 tetradrachm) and that this tiny denomination was 1/6 of that (like an obol is to a drachm), making this a 1/30 tetradrachm. Obverse: The usual Alexander the Great design: Head of young Hercules right, wearing lion-skin headdress. Reverse: Monogram in wreath, club, and bowcase. (Not the usual Zeus seated left holding out an eagle) Price 3729, Babylon mint, “316-111” “dated to the time of Antigonus’ rule in Mesopotamia.” Show us something related!

Most ancient busts are found with the noses broken off and you can see in the OP that the busts have the noses restored. "Restored" means completely reconstructed in modern times to fit what the modern people think it should be like. Coins play a role because coins are attributed firmly and they have portraits with noses in profile. So, if scholars decide a bust is of Agrippina II (perhaps from the hairstyle, or perhaps because she is famous and an attribution to her would be more interesting than "First century noble woman") they can tell the restorer to add a nose that looks like the nose of Agrippina II seen on coins, making the bust look even more like Agrippina II than it did when it was found. I don't have a Roman imperial coin of Agrippina II to show, but I have this: Nero and Agrippina II, tetradrachm from Antioch. 24-22 mm. 14.17 grams. Struck 56/57. Prier Nero 74. RPC 4175. I hope someone will show us an imperial Roman coin with a bust of Agrippina II.

Yes, but if shipping was 25 GBP, then not so good. I encourage all of us who mention prices to include all fees including shipping.

Donna, that is a beautiful coin and outstanding post. Thank you for composing and posting it. If we consider Roman provincial coins we can add in bulls and the panthers of Dionysos. Gordian III, 238-244. Tarsos mint. Large. 36-34 mm. 28.82 grams. SNG France 2, Cilicia 1671. Biga of bulls. Severus Alexander. 222-235. 27 mm. 14.48 grams. Mint of Seleucia ad Calycadnum, Cilicia. Dionysos in biga of panthers. Reference not found for Severus Alexander, but the reverse of SNG France 2, Cilicia, 979 (for Septimius Severus). SNG Levante --, Supplement 1 --, SNG Danish --, BMC --, Weber --, McClean --, L&K --, obverse similar to Lindgren II 897 with a different reverse type, Righetti Swiss II --, SNG von Aulock -- (Reverse type of 5830 for Caracalla, and 5826 for Septimius Severus and Julia Domna). SNG on-line --. Possibly unique. Here is one more provincial coin with the ever-fascinating snake-biga. Commodus, 177-192. 26 mm. 7.69 grams. Cyzicus mint. Female with two torches in a snake biga. SNG Righetti 668 has this reverse with a young beardless Commodus. BMC --, SNG Danish --. SNG von Aulock. SNG on-line -- (IV.2 has Commodus at Cycicus, but none with this reverse). Possibly unique. You can buy a Roman provincial coin just because you like the type and find out later it is really rare. In ancient coins, rarity is less important than in, say, US coins, but it is still pleasing to find out a coin you own is of a very rare type.

Here is a coin with the Roman emperor Septimius Severus (193-211) on one side and his client king, Abgar VIII (179-214) of the Kingdom of Osrhoene (basically, the city of Edessa near the upper Euphrates) on the other. 24 mm. 6.9 grams. Mint of Edessa. Bust of Septimius Severus right CEOVHPO ATOVAP(?) [blundered legends are common] Severus Autokrater? Bust of Abgar VIII right in cap BACIΛЄΩC ABΓAΡOC ["Abgar" begins at 1:00] BMC Mesopotamia, Edessa 14.

Agreed! That is a beauty with a portrait that looks like it could be realistic. Nice coin!

Yes. My first thought was Vespasian was deified and riding up to Roman heaven like we see on later CONSECRATIO coins and that the "year 2" was of Titus. But, no. It is year 2 of Vespasian. There are other tetradrachms of Roman Syria with eagles and portraits. This one has Trajan above an eagle and on the reverse Melqarth with lion-skin around his neck. It is dated to year 15 (110/111). 24 mm. Head of Trajan, club and eagle below AYTOKP KAIC NEP TRAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ΔAK Autokrater Caesar Nerva Traianus Sebasta [Augustus] Germanicus Dacicus Bust of Melqarth right, lion-skin around neck ΔHMAPX EΞ IE YΠAT E Tribune's power 15, Consul 5 Tyre mint. Struck year 15 = 110/111. We'd like to see more portraits with eagles, if anyone has one to show.

This might be a bit misleading. It is true, but does not help decide who is on the coin. Under the First Tetrarchy all mints issued coins for all the tetrarchs. You can see many examples at this page: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/bymint.html where GENIO POPVLI ROMANI folles are classified by mint. It is missing many images, but it illustrates all four for most mints. This list of all rulers from all mints makes it clear: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/GPRtypes.html Under the First Tetrarchy, the ruler controlling a mint has nothing to do with who is on its coins. This changed when Maxentius and Constantine became rulers and the some of the other rulers didn't feel obligated to mint for them.

Here is my site on telling tetrarchal emperors apart: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/distinguishing.html Coins with these legends are discussed.

Coins with portraits on both sides are unusual. Here is one with two of the twelve Caesars that I got recently: It has heads of both Vespasian and Titus.It is a large Syrian tetradrachm, 24-23 mm and 14.67 grams. AYTOKRAT KAIΣA OVEΣΠAΣIANOV (Of Autokrater [imperator] Caesar Vespasian) Bust of Vespasian left over eagle with wings spread T ΦΛAVI OVEΣΠ KAIΣ ETOVΣ NEOY IEPOY (Titus Flavius Vespasian Caesar Year New Holy [2]) Head of Titus right, lituus behindIt is from year 2 of Vespasian, 69/70 AD as indicated by the B with a bar above it in front of the neck of Titus.McAlee 331. Prier 109. RPC II 1944. Show a coin with heads on both sides!

Some of those are really outstanding. I'm tempted to tell which ones I like the most and why, but I won't. I don't want anyone else to decide they agree with me and bid me up the next time another one becomes available!

I find it interesting that there are so many collectors who have the time to be on-line at the last minute for so many coins. Now there are more coins auctioned in a week than collectors saw in a year of getting paper catalogs in the mail in the 1980s and 1990s (I don't think I am exaggerating). Just about any type of ancient coins you want, from very expensive to very inexpensive, gets bids at the end. I know some are submitted near the end automatically, but the "going, going, another bid" sequence happens amazingly often. I think that ancient-coin collecting is more popular than it was decades ago because it is so much easier to find coins to want and buy. Back in the day when paper reigned, few catalogs told the stores that make coins desirable. On paper, stories take up precious space, so the coins were listed (sometimes without images) and you were expected to know (in advance) what you wanted. But on the internet space is almost free and if a coin has a good story, the story can be told and coins you knew nothing about (in advance) can be made interesting. Years ago we had books and read them to find stories that make coins interesting. We kept those coins in mind and waited for them to appear (and we hoped others didn't know they were interesting so they wouldn't bid them up). Now, many NF members show coins and tell the stories that make them interesting. You get more information from NF than old-timers got from a library of many books. Some collectors are retired and could sit at the computer and bid in the last seconds whenever they wanted to. But, how many of us want to do that with our time for many auctions? Quite a few, apparently!

Wow! That is a great group. I have one Maximian that I love: I think of London as usually having crude portraits, but his one has character.

The Roman emperor Diocletian reformed the coinage c. 294 during the First Tetrarchy and introduced the denomination we call a follis (but ancients apparently called in a nummus) with the reverse legend GENIO POPVLI ROMANI with Genius standing left holding a patera and cornucopia. This type is large (c. 28mm) and common, which makes it relatively inexpensive and very collectable. Art historians note that individually has largely gone out of the portraits of the period, but if you like the tetrarchal period and pay close attention to coin portraits, you can find coins with portraits that look like the features of an individual, not just a generic emperor, have been conveyed. Constantius I, Caesar 293-305 and Augustus 305-306. 26-25 mm. 8.20 grams. CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right GENIO POPVLI ROMANI AQΓ in exergue RIC VI Aquileia 26a. Struck "c. 297-298." I love all the portraits of tetrarchs--even those that are generic. Here is my website about the portraits from various mints: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/bymint.html If you want to see them arranged by emperor, the top of that page has the link. Show us a portrait on a GENIO POPVLI ROMANI coin!

Matching coins of any Roman emperor and his wife make a nice pair. Severina was the wife of Aurelian (270-275). Most coins of theirs are radiate. However, both has asses issued in their names. I have had the Severina as below for a long time and recently picked up this reasonably well-matched Aurelian. The mini-set is complete. Aurelian. 25-24 mm. 5.91 grams.. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Laureate and cuirassed bust right. CONCORDIA AVG Aurelian and Severina clasping hands, between the a radiate bust of Sol right. Δ in exergue. RIC Aurelian 80. Sear III 11646. Severina. 26-23 mm. SEVERINA AVG Diademed and draped bust right. IVNO REGINA Juno standing left holding patera and scepter, small peacock at left. Γ in exergue. RIC Severina 7. Sear III 11711. Show us a pair of coins that complement each other!

If it were mine, I would leave it as is. It looks old and I love the color. Would it be better if very skillfully cleaned? I doubt it.