Valentinian

Yes, we should distinguish between an "ancient-coin collector" and an "ancient coin-collector," although some of us are both. Salonina at Roman Alexandria. 23 mm. 10.70 grams. Year 14 (266/7), Fortuna/Tyche standing left with rudder, cornucopia, and palm branch behind. (Gallienus's last year is LIE, year 15) KOPNΗΛIA CAΛWNEINA CEB [Cornelia Salonina Seb[atsa]] From Baldwin's in London, Jan. 16, 1996.

I just saw this ad for a new RIC volume on the Gallic Empire: NEW BOOK: ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE V.4 GALLIC EMPIRE Spink has published a new volume in the Roman Imperial Coinage series, covering the Gallic Empire from AD 260-274. -Editor Roman Imperial Coinage Volume V.4: The Gallic Empire by Jerome Mairat Regular price £150.00 276 x 219mm, 404 pages The Roman Imperial Coinage (abbreviated RIC) is a typological catalogue of Roman Imperial coins from the Battle of Actium in 31 BC to Late Antiquity in 491 AD. It aims to offer a complete and chronological reconstruction of the whole coinage produced by each of the Roman emperors. The series was started in 1923, and has become the standard work for numismatic reference. It was previously comprised of 10 volumes in 13 parts, some of which are currently being revised and will be divided differently. This brand new volume, published to celebrate the centenary of the series, covers the Gallic Empire from AD 260-274. Jerome Mairat is the Curator of Roman Coins at the Ashmolean Museum and Lecturer in Roman Numismatics at the Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford. He holds the positions of Director for RPC Online and General Editor for the Roman Provincial Coinage series, having authored several volumes. His research is primarily focused on the third century coinage, both imperial and provincial. For more information, or to order, see: Roman Imperial Coinage Volume V.4: The Gallic Empire by Jerome Mairat (https://spinkbooks.com/products/roman-imperial-coinage-volume-v-4-the-gallic-empire-by-jerome-mairat)

They get two for one. One, the eliminate lots of bots. Two, they help train self-driving cars.

Thank you for all the responses. It wasn't Naumann. and I don't want to suggest misdeeds of the firm, but I still wonder why it happens.

I have seen a coin for sale in a major auction that is listed as having previously sold in an auction by the same firm only 9 months before. If it were listed as "unsold" I can see them trying again. But, it was listed as sold with a PR. I don't know if it is relevant, but the PR the second time was much less than the listed PR the first time. So, how is it that a coin can be is offered again so soon after its previous offering?

@panzerman, is that coin yours?

Here are some coins of Magnus Maximus. The first four are AE4s. 15-13 mm. 1.19 grams. VICTORIA AVG RIC IX Lugdunum 34 "R" Bought privately in 1989 14 mm. 1.35 grams. VO/TIS/V RIC IX Arelate 28 "R" (the only mint for the type, so very rare) Bought in London at the Cumberland Coin Fair in 1996 15-014 mm. 1.53 grams SPES ROMANORVM RIC IX Aquileia 55a2 "S" Bought in London at the Charing Cross Market in 1986 15 mm. 1.84 grams. VOT/V/MVLT/X RI IX Lugdunum 35 "R3" Bought privately in 2015 AE2. 23 mm. 3.93 grams. VICTORIA AVGG RIC IX Lugdunum 83 "S" Bought from Roman Lode in 2013. For an AE type set list for Magnus Maximus, see here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/MagnusMaximus.html

This is one of the rarest AE types of Valentinian II, an AE3 with a common design, Victory advancing left, but a very unusual legend: FELICITAS ROMANORVM. 23-23 mm. 5.53 grams. RIC IX Aquileia 16a "R5". Not in Sear Volume V. Unlike some RIC IX types, this one has not become more common in recent years.

When I bought this denarius in 2013 it was is nearly black, and still is, just like the photo. It toned all the way. Nevertheless, it is attractive. Faustina Jr., struck under Antoninus Pius at Rome, 148-152. 18-17 mm. 3.23 grams VENVS Sear II 4708. RIC 517a. BMC 1075. in 2013

For over twenty years I have had a web page for beginners "Ancient Roman and Greek coins, Answers to frequently asked questions, FAQ": http://augustuscoins.com/ed/numis/index.html Today I revised the first page so that the top shows two famous Greek coins and then three important Roman emperors. I hope I have made it more attractive to anyone who is sent to that page.

A medallion of Gratian. 28 mm. 8.69 grams. VRBS ROMA Roma seated left holding Victory on globe and a scepter RIC 22c of Rome. ex Coin Galleries (Stack's), Feb. 15, 1995, lot 1874.

Long ago when I was a beginner, long before the internet could tell us how common or uncommon coin types were, I got interested in Byzantine copper coins and had the impression XXX pieces were unusual and special. I am still stuck with that first impression. The type has become much more common and recent examples are selling for about what I paid for my first one in 1977. The recent examples seem to me to be a great bargain. They seem to me to be worth more than they cost.

These could be considered duplicates, but were not accidental. I love the denomination and the patinas are enough different to consider the coins different and the more recent ones are better overall. Four coins of the Byzantine emperor Tiberius II, 578-582. Sear 432. 30-nummia minted at Constantinople. The type is large at about 33 mm which makes it easy to see and appreciate. 33 mm. 11.73 grams. Coppery. Bought in 1977. Green patina with light cover. 34-32 mm. 12.46 grams. Bought in 2020. 33-32 mm. 11.44 grams. Good facial details. Bought in 2022. 33.7 mm. 12.76 grams. Wonderful orange cover. Bought in 2023. Maybe I have enough examples of that type. But, if one with good details and a much-different surface came along at a good price, I'd consider it!

I can see the wrinkles, but surely we don't think the rectangular pattern is natural? Maybe something like a quilt or leather blanket to take the power out an arrow or spear? Delbrück, in Warfare in Antiquity, has a short chapter on elephants which says, "According to these works [all ancient testimony] the elephant is not at all invulnerable but even has a rather sensitive hide, and even if spears and arrows do not kill him outright, they still penetrate so deeply that they remain imbedded in his body, and the pain makes the animals uncontrollable and causes them to shy away." A web site on world history, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/876/elephants-in-greek--roman-warfare/ "Elephants in Greek and Roman Warfare" says: Armour & Battlefield Strategies Elephants were dressed for battle in armour which protected their heads and sometimes front. A thick sacking or leather cover could also be hung over the elephant's back to protect its sides. Sword blades or iron points were added to the tusks and bells hung from the body to create as much noise as possible. Early use of elephants in battle by Alexander's successors involved only a rider (mahout) and perhaps a spearman. The rider was crucial as he had trained the animal for years and it would obey only his commands. He controlled the direction the elephant took by applying pressure behinds the animal's ears with his toes. He also had an ankush or hooked stick for this purpose. Here is an elephant on an as issued for Rome's 900th anniversary under Antoninus Pius (138-161): Struck 148 = TRP XII at Rome 26 mm. 10.96 grams. MVNIFICENTIA AVG elephant right (I think, not a war elephant and not armored) COS IIII SC Sear II 4308. RIC 862. BMC 1840

L. C. MEMIES L. F. GAL 17 mm. 3.91 grams. Crawford 349/1. 87 BC. Sear I 262 Bought in 2008 from Rudnik L. RUBRIUS DOSSENVS 18-16 mm. 3.90 grams. Crawford 348/1. 87 BC. Sear I 258 "The types of this moneyer appear to express hopes of victory against Marius and his faction." CNG e-sale in 2020

We wish we could! That's a wonderful acquisition at a great price.

I think the cross-hatching is armor. If the elephant is in a parade, armor would be unnecessary, but if intended to be a war-elephant it would have some armor, wouldn't it? A Seleucid elephant quadriga, Drachm. 17 mm. 4.16 grams. Hoover 9.32, page 13. Sear Greek 6836. Too worn to tell if had armor.

True. However, they did describe Elagabal's behavior which might, as Ken wrote, make for "a bi-sexual cross dresser." I'm not sure the term "transgender" even existed fifty or twenty years ago. Certainly, it was not publicly discussed until recently and would not have made it into reference sources. Now "transgender" is often associated with taking hormones and even undergoing surgery and Elagabalus did not have access to those treatments. Of course, we will never know more than the ancient scandal-sheets say, but "he" was born a male and it was not possible in Roman times for a "he" to become a "she" in the same way it is now. So, "she, empress, or transgender" do not apply in the sense they are used in 2023.

Sorry. I missed it. I searched on "Elagabal" to see if the topic was already posted. Apparently a NF search on "Elababal" does not find "Elagabalus". I just checked again and that is so. Next time I search I will try a search both with and without the "us". New readers of this thread should go to that other thread.

The BBC has a article headlined, "Museum reclassifies Roman emperor as trans woman" https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67484645 All along history books have told us Elagabalus behaved that way, but older books did not use that term. Elababalus, 218-222. Denarius. 19 mm. 2.84 grams. SACRED DEI SOLIS ELAGAB "Priest(ess?) of the Sun-god Elagabalus"

It has been in the news that men think about ancient Rome. (Not just numismatists--lots of men). Even the New York Times had an article on it. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/15/style/roman-empire-men-tiktok-instagram.html?searchResultPosition=3 So SNL did a spoof on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2nWlXlcO5I It is really funny!

For many years I was glad most collectors felt that way--leaving the field more open for me! I got RIC IX which is about the period after 364 AD (and, later, when it was published, RIC X) and made lists of types and emperors. I collected the AE types and learned which were scarcer for which rulers. Eventually, I turned my notes into a large website: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/ with about 100 pages of information about the types. Now, because the field is not popular and because inexpensive coins are cheaper than ever, it would be a great theme to begin collecting on a budget, especially at European auctions which may have very many examples available beginning at low prices (5 euros, or even 1 euro). I admit many coin types are immediately more interesting and attractive than post-364-AD AE Roman coins. But, study them for a while and you might find them very interesting after all. Theodosius 23 mm. 6:00. 5.43 grams. GLORIA ROMANORVM. Emperor in galley (the ship of state) left, Victory at the helm. Struck 378-388. CONA, wreath in field left. RIC Constantinople 52c3. Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius and common for all three.

I have been interested in the coins relating to wars between Rome and Persia for many years. Finally I wrote a website about the coins which I announced earlier this year: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Persian/Persia.html Caracalla has Roman imperial types from 217 recording his victories in his Persian war (some are on that web site). He was assassinated in 217 while traveling from Edessa to Carrhae in Mesopotamia. Here is a small provincial coin of Caracalla, often attributed to Carrhae, but now known to be from Edessa. 19.6 mm. 3.65 grams. Caracalla bust right, laureate Turreted Tyche of the city right. There are many minor legend variants. This one seems to be (From 1:00) approximately M AVR ANTONINIANA AVC AV and (from 12:00) COL MET ANTONINIANA AV Edessa was a colony (COL) and Metropolis (MET) and took the name of Caracalla (ANTONIN...) . In the 2016 Numismatic Chronicle Dandrow proves it it really of Edessa and not Carrhae as previously repeated uncritically since the type was originally (mis)identified in 1828. Until this year it would have been harder to find a coin of this type. It is provincial and small and examples are often crowded, illegible, and unattractive. Those factors make it not worth much so dealers have little incentive to buy and sell them. But, the internet has made inexpensive coins much easier to sell, which has made worthwhile for some dealers to sell them, which has caused many low-value coins (previously extant in vast numbers, but held off the market as worth too little to offer) to come to market. There have been many of this type on the market this year. This one is now on my web page. Again, the page is http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Persian/Persia.html Show us coins from Mesopotamia or imperial coins associated with Rome's wars with Persia.

If you want to learn more about Byzantine coins, I have a web site with several pages about them: "Introduction to Byzantine Coins" https://augustuscoins.com/ed/Byz/index.html It even has an example of the OP coin type on the page about reading Byzantine-coin legends: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Byz/legends.html#SB1853

Me too.