Jeremy

Here are a few coins from my collection: A sestertius struck in 184 AD. References: RIC 405; Cohen 453; BMC 531. A denarius struck between 191 and 192 AD, showing the emperor as Herakles. References: Cohen 195; BMC 343 (these dies); RIC 253. An extremely rare provincial didrachm struck in Caesarea in Cappadocia between 180 and 182 AD. The club was a common reverse type in Roman provincial coinage in Cappadocia for hundreds of years, but it's especially interesting, IMO, when paired with this emperor's bust, given his association with Herakles. References: Metcalf 154b; Sear/GIC 2038; RPC IV.3, 8165 (temporary); G. Hirsch 208, 2158, pl. 21.

Nice group of coins! My favorites are the Tarsos stater, Neapolis hemidrachm and Gordian III bronze from Hadrianopolis. I hadn't seen an ostrich on an ancient coin before - an interesting type!

They're all exceptional - congrats on a successful year of collecting!

Thanks for sharing this. Excellent video. I went down the rabbit hole of looking at his YouTube channel, and there's a lot of great content there as well.

Beautiful coin and cleaning work!

Beautiful coins! Artistic portraits, perfectly centered and sharp legends - they check all the boxes!

I was drawn to this 3 assaria coin from Chios because it's big (30mm), the denomination is spelled out on the obverse, and though it was struck during the time of Trajan or Hadrian, the pseudo-autonymous issue has a very Greek feeling. On the obverse, a sphinx, the longtime symbol of Chios since the 6th century BC, holds it's paw over the prow of a ship. Chios was a prolific builder of ships. Five centuries before this coin was struck, Chios, as a member of the Delian league under Athenian hegemony, paid its dues with ships, where most members paid in the form of tribute. Before that, when the Asian Greeks revolted against the Persian empire, Chios provided 100 warships to the navy. Also contributing to my decision to buy it, I liked how the well-worn devices are framed by the dark patina. Islands off Ionia, Chios, Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Trajan to Hadrian, 3 assaria 98-138 AD Obverse: ΤΡΙΑ / ΑCCΑΡΙΑ; Sphinx seated right on plain exergual line, lifting right forepaw over prow of galley. Reverse: Χ-Ι/Ω-Ν; Apollo and Dionysos standing facing on either side of altar on plain exergual line. Apollo, on left, holding phiale in right hand and resting left hand on hip, and Dionysos, on right, pouring libation from kantharos in right hand. References: Mavrogordato 106; RPC III 1901 . 30mm; 14.80g

I enjoyed reading your page and seeing the before and after photos. Excellent results, IMO! You have a good eye for spotting high potential coins.

The easiest way I found to free a coin from a slab is to use a bench vise. Simply squeeze each edge in the vise until you hear a crack or pop. It should easily open, with no flying plastic.

They're beautiful places. The first was taken at a Cao Dai temple in Vietnam. The second is at a floating village in Ha Long bay, Vietnam. The third was taken in Bangkok, Thailand. Three resilient ladies from different places that I usually display together.

I'm digging everyone's art! Very impressive! I've dabbled with painting and found-object sculpture, but photography and jewelry making are the mediums that have held my attention the longest. Here are a few photographs I took while traveling in Thailand and Vietnam: And here's a silver pendant I made. It's fabricated from four sheets of sterling silver (not cast). I cut the turquoise as well.

The virtual collection is far superior, IMO. What are your thoughts on including provincial silver in a 12 caesars set?

Congrats on a nice pickup, @Qcumbor - it's a great portrait. Here's my example: Lydia, Thyateira, Nero, Æ 17mm 54-68 AD Obverse: NEΡΩN KΛAYΔIOC KAICAP ΓEP; Bareheaded bust of youthful Nero right. Reverse: ΘYATEIPHNΩN; Labrys. References: RPC I 2381; SNG von Aulock 4268; SNG Copenhagen 595; BMC 58. 17mm; 2.63g; 12h

Here's a tetradrachm from Alexandria with a nice depiction of Serapis: Egypt, Alexandria, Gallienus potin tetradrachm 253-268 AD Struck in RY 14 = 266/7 AD Obverse: AΥT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CЄB; Laureate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right. Reverse: L / I - Δ Draped bust of Serapis to right, wearing kalathos; to right, palm frond. References: Dattari (Savio) 5261 ; Emmett 3829.14; K&G 90.95. 23mm; 10.72g; 11h

Glad you like them! Thanks, I appreciate it!

It's fun to see some Lake Superior Agates here. People are quite agate crazy in my home state of Minnesota, where it's our state gemstone. I find them on gravel roads, in fields, rivers, even in bags of river rock at Menards. Mostly I just buy them these days, though. They're one of my favorite materials to cut and make jewelry with (my other hobby besides ancient coins). Here are a few LSA pieces I've made:

Here are a couple of Cappadocian silver coins from my collection: Cappadocia, Caesarea, Hadrian AR didrachm 117-138 AD Struck 128-138 AD Obverse: ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CEBACTOC; Laureate head right. Reverse: Rev.ΥΠΑΤΟC Γ ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤ; Club flanked by star and crescent. Cappadocia, Caesarea, Vespasian, AR hemidrachm 69-79 AD Obverse: AYTOKP KAICAP OYЄCΠACIANOC CЄBA; Laureate head of Vespasian right. Reverse: Victory seated right on globe with wreath in hands.

Interesting coin with a great portrait!

Nice coins! Here are a couple from my collection: Mysia, Pitane Æ 10mm Circa 4th-3rd century BC Obverse: Head of Zeus Ammon right. Reverse: Π - I; Pentagram, pellet at center. References: BMC 2-3 var. 10mm; 1.36g Mysia, Pitane Æ 16mm Circa 4th century BC Obverse: Head of Zeus Ammon right. Reverse: Pentagram. References: SNG Copenhagen 530-531?; BMC 5? 16mm; 3.70g

All are gorgeous coins with excellent style. It would be hard to choose a favorite!

Beautiful group of coins! It's crazy to think of imperial power being placed in the hands of teenagers.

Nice examples! I upgraded mine a few months ago: Pamphylia, Aspendos AR stater Circa 380-325 BC Obverse: Two wrestlers grappling; ΣK between. Reverse: EΣTFEΔIIYΣ; Slinger in throwing stance right; triskeles to right; all within pelleted square border; c/m: wolf running to right within rectangular incuse. References: Tekin Series 4; SNG BnF 107; for c/m, Tekin, Aspendos Sikkeleri, 28.

Beautiful cabinet!

The only rule that I've tried to set for myself is to not bid on coins in a live auction impromptu, just because I think it's a good deal or I get excited in the moment as I'm waiting for my watched lot to come up. I try to only bid if I've taken a close look at the large coin photo, read the description, and researched the price. Seems obvious, right? The typical result: subtle details I don't like that weren't evident in the small photos; my collecting focus was stretched through the addition of an 'extraneous' coin, or my budget that could have been spent on coins on my actual watch list was depleted. Boredom and impulsiveness are dangerous things 😄

I threw out some bids in the last NN auction and landed one coin - this nomos/stater of Metapontum (lot 15): There were a good number of Greek coins that I felt sold for low prices, while other categories attracted fierce bidding. Coins from Roman Egypt seemed attract a lot of attention (probably because of the Dattari provenance on some) and my bids on those all fell flat. Does anyone know what "From the collection of a Mentor" means? It seems ambiguous and I'd love to know if a more specific provenance can be gleaned from this statement.