Ryro

Next: Concordia

One of the many treats of collecting ancients is that you may get a coin for one reason and then fall down a rabbit hole, that turns into a well, and then a hole in some old man's sock, that then transforms into luge you slip down that makes you love your new coin for a completely different reason. Take this holy coin I bought primarily on account of the erosion. It doesn't have any signs that it was caused by BD. Was the flan struck with air bubbles? What caused it? CILICIA, Tarsus. Trajan Decius. AD 249-251. Æ (34mm, 21.7 g, 6h). Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; П П across field / Fisherman (Dictys or King Polydectes?) standing right, holding long pole from which is suspended a basket over shoulder, facing Perseus standing left, holding head of Medusa and harpa. SNG France 1759-60 (same dies); SNG Levante -. Near VF, brown surfaces. But that's not even why I'm writing on this coin. I'm writing about the weird and wild reverse. I need to pause to give a big shot out here to my bro-zie @ambr0zie who nailed the identity of this rarely seen coin in about one minute with his amazing eye for provincial mints and their artistic styles. I initially thought Perseus harpa was Zeus holding a thunderbolt🥸 A little bit about Perseus: Though, Zeus was his father. A simple fisherman Dictys and his wife helped raise and take care of Perseus and his mother when they landed on Seriphos. After leaving home Perseus and mom, Danae, "sailed" to Seriphos in a chest: (Perseus, look out for that bird that's shitting directly above you!) Dictys raised Perseus just as if he was his own son. Despite not getting the hot sexin from Danae. Dictys brother, King Polydectes, on the other hand wanted that hot loving from Danae in a BAAAAD way. (Hot mom alert!) But Perseus was always getting in the way. Leaving the king practically no other option than to send Perseus to the impossible and surely fatal task of retrieving the severed head of the gorgon, Medusa. Yadda, yadda, things you already know... With help from Athena, and using his shield as a mirror, so as not to look into the frosty the stone-man making eyes of the once beautiful wretch, Perseus does exactly what he is tasked. More on that old story here, Pontos. Amisos c 85-65 BC. Bronze Æ, 30mm., 18,18g. Helmeted head of Athena right, helmet decorated with griffin / AMIΣOY Perseus standing holding harpa and head of Medusa, at feet, body of Medusa, monograms to both sides.VF Sea 1166-76 Takes the head back to turn King Polydectes and pals to stone. (And look at those shiny sneakers, eh) Philip V (221-179 BC). Tetradrachm. Uncertain Macedonian mint. Obv: Head of Perseus left, wearing winged helmet surmounted by griffin's head; harpa in background; all in the centre of Macedonian shield. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ. Club right between legend in two lines; all within wreath right. SNG München 1125; HGC 3.1, 1056. Condition: Fine. Weight: 16.91 g. Diameter: 30 mm. Purchased from Numismatik Naumann November 2021 Perseus then gives the kingdom to dad, Dictys. And alls well that ends in multiple murders and severed body parts. So then, back to the coin's reverse. Not one description that I found ventures a guess as to whom Perseus is facing, they just say fisherman. I have to assume it's daddy Dictys. But why show the head of snakes on the brain Medusa to him? Or is he holding the head low to avoid getting dad stoned? Could the king have been a fisherman like his brother and is Perseusstoning the king? If so, I can't find any other image if Polydectes as a fisherman. A recap of our conundrum; Who is the fisherman? Why show dad Medusa's head?? And why couldn't Sir Mixalot lie about liking big butts??? Thanks for sticking with me and please share your coins of Perseus, eroded/holy ancients, Medusa, thoughts and our anything else adding to the discussion.

Excellent write up and coins. Talk about a stealthy and intelligent woman. Not an easy family to stay alive in. And she thrived... until she didn't. Here she is telling Nero to stop fiddling with his stylus and to stand up straight: PHRYGIA, Apamea. Agrippina II and Nero. (54-68). Ae. Obv : ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΙΝΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ. Draped bust of Agrippina and bareheaded and cuirassed bust of Nero facing one another. Rev : ΕΠΙ ΜΑΡΙΟΥ ΚΟΡΔΟΥ ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΦΡΥΓΙΑΣ ΑΠΑΜΕΙΣ. Eagle standing on wreath, left, head right, with wings spread. RPC I online 3136; BMC 143-145. Condition : Very fine. Weight : 9.3 gr Diameter : 25 mm

Link: Claudius Koinon of Macedon. Claudius. A.D. 41-54. Æ. 9.43 gm. 23 mm. Beroea mint. His bare head left; TI KΛΑYΔΙΟC KAICAP / Macedonian shield; MAKEΔΟΝΩΝ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ. RPC I 1612. SNG Copenhagen 1334. Varbanov 3005. Very Fine; pleasing dark green patina. Purchased from Savoca May 2021 The Koinon of the Macedonians was a confederation of Macedonian cities under a central government or king (or, under Roman rule, the Roman emperor). Rooted in the Hellenistic period, this central administration handled diplomatic issues both between member city-states and with foreign bodies. Coins issued in the name of the 'Macedonians' first appear during the reigns of Philip V and Perseus, and continued to appear under Roman rule. The Romans reorganized the Koinon around the imperial cult and put members of the local elite in charge. They organized and financed festivals and games, and were awarded Roman citizenship in return. The iconography of the Koinon issues (Alexander the Great, the Macedonian shield, and so on) reflect a powerful ethnic and civic identity that, as it was no longer a threat to Roman control, was allowed to flourish. (Howgego, Christopher; Heuchert, Volker; Burnett, Andrew, Coinage and Identity in the Roman Provinces. 2005.)

Next: another non horse drawn vehicle

Here mom is searching for her: Maximus (Caesar, 235/6-238). PHRYGIA. Bruzus. Ae. 5.94 g. 24 mm. Obv: Γ IOY OYH MAΞIMOC K. Bareheaded and cuirassed bust right. Rev: ΒΡΟVΖΗΝΩΝ. Demeter, holding torch in each hand, in biga right drawn by winged serpents searching for daughter Persephone. RPC 5626; SNG von Aulock 3526. Very fine. From the Tareq Hani collection. Purchased from Savoca April 2023 Next: a non horse drawn biga

CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS, Pantikapaion. Circa 310-304/3 BC. Æ (11mm, 1.40g, 12h). Beardless head of satyr right / Bow in bowcase. Anokhin 1025; MacDonald 72; HGC 4, 135. Good VF, Next: satyr

Here's Ace. My wife picked out the costume to make him a fighter Ace for Halloween:

Excellent coin of Alexander turning Bucephalusfrom the sun! And your portrait of Alexander under Lysimachos is stunning! Good Zeus above, most of my coins are consolations. Lately I couldn't get a winning bid on a coin if it was offered in my own living room! Though, sometimes we can "console" ourselves beyond the initial injury. I was very bummed to lose out on a rare coin that I was very interested in and had my old friend Bes marked as merely a snack/ travel companion after the fact. Though, I now think I prefer him and got his nymph and him for a song compared to what lesser examples have been going for: CILICIA. Uncertain. Circa 400-350 BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.58 g, 1 h). Female head facing, turned slightly to left, wearing earrings, necklace and flowing hair. Rev. Facing head of Bes. Göktürk 44. SNG Levante 233. SNG France 486. Fine metal and attractive on both sides. Very fine.

One of my all time favorite ancient monsters, the Ketos monster! CARIA, Halikarnassos (reassigned from Kindya) 499-497 BCE AR hektai, 1.78 gm, 11 mm, Milesian standard Obv: head of ketos right Rev: geometric pattern within incuse square Ref: Konuk Next: more mythological creatures

Coingrats on your first RR of the new year! I do love the type. The beautiful portrait of Venus contrasted with the tough looking Mars looking ready for a fight is perfect. Here's mine;

That it is fake.

ROMAN REPUBLIC. Anonymous. AE Aes Grave Triens (47mm, 92.37 gms), Rome Mint, ca. 225-217 B.C. VERY FINE. Cr-35/3a; TV-53. Obverse: Helmeted head of Minerva left; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk; Reverse: Prow right; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk. A pleasing specimen despite its crudeness, with charming green surfaces. Next: coin from one of the wars against Carthage *Roman or Cartheginian

Welcome to NF. Usually folks make their first post posting coins of theirs or introducing themselves. But you are really passionate about this other brand new posters suspicious coin. But I do have to correct you. This isn't a "rare type", as you stated. It's a type that doesn't exist. Anyways, I hope you'll post coins of you're own and let us know about you in some other threads.

No issues. Being distilled means it's neutral. Neither base nor acid.

Way to nab a Homer! Here's mine: Ionia, Smyrna. Circa 125-115 BC. Æ 20mm (21mm, 8.27g). Phanokrates, magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo right / The poet Homer seated left, holding scroll. Milne, Autonomous 194a; SNG Copenhagen. Former Kairos Numismatik

Dang it! They are faking fourées now!? I'd heard of this, but this is the first point blank clear cut modern fourée forgery that I recall.

6 Next: Artemis/ Diana

Please stop spamming us with your fake coin. Please stop spamming us with your fake coin. You ask for evaluation and then give us your own... You ask for evaluation and then give us your own... See I can do everything twice too.

Coingrats on a very nice Julius Caesar portrait from Macedon! Here's mine: Augustus with Divus Julius Caesar (27 BC-14 AD) MACEDON. Thessalonica. Obv: ΘEOΣ. Wreathed head of Julius Caesar right; uncertain c/m on neck. Rev: ΘEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN. Bare head of Augustus right; Δ below. RPC I 1554. Fine. 12.3 g.21 mm. Former: Numismatik Naumann The D has been interpreted as either a denomination mark (four assaria) or, more likely, a date - year four of the Actian era (28/7 BC). The ligate NK monogram has been generally accepted as a reference to Nero (Nerwn Kaisar). This is problematic considering that Thessalonica had abundant coinages issued under Claudius and Nero, such that countermarking these quite older coins would be unlikely. Touratsoglou (p. 105) follows Kraay's suggestion that the NK is an abbreviation for Nike (NiKh), and was applied to the coins during celebrations of the city's 50th anniversary of its grant of liberty by the Romans. All but two of the known specimens of this countermark occur on the coins of this first issue of Thessalonica, and the wear on the countermarks is nearly identical to that of the coins, suggesting that the countermarks could not have been applied very long after the coins entered circulation. And everyone's favorite Julius Caesar...L.F. (Larry Flynt) Julius Caesar: And more of the other one:

Lovely coin! The CM sure looks like an astragalos to me. But it could be the lighting.

I'm inclined to think it's an error. Though, the early style year split is an intriguing idea. Hopefully we can find a obverse die match to answer the question. Here's my busted, LI, Poppaea with a particularly grumpy looking Nero:

Here's my coin of the Order of orderlys 😉. Didn't they try to wipe out the Templars? Knights of St. John of Malta (Hospitalers). Alois de Wignacourt, 1601-1622 AD. Æ 3 Piccioli. 3 with legend around / Arms. RS.49v. VF, green patina

Next: coin type outside of your normal area that another member got you interested in

next: more barbarous imitations