Ryro

Next: Venus

Whoever placed the countermark on JC's neck had a sense of humor:

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

Correct. It's Hades abduction of Persephone. 

Caria, Iasos

250-190 BCE

AE 17 mm, 5.78 gm

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right (looking remarkably like the remarkable Ryro)

Rev: Hermias swimming with dolphin

Ref: SNG Tubingen 3397; Klein 520. Saturnalia 2021 gift from @TIF

Next: Great head of hair

Next: another one of Zeus's siblings

I purchased this coin in December of 2017 to celebrate the soon to be birth of my twins. It was my first "big auction house" experience.  The day I came home, after the boys were born, it was waiting for me in the mail. And just like my two bouncing babies, it was even smaller than I'd expected. 

THRACIAN ISLANDS. Thasos. Ca. 463-411 BC. AR 1/16 stater or obol (0.49 gm). VF. Two dolphins swimming in opposite directions; pellets around / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 9. SNG Copenhagen 1020-1. Purchased from Heritage Dec 2017

Here they are with their big brother six years later on Christmas:

Please share any coins that you bought/ were given that marks a special event to you. 

Next: attractive LRB

13 hours ago, Roman Collector said:

That's cool, whatever it is!! The only thing Hectorish (Hectoresque? Hectorian? Hectoral?) I have in my collection is this this provincial of Faustina II (of course!):

 

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 24.5 mm, 8.60 g, 7 h.
Troas, Ilium, issue 4, c. 164-166 CE.
Obv: ΦΑVϹΤΙΝΑ ϹΕΒΑϹΤ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΕΚΤΩΡ ΙΛΙΕΩΝ, helmeted Hector advancing right, holding fire brand and shield.
Refs: RPC IV.2, 98 (temporary); SNG Munich 247; von Fritze Ilion 72.

This reverse type alludes to the events described in the Iliad XVI.112-124 (translation by Lattimore):
 

Tell me now, you Muses who have your homes on Olympos, how fire was first thrown upon the ships of the Achaians.

Hektor stood up close to Aias and hacked at the ash spear with his great sword, striking behind the socket of the spearhead, and slashed it clean away, so that Telamonian Aias shook there in his hand a lopped spear, while far away from him the bronze spearhead fell echoing to the ground; and Aias knew in his blameless heart, and shivered for knowing it, how this was gods' work, how Zeus high-thundering cut across the intention in all his battle, how he planned that the Trojans should conquer. He drew away out of the missiles, and the Trojans threw weariless fire on the fast ship, and suddenly the quenchless flame streamed over it.

Thanks and very cool Hektor in action! Mine is only his head looking pensive. 

Troas, Ophrynion

Æ13. Circa 350-300 BC. Bearded, three-quarter facing head of Hektor, turned slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet / OΦΡΥ, the infant Dionysos kneeling right, holding grape cluster in right hand. SNG Copenhagen 456ff; BMC 4-7; SNG von Aulock 1559; Laffa

Next: thunderbolt

I purchased this fun little fella a while ago thinking it to probably be my favorite hero from the Trojan War and son of king Priam, Hektor, primarily due to the silly hat:

Antiquities Bronze, 13.01g 32mm

I can only assume it's a votive offering to the gods. But without any other examples and not being able to find anything online, I just added it to my antiquities and moved on. 

But recently I've been seeing a bunch of them showing up in auctions. With descriptions as Spartan as mine I still don't have any clues as to who is supposed to be.

Here are two more that are in upcoming auctions with no descriptions other than size and weight:

I'd love to hear your thoughts on who this is, see your votive offerings or anything related. 

You have some "up dog" on your shirt. 

What's "up dog"?

Not much. What's up with you, dog?

Next: serrated Denarius 

I too have noticed more Marius coins in the market the last few years. Though, I don't think you over paid by much. He is still not common and has a great story. 

Sadly, Laelianus is VERY rare and often faked.

Here's my Marius:

Marius. Antoninianus. 269 AD. Trier. (Ric-V 2.7 Ticinum). Anv.: IMP C MARIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right. Rev.: CONCORDIA MILITVM, clasped hands. Ae. 2,75 g. Almost VF/VF. Purchased from Tauler & Fau 

Weight, diameter, and any reason that is making you question it?

Happy Women's day, ladies! Down with the patriarchy, and up with women's rights!

Here are a few of my favorite coins of Roman women:

Here is my coin and two nicer example, plus a great gif with my crab scuttling away from @Sulla80, were you can see the degradation:

Creperius, Rocus
Denarius. 68 BC. Uncertain mint. (Ffc-657). (Craw-399-1b). (Cal-522). Obv: Bust of the back of the Sea Goddess to the right, C to the right, to the left crab. Rev .: Neptune with trident, in biga pulled by hippocampi to the right, below Q CREPER M (F) / ROCVS. Ag. 3.61 g. Usually struck off center. Very scarce. VF.
Ex: Tauler & Fau

I always love reading your research and reasoning. I also really like little bronze coins!

MSCs have a bunch of fun, bite sized, "quarter units" that are usually between 9-13 mm.

This first one was a beast to find and is my most recent:

Thanks for all the positive replies and AMAZING coins you all have shared. I'll keep the fun going with some of my older obols or old-bos. 

I'll start with some nudity and gambling on an ancient coin (which frankly is how all ancient posts and threads should start):

CILICIA, Tarsos. Circa 370 BC. AR Obol. Female kneeling left, casting astragaloi / Youthful male head right.
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 0,4 gr
Diameter: 10 mm
Purchased from NBS Aug 2021

Mysia. Kyzikos, 480 BC. Obol AR 11mm., 0,71g. Forepart of boar left , E (retrograde) on shoulder, with tall mane and dotted truncation, dotted line on shoulder, to right, tunny upward / Head of roaring lion left with bristling mane, outstretched tongue, and dotted truncation, all within incuse square.

Ex Silicua Subastas

THEBES, Boeotia AR Obol, 371-338 BCE, Boeotian shield with club across end /Young Herakles head r, BMC. 169-170, somewhat off-ctr, dark patination worn off in center of shield; ex BCD with his meticulous detailed tag (bought from Baldwin's 1976). Rare Ex: Frank Robinson 

Lycaonia. Laranda 324-323 BC. Obol AR 10mm., 0,67g.Baaltars seated left, holding grain ear, grape bunch, and sceptre / Forepart of wolf right; inverted crescent above; all within circular border of pellets.nearly very fine Göktürk 82; SNG BN 443 (Cilicia); SNG Levante 223 (Cilicia). 

Here is what may be my favorite obol of all time (sorry if you have seen it 2,000 times:

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. 

Though not the most detailed examples, here you can see that the  hawk nosed, squinty faced apple, Julia Titi, didn't fall far from the Titus tree:

6+

Next: A coin that you bought for the portrait

Great write up on a new must read for my list! Thanks so much for sharing. Hopefully I can find a better translation.

As for the man (God) of the hour:

SYRIA, Seleukis and Pieria. Apameia. Dated year Delta 0T left (year 304). = 49-48 BC. Litra. Head of Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath, “ME” monogram in left field. / Thyrsos; date to inner left. RPC I 4347. 21 mm, 7,96 g good very fine. scarce

GENS CASSIA. Denarius. (Ar. 19mm, 3.6 g). 78 BC Rome. Anv: Head of Libero Bacchus on the right crowned with lyres, behind Tyrso. Rev: Liberea's diadem head on left, behind legend: L CASSI Q F. F.

Here he and half brother are throwing down. This coin is often mistakenly identified as two wrestlers, despite both of their favorite weapons beings displayed next to them:

Elagabalus. 218-222 AD. AE (20mm, 7.1 g). Laodicea ad Mare. Obv: IMP C M [AVR ANTO]NINOV Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed right. Rx: LADI - CEON around, in exergue ΔE, Herakles and Dionysus, both nude, grappling with one another like wrestlers; Herakles, on left, has a muscular body and is bearded, and his club is shown behind him in left field; Dionysus, on right, has long hair gathered in a knot and falling down behind his neck, and his thyrsus with knobbed ends is shown diagonally behind his left calf.

And lastly, a coin I got not for baby Dionysos but for the portrait of the doomed hero is Troy, Hektor:

Troas, Ophrynion

Æ13. Circa 350-300 BC. Bearded, three-quarter facing head of Hektor, turned slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet / OΦΡΥ, the infant Dionysos kneeling right, holding grape cluster in right hand. SNG Copenhagen 456ff; BMC 4-7; SNG von Aulock 1559; Laffa

On 2/26/2024 at 2:56 AM, seth77 said:

Were they drug dealers?

Yep. I call bullshit. Nobody, especially a dealer... led alone two dealers, told this guy that was Cleopatra VII. I don't know why he would lie about it on a forum filled with ancient coin collectors, but it's weird. 

Also, he didn't even show appreciation for the pro helping him identify his shwaggy coins. He just said how disappointed he was. Good parenting shows.

Snacking pun intended, as some ancients would hide their small variety coins in their mouths! Pray to Zeus nobody gets the hiccups. 

I like it when auction houses don't give full and or proper attributions. It gives me a chance to learn more about the type, and steal up some rarities😉

Though off center, on both sides, and missing the top of a really wild Zeus hairdo, I really like the Herakles portrait:

CILICIA. Uncertain mint, probably Tarsos. Circa 370-334 BC. Obol (Silver, 11.58 mm, 0.57 g, 9 h). Obv. Bearded head of Zeus to left, wearing laurel wreath . Rev. Head of youthful Herakles to left, wearing lion skin headdress. SNG Levante 198. SNG von Aulock 5429 (this coin). Off centered. Very rare. Purchased from "Young Collectors 2" Astarte March 2024

While the facing Herakles is cartoonish, off center and has two test cuts, the eagle (Stymphalia bird?) on the deer is epic:

Greece, Asia Minor, Cilicia, Tarsos, Obol, (12MM, 0.57 gr)

Obverse: bust of facing Herakles 

Reverse: eagle standing left, on the head of a deer with large antlers

Obverse has two cuts and is off-centered. Toned. Good VF. Purchased from "Young Collectors 2" Astarte March 2024

Another very rare coin and one that no one else wanted!? I am guessing nobody noticed the janiform head:

CILICIA, Mallos. Circa 440-390 BC. AR Obol (8mm, 0.82 g, 11h). Bearded janiform head / Swan standing left; lotus to left, monogram to right. Gökturk 30; SNG France –; SNG Levante 134. Good fine, toned, porosity. Very rare. Purchased from "Young Collectors 2" Astarte March 2024

The only coin so far that isn't very rare is a mystery to me. How/why does this gorgon have Farah Fawcett hair??

I know some of these have clear Gorgons but I wonder if this isn't Helios? Also, next to the astragalos is this an unknown symbol, just a die break or something else?

PISIDIA, Selge. Circa 250-190 BC. AR Obol (9.68mm, 0.87 g, 1h). Facing gorgoneion / Helmeted head of Athena right; astragalos to left, unknown symbol, possible die break. SNG BN 1948–54 var. (symbol); SNG Ashmolean 1546–50. Purchased from "Young Collectors 2" Astarte March 2024

And then my main mark...

that I acquired for this auction was to replace the CSC (Celtic Shield Coin) I'd gifted Spainish coin aficionado and pal @bcuda. At just under 30mm she a bit big for an Obol:

Augustus, Hispania, Uncertain mint.. 27 B.C.-A.D. 14 Æ as (29.38 mm, 13.01 g). 'Moneta castrensis'. Mint in northewestern Spain, Probably struck before 23 B.C. [IMP] AVG DIVI F, bare head left; palm branch before, winged caduceus behind / Round shield with four linear outer panels and round central boss. ACIP 3301; RPC 3. RPC I 4; SNG Copenhagen 414. About VF. Purchased from "Young Collectors 2" Astarte March 2024

"The 'Moneta castrensis' coinage, lacking any sort of ethnic or magistrate, is impossible to place with certainty. Most examples are found in northwestern Spain, and stylistically show some affinity to the Spanish issues of Carisius. The obverse legend places the coinage after 27 B.C., and the fact that the coins lack any indication of the tribunican power suggest a terminus post quem of 23 B.C. It is most likely that the 'moneta castrensis' coinage was struck to finance Rome's efforts during the Cantabrian Wars, which brought an end to Spanish self-determination and finalized the province's subjugation."

 Thanks for taking a look and please share your itty bitty Obols!

Next: more errors

T. Carisius. 

Circa 46 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.34 gm). Head of Juno right / T. CARISIVS above minting implements, all within wreath: wreathed cap of Vulcan, resembling reverse die, above moneyer’s anvil between tongs and hammer. Crawford 464/2; Sear, CRI 70; Carisia 1a. NVF, Purchased from Savoca Jan 2022

Next: Juno

PONTUS. Sebastpolis. Gallienus (253-268) Ae.

12.68 Gr. 31.2 mm

Next: more Herakles (bonus points if it's a labor)

16 minutes ago, MrZun said:

You visited his site? He is Brazilian and i live in Brazil, the prices are not the same of yours currency. Actually, the prices are the same as the ones i Saw at Vcoins

That's good to hear. I thought you were going to pay almost $600 for the cool but common Hadrian from Macedon. That's why I looked it up. But decided not to buy it when I saw that price. 

It's still available if you want it.