Ryro

I LOVED THIS!!! This should have been is own post! What an excellent coin and behind the scenes/getting to know Donna and very cool story about your Uncle Otto and first ancient! About the coin, at first I thought it was some kind of strange Poseidon/Zeus hybrid holding a trident and thunderbolt. But agree on the likelihood of it being an aphlaston/aplustre. Here's my busted Magnus: Sextus Pompeius. Denarius, Sicily circa 42-40, AR 19.6 mm, 3.19 g. MAG·PIVS·IMP·ITER Head of Cn. Pompeius Magnus r.; behind, jug and before, lituus. Rev. PRAEF Neptune standing l., r. foot on prow, holding aplustre; on either side one of the Catanaean brothers carrying his father on his shoulder. In exergue, CLAS·ET·ORæ / [MARIT·EX·S·C]. Syd. 1344. B. Pompeia 27. C 17. Cr. 511/3a. Very rare. Struck on large flan. F-VF Purchased from GN Damian Marciniak October 2021

Stunning example of a very fun type! Both the portrait and reverse are excellent. Here is my second rung, but still cute enough to take to the dance, of the type: Julia Domna (AD 193-217). AR denarius (20mm, 3.30 gm, 1h). VF, flan crack. Rome, AD 200-207. IVLIA-AVGVSTA, draped bust of Julia Domna right, seen from front, hair braided in waves and tucked in large chignon at back of head / SAECVLI F-ELICITAS, Isis, wearing peaked headdress, standing right, left foot on prow, holding the infant horus at her breast; to left, altar, against which rests a rudder. RIC IV.I (Septimius Severus) 577. Ex: Dr Elkowicz Jan 2021 "An issue of aurei, denarii and sesterces in the name of the Empress Julia Domna appears on the reverse Isis. The legend SAECVLI FELICITAS invites to consider this strike as the indication of a new era of prosperity thanks to the Severan family back from Egypt. Already attached to the Antonine dynasty by the will of Septimius Severus, Divi Marci filius since 194, it promises stability and order to the Empire."

Here is a strange little "shield coin" that has been sitting in my needs a correct identification pile for a few months now. I purchased from a trusted auction house, Olympus. They had it listed as a type that I can't find anywhere: CARIA. Hydisos. Ae (Circa 200-100 BC). AE Bronze (15.1mm 3.8g) Obv: YΔI / ΣEΩN head of zeus r. Rev: shield ...Only it is not a shield on the reverse at all (at least I don't think it is anymore)! After spending a couple of months trying to find the shield coin that this is listed as I realized that I should have looked at the picture closer. I was rolling the coin around in my hand looking at it when I realized that the top looks a lot like the Solar Disk crown that Isis sometimes wears! The photographer even has the coin situated correctly with the horns at the top. The only issue is that "Hathor's Crown" only has 2 bull horns on the sides of the disk. So my "revelation" kind of feels like I am back to square one as I have searched using the Greek lettering, Zeus, crown, Isis, etc. and came up with nothing. I'd been bugging a good coin buddy on what he thought it might be and he initially thought it could be Pseudo-autonomous from the Antonines or Severans, or a 3rd - 2nd century BC Greek. The closest in style that I've found are these Pseudo-autonomous coins from Pitane that do indeed have shields (with cool pentagram bosses). I have two of them: MYSIA. Pitane. Pseudo-autonomous. Time of Domitian (81-96). Ae. Obv: ΘЄA PΩMH. Turreted head of Roma right. Rev: ΠITANAIΩN. Pentagram within shield. RPC II -; RPC Supp. II 956B var. (obv. legend); SNG von Aulock 1431; SNG Copenhagen 539. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 2.03 g. Diameter: 17 mm. Purchased from Savoca Feb 2022 But I don't think they are related to my latest mystery. Any ideas on this ugly little mystery that I probably paid too much for thinking it was a rare shield coin are appreciated?

Good eye! I have removed Aemilian and put the correct coin.

Great thread idea RC! Here are a few leapers (1 that I haven't shown before): Pyrrhos ITALY. Calabria. Tarentum Didrachm or nomos (silver). Approx. 280 - 272 BC Chr. Obv: warrior on horseback with Macedonian shield w/star of Vergina boss and spear riding left; Zeta Omega in left field, magistrate's name between legs. Rev: Naked Taras with spindle and bunch of grapes, riding left on dolphin; in the field on the right ear of corn. 22mm 6.45g HN Italy 1013; Coll. Vlasto 800. Very nice. Purchased from Solidus March 2023 Kings of Numidia, Massinissa or Micipsa (203-148 BC or 148-118 BC). Æ(32,3mm, 11,8g). Laureate head l. R/ Horse galloping l.; pellet below. MAA 18a; Mazard 50; SNG Copenhagen 505. PHRYGIA, Kibyra. Circa 166-84 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 2.65 g, 11h). Helmeted head of male (Kibyras?) right / Horseman, holding couched spear and palm, riding right; O below. HGC 7, 706; SNG Ashmolean 996 var. (O below). VF Purchased from Savoca Feb2023

Cool new (slightly used) coin @kirispupis! Very interesting subject. One that most of us have pondered, but one that seems unknowable. Here is a very rare coin I have from Thurium. Might not be the oldest, but sure is pretty to look at: LUCANIA, Thurium as Copia (193-150 BCE) AE As. 9.40g, 22mm. Obv: Laureate head of Janus Rev: COPIA in right field; Cornucopia, caduceus and I (mark of value) in left field. HN Italy 1935. Very rare. cf. CNG E-Auction 374, 11.05.2016, lot 9 (hammer 260 USD); same dies as NAC Auction 84, 20.05.2015, lot 564 (hammer 2250 CHF) Very rare and in fine style. Purchased from AMCC3 July 2021

So many great coins! Excellent thread @ambr0zie!!! Decius has some very cool coins with excellent portraits. Here are a few of mine: Trajan Decius, AD 249-251. Struck between July-Dec, 250 AD. Silver Antoninianus (4.12 g) minted at Rome, AD 250. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius right. Reverse: Abundantia (Abundance) standing right, emptying her cornucopiae. RIC 10b, RSC 2. Meticulously detailed portrait. Ex El Iberico Collection. Saturnalia 2020 gift from @bcuda Here's a recent purchase that you identified! 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. Trajan Decius (249-251). Moesia Superior, Viminacium. Æ (28mm, 14.96g, 12h). Year 11 (244/5). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Moesia standing facing, head l.; bull and lion at sides. Boric-Breskovic 1090ff; AMNG 124. Green Patina And family Herennia Etruscilla- Roman Empress wife of Trajan Decius - Bronze 25mm (11.31 grams) Roman Colony of Viminacium, MOESIA SUPERIOR Reference: Moushmov 48, SNGCop 164, SGI 4220. -- HER ETRVSCILLA AVG, draped bust right on crescent moon P M S COL VIM, Moesia standing left between bull & lion, AN XII in ex. Former SAVOCA coin Hostilian MOESIA SUPERIOR. Viminacium (251). Ae. Obv: C VAL HOST M QVINTVS CAE. Draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: P M S COL VIM / AN XII. Moesia standing facing, head left, extending hands to bull and lion standing at feet to either side. Martin 4.01; AMNG 148ff And Herennius Etruscus Herennius Etruscus MOESIA,SUPERIOR, Viminacium. As Caesar, AD 249-251. Æ 26mm (11.81 g, 5h). Dated CY 12 (AD 250/1). Bare-headed and cuirassed bust right / Moesia standing facing, head left, hands placed above bull on left and lion on right; AN XII (date) in exergue. Jekov & Hristova 61; Mouchmov 50. VF for type, green patina, 250-251. nearly very fine Volusian CILICIA, Tarsus (?). 251-253 AD. Æ 33mm (21.1 g). Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Herakles and Antaeus: Herakles standing facing, head left, leaning right and wrestling Antaeus; he lifts Antaeus up into the air by the waist while Antaeus tries to break his grip. Unlisted in RPC/ACSearch/Wild Winds/ Very Fine. Purchased from NBS auction November 2021

Two receipts to avoid looking at these days: ancient coin purchases and basic food. I agree with much of your sentiment. Things are tough all over. 1- bargain auction houses appear to be drying up. B- I used to have so many "marks" and a few of their accompaning "snacks" on my watch list from multiple auction houses. Right now my list is almost all snacks from just a few houses and very few exciting coins on the horizon. 3- the few coins that I've been excited about the last couple of months have slipped through my fingers...or were ripped away. Bidding is fierce! Though, while I complain I was able to steal my most recent purchase for 100€ under what it sold for pre Covid: LAKONIA. Lakedaimon (Sparta). Circa 35-31 BC. Dupondius (Bronze, 25 mm, 5.68 g, 10 h), Timandros, ephor. [E TIMA]NΔPOC Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. Λ-A Artemis standing front, head to left, holding patera in her right hand and spear in her left; at feet to left, hunting dog standing left; in field to right, monogram; all within wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 912-913. Grunauer XIX, Series 2. Rare. Very fine. From an American collection and previously from an Australian collection, Leu Web Auction 10, 7-8 December 2019, 292.

AUREOLUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP POSTVMVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Postumus right REVERSE: VIRTVS EQVIT, Virtus advancing right, holding transverse spear and shield; T in ex. Struck at Mediolanum, 268 AD 3.17g, 19mm RIC V 388 Next: Britain

Phil the Arab has some fun coins. He even celebrated Rome's 1,000 year anniversary. I bought this fella cause I liked the little Mahout, and in hand the toning is a cool bonus as well: Philip I. (244-249 AD). AR Antoninianus, Roma (Rome), 247-249 AD. 3.56 Gr. 22mm. Radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind. Rev. Elephant guided by mahout with goad and wand, walking left

I've been hunting a Spartan coin for a few years. But for how ugly they are I just hadn't been willing to bid as high as others. For whatever reason this beauty caught my eye and I nabbed it up at today's Leu auction: LAKONIA. Lakedaimon (Sparta). Circa 35-31 BC. Dupondius (Bronze, 25 mm, 5.68 g, 10 h), Timandros, ephor. [E TIMA]NΔPOC Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. Λ-A Artemis standing front, head to left, holding patera in her right hand and spear in her left; at feet to left, hunting dog standing left; in field to right, monogram; all within wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 912-913. Grunauer XIX, Series 2. Rare. Very fine. From an American collection and previously from an Australian collection, Leu Web Auction 10, 7-8 December 2019, 292. As you may know, my coin isn't from Sparta's peak, cause Sparta didn't mint coins at their peak! Sparta deliberately used iron currency to make amassing wealth unwieldy, and remained on an iron currency standard all through Greece's golden age. So, if you want Spartan currency from their heyday you might be a bit disappointed: (Spartan $) And here is one of my Spartan medals from a few years back: So please share your Spartan coins, wins from Leu, thoughts or whatever dominate Athens!

next: fun hairstyle

Weight and size?

Antigonos Monophthalmus was a one eyed, hulking, beast of a man, who died when he was 81: Next: gorgon

Not intentionally (awkward). I just posted a place. so that I can avoid further embarrassment, what did I do wrong?

Sardes-->Sicily Sicily. Syracuse. Dionysos I (406-367 BC). AE Hemilitron. Obv. Head of Arethusa left, wearing necklace, hair bound in ampyx and sphendone; olive leaves behind. Rev. Dolphin swimming right; Σ Y P A and cockle shell below. CNS II 24/1-7; HGC 2 1480. AE. 2.58 g. 16.00 mm. Good VF. Purchased from Artemide Aste

Next: old man

Sorry to read. We were very proactive, but ended up getting it about a year and a half ago. First time in the history of men and women that she was more sick than I was. Just rest and take it easy. We'll all be here eagerly awaiting your sharing the new coins in good health.

Also a bunch of Seleucids. Look out that one bottom center has a bad case of bronze disease and should be removed from the others and placed in distilled water.

Next: bird that's not an eagle nor an owl

What a bummer. Sorry to read. Thanks so much for sharing the resources. I'm trying to see if mine is on there now. Here's mine, picked up from Savoca a bit ago that I believe to be crystallized (hopefully this means it's legit): Macedonia, Neapolis, Hemidrachm, 424-350 BC (14 mm, 1,80 gr) Obverse: facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue Reverse: head of the nymph of Neapolis to right, her hair coiled around her head and with a bun at the back, around Ν-Ε / Ο-Π. Purchased from Savoca June 2021

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

hopefully a winged serpent counts: Next: mythological creature

Next: countermark

Hey hey, excellent new coin! I do love the gorgoneion boss type. Here are just of few of the massive variety, not including any of the Seleucid Gorgons. I'll start with a double strike and end with a rarity minted at the Inn Of Pancakes *they weren't international back then: