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Constantivs

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Posts posted by Constantivs

    A Big Chunky Domitian Sestertius

    in Roman Empire

    Posted

    this worn sestertius of Domitian is very chunky at 30.75g

     

     image.png.a1d60699d0e2994bc4e9b0ea1ec32795.png

     Domitian, 81 - 96 AD
    AE Sestertius, Rome Mint, 35mm, 30.75 grams
    Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GER M COS XIII CENS PER P P, Laureate head of Domitian right.
    Reverse: IOVI VICTORI S C, Jupiter seated left holding Victory and scepter.
    RIC526

    • Like 6

    Probus coins for sale

    in Roman Empire

    Posted

    On 7/7/2023 at 6:03 AM, Barnaba6 said:
    I have added my last remaining Probus coins for sale on ebay today. Please have a look at my final listings of 140 Probus coins:
     
     
    This is all what is left of my 2,000 coins Probus collection, excluding 32 Probus coins which I have consigned to Roma Numismatics and which will be hammered by Roma Numismatics in early September.   

    I know that it has obviously taken many years to acquire such a large, diverse and amazing collection of Probus coins. I am also quite sure it has also taken a lot of work and time to move your vast collection on to new collectors (to say the least).

    I hope when this is all said and done you can write a post here explaining the whole process, what you've learned along the way and any advice for someone in the same position down the line. I am sure it would be a very interesting read.

    Best of luck with your remaining sales. I will be putting in a few bids on eBay.

     

    • Like 6
    • Yes 2

    Would you buy this coin for this price?

    in Roman Empire

    Posted

    2 hours ago, kirispupis said:

    I noticed this coin when it appeared and remarked how cheap it is for an aureus.

    I would not buy it for the following reasons:

    • Although I'm no expert in this coinage, from a quick look the weight seems a bit low. Most others I see are around 7.5g vs 6.98g for this one. For this amount of money, that would make me suspicious enough to do a good amount of research to try to uncover some provenance.
    • I'm not familiar with the seller and from a look at their coins they don't seem to specialize in ancients. Do they have the knowledge therefore to guarantee this type of coin?
    • While I'm usually fine with a certain amount of wear, gold coins typically are well-preserved. I did spend this much once on a very worn coin, but it was also exceedingly rare. I would therefore have difficulties spending so much on a very poor copy of a relatively common coin.

    IMHO the price is correct on it, but this coin will require the right kind of buyer, and that buyer is not me.

    But you'll jump right in..

    • Like 1
    • Confused 2

    Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

    in Roman Empire

    Posted · Edited by Constantivs

    On 3/18/2023 at 10:21 PM, dougsmit said:

    I don't get here every day and am sorry I missed some people.  Those who like CIIG should watch for the one with obverse DIVO CLAVDIO GOTHICO but I hope the one you find has the right side clear unlike mine.  The T is there under that split, really it is. 

    rq2173fd3276hd.jpg.4cc2bdce9b2e06bce498bfbdaf976deb.jpg

     

    Aurelian straightened out some bad actors in the mint after he took over.  Coins of Quintillian often show that Aurelian was right in killing a few mint workers.  I looked at quite a few Q coins before finding one I liked and could afford. ex. Frank Robinson 2012

    rq2195bb3012.jpg.4203c3fd604547ec8f1960351f9d6938.jpg

     

    I recently acquired this coin .. the "Gothico" is quite good considering....

    image.png.1701171673d5e661fd9e160442cf27cf.png

    • Like 9

    Constantius II

    in Roman Empire

    Posted

    image.png.b4e0439ab96061840a5ce9a6017be96d.png

    Obv: CONSTANTIVS P F AVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantius II. Rev: VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN - Two victories, facing each other, each holding wreath and palm; Leaf between, TRS in ex

     

    • Like 13

    Ancient fun with ChatGPT

    in General

    Posted · Edited by Constantivs

    5 hours ago, AncientJoe said:

    It is very fun to use, although for historical knowledge, it can be dangerously convincing sounding yet woefully incorrect:

    IMG-20221217-WA0000.jpg.03a92361deaa9c7e47bb97cd020363eb.jpg

    Absolutely- however to dismiss this new AI breakthrough would be folly. This isn’t Google or Wikipedia…You’re using it completely wrong.

    Ask it to be creative - and then challenge its creativity with different parameters - It’s a bit scary… and at a level not seen before.

    My wife works for a new home builder. We asked it to write a welcoming one page letter to the new home buyers - we included the company name in the 8 word question. The response was better than many marketing companies could provide. Then said “do the same and apologize for the delay”… instant letter worded spectacularly in 10 seconds.

     

    Ancient fun with ChatGPT

    in General

    Posted

    What is ChatGPT? from Wikipedia: ChatGPT is a prototype artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI which specializes in dialogue. The chatbot is a large language model fine-tuned with both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques. 

    This AI chatbot is free for the moment... although you must register.

    It can be found here and is very powerful and interesting. https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/

    For fun and to learn a little about the capabilities of ChatGPT I picked a coin from within my collection and asked a few questions about it. You can refine your questions as you go to try to get more detailed answers.

    Here is the coin..

    image.png.947243ea8bc23997e63090d68303291a.png

    Question #1: describe the roman republican silver denarius coin of M.Sergius Silus

    ChatGPT: The Roman Republican silver denarius coin of M. Sergius Silus is a historical artifact that dates back to the Roman Republic period (509-27 BCE). It is made of silver and bears the image of M. Sergius Silus, who was a prominent Roman politician and military leader during this time. The coin was likely used as a form of currency, as denarii were the primary form of currency in the Roman Republic. The coin may also have served as a symbol of the wealth and power of M. Sergius Silus, as it would have been a valuable possession at the time. The coin is significant as it provides insight into the economic and political climate of the Roman Republic, as well as the lives of individuals like M. Sergius Silus.

    To save some verbiage I asked a few more questions about this specific coin but the answers were either incorrect or lacking. So this is certainly not a replacement for any of our reference books or even a good replacement for a Google search. 

    So what is it good at? Invention.

    Question: write a two paragraph story that would depict a typical battle that M. Sergius Silus may have been part of

    ChatGPT: 

    M. Sergius Silus stood at the front of his legion, his armor glinting in the early morning sun. They were about to face a fierce enemy army, and he knew the stakes were high. He raised his sword and gave a fierce battle cry, signaling to his men to charge.

    The two armies clashed with a ferocity that shook the earth. The sound of clashing swords and shields filled the air as the soldiers fought with all their might. M. Sergius Silus expertly wielded his sword, cutting down enemy soldiers left and right. Despite the odds, he and his men fought with a determination that eventually led them to victory. When the dust settled, M. Sergius Silus stood tall, triumphant and proud of his men's bravery in the face of danger

    Question: now in a battle with the Gauls in the snow near the Alps

    ChatGPT: 

    M. Sergius Silus and his men stood shivering in the icy cold, their breath visible in the frigid air. They were preparing to face the Gauls in a battle near the Alps, and the harsh winter conditions made it even more challenging. M. Sergius Silus tightened his grip on his sword, determined to lead his men to victory.

    The Gauls charged towards them with fierce determination, their own weapons glinting in the snowy landscape. M. Sergius Silus and his men fought bravely, their muscles straining as they swung their swords and shields against the enemy. Despite the slippery conditions and the numbing cold, they fought with all their might. In the end, their training and discipline proved to be the key to their victory. M. Sergius Silus emerged victorious once again, proud of his men's bravery in the face of such adversity.

    Question: now in the Shakespearean style

    ChatGPT: Oh! Mighty M. Sergius Silus, esteemed leader of the Roman legion, stood resplendent in his armor, ready to face the Gauls in a battle near the snowy Alps. The icy winds howled and the ground was slick beneath their feet, but he and his brave men were undaunted."To battle!" cried M. Sergius Silus, raising his sword aloft. The Gauls came at them with a fierce determination, their weapons flashing in the cold light. But M. Sergius Silus and his men were no strangers to combat, and they fought with all the strength and skill at their command. The clash of swords echoed through the snowy landscape as the two armies battled with great ferocity.In the end, M. Sergius Silus emerged victorious, his men following in his wake. He stood tall and proud, his chest heaving with the effort of the fight. "Hail, M. Sergius Silus!" his men cried. "Hail to the conqueror!" And so, with the Gauls defeated and the victory won, M. Sergius Silus and his men returned home, their hearts filled with pride and the knowledge that they had fought bravely in the face of great adversity.

    Question: same story but a massive snow storm suddenly appears and Silus curses the gods and threatens to overthrow the republic

    ChatGPT: M. Sergius Silus stood at the front of his legion, his armor glinting in the early morning sun. They were about to face a fierce enemy army, and he knew the stakes were high. He raised his sword and gave a fierce battle cry, signaling to his men to charge.But just as they were about to engage in combat, a massive snow storm appeared out of nowhere. The winds howled and the snow fell in thick sheets, making it nearly impossible to see. M. Sergius Silus cursed the gods, his anger and frustration boiling over. "Why have you forsaken us?" he shouted. "I swear, if we do not emerge victorious, I will overthrow the republic!" Despite the treacherous conditions, M. Sergius Silus and his men fought on, their determination and training carrying them through the storm. The sound of clashing swords and shields filled the air as they battled against the enemy, their muscles straining in the icy cold. In the end, their bravery and determination led them to victory, and M. Sergius Silus emerged triumphant, his anger towards the gods temporarily quelled.

    ----

    I am impressed with the speed of the responses and the responses themselves. Obviously I am just playing around here but I think this AI will certainly have its impact as it develops. It could crank out that 1000 word essay any high schooler is looking for in under a minute.. lol.

    Question: write a 3 paragraph expression of goodwill for Saturnalia to the members of Numis Forums

    ChatGPT: 

    Greetings to all the members of Numis Forums! As the holiday of Saturnalia approaches, I wanted to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to each and every one of you.

    It has been a pleasure to be a part of this community and to learn from all of your collective expertise and knowledge. I am grateful for the opportunity to engage with such a diverse and passionate group of individuals, and I hope that this holiday season brings you all joy and happiness.

    May the celebrations of Saturnalia bring you laughter, feasting, and time spent with loved ones. May the new year bring prosperity and success to all of us. Here's to a bright and promising future for Numis Forums!

     
    --I suggest having some fun with it... 
    • Like 5
    • Smile 1
    • Smile 2
    • Mind blown 1

    What’s wrong with Commodus - show me your coins please

    in Roman Empire

    Posted

     

    I like this sestertius for a few reasons - one is the "BRIT" in the legend.. 

    image.png.c95bd3eb0a4bece4b45424192f814ff1.png

    COMMODUS AUGUSTUS AE sestertius. 184–185 AD. M COMMODVS ANTO—N AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate head of Commodus right. Reverse - VOTA SVSCEP DECEN P M TR P X IMP VII COS IIII P P, emperor, veiled and togate, sacrificing left from patera over tripod, S—C across field. 33mm, 24.4g.

     

    The 'Vota suscepta decennalia' was celebrated every ten years, regardless of how long the current emperor had been in power.

    • Like 16

    Six coins lost in the mail this year

    in General

    Posted · Edited by Constantivs

    1 hour ago, robinjojo said:

    Interesting.

    Who do you use or request for shipping?  I've heard some bad things about Fedex and have had some shipments arrive in pretty bad shape.  Recently a Fedex delivery was left on my driveway (a cheap flashlight) despite my written instructions next to the mail slot not to do so, and the package was stolen, a real problem around here.

    Now, with the is recent experience with the USPS, I am planning on using them as little as possible.

    It almost seems, these days, to be a game of roulette.

    I am a low end collector and most of my purchases are under $150...   regular mail - cheaper the better. I have never had a coin disappear. Takes awhile but they arrive safe and sound.

    With DHL I always get a phone call or text: "want the delivery? eTransfer $30 or its not coming".. even though I've paid premium shipping already to the seller.

    Its not customs or anything - its a ransom fee.  Screw DHL - avoid at all costs.

    PROOF:

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/dhl-class-action-hidden-fees-1.5987195

     

    • Like 3
    • Shock 1
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