Phil Anthos

Pan... Pantikapaion, Thrace 304-250 BC AE 20 (20mm, 5.81g) O: Head of Pan left, wreathed in ivy. R: Bow and arrow, ΠAN below. MacDonald 116.1; SNG Poland II; NM Warsaw 178-79 ex Forvm Auctions (Bartosz Awianowicz)

Infant... Taras, Calabria 240/35-212 BC AR Diobol (10mm, 0.74g) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Triton. R: Infant Herakles, nude, strangling a serpent with each hand; monogram to left, ΛE in exergue. D'Andrea XLV, 1664; D'Andrea Diobols I, 275; Vlasto 1460-61; HN Italy 1068; Cote 551; SNG ANS 1474-75; SNG France ---; McGill --- Very scarce ex Munzhandlung Ritter A scarce diobol showing the infant Herakles strangling the two serpents sent by Hera to kill him, it becomes even scarcer with Athena facing right. Vlasto has two specimens, both of which describe Her helmet as decorated with a 'sea horse' (hippocamp), but which is actually 'Triton'. The damage to this coin is unfortunate but did bring the price down without really affecting the devices, other than impairing Athena's otherwise full crest.

Antoninus Pius / Securitas 140-145 AD AE As (24mm, 10.66g) O: Laureate head right; ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III. R: Securitas standing left, holding long sceptre and leaning on column; SECVRITAS PVBLICA, S-C. RIC III, 828 / BMC 1765-66 ex Francis J. Rath

Some states have a sales tax. Here in Oregon we don't, which is very cool. ~ Peter

Livia... Koinon, Thessaly Pseudo-autonomous 41-54 AD (Time of Claudius) AE Assarion (17.5mm, 4.18g) Antigonos (Strategos) O: Draped bust of Livia right; ΘEΣΣ-AΛΩN around. R: Hekate advancing right, holding torch in each hand; monogram to right, ΣTPATHΓANTIΓON-OY around. RPC I, 1438; BCD Thessaly II, 928 ex Frank Kovacs; ex Mark Breitsprecher

Andre has always been pretty cool.

Syracuse, Timoleon and the Third Democracy 344-317 BC AE Litra (19mm, 5.34g) O: Laureate head of Apollo left, cornucopia behind. R: Pegasos flying left; pellet above. HGC 2,1486; CNS 85ff; Sear 1199v (under Agathokles) ex Lanz; ex Ken Dorney

This one may look abstract but it's really just ugly... Katane, Sicily after 217 BC (Roman rule) AE Hexas (16mm, 3.16g) O: Laureate head of Apollo right. R: Isis standing right, holding bird in right hand. SNG ANS 1278; SNG Cop 198; Sear 1074v Scarce ex Alex Malloy

Wow, the grain must've ben particularly moldy that year! Very interesting coin. ~ Peter

Tag, you're it... Messana (under the Mamertini) 288-278 BC AE Tetras (16mm, 2.93g) O: Laureate head of Ares right. R: Bull butting right; MAMEPTINΩN in ex., spear head below. HGC 2, 878; Calciati 8; Sarstrom 62; Mini' 11; Sear 1138v (bull left) Rare ex M&R Coins

Trajan / Mars 103-111 AD AR Denarius (18mm, 2.86g) O: Laureate and slightly draped bust right; IMP NERVA TRAIANVS AVG GER DACICVS. R: Mars advancing right, holding spear, trophy on shoulder; PM TR P COS V P P. RIC 80v Scarce ex M&R Coins From a previous comment by Curtis Clay; "A scarce type with these legends, and perhaps unpublished with this laureate and draped bust type."

I love Vcoins and the majority of my purchases are from there. But if I see a coin there that I want I will often check that dealer's site first. Sometimes the difference is only enough to cover postage, but what the hell. 😎 ~ Peter

Most dealers charge less on their own sites.

Taras, Calabria 470-465 BC AR Didrachm (18.5mm, 7.95g) O: Phalanthos riding dolphin left, arms outstretched; [ΤΑΡΑΣ] to right, scallop shell below. R: Head of nymph Satyra left, hair tied back in knot, within circular border; all within circular incuse. Scarce D'Andrea V, 82; Vlasto 150 (3rd Group); Fischer-Bossert 95, V49/R63 (Group 5); SNG France 1596-99; SNG ANS 843; HN Italy 838; HGC I, 756 Scarce ex Savoca Numismatics An interesting early, pre-equestrian didrachm featuring Satyra, mother of Taras.

Thurii, Lucania 300-280 BC AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.67g) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with Skylla hurling a stone. R: Bull butting right; ΘOYPIΩN and ΘE above, tunny fish in ex. SNG ANS 1081; HN Italy 1870; Sear 443v (inscription on exergual line) From the Frederick H. Rindge collection; ex Jack H. Beymer Next: horse rearing

Syracuse, Reign of Dionysius I 405-367 BC AE Hemilitron (18mm, 3.05g) O: Head of Arethusa (Artemis?) left, wearing ampyx and sphendone; laurel branch behind R: Dolphin jumping right over scallop shell; ΣYPA between. HGC 2, 1480; SNG ANS 417; Sear 1187 ex Forvm Auctions

Corinth, Corinthia 14-37 AD (Reign of Tiberius) AE Semis (14mm, 3.03g) O: Pegasus flying right. R: Melikertes naked, swimming with dolphin left, left hand holding dorsal fin. Amandry XVI63 ex Agora Auctions Melikertes was the mortal son of Ino who, while fleeing from her insane husband, flung herself and her son into the ocean from a high cliff near Megara. The two were immediately transformed into sea dieties, and Melikertes was brought ashore to Corinth by a dolphin. Melikertes became Palaimon the patron of sailors, and identified with the Roman god of harbors Portunus. Melikertes is sometimes depicted with a fish tail and has been associated with the Phoenician god Malquart. It is very easy to see an iconographic similarity between Melikertes and Arion of Corinth or Phalanthos of Taras.

Syracuse, Second Democracy 415-405 BC AE Hemilitron (16mm, 4.59g) O: Head of Arethusa left, hair in ampyx, wearing necklace and sphendone. R: Quadripartite incuse, eight-rayed star within incuse at center. HGC 2, 1481; Sear 1185; CNS II, 16; SNG ANS 398 ex Aegean Numismatics Arethusa was the Goddess of the local spring at Ortygia, the heart of Syracuse.

Enna, Sicily 450-440 BC AR Litra (13mm, 0.69g) O: Demeter driving slow biga right, holding grain ears (torch?). R: Demeter standing facing, holding lighted torch over altar to left; [HE]NNAI[ON] to right. HGC 2, 391; Sear 777 Very scarce ex Aegean Numismatics Enna, known in antiquity as ‘The Navel of Sicily’, was located in the geographic center of Sicily on a high plateau which served as a natural fortress. It is said that one could see all three Sicilian coasts from the city’s heights. Perhaps more important than its strategic location however was Enna’s religious significance, for it was here that Persephone was abducted by Hades and here that the cult of Her mother Demeter thrived. "In the interior [of Sicily] is Enna, where is the temple of Demeter, with only a few inhabitants; it is situated on a hill, and is wholly surrounded by broad plateaus that are tillable." ~ Strabo, Geography 6.2.6 Next: crown

Maroneia, Thrace 400-350 BC AE14 (13mm, 3.77g) O: Horse prancing right; NK monogram below. R: ΜΑΡ−ΩΝΙ−ΤΩΝ around linear square, vine with four bunches of grapes within; YE below. SNG Cop 632; Sear 1636; BMC Thrace 129,66 ex Forvm Auctions "The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and brings forth words which were better unspoken." ~ Homer (The Odyssey)

Hippocamp... Taras, Calabria 281-276 BC (Period VI - From Kleonymos to Pyrrhus) AR Didrachm (20x24mm, 7.23g, 9h) Nikottas Magistrate. O: Helmeted warrior dismounting horse galloping left, holding small round shield; [EY above], NIKΩTTAΣ (magistrate) below. R: Taras riding dolphin right, holding trident over left shoulder and hurling javelin with right hand; ΛY behind, TAPAΣ to right, small hippocamp right below. D'Andrea XLI, 987; Vlasto 699; Evans VI, Type E; HGC I, 817; HN Italy 968 Scarce ex London Ancient Coins

Herakles slacking off... Taras, Calabria 375/70-370-65 BC AR Diobol (11.5mm, 1.15g, 2h) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp. R: Naked Herakles seated half-left on dead lion left, holding cup in right hand and club in left. D'Andrea XXIV, 450 (this coin); D'Andrea Diobols D, 14d (this coin); Vlasto 1235 (this coin); SNG Cop 968 (same dies); HGC I, 829; HN Italy 910 Very Rare From the AG Collection. ex Michel Pandely Vlasto Collection; ex Vecchi 17; ex CNG Vlasto plate coin, #1235. D'Andrea plate coin, Series XXIV, 450. D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series D, Type 14.

Taras, Calabria 272-240/35 BC (Period VIII - The Roman Alliance I) AR Didrachm (18.5mm, 6.50g) Iopyros magistrate. O: Nude youth on horseback right, placing wreath on horse's head; ΦI behind, I-ΩΠ-YPO-[Σ] (magistrate) below. R: Taras riding dolphin left, holding cornucopiae and trident; bee behind, Τ-ΑΡΑΣ below. D'Andrea XLIV, 1371; cfVlasto 855; Evans VIII, B2; McGill II, 99; Cote 490-92; cf HGC I, 889; HN Italy 1029; SNG Cop 919; SNG Cop 919 ex Dr. Busso Peus; ex Germania Inferior Numismatics Evans calls the insect on this reverse a cicada, a very important symbol in ancient times (see J.C.B Petropolous’ marvelous work ‘Heat and Lust; Hesiod’s Midsummer Festival Scene Revisited’, a very insightful look at ancient agricultural and fertility practices). However Vlasto lists this as a bee, and I tend to think this is likely. It sure looks more like a bee to me. It’s a real pity that the obverse is struck off-center here, as the artistic and natural rendering of the horse is not typical of these late period didrachms. Next: fish

From Yellow Submarine... George: Hey! There's a Cyclops! Paul: Can't be. It's got two eyes. John: Must be a "bi-cyclops" then. Ringo: There's another one. John: A whole "'cyclopedia"!

This coin is currently being auctioned over at Forvm, a bronze of Claudius with a very rare depiction of the world's first bicycle...