Ancient Aussie

I am glad you chimed in Curtis they are great coins and probably the best pick of the temple I have seen.

One of the most awe inspiring sights in the Roman Forum is undoubtably Diva Faustina and Antoninus Pius temple those huge pillars towering upwards give us a glance at the ancient Roman Enginuity, having owned two ancient Roman coins depicting this temple on a Sestertius and a Denarius I was fascinated when I came across this huge 1835 AD Silver Papal Medallion and could not help myself from bidding and ultimately winning it in a recent Italian auction. Gee whizz this coin is fantastic high relief both sides the temple is rendered to look 3D, weighing 35grams and 43mm in diameter it truly does the temple the justice it deserves, first off below is the earlier versions (like 1700 years) and a pic of the temple.

All great additions RC, I bet you can guess my favorite, Congrats on a great year.

Extremely impressed indeed, would love any in my collection but although Nero's Market and Trajan temple tug at my heart strings, I have to say I have not seen any of your Sextus/galley have not seen one and are overly impressed with yours must be rare. Congrats.

Looks like you had a great year and picked up some awesome coins, I especially like your Alexander Tet, congrats.

All great coins Sulla, but I love your Claudius,, probably the most realistic portrait of him out of all his coinage. Congrats.

Great topic RC now I get to show my favorite coin of all time. Claudius I (AD 41-54). AR cistophorus (10.8gm,26mm, 6h). NGC Fine. Ephesus, ca. AD 41-42. TI CLAVD-CAES AVG, bare head of Claudius I left / DIAN-EPHE, tetrastyle temple with three steps containing central standing figure of Diana Ephesia, polos on head and fillets hanging from wrists; shield, altars, two stags and figures in pediment. RIC I 118.Ex Heritage online auction Dec 2020, lot 61118.(10.8gm,26mm, 6h).

Love your avatar Valentinian, do you own that coin?

And there is a fantastic Pizzeria just opposite, the most perfect pizza I have ever had, and the ice cold beer went down well.

Probably right looking at pic of the area no trace, but on the right of your coin and the painting you can see this... pic from Wikipedia.

They are absolutely fantastic medals, two of that type I aspire to own one day, I can remember walking around the biblical institute area when last in Rome.

Lucky enough to pick up this Papel medal in good quality recently, those of you that have visited Rome may have been to this museum. Palazzo Barbo or Palazzo Venezia is a palace in Rome located just off Piazza Venezia, built between 1455 and 1467 on behalf of the Venetian Cardinal Pietro Barbo, who later became Pope under the name of Paul II. The travertine of the Colosseum and Teatro di Marcello was used for the construction of this building. Currently, Palazzo Venezia houses the National Museum of Palazzo Venezia, the National Institute of Archeology and Art History with the library of Archeology and Art History, also, since December 2014, Palazzo Venezia has become the headquarters of the Polo Museale del Lazio. The National Museum of Palazzo Venezia mainly displays the collections of Pope Paul II, who was the first inhabitant of this building. You can also admire some pieces from the Sant'Angelo Castle, the Museum of the Roman College, and the National Gallery of Ancient Art. In the corridors of the palace, you will be able to appreciate different elements, such as Renaissance paintings, polychrome wooden sculptures, rugs, weapons, armor, and terracotta sculptures. Cast bronze medal 1465. Bust to the left / Two-tower Palazzo Venezia in Rome. Spink 368, Borner 293, Kress Coll. 216. 34mm. 33.5mm. Below a pic of how the Palace/Museum looks today with a few modifications. WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OTHER OF THESE HISTORCALLY IMPORTANT MEDALS.

There is a token/medallion of the Jacobite rising as well. Duke of Cumberland Jacobites Justly Rewarded at Culloden Medallion 1746 Pinchbeck's Duke of Cumberland Rebellion Justly Rewarded at Culloden Medallion dated 1746. Obverse: Bust of the Duke of Cumberland to right with legend: "WILL : DUKE • CUMB : BRITISH • HERO : BORN 15 AP 1721". Reverse: Battle scene Duke of Cumberland on horseback with firing cannon and Government forces firing at retreating Jacobites with a body and severed limbs etc., lying around with legend: "• REBELLION • JUSTLY • REWARDED • AT • CULLODEN • 16 AP 1746".

One of my early tokens is this one of Colchester castle, interesting as it was built on ancient Roman (Claudius) temple footings and castle dates back to Henry I early 1100AD. Pic courtesy of Wikipedia, a very affordable token that I see quite often.

And this one has an interesting story if not tragic. Woodcock's Bank Enniscorthy (Wexford) copper halfpenny token dated 1800. Obverse: View of a castle by the sea with a portcullis formed by six vertical and one horizontal bar in the gateway and legend: "PAYABLE AT THE BANK OF R. W. ENNISCORTHY". Reverse: Shield with monogram "RW" hanging from the bough of a tree with hills and a castle in the background: "A. D. 1800". Plain edge. The issuer, R. Woodcock was a banker at Enniscorthy. The reverse design depicting "Vinegar Hill" refers to a tragedy there two years before the issue of the coin when there was an uprising of the United Irishmen in Dublin. This was soon suppressed, however, the peasants in the south followed suite and also revolted. Armed with fowling pieces, French muskets and long pikes, they captured several towns including Enniscorthy and Wexford. The rebels then organised a training camp for their 6,000 strong force on Vinegar Hill. In June, General Lake attacked the Vinegar Hill camp and routed the half-trained force and, with Major-General John Moore’s recapture of Wexford, the rebellion disintegrated. The bodies of around 500 men who were killed in the battle lie buried in a mass grave at the foot of the hill. Nice collectable condition with uneven colour, see photograph. Portcullis bar going nearly across six perpendicular bars and "Ns" with full serifs, see below. D&H Wexford No: 4. Diameter 28.8mm.

Did someone mention architecture.....okay here is Swansea castle, my token but pics from Wikipedia.

That's okay I shouldn't have specified architecture, any tokens is good enough, just because I'm an architecture nut doesn't mean everyone else has to be ......😃

Here is another that I recently picked up with that word Ancient inscribed I couldn't go past. Alexander Swap's Dundee (Angusshire) copper Conder halfpenny token dated 1797. Obverse: View of a church with legend: "DUNDEE HALFPENNY 1797", "ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH FOUNDD. 1772". Reverse: View of ruined archway and battlements with legend: "COWGATE PORT * THE LAST REMAINS OF OUR ANCIENT WALLS *", "W WRIGHT JUN DES" with the star over "F". Edge inscription: "PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF ALEXR SWAP & CO * + +". Alexander Swap & Co., were merchants with a business in Overgate, Dundee. Ex-MacMillan Collection. Below is an early Victorian photograph of the same archway.

Great pick ups, I especially like your Nelson/battle of Trafalgar a must have for my collection eventually.

I'm a little late to this party, but I'll throw in my two bobs worth...and you guessed it Macrinus architecture. Macrinus and Diadumenian, Thrace, Marcianopolis, Triumphal arch with for statues. 25.46mm, 11.91, 217-218 AD, struck under governor Furius Pontianusobv. AVT K OPEL CEV MAKREINOC KM OPEL ANTWNEINOCconfronted heads of Macrinus, laureate, r., and Diadumenianus, bare-headed, l.rev. VP PONTIAN - OV MARKIANO / POLEITW / N (OV ligate)Triumphal arch with three doors, the door in the midth much higher, four figureson postaments above. The outer two are Victories holding wreath in upraisedhand, the other two male figures, draped, the left holding up his r. hand, theright one holding spear in his l. hand.E in l. field (for pentassarion)Varbanov (engl.) 1220Hristova/Jekov (2013) No.6.24.46.2Price/Trell p.51, fig. 85 var. Macrinus. 217–218 AD. MOESIA INFERIOR. Nicopolis ad Istrum. Æ (27mm, 12.39 gm, 6h). Obv: AV K OΠΠΕΛ CE—VH MAKPINOC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VP AΠ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑ ΝΙΚΟΠΟ—ΛΙΤΩΝ ΠΡ—OC ICTPΩ, closed city gate, two battlemented towers at front corners of city wall, one such tower in back wall. AMNG —. Like Varbanov 3345, but laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, seen from behind. A new variety.

While where on the subject of UK castles 😃 this is another token I could not resist. County (Warwickshire) copper penny token dated 1796. Obverse: View of Caesar's Tower in Kenilworth Castle with legend and date with legend: "FIRMUM IN VITA NIHIL - MDCCXCVI". Reverse: A cypher of "PK" in script in centre with legend: "WARWICKSHIRE PROMISSORY PENNY". Edge inscription: "I PROMISE TO PAY ON DEMAND THE BEARER ONE PENNY". .D&H Warwickshire No: 6. Diameter 33.1mm. Below is a pic of Kelinworth castle as it is now.

Sounds like you are in a great position to visit most of these castles and ancient ruins, I envy you and glad you purchased that marvelous token look forward to seeing more as your collection grows.

It looks like a reasonable price, I paid about that for this one a few years back.

Here's another you guy's might be interested in, intend visiting on my next trip to the UK. Pic courtesy Wikipedia. Skidmore’s Globe Series Alnwick Castle London (Middlesex) copper Conder penny token dated 1797. Obverse: View of Alnwick Castle with legend: “ALNWICK • CASTLE • NORTHUMB.D” with the die engraver's name: "JACOBS" below. Reverse: A globe, on which "BRITAIN" is indicated, supported by a three-legged stand with a rose and thistle each side, and legend: "BRITISH • PENNY." above and the date: "1797" in the exergue. Edge inscription: “I PROMISE TO PAY ON DEMAND THE BEARER ONE PENNY x”. Listed in “Dalton & Hamer” as “R - RARE”. These were produced by Denton, the London coin dealer, for sale to collectors. The die broke very early on in production leaving this piece more rare than the others. Good collectable condition but heavily polished in the past, see photograph. D&H Middlesex No: 131. Diameter 35.3mm.

Fantastic token, my favorite and my first token after visiting York and visiting Clifford's tower.