Ursus

Some Greek facing portraits: Caria, Rhodes, hemidrachm, ca. 205–190 BC, magistrate: Gorgos. Obv: head of Helios facing r. Rev: ΓOPΓ[OΣ]; rosebud and ethnic R-[O]; in field l. gaff hook. 10mm, 1.09g. HGC 6, 1454. Ashton: The Coinage of Rhodes (2001), no. 304 (p. 109); SNG Keckman I 585. Thessaly, Larissa, AR obol, ca. 344–337 BC (?). Obv: head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly l., hair in ampyx, with necklace. Rev: [ΛΑΡΙΣ]-ΑΙΩΝ; horse grazing r. 11mm, 0.79g. Ref: BCD Thessaly I (2011), no. 1163; BCD Thessaly II (2013), no. 328, 342–344; SNG Copenhagen 135. Thrace, Apollonia Pontika, AR diobol, 4th century BC. Obv: laureate head of Apollo facing. Rev: upright anchor; A to l., crayfish to r. 11mm, 1.35g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 459–461. Antiochos I Soter, Seleucid Empire, AE denomination D, 280–261 BC, Smyrna or Sardes mint. Obv: head of Athena facing. Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTI]OXOY; Nike standing l., holding wreath; monogram in field l. 13mm, 2.12g. Ref: Seleucid Coins I, 315b. And here are two medieval coins: Wrocław (Breslau), under Sigismund of Luxemburg (r. 1419–1437 AD), AR heller, after 1422 AD, Wrocław mint. Obv: head of John the Baptist facing slightly l.; within circle; around: M-W-M-W. Rev: crowned Silesian lion l.; star in field below. 11mm, 0.30g. Ref: Saurma 67, Friedensburger 554. Bishopric of Halberstadt, under Gero von Schermbke/von Schochwitz, AR bracteate penny, 1169–1177 AD. Obv: + S–STEPHANVSPROTOMARTI; bust of St. Stephen facing between three stones and star. Rev: negative design. 25mm, 0.83g. Ref: Berger 1324; Slg. Bonhoff 483.

Welcome to collecting ancient coins! It's a wonderful hobby. My first ancient was this shabby LRB of Constantius II's father, Constantine the Great. It is much less attractive than your first ancient coin: Constantine I, Roman Empire, AE 3, 321 AD, Rome mint. Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG, head of Constantine I, laureate, r. Rev: D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG; VOT/XX within a laurel wreath; in exergue, RP. 20mm, 2.74g. Ref: RIC VII Rome 232.

The most remarkable thing about the Herod Agrippa is not its price tag, though I find it rather ridiculous, but the fact that Zurqieh is selling a coin without any fake "sand patina." That's new!

Interesting idea! The Hercules reverse on this Gordian III antoninianus copies the famous "Farnese Hercules". The original was likely made by Lysippos in the 4th century BC but was melted down in 1205. Over 200 copies from the Roman period survive, including the statue show below, which was made during the reign of Caracalla and is on exhibition in the Archeological Museum of Naples. Please continue with the theme! Gordian III, Roman Empire, AR antoninian, 241–243 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; bust of Gordian III, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI; Hercules, nude, standing r., r. behind back and resting l. hand on club set on rock; beside club, lion-skin. 22mm, 3.49g. Ref: RIC IV Gordian III 95.

Julia Soaemias, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 218–222 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG, bust of Julia Soaemias, draped, r., hair waved and turned up low at the back. Rev: VENVS CAELESTIS; Venus, diademed, draped, seated l., holding apple in extended r. hand and sceptre in l. hand; at feet, child. 19mm, 3.39g. Ref: RIC IV Elagabalus 243. Next: Yet another Severan lady not shown in this or post or the previous two

Julia Domna, Roman Empire, denarius, 196–211 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; bust of Julia Domna, draped, r. Rev: IVNO, Iuno standing l., holding patera and sceptre, peacock at feet l. 18mm, 3.20g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 559. Next: Severan ladies

Or 4): an old die from Postumus' reign being reused under Victorinus. I wouldn't rule that possibility out. My Postumus with "P:" Postumus, Gallic Roman Empire, AR antoninian, 268–269 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG; bust of Postumus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: PAX AVG; Pax standing l., holding olive-branch and transverse sceptre; in field l., P. 21mm, 3.97g. Mairat 466–7; RIC V Postumus 318. And the matching Victorinus with "V:" Victorinus, Gallic Roman Empire, AE antoninian, 270–271 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP C VICTOR[INVS P]F AVG; radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Victorinus r. Rev: PAX AVG; Pax, standing l., holding branch and sceptre; in field l., V; in field r., star and palm branch. 19mm, 2.35g. Ref: Mairat 600–601.

Thos one isn't a bad engraving job yet definitely quite cartoon-ish: Constans, Roman Empire, AE3, 348–350 AD, Trier mint. Obv: D N CONSTANS P F AVG; bust of Constans, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed, l., holding globe in r. hand. Rev: FEL•TEMP•REPARATIO; soldier, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, advancing r., head l., leading small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree with r. hand and holding spear in l. hand; in exergue, *PLG•. 20mm, 3.66g. Ref: RIC VIII Lugdunum 88.

Congratulations on both the new job and the home purchase! And I feel you: My wife and me bought a new place, the first floor of a mid-19th century building, last October and have been renovating it (mostly by ourselves) over the course of this year. It looks like we will finally be able to move in next month. The whole project has cost us a lot of time and money. I'm definitely looking forward to not spending my weekends doing carpentry and plumbing, and I hope to again have a little bugdet to spend on hobbies, traveling, and other fun stuff soon. Certainly, this point will come for you, too, after you have moved in and everything is set up.

Is this die rust or the silver-ish remains of a removed coat of horn silver? I can't tell from the picture. My only Corinthian pegasus is a stater, too. I like the small statue of Poseidon in the reverse field: Corinthia, Corinth, AR stater, c. 414–387 BC (Ravel: period IV, series XI). Obv: Pegasus galloping l.; below, Ϙ. Rev: head of Athena wearing Corinthian helmet l.; in field r., statue of Poseidon standing r., holding dolphin and hurling trident. 22mm, 8.52g. Ref: Ravel 737; Cammann 99d (reverse die).

A follis copying Bohemond's earlier design showing a bust of St. Peter. Here is the relevant page with line drawings from CCS: That sounds like a reasonable assumption, though it doesn't explain why Tancred later on had folles of the 2nd type (like OP's and mine) once more overstruck with his 3rd type, and then overstruck his 3rd type with his 4th type. There is thus a sequence of overstrikes on Antiochene bronze coins that later continues under Roger of Salerno. CCS doesn't give a reason for this, and I don't know whether any further research on this matter has been done and published.

Nice first crusader coin, @Nerosmyfavorite68! Virtually all folles of this type, including mine and yours, are overstruck on first type folles of Tancred. I don't know why this was done. Maybe someone else does. Principality of Antioch, Tancred, AE follis, 1104–1112 AD. Obv: [KE BO TANKR or similar; as usual not struck]; bust of Tancred, bearded, wearing 'turban,' holding raised sword in r. hand. Rev: Cross as the Tree of Life; in quadrants, IC-XC / NI-KA. 22 mm, 2.45g. Ref: Schlumberger II.7, Metcalf 63-70, CCS 4a. Overstruck on Schlumberger II.6; Metcalf 49-62.

Gaul, Massalia, obol, ca. 4th–1st century BC. Obv: Youthful male head (river god?) left. Rev: MA in wheel with four spokes. 10.65mm, 0.75g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 723–728; de la Tour 1892, no. 689 or similar. Next: Gaul

I have young Geta denarii from an eastern as well as from the Rome mint. The portrait style obviously differes a great deal: Geta, Roman Empire, denarius, 200–202 AD, Rome mint. Obv: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT; bust of Geta, bare-headed, draped, r. Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Geta, holding baton and sceptre, standing l. next to trophy r. 18mm, 3.40g. Ref: RIC IV Geta 18. Geta, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 198–200 AD, “Laodicea” mint. Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES; bust of Geta, bare-headed, draped, r. Rev: SPEI PERPETVAE; Spes, draped, advancing l., holding flower in r. hand and raising skirt with l. hand. 20mm, 3.19g. RIC IV Geta 96. Ex Pecunem 10, lot 576.

My only Quintillus is the same type as your "old" example: Quintillus, Roman Empire, AE antoninian, 270 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [IMP C M] AVR CL QVINTILLVS A[VG]; bust of Quintillus, radiate, draped, r. Rev: SECVRIT AVG; Securitas, draped, standing l., legs crossed, leaning on column, holding sceptre; in field r., XI. 21mm, 3.00g. Ref: RIC V Quintillus 31.

Here is a rather martial horseman: Roman Republic, moneyer: M. Sergius Silus, AR denarius, 116–115 BC, Rome mint. Obv: EX·S·C ROMA; helmeted head of Roma, r., denominational mark X. Rev: Q M·SERGI SILVS; one-armed horseman (Marcus Sergius Silus) l., holding sword and severed head in l. hand. 17mm, 2.84g. RRC RRC 286/1.

That is actually a rather well done copy of the design. Also, it is clearly not meant to deceive anybody, which I like. I bought this Cavino aftercast for a similar reason. A real Ostia sestertius is way out of my budget, so a historically interesting imitation had to do: “Nero,” Roman Empire: Paduan copy; aftercast after Giovanni Cavino (1500–1570 AD). Obv: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER PM TR P IMP PP; laureate bust of Nero with aegis r. Rev: AVGVSTI / SPQR OST C; port of Ostia: seven ships; above, pharus surmounted by statue of Neptune; below, reclining figure of Tiber, holding rudder and dolphin; to left, crescent-shaped pier; to right, crescent-shaped row of breakwaters. 35mm, 18.04g. Klawans 2.

Thanks for posting this! BCD's library is impressive and provides a great ressource to numismatic scholarship. His insights, especially his comments on the current dynamics of research funding in Europe, are on point and worth listening to. Also, I enjoyed BCD's dry humor (best quote from the interview: "They do die studies to become a doctor – because to be a doctor is very important apparently".) A couple of years ago, I posted a Greek coin I couldn't identify over on CoinTalk. BCD generously chimed in and gave me a hint of where to look. I greatly appreciated this. Not many experts of his standing would take the time to help out a numismatic beginner with making sense of a cheap and low grade bronze. I own a couple of ex-BCD coins. In my eyes, this collection provenance greatly adds to them: Megaris, Megara, AE dichalkon, ca. 275–259 BC. Obv: Prow of galley l. Rev: Tripod flanked by two dolphins. 12mm, 2.09g. Ref: BCD Peloponnesos 17; HGC 4, 1798. Ex BCD collection; ex CNG; ex Secret Saturnalia 2021. Thessaly, Larissa, AR obol, ca. 344–337 BC (?). Obv: head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly l., hair in ampyx, with necklace. Rev: [ΛΑΡΙΣ]-ΑΙΩΝ; horse grazing r. 11mm, 0.79g. Ref: BCD Thessaly I (2011), no. 1163; BCD Thessaly II (2013), no. 328, 342–344; SNG Copenhagen 135. Ex FSR, auction 106, lot 59; ex CNG, e-auction 395, lot 94; ex BCD collection. Thessaly, Pherai, hemidrachm, ca. 302–286 BC. Obv: Head of Ennodia left, torch behind. Rev: ΦΕΡΑΙΟΥΝ, the nymph Hypereia left, touching the top of lion's head fountain right, from which water pours forth, ΑΣ/TΟ within wreath to lower left. 15mm, 2.72g. Ref: BCD Thessaly I, 1321; BCD Thessaly II, 714; SNG Copenhagen 239; BMC 20. Ex CNG, e-auction 432, lot 27; ex BCD collection. Thessaly, Trikka, hemidrachm, 2nd half of 5th c. BC. Obv: Youthful hero, Thessalos, holding a band with both hands below the horns of the forepart of a bull right. Rev: T PI KAI N, forepart of horse prancing right. 16 mm, 2.86 g. Ref: BCD Thessaly 775.7 (same dies); see SNG Copenhagen 262–265; see BMC 1–9; see CNG, e-auction 129, lot 94 (identical dies). Ex BCD collection, ex Kenneth W. Dorney.

Wonderful denarius and write-up! This type is now on the ever growing list of coins I'm actively looking for. Here is a my favorite coin featuring Jupiter: Macrinus, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 217–218 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed short-bearded bust of Macrinus r. Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; to left, small figure of Macrinus standing r. 20mm, 3.21g. Ref: RIC IV Macrinus 76b.

Happy Birthday, @JayAg47! Roman Republic, Imperatorial Coinage, Julius Caesar, AR denarius, 49–48 BC, military mint moving with Caesar. Obv: [CA]ESAR; elephant walking r., trampling snake. Rev: priestly implements: culullus, aspergillum, axe, apex. 20mm, 3.70g. Ref: RRC 443/1.

Nice 5 mark piece! My coins from Saxony are all somewhat older. I won't post the medieval ones here since this is the "world coin" section, but fortunately I also have some early modern ones: Electorate of Saxony, Johann Georg I, Groschen (1/24 Taler), 1624 AD, Dresden mint. Obv: IOHAN GEORG DG DUX SAX IVL CEM; oval shield with the arms of the Electorate of Saxony. Rev: SAC ROM IMP ARCHIM ET ELEC; 16-24; moneyers mark: crossed hooks; arms of Kleve, Jülich, and Berg crowned by imperial orb; in fields, H-I for moneyer Hans Jakob Koch. 23mm, 1.83g. Ref: Slg. Merseburger 1122. Electorate of Saxony, Johann Georg I, Groschen (1/24 Taler), 1638 AD, Dresden mint. Obv: IOHAN. GEORG. D:G. DUX. SAX. IVL. CL. ET MON; oval shield with the arms of the Electorate of Saxony. Rev: SA. ROM. IMP: ARCHIMAR: ET ELEC:; 16-38; arms of Kleve, Jülich, and Berg crowned by imperial orb; in fields, S-D (moneyer’s initials). 23mm, 1.99g. Ref: Clauß/Kahnt 214. Electorate of Saxony, Johann Georg IV, Doppelgroschen (1/12 Taler), 1694 AD, Dresden mint. Obv: IOH. GEORG. IV. DG. DUX. SAX. I. C. M. A. &. W; arms of the Electorate of Saxony; below, IK for moneyer Johann Koch. Rev: SAC. ROM. IMP. ARCHIM. &. ELECT; .12./EINEN/../THAL./1694; crossed arrows for moneyer Johann Koch. 25mm, 3.24g. Ref: Slg. Merseburger 1343.

I guess I'm late to this little Renaissance fair – but since there are already so many wonderful coins in this thread, I thought I might give it a bump. Below is a Milanese coin weight with an (unofficial) portrait of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, one of the central figures of the Italian renaissance. Such weights were produced by specialized local craftspeople and used by merchants, bankers, and moneychangers: Italy, Milan (Duchy), under Galeazzo Maria Sforza, AE peso monetale (coin weight for the ducato d’oro), ca. 1466–1476 AD. Obv: armored bust of Galeazzo Maria Sforza r. Rev: originally blank; circular punch and retrograde S added after striking. 16mm, 3.34g. Mazza: I Pesi Monetari di Monete Milanesi 24 (or similar).

This thread has gotten a bit sleepy – I guess it needs coffee and more recent purchases! I bought these two back in April but didn't find the time to take pictures and write labels until now. Together with Constantine's "SARMATIA DEVICTA" type, these coins represent the last Roman Victory-types explicitly naming the defeated enemy. The Alamanni were a confederation of Germanic tribes settling at the Upper Rhine river and continually engaging in conflicts with Rome in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Crispus, Roman Empire, AE 3, 324–325 AD, Sirmium mint. Obv: FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES; bust of Crispus r. Rev: ALAMANNIA DEVICTA, Victory, winged, draped, advancing r., holding trophy on r. arm and branch in l. hand, spurning a seated captive; mintmark .SIRM. . 18mm, 2.41g. Ref: RIC VII Sirmium 49. Constantine II Iunior, Roman Empire, AE3, 324–326 AD, Sirmium mint. Obv: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB CAES, bust of Constantine II, laureate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: ALAMANNIA DEVICTA, Victory, winged, draped, advancing r., holding trophy on r. arm and branch in l. hand, spurning a seated captive; mintmark .SIRM. . 19mm, 3.06g. Ref: RIC VII Sirmium 50.

Thanks for the kind words, @JeandAcre! And just to add, your two coins are good examples of what I referred to in the original post. The "Maurice pennies" from Magdeburg were obviously struck from flans that were cut and not hammered/rolled into shape. You can see that when looking at the edges of your examples or this coin: Archbishopric of Magdeburg, under Albrecht von Käfernburg, bracteate penny, ca. 1220–1232. Obv: OICI – IVSDV; St. Maurice, nimbate and wearing armour, standing facing, holding cross and lance flag; below, church building with two towers and an arch; inside, cranium relic. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). 23mm, 0.68g. Ref: Berger 1586; Slg. Hauswaldt 167; Slg. Bonhoff 712. As already said, there is considerable regional variation when it come to how bracteates were produced and designed. The (earlier) Freiburg and Bases bracteates that @shanxiand @Severus Alexanderhave shown, for example, were never meant to be round. These sorts of square-ish bracteates are typical for the Breisgau and what today is northern Switzerland. We have already seen Basel and Freiburg – here are two more examples from Zofingen and Zurich: Zofingen (Habsburg mint, under the Counts of Frohburg), bracteate penny ("vierzipfliger Pfennig"), ca. 1285–1300 AD. Obv: ZOVI; male frontal bust (St. Maurice?) flanked by two stars, crescent above. Rev: incuse design. 18mm . Ref: Berger 2445–6; Slg. Wüthrich 134–5; HMZ I–149a. Zurich, Imperial Abbey of Fraumünster, "vierzipfliger Pfennig," ca. 1300–1320. Obv: ZVRICh; veiled head of nun facing. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). 18mm, 0.40g. Ref: Berger 2472–2475; Schwarz 30; Hürlimann 38; Slg. Wütherich 209.

A while ago, I took a group shot of my collection of Greek silver coins, which in my eyes turned out rather well. It shrunk a bit since then: one of the Persian sigloi on the top left went to @Furryfrog02: