Ursus

The answer to that is relatively complex and a bit unsatisfying, (a) because minting was highly localized and different authorities produced coins of different weight and/or purity, (b) since there is little high medieval source material telling how much everyday goods cost at specific times and places, and (c) because taxation was largely done by renovatio monetae, that is periodically recalling old coins and exchanging them for new coins at a markdown, and thus doesn't give insights into the purchasing power of local coinage. The extant sources allow some conclusions but are mostly small pieces of a puzzle from which most parts are missing. To give an example: In 1267, Bruno of Schauenburg, bishop of Olmütz, wrote a testament in which he bequeathed 12 denarii each to a large number of priests in his bishopric. Since Bruno minted bracteates similar to the coin in the original post, it has to be assumed that these are what he meant by denarii. The document also gives us the information that 12 denarii were worth about 600 eggs, meaning that you could buy 50 eggs for one bracteate penny. At my local supermarket, 10 eggs are about 3€, so the egg purchasing power of one bracteate penny was equivalent to 15€. But it is, of course, not that simple. We have no idea of how the price of eggs compared to prices for, let's say, a pound of flour or a pair of shoes, and we also don't know to what extent prices in Olmütz were different from prices in other places. Finally, we don't really have charts allowing to convert local currencies until much later – so we don't exactly know how much an Olmütz bracteate would have been in Augsburg bracteates in the mid-1200s. All that makes it very hard to pin down what a bracteate was worth in its time. Lovely! It is no secret that I always like to see coins from Freiburg (i.e. where I live). Your Hälbling with the small crescent in the field is especially nice and certainly rare. I hadn't seen one before. My example is the much more common full Rappen weighing twice as much and without the fieldmark: Freiburg im Breisgau, civic issue, bracteate rappen, ca. 1368–1390 AD. Obv: eagle's head l. Rev: negative design (bracteate). 18mm, 0.30g. Ref: Wielandt: Breisgau 48b; Slg. Wüthrich 63; Slg. Ulmer 249; Berger –. Both are beautiful – though I would characterize your second example as a Dünnpfennig (sometimes also called a Halbbrakteat) since it actually has a reverse design that is blundered by the bracteate-like obverse (similar to the coin below). Nuremberg, imperial mint, under Frederick II, AR pfennig (group 6), c. 1245–1250 AD. Obv: lion walking l. within high ring; roses around. Rev: cross between two standing lions, ring and roses around (weak strike as usual). 20mm, 0.94g. Ref: Slg. Erlanger 32, Fd. Hersbruck 19, Slg. Bonhoff 2015. 🤣 . And it's good to see that Basel bracteate again!

This is only my second bracteate purchase this year, and I thought it deserved a small write-up: Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg, under Udalschalk von Eschenlohe, AR bracteate, ca. 1184–1202. Obv: bishop seated facing on arc, wearing mitre, holding crosier and book. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). 24mm, 0.87g. Ref: Berger 2631; Slg. Bonhoff 1893; Steinhilber 56. My coin was minted for the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg under bishop Udalschalk of Eschenlohe. In the historical sources, Udalschalk first appears in 1168 as deacon and 1169 as dean of Augsburg cathedral. In early 1184, he was unanimously elected bishop. In the following years, he kept close ties to emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Different imperial charter list Udalschalk as a witness present at Barbarossa's court. In 1184, the betrothal of Barbarossa's son Henry VI to Constance of Sicily was celebrated in Augsburg, and in 1187, Barbarossa attended in person when Udalschalk consecrated a new church in his bishopric. In the civil war after Barbarossa's death in 1190, Udalschalk supported the Staufen king Philip of Swabia against his Welf rivals but died of natural courses before the conflict ended. The coin above shows Udalschalk – or a generic bishop – with episcopal regalia. Apart from mitre, crosier, and book, the seated figure also wears a pontifical dalmatic. On a more technical note, the marks on the reverse of my bracteate shows how the flan was produced by hammering and rolling a square piece of metal into a round shape. This is typical for late 12th century Augsburg and other Bavarian bracteates. Coins from other German regions, for example Saxony and Brandenburg, were usually struck from round flans punched or cut out from large sheets of silver and thus don't have these marks. Please show your bracteates, episcopal coins or recent medieval purchases!

When in high spirits, Hadrian. Who wouldn't want to be like him? A cultivated, capable, open-minded an foresightful man who was endeared to all things beautiful and loved to travel and see the world. Also, he unreservedly preferred peace and prosperity to conflict and glory, albeit without acting like a pushover. I can look up to that. Hadrian, Roman Empire, AE as, 125–128 AD, Rome mint. Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS; bust of Hadrian, laureate, r. Rev: COS III; Salus, draped, standing r., feeding snake out of patera; in fields flanking, SC. 26mm, 10.2g. Ref: RIC II Hadrian, 669c. In darker hours, Julian II. He was cerebral but stubborn, and his attempt to turn back the tide and return Roman culture and politics to classical philosophy was a lost cause right from the beginning. He tried his best, though. Julian II, Roman Empire, AE1, 361–363 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG; diademed, draped, cuirassed bust of Julian II r. Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVB; bull standing r., two stars above; mintmark (branch) ANT (branch). 27.5mm, 8.54g. RIC VIII Antioch 216.

There are some truly beautiful early modern Dutch coins in this thread. And @John Conduitt's sceat is quite stunning indeed. I can contribute this real from the Spanish Netherlands. It's nothing special, but I bought it since it shows the Order of the Golden Fleece, the most prestigious late medieval and early modern order of chivalry, on both obverse and reverse: Spanish Netherlands, Albert VII and Isabella Clara Eugenia, 1603­­­-1607 AD, AR real, Antwerp mint. Obv: ALBERTVS ET ELISABET D G; crowned shield in collar of the Golden Fleece. Rev: ARCHIDVCES AVST DVCES BVRG ET BRAB Z; St. Andrew's cross, crown above, Golden Fleece below; in fields, A-E. 26mm, 2.98g. Ref: Gelder-Hoc 293-1; Vanhoudt 595.

That'a a beautiful piece with an interesting control mark. And my impression matches yours – examples with the horseman riding left appear to be quite scarce. Here is my standard example struck by Piso Frugi the father: Roman Republic, moneyer: L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, AR denarius, 90 BC, Rome mint. Obv: laureate head of Apollo r.: control mark. Rev: L PISO FRVGI; horseman galloping r. with palm-branch; control mark CVI. 18mm, 3.77g.

A charming coin – the colorful toning makes it very attractive in my eyes. This denarius might be considered crude, particularly because of the significant flan flaw and die break on the obverse. But just as your coin, @Curtisimo, it came with a solid provenance (part of the Hommel collection, acquired in 1973 from Peus) and has lovely toning. I'm happy to have it in my collection. Roman Republic, moneyer: Q. Caecilius Metellus Balearicus, AR denarius, 130 BC, Rome mint. Obv: Q·METE (ligated); head of Roma, helmeted, r.; before, crossed X. Rev: ROMA; Jupiter in quadriga, r., holding reins and thunderbolt in l. hand and branch in r. hand. 20mm, 3.87g. RRC 256/1. Ex Peus, Lagerliste 26, lot 99 (1973); ex Hommel collection

I would be frankly surprised if late 4th century base metal coins were made from a single, clearly defined alloy. I'm no expert in this field and don't know if there is a metallurgical study of Roman bronze coins after 364 AD (please chime in if you know more than me!), but the examples in this thread definitely show rather different colors. With my coin, one can speculate that a bunch of old orichalcum coins might have ended up in the melting pot, making for the yellowish color. I do not know whether this happened accidentally, had a specific meaning, was typical of the (rather scarce) Aquileia mint, or whether the mints by that point just used whatever old material they could get their hands on. Ockham's razor points to the latter answer, though.

I enjoyed reading your write-up and very much like the beautiful toning on your example. And, of course, the coin has a fantastic provenance. Here is my Kroton stater: Bruttium, Croton, AR nomos, ca. 480–430 BC. Obv: retrograde ϘPO; tripod with legs terminating in lion’s feet; to left, heron standing r. Rev: incuse tripod with central pellet. 18mm, 7.92g. Ref: HN Italy 2102; SNG ANS 261-2.

Coins of Valens and Valentinian I are often overlooked. I like them. Valens, Roman Empire, AE3, 367–375 AD, Aquileia mint. Obv: DN VALENS PF AVG; bust of Valens, draped, cuirassed, and pearl-diademed, r. Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE; Victory advancing l., holding wreath and palm; in exergue, SMAQP. 19mm, 2.75g. Ref: RIC IX Aquileia 12B. Valens, Roman Empire, AR siliqua, 367–378 AD, Trier mint. Obv: DN VALENS PF AVG; bust of Valens, draped, cuirassed, and pearl-diademed, r. Rev: VRBS ROMA; Roma seated l. on throne, holding Victory on globe and sceptre; in exergue TRPS•. 17mm, 1.71g. Ref: RIC IX Treveri 27E/45B. Valentinian I, Roman Empire, AE3, 364–367 AD, Thessalonica mint. Obv: DN VALENTINIANVS P F AVG; bust of Valentinian I, draped, cuirassed, and pearl-diademed, r. Rev: RESTITVTOR REIP; emperor, head r., standing facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe; in exergue, TES(A/B?). 15mm, 1.80g. Ref: RIC IX Thessalonica 17A.

Good thread idea! Caria, Rhodes, AR plintophoric drachm, 88–84 BC, magistrate: Nikephoros. Obv: head of Helios, radiate, r. Rev: NIKHΦOPOΣ; rosebud and ethnic R-O in incuse; in field l., hand holding grain ear. 14mm, 2.81g. Ref: Jenkins, Rhodian, Group E, 249; HGC 6, 1461.

My Mairat 600 is not as heavy as yours, @Tejas, but it also has an unusually attractive portrait. This appears to be have been an exceptionally well-made issue. 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.

Nice example, @JeandAcre! I want to higlight that the Cologne pennies are among the very few examples of medieval coins showing an actual, architecturally identifiable building and not a generic representation of a church, castle, or comparable structure. I have shown my Cologne coins before on CT but see no reason not to post them once more here. I'm pretty convinced that the three squares on the reverse of my first coin represent not doors but the sarcophagi of the Magi brought to Cologne by Rainald von Dassel: Archbishopric of Cologne, under Rainald von Dassel, AR obol, ca. 1159–1167. Obv: Bishop facing, holding crosier and book. Rev: church building with three towers (Cologne cathedral) , inside, three sarcophagi (?). 14 mm, 0.53g. Ref: Hävernick 498. Archbishopric of Cologne, under Heinrich I von Molenark, AR pfennig, ca. 1225–1237 Obv: [+ HENRICS A]RCIEPC; bishop facing, wearing mitre, holding crosier and book. Rev: [+SAN]CTA [C]OLO[NIA]; bust of saint holding two cross flags in front of church building. 18 mm, 1.24g. Ref: Hävernick 547.

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. Next: A Saint

It looks benign to me in your pictures. As long as green encrustations are hard and not powder-ish, I wouldn't worry too much about them. Here are some of my London coins: Constantine the Great, Roman Empire, AE2, 312–313 AD, London mint. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol, radiate, chlamys draped across r. shoulder, standing l., raising r. hand and holding up globe in l. hand; in field l., star; in exergue, PLN. 23mm, 2.77g. Ref: RIC VI Londinium 280. Constantine the Great, Roman Empire, AE2, 316 AD, London mint. Obv: CONSTANTINVS P AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, cuirassed, r. Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol standing l., radiate, chlamys draped across r. shoulder, raising r. hand and holding up globe in l. hand; in fields, S–P; in exergue, MSL. 20.5mm, 3.06g. Ref: RIC VII Londinium 76. Licinius I, Roman Empire, AE2, 313–314 AD, London mint. Obv: IMP LICINIVS PF AVG; bust of Licinius I, laureate, cuirassed, r. Rev: GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing l., holding patera in r. hand, cornucopia in l.; in fields, S-F; in exergue, PLN. 21mm, 3.04g. Ref: RIC VII Londinium 3. Constantine II Iunior, Roman Empire, AE3, 322–323 AD, Londinium mint. Obv: CONSTANTINVS IVN N C, bust of Constantine II, radiate, cuirassed, l. Rev: BEAT TRANQLITAS, globe on altar inscribed VOT/IS/XX; above, three stars; in fields, F-B; in exergue, PLON. 19mm, 3.22g. Ref: RIC VII Londinium 257.

Although I have very fond memories of my few visits to Canada, I'm afraid I know roughly nothing about hockey. Yet, I do have this beefy Ptolemaic bronze drachm that strongly resembles a hockey puck: Ptolemy II Philadelphos, Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, AE drachm (?), 285­­–246 BC, struck c. 255–261 BC, Alexandreia mint. Obv.: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon r. Rev.: Two eagles standing l. on thunderbolt; Λ between legs of l. eagle. 40mm, 73.6g. Ref: Lorber I.2 B247; Svoronos 479; SNG Copenhagen 149.

Here are my two owls from Athens: Attica, Athens, AR tetradrachm, ca. 440s–430s BC. Obv: head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette. Rev: AΘE; Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; all within incuse square. 24mm, 17.14g. Ref: Kroll 8. Ex Leu, Webauktion 8, lot 232. Attica, Athens, AR triobol or hemidrachm, ca. 390–295 BC. Obv: head of Athena with Attic helmet r. Rev: Owl standing facing between olive twigs, retrograde ethnic [A]ΘE around. 12.5mm, 2.06g. Ref: SNG Munich 206–7. And on top of these well-known types, here is a Pontic owl ready to spread its wings and fly away: Pontos, Amisos, AR drachm (Chian standard), 4th c. BC. Obv: turreted head of Hera-Tyche l. Rev: Owl with spread wings facing, ME-ΓA below, Π in left field. 15mm, 3.8g. SNG BM Black Sea 1099.

Jitals are certainly an interesting field, not only because of their diversity and availability. Here are some personal favorites from my collection: Hindu Shahi, under "Samanta Deva", AR jital, ca. 850–1000 AD, Kabul Valley and Northwestern India. Obv: stylized horseman r., "bhi" and symbol in fields. Rev; "Sri Samanata Deva" in Nagari; stylized bull l. 17.7mm, 3.11g. Ref: Tye 14 (?). Hindu Shahi, Samanta Deva, AE jital, ca. 850–1000 AD, Ohind mint (?). Obv: Elephant advancing l.; Nagari legend “Sri Samanta Deva” above. Rev: Lion standing r. with jaws open and paw raised. 16mm, 1.64g. Ref: Tye 19. Tomara Dynasty, Mahipala, AE Jital, later 12th century (?). Obv: stylized bull l.; Nagari legend “Sri Mahipala” above. Rev: stylized horseman r. 14mm, 3.15g. Ref: Tye 39; Deyell: Living without Silver (1990), no. 232; Roy: Coinage of Northern India (1980), S. 93–95. Chauhan of Delhi, Prithviraja III., BI Jital, c. 1191–1192 AD. Obv: stylized bull l.; Nagari legend “Sri Samanta Deva” around. Rev: stylized horseman r.; Nagari legend “Sri Prithvi Raja Deva” around. 15mm, 3.39g. Ref: Tye 52. Ghaznavid Dynasty, under Farrukhzad, BI jital, 1053–1059 AD, Lahore mint. Obv: stylized bull l., Nagari legend above. Rev: legend in four lines: ““adil /jamal-al-dawla/ abu shuja’/ Farrukh’zad.” 19mm, 3.21g. Tye 100 (obv.)/99 (rev.); A1635. Nasrid Dynasty of Sistan (also known as the Saffarids of Sistan or Maliks of Nimruz), under Taj ad-Din Harb, citing caliph al-Nasir, AE/BI jital, 1167–1215 AD, Sistan mint. Obv: "harb" in circle; partially struck legend in margin. Rev: "[unclear word: qanun?]/ la illah illa / muhammad rasul / al-nasir ud-din / muhammad." 14.5 mm, 2.96g. Ref: Tye 123, Album 1427.1. Ghurid Sultanate, Taj al-Din Yildiz, AR jital, 1206–1215, Lahore mint. Obv: "Sri Hamirah" in Nagari script, stylized horseman right. Rev: Arabic regent's name in four lines: al-sultan/ al mu'azzam/ abu'l fath yildiz/ al-sultan. 14 mm, 3.47g. Ref: Tye 201.1; Album 1797. Khwarezmian Empire, under Ala ad-Din Muhammad II, AE large jital, 1200–1220 AD, Qunduz mint. Obv: bull l.; legend around: "abu'l fath / muhammed bin / al-sultan"; circular marginal legend (mint and date) is completely off-flan Rev: horseman holding spear l.; legend around and in margins: "as-sultan al-azam ala al-dunya wa ud-din," mostly off-flan. 23mm, 4.84g. Ref: Tye 243; Album 1740. Khwarezmian Empire, under Ala ad-Din Muhammad II, BI “jital,” 1200–1220 AD, unclear mint (Dawar region?). Obv: legend in three lines. Rev: legend in three lines. Tye 286; Album 1727. 17mm, 3.00g. Khwarezmian Empire, struck by an anonymous local governor, AE “jital,” June or July of 1221 AD (Jumada of 618 AH), Kurzuwan mint. Avers "al-malik" ("the ruler") in central circle; around: "tarikh jumada sanat thaman asbar wa sin mi'at" ('dated to Jumada, of the year 618'). Rev: inscription in four lines "kurzuwan / la ilah illa allah / muhammad rasul / allah" ('Kurzuwan. There is no God but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God'). 20mm, 2.78g. Tye 324.2; Album 1971. Great Mongols, under Genghis (Chingiz) Khan or slightly later, BI “jital,” 1220s/1230s AD, Nimruz (Sistan) mint. Obv: "qa’an / al-‘adil" ('the just khan'). Rev: " zarb i/ nimruz" ('struck in Nimruz'). 14.5mm, 3.42g. Ref: Tye –; Album A1973. Qarlughids, under Nasir al-Din Muhammad Qarlugh, AE/BI jital, 1249–1259 AD, unknown mint. Obv: Arabic legend "nasir al-dunya wa ud-din," horse r. Rev: Nagari legend "sri maha/mada ka/raluka". 16mm, 3,61g. Tye 347; Album 1819; G&G SS14. Delhi Sultanate, under Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, BI Jital, 1211–1236 AD, Multan mint. Obv: stylized horseman r. Rev: “Shams al-dunya wa al-din abu al-muzaffar iltutmish al-sultan”. 13.4mm, 3.04g. Ref: Tye 378; GG D61.

I don't focus on celtic coins, but a few made their way into my collection over the years: Western Celts: Leuci, cast AE (“potin”), 1st century BC, Gaul, region of Toul. Obv: bald head l. Rev: stylized boar l., ornament (trimount) below. 16mm, 3.56g. Ref: Castelin 595–597; De la Tour 9044. Western Celts: Senones, cast AE ("potin"), ca. 80–50BC, north-western Gaul, region of Sens. Obv: head with six braids r. Rev: stylized horse l., two pellets in fields. 19mm, 4.66g. Ref: De la Tour 7417; Castelin 701M BMC 389. Western Celts: Volcae Arecomici, AE quadrans, ca. 42–40 BC, minted in the region around Nîmes (Nemausus). Obv: [VOLCAE], diademed female head r.; in field r., wreath. Rev: AREC, standing togate figure l.; in field l., palm branch. 14.5mm, 2.54g. Ref: de la Tour 2677. Danubian Celts, AR tetradrachm, 2nd century BC. Obv: head of Herakles degraded to a knob. Rev: Zeus Aëtophoros seated l., holding eagle and sceptre; monogram in l. field (striking weakness); Z below throne; heavily blundered legend to r. Imitating the types of Philip III of Macedon. 30mm, 14.68g. Ref: Dembski 1480/1; Göbl, Ostkelten 579/13; Kostial 926/927; Slg. Flesche 743/744. Eastern Celts: Bastarnae? (interpretation Topalov), AE 18 overstruck on Greek coin, 2nd–1st century BC, southeastern Bulgaria. Obv: primitive head of Strymon, die almost blank. Rev: ornamented trident. 18mm, 5.70g. Ref: imitating SNG Copenhagen 1298; see Pannov: Koine (2013), pp. 191–2; Macdonald: Overstruck (2009), pp. 99–114.

@JeandAcre, the Sicilian follaro showing Mary and the infant Jesus is a fascinating type, and you have a beautiful example! Also, the map made for Roger II is a fantastic exmple of how sophisticated medieval carthography could be. Here are two of my coins from Norman Sicily, both minted for William II "the Good". The first coin is purposefully anepigraphic, the second has William's name and title in Arabic: Norman Kingdom of Sicily, under William II "the Good," AE trifollaro, 1166–1189 AD, Messina mint. Obv: lion's head facing. Rev: palm tree. 26mm, 10.27g. Ref: Spahr 117; Biaggi 1231. Norman Kingdom of Sicily, under William II "the Good", AE follaro, 1166–1189 AD, Messina or Palermo mint. Obv: Lion's head left. Rev: Kufic script: "al-malik Ghulyalim al-thani" ('King William the second'). 14mm, 1.87g. Ref: Spahr 118.

Thanks for linking the Coinweek article, @Roman Collector. It's an interesting read. I'd love to have a siliqua of Julian, but so far I only have these two humble bronze pieces: Julian II, Roman Empire, AE1, 361–363 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG; diademed, draped, cuirassed bust of Julian II r. Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVB; bull standing r., two stars above; mintmark (branch) ANT (branch). 27.5mm, 8.54g. RIC VIII Antioch 216. Julian II, Roman Empire, AE3, 361–363 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG; bust of Julian II, helmeted, cuirassed, with shield and spear, l. Rev: VOT X MVLT XX; in wreath; in exergue, ANTB and branch. 20mm, 3.1g. Ref: RIC VIII Antioch 219 B.

Good to see that medieval Monday is back! I posted this one along with a detailed write-up at CT (here), but the thread was somewhat washed away by the great flood of vitriol. So I am posting it once more here. It is lovely high medieval bracteate from Brandenburg. I especially like how it portrays margrave Otto II in full knightly armor and carrying the symbols of his position in the feudal hierarchy (sword and banner): Margraviate of Brandenburg, under Otto II “the Generous,” 1184–1205 AD, AR bracteate, Stendal mint (?). Obv: OTO MARI; margrave standing facing, wearing a mail hauberk with coif, greaves, and a conical helmet with nasal bar, holding sword and banner; at feet r., heater shield. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). 24mm, 0.85g. Ref: Bahrfeldt 70; Slg. Bonhoff 802; Berger 1676; Slg. Löbbecke 442; Leschhorn 3508.

I don't want to be dull or ruin the fun, but did you have an expert take a look at this one? I think I see casting pearls and what looks like a seam, and it is a heavily faked type...

For "serious" inumismatic information, I prefer non-social media. There are numerous quality journals on numismatic topics. Personally, I more or less regularly follow the annual "American Journal of Numismatics" (published by the ANS), the annual "Numismatic Chronicle" (published by the RNS), and the quarterly German "Geldgeschichtliche Nachrichten" (published by the "Gesellschaft für Internationale Geldgeschichte"). Most issues of the former two journals are also available on JSTOR, making for an excellent archive of numismatic research. When it come to online platforms, I mainly use them for entertainment and exchange with other collectors, and I tried the following: - Nvmis Forvms: So far, I like it a great deal and am looking forward to seeing how this place evolves. - CoinTalk: I've been active there (as "Orielensis") since 2018. I very much like(d) the mixture of informative write-ups sometimes bordering on serious research, showing new acquisitions, and fun stuff. For my taste, there have been quite a few unpleasant trolls and far too many "what is this and what's it worth"-posts lately. Quality content often disappeared from the first page within hours while nonsense-threads and vitriolic discussions kept going for days and sometimes weeks. I don't like this development. - Numismatikforum: I'm regularly lurking but seldomly posting there (nickname "Orielensis"). There are mostly good discussions and a lot of knowledgeable people on this board. Technically, the website is somewhat stuck in the early 2000s. And, of course, it's in German. - Forvm: I have an account but somehow never made it past the lurking stage. The combination of coin shop and forum seems a bit tricky to me. Still, I like reading through the threads there every now and then. Often, they contain high quality posts by experts in specific numismatic fields. Also, their fake reports and fake seller list are useful resources. - Facebook: I mostly detest social media but still have an old Facebook account created some 15 years ago. After a couple of people over at CT recommended it, I logged in for the first time in years and joined the "Ancient & Medieval Coins" group. It mostly consists of people showing their recent purchases and/or asking about authenticity. There is little to no informative content or actual numismatic discussion. Not my cup of tea. My Facebook account is inactive again. - Twitter: I never tried it for coins. About two years ago, I had an account for a couple of weeks after a friend (almost) convinced me that this was necessary to keep up with current events. To my taste, the sheer amount of resentment, polemicism, uncivility and reductive reasoning on this platform were appaling. I soon deleted my account and swore to never come near Twitter again. - Reddit: I had a short look but wasn't convinced. Discussion there seems to be limited to ID-requests and showing new purchases.

My only Thasos coin is from the later issue after 411 BC: Islands off Thrace, Thasos, AR trihemiobol, c. 411-350 BC. Obv: Satyr kneeling l., holding kylix. Rev: ΘAΣ-IΩN; amphora. 12mm, 0.87g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 103.

That's a nice example of a Kroton stater, @antwerpen2306. It's noteworthy that the tripod on these likely is a reference to the Delphic Oracle. According to the founding myth of Kroton, this oracle advised the city’s founding father Myscellus to establish a settlement in Italy. Here is my example, which unfortunately misses much of the bird: Bruttium, Kroton, AR nomos, ca. 480–430 BC. Obv: retrograde ϘPO; tripod with legs terminating in lion’s feet; to left, heron standing r. Rev: incuse tripod with central pellet. 18mm, 7.92g. Ref: HN Italy 2102; SNG ANS 261-2. Ex Teutoburger 138, lot 856 (part of); ex Albrecht&Hoffmann, auction XXIV, lot 67. (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-delphic-oracle-and-pythagorean-numerology-a-tripod-stater-from-kroton.387373/) Bruttium, Croton, AR nomos, ca. 480–430 BC. Obv: retrograde ϘPO; tripod with legs terminating in lion’s feet; to left, heron standing r. Rev: incuse tripod with central pellet. 18mm, 7.92g. Ref: HN Italy 2102; SNG ANS 261-2. Ex Teutoburger 138, lot 856 (part of); ex Albrecht&Hoffmann, auction XXIV, lot 67.