Ursus

This Valerian completed my set of the twelve Dei Consentes, aka the Roman pantheon: Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 258 AD, Lugdunum mint. Obv: Obv: VALERIANVS P F AVG; bust of Valerian I, radiate, draped, l. Rev: DEO VOLKANO; Vulcan, draped, wearing pilos, standing l. in temple, holding hammer in r. hand and pincers in l. hand; at his feet l., anvil. 22mm, 3.16g. Ref: RIC V Valerian 5. Here is the complete set: Next: am ancient deity not included in the above set

+1 I have a couple of pugnacious opinions when it comes to modern numismatics. Most US and world collectors disagree. It's probably best for everybody that I never got into collecting anything from after 1700: 1.) Slabbing and fussy grading are a marketing strategy to sell boring coins to rookie collectors at inflated prices. 2.) Serious collectors know their coins better than the label on the slab. 3.) The more worthwhile a numismatic field is, the less nitpicky people are about grading. (That doesn't only refer to ancients. I know people who, for example, specialize in collecting American tokens, German notgeld, or coins from the Spanish Civil War. They care about historical interest, eye appeal, and completing whatever set they have in mind, not about a highly sophisticated grading scale.) 4.) 20th/21st century US coins are boring. 5.) NCLTs and "commemorative coins" constitute money-making schemes, not collectibles. 6.) Coin collecting is a terribly bad investment strategy.

Campania, Neapolis, AR didrachm, c. 300–275 BC. Obv: diademed head of nymph r., hair in band; X to left. Rev: man-headed bull standing r., head facing, crowned by Nike flying r. above; EYΞ below. 19mm, 7.19g. Ref: Sambon 477; HN Italy 577. Next: cow

Sure – here you go [EDIT: Oops, I am too late – I've just seen that @JeandAcre already found a digital facsimile and posted it above]: And here is a quick picture of the relevant page from Dannenberg's catalogue, just in case you don't have it at hand. Note that his argument for an attribution to Heinrich II per se only applies to Dannenberg 1239, for which he sees a stylistic similarity to Dannenberg 788, which can be safely attributed to Heinrich II. Dannenberg 1240 and following are only mentioned in this context as further examples of German coins copying Byzantine models, but the author does not attribute them to any parrticular mint and ruler.

Great coin! A possible connection to Otto II's marriage to Theophanu seems plausible to me, in particular because we see a remarkable Byzantine influence in late 10th century German manuscript illumination, textiles and jewelry. Art historians explain this by Byzantine artworks and crafts having been brought west by Theophanu and her entourage. It is reasonable to assume that the same happened with coins, too. There are numerous German 10th/11th century coins that copy Byzantine and/or late Roman models. All of them are exceedingly rare and somewhat mysterious: mint, date and moneyer are typically unknown. Here is a plate from Dannenberg (the catalogue @Tejas referred to above) for illustration:

If I understand correctly, engravers chiseled the design into the metal of the die using considerable pressure/force. If their chisel slipped off, the result would have been a more or less straight scratch. (Anybody who does, for example, woodcarving knows how fast that can happen). On a coin struck from such a die, the engraving error would show as a raised line. My guess is that this is what happened on the reverse die of your coin.

I wonder about the coin with the blue-green patina. Gordian III? I see you got yourself one of the Tigranes II tets that are currently entering the market. Looks like a really nice coin! I admire your knowledge of these. I have two Gadhaiya paisa and was able to attribute them only because of the research you posted on these back on CoinTalk. If I were still living in the Bay Area, I'd ask you to have a closer look at that bag of Bulgarian grossi at the next coin show. They look promising! That's quite a sneer on this bust – I can see why you bought it. You're definitely much more effective than me: so far, I bought a total of nine coins in 2024, and six of them are still in the waiting line...

It often takes me quite a while until I take proper pictures of new coins, research them a bit further, write tags, add them to my digital collection records, put them in my trays and mabe post a little write-up here on NumisForums. Family, friends, and work come before my coin hobby, and each day only has 24 hours. Therefore I often have a few coins sitting in a box on my window sill that have to wait until I find some leisure time. I guess the same is true for most of you, too. This is what currently is in my waiting line: As you can see, it's medieval German and Swiss stuff throughout: a rather nice bracteate from St. Gallen with an old ticket, two square bracteate pennies from Freiburg and Basel, a small 16th century coin from Bern showing a cute little bear, and two 14th century pennies from the episcopal mints of Regensburg and Bamberg. Looking at this box, I thought that this might be an interesting idea for a thread. Therefore: What coins are in your waiting line at the moment, and what is your process of adding them to your collection?

Roman Republic, anonymous issue, AR denarius, 179–170 BC, Rome mint. Obv: Helmeted head of Roma, r.; behind, denominational mark X. Rev: Luna in biga r., with horses prancing; in exergue, ROMA (traces of overstriking?). 20mm, 3.80g. Ref: RRC 158/1. Ex JB collection; ex AMCC 2, lot 93. Next: triga

Ariobarzanes I. Philorhomaios, Kingdom of Cappadocia, AR drachm, 66/65 BC, Eusebeia mint. Obv: Diademed head right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ APIOBAPZANOY ΦIΛOPΩMAIOY, Athena standing left, holding shield, spear and Nike; to left monogram, Λ in exergue (off flan). 17mm, 4.3g. Ref: Simonetta 1977, no. 43. Maxentius, Roman Empire, AE1 (“follis”), 309–310 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; head of Maxentius, laureate, r. Rev: CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated l. in hexastyle temple, holding globe and sceptre and leaning on shield; in pediment wreath, in exergue, RBT. 25.5mm, 6.27g. Ref: RIC VI Rome 210. Next: an unusual helmet

Lovely coin! My only Philip II is much more pedestrian: Spanish Monarchy, under Philip II, AE 4 maravedis, 1584–1585 AD, Burgos mint, moneyer: Juan De Morales. Obv: [+DON·PHELIPPE·II· ]; castle; in fields, B–M and circle Rev: [+REI·DE·LAS·HESPAÑAS]; crowned lion l. 21mm, 4.07g. Ref: Calíco 2008, 781.

The quality of Valerian's portraits differs greatly from mint to mint and from series to series. As the posts by @Finn235 , @Sulla80 and @Octavius above illustrate, the "APOLINI PROPVG" reverse, for example, often comes with nicer than usual portraits. Below is my example. I paid through the nose for it but don't regret the purchase. Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 253/4 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG; bust of Valerian, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: APOLINI PROPVG; Apollo, nude except for cloak flying behind, standing r., drawing bow. 22mm, 3,58. Ref: RIC V Valerian 74; MIR 36, 44d.

Well, I don't want to disappoint you: Seljuq Sultanate of Rum, Kaykhusraw II, citing caliph al-Mustansir, AR dirham, 1241–1242 AD (639 AH), Qunya (Konya) mint. Obv: Kufic legend citing caliph: "al-imam al-mustansir billah amir al-mu'minin;" lion r. with sunface above. Rev: name and titles of Kaykhusraw II in Naskh: "as-sultan al-azam / ghiyath al-dunya wa ud-din / kay khusraw bin kay qubadh;" around, mint and date: "duriba bi-quniyat / sanat tis' / thel[athin] sittm'iat." 23mm, 2.97g. Ref: Album 1218. Seljuq Sultanate of Rum, Kayaka'us II (1st reign), citing caliph al-Musta'sim, AR dirham, 1248–1249 AD (646 AH), Qunya (Konya) mint. Obv: kalima and citation of caliph: "la ilah illa allah / muhammad rasul allah/ al-imam al-musta’sim / billah amir al-mu'nimin," in square; date 646 AH in margins. Rev: name and titles of Kayaka'us II: "as-sultan al-azam / zill allah fi al-alam /'izz al-dunya wa ud-din / kay kawus bin kay khusraw," mint formula for Qunya around. 22.5mm, 3.03g. Ref: Album 1223.1. Seljuq Sultanate of Rum, under Kayka'us II, Qilij Arslan IV, Kayqubad II ("the three brothers"), citing caliph al-Musta'sim, AR dirham, 1249–1250 AD (647 AH), Siwas mint. Obv: kalima and citation of caliph "la ilah illa allah / muhammad rasul allah al-imam / al-musta'sim billah amir al-mu / 'minin;" afterwards mint and date formula for Siwas 647 AH. Rev: names and titles of the three brothers: "al-salatin al-a'azim / 'izz al-dunya wa ud-din kay kawus / wa rukn al-dunya wa ud-din qilij arslan / wa ’ala al-dunya wa ud-din kayqubad / ibn kay khusraw barahin amir al-mu’minin." 23mm, 3,02g. Ref: Album 1227. Seljuq Sultanate of Rum, Ghiyas ad-Din Kaykhusraw III, AR dirham, 1276–1277 AD (674 AH), Ma'dan Lulueh mint. Obv: “al-mulk lillah” (‘sovereignty belongs to God’) within polylobe; around, mint and date formula for Ma’dan Lulueh 674 AH. Rev: name and titles of Kaykhusraw III: “al-sultan al-azam / ghiyath al-dunya wa al-din / abu al fath kay khusraw / ibn qilij arslan.” 24mm, 2,93 g. Ref: Album 1232; Mitchiner 1001. (That's a neat coin you have there, by the way!)

Nice one! I have an example of an ort from the Bromberg mint: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sigismund III Vasa, AR Ort (¼ Taler), 1622 AD, Bromberg mint. Obv: SIGIS • III • D • G • REX • POL • M • D • LI • RVS • PRV • M; bust of Sigismund III, crowned, with ruff and in ornamented cuirass, holding sword and orb. Rev: SAM • LIV • NEC • N • SV • GOT • VAN : Q : HRI : R; crowned and quartered shield with eagles (Poland) and rider (Lithuania), central inescutcheon with Vasa withy; in fields, 16-22; mintmark: arrow and stars. 29mm, 6.83g. Ref: Kopicki 1278.

The article consists mostly of short historical summaries of each emperor's reign as well as some remarks on recent auction results. I enjoyed looking at the accomapnying coin pictures, though. The article illustrates some very beautiful and scarce pieces that most of us can only dream of. Even my better coins of this dynasty are all a bit more pedestrian: 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. 18mm, 2.75g. Ref: RIC IX Aquileia 12B. Valentinian I, Roman Empire, AE4, 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. Gratian, Roman Empire, AE3, 367–375 AD, Siscia mint. Obv: D N GRATIANVS P F AVG; bust of Gratian, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed, r. Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM; emperor advancing r., dragging captive with r. hand and holding labarum in l.; in fields, F – R/c on R; in exergue, ΔSISCϟ. 17mm, 2.67g. Ref: RIC IX Siscia 14C: Subtype xxxv. Valentinian II, Roman Empire, AE2, 378–383 AD, Cyzicus mint. Obv: DN VALENTINIANVS P F AVG; bust of Valentinian II, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, r., holding spear. Rev: GLORIA ROMANORUM; emperor standing on ship l., head r., with Victory standing at the helm l.; in field l., wreath; in exergue SMKΔ. 24mm, 4.95g. Ref: RIC IX Cyzicus 14b. Theodosius I, Roman Empire, AE 2, 378–383 AD, Siscia mint. Obv: DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG; bust of Theodosius I, diademed, draped and cuirassed, r. Rev: REPARATIO REIPVB; Emperor, head r., standing facing, holding standard and globe; in exergue, ANTA. 22mm, 4.48g. Ref: RIC IX Antioch 68A. Aelia Flaccilla, Roman Empire, AE2, 383–388, Cyzicus mint. Obv: AEL FLACCILLA AVG; bust of Aelia Flaccilla, with elaborate headdress, draped, necklace, and mantle, r. Rev: SALVS REIPVBLICAE; empress, head r., standing facing, arms folded on breast; in exergue, SMKΓ. 22mm, 4.32g. Ref: RIC IX Cyzicus 24. Arcadius, Roman Empire, AE2, 392–395 AD, Nicomedia mint. Obv: D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG; bust of Arcadius, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed, r. Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM; emperor, head r., standing facing, holding standard and globe. Ref: RIC IX Nicomedia 46B. 21.5mm, 5.23g. Theodosius II, Roman Empire, AE3/4, 401–403 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG; ust of Theodosius II, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear in r. hand behind head and shield decorated with cross on l. arm. Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG; Constantinopolis, helmeted, draped, enthroned, enthroned, facing front, head r., holding long sceptre in r. hand and Victory on globe in l. hand; beneath her r. foot, prow; in exergue, ANT(Γ?). Ref: RIC X Arcadius 100.

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. Next: dolphins

I've got three ants of Trajan Decius. This is the one with the best portrait: Trajan Decius, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 249–251 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, bust of Trajan Decius, draped and radiate, r. Rev: PANNONIAE, the two Pannoniae standing, holding standards. 23mm, 4.14g. Ref: RIC IV,3 Trajan Decius 21b. Ex Warren Esty; ex PMV Inc., "Late Summer List" 1982, lot 94; ex Dorset County Museum. My antoninian of Herennia Etruscilla is nothing special. I got it from one of the famous FSR bargains lists (you need to be really fast in order to get anything from these): Herennia Etruscilla, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 249–251 AD, Rome mint. Obv: HER ETRVSCILLA AVG; bust of Herennia Etruscilla, diademed, draped, on crescent, r. Rev: PVDICITIA AVG; Pudicitia, draped, veiled, standing l., drawing veil with r. hand, holding sceptre in l. hand. 22mm, 4.13g. Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 58. Ex Frank S. Robinson, bargain list April 2020, lot 178. I bought my Herennius Etruscus for the Mercury reverse. Mercury is not often shown on imperial coins: Herennius Etruscus, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 251 AD, Rome mint. Obv: bust of Herennius Etruscus, radiate, draped, r. Rev: PIETAS AVGG; Mercury, nude except for cloak on shoulders, standing l., holding purse and caduceus. 20mm, 3.17g. Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 142. Ex JB collection; ex AMCC 2, lot 201.

An interesting little coin. I always enjoy your write-ups on small Greek bronzes that are too often ignored! Here is my one and only coin of Thurium/Thourioi: Lucania, Thourioi, AR nomos, c. 400–350 BC. Obv: head of Athena r., wearing helmet decorated with Skylla holding oar (?) and pointing. Rev: ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ; bull butting r.; in exergue, fish r. 21mm, 7.63g. Ref: HN Italy 1800; SNG ANS 1002–14. Ex Rhenumis 11, lot 10005; ex Fritz Taeger collection.

Vespasian, Roman Empire, denarius, 77/78 AD, Rome mint. Obv: CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right. Rev; ANNONA AVG, Annona seated left, holding corn ears. 19mm, 3.33g. Ref: RIC II Vespasian 964.

Get well soon, Donna!

I'm not certain whether I count as real intelligence, but in German this object is simply known as the "Trierer Münzpokal" (Trier coin goblet). It was commisioned in 1732 by Karl Kaspar Emmerich von Quadt, the deacon of the Trier cathedral. The ensemble contains 41 ancient gold coins, eight golden casts imitating ancient coins and two 17th/18th century medals struck in gold. Here are some links to pages with additional pictures and information (in German): https://rlp.museum-digital.de/object/5721 https://www.muenzen-online.com/post/römermünzen-im-prunkgeschirr

Can do that: Imperial City of Cologne, civic issue, AR bracteate heller, 1974–1493 AD, Cologne mint. Obv: civic coat of arms: three crowns above five flames. Rev: negative design (bracteate). 14.5mm, 0.31g. Ref: Noss 31. Ex Ernst Otto Horn Collection. Next: a coin that makes you laugh

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. Next: elephant

Beautiful pictures, @Coinmaster! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the museum. I visited it shortly before the pandemic hit in 2020 and was really impressed by their collection. The presentation of the coin hoards as big piles with a few chosen highlighted examples is not quite to my taste, but I get that there isn't enough exhibition space to show each coin on its own. In general, the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in my opinion does a fantastic job at keeping its exhibition both educational and accessible. I guess that lawyers were already expensive back then. (Not complaining: mine were usually worth every penny.) Also, I'll take the chance to show some of my coins from Trier. Note the fur-lined coat visible on Constanine's left shoulder on the first coin. This type of coat only appears on coins from Trier: Constantine II, Roman Empire, AE3, 326AD, Trier. Obv: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, bust of Constantine II, laureate, draped, cuirassed, l. Rev: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, camp gate with two turrets, star above; in exergue, STR crescent. 19mm, 3.01g. Ref: RIC VII Treveri 479. On this coin, Helena is wearing an imperial mantle. This is very untypical for female busts. I wonder whether this way caused by an engraver's error or iconograpic choice: Helena, Roman Empire, AE3, 327–328 AD, Trier mint. Obv: FL HELENA AVGVSTA; bust of Helena, wearing necklace and mantle, r. Rev: SECVRITAS REIBUBLICE; Securitas, draped, standing l., raising robe with r. hand and lowering branch with l. hand, in exergue, PTRE. 19mm, 2.88g. Ref: RIC VII Treveri 508. Constans, Roman Empire, AE3, 348–350 AD, Trier mint. Obv: D N CONSTANS P F AVG; bust of Constans, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: FEL•TEMP•REPARATIO; phoenix, radiate, standing r. on rocky mound; in exergue, TRP•. 16mm, 2.33g. Ref: RIC VIII Treveri 228. 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.

In this case: have a good time (and feel free to post some pictures of the Tried gold hoard afterwards)!