Ursus

This is the book you might want to have a look at. It has numerous plates for weaponry, including shafted weapons, from all periods of Roman history. Spearheads are notoriously hard to attribute, though. With your example, the split socket looks unusal to me, but I am definitely not even close to an expert.

Roman Republic, moneyer: M. Atilius Serranus, AE quadrans, 148 BC, Rome mint. Obv: Head of Hercules r.; behind, three pellets. Rev: Prow r., above, M . ATILI (die break); below, [ROMA]. 17mm, 4.16g. Ref: RRC 214/5a. Next: quadrans

I have a couple of Valerians, but this one is my favorite. I bought it because of the portrait. Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 253 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.

I'm late to the party. My guess would be an akce or a Habbarid damma, see the examples below for reference. There are a lot of different types struck for different rulers. I'm not good at identifying these, but it might be worth checking out the reference pictures on Zeno. Habbarids of Sind, under Ali, AR damma, c. late 9th–10th c. AD. Obv: “b’allah yathiqu ali wa bihi yantasir.” Rev: “lillah muhammad rasul allah ali." 11mm, 0.52g. Album 1496. Habbarids of Sind, under Abd Allah II, AR damma, c. early 11th c. AD. Obv: “la Ilaha Illa allah wahdahu la sharika lahu.” Rev: “muhammad rasul allah al-amir abd allah." 9.5mm, 0.62g. Album A1502.

A very informative post – I learned something reading it! I particularly like the carnyx on the Cloelius quinarius. It is why I bought mine: Roman Republic, moneyer: T. Cloelius, AR quinarius, 98 BC, Rome mint. Obv: head of Jupiter, laureate, r., control mark .C. before. Rev: T.CLOVLI; Victory standing r. crowns trophy with seated captive and carnyx; in exergue, Q. 16mm, 1.9g. Ref: RRC 332/1c. The general design of these quinarii of course is a reference to the earlier victoriati, which don't have the barbarian captive on the reverse yet: Roman Republic, anonymous issue, AR victoriatus, after 211 BC, Rome mint. Obv: laureate head of Jupiter r. Rev: Victory r., crowning trophy; in exergue, [ROMA]. 17.5mm, 2.0g. Ref: RRC 53/1.

Nice coin! Yours, just like mine, shows traces of overstriking. That is not unusual: most coins of this type were struck over Tancred's earlier folles (Metcalf 49–62). It would be fascinating to know the economic reason for this. Renovatio monetae? Revaluation of circulating bronze coins? I don't know... 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.

Very glad to hear! That is really good news. I had been worried because of @Severus Alexander's absence from this forum. Hopefully, he'll be better soon.

I'm with the green part of the map below. Here, the people peacefully negotiate and elect to what extent academic theories are put into action or not. And fortunately so: in examples like Klearchos, history has shown again and again what happens if you hand power to ideologists with a fancy set of ideas!

I already liked the coin when I looked at the pics you sent me via PM, but now that I see how it cleaned up I have to say it is indeed a very nice example of the type! Most Henri III demi-francs I have seen online, including those owned by the BNF, are in worse shape. To illustrate the point, the big majority of the examples currently offered on MA-Shops have way less obverse detail left. Here are two slightly earlier 16th century coins from my collection that I particularly like. The first one came to me as a Secret Saturnalia gift from @Qcumbor: Kingdom of France, under Henry II, AR douzain aux croissants, 1550 AD, Lyons mint. Obv: + HENRICVS 2 · DEI · G · FRANCORV · REX · F · (lis); crowned French coat of arms; to l. and r., crown above crescent. Rev: + SIT · NOMEN DNI · BENEDICTVM · 1550 · (lis); pellet below 12th letter; cross fleurée with H and crown alternating in quarters; D below. 27mm 2.46g. Ref: Duplessy 997. Kingdom of France, under Charles IX, AR sol parisis, 1566 AD, Poitiers mint. Obv: +CAROLVS•IX•DEI•G•FRAN•REX; crowned French coat of arms. Rev: +SIT•NOMEN•DNI•BENEDIC 1566; cross fleury with mint mark G in center. 21mm 1.51g. Ref: Duplessy 1083.

Same link again: Crispus, Roman Empire, AE 3, 317–318 AD, Trier mint. Obv: FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES; laureate and cuirassed bust of Crispus r. Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Crispus standing l. holding spear and globe; in fields, F-T; mintmark .ATR. 19.5mm, 3.19g. Ref: RIC VII Trier 171.

Nice coin and truly informative presentation! I have a dirham struck fo Harun al-Rashid at the Al-Abbasiyah mint in modern Tunisia. The lettering on this one is too blurred for me to really deciper the mint and date. Yet, I bought it from Allen Berman and it came with a note that said it had been attributed by Stephen Album, so I trust the seller's attribution: Abbasid Caliphate, under Harun al-Rashid, citing governor Yazid, AR dirham, 787/8 AD (171 AH), Al-Abbasiyah mint. Obv: beginning of kalima (“There is no deity except / (the one) God alone / He has no equal”), mint-date-formula around. Rev: second part of kalima (“Muhammad / is the Messenger / of God); name “Yazid” in lower field; around, Surah IX, 33 (“Muhammad is the messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it”). 23.5mm; 2.94g. Ref: Album 219.2. Ex Allen G. Berman.

Lovely coin! My latests ancient coin is much more humble. I picked this one up for little money because I like the artistic reverse: Vespasian, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 75 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [IMP] CAESAR VESPASIANVS [AVG]; head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: PON MAX TR P COS VI; Securitas, naked to waist, seated l., feet on stool, resting head on raised arm. 18mm, 3.22g. Ref: RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 774.

Alright – one of my favorite areas. I have a fair number of Teutonic Order coins. Here are some personal favorites: Teutonic Order, anonymous issue, AR bracteate penny, ca. 1290–1410, unknown mint. Obv: shield of the Teutonic Order, three pellets above. Rev: negative design (bracteate). 14mm, 0.16g. Ref: Waschinski 80b; Eggert 12a. Teutonic Order, anonymous issue, AR bracteate penny, ca. 1290–1410, unknown mint. Obv: Latin cross flanked by two saltires. Rev: negative design (bracteate). 15mm, 0.21g. Ref: Waschinski 158. Teutonic Order, under Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode, AR shilling, 1351–1382, Thorn or Danzig mint (?). Obv: + MAGST WVNRICS PRIMS; eagle shield of the Grand Master. Rev: + MONETA DNORVM PRUCI; shield of the Teutonic Order. 21mm, 1.64g. Ref: Neumann 4. Teutonic Order, under Grand Master Conrad V von Erlichshausen, AR schilling, 1441–1449, Thorn mint (?). Obv: + MAGST CORADVS QVIN; eagle shield of the Grand Master on long cross. Rev: + MONETA DNORVM PRUs; shield of the Teutonic Order on long cross. 20.5mm, 1.48g. Ref: Neumann 23. The Livonian Order, an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order, is often forgotten. It minted coins, too: Livonian Order, anonymous issue (under Cisso von Ruttenberg or Jan Freitag von Loringhofen?), AR artig, 14th/15th century, Reval mint. Obv: +MAGISTRI x LIVONIE, shield of the Order. Rev: +MONETA x REVALIE; cross with three pellets in each quadrant. 18.5mm, 1.2g. Ref: Neumann 204a; Haljak 6; Hutten-Czapski 4054. Livonian Order, under Grand Master Wilhelm von Fürstenberg, AR schilling, 1557 AD, Reval mint. Obv: MONET REVALE 57; shield of the Order. Rev: MAGISTRI LIVONIE:; long cross. 18mm, 0.95g. Ref: Haljak II 142; Neumann 242. The Knights Hospitaller minted a series of rather impressive large silver gigliati at Rhodes: Knights Hospitaller (Order of St. John) at Rhodes, under Raymond Bérenger, AR Gigliato, 1365-1374. Obv: + F RAIMUNDVS BERENGERII D GRA M; Grand Master, wearing cloak with Maltese cross on shoulder, kneeling l. in prayer before patriarchal cross set on steps; arms of Raymond Bérenger to r. Rev: + OSPITAL ♣ S • IOhS • IRLNI : QTS • RODI •; cross fleury with arms of the Knights Hospitaller at the end of each arm. 28 mm, 3.64g. Ref: Metcalf 1208–1210; CCS 22.

Thanks for the kind words and congratulations, everyone! I very much hope so – I'm extremely excited to see what interests and hobbies she will develop over time. But there is still a lot of time for that... That's a nice example. I like the portrait style! These are all exquisite! The camel denarius with the scorpion field mark is on my want list for 2024. Certainly a very interesting type. That's a true rarity and a small numismatic riddle you have there. The background of these extremely rare Goldabschläge (test strikes, donative coins, semi-private collector items or something else) is still very much up for debate. In any case, that is an extremely desirable coin. (Also: nice dog, though I'm more of a cat person!) Good luck on the hunt for one!

@JeandAcre already explained above that the Roma coin has a pellet in the right obverse field – which makes it somewhat unusual. Yet, there are numerous subtypes with different fieldmarks (lis, ringlet, etc.) that usually don't sell for much of a premium. My theory: either two specialist collectors wanted to have this one badly and were willing to pay whatever necessary, or at least two bidders just didn't know better. Now, the number of people who collect medieval gigliati by field mark likely fits into a single Toyota Prius. Thus, the second option seems more likely... I bought mine for 28€ plus auction fees and shipping in June 2019. That was a good bargain back then, but not excessively so. The type is common and there aren't many collectors. Kingdom of Naples, under Robert "the Wise" of Anjou, AR gigliato, 1309–1317. Naples mint (?). Obv: +ROBERT DEI GRA IERL ET SICIL REX; Robert sitting facing on lion throne, holding lily scepter and globus cruciger. Rev: + hOnOR. REGIS. IUDICIU. DILIGIT; floral cross, lilies in quadrants. 28mm, 3.93g. Ref: MIR Napoli 28.

That's a very attractive example of a desirable type, @Sulla80! Also, I didn't know that 46 BC was so much longer than regular calendar years – that's quite fascinating. Here is my own Carisius denarius from that year: Roman Republic, moneyer: T. Carisius, AR denarius, 46 BC, Rome mint. Obv: ROMA; helmeted head of Roma r. (Attic helmet with plain crest). Rev: T·CARIS; cornucopiae on globe; on l., sceptre; on r., rudder. 18mm, 3.33g. Ref: RRC 464/3c.

The last thing I bought was a 250g pack of Panko bread crumbs this morning. I'm not certain what I would do with 12.5 tons of Panko bread crumbs. Frying a lot of stuff, I reckon... The last coin I bought is this one. I could well live with having a big chest of these! Kingdom of France, under Philippe IV "le Bel" ("the Fair"), AR Gros Tournois à l’O Rond, 1285–1314 AD (struck 1295–1314 AD), Tours mint. Obv: +BHDICTV SIT HOME DHI nRI DEI IhV XPI/+ PhILIPPVS REX, cross pattée; 3-pellet stops. Rev: +TVRONVS°CIVIS, châtel tournois; border of twelve lis. Ref: Duplessy 213.

I really appreciate specialized collections. Cistophoric tetradrachms are outside of my own collecting areas, but I learned a lot reading your list. To my non-specialist eyes, the coin showing Octavian and Agrippa is especially attractive.

Great list overall! I think the Antiochene denarius of Titus deserves a special mention. That indeed is a fantastic coin.

What a spectacular list, Curtis! It is very hard to pick favorites, but the Syracusan tetradrachm and the denarus with a lifetime portrait of Caesar stand out to me. You certainly had a great collecting year. I wish you all the best for 2024.

2023 has been an all-around eventful year for me both at home and at work. Most importantly, my wife and I became parents. We are incredibly happy but still in the process of settling into a new rhythm of life together with our little daughter – which is why I haven’t been that active on this board recently. When it comes to coin collecting, I made comparatively few purchases in 2023. On the one hand, I simply didn’t have much time to hunt for coins between some new projects at work and the big baby project at home. On the other hand, prices for quality ancient and medieval coins appear to have risen again, and now often reach a point where I have to tap out. Nonetheless, I managed to add some pieces that sum up to a – for my standards respectable – top ten. Here they are in chronological order: 1. This is my second Alexander tetradrachm. It’s a coin that somehow grew on me. Initially, I was attracted to it because of its rather unusual style and it surprised me that I won it at auction with a lowball bid. The auction house had tentatively attributed it to the Amphipolis mint. With the help of some other forum members (see this thread), though, I was able to identify the control mark as a naval ram and thus attribute it correctly and find some die matches. It is from the Soli mint on Cyprus - which has an interesting history and is not a common mint for Alexander tetradrachms. Alexander III "the Great," Kingdom of Macedonia, AR tetradrachm, c. 325/3-319/8 BC, Soli (Cyprus) mint (under Pasikrates). Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin. Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, naval ram (prow). 25mm, 17.21g. Ref: Price 3097. 2. I like Celtic and other “barbaric” imitations of Greek and Roman coins. This coin imitates a drachm of Massalia and gives the lion on the reverse distinctive insect-like features. Its great luster makes it hard to photograph. Western Celts: Insubres, Cenomani, or Salluvii, AR drachm (imitation of Massalia), minted in southern Gaul, c. 2nd century BC. Obv: stylized head of nymph r. Rev: scorpion-like lion standing r.; barbarous legend above. 18mm, 2.62g. Ref: de la Tour 2126, CCCBM II 9; KMW 125. 3. Some of you will probably yawn at this coin. It is a common type, yet I had wanted to add one to my collection since I saw an example at the Bode museum in Berlin some years ago and learned about the history of this coinage. The large 1st century issues of tetradrachms from Thasos were struck by Roman officials in the province of Macedonia in order to pay Thracian and Danubian auxiliary troops that fought in the Mithridatic Wars. Thasos, Island of Thrace, AR tetradrachm, c. 90–75 BC. Obv: head of Dionysos r., wearing ivy-wreath. Rev: HPAKΛEOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ ΘAΣIΩN, youthful Herakles standing l., holding club and lion's skin; monogram in l. field. 31mm, 16.07g. Ref: Prokopov, Silberprägung, Group XVI, 174; Le Rider, Thasiennes 52; HGC 6, 359. 4. I have been intrigued by this type for a while, mainly because of the reverse depicting the Roman ritual of swearing an oath while touching a pig. It is up for debate whether this scene here refers to a specific actual historical event. Crawford argues for a reference to the agreement at the Caudine Forks in 321 BC, but this is far from certain. It might also simply copy the design from a much earlier gold stater (RRC 28). In any case, it is an unusual type showing a culturally interesting scene. Roman Republic, moneyer: Ti. Veturius, AR denarius, 137 BC, Rome mint. Obv: Bust of Mars r., draped and helmeted behind, X and TI VE downwards. Reverse: oath-taking scene: two warriors facing each other, each holds spear in l. hand and with sword in r. hand touches pig held by figure kneeling between them; above, [ROMA]. 18mm, 3.93g. Ref: RRC 234/1. 5. The reverse of this denarius shows Cupid (or an infant Genius) riding a goat. It is likely derived from a statue that stood in the temple of Veiovis. The goat probably refers to the animal from whose hide the aegis was made, while the caps of the Dioscuri point to the Tusculan origin of the moneyer’s family. Roman Republic, moneyer: Mn. Fonteius, AR denarius, 85 BC, Rome mint. Obv: MN. FONTEI CF; head of Apollo r., below, thunderbolt. Rev: Cupid on goat, right; around, laurel-wreath; above, pilei; below, thyrsus. 19mm, 3.90g. Ref: RRC 353/1. 6. I like Roman Republican coins that don’t show a head of Roma on the obverse and a horse-drawn chariot or the dioscuri on horseback on the reverse. This one is not only interesting because it was struck during the turbulent years after Caesar’s assassination, it also combines different references to the cult of Liber/Bacchus on both obverse and reverse. Roman Republic, moneyer: C. Vibius Varus, AR denarius, 42 BC, Rome mint. Obv: head of Liber r., wearing ivy-wreath. Rev: garlanded altar, on which rests mask of Silenus and against which rests thyrsus; on r., panther springing up towards altar; in exergue, C VIBIVS; on r., VARVS upwards. Ref: RRC 494/36. 7. Most forum members know that I mainly collect medieval bracteates, which explains the next forum coins. The first one comes from the royal mint at Ravensburg and belongs to the group of bracteates struck in the region around Lake Constance. Its design later on became the coat of arms of the city and is a visual pun on its name: “Burg” means castle. Ravensburg, royal mint, likely under Frederick I Barbarossa, AR bracteate penny, c. 1185–1200 AD. Obv. three towers with central gate, small ringlets above flanking towers, pseudo-lettering around. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). Ref: Berger 2533, Slg. Bonhoff 1842, Slg. Wüthrich 255. 8. This episcopal issue from Augsburg is not exactly rare but in very attractive condition. I like that it shows the bishop performing the rite of blessing. The seller apparently got their hands on a small hoard, so I was able to get it for a bargain price. Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg, under Udalschalk von Eschenlohe or Hartwig II von Hirnheim, AR bracteate, ca. 1184–1208. Obv: bishop facing, raising both hands, pellets above hands. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). 22mm, 0.67g. Ref: Berger 2640; Slg. Bonhoff 1903; Slg. Wüthrich 313; Steinhilber 61. 9. Another bracteate from the Lake Constance region. The Rottweil mint is special insofar as it only struck a single type over a long period of time. Other bracteate mints usually changed types rather often in order to declare the old types invalid and have them exchanged for new coins at a premium. This way of collecting taxes is known as renovatio monetae but apparently did not happen at Rottweil. There is a very detailed studies of all known dies from Rottweil. Mine was struck from die #113. This die may date a bit later than the bulk of coins from Rottweil that were struck during the reign of Frederick II. Rottweil, royal mint, under Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, AR bracteate penny, 1215–1250 AD. Obv: stylized eagle facing, head r. Rev: incuse design (bracteate), 18mm, 0.36g. Ref: Slg. Bonhoff 1875, Slg. Wüthrich 270, Berger 2565 (die: Klein, Rottweil, no. 113, tentatively dated c. 1270–1280). 10. Last but not least, a 13th century bracteate from a monastic mint. The Benedictine abbey of Kempten was founded by St. Hildegard of Vinzgouw, the wife of Charlemagne and queen of the Frankish realm. Her bust is shown on this coin. It is also present in the abbey’s arms. I can appreciate the slightly comical style of the portrait. Princely Abbey of Kempten, AR bracteate penny, c. 1230 AD. Obv: crowned bust of St. Hildegard with lily and cross; pseudo-lettering around border. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). 20mm, 0.38g. Berger 2512–3; Slg. Bonhoff 1837–40. Please name your favorites and post anything related!

I will post my top ten for 2023 in the next couple of days, and they will contain a fair number of medieval bracteates. This recent purchase is my inofficial no. 11. I have searched for a medieval bracteate from the royal mint at Frankfurt for quite some time due to the historical significance of that city. Unfortunately, many of the attainable coins from this mint are of rather mediocre artistic quality. This one is attractive enough in my eyes. Furthermore, it was struck at an interestic point in German history, during the turbulent times following the death of Frederick II: Frankfurt am Main, royal mint, AR bracteate, c. 1260/70 AD. Obv. crowned bust facing, holding lily sceptre and imperial orb; below, arch. Rev: incuse design (bracteate). 22mm, 0.35g. Ref: Berger 2371–3; Slg. Bonhoff 1529.

This morning, I opened the envelope @Qcumbor sent me a while ago and found a very thoughtful letter as well as this gorgeous coin: Constantius II, Roman Empire, AR reduced siliqua, 360–363 AD, Lugdunum mint. Obv: D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; bust of Constantius II, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: VOTIS/XXX/MVLTIS/XXXX within a wreath; in exergue, LVG. 18mm, 2.31g. Ref: RIC VIII Lugdunum 216. I absoloutely love it and am struck by your generosity, Q. While I have a fairly good selection of late Roman bronze coins, silver from that period has been somewhat of a hole in my collection that this siliqua now has plugged. Thank you so much! Also, since you wrote me that you chose this coin because it was struck in your home region at Lyon, I wanted to let you know that this place has a special significance for me, too: I proposed to my wife while we were stuck in a traffic jam in the Tunnel de la Croix-Rousse. (Not the most romantic spot in the city, I know, but opportunity tends to present itself at strange moments...) So, everytime I hold a coin from Lyon, I have to think of that joyful day, which makes your gift even better. Happy Holidays and Io Saturnalia to all of you! (Also, I'm glad you like the denarius, @JayAg47!)

Nice selection! The Antiochus tet is fantastic, but I also have to single out the Aethelred penny. What a splendid example (despite the plastic coffin)!

Nice Tancred and Septimius Severus sestertius! You obviously had a good collecting year.