Marsyas Mike

These were under $100 for the pair of them - Cappadocia Silver - Didrachm of Antoninus Pius: Antoninus Pius Didrachm Caesarea, Cappadocia (c. 138-161 A.D.) [ΑVΤΟΚΡ ΑΝΤω]ΝЄ[Ι]ΝΟС СЄΒΑСΤΟ[С], bare head right / ЄVСЄ[ΒЄΙΑ], Eusebeia standing left, extending hand over lighted altar to left. RPC IV.3 6898 (8 specimens); Metcalf 116a, S Suppl. 292a (6.43 grams / 20 x 18 mm) eBay June 2023 $34.00 BIN Drachm of Septimius Severus: Septimius Severus Drachm Caesarea, Cappadocia ЄT Є = Year 5 (196-197 A.D.) [AY] Λ CЄΠ CЄOYH[POC], laureate head right / MHTPOΠO • KAICAPIA, Mt. Argaeus surmounted by star, [Є]T • Є in exergue. Sydenham Caesarea 395 (var.?); BMC 223 (var.?). (3.00 grams / 16 mm) eBay June 2023 $31.00 BIN Note: Many varieties of these; this one has shorter legend without final C (KAICAΡIA). The references are confusing, and auctions are not consistent; the reverse legend usually has the final C. Two consistent references are Sydenham Caesarea 395 / a; BMC 223. "In his fifth year (when this coin was issued), Severus defeated Clodius Albinus at the Battle of Lugdunum, securing full control over the Empire. He also initiated his campaign against Parthia, and made a large payment to his soldiers (perhaps explaining the mintage in this year, the first since 194), plus raised their annual salary from 300 to 400 denarii..." Ancient & Med. Coins Canada Both a lot of fun to attribute and a reasonable price, I think. If anybody can help me clarify the Sept. Severus, I'd be much obliged!

Spectacular pickups, @zadie. Like @expat I am new to these, but recently got my first one. If I have my attribution correct, this one may have been issued in Tralles for Mithridates during the First Mithrdatic War (Lucia Francesca Carbone article is where I got this - see below - this article provides a lot of useful information on these). Tralles, Lydia Cistophoric Tetradrachm Magistrate Atta - (c. 89-85 B.C.) See notes. Cista mystica with serpent, ivy wreath with fruits around / [T]PAΛ | ATTA, two serpents around bow case, Dionysos standing right holding thyrsos and grapes, panther at feet. (12.49 grams / 24 x 23 mm) eBay April 2023 Here are some quotes from Professor Carbone's research: Lucia Francesca Carbone dates this issue (ATTA) to the First Mithridatic War c. 89-85 B.C., with 15 specimens in record per control mark and 5 obverse dies (see chart, p. 108) "For what concern Tralles, the city was then under the tyranny of the sons of Cratippus, who were responsible for the massacre of the Roman residents. The wealth of the city must have attracted a large number of negotiatores and also probably members of the societates publicanorum, whose exploitation provoked the violet reaction of the inhabitants of the city. Cicero refers to the wealth of the city and to the good relationships between the city and Mithridates, as he recalls Laelius' statement that the king of Pontus would have been 'more anxious about adorning Tralles than plundering it.' The enhanced cistophoric production of Tralles could then also be explained with the necessity of financing a war, even if not necessarily on the Roman side. The sudden increase in the cistophoric production of Ephesus and Tralles seems thus directly related to the Mithridatic Wars." (p. 103) "Given the already mentioned connection between Dionysus and Mithridates, the introduction of Dionysus as a control mark in the issues of ATTA and ΘEOΔ suggests a dating in the course of the First Mithridatic War. This means that in those years the city produced an average of five (observed) the tetradrachm obverse dies (fractions excluded), a clear decrease from the extraordinary production of the year 90/89 BC, but still considerably higher than the pre-90 BC levels." (p. 107) "Late cistophoric production during the first Mithridatic War: a comparison between the mints of Ephesus and Tralles" by Lucia Francesca Carbone Colonial Geopolitics and Local Cultures in the Hellenistic and Roman East (3rd century BC - 3rd century AD), Hadrien Bru, Adrian G. Dumitru and Nicholas Sekunda editors (Archaeopress Publishing, 2021) Retrieved from Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=6h1YEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA105&dq=tralles+carbone&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4uo…#v=onepage&q=tralles carbone&f=false

I'm a believer too! I posted one of these Tarkondimotos countermarks on Coin Talk a while back: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/countermark-with-battle-of-actium-connections-tarkondimotos-of-cilicia.346020/ Here's mine: Cilicia, Tarkondimotos Æ 21 (c. 39 - 31 B.C.) Hieropolis-Kastabala Mint Diademed head right / [BAΣIΛEΩΣ TAPKONΔIMOTOY], Zeus enthroned left, [ΦIΛANTΩNIOY] in exergue; Countermark: Anchor in oval. RPC I 3871; SGCV II 5682; SNG Levante 1257; Sear 5682. (10.06 grams / 21 mm) eBay Aug. 2019 Here's a chunk from my CT post: "Tarkondimotos was made dynast by Pompey and crowned king by Marc Antony. He died at the Battle of Actium. The anchor countermark, frequently used in an earlier era by Seleukid kings, is almost certainly post-Actium, perhaps from Antioch." (FORVM)Soon afterwards I came across a wonderful article by Nicholas L. Wright (excerpts below). According to Wright, the countermark served several purposes, including obliterating the reverse legend, which carried the politically dangerous ‘Philantonios’ ("friend of Anthony"). In all the other examples I could find online, the countermark was indeed placed on the neck of the king, vertically aligned, so that it obliterated the offending Philantonios legend on the reverse. Unfortunately, the die axis of my specimen is not 12 o'clock, so the reverse-obliteration did not work (a lot of circulation wear did take out the reverse legends).I thought this coin came with far more provenance than is typical for my eBay purchases - according to the flip this is ex CNG Sale XXXIII, Lot 358, ex Frank Kovacs collection. I found the CNG auction online, but the lot described was for an un-countermarked specimen. So much for the reliability of old flips (the seller made no mention of this "provenance" in the eBay auction, so I am not complaining).An excerpt and link to Wright's article is below. Any other of these out there, countermarked or not?Tarkondimotid responses to Roman domestic politics: from Antony to Actium by Nicholas L Wright"...Tarkondimotos led his own squadron during the engagement and died fighting against Agrippa.14 He was succeeded in Kilikia by his sons, Philopator I and Tarkondimotos II.It would appear that one of the first actions taken by Philopator on his succession was to systematically countermark his father’s regal coins with an anchor symbol across the neck of the obverse portrait (Fig. 4). The choice of a maritime symbol to legitimise the coinage of a king who had just died in a naval battle may not be as strange as it first sounds. The anchor was widely understood as a sign of safety, and the symbol had been the official mark of the Seleukids from earliest times as a subtype, reverse type, a symbol on official weights and seals, and as a countermark. In this context the countermark may have symbolised the right of the Tarkondimotidai as successors of the Seleukids to continue their rule in Kilikia during the uncertainty that followed the battle of Actium.15 Furthermore, Tarkondimotos I’s regal coins have a uniform die axis of 12 o’clock. By hammering the countermark punch into the neck of the obverse portrait, any detail below the exergue line of the reverse type became obliterated. This was precisely the location of the epithet ‘Philantonios’ which has become all but invisible on the known countermarked specimens of this coin type. Through the countermarking process Philopator I was making a dual statement stressing both his own legitimacy and, just as important in the political environment after Actium, reneging on his father’s support of Antony. Even so, he maintained the royal title for little more than a year before Octavian officially relieved him of the kingship in 30 BC.16 Nevertheless, Philopator retained his influential position within the region, probably with the hereditary title of toparch although specific evidence for this is lacking." (p. 76)http://www.numismatics.org.au/pdfjournal/Vol20/Vol 20 Article 6.pdf

Very nice coin and write-up as always @David Atherton. I have a similar, more common, crustier one: Domitian Æ As (85 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP CA[ES] DOMITIAN AVG GERM COS XI, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / SALVTI [A]VGVST[I], S-C, horned altar or shrine of Ara Salutis Augusti. RIC II Part 1 (2nd ed.) 305; BMCRE 316-317; Cohen 417. (10.94 grams / 28 x 27 mm) eBay Aug. 2019

I'm a big fan of Whittier's book. My local public library has it on the shelf, so I've never sprung for a copy of my own, but I'd like to get one some day. That being said, the Roman Coins from the same series is not as good, I think. It spends too much time on Julio-Claudians at the expense of everything later, as if the author just got bored soon after Nero's bathetic end. Years ago the American Numismatic Assn. issued a series of books "Selections from The Numismatist" and one of these was Ancient & Medieval Coins. Most of the articles are rather out of date and/or inaccurate (my copy is from 1960, so the articles are older). However, there is one called "Notes on Common Byzantine Bronze Coins" by John F. Lhotka, Jr. that is just excellent - to this day I use it. The charts on emperors' regal years, mints, and denominations are very helpful. These old ANA anthologies were published by Whitman and seem to always come in dark blue hardback (like the penny folders). Used book stores usually sell them cheap. I paid $5 for my copy:

Here is my latest attempt to identify the couple dozen ancients that I haven't been able to figure out. Sometimes I go through the pile and try to figure 'em out. This one appears to be unlisted. If anybody can add any information, I'd be very pleased. At some point I might send it to RPC to see if they want to add it to their database. I posted this years ago on Coin Talk, @Ed Snible and @Roman Collectorprovided some help (thanks, fellas!). https://www.cointalk.com/threads/roman-provincial-id-help-needed-elagabalus-nude-guy.349306/#post-3813651 Since then, I think I figured out the reverse figure - Phosphorus holding two torches, cape blowing behind, apparently otherwise not attired (hope those torches aren't sparking!). The reverse legend is pretty clear - it was issued by Caesarea Germanica. Here's mine with my latest efforts at an attribution: Elagabalus Æ 19 Caesarea Germanica, Bithynia (c. 218-222 A.D.) [Μ ΑΥΡ?] ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC ΑΥΓΟΥ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / [ΚΑ CΑ]ΡΕΙΑC ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΗC, Phosphorus advancing left, holding two torches Unlisted (see notes). (3.55 grams / 19 x 18 mm) eBay Oct. 2019 $3.00 Attribution: This appears to be unlisted. See: RPC VI 10926 (temporary) same (or similar) legends, Elagabalus, Caesarea Germanica, athlete reverse https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/10926 CNG E-Auction 188; Lot 211; 28.05.2008: Diadumenian, Caesarea Germanica, Phosphorus advancing right I found an unlisted Phosphorus type for Diadumenian that looks an awful lot like mine, except Phosphorus is hurrying off in the opposite direction. The obverse legend on mine would appear to be Elagabalus. Here's a comparison photo with the Diadumenian: CNG auction: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=479622 Here's the RPC Elagabalus with the athlete reverse - the obverse inscription seems to match mine, thus my belief mine is for Elagabalus (but not a die-match, alas): https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/10926 Further compounding the mystery is what town are we talking about? - Wikipedia: Germanicopolis (Greek: Γερμανικόπολις) was an ancient town in Bithynia, also known as Caesarea in Bythinia (not to be confused with Caesarea Germanica, as such a former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanicopolis_(Bithynia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanicopolis_(Bithynia) Kahramanmaraş (Turkish pronunciation: [kahɾaˈmanmaɾaʃ]), historically Marash (Turkish: Maraş; Armenian: Մարաշ) and Germanicea (Greek: Γερμανίκεια), is a city in the Mediterranean region of Turkey and the administrative centre of Kahramanmaraş province. Maraş was called Germanicia Caesarea (Ancient Greek: Γερμανίκεια, Germanikeia) in the time of the Roman and Byzantine empires, probably after Germanicus Julius Caesar rather than the German people. According to a 2010 Cumhuriyet article, the first ruins of Germanicia have already been unearthed in the Dulkadiroğulları quarters of the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahramanmaraş Yeah, "not to be confused" is what I am not. If that makes sense. The coin sources say this is the one in Bithynia. Share your mysteries, your attribution journeys, your tired, your poor, your huddled masses of coins yearning to be identified (with apologies to Emma Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty). 😀 Anything else from Caesarea Germanica would be good to see too (RPC lists only 24 types total).

Nice catch @Furryfrog02 - these bare-bottom Venus issues for Salonina seem to be a bit scarce. I have two of them, but at least on eBay I've only seen one other example since c. 2018.

Terrific tet, and write-up @Prieure de Sion. That travel schedule is fantastic. Michael Grant says there are four Egyptian types for Nero's visit to Greece. I hope some others will get posted as well. Hint, hint! Thanks for posting!

Thank you for the kind words, Al. And yes, I definitely agree that it is possible the "naked guy" is Apollo. Given Nero's visit had everything to do with singing and dancing (in the Olympics, among other games), Apollo would be a perfect fit. Your note inspired me to try a little harder to find this (cited in the OP): 25 L. Lacroix, Quelques aspects de la numismatique sicyonienne, RBNum 110, 1964, 19-29. The most recent discussion of the general type, with bibliography of earlier treatments, is by A. E. Kalpaxis in Tainia...Roland Hampe...dargebract (1980) 291-305 You gotta love the Internet. I found it right away, in pdf form, but not cut-n-pasteable. Which means no easy Google Translate import. Anybody out there fluent in French? This site opened up as "not secure" on my computer, FYI. The plates do not match any of the Provincial types, so I am not sure it is relevant, despite the indication that it is, as cited in the OP. http://www.numisbel.be/1964_1.pdf Apollo? Probably, but I just don't know.

Nice one! That is Minerva on that countermark. The one @Roman Collectorposted is a laurel branch. Both types found on Antioch hosts. It is a fairly common countermark, and I have a few of them. Here's my Minerva like yours, with my attribution notes. This one is on a Domitian host (yours may be Domitian too? I think I see IT at 10 o'clock): Domitian / Domitian Æ 20 (c. 79-96 A.D. / cm 83-96 A.D.) Syria, Seleucis & Pieria Antiochia ad Orontem [(IMP) DOMITIANVS CAES(AR) (AVG)], laureate head left / Large S • C in laurel wreath. RPC II 2017; McAlee 51 or RPC II 2024; McAlee 411-2. (6.62 grams / 20 mm) eBay Aug. 2022 Countermark: Athena/Minerva in 6 x 4 mm rectangle, Howgego 245; RPC 368. (none on Titus in RPC from (63) examples). "The connection of Minerva with Domitian suggests that this is an Imperial countermark. There can be little doubt that it was applied at Antioch between 83 and 96 A.D. It did not have a denominational significance because it occurs on both denominations of the SC series" Howgego Here's one on a host coin issued for Titus: Titus / Domitian Æ 28 (c. 79-81 A.D. / cm 83-96 A.D.) Syria, Seleucis & Pieria Antiochia ad Orontem T CAESAR IMP PON[T] (first T faint, located at 6 o'clock), laureate head right / Large S•C, laurel wreath around, pellet top. RPC II 2014; McAlee 384(b/c?); BMC 235; Wruck 102. (13.63 grams / 28 x 27 mm) eBay June 2022 Countermark: Athena/Minerva in 6 x 4 mm rectangle, Howgego 245; RPC 368. (none on Titus in RPC from (63) examples). "The connection of Minerva with Domitian suggests that this is an Imperial countermark. There can be little doubt that it was applied at Antioch between 83 and 96 A.D. It did not have a denominational significance because it occurs on both denominations of the SC series" Howgego Scarcity: RPC has (63) examples of Countermark 368, all for Antioch SC issues, but none on a Titus host coin. Die-Match: Obverse die appears to match this specimen from RPC: Coin no. 5 of RPC II 2014; I have another one that I think is on a very very worn host coin of Claudius: Claudius/Domitian Æ 22 (c. 41-54 A.D. / cm 83-96 A.D.) Syria, Seleucis & Pieria Antiochia ad Orontem [IM•TI•CLA•CAE-AV•GER], laureate head right / Large S-C, pellet between, positioned low, laurel wreath around [pellet top]. RPC 4279; McAlee 250a. (11.30 grams / 22 mm) eBay April 2021 Countermark Notes: Athena/Minerva in 6 x 4 mm rectangle, Howgego 245. "The connection of Minerva with Domitian suggests that this is an Imperial countermark. There can be little doubt that it was applied at Antioch between 83 and 96 A.D. It did not have a denominational significance because it occurs on both denominations of the SC series" Howgego Here is one on a Vespasian host: Vespasian/Domitian Æ 20 (c. 69-79 A.D. / cm 83-96 A.D.) Syria, Seleucis & Pieria Antiochia ad Orontem [IMP CA]ESAR VESP[ASIAN AVG], laureate head left / SC within laurel wreath.RPC II, 2011; BMC 218; McAlee 43; Wruck 97. (8.17 grams / 20 x 18 mm) eBay Nov. 2020 Countermark Notes: Athena/Minerva in 6 x 4 mm rectangle, Howgego 245 (9 pcs. for Vespasian) Finally, here is the laurel countermark. These turn up on Trajan hosts a lot: Trajan/Hadrian Æ 27 (c. 102-114 A.D. / cm see note) Syria, Seleucis & Pieria Antiochia ad Orontem [ΑΥΤΟΚΡ] ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑ[ΝΟϹ] ϹΕΒ[ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ] laureate head left / SC within laurel wreath, BI below. RPC III, 3595; McAlee 487(m). (12.98 grams / 27 x 25 mm) eBay Nov. 2020 Countermark: Laurel branch incuse in 5 x 4 mm rectangle, Howgego GIC 378 (69 pcs); RPC Countermark 498. "According to Howgego, the laurel branch countermark appears as an undertype on a Bar Kochba bronze, indicating that it was applied prior to 132-135 AD." https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=930871

This coin was in my eBay shopping cart for about a year or so. I just couldn't figure it out - Nero, clearly, from the portrait, and his name visible. The portrait is Provincial-looking, I thought, a later bust type with chariot-drover mullet, but a bit "blunt" for an imperial mint issue. The guy on reverse, looking a bit like an Imperial issue showing Apollo playing a lyre (or Nero dressed as Apollo - opinions vary). Pan? Marsyas? And a large C in the right reverse field - half of S-C? Despite the C, it looked Provincial. Here are the seller's photos, which are pretty good. It was described: "Roman 210 BC~400AD Didrachm 292488 combine shipping" which was not much help: From time to time I'd research it. Finally, a couple weeks ago I tried just cruising through the RPC database for everything Nero with a standing reverse figure. Bingo! It is from Sicyon, Achaea, and it is apparently quite scarce. RPC has three - the two illustrated are obverse/reverse die-matches to mine (and obverse die-matched to another issue with a horseman on the reverse). I could find no other examples anywhere (no acsearch, no Wildwinds, etc.). It was a "buy it now" for $38.99 and I made an offer of $25 which was immediately accepted (probably one of my better purchases this year). Here is my photo and attribution: Nero Æ 19 Magistrate Gaius Iulius Polyaenus (duovir) Sicyon, Achaea (c. 67 A.D.) See notes. ΝΕ ΚΑΙ ΖΕΥϹ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟϹ laureate head right / ΕΠΙ Γ ΙΟΥ ΠΟΛΥΑΙΝΟΥ, ΔΑ-ϹΙ across fields, naked figure wearing cloak standing right. (7.68 grams / 19 x 18 mm) eBay May 2023 $25.00 B.O. Note: RPC I 1242; no other references. Found only 3 of these, all on RPC. Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Coin no. 1 of RPC I 1242 Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris Inventory No. 665 Coin no. 2 of RPC I 1242 British Museum Inventory No. 1895,0703.9 Die-Match Obv.: Coins 1-4 of RPC I 1240 (horseman rev.) Note: Reverse legend starts at right, under figure's hand (ΕΠΙ), and runs clockwise to head (NOY). Note: "The grant of freedom to Greece at Corinth in 67 is for the most part referred to by naming Zeus Eleutherios in a legend or depicting him....In addition, on all Neronian types of Sicyon the emperor was associated with Zeus Eleutherios by means of the legend NE(ron) K(aisar) ZEUS ELEUTHERIOS." E. Manders & D. Slootjes Here are die-match comparison photos showing the only two images I could find of this coin, both RPC Online examples (there's a third example, but no image for it). The bottom coin shows RPC 1240 with the horseman, an obverse die-match to the others (as noted in RPC https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/1240). *** "Rare" provincials aren't all that uncommon, but this particular coin proved more interesting than I thought. The obverse legend, Nero Caesar / Zeus Eleutherios refers to the honors, including deification, bestowed on Nero for his "liberation" of Greece in Corinth in 67 A.D. The reverse legend refers to the dovir Gaius Iulius Polyaenus, but an explanation for the nude guy hasn't come up in my desultory research - an athlete perhaps? Nero wearing almost nothing but a smile? There have been many threads about the abundant issues of Hadrian celebrating his travels through the empire. But I had no idea that there are a lot of coins issued for Nero when he traveled to Greece. From what I can tell from just a little research, there are quite a few types and issuing authorities for these Neronian visit coins (including Egyptian issues; see Michael Grant's book Emperor in Revolt: Nero (1970), where a tetradrachm photo is shown, with this caption: "The Pythian Apollo: one of a series of five designs on coins issued by the governor of Egypt to celebrate Nero's successes in the Greek Games" (p. 131)). Given the complexity of this situation, I'm going to limit my findings pertaining to the coin I just got, Sicyon with the naked guy. Two articles in particular were full of information; these articles described other coins and areas as well, but here's what they say about my coin: Article Number 1: "Linking Inscriptions to Provincial Coins: a Reappraisal of Nero’s Visit to Greece" Erika Manders & Daniëlle Slootjes https://repository.ubn.ru.nl/bitstream/handle/2066/184419/184419.pdf?sequence=1 "Corinth, Patras and Nicopolis all issued coin types propagating the emperor’s arrival in these cities by means of their legends (aduentus/epiphania/portus frugifera) often in combination with an image of a galley.39 In addition, the participation of Nero in several games is probably commemorated by the frequent representations of panhellenic games: the Isthmian games on Corinthian coins,40the Nemean games in Sicyon,41 the Actian games in Nicopolis,42 and the Olympian games in Patras.43 Although Buthrotum was not visited by the emperor, this city also minted coins commemorating his victories at the Greek games (as did the Thessalian League). 44 The grant of freedom to Greece at Corinth in 67 is for the most part referred to by naming Zeus Eleutherios in a legend or depicting him. Two coin types minted in Patras bear the legend IV PITER LIBERATOR and display the chief god with eagle and sceptre.45In addition, on all Neronian types of Sicyon the emperor was associated with Zeus Eleutherios by means of the legend NE(ron) K(aisar) ZEUS ELEUTHERIOS.46 Corinth issued coins that refer directly to Nero’s proclamation, showing the emperor with a scroll in his hands and standing on a suggestum together with the legend ADLO[cutio] AVG.47 Coinage that can probably be attributed to the mint of Nicopolis displays not only the personification of Eleutheria, but also bears the legend NERONI (DEMOSIO) PATRONI ELLADOS (“To Nero, the public patron of Greece”).48 Possibly, even the Achaean city of Phoenice, which was not visited by the emperor, referred to the Freedom of Greece on its coinage, as one of its types displayed Zeus Eleutherios.49" Footnotes: 40 RPC I, nos. 1202, 1207, 1208. 41 RPC I, nos. 1238, 1240, 1241-44. 42 RPC I, nos. 1371, 1372, 1374-76. 43 RPC I, no. 1275. 44 RPC I, nos. 1415, 1439, 1444, 1449, 1451-52. 45 RPC I, nos. 1279-80. 46 RPC I, nos. 1238-44. 47 RPC I, nos. 1205-6. 48 RPC I, nos. 1376-77. 49 RPC I, no. 1418. I'm not sure why the Sicyon issue refers to the Nemean Games - I don't know enough about the various Olympiad-type games to say anything useful beyond the (apparent) fact that all the Olympiad-type games got moved together in the schedule to accommodate Nero's visit (and participation). Article Number 2: "When Did Nero Liberate Achaea - And Why?" B. Levy This one has a kind of complicated citation situation - the full text can be found here: https://helios-eie.ekt.gr/EIE/bitstream/10442/386/1/A01.013.27.pdf However, I couldn't find a title or author from this! The site is: "The National Documentation Centre is a Greek public organisation that promotes knowledge, research, innovation and digital transformation." Wikipedia As I was unable to cut and paste from this source, I had to type it out; apologies in advance for typos. Doing some more digging I found a full citation (but not the text; this is from a bibliography): Full citation: LEVY 1991 Levy, B., When did Nero Liberate Achaea and Why? In: Rizakis, A.D. (ed.), Achaia und Elis in der Antike. Akten des 1. Internationalen Symposiums Athen, 19.-20. Mai 1989 (Paris: de Boccard), 189-194. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/43573318.pdf "The third Acaean mint to produce coinage clearly related to Nero's visit is Sicyon. Examples of its single Neronian issue have always been considered rare, but that is partly due to the circumstance that none appear in the published catalogues of major collections 22. In fact, at least forty-four are locatable today, and from them we can get a reasonable picture of the issue's structure. All come from six obverse dies, bearing a patently late portrait of Nero (figs. 4-9) 23. The obverse inscription, which is rendered in a slightly different abbreviated form on each die, is ΝΕPWV ΚΑΙAP ΖΕΥϹ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟϹ - proof that the whole issue was struck after the liberation of Achaea. Sicyon's obverse portrait is coupled with a pair of reverse types; each, like the portrait, can appear either to right or to left (figs. 10-13)24. These types are interesting in their own right, and the first of them has received a great deal of scholarly attention 25, but their meaning will not concern us here. More important to this discussion is the reverse legend. Like that of the obverse, it appears with a number of petty variants, which have been useful in distinguishing a dozen or so of the dies used for these generally rather worn reverses. It gives the name of a magistrate, the damiorgos Gaius Julius Polyaenus. He too is interesting, as a man who had signed the coinage for Corinth while serving there as duumvir about a decade earlier; in fact, the coin-blanks for Polyaenus' issue at Sicyon could well have been produced at Corinth, for their weight and fabric, though not their style of engraving, correspond closely to those of contemporary Corinthian issues. Dependence on certain technical resources of a more active neighboring atelier would be quite constant with the fact that Sicyon had struck no earlier Julio-Claudian coinage, and was to sponsor none again until the Severan period. Most pertinent here is the fact that just one magistrate is named. That implies production within a single year -- which must, in fact, be the year following the liberation. The pattern of die-links suggests an even more restricted period of issue, for ever obverse die but one is linked to another, and half are linked to two or more, as if all or nearly all obverse dies were in use together. As is common with such compact and isolated coinages, we should probably assume games or a festival as the occasion. It seems very likely, even if our literary sources are silent on the subject, that Sicyon's games were put on for Nero and in his presence26. But if the liberation of Achaea, to which this coin refers, had taken place in late November of 67, there would hardly have been time for games between Nero's proclamation and his departure -- which in Suetonius' version followed immediately after." (p. 193) 24. Figs. 10-13: London BM 1895-7-3-9; Munich; Corinth, Blegen coll.; Corinth 76.367 25 L. Lacroix, Quelques aspects de la numismatique sicyonienne, RBNum 110, 1964, 19-29. The most recent discussion of the general type, with bibliography of earlier treatments, is by A. E. Kalpaxis in Tainia...Roland Hampe...dargebract (1980) 291-305 I've included two of the footnotes as they pertain to my coin. The article cited for 25 is from Levy's frustrating comment: "These types are interesting in their own right, and the first of them has received a great deal of scholarly attention 25, but their meaning will not concern us here." Even if I found it, I can't read French, but if anybody has it, I'll give it a try! *** Well, hope this hasn't paved you over with excruciating detail. Information on Sicyon can be found on the Internet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicyon and elsewhere. It was a city of some importance for a time, but dwindled away over the centuries. The fact RPC Online only lists 7 total issues for the city, all Nero, would suggest that Nero's visit was an opportunity to show some civic pride and/or make an effort to issue coins like the big cities do (Corinth is nearby). Please share anything you might have from Nero's travels in Greece. As I mentioned before, the information above was culled from the two cited articles pertains specifically to my coin from Sicyon; other issues are discussed as well. You might check your Provincial Neros - you might have a "Nero Travel Issue." And don't forget those Alexandria tetradrachms. Please share your Neronian Greeks or anything else along those lines, especially anything from Sicyon.

Nice catch, @Roman Collector. As for misidentified coins, I'm not sure where to begin, since I buy most of my stuff off eBay, where misidentifications abound! This is a recent one - sold as a Marcus Aurelius sestertius, when it is actually Lucius Verus (an easy mistake to make). I had this reverse type already, but not with a cuirassed bust, which is a bit scarcer: Lucius Verus Æ Sestertius (163-164 A.D.) Rome Mint [L] AVREL VERVS AVG ARM[ENIACVS], laureate, cuirassed bust right / TR P IIII [IMP II COS II], S-C, Mars walking right with trophy and spear. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1380; BMCRE 1113-1114. (27.39 grams / 30 x 28 mm) eBay May 2023 Die-Match Characteristics: Obv: Big cuirass scales, 3 rows; laurel ties point back, parallel. Rev: Legs crude, skinny tip-toe. Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Baldwin's Auctions Ltd Auction 100; Lot 725; 27.09.2016 Error: RIC 1379; C 224 These next two were listed by the seller as "possible fantasy." I'm pretty sure they're the real thing - and at $10 each, a great deal: Egypt Tetradrachm Hadrian Year ς (6) = (121-122 A.D.) Alexandria Mint ΑΥΤ ΚΑI Τ[ΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CЄΒ], laureate head right, drapery on right shoulder, crescent right / L ς. Dikaiosyne standing front, head left, holding scales and cornucopiae. (13.06 grams / 23 x 21 mm) eBay May 2023 RPC III 5315 (Average weight 12.84 grams; Specimens 27); Dattari (Savio) 1357; Geissen 826; Emmett 833.6; Kampmann/Ganschow 32.183; Milne 1003. Dora, Phoenicia, Syria ΠP = Year 180 (117-118 A.D.) [ΑΥΤΟ ΤΡ]Α ΑΔΡΙΑΝωΚΑΙϹ, laureate and cuirassed bust right / ΔωΡ ΙƐΡ ΑϹΥΛ•ΑΥΤ ΝΑΥ[ΑΡ], laureate head of Doros, right [aphlaston right?], ΠP below. RPC III 3919; Rouvier 773; De Saulcy 1–2. (10.86 grams / 23 x 22 mm) eBay May 2023 Additional Attribution: RPC III 3919; Rouvier 773; De Saulcy 1–2; BMC Phoenicia pg. 117, 37-39; Sofaer 33 (same obverse die); Rosenberger 31; Meshorer, "The Coins of Dora," INJ 9 (1986-7), pg. 70, 37 corr. "Doros was the son of of the god Poseidon, and was credited with founding the city of Dora." CNG Die-Match Obverse: Zumzim Coins SKU: jbc683 "Sofaer 33 (same obverse die)" CNG Mail Bid Sale 57; Lot 891; 04.04.2001 CNG Electronic Auction 316; Lot 331; 04.12.2013 Harlan J. Berk Buy or Bid Sale 223; Lot 387; 22.06.2023 Die-Match Reverse: Coin no. 19 of RPC III 3919 (CNG Electronic Auction 238; Lot 280; 11.08.2010)

Another Nero, countermarked by Galba... Maybe someday I'll get an actual Galba's head coin. Meanwhile, all I have is Nero's head with a Galba countermark (in Greek): Nero / Galba Æ As (63 A.D.; c/m 69 A.D.)NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS, laureate head right / [GENIO AVGVSTI], Genius, naked to waist, standing half-left, holding cornucopiae,[altar left]. RIC 125Countermark: [Γ]AΛBΛ (GALBA in Greek) Howgego GIC 526(9.77 grams / 27 mm)Galba Countermarks:"GALBA in Greek Letters (Martini Pangerl Collection 92). This countermark occurs also on Provincial coins and is Howgego as GIC 526. (These) coins are in the grey zone between official coins (so called Thrakian mint) and provincial coins of the Balkan region"

Here's one for Nero I posted a while back: Just got this new countermark I wanted to share. A small AE from Akmoneia, Phrygia issued for Nero by a husband and wife Archon team, strangely enough (seems unusual to me anyway) with an Asclepius countermark. What a lot of Greek writing for such a tiny flan! There were three or so variations of this type of host coin - I think I have the right one, but corrections always welcome.This is not a particularly scarce countermark - Howgego noted 12 and I found seven or so in an acsearch and a few more on vcoins. Apparently there was a shrine to Asclepius in Akmoneia, thus the countermark, supposedly.All the examples I saw were carefully applied along the outside edge so as not to obliterate the emperor's face. So I am guessing this was countermarked during Nero's lifetime. Galba supporters would've whacked him on the nose.Here is an example from the "Automan" collection on FORVM;http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=546&pos=58Nero Æ 19 Lucius Servenius Capito, Archon & wife, Julia Severa Akmoneia, Phrygia (c. 65 A.D.)[NEPΩN] KAICAP CEBACTOC laureate head right / CEPOYHNIOY KAΠITΩNOC KAI IOYΛIAΣ CEO]YHPAC / AKMONEΩN / Zeus seated left, [owl standing left], EΠI APX [TO Γ] in monograms.RPC 3176. (3.80 grams / 19 mm)Countermark (Obverse): Asklepios standing, holding serpent-encircled staff, inrectangular punch, 4.5 x 9 mm.Howgego 241 (12 pcs).

This post has brought out some very interesting countermarks. I've posted quite a few on CT over the years, so I'll toss a few out - some Seleucids: While researching these countermarks, I found some very interesting information on "A Survey of Ancient Coins" blog: http://guberman.blogspot.com/2009/08/greeceseleucid-antiochus-iii-bce-223.htmlThis is apparently a military issue. I quote from this blog:"Cf. SC I, pp. 411-412 for additional information.According to SC I, Appendix 2, pp. 66-68, "The...bronzes were apparently countermarked first with a horse head, and later with an anchor, to make them "equivalent" to later issues of similar type that had these symbols in the die. The countermarking was probably an aspect of currency regulation by the military: The Seleucid army needed to impose the use of this fiduciary coinage on the population of Ptolemaic Coele Syria during the Fifth Syrian War in order to ensure provisions for its troops." (p. 66)" Later I got another one, and ran a comparison: Here is the new one - the horse head is bigger - and the host coin is considerably heavier than my first one:Seleucid Kingdom Æ 24 Antiochos III the Great Military mint in Ekbatana c. 210 B.C. / countermarked in Coele-Syria c. 202-198 B.C.Antiochos III as Apollo right / [ΒΑΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ], elephant & mahout right, [tripod & monogram?]. SC 1272Countermark: Horse head.(14.06 grams / 24 mm)Here is the one I posted above (new photo) - smaller horse head:Seleucid Kingdom Æ 21 Antiochos III the Great Military mint in Ekbatana c. 210 B.C. / countermarked in Coele-Syria c. 202-198 B.C.Antiochos III as Apollo right / ΒΑΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, elephant & mahout right.CM: Anchor & Horse’s HeadSC 1084e; ESM 656; Spaer819-821(8.01 grams / 21 mm)Here are the two of them together - note the size/weight difference:For both of these I am attaching this note:"The...bronzes were apparently countermarked first with a horse head, and later with an anchor...The Seleucid army needed to impose the use of this fiduciary coinage on the population of Ptolemaic Coele Syria during the Fifth Syrian War in order to ensure provisions for its troops."SC I, Appendix 2, (p. 66)How are my attributions? I'm not confident. It looks a lot like the one Pavlos posted above. But maybe the new one is not Seleucid? I found a Pontus-Ptolemaic Kingdom that looks a lot like my host:https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6287880Any information on this newest one would be enormously appreciated. Is it the "horse head" issue the same for both of these (beyond the obvious size differences)? Did some of these just miss the later anchor countermark?

Nice denarius and write-up, @Prieure de Sion Here's another Commodus Felicitas type, this a sestertius. This one has the full FELIX. He issued a lot of these types, making attributing the lower-grade examples (like mine) somewhat of a challenge - my best guesses below: Commodus Æ Sestertius (c. 186-187 A.D.) Rome Mint M COMMODVS AN[T P] FELIX AVG BRIT, laureate head right / [PVB]L[ICA] FE[L P M TR P XII IM]P VIII [CO]S V P P, S-C, Felicitas standing left holding patera and sceptre RIC III 503 (see notes). (19.50 grams / 28 x 24 mm) eBay July 2018 Attribution: Reverse hard to see; three possibilities; RIC 503 seems most likely: RIC III 467 (186 A.D.) FEL PVBLICA P M TR P XI RIC III 495 (186-187 A.D.) FEL PVBLICA P M TR P XII RIC III 503 (186-187 A.D.) PVBLICA FEL P M TR P XII And here is a crusty as of Commodus, but identifiable: Commodus Æ As (181 A.D.) Rome Mint M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate head right / FEL AVG TR P VI IMP IIII COS III PP S-C, Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and sceptre in left. RIC 320; BMC 112; RSC 905. (11.57 grams / 25 mm) eBay June 2019

Great FF post as always, @Roman Collector I got this one early this year - veiled portraits of Faustina are favorites of mine: Faustina I Denarius (c. 141 A.D.) Rome Mint DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, veiled, draped bust r. / AETERNITAS, Providentia standing left, holding globe and scepter. RIC III Antoninus Pius 350a(b); BMCRE 291; Cohen RSC 34a. (3.47 grams / 17 x 16 mm) eBay Jan. 2023 (Can.) Die-Match Characterstics: Obv: AVG - AV run together. Rev: Globe next to E, long arm. Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Jesús Vico, S.A.; Subasta 157; Lot 359; 26.11.2020 Die-Match Reverse: American Numismatic Society Identifier: 1956.127.549 "Tell Kalak", Jordan, 1956 Here are the die-matches - kind of interesting the ANS example is from Tell Kalak Jordan - I didn't think denarii circulated much in that part of the Empire: Here's another veiled type - this one also had some die-matches, including the @Roman CollectorCollection example. I'm not worthy!! Faustina I Æ As (c. 140-141 A.D.) Rome Mint DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA, draped and veiled bust right / A[E]T[ERN]ITAS, S-C, Providentia standing left, holding globe on extended right hand and vertical sceptre in left. RIC III Ant. Pius 1163ab (as); BMCRE 1459-1460. (9.18 grams / 25 x 24 mm) eBay Mar. 2023 Die-Match Characteristics: Obv: Small top-knot; elaborate drapery; GVS-TA FAV...break. Die-Match Obverse: Roman Collector collection (see various CT & NF posts) Gorny & Mosch Giessener Stuttgarter Münzauktionen, Auktion 1; Lot 452; 22.11.2010 Classical Numismatic Group. Electronic Auction 108; Lot 157; 16.02.2005 (ex- Rudolf Berk) Note: "These coins were among the first issued in honor of the Diva Faustina I following her death in late Oct./early Nov. of AD 140. They bear (a) veil worn by the deceased empress, emphasizing her deified status. The coins of this first issue emphasize her consecration with numerous CONSECRATIO reverse types, her Piety...and two AETERNITAS types, emphasizing the deified empress's place among the stars." (RC CT) Thanks again, RC.

Interesting coin, @Prieure de Sion. The TICA/TICAE that I've seen are usually on small AEs from the Balkans, imitations of Imperial issues. Yours is a nice, big Imperial issue that looks official to me. I've not seen many of these so countermarked, if any. The countermarks are possibly a way for the authorities (the Army, probably) to validate little, cruddy AEs for circulation. Nobody knows for sure. I have several of these - here is a selection of some of the more attractive ones in my collection (ha ha): The TICA types are often found with other countermarks as well: Ephesus / Moesia Æ 25 (As) Augustus (c. 25 B.C.) Tiberius c/m (c. 14-37 A.D.) [CAESAR?], bare head right / [AVGVS]TVS in wreath? Uncertain attribution. Countermarks: AVG, TICÆ and Helmet obverse / Dolphin reverse (7.97 grams / 24 mm) eBay Aug. 2019 Lot @ $1.57 Countermarks: AVG, TICÆ and Helmet obverse / Dolphin reverse M. Pangerl Collection: 75 (AVG), 90 (TICÆ) 98 (Helmet) 95 (Dolphin)

Great post as always, @Roman Collector. I have some of the types you posted, but state of preservation is an issue with most of my collection. Here are a few that have some detail on the hair-do: Sestertius with Diana RIC 1383b: Denarius with Pudicitia RIC 508a:

Another terrific Fasutina Friday - thanks for that, @Roman Collector. Unfortunately, after ransacking my collection, I found only one to go with this Sulzer Installment, and it is not an exact match: Sulzer 1558 sim. - this one has a stephane (RIC III Antoninus Pius 1404c (as);) Faustina II Æ As (Early 148-March 149 A.D.) Rome Mint [FAVSTIN]AE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right w. stephane / [PVDICITIA], S C, Pudicitia seated left, drawing out veil with right hand, left hand at side. RIC III Antoninus Pius 1404c (as); Cohen 187; BMC 2159. (7.54 grams / 23 x 21 mm) eBay May 2022 @ $20.00 BIN You commented on this on CT a year ago: "Very cool, @Marsyas Mike! That type with the stephane is quite scarce indeed! The British Museum does not have one in their collection. Strack cites examples in Paris (BnF), Bologna (Museo Communale), and Naples (Nationalmuseum). None at OCRE. One sold by CNG, another at NAC. The stephaned bust is known only in the middle bronze denomination, not in the sestertius." https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-young-faustina-ii-when-pudicitia-could-be-used-without-irony.359092/#post-8341243 Keep up the good work, RC!

Bargain, I think - my first portrait Caligula for $9. It was mis-identified as an Augustus from Leptis, which does indeed look a lot like it (and the portrait, admittedly, does look like Augustus). But that ΓΑΙΟϹ in the obverse legend is a giveaway, and I found some die-matches: Caligula Æ 15 Magistrate Kleandros Philokaisar Philadelphia, Lydia (37-41 A.D.) ΓΑΙΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ; bare head right / ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙϹΑ[Ρ ΦΙΛΑΔƐ]ΛΦƐ[WΝ ΚΛƐΑΝ-ΔΡΟϹ], capricorn left with cornucopia on its back, [ΠΑ]Ε (?) monogram in left field. RPC I 3028; LS 118, no. 18 cf. SNG von Aulock 3072 (4.15 grams / 15 x 14 mm) eBay May 2023 $9.00 "The magistrate's unusual title, Philokaisar, literally translates, "friend of the emperor"... In 17, the city suffered severely from an earthquake, and Tiberius relieved it of having to pay taxes...Evidence from coinage reveals that Caligula also helped the city." FORVM Die-Match Characteristics: Obv: P at tip of nose, etc. Rev: Top leg curved. Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Coin no. 11 of RPC I 3028 H.I. Coll. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/423046 DEMOS Auction 10; Lot 484; 14.05.2022 Here are the die-matches - which show more detail than mine. I think the wear is about the same on these, but mine has a thick green patina that covers up detail. But for $9 I'm not complaining:

Very interesting post. I thought it peculiar that for all "the meticulous care" taken to smooth it, the smoother smoothed away the aegis on Trajan's bust! The examples posted by @Roman Collector do not have an aegis. My guess is that both aegis and non-aegis busts were originally issued. I wonder if the tooler saw the BM version and figured the aegis was just a die flaw and so smoothed it away? Yeah, I prefer the non-tooled example. As for tooling or "smoothing" in general, I am not against it altogether. There are instances where a thick, blobby patina (which chemically is part of the coin, it seems to me) obscures the original design. Tooling this down to get back to an original surface, if done with care, does not seem like a bad thing to me. Opinions vary, I'm sure. Thanks for sharing that interesting example.

Great post @Prieure de Sion. Commodus fascinates me, and I snap up his coins whenever I can afford them. Unfortunately this leads to some rather unattractive specimins, such as these two issued for him featuring Annona. First, a sestertius issued around the same time as the OP: Commodus Æ Sestertius (183-184 A.D.) Rome Mint [M CO]MMODVS ANTONINVS AVG PIVS laureate head r. / ANN [AVG] PM T[R P VIIII IMP VI COS] IIII P P S-C, Annona standing left, holding statuette & cornucopiae, modius & ship with 2 figures. RIC 407?. (24.11 grams / 28 mm) eBay Mar. 2020 Note: OCRE and auctions are riddled with errors; Annona holding a statuette comes in several variations. This one has ANN and PM early in rev. legend with Annona holding statuette. RIC 407 is a guess. RIC 442 with rev. legend ANNO AVG TR P VIIII does not match. Here's a dupondius issued a bit earlier: Commodus Æ Dupondius (181 A.D.) Rome Mint M COMMODVS ANT[ONINVS AVG], radiate head right / ANN AVG PROV [DEOR TR P VI] IMP IIII COS III PP, SC, Annona standing left holding cornucopiae and corn-ears, modius left. RIC III 313A. (12.40 grams / 24 x 22 mm) eBay Nov. 2020

Marvelous coin, and great restoration work. I want one!

I feel your pain about the late LRB "Teeny-weenies". This came my way in an undescribed lot. My torturous efforts at attribution are below (notice I used @Valentinian's very helpful website: Valentinian III? Æ 10 (425-435 A.D.) Rome Mint? [D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG?], pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / [V]ICTOR-[IA AVGG], Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm, Ɛ in left field, [RM in exergue?]. RIC X Valentinian III 2121?. (1.36 grams / 10 mm) eBay Jan. 2023 Attribution Notes: "Primarily at Rome. Struck for Honorius, Theodosius II, Johannes, and Valentinian III." (augustuscoins) Types with Ɛ in left field: RIC X Val. III 2118 (PLA) RIC X Valentinian III 2121 RIC X Honorius 1357 (408 - 423 A.D.) RIC X Johannes 1909 (Theo. II) RIC X Johannes 1910 (423 - 425 A.D.) And yes, it is teeny-weeny: