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Marsyas Mike

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Posts posted by Marsyas Mike

  1. These aren't exactly "beautiful" but they arrived in old paper envelopes that gave a nice, dark tone to them.  The green crud is an extra; I thought about trying to remove it, but it looks stable and since these mostly get cleaned to shiny white, I thought I'd leave them alone:  

    Domitian-MinervaonrostralcolumnMar2024(0).jpg.b592d8e49e07f94bee3aadcad89329aa.jpgElagabalus-LibertasstandingMar2024(0).jpg.266cb157f1c52a888551c5ededac422b.jpg

    • Like 7
  2. Very interesting thread and coins.  These also come with countermarks - the star countermark is regularly encountered on these (32 in RPC), but like most ancient countermarks, the reason why is unknown (as far as I can tell).  The countermark does seem to be targeting this particular issue (see RPC countermark notes below), which is bit unusual, countermarks being usually found on a wide array of hosts in the Roman East (for instance Antioch).  These are the small, dumpy flan types, so the peribolos and temples are not very clear:

    image.jpeg.fca0f457257012c0cdc045929b5936b3.jpeg

    Antoninus Pius  Æ 20  Zeugma, Commagene  (138-161 A.D.)       [ΑΥΤΟ] ΚΑΙ ΤΙΤ [ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡΙ(Α) ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ϹΕ(Β) (ΕΥ)] laureate head right / [ΖƐΥΓ]ΜΑΤƐωΝ, tetrastyle temple fronted by peribolos with grove of trees; Γ upper left. (11.08 grams / 20 x 17 mm) eBay Dec. 2023 RPC IV.3 8532; BMC 8-11; Butcher 6; SNG Copenhagen 28.

    Countermark:  Star within a star-shaped punch, 5 mm., obv. Howgego GIC 453; RPC Countermark 573. Note:  32 examples of this countermark on RPC; all but two are on RPC 8532.

    Here's another one: 

    image.jpeg.25f9fe479564a4ae216ae7fc9d7423d7.jpeg

    Antoninus Pius  Æ 19  Zeugma, Commagene  (138-161 A.D.) [ΑΥΤ...ΚΑΙ(Ϲ)... ΤΙ ΑΙΛΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ] ΑΝ[ΤωΝΙΝΟΝ ϹƐ], laureate head right / ΖƐΥ[ΓΜΑΤƐωΝ], [A or B in right field?], tetrastyle temple atop colonnaded peribolos containing grove (7.18 grams / 19 mm) eBay Dec. 2022  $5.00  

    Attribution: Numeral letter is probably in right field, based on visible spacing, which would be: RPC IV.3 5752 (temporary)

    RPC IV.3 5752 (letter in r. field);

    RPC IV.3 8532 (letter in l. field);

    Countermark:  Star within a  star-shaped punch, 5 mm., obv. Howgego GIC 453; RPC Countermark 573. Note:  32 examples of this countermark on RPC; all but two are on RPC 8532.

     

     

    • Like 5
  3. On 3/22/2024 at 10:03 AM, Marsyas Mike said:

    It what is probably not my best purchasing move, I bought one of these yesterday - the seller has had it listed for a year, at least.  I've passed on it because it has a hole...and not very good photos.  But I succumbed yesterday because he made me an offer and I can't resist "bargains" - at the risk of jinxing myself, here it is in a grungy old cardboard flip.  I'm not even sure if it is a sestertius or a dupondius (it is kind of yellow):

    My new Faustina I seated Aeternitas (or whoever she is) and phoenix came in - out of the holder it looks a lot better.  Too bad about the hole, but at least it is small and doesn't hit any of the legends or design: 

    image.jpeg.623ac277bd3e92ba9e12735e0b4da61b.jpeg

    Faustina I  Æ Sestertius (c. 155-161 A.D.) See notes. Rome Mint DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / [AET]ERNITA[S] | SC in exergue, Aeternitas seated left on throne holding phoenix nimbate on globe and scepter. RIC III Antoninus Pius 1103Aa; BMCRE 1482-1486. (23.87 grams / 31 x 29 mm) eBay March 2024

     Roman Collector Num. Forvm: RIC 1103A(a); BMCRE 1482-86; Cohen 15; Strack 1265; RCV 4606 Rome, ca. AD 155-161. "The issue...belongs to the fifth and final of these, which commenced in AD 150 for the tenth anniversary of Faustina's death and deification but continued for some years afterward These coins generally bear the late obverse inscription DIVA FAVSTINA..."

    Die-Match Obverse: 

    ibercoin Online Auction 65; Lot 408; 23.03.2022 (error:  description says DIVAE in obverse legend)

    Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung Online Auction 267; Lot 3664; 17.10.2019

    Here are a couple of die-matches:

    image.jpeg.9ac6edb1cd76eb0b2cdf08dd085f1b19.jpeg

     

    Thanks again @Roman Collector for your informative posts.  

     

    • Like 2
    • Smile 1
  4. I seem to have kronenthaler fever.  This just came in - minted in Milan, it is called a crocione, but it is to kronenthaler specifications.  The Milan mint issues have FRANCISC on the obverse, and the engraving work in the legends are nicer (in my opinion - look at the numerals in the date).  Too bad about the hole:

    image.jpeg.63b579d7054b614d5375719fdd4ca438.jpeg

    Italy, Milan    1794 M Crocione Francis I (1792-1795) Milan Mint FRANCISC•II•D•G•R•I•S•A• GER•HIE•HVNBOH•REX•M, laureate bust r. / ARCHAVST• DVXBVRGLOTHBRAB•COMFLAN1794, Burgundian cross with three crowns, Golden Fleece below  (29.00 grams / 39 mm) (holed) eBay March 2024  KM 239 (C 59.1); Davenport 1390; Mont. 165; Gigante 13. Edge Lettering: LEGE ET FIDE

     

    • Like 1
  5. Recently an 8 reales from homeland Spain came my way with what is called a "first bust" type (so I gleaned from auctions).  I don't know much about these, but this bust looks more like Ferdinand VII, of course, since he lived in Spain, but it is not quite the classic FVII bust that came later.  Too bad about the hole:

    image.jpeg.b9918568c1091d2ea3c6b46f89c4f600.jpeg

    Spain 1809 8 Reales Ferdinand VII (first bust) Seville Mint FERDINANDUS VII · DEI ·  G ·· 1809 · draped bust right / HISPANIARUM · REX ·  | around crowned arms, R | S - 8 | C·N | across fields KM 451;  (old C 136b); ME Cayon 15810; Calicó 635.  (26.87 grams / 38 mm) eBay Nov. 2023     Lot @ $20.83

     

    • Like 3
  6. 2 hours ago, dougsmit said:

    Another impossible question:  If we had completely accurate counts of all the existing Eastern mint Domna coins, how many of them would be one of a kind or one of a small handful (10 or so?)?  How many exist in as many as 100?  The old saying is that there is nothing more common than a rare ancient coin. 

    This one's weird, unlisted, fake, something...but I found another one on FORVM:

    image.jpeg.13dc140c4d5a92d369c06dd7f460bd46.jpeg

    Julia Domna    Æ (?) Denarius (c. 196-211 A.D.) Unknown / Unofficial Mint IVLIA D AVGVSTA draped bust right / FIDES PVBLICA, Fides standing right, holding corn-ears and basket of fruit. RIC IV -; BMCRE -; RSC III - (Unofficial issue; see notes) (2.46 grams / 16 mm) eBay Mar. 2020 $3.26

    "This coin combines the obverse of a Julia Domna denarius with reverse of a Caracalla denarius. The style is not official. It is an ancient counterfeit. The core is probably base metal." http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?zpg=8921

     Note:  Per OCRE, there are eight FIDES PVBLICA types for Caracalla:  RIC 8, 19, 24Aa, 24Ab, 24a, 24b, 330A and 334.

    Here's another odd-ball Julia Domna I posted on CT a while back: 

    julia-domna-denarius-ugly-jan-19-0-jpg.882670

     

    Julia Domna    Æ (?) Denarius (c. 196-211 A.D.) Unknown Mint IVLIA AVGVSTA bust right / IMP[ERII FELI]CITAS, standing female facing, head right, holding grain or thunderbolt (?) in left hand, column or altar to right (?) Unattributed "Limes" or barbaric imitation (3.36 grams / 18 mm) eBay Jan. 2019 $2.24

    "...reverse type is IMPERII FELICITAS. It clearly begins IMPER and ends in CITAS. However, the goddess here clearly holds a branch, whereas Felicitas holds a caduceus on the only Severan issue with this reverse type, a denarius of Caracalla, RIC 9 (Rome), RIC 331 (Eastern mint). That type depicts Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus in right hand  and child on left arm." (RC et al., Coin Talk)

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/julia-domna-a-very-ugly-denarius-id-help-please.331780/ 

     

    • Like 7
  7. On 3/7/2024 at 3:21 PM, maridvnvm said:

    I certainly didn't need another RIC 424 to add to my collection as I already have 5 different examples but this is the only one I have with the slightly odder COS - II obverse legend break.

    Septimius Severus denarius

    Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS - II, Laureate head right
    Rev:– VICT AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left
    Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 - 195
    References:– BMCRE 395, VM 150/1, RIC 424, RSC 675a

    I just got one of these - my first (five more to go!!). 

    image.jpeg.88cadde70a96818f0276bf7825349688.jpeg

    Septimius Severus       Denarius (194-195 A.D.) Emesa/Uncertain Eastern Mint IMP CAE L SEP [SEV PERT A]VG COS II, laureate head right VICT [AVG], Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm over shoulder RIC IV 424; BMCRE 395; Cohen RSC 675a; VM 150/1. (2.90 grams / 17 x 16 mm) eBay March 2024  

    It is rather awful in execution, but I did find an obverse die-match, with die-flaw (cud?) on obverse legend:

    image.jpeg.a099de6f54621b0c45fbc0560a4047e1.jpeg

    Die-Match Obverse:  TimeLine Auctions May 2019 Antiquities & Coins Auction; Lot 3799; 28.05.2019

    https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6032718

     

    • Like 5
  8. Great looking denarius of Trajan, @MrZun.  Thanks for sharing (and for including photos - the video would not open for me either - Chrome, on a very old PC).  

    My latest Trajan is a sestertius in lousy condition, but I went for it because of the interesting reverse type - like many of Trajan's coins it shows a personification of Dacia, but rather than the usual defeated, dejected Dacia sitting next to a trophy, or Dacia being stomped by Victory or Peace, or a Dacian being trampled by a horse, this one shows Dacia as a pacified, but peaceful province with children: 

    image.jpeg.c7f1b786a55776874f0cb111c02f9de4.jpeg

    Trajan  Æ Sestertius (112-114 A.D.) Rome Mint [IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO] AVG GER [DAC P M TR P COS VI P P], laureate bust right with aegis / [DACIA  AVGVST | PR]OVINC[IA | SC], Dacia seated left on rock, holding aquila; in front of her on a second rock a child holding grapes; at her side a child  holding grain stalks

    RIC II 622; Cohen RSC 125; BMCRE 961, p. 204 corr. ("with drapery and aegis" - this was corrected based on my query Feb. 2024) (22.44 grams / 31 x 30 mm)  eBay Feb. 2024                $16.25

    Note:  "This important type shows the personification of Dacia with two children...They are upon on a rocky outcrop, enclosed by the inscription DACIA AVGVST PROVINCIA, which offers a clear reference to Trajan’s newly created province." Numismatica Ars Classica

    Here's a nicer one showing more details - this is the one in the British Museum collection that I suggested a correction for (they'd left off the aegis) - they are very nice about suggestions like this, and it made me feel for a few fleeting moments like a real numismatist when they made the revision:

    image.png.841b620294c462d53f84ff99a86c5a72.png

    https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-12030

    • Like 6
    • Heart Eyes 1
  9. On 3/22/2024 at 12:19 AM, DonnaML said:

    Marcus Aurelius, AE Sestertius, 173 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder; M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII / Rev. Marcus Aurelius standing left, holding scepter with left hand, and, with his right hand, raising by her right hand a kneeling figure of Italia, wearing a turret and holding a globe with her left hand; [RESTITVTORI ITALIAE] IMP VI COS III [bracketed portion off flan]. RIC III 1078, Sear RCV II 4997, Cohen 538. 30mm, 25.8g. [According to David Sear (see RCV II at p. 315), this coin "commemorates the deliverance of Italy from the threat of barbarian invasion resulting from the emperor's successes in his wars against the Germanic tribes of the Danubian region."] [Purchased from Incitatus Coins, June 2020.]

    @DonnaML your collection is dazzling.  Thanks for sharing.  

    Here's Alexandria holding the severed head of Serapis on a tetradrachm of Diocletian.  

    image.jpeg.946062113b8a50dcef6a66d9eeb134f3.jpeg

    Egypt  Potin Tetradrachm Diocletian Year 5 (288/289 A.D.) Alexandria Mint A K Γ OYA Λ ΔIOKΛ[HTIANOC] CEB], laureate and cuir. bust r. / Alexandria standing left holding head of Serapis and  sceptre, star right, L-Є across. Milne 4915; Emmett 4025. (7.98 grams / 17 mm) eBay Sep. 2019           

    Just last week I got a Marcus Aurelius with the RESTITVTORI ITALIAE reverse, for one of mine, it isn't too shabby:

    image.jpeg.a102602703713aea1f755c40a8eb1011.jpeg

     

    • Like 4
  10. They look okay to me - weights on both Septimius Severus and M. Aurelius denarii vary quite a bit.  The surfaces on the SS do look a bit pitted which could be the sign of a cast, but in my very inexpert opinion, it doesn't really look like a cast.  In any case, the MARS PATER type is a favorite of mine - it was the very first ancient I ever owned, bought back in 1987.  I recently came across another one and got that too.   This does not seem to be  particularly common type, at least compared to other SS types. Both of mine weight 3.2 grams.  

    From 1987:

    image.jpeg.01b3fe815d3e4ff6e826cffcdb354ff8.jpeg

    From 2022:

    image.jpeg.dc5e925c804bc3f5bcdc07d7fb7462f3.jpeg 

    What you might do is look for a die-match.  This tends to allay worries about fakes for me.  My 1987 example matches these:

    Die-Match Obv. and Rev.:

    Kunst Historisches Mus.Wien  (OCRE example) Inventory no RÖ 35846; Object number ID 118318

    image.jpeg.eda3a647f272789bde4f4d673254b763.jpeg

     

    Die-Match Reverse:

    VAuctions Auct. 269; Lot 140; 08.09.2011

    image.jpeg.991f9359f147788ff6e7b6d320973907.jpeg

     

    • Like 8
  11. 1 hour ago, ChrisB said:

    The reverse of mine has signs of having been mounted. 

    I see that now - it would still be welcome in my collection!  That's kind of scarce.  

    Those ex-mount solder blobs are kind of hard to see - here's a Salzburg thaler:

    image.jpeg.4bd7e3720355bcf8e6b502291af291fb.jpeg

    Up close:

    image.jpeg.a8fea1d6e579823ddbfc766ab221a3b0.jpeg

    • Like 4
  12. I am even more excited than usual by today's Faustina Friday, @Roman Collector.  It what is probably not my best purchasing move, I bought one of these yesterday - the seller has had it listed for a year, at least.  I've passed on it because it has a hole...and not very good photos.  But I succumbed yesterday because he made me an offer and I can't resist "bargains" - at the risk of jinxing myself, here it is in a grungy old cardboard flip.  I'm not even sure if it is a sestertius or a dupondius (it is kind of yellow):

    image.jpeg.9b0a642d7f29cb64928aa7b54b175f74.jpeg

    I say "jinxing" because the last coin I bought from Canada took three months to get to me, after being inexplicably sent back to the seller (by USPS) as being undeliverable, although the address was correct.  Anyway, I justified the purchase because I love the colors and I can actually see the phoenix (nimbate). 

    I do have another one - no hole but very worn (only a hint of a phoenix if you tilt it towards the light) - this has the SC in the fields rather than the exergue, unlike most of them: 

    image.jpeg.340719df7c0306e2ce34649adfcef062.jpeg

    Faustina I  Æ Sestertius (c. 155-161 A.D.)     Rome Mint DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / [AETERNITAS] S [C] across fields, Aeternitas seated left on throne holding phoenix on globe and scepter. RIC 1103A(a); BMC 1482-86. (21.36 grams / 29 mm) eBay July 2017  Lot  $15.00

    Attribution Note:   Most examples have the SC in the exergue; this one is in the fields.  Out of over 130 auctions in acsearch, seven were in the fields.  (March 25, 2022)

    Your posts are always my primary source for these, so again, thanks for going to the effort.  

     

     

    • Like 10
  13. 2 hours ago, ChrisB said:

    I have one similar to the OP. It looks much nicer than my crappy photos. 

    image.jpeg.c3bab02416e66898a820ed6e4430513a.jpeg

     

    Wow - I've been collecting these for years (in a haphazard way) and I'd never seen a split-date/angel face mintmark reverse like this for Francis II - at first glance I thought it was one of the earlier types, or a mule.  Now I want one!

    Here it is on Numista:  https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces28745.html

    Here is one of the earlier types, for Joseph, 1782...and no, it does not look any better in hand.  The good thing is, I can wear it whenever I want to!  Many of these old kronenthalers were holed or jewelry-mounted - I have several, since they sometimes sell for melt or less:

    image.jpeg.ec8eda66172a34cba9cfec1d7caa1659.jpeg

     

     

    • Like 3
  14. Terrific coins in this thread - I really like Julia Domna's coins.  One of my most recent is this green one from Stobi in Macedonia.  It took me a while to track down the attribution - there are a lot of Nike types from Stobi.  It was interesting to see the Museum of Fine Arts Boston paid over $1200 for one similar to this (and an obverse die-match to mine) in 1962 - my guess is these were pretty scarce before metal detectors and the fall of the Iron Curtain (but if somebody wants to give me $1200 for it, I'm interested!): 

    image.jpeg.5354489203dd0eb64aeb4dc67f87909b.jpeg

    Julia Domna  Æ 21 (c. 193-217 A.D.) Stobi, Macedonia  IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / MVNICIP ST[O]BENSI, Nike advancing right carrying wreath and palm. SNG Copenhagen 333; See Numista #281817 (but wrong description and attribution) (6.11 grams / 21 mm) eBay Feb. 2024  $15.50

    Note: Many variations of reverse legends.  The only matches I found with correct(?) attribution was the Gorny & Mosch and Savoca die-match specimen.  Numista illustrates same type (#281817) but the description is wrong (Nike with "shield held on knee").  MFA Boston is an obv. die-match but reverse legend does not match this one.

    Die-Match Obv. (?) & Rev.:

    Same coin:

    Gorny & Mosch Giessener Auct. 263; Lot 3369; 07.03.2019

    Savoca Numismatik 33rd Silver Auction; Lot 208; 12.05.2019

    Die-Match Obverse: 

    Museum of Fine Arts, Boston  Accession Number 62.423 Note: Reverse inscription does not match mine: MVNICIP S[T]OBENSIV  Provenance:  Münzen und Medaillen, A.G., Basel, Switzerland; May 9, 1962: purchased by MFA for $ 1,221.00 (this is the total cost for 62.364–62.462)

    Here are die-matches - the bottom one with the notch is the Boston MFA example - it is a die-match obverse only; an extra final V is on the reverse:

    image.jpeg.dead3d5b3ab7e26bf42d2190ac5aec00.jpeg

     

    • Like 11
    • Heart Eyes 1
  15. Nice Kronenthaler, @ominus1.  Sorry I'm a bit late to this...for years I've picked these Austrian-Netherlands types up whenever they go cheap.  They are big favorites of mine - cheap 18th century crowns.  But just this month I branched out with a kronenthaler from Bavaria.  The words "BAIERISCHER KRONTHALER" is on the edge.  Your post gives me an excuse to throw it out here...

    image.jpeg.3804705096f7c0afd29ba01755693ca1.jpeg

    Bavaria 1818 Kronenthaler Maximilian I Joseph Munich Mint (Mint. 163,619) MAXIMILIANUS IOSEPHUS BAVARIAE REX, bare head r. / PRO DEO ET POPULO 1818 crown above crossed sword and mace / Edge: BAIERISCHER KRONTHALER KM 706.1 (old KM 358.1). (29.24 grams / 39 mm) eBay March 2024 

     

    • Like 9
  16. Great coins and very informative post @robinjojo.  This inspired me to photography my only Lima imaginary bust, an 8 reales:

    image.jpeg.6bca371d9160c8ef995226f0dd4a9c2d.jpeg

    I was not aware of the various bust sizes for this - so this would be the small type, I assume.  It does look smaller than the OP's.  

    This coin actually photographs better than it really is - the rims are chewed up and it is slightly bent.  About 25 years ago I found it in a local dealer's shop - old school dealers back then would price low-grade 8 reales very low sometimes - I think it was $15.  I'd like to upgrade, but the prices...ouch!  

    • Like 6
  17. 20 hours ago, Marcus said:

    @Marsyas Mike: I think this is RIC 875 (HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS only, no P P). The bust type C2 is missing by mistake in the list Heads on p. 134.

    Here the BM specimen: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-9437

     

     

     

    IMG_5687.jpeg

    Thank you so much for this information @Marcus - you have really helped me out here.  I was aware of the "No PP" types in general, but a seated Roma type was not coming up in OCRE.  So I checked again, just looking at ALL the Hadrian listings to find RIC 875.  And yep (or nope), it is not in there.  Here is the relevant page:

    http://numismatics.org/ocre/results?q=portrait_facet%3A"Hadrian"&start=380

    Note the RIC numbers go from RIC 869 to RIC 877, with no RIC 870-876.  Unless I am doing this wrong!. 

    OCRE is very useful, but it does have problems.  But thanks to your information, I have found other examples elsewhere (acsearch) and the draped-only busts look a lot like mine.  Here is a Jean Elsen auction - not a die-match, but it looks a lot like mine:

    11112102.m.jpg

    https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=11112102

     

    Thanks again for your help with this.    

     

    • Like 3
  18. Great grouping of Pamphiliae @AncientOne.  A while back I got one minted in Sillyum for Diadumenian that appears to be unpublished (but I found a die-match example on Wildwinds):

    image.jpeg.c2b7983981e5c6d21f24ea9ed17ab056.jpeg

    Diadumenian    Æ 17 Sillyum, Pamphylia (c. 217-218 A.D.) [...ANTΩ]ΔIAΔ[OVM...], bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / CIΛΛV[Є]ΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia. Unpublished (see notes). (4.65 grams / 17 mm) eBay June 2022 Lot @ $0.99

    Attribution Notes:  Appears to be a die match for unpublished specimen on Wildwinds via Gitbud & Naumann Auction 38; Lot 568; 06.12.2015. Auction description:   SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Isegrim -; apparently unpublished.

     Here's mine with the (much nicer) Wildwinds example:

    image.jpeg.274e0e4cdc58ff8b6f80a107ff82df5c.jpeg

     

    • Like 5
  19. As I mentioned before, finding unlisted bust types for Antonine AE (unlisted in OCRE anyway) is almost routine.  What seems a bit strange is that I just got an unlisted Hadrian... at least I think so.  Why this is strange is that RIC just re-did all the Hadrians, with new numbers, with far more extensive bust types described.  So finding an unlisted Hadrian nowadays is strange.  

    Here it is:

    image.jpeg.dfdfd56a7cd6b36f767ea2865006ce8f.jpeg

    Why unlisted?  OCRE only shows bare head, slight drapery and draped and cuirassed.  This one does not have a cuirass - but is fully draped (not just "traces of drapery on shoulder" - a common unlisted variation on the Antonines).  

    RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 971
    Legend: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P
    Type: Head of Hadrian, laureate, right
    Portrait: Hadrian Legend: COS III // S C (in exergue)
    Type: Roma seated left on cuirass and pile of arms, holding Victory and cornucopia
    Deity: Roma
    objects: 4

    (RIC 972 is identical to RIC 971 in OCRE - see below for RIC page which shows the differences - a fairly typical OCRE error)

    RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 973
    Legend: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P
    Type: Bust of Hadrian, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right, viewed from rear or side
    Portrait: Hadrian
    Legend: COS III // S C (in exergue)
    Type: Roma seated left on cuirass and pile of arms, holding Victory and cornucopia
    Deity: Roma

    There's nothing about this that seems fake to me - just a typical low-grade sestertius of the sort I am always looking for on eBay (it weights 24.5 grams). I looked all over acsearch and elsewhere hoping for a die-match to mine, or just another draped-only type, but I had no luck.  I did find a draped and cuirassed type - the cuirass is very obvious on these issues of Hadrian (RIC 973):

    112400.m.jpg

    https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=112400

    Here's one with slight drapery on shoulder (also not in OCRE but in RIC (see below) this is noted for RIC 971 as an A2 in the references):

    287721.m.jpg

    https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=287721

    Fortunately, the relevant page for the new RIC is available in Google books - I think this shows mine should be bust C2, laureate draped bust (viewed from side on mine), but none like this are noted in RIC 971-973- unless I'm reading it wrong - I will admit all those codes for bust types, etc. are still kind of new to me and I get confused) : 

    image.png.442dbb15f6dce7271e07eb081aa90b97.png

    Whew.  This makes my head hurt.  Any guidance or corrections greatly appreciated!  

     

    • Like 5
  20. 2 minutes ago, seth77 said:

    I'm actually very glad you showed it here @Marsyas Mike. That's a coin that I'd very much like to add myself as the final stage of the local mint operation.

    I lucked into in on eBay - it was listed as an As of Caracalla or something like that in 2018.  Although I had no idea what it was, I liked the "cows" on the reverse and thought maybe I could figure it out.  It took me hours - and as this post shows, I am still learning about it.  Thanks again!  

  21. 4 minutes ago, seth77 said:

    That is a pretty amazing coin. For starters, Decius seems to have minted the most at Rhesaena in it's c. 45 years of colonial coinage. But your coin has Etruscus as Augustus, which is from May 251 until Abrittus that summer when both Augusti fell in battle. The fact that the short period at the end of the reign of Decius is so well represented and the large number of emissions noted in RPC under Decius could mean that the mint struck continuously during these 2 years and not just then and there as it had happened at the beginning. 

    And while the reverse does focus on the foundation of the town by Severus in 197, its original purpose as a military base is recorded in the reverse legend -- L III P is Legion III Parthica. 

    Thank you so much for this additional information - I had no idea the L III P stood for a legion - I'm pretty thrilled about that!  😀

    • Smile 1
  22. Very interesting and informative post @seth77 and @Orange Julius.  A while back I got one of these minted for Herennius Etruscus.  Mine is pretty ugly, but because of condition - it is actually pretty nice in terms of artistry and strike/flan, in my opinion.  Not so martial this time - a founders' scene with priest and oxen:

    image.jpeg.ed0a2ad39296c418bc932e9e449baeb8.jpeg

    Herennius Etruscus  Æ 25 Rhesaena, Mesopotamia  (c. 249-251 A.D.) [ΓΑΙ Μ]ЄϹ ЄΡ ЄΤΡΟΥϹΚΙΛΛ[ΙΟϹ ΔЄΚΙΟϹ ϹЄΒ], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. /  ϹЄΠ ΚΟΛ ΡΗϹΑΙΝΗϹΙωΝ L III P, priest holding staff plowing with two oxen right | eagle on palm with wreath in beak above | river god Chaboras swimming in exergue RPC IX 1593; Castelin 178-180. (12.24 grams / 25 x 24 mm) eBay Nov. 2018  

    Die-Match Obverse: Coin no. 1 of RPC IX 1593 Bibliothèque nationale de France Reference 2194; Castelin 180 pl. XIII

    Die-Match Reverse: DEMOS Auction 8; Lot 650; 19.03.2022

     

      

    • Like 6
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