Marsyas Mike

Some lovely coins in this thread - I have an As version, more or less, of that lovely OP sestertius of Maximus posted by @Al Kowsky. It came taped to a cardboard holder and was apparently sold as a souvenir in Bath, England, I'm guessing c. 1940-1960s. Cellophane tape was not its only problem, but it is a fairly hard coin to find, and the price was right: Maximus Æ As (236-238 A.D.) Rome Mint (3rd emission) MAXIMVS CAES GERM, bare-headed, draped bust right / PRINCIP[I IVV]ENTVTIS S C, Maximus standing left, holding baton and spear; two signa to right. RIC IV Maximus 14b. (8.10 grams / 23 mm) eBay Jan. 2022 Lot @ $6.17 Provenance Note: Coin was taped to a cardboard holder with the printed heading: The Roman Baths of Bath, England / Genuine Roman Bronze Coin. Additional description of the actual coin was typed out on blue paper and glued to cardboard. c. 1940s-1960s (?) souvenir. Here are a couple of PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS types from Domitian: Domitian (Caesar) Denarius (80-81 A.D.) Rome Mint CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVEN[TVTIS], helmet on altar. RIC 271 (Titus); RSC 399a. (3.19 grams / 18 x 16 mm) eBay Sep. 2013 Domitian (Caesar) Denarius (80-81 A.D.) Rome Mint CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, Minerva advancing right, wielding javelin and holding shield at the ready. RIC 268; RSC 381a, BMC 86 (2.65 grams / 18 mm) eBay May 2019 Slightly off-topic, but in the "leave it to Commodus to make things weird" category, here is IOVI IVVENI on a sestertius: Commodus Æ Sestertius (188-189 A.D.) Rome Mint [M COM]MODVS ANT P [FELIX] AVG BR[IT], laureate head right / IOVI IV[VENI P M] TR P XIIII IM[P VIII COS V], S C, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt & sceptre, eagle left. RIC III 525. (19.17 grams / 29 x 26 mm) eBay Aug. 2021 Attribution Note: There are three IOVI IVVENI types from this era: RIC 499: COMMODVS TR P XII RIC 525: COMMODVS TR P XIIII COS V RIC 542: COMMOD TR P XIIII COS V DES VI Full COMMODVS obverse, XIIII visible, so RIC III 525.

I'm glad you found that site useful - whenever I get a coin from Viminacium I go to it. However, the last this happened, back in April, the site was done, which was disappointing, as it is very helpful for these issues. About a week ago I checked again and found it was back up - I've made pdf "save" pages for some of the site, and I need to do more in case it vanishes again. All my coins from Viminacium come from big, low-grade lots of the sort I like to buy off eBay. Identifying these can be a challenge given their condition, but that viminacium.nl site is a huge help. To illustrate, here are a few low-grade Viminaciums (Viminacii?) I doubt I could've identified without that site: Philip I Æ Sestertius Year 9 (247-248 A.D.) Viminacium, Moesia Superior IMP [M IVL P]HILIPPV[S AVG], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PMS CO LVIM, Moesia standing, holding hands over bull and lion, [AN VII]II in exergue. Pick 105; Varbanov 138. (16.37 grams / 25 mm) eBay Feb. 2021 Attribution Notes: Reverse year in exergue is hard to see; given "II" at right edge, it seems likely VIIII is the year, as other years do not extend as far over. Along those lines, it could be year VIII as well. Herennia Etruscilla Æ Sest. Year 12 (250-251 A.D.) Viminacium, Moesia Superior H[ER E]TRVSCIL[LA AV] draped bust right / PMS C OLVIM, Moesia standing between bull and lion, holding right hand over bull, left hand over lion, AN XII in ex. Pick 137 var.; Varbanov 179 (13.60 grams / 25 mm) eBay Feb. 2021 Attribution Note: "The bust on this coin is not seen from behind but from the front. The hairdress of the empress is the same as on the year XI coin so this is probably an early issue from year XII...The reverse has a tall Moesia with her head breaking the reverse legend.." viminacium.nl website This one might be a die-match to the example on the site; the position of the bull's legs helped ID it: Gordian III Æ Dupondius Viminacium, Moesia Superior Year 2 (240-241 A.D.) IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / PMSCO LVIM, Moesia stdg. facing, bull and lion either side. AN II in exergue. Pick 77 var.; Varbanov 109. (6.23 grams / 21 mm) eBay Sep. 2020 Attribution Note: "Remark: The bull on the left side of Moesia is standing with both front legs on the ground." viminacium.nl website This appears to be an obverse die match to this site's example. Here's the obverse die-match comparison with the example on the viminacium.nl site; both have some wonky lettering obverse that seem to match; not on the reverse, however: Finally, this one, a Gordian III that is so off-center I couldn't identify it for sure; it has my favorite Viminacium portrait, however. Gordian III Æ 19 As Year 1 (?) (238-239 A.D.) Viminacium, Moesia Superior IMP CAES M ANT [GORDIANVS AVG], laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right / PMS CO L VIM, Moesia stdg. facing, bull and lion either side. [AN dot I? - year off flan] in ex. AMNG 73 (uncertain attrib.). (3.07 grams / 19 mm) eBay Jan. 2019

Nice additions to your fine collection @DonnaML Not sure if you knew about this site, but it is really helpful when figuring out those Viminacium issues; http://www.viminacium.nl/English index.html As for those big Antioch issues, they are among my favorite Roman provincials. Here are a couple of mine (radiate and laureate):

Nice sestertius @ambr0zie - I recently upgraded mine, which isn't saying a lot, as I had two worn almost smooth: Julia Domna Æ Sestertius (193-196 A.D.) Rome Mint IVLIA DOMNA AVG draped bust right / [VENERI VICTRI] S C, Venus, naked to waist, standing left from behind, apple in r. hand, palm over shoulder, left elbow resting on column RIC IV Septimius Severus 842; Cohen 195; BMC 488. (21.27 grams / 28 x 26 mm) eBay Feb. 2022 Although I don't know for sure, I think the latest depiction of Venus-from-behind was on an antoninianus of Salonina. Here are the two I have: Salonina Antoninianus (256-258 A.D.) Cologne Mint SALONINA AVG, diademed, draped bust right on crescent / VENVS VICTRIX Venus standing right, seen from rear, naked to waist leaning on column, holding palm & apple See reverse for attribution. (2.59 grams / 21 mm) and (2.79 grams / 23 x 21 mm) eBay Mar. and August 2018 Attribution: RIC V (joint reign) 8 (incomplete description); Göbl MIR 36, 904c; Cunetio hoard 735; Stevenage hoard 519; Elmer 98; Biglis, Dinas Powys hoard (1978/9): IARCW 440/2.

Similar to the OP and same as @CPK's example, here is my Felicitas dupondius of Vespasian: Vespasian Æ Dupondius (74 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS, radiate head left / FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. RIC 716; Cohen 152. (10.30 grams / 26 mm) eBay Nov. 27, 2018 This thread gives me an excuse to post this Flavian dupondius, a purchase from last month - not sure how handsome it is over all, but the portrait is pretty well-rendered I think: Domitian Æ Dupondius (82 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMIT[IAN AVG P M], radiate head right / [TR P COS VIII DE]S VIIII P P, S C, Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and spear, shield at side. RIC 108; BMCRE 279. (14.24 grams / 26 x 25 mm) eBay May 2022

Interesting "tools of the trade" thread. The Roman Republic issue of L. Papius featured an enormous number of control symbols, some of which were tools, thought to be connected to trade guilds. There is a great site about these here: https://bonannocoins.com/l_papius/l_papius_db.php Mine features a carpenter's chisel (obverse) and hammer (reverse): Roman Republic Denarius L. Papius (79 B.C.) Rome Mint Trade Guild: Carpenters Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat's skin; chisel behind / L PAPI in ex. Gryphon springing right; hammer below. Crawford 384/1, type 30; Sydenham 773; Papia 1. (3.60 grams / 17 mm) eBay Mar. 2019 I do have the coiner's tools issue of T. Carisius, but mine is in awful shape. This is one of those ancients I prefer looking bad, because there are a frightening number of fake ones out there, many of them with a machine-pressed look to them. This one is probably genuinely ancient; who'd want to fake such crud? Roman Republic Denarius T. Carisius (46 B.C.) - Rome Mint MONETA, Juno Moneta head right (no locks down neck?) / [T.C]AR[ISIVS], anvil with garlanded die above, between [tongs] and hammer; all within laurel wreath. Carisia 1; Crawford 464/2. (3.33 grams / 19 mm) eBay Feb. 2020 $16.50

I never knew there were so many river gods out there. Here are a couple of countermarked examples: Eastern Celts Æ 18 Lysimachos (Thrace) Imitation Countermarked for Odessos (c. 297-250 B.C.) Helmeted head of Athena (youth?) right / Blundered legend, lion leaping right, spearhead below. Countermark: River god (Odessos/Theos Megas) reclining left, Δ below, 9 x 7 mm oval, obv. (4.04 grams / 18 mm) eBay Nov. 2019 Lot @ $2.20 Attribution: Online sources were confusing: Cf. Müller 61-2 for prototype. cf.SNG.Cop.1149ff; SNG Copenhagen 1153; Winterthur 1329 Septimius Severus Æ 25 Pamphylia, Perge (c. 193-211 A.D. ?)[AVT] K Λ CЄ CЄOVHPOC, laureate head rt. / ΠЄPΓAIΩN River god Cestrus reclining left, on amphora gushing water, holding reed and cornucopia. BMC 34 (8.63 grams / 25 mm) eBay April 2019 $15.00 BO Countermarks: (1): Eagle facing, in oval, 4 x 5 mm. Howg. 334 (50 pcs). (2): A.K. in rectangle 5 x 3 mm. Howgego 513 (43 pcs)."Note: Countermark (2) was applied earlier than (1)...countermark (2) is not found on coins struck later than..Elagabalus." FORVM Collection Automan. Not a countermark, but here is the Rhine reclining on a Postumus antoninianus:

Great Faustina Friday as always, @Roman Collector. Here is the sestertius I have, RIC 1620, which I posted on CT originally, with a Cohen error you noted (thank you! ). I fixed that and narrowed the date, etc. based on your post here. My goal is to someday have all my Faustina II's "Roman Collectorized" this way (but I have a ways to go - my earlier attributions are pretty sloppy). Faustina II Æ Sestertius (162-164 A.D.) Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / CER[ES] S-C, Ceres seated left on cista, holding two corn-ears and (short) lighted torch. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1620; Cohen 37; BMCRE 896. (24.87 grams / 30 x 27 mm) eBay Mar. 2020 (France) Notes: "Ceres with a short, transverse torch - This type is the earlier of the two, and I have assigned a date for its issue of AD 162-164 based on hairstyle..." Roman Collector NVMIS FORVMS, June 2022 Same coin, different background, not that it is much of an improvement, but I tried! The Beckman 7 hairstyle seems fairly evident, even to me...I think?

Finally an excuse to post this. A Vindex countermark on a Nero As. Vindex was a governor in Gaul who rebelled against Nero; Wikipedia has some info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Julius_Vindex Not especially rare, but usually out of my price range; this came from eBay with no description of the countermark and poor photos. Unfortunately it was suffering from bronze disease, but after a lot of soaking and scratching, it seems to be semi-cured; I'm going to keep an eye on it. Most of the green on the photo is the hard, non-powdery stuff: Nero / Vindex Rebellion Æ As (62-68 A.D.) (C/M March-June 68 A.D.) Lugdunum Mint NER[O C]L[AVD CAESA]R AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P bare head right, globe at neck / S C, Victory winged moving left, holding shield inscribed SPQR. RIC I 477; WCN 574; Lyon 150. (9.95 grams / 28 x 27 mm) eBay May 2022 Countermark: SPQR in rectangular punch (5 x 3 mm) Pangerl 26 or 27. "...these countermarks wereapplied by Gallic rebels circa 68 A.D., under the command of rebel governor Gaius Julius Vindex (who) swore allegiance to Galba...Interestingly, all of these civil war countermarks appear in the same location, directly across Nero's neck." Vcoins Incitatus listing A close-up of the countermark; it is mushy, but the QR is fairly clear: Another scruffy one, but here is Nero playing the Lyre (or Apollo; there's some debate); this too suffered from BD, but I've had it a couple years now and it appears to not be deteriorating - I think it is possible it was sealed at some point so I hate messing with it:

I have two from Cyrrhestica for Antoninus Pius, but they are in such poor shape, I doubt they help with your query. They are similar, but not the same, at least according to what I found on RPC at the time; both the bust look pretty AP to me: Antoninus Pius Æ 19 (c. 138-161 A.D.) Syria, Cyrrhestica, Hierapolis [ΑΥΤο ΚΑΙ ΤΙ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡΙ] ΑΝΤωΝƐΙΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ, laureate bust wearing cuirass and paludamentum right / ΘƐΑϹϹΥΡ[Ι] ΑϹΙƐΡΟΠΟ, Δ below, within laurel wreath. RPC IV.3 8546; cf. Butcher 15. (7.63 grams / 19 mm) eBay Oct. 2020 Antoninus Pius Æ 21 (c. 138-161 A.D.) Cyrrhestica, Hieropolis, Syria [ΑΥΤο ΚΑΙ ΤΙ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡΙ ΑΝΤWΝƐΙΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ ƐΥϹƐΒ] laureate bust wearing cuirass and paludamentum right / ΘƐΑϹ ϹΥΡΙΑϹ ΙƐΡΟΠΟ, Ɛ below, within laurel wreath. RPC 6977; cf. Butcher 15. (10.05 grams / 21 x 18 mm) eBay Feb. 2020

Nice Crispuses (Crispii?) in this thread. Here are two altar types I have, one from Trier (RIC 374) and another from London: Crispus Æ 20 (322-323 A.D.) Trier Mint IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES Laureate, cuirassed bust left, spear over shoulder & shield / BEATA TRANQVILLITAS altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, globe and three stars above, •PTR• in exergue. (2.15 grams / 20 mm) RIC VII, 374 Trier eBay Sept. 2017 Crispus Follis (Æ 18) (322-323 A.D.) London Mint CRISPV-S NOBIL [C], laureate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear pointed forwards and shield / BEAT TRA-NQVILLITAS, globe set on altar inscribed VO | TIS |XX, three stars above, F-B across fields, PLON in ex. (2.83 grams / 18 mm) RIC VII Londinium 250. eBay Apr. 2022

I did like Johnny Quest in the day, but was more of a Scooby-Doo fan. This is my latest - a Maxentius Follis with the Dioscuri, 2 horses, a wolf and twins (weakly struck) on the reverse (quite a crowd!). I've wanted this type for a while and it went pretty cheap. Part of the reason it didn't attract many bids is because of the unidentified gunk shown on the reverse (seller's photo): It looked "loose" to me, so I bid. Whatever it is, it was loose and came right off when I took the coin out of its holder - I think it was just a stray piece of plastic film. Not disgusting at all, probably not a booger 😱, and not stuck to the coin. Is Maxentius gazing heavenward, wondering if he picked the right deity? Or is he rolling his eyes at fortune and fate? Mysteries of the ancients:

Hurray for Juno. This thread inspired me to see what Juno types came my way so far in 2022. First, three that came from two large eBay lots. There were a couple of gems in these lots, but the Junos were not gem-like, as you can see 😬 Faustina II Æ As / Dupondius (c. 162-164 A.D.) Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right wearing circlet of pearls / [IVNO]NI REGINAE S-C, Juno, veiled, standing left, holding patera & sceptre; peacock at feet. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1652 (10.48 grams / 23 x 22 mm) eBay May 2022 Lot @ $5 BIN "The lack of an all-round legend and the use of the type 7 hairstyle imply a date for the IVNONI REGINAE with Juno standing type of AD 162 at the earliest. The abundance of the issue suggests it was in production for at least a year or two. Therefore, I assign the issue a date of AD 162-164." Roman Collector on CT Jan. 2022 From the same lot, a real rarity, if you believe my wishful-thinking attribution and my "Manlia Scantila "double chin" theory - I wouldn't bet on it: Manlia Scantilla? Æ Sestertius (193 A.D.) Rome Mint [MANLIA SCANTILLA AVG], draped bust right, hair in bun behind / [IVNO REGINA SC], Juno standing left, holding patera, peahen below. RIC IV Didius Julianus 18; BMCRE 32 (see notes). (18.23 grams / 25 mm) eBay May 2022 Lot @ $5 BIN Attribution: Manlia Scantilla IVNO REGINA type very similar to more common Julia Domna issues; based on slight double chin of this portrait, Manlia Scantilla is a possibility. If not, these are the Julia Domna types: RIC IV Septimius Severus 840: with DOMNA RIC IV Septimius Severus 856: with AVGVSTA Another from those lots; this deserved as side-shot photo - it is very thick, a veritable brass slug (almost 14 grams!). Crispina Æ Dupondius (c. 178-182 A.D.) Rome Mint C[RIS]P[INA] AVG[VSTA], draped bust right / [IVNO LVCINA], S-C across field, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter. RIC III Commodus 680 (dup.); Cohen 24; BMC 433. (13.97 grams / 23 mm) eBay May 2022 Lot @ $5 BIN Slightly more appetizing, which isn't saying much, here is Juno in her shrine, via a Volusian sestertius: Volusian Æ Sestertius (251-253 A.D.) Rome Mint IMP C[AE C] VIB VOL[VSIANO AVG], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / IVNO [M]ART[IALIS], Juno seated facing, in circular, tetrastyle temple; [peacock at her side]. RIC IV 252a (var.) see notes. (14.27 grams / 26 x 23 mm) eBay Feb. 2022 Attribution Notes: The reverse peacock is not present on this coin; this seems to be a common omission, but RIC does not note this, thus the "var." See Roma Numismatics Ltd. E-Sale 79, Lot 881, 14.01.2021 "[peacock at her feet]"... RIC IV 252a var. (peacock)" This one is the best of my 2022 purchases, Salonina: Salonina Antoninianus (260-268 A.D.) Antioch (or Asian) Mint SALONINA AVG, diademed and draped bust right, on a crescent / [IV]NO REGIN[A], Juno standing left, holding patera and sceptre; peacock at feet, star in left field. RIC V Salonina 92; Göbl 1619f. (2.66 grams / 21 x 20 mm) eBay Jan. 2022 Ck $3.25 A sestertius match for the first one in this posting, Faustina II with a green face (a very rare variety): Faustina II Æ Sestertius (c. 162-164 A.D.) Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right wearing circlet of pearls / IVNONI REGINAE S-C, Juno, veiled, standing left, holding patera & sceptre; peacock at feet. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1651 (24.60 grams / 29 mm) eBay Jan. 2022 Ck

Very informative write-up and great coin, @Sulla80. I have one similar to it, but not as nice and a different magistrate: Aeolis, Kyme Æ 20 (c. 250-190 B.C.) Magistrate Aristophanes Head of Amazon Kyme wearing taenia right / KY [A]PIΣΤΟΦΑΝΗΣ, horse standing right, monogram beneath raised fore-leg. Cf. BMC 59 (monogram); SNG Cop. 93; SNG Mün. 486. (9.12 grams / 20 mm) eBay Aug. 2020

Nice Gordies - I was hoping somebody would bring him up in the new Forum. Recently this countermark came my way, a big sestertius-sized Provincial. My photos came out kind of odd when it comes to the color, so I'm running both of them - it is more black than green in hand: Greener version: Gordian III Æ 30 Irenopolis-Neronias, Cilicia CY 192 (242/243 A.D.) ΑΥΚ ΜΑΝΤω ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / ƐΙΡΗΝΟΠΟΛƐΙΤωΝ, ЄT BЧP in exergue, Hygieia standing right feeding serpent, facing Serapis standing left. (10.02 grams / 30 mm) eBay Feb. 2022 Host Coin Attribution: RPC VII.2 unassigned 2075; SNG Levante 1622; SNG von Aulock 5596; SNG France 2270. Countermark: Obverse: Monogram in 6 mm circle (EIPH = Eirenopolis), Howgego 616. Close-up of the rather confusing countermark:

I can't remember if I've posted this one before, but it will have great company with all these Lucius Verus examples. 😄 This is a fairly scarce sestertius, from the last year of LV's life. Of the seated Aequitas types, most are POT VIII but this one is VIIII. The ones I found on acsearch were pretty sloppy in terms of attribution (not to be critical, but these are the professionals; see my notes). Here it is: Lucius Verus Æ Sestertius (168-169 A.D.) Rome Mint [L VERVS] AVG ARM PARTH M[AX], laureae head right / [TR PO]T VIIII IMP V CO[S III] S Aequitas seated left on low seat, holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1484. (27.76 grams / 31 mm) eBay Feb. 2022 Die Matches: Apparently scarce; OCRE has three examples, two of them are obverse/reverse die matches: · Universität Wien S_01643; American Numismatic Society 1939.133.28 None in Wildwinds; of the seven in acsearch, none were clearly RIC 1484 (POT VIIII); most were RIC 1479 (POT VIII). Here's mine with the die-match from Vienna: https://www.univie.ac.at/ikmk/object?id=ID1082

Here's a helmet countermark, on Antigonas Gonatas AE, Pan with trophy reverse. A very common countermark, as ancient countermarks go: Helmet detail - Macedonian cavalry helmet is the usual description: I've been waiting for an excuse to post this - here's my most recent helmet is this little green job from Mesembria. It was hard to photograph, but it has a really nice glossy green patina (laid on a bit thick on the reverse, however): Mesembria, Thrace Æ 16 (c. 375-175 B.C.) Crested Corinthian helmet facing / M-E-T-A (T = archaic Greek letter sampi = ΣΣ) in four quarters of a spoked wheel SNG BM Black Sea 272; BMC 6. (3.82 grams / 16 x 15 mm) eBay April 2022

This semis from Paestum-Poseidonia, Lucania for Tiberius is pretty homely. It has the distinction of being an ancient where my best source for issue information came from Wikipedia. There's probably some stuff elsewhere on the web, but this was the best I could find at the time of attribution: Tiberius Æ Semis L. Licinius, Duovir Paestum-Poseidonia, Lucania (c. 14-37 A.D.) [P]-S [S]-C across fields, laureate head right / [L] LICINI(VS) II[VIR], Victory walking right, holding wreath and palm branch. RPC 613; Crawford 6; SNG Cop 1386. (var. rev. leg.) (3.81 grams / 14 mm) eBay Dec. 2018 Notes: "The coins of Paestum begin about 550 BC... Issues continue until the reign of Tiberius. For unknown reasons Paestum alone of all the smaller Italian mints, was allowed to continue minting bronze coins by a Senatorial decree of about 89 BC after this had been centralized. Later coins carry "P. S. S. C.", standing for "Paesti Signatum Senatus Consulto" to reflect this." Wikipedia

Compared to all the lovely tets posted so far, this is pretty unexciting. But it is my latest one, and it has some interesting blue granular patina going on: Egypt Potin Tetradrachm Diocletian Year 3 (286/287 A.D.) Alexandria Mint A K Γ OVAΛ ΔIOKΛƐTIANOC [CƐB], laureate draped (and cuirassed?) bust right / ƐTOYC - Γ, eagle standing left, head r., wreath in beak, star upper left. (8.54 grams / 19 mm) eBay May 2022 Attribution Notes: Bust can be draped or draped and cuirassed; not sure which this one is. Draped: Milne 4845 Draped & Cuirassed: Köln 3224; Dattari (Savio) 5797; K&G 119.25; Emmett 4037.3.

I only have a couple of these, but not for lack of trying: Caracalla and Julia Domna by Quintilianus Æ Pentassarion (c. 213-216 A.D.) Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis [ANT]ΩNINOC AVΓOVCTOC IOVΛI[A] | ΔOMNA, vis à vis draped busts / [VΠ KY]NTIΛIANOY MAΡKIANOΠOΛEITΩN, tetrastyle temple with Tyche within holding rudder and cornucopiae, Є in exergue. Attribution, Dimensions and Provenance: Hristova & Jekov 6.19.46.14; Varbanov 1052. Moushmov 500; AMNG I 693; (12.48 grams / 26 mm) eBay Sep. 2018 Die Matches: Wildwinds, obv./ rev. "Varbanov 1052 (this coin)" obv. CNG auct. 228, Lot: 175 Note flaw: ΔOMNA Philip II Æ 25 (c. 244-249 A.D.) Mesembria, Thrace M AP IOVΛIOC Φ[IΛIΠΠOC] KAICAΡ (AP in ligature), bare head of Philip II right, facing draped bust of Serapis left, in modius / MECAMBΡIANΩN, Concordia-Homonoia standing wearing modius, holding patera and cornucopiae. eBay Feb. 2022 Attribution and Size: BMC 23; SNG Cop 668; Moushmov 4039. (10.32 grams / 25 x 24 mm)

Mostly I do ancients, but I used to be an enthusiastic, if not very particular crown collector. Back in the good old days, they were so cheap in low grade, 19th century 5 francs, 5 pesetas, etc. for $7-10 c. 1990. My first crown was a F-ish 1896 Queen Victoria British crown for $12 or so. Those days are over (or, rather, inflation has taken over. 😮 I still keep an eye peeled for bargains, and I got this lovely 1914 Peru sol for $16 on eBay. The seller had 0 feedback, so I imagine that scared bidders off - he shipped quickly, in a nice padded envelope; I was happy to give him his first positive feedback:

Nice ones, @hotwheelsearl I'm a big fan of countermarks and I really like those Cappadocian types. As it so happens, I recently got two of these (one is unidentifiable, but it is a countermark of some sort). Here they are - with full attributions to the best of my abilities (Howgego 12i). Although the countermark is common, I couldn't find any on a Septimius Severus; mostly it is later issues that get this countermark; worn, but I really like the mellow toning and the portrait on this one: Septimius Severus Æ 26 Cappadocia, Caesarea Year ЄT Γ (3) (194-195 A.D.)? [AY K Λ] CЄ[Π CЄOYHPOC AY], laureate head right / MHTPOΠO [KAICAPAC], agalma of Mt. Argaeus set upon garlanded altar inscribed ЄT Γ (date unclear; see notes). Sydenham 422? (see notes). (15.93 grams / 26 mm) eBay May 2022 Countermark: Radiate head of Helios right, in circular punch, 5 mm. Howgego 12i (242 pcs). "Note: The countermark was most likely applied in 243/244 since there are no countermarked coins from year seven of the reign of Gordian III." FORVM. Attribution: Date unclear; Sydenham 412: ЄT B/R (yr. 2) Sydenham 422: ЄT Γ (yr. 3) Sydenham 428: ЄT IΓ (yr. 13) This Gordian III is countermarked on the neck, but I am not sure with what; my guess is a Helios head, since they are so common. But this is only a guess: Gordian III Æ 25 Cappadocia, Caesarea Year Ϛ (6) (243 A.D.) [ΑΥ Κ Μ Α]ΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ, laureate and cuirassed bust right seen from rear / ΜΗΤΡΟ ΚΑΙϹ Β Ν, ƐΤ Ϛ; view of Mount Argaeus set on altar containing wreath RPC VII.2 3384 (cuir. only) 10.69 grams / 25 x 24 mm) eBay May 2022 Countermark: Unclear, but possibly radiate head of Helios right, in circular punch, 5 mm. Howgego 12i (242 pcs). "Note: The countermark was most likely applied in 243/244 since there are no countermark ed coins from year seven of the reign of Gordian III." Collection Automan on FORVM. Attribution: Cuirassed bust, no drapery; (1) example in RPC. That Helios Head countermark was used a lot - RPC calls it No. 129; here is a link to a bunch of other examples: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/countermark/129

My first post on this forum just had to be Faustina Friday, although I don't have a left-facing Faustina of any description. Nice ones, @Roman Collector as always. Here are a couple of thrones/pulvinars, one a lifetime type, one with a veiled portrait. These attribution were from a few years back and could definitely be better - nowadays I use RC's write-ups to narrow down dates, descriptions, etc.: Faustina I Denarius 5th Phase: Anniversary of Faustina’s Deification (c. 150-160 A.D.) DIVA FAVSTIN[A], draped bust right / AVGV[ST]A, throne, on which is a wreath, with a sceptre in front. RIC 377; RSC 131; BMC 454. (2.89 grams / 16 mm) eBay Nov. 2018 Faustina I Denarius (c. 138-141 A.D.) (Lifetime) Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVGVSTA; draped bust right. / IVNONI REGINAE; throne, draped, sceptre against it; below peacock with tail spread. RIC 339a; RSC 219. (2.68 grams / 18 mm) eBay Apr. 2018 Faustina I Denarius (c. 150-151 A.D. - Aet. types) Rome Mint DIVA FAVSTINA, veiled, draped bust right / AETERNITAS, draped throne against which rests scepter; in front a peacock standing right. RIC 353b; BMC 388. (3.14 grams / 18 mm) eBay July 2018