zanzi

This isn't ancient, but it's pretty old and I don't know enough about it to get it's own thread. It was a pretty impulsive $5 add-on to a few other coins I was already getting, but it seemed rare enough and I don't have any Dutch coinage this early so I threw it on. Dutch Republic, AE Duit City of Groningen, dated 1690 AD Size: 2.1 grams, 19.6 x 19.8 x 0.9 mm, pierced Obv: City name "Gro Ninga." in two lines within a quatrefoil Rev: Crowned shield with a two-headed eagle, 1690 date above, two rampart lions facing, floral below References: KM #46, also on Oriental Coins Database Zeno.ru as 332344 Ex. Don Erickson (DNECoins)

Thanks for sharing the comic, that got me to chuckle. I also appreciate the CoinTalk link about the dimple discussions. What a hot topic, there's plenty to read into there. It's quite interesting that amongst all the periods and places striking coins in the ancient world, there were only two who produced them in a way that made these dimples. Ptolemaic Egypt in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, and Roman Provincial coins in the 3rd (and 4th?) centuries CE. Wish someone had left a how-to mint "For Dummies" for us. You said you have a "similar specimen", but I'm pretty convinced you have a die-match to my coin! Can anyone confirm or deny my suspicion? The letters in the exergue, as well as every detail of the serpent, all seem to match perfect. I'm not a die-matcher but I can't find any differences.

Very cool design here, the serpent looks much more natural and strike-ready than many others I've seen. Lovely coin!

Roman coins aren't much of a focus for me, but when I saw this green snake on eBay I knew it would be hard to talk myself out of it. I didn't make it far in that conversation. I also did not do proper research before the purchase, nor even look at the images too well, because it was not until after I hit Buy It Now that I realized the snake was nimbate, which led me down a whole rabbit hole. I had no idea there were serpent deities // cults in the Roman era but it was quite an interesting read. I'd recommend checking out the Wikipedia page for Glycon (Glykon). Further research gave me some doubts about the exact identity of the deified crawler, however. Does anyone have any information or opinions about the identity of this serpent? I don't exactly see the so-called "human face" on it, but it is certainly nimbate. Looking around elsewhere at holy serpents on provincial coins, it seems to be a pretty contentious subject where many automatically assume Glykon but other details point towards other serpents or an undetermined state. Another question, what is the term for the little holes in the middle of the coin? I know they are related to the coin's production, but I'm not sure what to call them. Dimples? Craters? There is a small one on Gordian's jawline and another on the body of Glykon (?). Roman Empire, provincial coin of Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior Undated but struck 241 to 244 AD Issued under Gordian III, under authority of Sabinius Modestus (Legatus Consularis), governor of Moesia Inferior Size: 13.7 grams, 28.1 x 29.5 x 3.2 mm Obv: Bust of Gordian right, surrounded by "ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΥΓ" Rev: Nimbate serpent (Glykon?) right, body tangled with tail left, below a line, surrounded by "ΥΠ ϹΑΒ ΜΟΔΕϹΤΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΠΡΟϹ ΙϹΤΡ" References: RPC VII.2 #1307, AMNG 2104, also on Oriental Coins Database Zeno.ru as 332341 Ex. Don Erickson (DNECoins) I'd love to hear any thoughts on which serpent deity my coin represents, but also I'd love to see any other snakes or serpents, Glykon or not, on coins. Non-Roman is obviously welcome, as well. Thank you all.

Azurite, I think.

I think this coin counts, it's my first Nero. Nero - AE As - 62 to 68 AD - Rome Mint Copied from Numista Obverse: Head of Nero, laureate, right. NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP Translation: Nero Caesar Augustus Germanicus Imperator - Nero, Caesar, emperor (Augustus), victor over the Germans, supreme commander (Imperator) Reverse: Victory, winged, draped, moving left, holding in both hands shield inscribed S P Q R, surrounded by S C Translation: Senatus Populusque Romanus, Senatus Consultum - The Senate and the Roman People, Decree of the senate Next: another Nero

This might consider as large flan issue, it is called 3 cash by some, 2 cash by others, but it measures 33mm wide which is a bit more than the usual 25+- mm for Chinese cash. China (Song Dynasty) - 1119-1125 CE Xuan He Tong Bao (seal script) 33mm = 3 cash (or 2) = Hartill # 16.475 Shipwreck coin from an undisclosed ship in the Java Sea Next : a holed Eastern coin (cash type)

I'm curious, how big is this? You say it is a larger AE.

Here is my latest coin, a Parthian drachm of Artabanus II. This is my second Parthian coin alongside my first, a drachm of Mithradates II. Neat how you can see the design simplify and become more "Persian looking".

And of course, this is a neat one too! Nice provenance behind it. I do have a bronze Abbasid coin to share, as well. It has a very odd cut flan. I was lucky to get ID help on Zeno for this one. Abbasid Caliphate Undated but circa 143 AH = 760/761 AD al-Jazira (The Island) Mint In the name of al-Abbas b Mohammad, governor of al-Jazirah, during the era of al-Mansur The name al-Jazirah refers to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Album #304, Zeno.ru 329056

I have little to add except, WOW! The multiple dinar is really something special, both of these coins are exquisite. This is very close to the first Abbasid dirham which I regretfully sold! The style is very nice, it's a great coin. Your piece has some nice toning on it. I don't know much about the various regional styles but this has an interesting appearance unlike most Abbasid coins I've seen. Neat, thank you for sharing.

I recently bought this coin as unidentified and of poor images, so I was pleased to find it was issued by a ruler I was unaware of. I'm not particularly well versed on Islamic kingdoms or coins but I had an Abbasid dirham in the past which I regretfully sold so it was something that I had always wanted to get back. Never mind that this is a "budget" coin- it has a nice spot in my collection. I put it on the oriental database site zeno.ru (329010) and one user even managed to find an obverse die-link for me! Abbasid Caliphate al-Mu'tasim at the Madinat al-Salam mint Dated 225AH = 840/841 AD AR Dirham The named ruler on the coin, al-Mu'tasim, was the eighth caliph of the Abbasid. His name means "'He who seeks refuge in God". He was a son of the more famous Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid. Byzantine enthusiasts may recognize the name al-Mu'tasim as he is the one who personally led the Abbasid armies to siege, sack, and raze the great Byzantine city of Amorium in 838, only two or three years prior to my coin being minted. Maybe this coin was minted from the loot and wealth of the poor Byzantine city. The coin was minted at Madinat al-Salam, commonly called the Round City of Baghdad. The Abbasid Caliphate had designated Baghdad, before a relatively unimportant site on the Tigris River, to be the new capital of the empire. It quickly grew into an incredible center of Islamic civilization. It was given an impressive round wall, hence the "round city" part of the name. Below is a picture of the site along the river. I'd be interested to see any other Abbasid coins or anything related to this coin or period.

I have not much to add, but what an awesome reverse, beautiful coin!

Thank you both for the added info about pitting and Zurqieh. This definitely appears harshly cleaned so the explanation makes sense. Thanks all.

I thank everybody for the responses, I did not expect such a back and forth over the coin but am glad to hear the general consensus lies in an overcleaned authentic coin. The fouree possibility is interesting. Thank you kindly to everyone for sharing their thoughts and expertise, it was also great to see everyone's personal examples. It's amazing how many small varieties there are of the Alexander III drachms.