robinjojo

I guess, things being relative, I remember when these coins were available in bulk lots.  I suppose they still are, in the form of "as found" lots.  

Here are a few listings that I think are priced on the high side, but this is my perspective of course; they might reflect current trends.

https://www.vcoins.com/fr/stores/romae_aeternae_numismatics/136/product/constantine_i_the_great_spqr_optimo_principi_aquila_standards_ric_351_rome/658930/Default.aspx

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395387664541?itmmeta=01HXT01KAT46CM0JFAWP7X596C&hash=item5c0ef0f89d:g:AQ4AAOSwg1FlwC7i&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HsHiKh%2BFPN1o9owweFGDvlg99i%2BASMjBc9ZDB%2BGJu%2Bljd5skk4AQUyyV5mjuWHNZZUFagLWP1a641p6kgK0ni2HXtdRbhMQ%2Fiq3J9FJw0i1KKhAdCPhOP6HvafeCRimk%2BPqIAm%2B%2Biqwal1Zf2sX6JYJfWF2slbomaNL7nCu3UKuj95fWvrDMAwAy1d20a6kENZXiFsUzk%2BG5R3gwTHe5c7Rlc61G1G1P%2BftDYIJ2R0SZC5NF4b%2FAZmrCkpF4JkFcRbKTsd1S0ckaf9lBqUlGAA%3D|tkp%3ABFBMvLWGwO5j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395315654255?itmmeta=01HXT04SRQAX3S0SP0MX2201QE&hash=item5c0aa62e6f:g:GhcAAOSwf6BlB4jB&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HNwp89fdhUST76b0ELBRvIFHYzH1fa2xWtfNfAaxVOgwE2aVcOiZlxlpj2Luk1AScAgNSK%2BRZFw1e6qGuXBrEKdNuL59vtgkVAKV83GIpNjXbRINSCwXnBGXKJiaecSP0u9atkt%2FZQKxeO3UcWP%2F3%2FogWCXZMAf9mhuyQiYBOJ1Tq1kBDpoeMaOLukkVHGn8agLpfzcgakbfES5hbrNI9hD%2B0levLdkE2Fu%2BRYaDPrhlu%2BQlkYDFQWfqAOsxK7MT6WpVz5zGnOKlPCDqs0hLHY%3D|tkp%3ABFBMupyTwO5j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395356948628?itmmeta=01HXT082ZKANK9VKQ5C7AP7WBH&hash=item5c0d1c4894:g:m-gAAOSwru5l3obs&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0LSfVrY46%2BC3n%2BbePgu1vvfGCHj4OlXqtEYaoRdLHwzjQGgKZ%2FzWfi7Igu7K9QV8JT1mMN1LflhenjlJ1n1ahk3ucQ%2BNU1Nq8Q8H%2FXw%2FpO7Ms%2Bh4EPxBiSwC0%2BYsphd0FjGuz7PUZvK%2FKKjRG%2Bh9NfKHSkkw%2BcCt8ahPHwipNh2nLLsed2iSeP4qwSANuR7hQSinCrzphsjYAUmZLlTjXAwYps%2BlZXIwU9awcZF41r4F%2FcDqNmoDzNrJ1OE8juknWpgfzySvNfOJMWC%2BoDwrfUc%3D|tkp%3ABFBM8q-gwO5j

This is a relatively inexpensive follis of Constantine I, that arrived today.  I've been avoiding LRBs over the years, but I have picked up a few recently.  I've decided to buy some type coins before the prices get any more ridiculous.

This is basically an "as found" example, with most of the find surface still intact.  It will remain so, since it is partially masking some apparently ancient scratches on the reverse, to the right.  Also, I like the "ancient" appearance of the coin, so why try to make it look like so  many other processed (cleaned) coins?

As it turns out this coin has a scarcer eagle type on the reverse, a facing eagle.  I wasn't aware of that aspect when I purchased it for $35 online, so that is a nice little bonus.

Constantine I, AE follis, Rome (RS), 312-13 AD.  Facing eagle variety.

22mm, 4.68 grams

I made an attempt to photograph the Aurora Borealis with my cantankerous digital camera, the first time I tried using it in a night setting.  I live near San Jose, California, so the display wasn't nearly as vivid as it was farther north, plus city lights affected the overall display.  So, here's a picture from my backyard around 12.30 am last night.  That's an elementary school playing field and high school across the way.

Wonderful pictures! 

I wish there was a display like that around San Jose, California, but we're just too far south, plus the city lights wash out much of sky.

Absolutely beautiful!  Thanks for posting!

2 minutes ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

I forgot to look outside last night.  Nice coins.

If you have a chance, go outside after 11 pm and look due north, in an area with preferably an unobstructed view.  If you have clear skies, depending on where you live, you should be able to see a green band of light near the horizon, with bright colors above, if you are farther north.

The display in San Jose has been washed out in part by city lights, so I can only see a greenish band of light near the horizon.  I understand that the display in Europe has been spectacular over the past two nights.  Tonight should be a repeat performance, weather permitting, of this very rare event.

Here are a couple of coins that have been seen before, but here again to honor the solar flare king.

In times gone by shows that were hosted by numismatic clubs or societies produced a medal to commemorate each show.  The medals often had themes relevant to the locality, such as important landmarks, or history, such as the one presented here.

I was lucky to purchase this silver medal in Mexico City, during the annual convention.  They often sold out quickly; this acquisition is the only example I have.  It is, as far as I can tell, produced privately.  Prior medals for the convention were produced by the Mexico City Mint, the oldest mint in North America.  I was also privileged to visit the mint itself, located in the old central district of the city, to witness the processing of coins from blanks to finished coins.  

Mexico, Sociedad Numismatica de Mexico, convention medal, silver, 1992.

45mm 44.67 grams

Stamped "Plata 999" on the edge.

The die work is elegant, with an interesting twist to the pillars of Hercules theme of the old colonial coins, replacing one classical column, to the right, with an Aztec column.  The Aztec Calendar Stone is replicated very nicely on the other side.

I have a few other medals that I need to photograph, primarily from the San Jose Coin Club's shows, all in bronze with one silver exception. The bronze medals were available for free to anyone attending the shows.

Does anyone else have show medals that they would like to share?  Does the NYC International Show issue a annual medal?

Thanks

Thanks!  I'll keep that in mind in case I miss some coins in this first pass.  My technique is to copy the description and paste it into a Word text box as unformatted text.  It's quite fast and the descriptions are usually very comprehensive.

I was able to create 38 Roma labels today, so I hope to do the remaining in fairly short order.

I just realized that I need to move quickly on making labels for my backlogged Roma purchases.  I use the lot descriptions from Roma when creating them. 

Gotta move fast.  Yikes!

It looks like a medal, but the photos are very blurry.  Is there any chance of posting clearer ones?

Yes, this discussion is a road well traveled, but I think this is so because of the complexities, and some times contractions inherent in the ancient coin market.  The vitality of this market is dependent on the continuous flow of fresh coins to feed in some cases and seemingly insatiable demand, such as the flood of classical owls.  So, the conveyor belts flow into the auction houses and individual sellers, an eco system that has been around for decades.  Hoard coins come and go on a virtually continuous basis.  Overlaying this activity are governmental agreements and MOUs that are designed to stem the flow of certain coins and artifacts out of the host countries.  The result is almost a cat and mouse scenario, particularly for high profile coins and artifacts.   

As for provenance, I don't put much weight on it.  Some seem to be generic in nature "From the collection of a country gentleman...", a provenance that is as useful as the listing of ingredients on a bottle of water.  And the vast majority of ancient coins, based on my experience have no provenance whatsoever.  And so it goes, and will continue far beyond the horizon as far as collecting goes.  Enough said on my part.  That's my two cents worth, or five cents due to inflation.

My new style owls came from various sources.  Here's one from Roma, one of the more commonly available middle period owls.

Athens, new style tetradrachm, 159/8 BC.  From Roma E-Sale 108, lot 256.

Attica, Athens AR New Style Tetradrachm. Circa 159/8 BC. Lysan-, Glaukos and Mened-, magistrates. Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos to right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet adorned with Pegasos / Owl standing to right, head facing, on amphora; A-ӨE above ΛY-ΣAN, ΓΛAY-KOΣ, MENEΔ across fields, cicada in left field, amphora inscribed E, ME (contractor's initials) below; all within wreath. Thompson 431i; HGC 4, 1602. 16.69g, 30mm, 12h.

3 hours ago, ela126 said:

I’m not huge into anything but Byzantine. However I feel I upgraded my Athenian owl this week by selling a graded copy with a wonderful surface, and truncated nose, to one with a slightly worse surface, slightly worse owl (mark in chest), but very superior strike otherwise.

Ever since Aaron Burke mentioned “don’t buy an Owl with the nose off the flan”, it’s been an itch I’ve needed to scratch. So, now I’ve corrected that. and I also get to handle it.

 

That's an excellent owl!  Congrats!

I've seen this seller from Thailand posting innumerable times on eBay, with all sorts of fakes/copies, along with sellers from Morocco.  They're like a plague of locusts on eBay, but then I don't want to insult the locusts!

Indian coins can have more than one script, at least based on my experience with 19th century coins, which can have a combination of Arabic and English characters and numerals.  Your coin could have this combination, but I am by no means an authority.   I must say that it looks familiar to me, but I cannot place it.  I might have seen one of this type as part of group lot in an auction.

Steve Album and his staff are very helpful and knowledgeable in the areas of Islamic and eastern coinage.  You might try emailing a photo to them..  

That's tough one, but I agree that it is very probably from India, possibly Mongol?  I'll do some research online.

Perhaps this link might help:

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/inde_princiers-1.html

You could try Steve Album.  He's a leading authority on this type of coinage.

I recently purchased a couple Faustina II tetradrachms in oh-hum condition (wear, porous metal, corrosion, etc.).  They're definitely candidates for upgrades if the opportunity presents itself and the price is not stratospheric.  Still, they help fill a hole in the Alexandrian tetradrachm section of the  collection for this fascinating and charismatic empress. 

First a young portrait during the reign of Antoninus Pius:

Faustina II, BI tetradrachm, Alexandria, Year 12 (148/9 AD).

RPC IV, 1099

12.21 grams

And a later portrait during the reign of Marcus Aurelius:

Faustina II, BI tetradrachm, Alexandria, Year 4 (163/4 AD).

RPC IV, 2591

11.87 grams 

I guess the postmortem and analysis will continue even though its not May 24th yet.  One thing seems clear: Roma was a financially stable and successful operation.  What sank it was what I call  the Eid Mar aureus affair of last year.  The legal fallout and consequences did it.

Roma did provide a venue for collectors of mid-grade coins, both ancient, world and British, much like CNG's e-auctions.  And yet, as are so many things in the world, Roma was a truly mixed bag of both giving collectors easy access to a wide array of coins, coupled, in the end, with nefarious practices in the realm of dubious  pedigrees, and, in the high profile case of the Eid Mar aureus, Beal's being caught red-handed in selling a coin under false pretenses, which fell very nicely into the hands of the New York City DA.  Human affairs are often very messy and the history of this firm, especially towards the end, is no exception.  

But the world moves on, and there are plenty of other auctions and dealers to patronize.  As for Roma, there are lessons to be learned about ethical conduct; whether those lessons are heeded is another matter entirely.

4 hours ago, DonnaML said:

There are still peasants in the UK??? I had no idea!

15 minutes ago, Sulla80 said:

Several variations on spacing for this issue.  Here's my LIE next to its Dattari-Savio reference coin (not a die match):

 

and here is your L-I-E coin with it's Dattari-Savio reference coin (not a die match). It looks like the E is partially visible on your coin: on the flan defect or break.

Thank you so much! 

I'll add the Dattari-Savio reference number.

From what I can determine, I don't see any suggestions of a forgery. I don't see any casting bubbles or seam along the edge.  I actually sent back recently an owl that was clearly cast last month. It has been stuck in the USPS system for over a month, but that's another story.

The coin has the typical characteristics of a billon tetradrachm from Alexandria.  My coin is definitely a lower midrange example.  The L is a bit odd, but the horizontal part seems to be partially obscured by a die crack or engraving blunder. The metal quality is also middling, not terribly porous but also not the best quality, something that is quite elusive with these coins.

I think another issue that I have these rough billon coins is generally crappy photos.  The old digital camera just isn't up to snuff.  To be continued there....

11 minutes ago, ambr0zie said:

It is possible, but my assumption is that your coin is the L   I   E type. We cannot determin for sure how many dies were used, if your coin had an imperfect die because of wear or the engraver had a bad day. 

  

Exactly - like examples 3, 4, 6 I mentioned. The E is on the right side. 

A coin from Alexandria I really wanted - initially I thought it is a very bad error from the engraver, doubling the first letter of Poppaea's name - but it's a die clash. Still a cool coin 

In terms of comparing reverse dies, the fourth example seems closest to the OP coin.  So, I will used BMC 2875 for a reference.  

That die clash is cool, a merging of Nero with Poppaea of a sorts, but not necessarily a blissful marriage.....

Thanks for the assistance!

17 minutes ago, ambr0zie said:

This design was only minted in year LIE (year 15) and I think your coin also fits. But the flan is small or chipped and the E is no longer visible, although the vertical bar and the upper horizontal bar are still there. 

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5768

Check examples 3,4 and 6.

For Alexandrian coins, it is not (very) unusual to have the year positioned in different ways on the reverse for the same type of coin. 

For example my Hadrian from year LIH is https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5871

But as checked, this type is more often encountered as LIH in the left field, not LI-H as on mine, but it is not a separate entry in catalogues. 

 

Thanks!

I noticed that the placement on the OP for the L is different, compared to the RPC and VCoin examples, very odd.  But, as I look at the coin closeup, the L looks like it has a die break to the lower horizontal extension, so it may not be an L at all, but possibly a die engraving error.  The field to the right of the I is completely flat.  Could the die engraver have overlooked adding the L and E to the date? 

Edit:

However I also see what you suggest, a possible E to the right edge, obscured by a flan irregularity, typical for this type.  That would mean the LIE date was spread across the reverse, different from the more centralized placement of the full date in the lower center.

I cannot find a RPC catalog number for this coin, a new addition.  It is dated LI or RY 10 (125/6 AD).  I found one example on the RPC website, volume III, for RY 14. I found another on VCoins for RY 15, but this coin is clearly dated RY 10.  I don't think this coin is particularly rare or even scarce, and it is in typically rough condition, but interesting nonetheless.  Thanks

Hadrian, BI tetradrachm, Alexandria, RY 10 (125/6 AD).

RPC ?

12.37 grams

And acsearch as well.  They seem to have auction results for individual coins running back to the 2010s