robinjojo

Thank you so much! That example that you found online is absolutely beautiful and far better quality dies compared to my humble example.

Over the past few weeks I made a couple of visits to my local coin shop in San Jose to go through some of the ancients stock. I've been basically going through the same box. I am sure there are other ancients available, but the shop, always a bit of jumble, became more disorganized because of one break-in and a couple of attempted break-ins. Additional security measures, in addition to the video monitors, were added, including a beefed up door, a concrete barrier in front, in the form of a planter, and a metal security door that can be lowered electronically. Needless to say the owner is upset and very angry about this situation and there's talk that the shop will likely close in two or three years, I assume when the current lease expires. I did find a crude but interesting AE As of Nero. At least I think it is an As, but it is somewhat on the heavy side for an As. This is a well known type, with Nero playing a lyre on the reverse. The portrait, unlike most examples that I have seen, is facing left. Does anyone have the RIC# for this coin. I assume that it would have its own due to the left facing portrait. Is this a rare variety? The obverse is rough, with deposits and some corrosion, while the reverse is quite decent all things considered. Nero, AE As, 64 AD, Nero playing the lyre on reverse. 11.33 grams The second coin, which I call "Neroesque", was minted by the Artuqids of Mardin. It is the only ancient or medieval coin that I know of that has both a profile and a facing portrait on the same side, the obverse for this coin. The profile portrait clearly resembles Nero, at least to me. Perhaps others might think it is another emperor. The facing portrait is very much in the Byzantine style. Artuquids of Mardin, Husam al-Din Yuluq Arslan. AH 580-597 (1184-1201 AD), SS34, variant portrait page, 103. 13.48 grams The larger roman style portrait, in the astrological context of royalty, represents Jupiter. The facing figure, with the pointed crown could represent the sun. On December 19, 1189 an occultation, or planetary eclipse of Jupiter as it passed behind the sun occurred, deemed an auspicious conjunction. Could this coin's obverse be a reference to this event? Spengler and Sayles think it is. This coin is a fairly decent example of a scarce type. There seems to have been an attempt to clean the coin in the past, as evidenced by the scratches on both sides. Thanks for helping to ID the Nero As, and please post anything you wish.

Hemimorphite with Malachite and Quartz, 79 Mine, Gila County, Arizona. 8cm x 6cm x 4.5cm; 329.6 grams

This is an object that I recently acquired from a Harlan J Berk buy-bid sale. This was an after auction purchase. I think the lot didn't attract any bids due to the repair the figure's left hand. The repair was done very professionally. I used my black light to see if there were any signs of resin (epoxy) used and I didn't see any. I collect, in addition to a smattering of antiquities, works of Asian art, including Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian. This South Asian object depicts Baby Krishna, in the characteristic crawling pose, with one extended cupped hand. Stylistically this carving, done in very fine grain compact basalt, is quite remarkable for its simplicity and clean lines. Here's the HJB lot description: "Indian Bengal Black Basalt Baby Krishna; Indian Bengal Black Basalt Baby Krishna, 18th Century AD, Bengal. Modeled in uniform sleek black basalt, the famous incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu is here depicted as the infant god Krishna - a nude child crawling forward with his right hand lifted. With its stylized wide eyes and smooth surfaces, the piece is an excellent example of the almost modernistic Bengal style, which in sharp contrast to other Indian sculptural styles is empty and unornamented in its display of elemental forms. This anachronistically modern Bengali approach inspired the famous modern Indian painter Janmini Roy. Expert restoration to left hand, otherwise excellent condition. H. 5" L. 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm.)." Harlan Berk Buy-Bid Sale 219, lot 505 This figurine weighs 862.1 grams.

Thanks!

I am sure price gouging is going on. As far as shipping issues, there was a huge backlog of shipping containers at the ports of LA and Long Beach for many months. I understand that this issue is being resolved.

Santa Clara County, California, where I live has a pretty high sales tax at 9.13%. However bullion and coins comprised of gold or silver purchases $1,500 (single transaction) and over are sales tax exempt in California. However, eBay does not always apply this exemption, so the buyer needs to contact Customer Service to sort that out.

Affordable housing has long been an issue in the Bay Area. High density units have been constructed near light rail lines, but even those units are expensive and unaffordable for teachers, police, and service workers. It is a real dilemma, as adding more units adds to more congestion, public transportation notwithstanding, which is pretty poor in the South Bay. The ongoing battle in Cupertino is the development of the former Vallco Mall area. It's been a hole in ground for many years as political wrangling and legal actions proceeded at a regal pace. Now it seems that construction of a mixed use structure, with a park and trails on top, is going to proceed.

Nice thread! Eastern Celts, tetradrachm, Doppelkopf Type,, 3rd century BC. Lanz 540 12.73 grams Macedon Philip II tetradrachm, posthumous, 323-2 - 316-5BC Amphipolis. Le Rider Plate 46. 14.4 grams Bactria, Eukratides, I tetradrachm, 171-135 BC. 17.0 grams Syracuse. tetradrachm, Agathokles 317-310 BC. 17.0 grams Brunswick-Luneburg-Celle, Christian Ludwig, 1662-LW, 2 thalers, Dav-LS174. 57.5 grams Charles I, Oxford half pound, 1643, S-2945A,. 60.2 grams

Thanks! The Apache agate is very rare, one that I've owned since the early 1970's. The patterns, with folded reds and yellows in translucent blue-gray, are a hallmark of this type. This agate has been off the market for many years, so the ones that do appear rarely are from old collections. Many have been slabbed which I think takes away some of the three dimensional qualities. Here's another Apache: Apache agate, Rancho La Vinata, Ejido El Apache, Chihuahua, Mexico. 10.5cm x 5.4cm x 6.3cm; 569.5 grams This example was mined, probably in 1995, as opposed to the one posted yesterday, which was a surface find from the 1960s, possibly earlier. This is probably the most famous of the Apache agates, the "Hooded Owl" (not mine).

Here are a couple of photos from today: Apache agate, Rancho La Vinata, Ejido El Apache, Chihuahua, Mexico. 5.2cm x 6cm x 4cm; 219.2 grams. Coyamito Agate, Rancho Coyamito Norte, Sierra Del Gallego, Chihuahua, Mexico. 6.2cm x 7.5cm x 6cm; 415.3 grams Edit: Here's one more. Luna Agate, La Mojina, Terrenates, Chihuahua, Mexico. 8.3cm x 7.5cm x 4.5cm; 414.5 grams This agate was given the name Luna, not because of the spherical or eye patterns, but rather because the discovery of the deposit coincided with the launch of Sputnik I in 1957.

Good job! The weight loss is minimal and there's no major corrosion. The coin will naturally darken with time. I agree, your owl, by the way, looks like a Pi Style V. Here's a link to the Forum Ancient Coins page on the subject, if you don't have it: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=pi-style

The inflation we are experiencing, at a 40 year high, has been fueled a few factors, in my view: 1) demand for goods and services that are in short supply, due to supply chain issues such as shipping and labor shortages; 2) global conflicts affecting, especially, food and energy; 3) inflationary expectations of the public (deflationary expectations can also occur, such as in the 1930s); 4) the pandemic - manufacturers, such as chip makers, reduced output at the peak of COVID - only to be caught flat footed when the economy surged in the second half of 2020 and 2021; 5) rising interest rates on loans and rising costs of materials/labor (previously mentioned) which companies pass on to consumers; and 6) environmental changes are creating widespread droughts, floods, intense storms, heatwaves and wildfires that negatively impacted crop yields, driving up food prices, particularly for poorer countries, but the impact has been global. Now the metals traded on international markets, gold and silver, are pegged to the dollar, which has been very strong lately, due to rising interest rates in the US and troubles abroad. Silver is trading right now at around $18 an ounce. It was higher a few months ago at around $23 - $24 and ounce. Gold has not fared very well either and platinum, last I checked, was around $1,200 and ounce, losing ground over the past year or so. I mentioned inflationary expectations among the public. I think this expectation fuels the demand for silver bullion coin, which I follow, and gold coins as well I assume. I was looking at Mexican onzas the other day, and they are selling on eBay at around $40 or more. That's quite a spread when one looks at the trading range on the metal exchanges. In the past, say a couple of years ago, the spread was not nearly as wide. Back in 2019 - 2020 an onza could be purchased for around $24 - $24, with silver trading at around $15 or so. Clearly the psychology of inflation expectation is playing a role in the tremendous recent runup of bullion prices. At the same time, due to the US dollar's strength, the Euro and British Pound have taken a hit, with the Euro trading on July 14 for a few hours at below parity with the US dollar. Now it is trading very slightly over parity. As I mentioned higher interest rates and political situations overseas have been driving, primarily, the rise of the US dollar. So, if you are a US collector, and you've had an eye on a coin being offered in the EU or UK, this might be the time to consider purchasing it. Of course the future is unknowable, so swings, some possibly significant, can happen in both directions. As for collector coins, the rule that quality speaks always applies, as well as rarity and desirability. Sure, coin prices could collapse if we have another 1930s depression or they could go totally stratospheric if we have a 1920s style German inflation, but the likelihood of those extremes occurring are remote, so coin prices should generally appreciate, with the occasional dip when a hoard or major collection hits the market, but then those are good time to buy coins, particularly if they were previously very scarce or rare. This is not a rare coin, but one that is apparently part of a large hoard that has been entering the ancients market for many months. This coin came out of Roma's E-sale 99, lot 27. I've been looking for a decent type example of this beautiful coinage. Note the apparent casting sprue that broke off the flan, probably when the flan was removed from the mold. Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 275-235 BC. Sy- and Lykinos, magistrates. Nude youth on horseback to left, crowning horse that raises left foreleg; ΣY above, ΛΥKΙ-ΝΟΣ in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, brandishing trident, wearing chlamys around shoulders and left arm; owl standing to left in right field, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 836-841; HN Italy 1025; SNG ANS 1165. 6.47g, 19mm, 1h.

Nice coins, Steve. I especially like your two Ptolemy bronzes.

Nice owl! Speaking of chunky owls, here one that arrived last week, from Roma. This is an intermediate owl, Pi-style III. At 17.47 grams it is one my heavier owls. Athens, owl, intermediate, Pi-style III circa 353-340 BC. From Roma E-sale 99, lot 115. 17.47 grams This coin has all the characteristics of a crude, folded flan owl, on a typically "log" shaped flan. While it is within the usual flan size, at 22 mm at the widest point, it is quite thick at 4.5 mm.

That silver round is nicely produced, with a good portrait and owl. Yes, the flashy silver round does make the 5th century BC owl look a little humble, but that's part of their appeal, I think. Each owl was hammer struck, so no two coins are exactly the same; there are always differences whether minor or major. Here's a 19th century medal produced for the University of France, featuring Athena and Skyla. 27.9 grams.

I've been looking for a nice Alexandrian tetradrachm to go with the Gallienus Sol tetradrachm. The other week I came across this nice Sol tetradrachm of Hadrian. These coins are available, but this one, aside from the somewhat typically rough surfaces, has a nice high profile portrait of Hadrian and a good one of Sol as well. Hadrian, BI tetradrachm, Alexandria, RY 14 (129/30 AD). RPC III 5737 12.80 grams The other coin is common. It is an Alexandrian tetradrachm of Gallienus, RY 15, What attracted me to this coin is the portrait. The reverse appears to be double struck and typically crude. Gallienus, 253-268 AD. BI tetradrachm, Alexandria (22 mm, 8.77 grams, 12 h), RY 15 = 267-8 AD.

No, absolutely not. When I was a lot younger I would have done that, and that would be a big mistake. Agates of that quality are far more valuable and desirable left as is. The stone has a beautiful glaciated and water washed husk that has taken tens of millions of years to develop. There are situations when cutting is needed, especially if a stone has little or no pattern on the surface or if there is damage, such as major fractures, that might be mitigated or removed by cutting. I try to be minimally interventionist when it comes to glaciated and water worn stones. Stones that have been mined out of formations are another matter.

Cool Laker! This is one that I've owned for many years: Lake Superior agate, Minnesota 8.0cm x 3.5cn x 5.0cm, 304.9 grams Here's a Kentucky agate that was recently professionally polished. I call it the "Kentucky Twister" because of the abstract rendering of a descending or ascending funnel cloud. Kentucky agate, "Kentucky Twister". 12cm x 5.5cm x 5.1cm, 435.2 grams

There have been wide bodies of the recent past, such as the legendary Boeing 747: But in numismatics wide bodies, coins stuck on unusually broad flans, go back much further. Yesterday a multiple dirham arrived, a remarkably wide coin for its time in the 10th century. Samanid, Nuh III b. Mansur I, AH 365-385 (976-997 AD),AR multiple dirham, no date. 45mm, 14.98 grams Going back a little further, there were the reform folles of Justinian I. Justinian I, follis, Nicomedia, regnal year 13 (539/40 AD), officina B. From Roma E-Sale 98, lot 1663. 43mm, 23.48 grams So, please post any wide flan coins or medals you wish, ancient, medieval, modern and anything in between. Thanks!

The finding of antiquates and coins has long been a game of Whac-a-mole for the authorities. Not only are antiquities and coins from Israel being exported without authorization, but coins and objects from neighboring countries, particularly Syria, a conflict zone, and Jordan, are finding their way through Israel and on to overseas collectors, through auctions, dealer price lists or direct sales. I agree that archeological sites need to be preserved and protected. Newly discovered sites should also come under this umbrella. However, as noted earlier, many coins coming to the market are from metal detector finds of individual coins and hoards of varying sizes. Yes, a UK/Dutch type system would be desirable, but how to implement it in Israel, which includes the strife-ridden occupied West Bank, would be problematic. It just seems to me that in order for such a system to be successfully implemented, conflict needs to end, not only in Israel, but throughout the region.

Here's a clearly imitative lion daalder that I have very little information on. I suspect that this coin was minted either in Turkey (Ottoman Empire), Middle East, Indonesia or the product of local manufacture elsewhere. This is a very crude coin and the shield design on the obverse is odd, to say the least. Instead of the traditional lion, there is a crude geometrical design of three long triangles, two lower pointing up and one at the center top pointing down. The significance of this design is beyond me. Online research based the design yielded zilch. So, does anyone have an opinion on or possibly knowledge about this coin? It weighs 21.3 grams, roughly three quarters of a lion daalder's average weight. The rather thin flan has a diameter of 40mm. The coin appears to have been modeled after a lion daalder of Utrecht (TRA) on the obverse, and the date appears to be 1681, but the 8 is muddled so it could be a 3.

Just as a FYI, here's what a legit bust US dollar generally looks like: Ex. Karl Stephens 26.7 grams

Here's one more coin that I photographed today. This is an ecu, Brabant, Spanish Netherlands. Spanish Netherlands, Brabant, Philip II, ecu, 1558 with titles of Spain England. Purchased in the 1990s from Credit de la Bourse, Paris. 33.9 gams

Here's another necessity coin, this one from a later period and another war, the Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678), when the United Provinces was invaded by Louis XIV in 1672, nearly overrunning the country. His advance was slowed when the dykes holding back the North Sea were removed by the Dutch in places, flooding the countryside and hindering any further progress of France and the allies with the invasion, saving the United Provinces from almost certain defeat. This coin was issued by the city of Campen in 1672. Campen necessity daalder, 1672. This coin came from the World Wide Coins of California auction in June 1991, lot 250. Davenport 4987; Delmont 710; Mailliet 13 28.2 grams