seth77

Thessalonica is an interesting case: a lot of large modules but virtually 0 phoenix on globe issues. Shawn Caza's article is interesting, although I wish he'd gone more in depth about the relation between the types, even though his main focus was the FH type.

The system might have been 3:2:1 and it might have been introduced in stages between 348 and 350. And since there were 2 types for the largest denomination, it was bound that once the machine got rolling and the mints got busy minting, mules would happen. Or at least that is what I thought this one to be: The obverse is typical of the early FH type, paired with the galley reverse. Or so I thought. But it seems that this was not a fluke, RIC lists the type at 113 and Nummus Bible has another spec from officina A: https://www.nummus-bible-database.com/monnaie-28234.htm I wonder if anybody else has one of these.

These are so interesting and rather unique as far as Roman coinage designs go. But what I find most appealing is the tight connection with the large AE denomination. What these small AEs show us is a close-up image of the device that the emperor is holding on the large AEs.

@LONGINUS this presentation you gave makes you sound like a character from one of Bob Dylan's songs.

My bottom monster of the abyss beneath the iceberg area is populated with: imitations of imitations of the denarii tornesi on the Danube, Giacomo Badoer, Zibaldone da Canal, imitations of Nicola di Monforte, Giacomo Montagano, Congiura dei Baroni, GV PRINCEPS, Kinnloser typ, Sattelkopfpferd, Theos Megas at Tyras, cast copper provincial imitations from Durostorum area in mid 3rd century, Late Roman consulships on coins, tesserae mercantile from Vadum Iacob, the full dossier of everything ever published by Julian Baker.

Now I want one of those octopus coins

I don't know much about these small Imperial denominations (I prefer the provincials at this size), but this series with the personifications of the four seasons is very interesting: https://www.facebook.com/groups/767332423353070?multi_permalinks=6988225071263743&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen

Azzone Visconti as Signore di Como, ca. 1335: My oldest daughter is discovering country-western and this weekend this is her favorite tune:

I dont like the reverse at all. It reminds me of a weird fake from a couple of years that had this type of reverse with the emperor in toga coupled with an obverse of Diocletian (!)

Another lady I like in a denomination I have come to appreciate, at 3.50g 18mm, this one is on the tail end of the small denomination series ca. 225: Iulia Mamaea 3.50g 18mm unit Despite the wear and the deep earthen patina, this issue has some really fine engraving, almost on par with the denarii of Iulia and Alexander at this time. Was also surprised to see only 8 specs in RPC, did not expect it to be that scarce.

I don't think there is any escape from the current ideological battles spilling over into the study of history. And trying to reshape or reimagine history through new language and/or applying the latest dialectics is actually the norm in every age. The illuminists saw decline and disaster in anything that had to do with christianity. The Nazis invented an ethnic monobloc identity for "the Germanic race" in a "race war" against the "lesser" races. The communists tried to apply the "class struggle" to everything, from the the invention of agriculture to the Greek polis. The nationalists invented local and autharchic myths that were used instead of honest research to keep the history of their countries isolated from the neighbors. If you compare this new fad with the previous ones, it looks rather harmless.

”Accidentally”

”Accidentally”

Wow, those bookshelves look so neat.

Domitia from Thyateira:

I have already turned off the computer so I can't add any coin. But this post reminded me of the 'Quo Vadis' movie from 2001. It's a Polish film based on the famous Sienkiewicz book. It was an overall decent movie, but the actors playing both Nero and Petronius were really good, with Bogusław Linda doing a pretty stellar job adding both the fun and the studied decadence of the witty aristocrat to the deeply dramatic character that is Sienkiewicz's Petronius. I watched it in theater back then, but it's often on tv in Europe around Easter time for the obvious reasons.

Maybe Abonoteichos for Antoninus Pius? The legend under the serpent is ΓΛYΚΩΝ. Sometime during the reign of Pius or early Marcus Aurelius the town changes it's name to Ionopolis so any legend reading [ΑΒΩ]ΝΟΤΕΙΧΕΙΤΩΝ has to be earlier than ca. 160-70. I think your coin is a combination of dies from RPC IV.1 5355 for obverse and a not in RPC Glykon to left reverse. Obv legend is likely [ΑVΤ] ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟ(Ϲ). Abonoteichos is actually where the "prophet" Alexander, the founder of the Glykon cult, was from, which is why the Glykon serpent is also named, perhaps by late 140s to 150 the cult had already become the main symbol of the town. A wonderful coin and no doubt also rare.

Ah, the wedding cake 🎂 🎂 🎂 🎂 coin.

There is a similar representation of the reverse figure on the Eastern SOLI INVICTO for Maximinus, Constantine and Licinius ca. 312, also from Antioch. It is probably meant to represent a local version of Sol Invictus dressed in Eastern garb.

The parallel between Antioch in Syria and Caesarea in Cappadocia is very interesting and goes way beyond the reign of Gordian and the multiple denominations and monies types employed to satisfy both the civil market needs and the military expenses for war campaigns. The two mints were in fact main suppliers of coin for the East as a whole, with a steady multiple-denomination system in place, including silver/billon and a regular output with multiple issues per reign, usually dated per regnal year. As such, most coins minted at Caesarea Cappadocia and Antioch in Syria are very common, but at the same particular moments that were brief and irregular -- and extremely rare in the coinage of Rome -- are better represented here in the East. Here is the Gordian type from the covers, but in a modest condition: And some earlier types: -- the coinage for the Philadelphia-Severia Games of 205, minted at Caesarea with a clear mention of a 'Koinon of Cappadocia' so a regional coinage: -- Cornelia Iulia Paula when she married Elagabal in early 219 had coinage minted in her name with the full long legends, together with the Caracalla-like bust for her husband Elagabal:

Here is two other earlier specimens for Alexander as Caesar in Nicaea: AE23mm 6.18g orichalcum (brass) assaria multiple, minted at Nicaea, ca. 221. Μ˙ ΑΥ˙Ρ˙ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ ΚAI; bare-headed draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from back NI - KA - IE - ON; three legionary standards cf. RPC VI 3096 (temporary), cf. RecGen 580a This variation is not recorded in the regular references but the general type is well known. Similar spec here. The obverse die was also used for different reverse types, as seen here and here. The coinage for Alexander as Caesar is usually scarce to rare and dies used for different types with the same obverse are regular within colonial coinage. The alloy used is also interesting, as orichalcum is evocative of imperial sestertii, possibly this issue was tariffed at 4 colonial assaria, the equivalent in official terms to the imperial sestertius of four asi. The assaria from Nicaea in Bithynia was used extensively, as finds confirm, as currency in Moesia Superior, Pannonia, Raetia and Dacia Traiana around the second quarter of the 3rd century, as limes provinces were not very well provided with Imperial coinage. Colonial assaria such as this specimen were of paramount importance to the local economy on the Roman Danube, which is probably how this specimen ended up in a Czech collection, possibly a find from Pannonia or Raetia or Moesia Superior. Very nice specimen, which only adds to the rarity and interest. With a higher diameter and weight, this specimen is likely early in the series. AE24mm 5.10g copper assaria multiple, minted at Nicaea, ca. late 221 or very early 222(?) Μ ΑΥΡ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ K; bare-head right NI - KA - IE - ON; three legionary standards cf. RecGen 580a (for general type) A different variation from the one above, with the bare head only in truncation. This effigy variation is not regular for Imperial issues either, although it becomes common after 222 during his reign as Augustus. Also, this specimen seems to be of red copper rather than brass orichalcum. This one comes from an Austrian collection. The difference in modules and weights between 221 to early 222 and March 222 is rather clear.

This is FEDEX open up pls

This Forum needs a ghost 👻 👻 👻 reaction to be made available at Halloween time.

The denier tournois of the Duchy of Athens from the mid to late 1280s is probably the most aesthetically pleasing coinage of the Greek Frankokratia. It is also marked by many experimental short-lived issues that help a lot in the understanding of the development of the locally minted 'Western' coinage in Greece. Also these coins and the coins of neighboring Achaea are so plentiful that they vastly outnumber any other 'Crusader' coinage (with honorable mentions for the Antiochene 'helmet denier' and the copper follari of early 1100). In fact these coins were so successful that they become legal tender in post 1278 Angevin Italy and ca. 1300-7 France (during the shenanigans of Philippe IV le faux-monnayeur), where they circulated as the 'better' monies.