seth77

A small 13mm 2.14g brassy 'leaded bronze' unit minted at Lampsacus in Mysia for Augustus: And who's that on the reverse? It's the ithyphallic Priapus with his erection, luckily preserved in full despite the overall worn and corroded condition of the coin.

Yes, I remember him from FAC circa 20years ago. I remember his posts along with Curtis Clay's, Pat Lawrence's and Jochen's were real gems. I had to really grow and learn to appreciate them. Mark Fox was also the one to announce the coinage of Taenarum/Tainaron last year. I can do you one better, check your PM.

One of the inspirations for my interest in coins comes from numismatic literature. Whenever I get the chance I either read online or buy periodicals and articles from throughout Europe to Israel and the US. My favorite type of articles is what I have been also trying to emulate in my entries here and in my papers for numismatic periodicals: interesting pieces of puzzle with questions and (less often) answers regarding dating and the historical implications of certain coinages. An article that I have read the past month caught my interest not only for the subject matter but also for the periodical outlet that published it: 'Two numismatic puzzles from 1st century Sestus' by Mark Fox in 'Archaeology of the first millennium A.D. IV. Nomads and the autochtonous in the first millennium A.D.' (Istros, 2015), pp. 33-47. A numismatist from the US featured in an Eastern European (Romanian) publication. Surely a result of one of the great feats of the internet age -- fast interconnectivity and access to information for all interested parties. As I have mentioned a few times, I consider the local researchers to be the best when it comes to latest info, theories and finds regarding particular types. At the same time, internet, ebay and (in the last few years) biddr have given us all a chance to be as close as the 'locals' in numismatic research, as Mark Fox proves beyond any doubt in his research. So, a few days after reading his fun article, browsing the inventory of one of my favorite auction houses, lo and behold one of the coins Mr. Fox focuses in his paper: AE18 4.48g copper unit minted c. 70-81? [Δ]OMI[TIA]N[O]Σ KAIΣAP; laureate head r. ΣHΣ - TIwN; lyre/cithara RPC I 1739 / RPC II 358 double die-match with RPC II 358A It's a very interesting coin from an area of the Thracian Chersonesos less prolific during the Imperial age. It was assigned in RPC (RPC I) to Augustus (initially). BMC on the other hand had it assigned to Domitian. M. Fox in his aforementioned article suggests that the coin is actually minted for Domitian, and notes that it was likely minted early during his reign. Another possibility, even more likely considering the characteristics emphasized by M. Fox -- the form of the ethnic name on the reverse and the shape of the cithara, both very similar to Sestos issues for Vespasian (RPC II 358) -- coupled with the early form of sigma (Σ) instead of the regular (C) that is even used on the coinage of Vespasian, would suggest an issue very close to 70AD, so possibly minted for Domitian as Caesar rather than as Augustus (after 81). Without the paper to take up the problem of assigning this unremarkable coin in a context more suitable for its characteristics and as such, closer to its true attribution, I likely would've not become interested in this spec and my knowledge in 'provincial' or 'Greek Imperial' numismatics would have been poorer.

There is that and then there is our colleague @Prieure de Sion who has got his material underappreciated and undersold.

Ah, that really is promising.

I really like the way your dad recorded everything with such attention to detail, like a professional historian. This period is not really in my focus, I am interested in mostly post-1204 -- breakaway Greek states after the 4th Crusade and Latin Empire + Palaiologan age. But I could add something on this coin: it's the first billon issue for Manuel c. 1143-1152.

Even his moniker Paul Bearer is funny. In related news, I seem to have been missing out by not being up to date with this thing.

Had no idea who the guy was and had to go look for him on Google lol. The whole Wrestling scene is something from American culture that is totally unfamiliar to me. I will use that gif on my whatsapp and other gif-supporting comm apps even if no one gets the reference just because it's funny regardless, by its own self lol.

Ah, across the pond things.

What is that gif from I'd like to use it in my day-to-day online communications.

Probably Goa'uld nearby, Jaffa Kree!

Great coins but damn the cat in that gif is beautiful.

They work well together too, showing the two phases of the base metal mint: Greek local/provincial and Latin colonial.

Were you following this?

The ΔΕ (with or w/o SC) base metal coinage is known mostly from Antioch. Here is one from Laodicea ad Mare: It's a Latin coinage, Laodicea had been minting Latin language currency since the reign of Septimius Severus, who conferred it the status of Latin colonia and metropolis. It is also of the same general specs as the small denomination ΔΕ / SC inside wreath minted at Antioch. It's also a very interesting reverse which can be interpreted either : 1. at face value - as Heracles and Dionysus standing nude wrestling with each other, with each of their attributes - the club and the thyrsus behind them 2. symbolic -- the athletae facing in a traditional wrestling contest, reenacting the wrestle between the 2 gods for a prize It's possible that this coinage was struck periodically on certain local or regional sporting events involving (also) Greco-Roman martial arts. From the Dictionary of Roman coins: This was a rather unexpected win.

Possibly weights from Roman scales?

Pamphylia is under-represented in my 'provincials' but here is one that I like a lot: Artemis Pergaia cult statue inside distyle temple from the time when coinage turned from late Hellenistic period to early Imperial c. 50-30BC.

I used to gamble when I was young but I always went for the safer bets, like Blackjack and crapshoot.

Exceptional result

I steer clear from these because I am afraid of the damage they might suffer en route but wow, what an extraordinary coin.

This would likely be a very interesting package deal: all 4 coins from this purchase with the full paperwork - envelope and invoice/receipt exactly as they were purchased in 1969.

When the central theme of the coin is decently preserved, even these awkward coins command some premium. Here the LE III P on the reverse is highlighted by the earthen filling and can be easily read. As a consequence, the hammer price on it was 240EUR:

Those auctions are great and I follow them regularly, but it's very easy to lose perspective and end up in bidding wars for something that you wouldn't have expected to see in that particular venue. I have noticed strong prices in everything that is not characteristic for their auctions whenever it appears there - Spanish provincial, 3rd-4th century Western mints, even French feudal (in the very rare instances when they have such material in auction).

Oh man it was you who bought that one...

Just a suggestion, if your dad kept old paperwork that came with buying the coin, you could also add pics of those old tags/receipts to the thread. It would be interesting to see the amount paid for the coins in the 60s for instance.