Ancient Coin Hunter

I've been shocked at the prices for decent to good quality LRB's seems to be getting pricier and pricier. With regard to Marius here's mine, I don't recall the exact cost but I do remember that it was over $300 U.S. which I thought was fair. But that may have been too much, who knows?

My only Valerian is a ho hum Antoninianus with Fortuna Redux, Rome mint. I'm currently looking to add a quality sestertius matching my Gallienus example, but have yet to see the right one. Hopefully that will occur soon.

Wow!!! Wow!!!

Neat article...my alma mater's library piece on the Tebtunis papyri's take on the Ptolemaic monetary system from the Fayyum. In this case an undergrad has made a big impact https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/news/ctp-student-discoveries

Good to hear about your health Donna as it certainly has been a significant period of time since you first tested positive. I did wake up a few days ago with a very stuffy head condition and a headache. I thought COVID, finally, but it seemed to go away by 10am. Still lucky I guess. Beautiful cat!

Nice find

Mesopotamia, Singara Tranquillina Augusta Centaur Sagittarius leaping to right above the head of Tyche, discharging bow

Here is a Decius and an Herennius Etruscus and for good measure, Etruscilla. And now I realize I have yet to get a Hostilianus (need to remedy this). I also have a GENIVS EXCERCITVS ILLYRICIANI type of Decius that I have not photographed yet, acknowledging the legions that brought him to power. As @ambr0zie says, Decius may have been a reluctant usurper. But trumpeting the army unit responsible for overthrowing Philip could suggest otherwise. Unless he was afraid of the power of the legions and had to placate them to survive, in his opinion. One thing is for sure, we will probably never know anything more about this snippet of history.

A Tribute Penny.... Tiberius, 14-37. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.68 g, 6 h), Lugdunum, group 2, circa 15-18. Obv. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Tiberius to right. Rev. PONTIF MAXIM Livia (as Pax) seated right on a chair with ornate legs set on low base, holding inverted spear in her right hand and olive branch in her left. BMC 44. Cohen 16. Giard 146. RIC 28. Ex-Leu auction Web 29, Lot 1844 February 25th, 2024

OK. Tiberius, 14-37. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.68 g, 6 h), Lugdunum, group 2, circa 15-18. Obv. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Tiberius to right. Rev. PONTIF MAXIM Livia (as Pax) seated right on a chair with ornate legs set on low base, holding inverted spear in her right hand and olive branch in her left. BMC 44. Cohen 16. Giard 146. RIC 28. Ex-Leu auction Web 29, Lot 1844 February 25th, 2024

I won the Tribute Penny - woo hoo!

I am bidding on one in Leu auction 29 right now. I just raised my bid. Certainly I'll be rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to Leu what is Leu's (e.g., the buyer's fee). 😇

Sorry to hear Donna. I wish you a speedy recovery and SALVS PVBLICA. After four Pfizer shots and Moderna last time I have not gotten it yet. Here's to channeling Galen in hopes of his intervention!

Usually Valerian and Gallienus sestertii are not cheap. Yours is better than normal size. As far as the metallurgy goes that is a good question. I would guess more base metal and less of an effort to arrive at a shiny golden look than earlier sestertii. (Orichalcum)

I had one from Portugal that was stuck in isc for three weeks. Finally showed up.

Another one is this drachm of Alexandria, time of Hadrianus. In this example, the personification of Alexandria welcomes Hadrian to the city (he visited) by kissing his hand, She wears an elephant skin on her head.

I'll share this Nerva tet again. It is a grey color representing some (minor) silver content. The reverse Agathadaemon is from Greek Mythology but has been "Egyptianized" with the addition of the Skent crown (upper and lower Egypt) traditionally worn by pharaohs. In the tail is a cadeucus and a stem of wheat. Worshipping Agathadaemon was supposed to lead to plentiful harvest and the snake was a protector of the grain supply, as well as general good tidings and a special protector of Alexandria as well.

Tacitus...just Laetitia. Wait how did the DA in New York get on a Roman coin?

Interesting story, thanks. It is an awfully shiny owl, maybe it has been buffed with a jeweler's tool.

Very interesting and thanks for sharing the article. I likewise believe the orb would have been surmounted by victory. Certainly very imposing. Historical texts claim that Focas was the last emperor who had a colossal statue of himself erected in Constantinople - whereas in Rome he erected the column of Focas surmounted by a gold statue of himself in the forum - in both cases the last examples of statuary of classical type in Antiquity.

Looks like Marcus Aurelius to me.

This Decius features the personification Abundantia (Abundance). Decius is known for favoring the old gods, sacrificing to the emperor, and also for persecutions of Christians who refused to do so. He basically made an attempt to turn back the clock to a time of old Roman values. It didn't really work as he was killed along with his son Etruscus at the battle of Abritus in the summer of 251 by Gothic forces led by their king Cniva. It marked the first time a Roman emperor had been killed in battle.

I can't believe some of these barbarous radiates actually circulated (somewhere)! Who struck them and what value did they see in them?

Nice one @ewomack - definitely superior to my example which was $90. Bidding started at $30 as I recall. The weight appears on the low side so I am wondering if is indeed a half Follis. All the examples shown have been really nice. I also have a miliaresion of Romanus, Christopher, and Constantine VII

For some reason the price on this one kept going higher and I had to raise my bid three times in order to secure this coin in the recent FSR auction. Romanus I AE Follis 22mm 3.81 grams Obverse: Rwman bASILEUS Rwm Crowned bust facing, wearing chamlys and holding labarum and globis cruciger Reverse: RwMA-N EN QEW bASILEUS Rw-MAIwN in four lines Sear 1760, Dumbarton Oaks Collection 25 Purchased from FSR Auction 1-23-2024 Please share any Romanus coins or coins of the time including Christopher and Constantine