Anaximander

@KenDorney just posted a couple Becker forgeries, and while perusing George Hill's work (Becker the Counterfeiter) I saw this Antigonid fake.

How fun! I've had my share of fake ancient coins, but no Becker fakes. I do have George Hill's book, Becker the Counterfeiter, the 1979 Obol International reprint with both works. I enjoy seeing the coins now, as collectors have shared their photographs, which are much better resolution than the book ever managed. They're positively medallic art.

@kirispupis That is an admirable coin of Antigonos II Gonatas, beautifully photographed and presented. According to Panagopoulou, the work we chatted about in this discussion, this type appears to be her Pan series Period I, Group I, #7 (O3/R7), with monogram 6. If you look closely at her example, I think you may see your coin on the plate! What do you think? If so, you have a new pedigree from 1974.

AKA Katerina Panagopoulou. At https://www.academia.edu/ The work is not available for viewing, but it IS available for download. 402pp. 👍 Link: https://www.academia.edu/63890141/Antigonos_Gonatas_coinage_money_and_the_economy Also published by the ANS Katerina Panagopoulou. The Early Antigonids: Coinage, Money and the Economy. ANSNS 37 (ANS, Nov. 2020). 388 pp.

Adding coinage of Antigonos Gonatas & Antigonos Doson.

Of all the Hellenistic dynasties that followed Alexander the Great, the Antigonid is a favorite of mine. Edward Newell writes engagingly on Demetrios Poliorketes (The Coinages of Demetrius Poliorcetes, Obol Int'l reprint, 1978). Here's my three of Demetrios I Poliorketes, plus one of his father, Antigonos Monopthalmus.

To Hrefn's point, we sometimes get cataloger mistakes heaped upon mistakes. Tell me if you agree: the attribution on my newly-arrived Valentinian II solidus to RIC IX 69a by the auctioneer and the prior attribution to RIC IX 46c2 (on a prior dealer tag that was included with the lot) variously omit the rosette diadem on the obverse bust or the lion heads decorating the throne on the reverse. I say it's RIC IX 46d2. Yes! I'm splitting hairs... Getting the correct attribution is not easy. Using RIC IX is sweet sorrow, with its myriad codes, references to other entries, and scant photographs. Here's how I break it down: Valentinian II only appears in period III, IV, V, and VI (375-392 AD), but no coins were attributed to him in period III and no gold coins in VI, leaving only period IV and V. For period IV, the obverse legend D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG matches code (2c). The rosette-diademed bust matches code (B). The reverse legend CONCORDI-A AVGGG H and type matches #46(d)2, presuming the lion heads throne. That’s not a million miles away from the earlier attribution to 46(c)2, which does not capture the rosette diadem, but does recognize the lion heads on the throne. The auction attribution to RIC IX 69(a) doesn’t capture the lion heads or the rosette. Auction description: Valentinian II, Western Roman Empire (AD 375-392). AV solidus (20mm, 4.46 gm, 6h). Constantinople, 8th officina, 25 August AD 383-28 August AD 388. D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Valentinian II right, seen from front / CONCORDI-A AVGGG H, Constantinopolis seated facing on throne, helmeted head right, right foot on prow, grounded scepter in right hand, globe in outstretched left hand; CONOB in exergue. RIC IX 69a.

@CPK A lovely coin in a handsome presentation. I love your coin background. In five years of posting my coins online, I never received any comments -much less a complement- for my coin backgrounds, so my efforts have ebbed. The plan for my Roman coins, never implemented, was to use sepia-toned maps appropriate to the era of the coin, so here's my chance to do so with a denarius of Severus Alexander. My coins are now mostly posted on a white background, though shot on 18% gray and then masked. I did try to use some unfamiliar photo editor features (selective focus, lights) to replicate your chiaroscuro and bokeh, to no avail so far. MARS VLTOR keeps popping up in this thread. I have one too, the upgrade coin for my collection. Like Salomons Cat, I shoot for one-of-each in my collection, with some small propensity to go for a second where I can rationalize it. My first Severus Alexander is now consigned for sale. When I bought my third Severus Alexander I had to go back to my dealer and admit, shame-faced, that I already had a MARS VLTOR and didn't need yet another one. @rasiel You are too humble by half! Your Severus Alexander is better than 'serviceable.' It has that all-important obverse portrait, perfect lettering, and good centering. @Nerosmyfavorite68 well spotted, "fantastic toning, large flan, and full beading" makes for a true EF.

Those are some wondrous AI imaginings. I was reading a Numismatic Bibliomania Society (NBS) E-Sylum post https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/club_nbs_esylum_v27n14.html#article29 of a robbery at a California cash vault to which a Copilot AI-generated image was attached. Is there a man alive that can actually pick up one of the gold bars?

I echo Rand's reply. This is a collection for the ages, impressive for its breadth and its quality. So many portrait coins! I've often tried, and often failed, to obtain coins of the Mercian kings. For instance, I have yearned for a penny of Burgred. I would gawk at one or another at London coin fairs, but invariably purchase something besides. His coins now appear to be almost pedestrian, alongside the rarities in Nap's collection. I've been fortunate to collect most of the pennies of the kings of Wessex, so I'll include Ecgberht here, in my virtual tray of Mercian coins, despite not thinking of him as a Mercian king. I'll wager that Nap has a penny of Cynethryth stashed somewhere in his coin cabinet.

Silver is my preferred medium for coins, not bronze or gold, but I make exceptions. Leo I is one such. Can you even find a silver coin of Leo? Despite his 17 years on the throne, Roman Silver Coins Vol. V lists just two basic varieties (#11 and #12). The prices are north of 225 (US$ £ ?), and I can't assume the 2004 reprint has updated David Sear's estimated values from 1987. So, like Nerosmyfavorite68, I have a nummus and solidus of Leo I. I've now noted that the solidus is from the later issue. Leo I the Great. 457‑474 AD. Æ Nummus (0.87 gm, 9.5mm, 7h). Constantinople mint. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right. D N LEO P F AVG. / Lion crouching left, head right, tail right [all within wreath]. ex: CON. aVF. CNG EA 541 #623, ex-CNG 525 #1359. RIC X # 674; DOC LR 573-575; LRBC 2260. Dark brown surfaces. The crouching lion doesn't look anything like a crouching lion. Leo I the Great. 457-474 AD. AV Solidus (4.39 gm, 20.3mm, 6h) Constantinople, 468-473 AD. Diademed & helmeted 3/4-facing bust, holding spear over shoulder & shield, DN LEO PERPET AVG. / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross, star to right; VICTORIA AVGGG ɪ, ex: CONOB. EF. CNG Auction 61 #2155. RIC X p.288 #630; Depeyrot p.258 #93/1; DOC 516-529; MIRB 3a, 3b; SRCV V (phase 2 issue) #21404.

Crossing off coins from your want list is one of life's little pleasures, so nicely done @Furryfrog02. I also picked up a crusader coin of Tancred. It has a different sand patina than yours and is an overstrike. Crusaders. Antioch, Tancred, Regent. 1101‑1112. AE Follis (3.48 gm, 22.3mm, 12h) during Bohemund I's captivity. 2ⁿᵈ type. Facing bust, wearing turban and holding sword. Cross from undertype to right. [+KЄ BΘ TΩ TANKPI] or similar. / Cross pommetée, fleuronée at base, with I̅C̅ X̄C / [NI KA] (Jesus Christ Conquers) in quarters, but undertype on the right side, on 6h axis. aVF. Undertype reads [KE]BOI ʘHT[OΔVO] ΛOC[OVT] [TA]NK[PI]. (Lord, Help Your Servant Tancred). Herakles Numismatics, Wilmington NC (Azalea Festival) Coin Show. ex-Numismatik Naumann 104 #1055. MPS CCS 4a; Metcalf 63-70; Schlumberger pl.2 #7; Wäckerlin 85-87. Overstruck on a 1ˢᵗ type follis, CCS 3a.