Romancollector

I recently acquired two coins of Vespasian from the Wild Rose/Terence Cheesman collection. One is a denarius, the same type posted by OP. The second is a dupondius. Both are Sear plate coins. IMG_6513.HEIC

My Vespasian denarius (photo 1) from Antioch might be the best example of its type (RIC 1547/RPC 1921). RPC only shows three specimens, including mine. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/1921 Another four examples appear in acsearch, but are still not comparable to mine. I would label the Nomos specimen sold in 2017 (photo no. 4) as the runner up.

I recently acquired two Neros that belonged to my friend Terence Cheesman @kapphnwn: a Syrian tetradrachm and a sestertius. Before he passed he sent me photos of his entire collection (photographed by Wayne Hansen), so I thought why not use the iconic blue background photos as a tribute until I have photographs of my own.

Regarding historical accuracy, I'm most displeased with the appearance of Caracalla and Geta....Especially Caracalla....such a missed opportunity to have a menacing-looking emperor! The two appear to be beardless and blonde, more akin to the emperors of the Julio-Claudian period. I would assume they are trying to make them seem more effeminate than the protagonists (Lucius? Macrinus?) in the same vein as Commodus in the first film. I also wondered why Julia Domna doesn't appear to feature in this film, but I now have a theory. The only woman visible in the imperial box in this trailer is Lucilla, who also appears to have blonde hair. Whereas the real Lucilla was executed by Commodus, I have a suspicion that the film will suggest that Lucilla was married off to the next emperor (i.e. Septimius Severus) to establish his legitimacy and, therefore, is Caracalla and Geta's mother....but this is just a hunch! I'm curious to hear what others think! To keep things coin related here's my Vic Parthica denarius of Macrinus!

Nice addition @lordmarcovan. I've finally got around to photographing my As of Caligula, so here it is. Caius (Caligula). AD 37-41. AE As (28.5 mm, 12.98 g). Rome mint. AD 37-38. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, bare head left / VESTA above, S C across field, Vesta seated left, holding patera and sceptre. RIC I 38. Ex Dr. W. R. Collection; Fritz Rudolf Kuenker, Auction 396 (14 November 2023), lot), 1316; Bankhaus Aufhäuser München, Auction 10 (5 October 1993), lot 354; Kircheldorf Stuttgart, Auction XVII (8 May 1967), lot 193.

This was a steal. I already have this type; otherwise, I would have gone after it. I did win five coins in this auction (two provincial and three imperial), all of which hammered for far less than I thought they would. I did, however, lose two targets which practically doubled my highest bids.

5 Roman Imperials, all from the Wild Rose collection. Will post them elsewhere eventually.

This is definitely not my latest ancient, but it is the most recent one I have photographed. Nero (AD 54-68) Æ Pentassarion (33mm, 25.45 g, 1h). Thrace, Perinthos. AD 59-63. ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, Laureate head left / ΠEPIN/ΘIΩN in two lines within oak wreath. Schönert, Perinthos 234; RPC online 1754 (this coin); Varbanov 20. Ex Wild Rose/Terence Cheesman Collection; CNG Electronic Auction Triton XXVII (17 January 2024), lot 5413; CNG Electronic Auction 233 (26 May 2010), lot 274; CNG Feature Auction 75 (23 May 2007), lot 789; CNG Feature Auction 73 (13 September 2006), lot 699.

I believe that I broke even. Overall, I don't think this auction was particularly strong. I did win a few pieces for far less than I believe they are worth. Some pieces did skyrocket, but there were definitely steals.

Yes, it was a beautiful example and a great deal for whoever won it; it hammered for less than half of what it earned in the Leu sale. I would have been more inclined to pursue it if it had a provenance.

Hi Everyone, Here is my latest addition, my sestertius of Trebonianus Gallus. I wouldn't call myself a provenance hunter, but I have wanted a coin from Arthur Evans' collection for a long time. Arthur Evans, the Oxford-educated British archaeologist, is most well known for his excavation of the palace of Knossos in Crete. Furthermore, he distinguished Minoan from Mycenaean civilization and defined Linear A and B. Evans's contributions significantly advanced the understanding of Bronze Age Aegean history. Beyond its provenance, the coin has an exceptional medallic flan and a wonderful architectural reverse. Trebonianus Gallus. 251-253 AD. Æ Sestertius (17.96 gm). IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / IVNONI MARTIALI, S-C across fields, distyle temple with Juno seated facing within, peacock at her side. RIC IV 110a. Ex bt Spink December 1935; Sir Arthur Evans Collection, Ars Classica Auction XVII (Lucerne), 3 October 1934, lot 1698; Otto Helbing Auction 38 (Munich), 14 April 1913, lot 1520. All images are sourced from Rnumis. Please feel free to share coins from the Arthur Evans collection or any other famous collections.

Hi Everyone, I tried using the cabinet but didn't see an option for auction listings, so I will post my lots here. Please check out my lots in the upcoming CNG Feature Auction 126, which closes Wednesday, May 29 at 9:00 am ET. All coins listed are Roman Imperial. 1) lot 662, a very handsome as of Germanicus with an excellent provenance. Germanicus. Died AD 19. Æ As (28.5mm, 11.44 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Gaius (Caligula), AD 37-38. Bare head left / Legend around large S • C. RIC I 35 (Gaius). Dark brown and green patina. EF. Wonderful portrait. Ex Jürgen K. Schmidt Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 61, 25 September 2002), lot 1631; Elsen 58 (12 June 1999), lot 1196; Kunst und Münzen XX (8 November 1979), lot 31; Canessa & Nicola FPL (December 1950), no. 167. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-DGU1UR/germanicus-died-ad-19-as-285mm-1144-g-6h-rome-mint-struck-under-gaius-caligula-ad-37-38-ef 2) lot 760, a striking aureus of Trajan. Trajan. AD 98-117. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 7.29 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 108-110. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / COS V P P S P Q R OP TIMO PRINC, Ceres, draped, wearing wreath of grain ears, standing left, holding grain ears pointed downward in right hand and long vertical torch in left. RIC II 109 var. (bust type); Allen Series 42, Type IX (dies 26/ix.1); Woytek 291f; Calicó 996a (same rev. die as illustration); BMCRE 258-9; BN 413-5; Biaggi 469 var. (break in rev. legend); Mazzini 65 v.; Heritage 3071, lot 33274 (same dies). Lightly toned, underlying luster, edge marks. Near EF. Ex Grand Haven Collection (Triton XXIV, 19 January 2021), lot 1081; Triton XXI (9 January 2018), lot 750. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-DGU20A/trajan-ad-98-117-av-aureus-185mm-729-g-6h-rome-mint-struck-circa-ad-108-110-near-ef 3) lot 861, a wonderful, sharply-detailed aureus of Gordian III with a medallic flan. Gordian III. AD 238-244. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 4.86 g, 6h). Rome mint, 6th officina. 1st emission, AD 238. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm frond. RIC IV 11; Calicó 3238; Biaggi 1371. Minor graffiti on reverse. EF. Ex Nomos 23 (30 November 2021), lot 243. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-DGU261/gordian-iii-ad-238-244-av-aureus-195mm-486-g-6h-rome-mint-6th-officina-1st-emission-ad-238-ef 4) lot 904, a charming double centenionalis of Magnentius with the crisp chi-rho reverse. Magnentius. AD 350-353. Æ Double Centenionalis (26mm, 7.61 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 1st officina. 7th phase, beginning AD 353-August 353. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Large Christogram; A|ω//LPLG. RIC VIII 154; Bastien 203; Lyon 197. Attractive brown patina. Choice EF. Ex Dr. John Whitehead Collection (Triton XXV, 11 January 2022), lot 1010; Classical Numismatic Group 49 (17 March 1999), lot 1832. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-DGU28F/magnentius-ad-350-353-double-centenionalis-26mm-761-g-6h-lugdunum-lyon-mint-1st-officina-7th-phase-beginning-ad-353-august-353-choice-ef

Wonderful addition, @AncientJoe. Galba's portrait and Roma are masterfully executed, and the vibrant green patina is also visually striking. Here's my humbler contribution. Galba. AD 68-69. AE Sestertius (36mm, 27.09 g). Rome mint. June-August AD 68. IMP SER GALBA AVG TR P, draped bust of Galba right, wreathed with oak laurel, seen from behind / S P Q R OB CIV SER, legend in three lines within oak wreath (corona civica). RIC I 263. Ex Ed’s Treasures Collection; Heritage Auctions, the Ed’s Treasures Collection of Ancient Coins Showcase Auction #61238 (5 December 2021), lot 99094; Superior Superior Stamp & Coin Co. NYINC Auction (11 December 1993), lot 1858; Numismatic Fine Arts, Auction V (23-24 February 1978), lot 396.

I agree with others that the designation numismatist implies a certain level of familiarity with the relevant scholarship. To this, I would also add a formal background in classics and especially, the ancient languages. I certainly wouldn’t label a significant number of dealers or collectors ‘numismatists’. While I don’t think the categories are mutually exclusive, I would probably classify most outside academia as hobbyists. There are of course quite a few exceptions. I also think the divide is widening as more in academia adopt hostile attitudes towards collectors; for my part, I always try advocate for responsible collecting. When I explain that I buy provenanced material, the response is generally positive. I am in academia, but as a grad student I wouldn’t call myself a numismatist. Like most others, I’d probably fall somewhere in between.

I'm not sure if anyone else noticed this, but a number of their employees (I believe 3 or 4, without naming anyone in particular) seem to have moved to other auction houses.