Nerosmyfavorite68

Ordering from this dealer is a little bit like vault box; it's a bit of a mystery what your coin will look like, especially silver. For instance, coins which are pictured as dark can be brightly cleaned in reality. I was in the mood for Iranian coins, so I picked out some. The downside of this dealer; the attributions are barebones, so no mint or date. If anyone has any date or mint corrections, that would be most appreciated. Many thanks to Ed Snible for some mint attributions. The Khrusru with the bend turned out to be brightly cleaned, but the other Sasanians turned out to have really pleasant toning. A big difference from VaultBox; I didn't lose my shirt on this purchase. Everything was fairly priced. Khrusru II 33mm., 4.10g. AW mint --- Khrusru II 34mm, 3.67g AW mint, bend ------- 32mm, 4.06g, maybe AH mint Parthian Empire. Orodes II (ca. 57-38 BC). AR drachm (20mm, 3.70g). Mithradatkart mint. --- Vologases I - 58-77 - AR Drachm18mm, 3.63g Ecbatana Uncleaned ---- Trajan AE Dichalkon. 15mm, 1.23 g, uncleaned

Those are really nice examples. I suppose it's lucky that gold is so difficult to photograph. The coin probably would never have stuck around if a trick of the lighting hadn't made the face look gashed out, even though it's not. It's 'only' VF, but otherwise normal.

There's sharper examples (oodles of Sev's out there), but what makes the OP example truly special is the wonderful combination of fantastic toning, large flan, and full beading. I haven't looked at mine in 20+ years, but while it's minty, it was brightly cleaned and just kind of another Severus.

Would someone mind posting the excerpt? I can't find my paper copy.

Yes, it's in Sear RCV 5. The tip of the spear intersects certain letters. There are two spans of time mentioned, I think. The face looks less ghastly in person. The trick of the reflection made it look like there was a divot. It's the same smushed nose/mouth that so many of these have.

When this, the cheapest solidus on vcoins, showed up,I hopped on it. It arrived today. From the picture, I thought that there would be some damage to the face, like a punch or something, but looking at it under a magnifier, it just lookslike the regular ol' die break face that so many of these have. Anyway, it's still a much better placeholder than the decrepit nummus I have. There's just something satisfying about gold coins. My question: there's a way to tell which period these came from by where the spear is in relation to the lettering. Which is mine? Could people post some examples of the different periods? I also got a hemiobol. I had always wanted one of this issue. It's amazing how many survived. Leo I AV21 Solidus. Victory w. long cross. Constantinople Obv: Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif. D N LEO PERPET AVG. Rev: Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. VICTORIA AVGGG A. RIC X 605. AD 457-474. 4.31g. Mysia. Kyzikos AR9.5 Hemiobol. Boar / Lion Obv: Forepart of boar to left; on the boar's shoulder, retrograde Ε; to right, tunny fish swimming upwards. Rev: Head of roaring lion to left within incuse square. SNG Paris 375. 525-475 BC. .36g.

It is a lovely example and the toning helps make it even more so. I think I bought a 'mint state' one from HJB, back in 1997, but that section isn't photographed.

It's a very neat addition to a great collection!

I really like these. It's a great addition to your amazing collection! The countermarks and other things add more interest.

It's very interesting. Could the anchor be a combination of two countermarks, like the ones on my recent owl, which together make something different than the originals; in this case an anchor? GinoLR pointed out that mine had two countermarks, one on top of the other, although the bottom one looked like a scorpion to me. It's a very interesting numismatic mystery.

I'm hoping the absurd restrictions (ooh, scary Syria!) don't spread to vcoins. I've always been interested in Iranian coins, especially Sasanian (they're just so darn neat), so that's nothing new, but I've also been dipping my toe into coins of the caliphate, just to show what I think of such restrictions. I've also always loved the Seleucids. I was the kid who rooted for Cobra in the GI Joe cartoons, enjoyed music of the Sex Pistols, etc. I.e. the non-conformist.

Yessss, I love the fat face Nero issues!

Neat additions! Here's a relatively budget one, but I gave it as a gift. Mine is much worse. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch Nero, with Divus Claudius. 54-68 AD AR tetradrachm, Dated year 3 of Nero and 105 of Caesarian era (56/7 AD) Head of Nero right, wearing oak wreath / Laureate head of Divus Claudius right; in right field, Γ above EP (dates) 14.51 g, 24-25 mm, silver, small scratch on obverse References: RPC I 4174; Prieur 73

Perhaps it was some kind of token for making the public sacrifice?

It's a nice piece, of an interesting emperor. It's much recommended to listen to Totalus Rankium's podcast concerning J II's fascinating story.

I wonder what the blue is? A bunch of them had it, a factor which made me found the offerings more interesting. Other people evidently disagreed, as they've been sitting around for quite a while.

My latest snacks arrived. The Philip looks a lot more attractive in person; less pock-marked on the face. I purchased the Nisibis coin for the blue encrustation. Not bad for $26. Philip I AE28 Commagene, Zeugma. Tetrastyle temple with statue of Zeus AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r., Rv. Tetrastyle temple with statue of Zeus seated, holding sceptre peribolos below containing grove below, capricorn leaping right. ZεYΓM - ATεΩN. SNG Cop. 32. AD 244-249. 14.93g. Philip II AE25 Nisibis, Mesopotamia. Tyche in tetrastyle temple Obv: Radiate and cuirassed bust left. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB. Rev: Tyche seated facing; above, ram leaping right, head left; all within tetrastyle temple. Below, River-god swimming right. IOY CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT. Find encrustation remains and can be carefully cleaned off or left as is. SNG Copenhagen 240. 247-249 AD.

It turned out pretty well. My commute wasn't a nightmare; people were headed north, not south. I enjoyed the wonderful breeze during the eclipse. I didn't want to endanger my one good eye, so I leaned against a pillar and reordered my playlist. The part I'll remember was the breeze. If it could be like that all year, I'd be a happy camper.

That's a beautiful piece in the OP. I'd be very happy with it, too. I only have 3 coins of Verus, none of which are as nice as the OP, one being a Christmas present.

I love educational topics like this, especially about topics which aren't discussed much, like the 420's-470's, and the Germanic kingdoms. Also, no one really talks about Italy during the 600's and 700's. I've really been enjoying your informative posts!

I really have enjoyed reading about these. Aside from the 1990's Matt Kreuzer bag full of them, I haven't picked up that many over the years, although the ones I do have generally been ones with great patinas. It's a fun series, and probably my favorite provincials, other than Alexandrian Drachms.

Very interesting! I've been greatly enjoying your writeups!

Here's an unusually nice AE Follis of Phocas from Nikomedia, and a massive 36mm.

Neat! I especially like reading about these states, which aren't written about much.

Congratulations on branching out into this realm! As I understand it, squiggles outside of the obverse circles make a post-Sasanian attribution a giveaway. Furthermore, the style and the denomination. Reading the script is very difficult and I still have to beg for date-mint help when I get an unattributed one.