Post your latest ancient!

[Prieure de Sion]

Description from Lansky & Lambert: "Empire. Caracalla. Antioch. AR Tetradrachm (12.59g), AD 211. McAlee 673; Prieur 212. Attractively toned. Well centered and struck. Old deposits on reverse. A magnificent coin! Choice extremely fine. Tradart 1994 (4) lot 200."

Get this Caracalla Tetradrachm - it isn't a rare specimen - but I like the Caracalla portrait. 

 

Edited October 31, 2022 by Prieure de Sion

[akeady]

I got a few from Naville today.

Uncia circa 280-265, Æ 22.80 mm., 14.25 g.
Knucklebone seen from above; in l. field, pellet. Rev. Pellet. Haeberlin pl. 40, 6-15. Aes Grave 41. Sydenham 13. Thurlow-Vecchi 6. Crawford 14/6. Historia Numorum Italy 273.

C. Antius Restio. Denarius circa 47, AR 19.20 mm., 3.90 g.
Jugate heads of Dei Penates r.; below, DEI PENATES. Rev. C·ANTIVS·C·F Hercules walking r., holding trophy and club. Babelon Antia 2. Sydenham 971. Sear Imperators 35. Crawford 455/2a.

Vespasian, 69-79 Plated denarius Rome circa 75, AR 18.00 mm., 2.97 g.
Laureate head r. Rev. Securitas seated l., head resting on raised arm. C 367. RIC 774.

ATB,
Aidan.

[Nvb]

 

 

This one hasn’t arrived yet but what the heck I’ll post it anyway 🙂

. 
I hadn’t won a coin at auction in forever but my losing streak is finally over.
Although a very common coin - this specimen is nicer than most with good style dies and great toning

 

CHALKIS. Euboia. Ca.290-271 BC. AR drachm (3.48 gm; 17 mm). Head of nymph Chalkis right / Eagle flying right fighting with serpent, trophy of arms below, XA[Λ] to right. Cf. SNG Cop. 436; Cf. Picard Em.26; Sear 2481. Well struck on a nice flan. Well centered. Choice VF / Good VF. Nice old cabinet toning.

[DonnaML]

I've wanted for a long time to buy one of the Nero bronzes with the reverse that looks like Victory dribbling a large basketball (actually a shield!), but it's hard to find one at a reasonable price on which the "SPQR" inscribed on the shield is legible. Recently, I finally came across an example I liked on the Ancient & Medieval Coin Sales Facebook group, and decided to buy it:

Nero, AE As, 65 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, NERO CAESAR  AV-G • GERM IMP / Rev. Victory alighting left, wings spread, holding shield inscribed SPQR, S|C across fields. RIC I Nero 312, BMCRE I Nero 241, Sear RCV I 1976 (ill. p. 391), Cohen 288. 28 mm., 11.9 g., 12 h. Purchased from Robert Morris (Numi Numismatic), Brighton MI, 29 Oct. 2022, ex. Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger Auction 375, 22 Sep 2022, Lot 1310.

I wonder if people think that the surfaces look like they might have been smoothed somewhat. That wouldn't really bother me, as long as it hasn't been tooled.

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by DonnaML

[Furryfrog02]

Now that our old house is sold and I am back to 1 mortgage a month and things are sort of getting back to normal, I have dipped my toe back into buying coins. I was really happy to win this coin from @Ryro and it arrived the other day. I love the eagle on the thunderbolt.

Bithynia
Dia
Civic Issue
AE 22 (22 mm, 8.61 g, 12 h)
Ca. 85-65 B.C
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right
Reverse: ΔΙΑΣ, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head right, wings open; two monograms in field, (ΧΡΓ) - (ΜΤ) // ΔΙΑΣ 

[Mucius Scaevola]

My latest ancient is this JC Denarius which I got for an absolutely fair or even good price, as it's an ex-mounted coin. I love the toning and the style.

[akeady]

This arrived during the week - Cr. 98A/1b victoriatus.

Obv.: Laureate, small, head of Jupiter right Rev.: LT (ligate) - Victory, right, crowning trophy
Mint:	Luceria (211-210 BC)
Wt./Size/Axis:	3.03g / 17mm / 11h
References:	RSC 36g (Anon) Sydenham 137 Crawford 98A/1b BMCRR Italy 178
Acquisition:	Noonan's Online auction 13 October 2022 #323 13-Oct-2022

 

ATB,
Aidan.

[Prieure de Sion]

Today evening, two Domitian Denarius found their way from Naumann to me. Surprise, surprise, two Minerva reverses. 

 

 

Domitian (81-96). Denarius. Rome. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIIII. Laureate head right. Rev: IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P. Minerva advancing right, holding shield and preparing to hurl spear. RIC² 689. Weight: 3.21 g. Diameter: 18 mm.

 

Domitian (81-96). Denarius. Rome. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV. Laureate head right. Rev: IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P. Minerva advancing right, holding shield and preparing to hurl spear. RIC² 787. Weight: 3.47 g. Diameter: 18 mm.

 

 

Edited November 6, 2022 by Prieure de Sion

[Prieure de Sion]

Titus Flavius Domitianus as Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus
Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 88 AD
Material: Silver, Diameter: 19mm, Weight: 3.16g, Mint: Rome
Reference: RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Domitian 604
Provenance: Ex Harmers of London Numismatics

Obverse: Head of Domitian, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII for Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate Octava (Imperator, Caesar, Domitian, Augustus, conqueror of the Germans, high priest, holder of tribunician power for the eighth time).

Reverse: Legend and column inscribed LVD SAEC FEC within laurel wreath with COS XIIII for Ludos saeculares fecit (He made the secular games) and Consul Quartum Decimum (Consul for the 14th time).

 

@David Atherton writes: "Minted in 88 AD to commemorate the Secular Games Domitian held in that same year, the reverse actually shows the column which the senate dedicated in honour of the games. A wonderful example of a coin illustrating a moment in history."

 

Monday morning, if the postman rings - and brings you wonderful coins 🙂 

 

 

[Prieure de Sion]

Today comes the parcel from the "Kölner Münzkabinett" - and I love the coins these auction house offers. Especially the Tetradrachm of the "babyface" Philippus II. I have make a video - I am in love with this coin. This detailed, clear face - legend was complete, well centered. 

I allow myself to share the little video. Simply because I find the coin so pretty (of course it's always a matter of taste).

 

 

[Prieure de Sion]

Domitian als Caesar, 69 - 81 n. Chr. Denar ø 20mm (3,09g). 76 - 77 n. Chr., geprägt unter Vespasian. Mzst. Rom. Vs.: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, Kopf mit Lorbeerkranz n. r. Rs.: COS IIII, Pegasus n.r. RIC 921; C. 47; BMC 193; BN 169. Dunkle Tönung.

@David Atherton writes: "The reverse copies an Augustan one and might possibly allude to Domitian's foray into poetry. (BMCRE xl). Unlike most of the crude Domitian portraits of the time from the Rome mint, this one has a great beauty and nobility to it that few of his contemporary denarii strive to achieve. Was it a minor slight that most of the better die engravers were used for Vespasian and Titus' coins? Thankfully one slipped through to create a wonderful portrait of the young caesar."

 

Fresh from Gorny & Mosch Munich. I don't why ... I have this week a Flavian "tick" 😂

[DonnaML]

This Alexandrian diobol may not be in the greatest condition, but I couldn't resist the very appealing hippopotamus! 

As has been my recent practice with Roman Egyptian coins, I'm citing only catalogs to which I have direct access and could check the references. Hence, no Köln (Gneissen) or Dattari (Savio) reference, although I have both citations if anyone needs them.

Claudius I AE Diobol, Year 2 (AD 41/42), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ΤΙ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙ - CЄΒ[ΑϹ ΓЄΡΜA], star in right field / Rev. Hippopotamus standing to right, ΑVΤΟΚΡΑ above, LB (Year 2) in exergue. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I  5124 (1992); RPC I Online at  https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5124; Emmett 82.2 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Milne 71-72 at p. 3 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 96 at p. 12 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London 1892)], K&G 12.10 (ill. p. 50) [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)]; SNG France 4, Alexandrie I 150-153 (ill. Pl. 11) [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, France Vol. 4, Alexandrie I, Auguste-Trajan (Zurich 1998)]. 25 mm., 7.65 g. 12 h. Purchased from Roma Numismatics, Ltd., E-Sale 102, 3 Nov. 2022, Lot 681.

[CPK]

7 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

This Alexandrian diobol may not be in the greatest condition, but I couldn't resist the very appealing hippopotamus! 

As has been my recent practice with Roman Egyptian coins, I'm citing only catalogs to which I have direct access and could check the references. Hence, no Köln (Gneissen) or Dattari (Savio) reference, although I have both citations if anyone needs them.

Claudius I AE Diobol, Year 2 (AD 41/42), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ΤΙ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙ - CЄΒ[ΑϹ ΓЄΡΜA], star in right field / Rev. Hippopotamus standing to right, ΑVΤΟΚΡΑ above, LB (Year 2) in exergue. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I  5124 (1992); RPC I Online at  https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5124; Emmett 82.2 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Milne 71-72 at p. 3 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 96 at p. 12 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London 1892)], K&G 12.10 (ill. p. 50) [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)]; SNG France 4, Alexandrie I 150-153 (ill. Pl. 11) [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, France Vol. 4, Alexandrie I, Auguste-Trajan (Zurich 1998)]. 25 mm., 7.65 g. 12 h. Purchased from Roma Numismatics, Ltd., E-Sale 102, 3 Nov. 2022, Lot 681.

 

That is very nice! Not only a great hippo but a good portrait as well. I had my eye on one of these in a recent Heritage Auction, but it sold for more than my max bid. It was rather more worn than yours but still had a good hippo.

[Prieure de Sion]

13 hours ago, DonnaML said:

but I couldn't resist the very appealing hippopotamus! 

Absolute! Thats fantastic.... ❤️

[Prieure de Sion]

 

Nero, as Augustus (AD 54-68). AE sestertius (35mm, 24.58 gm, 7h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, light smoothing. Lugdunum, AD 65. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head of Nero right; globe at point of truncation / ANNONA-AVGVSTI-CERES, Ceres (on right) seated left, corn ears in right hand, transverse torch in left, facing Annona (on left) standing opposite, right hand on hip, cornucopia in left; modius on garlanded altar in front of ship's stern between figures, S C in exergue. RIC I 390. From the Rio Collection. Ex Special Collection of Ancient Coins (Heritage Auction, Auction 61210, 16 May 2021), lot 99053; Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 437 (6 February 2019), lot 402.

 

I get this Nero Sestertius today. 

 

 

[Amarmur]

I got this Alexander the Great silver drachm for quite cheap. It's a posthumous issue from the Lampsakos mint 336-323 bc and it's my first ancient Greek coin.

[seth77]

Two Nicaean very small (fractional?) assarion for Geta, odds and ends from the German collection I have been bidding on small lots from:

15mm 1.81g

 

16mm 2.55g

[Kamnaskires]

My two latest Elymaean drachms.

 

Kamnaskires V

AR drachm, 54 - 32 BC
Van't Haaff 9.1.2-5-6A

 

Uncertain Early Arsacid Kings

AE drachm, late 1st century BC to early 2nd century AD
Van’t Haaff 10.3.2-4

[Spaniard]

@Kamnaskires....Very nice examples Bob!.....You're still collecting coins?...

In your opinion who's being depicted on the reverse of the Kamnaskires coin?...The previous ruler?....Lovely detail...

[Kamnaskires]

32 minutes ago, Spaniard said:

@Kamnaskires....Very nice examples Bob!.....You're still collecting coins?...

In your opinion who's being depicted on the reverse of the Kamnaskires coin?...The previous ruler?....Lovely detail...

Yes, Paul, still collecting coins occasionally.

 

The identity of the reverse is uncertain, but the mystery is intriguing. Although most often referred to as just an anonymous male bust, it is sometimes thought to be Zeus or Belos. But the fact that the reverse bust became slowly degenerated after the Arsacids took control from the Kamnaskirids - essentially amounting to a prolonged erasure over decades of coinage - suggests (for me) that it must have been strongly associated with the Kamnaskires Dynasty and their claim to the throne. Could it represent the progenitor of that line? Or, perhaps, a syncretized version of Zeus/Belos and Kamnaskires I? It's clear that the Arsacids feared replacing the reverse iconography in one fell swoop. We can only speculate that to have done so would have been politically inexpedient. I find the step-by-step degeneration fascinating. Note the reverse on the second coin, from the period of the early Arsacid kings - during which we don't know individual rulers' names. By the time of this coin's minting, the degradation of the bust had probably just recently been completed - there's no evidence at this point of the bust remaining. It's been reduced to just a bunch of lines. Thus I infer that it's a coin from late in the reign of the "uncertain early Arsacid kings". The ones that are from early in the reign of the Arsacids are likely the ones with the bust largely intact. The subsequent mintings/engravings picked apart the portrait little by little.

 

 

Edited November 11, 2022 by Kamnaskires

[Prieure de Sion]

This are my last wins today from Chaponnière & Firmenich from Genf / Switzerland.

 

 

Juba II with Cleopatra Selene
Kings of Mauretania, 25 BC-24 AD. SNG Cop. 572. AR. 2.91 g. UNC. Well centered, nice toning.

 

I find the Juba very beautiful and cannot find anything suspicious. What still makes me wonder is the following coin - a Dupondius of Nero from Lugdunum. Why was the Nero auctioned together with a not so good Trajan in one lot? This Nero in this quality can be sold alone as a single lot. It would have to be RIC 597.

Obv: Head of Nero, laureate, left; small globe at point of neck /  IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P P P; Rev: Securitas, bare to waist, seated right, on throne, resting head against right hand and holding short sceptre in left; in front, lighted and garlanded altar, on which leans lighted torch resting on a bucranium / SECVRITAS AVGVSTI S C

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2022 by Prieure de Sion

[Nvb]

I’ve had my eye out for one of these forever. Just came up on Vcoins and smashed the buy button. 
If you do Islamic figurals the ‘watermelon eater’ is a must have  type imo 🙂
 

 

ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Zangids (al-Mawsil). Nasir al-Din Mahmud. AH 616-631 / AD 1219-1234. Æ Dirham

ISLAMIC, Anatolia & al-Jazira (Post-Seljuk). Zangids (al-Mawsil). Nasir al-Din Mahmud. AH 616-631 / AD 1219-1234. Æ Dirham (22mm, 7.65). Crowned Turkish female figure, holding crescent-circle, seated facing between two stars / Legend. Whelan Type III; S&S Type 67; Album 1870.2. Near EF

[shanxi]

Two new Lucilla Denarii for my small Lucilla collection and for my Artemis/Diana Collection, one common and one rare:

Lucilla
AR Denarius. Rome, AD 161-169.
Obv.: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust right
Rev.: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding torch in both hands.
Ref.: RIC III, p.274, 762, CRE 247 [C]
AR, 3.25g

 

Lucilla
AR Denarius. Rome, AD 161-169.
Obv.: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust right
Rev.: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing right, holding torch in both hands.
Ref.: RIC III, p.274, 763, CRE 248 [R2]
AR, 3.37g

 

 

[Prieure de Sion]

I get a Domitianus Cistophorus from the J. M. A. L. collection formed between 1970 and 2000 - but I have to admit that I don't know anything about the collector or the collection and have to do some research.

 

 

Titus Flavius Domitianus as Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus
Cistophorus of the Roman Imperial Period 82 AD
Material: Silver, Diameter: 26mm, Weight: 10.52g
Mint: Uncertain mint Asia (Ephesus ?) or Rome
Reference: RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Domitian 843, RPC II 865
Provenance: Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich Numismatique Genf, Switzerland
Provenance: From the J. M. A. L. collection formed between 1970 and 2000

Obverse: Head of Domitian, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG P M COS VIII for Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Consul Octavum (Imperator, Caesar, Domitian, Augustus, high priest, consul for the eighth time).

Reverse: Aquila between two standards; one decorated with banner, the other decorated with hand.

 

@David Atherton writes: "Domitian minted a small series of cistophori at Rome early in his reign for distribution in Asia Minor. This military type was newly introduced previously by Titus on his cistophori and continued to be identically struck under Domitian. It is not clear why a military type was struck for such a prosperous and peaceful region. Previously these cistophori were attributed to Ephesus, but it is fairly clear style wise they belong to Rome."

 

[Prieure de Sion]

 

Lot from the Künker Numismatik Auction

Los 1. GERMANIA ANONYM. AR-Quinar, 65/40 v. Chr.; 1,49 g. "Tanzendes Männlein" mit Torques und Schlange//Pferd r., Kopf zurückgewandt. Schulze-Forster Gruppe I; Slg. Flesche 408. Feine Tönung, fast vorzüglich. Exemplar der Auktion Kölner Münzkabinett 112, Köln 2021, Nr. 16.

 

This is not my coin! I don't won this today! But is here anyone of the Users, who won this nice coin? I bet to 260 Euro - then I go out. I think I remember it was sold for 300 Euro. I go out - because it was only for fun, if I get this coin. I don't collect this area - and I don't have this collection area in my shop. 

But - I like the obverse with this funny little men. 

Looks like "American Idol" - a men with a tambourin in the left hand and a microphone in the right hand - and singing! Is it a punk singer? Billy Idol? So funny and sweet this little men.