Post your latest ancient!

[David Atherton]

9 hours ago, DonnaML said:

A Vespasian denarius, the first of the four ancient coins I bought at the NYINC yesterday that I've had a chance to write up and try to photograph.

I decided that I liked it and wanted to buy it because (1) it's a reverse type that wasn't familiar to me and depicts animals, always a favorite type of mine even when the animals aren't exotic, (2) I previously had only one lifetime Vespasian denarius (the common type with a curule chair); (3) I liked the portrait, even though the obverse is a bit rough/porous; (4) even though the reverse is way off center, the oxen's heads are still on the flan and one can even see their faces; and (5) Dr. Dieterle gave me a good price for it.

Vespasian AR Denarius AD 77-78, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG / Rev. Pair of oxen, yoked, to left; in exergue, COS VIII. 17x18 mm., 3.04 g., 6 hr. RIC II-1 Vespasian 943 (p. 127) (2007 ed.); RSC II 133a; BMCRE II Vespasian 206 (p. 38) (ill. Pl. VI.9); Sear RCV I 2289 (p. 435). “Worn die on obverse around wreath.” Purchased from Dr. Martina Dieterle, Schenkenzell, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 12 Jan. 2024 (at NYINC 2024).

Love that sharp looking portrait! A most handsome denarius. 

[Ryro]

Just won another overstrike from that jerk Kassander. 

This is my third coin of the type. All of which you can easily see the Macedonian shield coin design underneath.

 You can see part of the shield on Athena's helmet and the Herakles boss on the side of her face. On the reverse you can also see the top of a caduceus to the right. All part of the under types designs. 

I do believe they must've intended the week over strike to show Kassander was taking over. That or he just had noodle armed choir boys striking these. Cause I've never seen a type with so many easily identifiable under types:

Kings of Macedon, Kassander, 316-297 BC. Uncertain mint in Western Anatolia. AE. 3.64 Gr. 19mm.

Helmeted head of Athena right.

Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΚΑΣΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Club above bow-in-bowcase.

[AETHER]

5 minutes ago, Ryro said:

Just won another overstrike from that jerk Kassander. 

This is my third coin of the type. All of which you can easily see the Macedonian shield coin design underneath.

 You can see part of the shield on Athena's helmet and the Herakles boss on the side of her face. On the reverse you can also see the top of a caduceus to the right. All part of the under types designs. 

I do believe they must've intended the week over strike to show Kassander was taking over. That or he just had noodle armed choir boys striking these. Cause I've never seen a type with so many easily identifiable under types:

Kings of Macedon, Kassander, 316-297 BC. Uncertain mint in Western Anatolia. AE. 3.64 Gr. 19mm.

Helmeted head of Athena right.

Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΚΑΣΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Club above bow-in-bowcase.

How annoying is that there is no silver(bearing his name) or portrait coins of Kassander??? Grrr

Edited January 14 by AETHER

[Ryro]

3 minutes ago, AETHER said:

How annoying is that there is no silver(bearing his name) or portrait coins of Kassander??? Grrr

Agreed! The lack of portraiture of some of the Diadochi is awful frustrating. 

Depending on who you read Pyrrhos was the most handsome man since Alexander or the ugliest creature since the Ketos monster! At least he left us a rich amount of cool coins. 

[robinjojo]

Here's an arrival from Roma, from E-Sale 114, a remainder lot.  The reverse is really cool.

Valerian I, Æ 30mm, Anazarbus, Cilicia. CY 272 (25/-4 AD).

RPC X Online Unassigned ID 60270 (this coin cited).

17.85 grams

Obverse: AVT K Π ΛIK OVAΛЄPIANOC CЄ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right.

Reverse: ANAZAPBOV MHTPOΠ, six prize urns, the middle one in upper row containing palm branch; Γ-Γ across upper fields, ET BOC (date) across central field, A M K T in exergue.

[DonnaML]

A third coin that I bought at the NYINC on Friday; I chose it for the unusual reverse -- a large eight-pointed star as the sole design element.

Still a couple to go (one of which is a Napoleonic medal which I'll post in the new Exonumia forum). Plus, the two ancient coins I won at the Nomos AG Obolos 30 auction on 17 December finally arrived today -- since when does the US Post Office deliver on Sundays? -- so I have those to write up as well. I have some work to do! 

Diva Faustina I [Senior] (wife of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius [Sear: AD 142; Dinsdale: undated, Nov. 140 – 161], Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, head veiled, hair  drawn up at the back and piled in a round coil on top, DIVA AVG – FAVSTINA / Rev. Eight-pointed star; AETERNITAS in curved line above; • below at 6 o’clock [no authority notes this dot or explains whether it has any intended significance]. 18 mm., 3.06 g. RIC III 355; RSC II Faustina I 63; BMCRE IV 293; Sear RCV II 4580; Dinsdale 019190 [Dinsdale, Paul H., The Imperial Coinage of the Early Antonines: Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Caesar (2022), Ch. 7 at p. 232, photo at p. 235] [available at http://romanpaulus.x10host.com/Antoninus/old/07%20-%20Diva%20Faustina%20I%20-%20Undated%20140-161%20%28med_res%29.pdf]. Purchased from Herakles Numismatics, Charlotte, NC, 12 Jan 2024 (at 2024 NYINC).

@Roman Collector, can you shed any light on the date of this issue, or narrow it down from the broad range Dinsdale assigns to it? (For those Diva Faustina issues to which Dinsdale does attribute a more specific date, all the types with the legend "AETERNITAS" appear to be post-AD 150, if that has any significance.)

Edited January 14 by DonnaML

[Roman Collector]

33 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

A third coin that I bought at the NYINC on Friday; I chose it for the unusual reverse -- a large eight-pointed star as the sole design element.

Still a couple to go (one of which is a Napoleonic medal which I'll post in the new Exonumia forum). Plus, the two ancient coins I won at the Nomos AG Obolos 30 auction on 17 December finally arrived today -- since when does the US Post Office deliver on Sundays? -- so I have those to write up as well. I have some work to do! 

Diva Faustina I [Senior] (wife of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius [Sear: AD 142; Dinsdale: undated, Nov. 140 – 161], Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, head veiled, hair  drawn up at the back and piled in a round coil on top, DIVA AVG – FAVSTINA / Rev. Eight-pointed star; AETERNITAS in curved line above; • below at 6 o’clock [no authority notes this dot or explains whether it has any intended significance]. 18 mm., 3.06 g. RIC III 355; RSC II Faustina I 63; BMCRE IV 293; Sear RCV II 4580; Dinsdale 019190 [Dinsdale, Paul H., The Imperial Coinage of the Early Antonines: Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Caesar (2022), Ch. 7 at p. 232, photo at p. 235] [available at http://romanpaulus.x10host.com/Antoninus/old/07%20-%20Diva%20Faustina%20I%20-%20Undated%20140-161%20%28med_res%29.pdf]. Purchased from Herakles Numismatics, Charlotte, NC, 12 Jan 2024 (at 2024 NYINC).

@Roman Collector, can you shed any light on the date of this issue, or narrow it down from the broad range Dinsdale assigns to it? (For those Diva Faustina issues to which Dinsdale does attribute a more specific date, all the types with the legend "AETERNITAS" appear to be post-AD 150, if that has any significance.)

Don't confuse this coin with those of the AETERNITAS issue of 150 CE and later; those have the later DIVA FAVSTINA legend.

Beckmann assigns this coin to the earliest issues for the deified empress, whose funeral was 13 November 140 CE. I therefore date the coin to 140-141 CE. Beckmann writes:
 

The denarii, as explained in Chapter 1, are impossible to arrange by die study. But some progress can be made by observing characteristics common with the earliest aurei and sestertii. So to this earliest coinage of Diva Faustina can be added the denarius types showing a star with the legend AETERNITAS (a parallel to the standing figure/AETERNITAS on the gold and bronze) and the type with an eagle and the legend CONSECRATIO (paralleling the eagle and Faustina/CONSECRATIO issues of the bronze).*

Here is my example of the coin.

Faustina I, 138-140 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.47 g, 18.2 mm, 1 h.
Rome, 140-141 CE.
Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, veiled and draped bust, right.
Rev: AETERNITAS around eight-pointed star; dot below.
Refs: RIC 355(b); BMCRE 293-295; Cohen 63; Strack 421; RCV 4580; CRE 124.
Notes: Double die match to BMCRE 294.

The dot in the 6:00 position is worn off on my coin or was too weakly struck to appear, but was on the die, as you can see from the matched reverse die on the British Museum specimen. As far as I know, it has no significance.

*Beckmann, Martin. Diva Faustina: Coinage and Cult in Rome and the Provinces. American Numismatic Society, 2012, p. 21.

Edited January 14 by Roman Collector
Clarity

[DonnaML]

16 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

Don't confuse this coin with those of the AETERNITAS issue of 150 CE and later; those have the later DIVA FAVSTINA legend.

Beckmann assigns this coin to the earliest issues for the deified empress, whose funeral was 13 November 140 CE. I therefore date the coin to 140-141 CE. Beckmann writes:
 

The denarii, as explained in Chapter 1, are impossible to arrange by die study. But some progress can be made by observing characteristics common with the earliest aurei and sestertii. So to this earliest coinage of Diva Faustina can be added the denarius types showing a star with the legend AETERNITAS (a parallel to the standing figure/AETERNITAS on the gold and bronze) and the type with an eagle and the legend CONSECRATIO (paralleling the eagle and Faustina/CONSECRATIO issues of the bronze).*

Here is my example of the coin.

Faustina I, 138-140 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.47 g, 18.2 mm, 1 h.
Rome, 140-141 CE.
Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, veiled and draped bust, right.
Rev: AETERNITAS around eight-pointed star; dot below.
Refs: RIC 355(b); BMCRE 293-295; Cohen 63; Strack 421; RCV 4580; CRE 124.
Notes: Double die match to BMCRE 294.

The dot in the 6:00 position is worn off on my coin or was too weakly struck to appear, but was on the die, as you can see from the matched reverse die on the British Museum specimen. As far as I know, it has no significance.

*Beckmann, Martin. Diva Faustina: Coinage and Cult in Rome and the Provinces. American Numismatic Society, 2012, p. 21.

Thank you so much! I will revise my write-up accordingly, to cite Beckmann.

[Roman Collector]

4 hours ago, DonnaML said:

Thank you so much! I will revise my write-up accordingly, to cite Beckmann.

The more I think about it, the more I am of the opinion that the dot at the 6:00 position is there for symmetry and balance of the reverse design. Without it, the design looks top heavy because of the inscription around the top. 

[DonnaML]

33 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

The more I think about it, the more I am of the opinion that the dot at the 6:00 position is there for symmetry and balance of the reverse design. Without it, the design looks top heavy because of the inscription around the top. 

I think this idea makes a lot of sense. The fact that the dot has no substantive meaning is, perhaps, shown by this specimen (sold by NAC in 2014), which simply places the dot at the end of the legend, where it does nothing for the design:

Most other engravers of the type seem to have had a better sense of balance and symmetry.

Edited January 15 by DonnaML

[expat]

One of several received today

RPC Volume: I №: 1568
Reign: Tiberius Persons: Tiberius (Augustus)
City: Thessalonica  Region: Macedonia Province: Macedonia
Denomination: Leaded bronze (22 mm) Average weight: 9.26 g.
Obverse: ΤΙ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ; laureate head of Tiberius, right
Reverse: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΕΩΝ; bust of Livia, right
Reference: Touratsoglou, Tiberius 1–32 (c. 14–20/23) Specimens: 46

[AETHER]

How about this provincial portrait of Nero? I think its a great silver portrait without breaking the bank for a Denarius. 

Also, coins of Nero from Antioch at this time were 80(ish)% silver, per Richard McAlee in his book The Coins of Roman Antioch.

NERO AR silver tetradrachm. Antioch, regnal year 10, Caesarian year 112 (63-64 AD). NERWNOS KAISAROS SEBASTOU, laureate bust right, aegis on shoulder. Reverse - Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, palm to right, BIP. I to left. RPC 4189, Prieur 90. 25mm, 15.0g.

 

 

[Victrix]

So happy to have finally won the centerpiece of my collection! ☺️

 

The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. February-March 44 BC. AR Denarius (16.5mm, 4.00 g, 9h). Lifetime issue. Rome mint; L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer. Laureate head right / Venus standing left, holding Victory and scepter. Crawford 480/8; Alföldi Type XIV, 19 (A4/R9); CRI 105; Sydenham 1061; RSC 23; RBW 1683. Toned, some weakness, minor obverse die rust. Near VF.

[Salomons Cat]

2 hours ago, Victrix said:

So happy to have finally won the centerpiece of my collection! ☺️

 

The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. February-March 44 BC. AR Denarius (16.5mm, 4.00 g, 9h). Lifetime issue. Rome mint; L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer. Laureate head right / Venus standing left, holding Victory and scepter. Crawford 480/8; Alföldi Type XIV, 19 (A4/R9); CRI 105; Sydenham 1061; RSC 23; RBW 1683. Toned, some weakness, minor obverse die rust. Near VF.

Congratulations!

A hammer price of 1300$ for this attractive lifetime portrait is excellent!

[Victrix]

13 minutes ago, Salomons Cat said:

Congratulations!

A hammer price of 1300$ for this attractive lifetime portrait is excellent!

Thank you, I also was surprised 😃!

[Sulla80]

This coin from Tarsus, Cilicia (Elagabalus) is one that falls in the category of "coins I never knew I wanted to own until I saw it" and that I would have found exceedingly frustrating to try to find. Features that I like: "A M K" in the middle which boasts: #1 Greatest and Most Beautiful" (A - Greek #1, M - μεγίστης, K - καλλίστης) and the 7 imperial heads - which unfortunately I don't think have been identified more specifically....

CILICIA, Tarsus. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ 6.11g 23mm

Obv: AVT KAI M AVP ANTWNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Rev: TAPCOV THC MHTROPOLE, Ciliarch crown decorated with seven imperial portraits, ЄΛ, and KOIN monogram; A/MK in center of crown

Ref: SNG Levante 1079

 

Crown of the Ciliciarch crenellated with seven laureate heads of previous emperors. The Ciliciarch was the High Priest of Cilicia who presided over provincial temples dedicated to certain emperors. There are also two monograms on the crown that can be decoded as: ЄΛ and KOIN monogram to ЄΛЄVΘЄPON KOINOBOVΛION (“free session of the assembly”).

[panzerman]

Got this from Triton today.....cheap!

Post Gupta/ Samatatas of Bengal/ Khaga Dynasty

AV Dinara ND/ NM

Prithubhatta I 695-715

5.78g.     23mm.     .558     11h

LOW 75    ATEC 5294   SAM 19.2

Stylized Archer standing/ facing/ Head L/holding Bow & Arrow/ 

standard L/  "SRI" to upper L/ "JA" between Legs/ PR/ THU/ BA/ TA in

Eastern Brahmi to R

Stylized Goddess standing R/ Pseudo Letters to R

[DonnaML]

Another depressed-looking captive Dacian to add to my small collection. The auction house described the portrait of Trajan as "stern," which I think is apt. As is often the case, the coin looks much better in hand, and not so hopelessly scratched, as if somebody tried to clean it with a wire brush!

Trajan AR Denarius, AD 104 (Sear RCV II) or 106 [Foss], Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder, IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TRP COS V P P / Rev. Captive Dacian wearing peaked cap with wide brim and shirt with long sleeves, ending in breeches, seated right on ground in attitude of mourning at foot of trophy (consisting of cuirass and shields); his left elbow rests on his raised left knee and his face is propped on his left hand, with his right hand across his chest; SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI. 19 mm., 3.41 g., 7 h. RIC II Trajan 222 (p. 259); BMCRE III Trajan 187 (p. 58); RSC II Trajan 537a; Sear RCV II 3169 (ill. p. 105) (obv. bust var.); Foss, Trajan 28d (p. 101) [Clive Foss, Roman Historical Coins (Seaby, London, 1990)]. Purchased from Nomos AG, Zürich, Switzerland, at Nomos Obolos Auction 30, 17 Dec. 2023, Lot 646. 

The rest of my little crew of captives:

And one column to rule them all.

Edited January 18 by DonnaML

[robinjojo]

Nice pick up, Donna.  I find the group quite captivating!

[Cordoba]

Latest sarc wins. maybe it's sarc's camera setup that keeps prices low but i'm pretty happy with the hammers on these. Been searching for a euthydemos ii type for a while too. It's neat to see the slight change in the herakles reverse on these two coins.

Demetrios Aniketos, Bopearachchi 1F

Euthydemos II, Bopearachchi 1A

Edited January 18 by Cordoba

[robinjojo]

This a fairly common denarius of Septimius Severus, purchase from my local coin shop a week or so ago.  It commemorates the peace of 199 AD between Rome and the Parthian Empire, according to Van Meter.

Septimius Severus, denarius Rome, 202-210 AD.

Cohen 744; Van Meter 167

3.40 grams

Obverse    SEVERVS PIVS AVG - Laureate head right.

VICT PART MAX - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.

[Prieure de Sion]

I have a golden week / weekend … 😉 

 

1. A lovely Tremissis with a lovely Honorius portrait.

Honorius. AD 393-423. AV Tremissis (16mm, 1.50 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck circa AD 403-408. D N HONORI VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing forwards, head left, holding wreath in right hand and globus cruciger in left; star to right; CONOB. RIC X 35; Depeyrot 58/2. Toned and lustrous, minor scrapes, minor edge mark. Near EF. An attractive example.

 
2. A uncertain Zeno Solidus from Western Europe (?).

Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Uncertain mint, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Δ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. For prototype, cf. RIC X 911 and 930, Depeyrot 108/1; Roma E-110, 1656 (same dies). 4.34g, 20mm, 5h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

 
3. A Zeno with a legend error at the reverse with „I“ before VICTORIA.

Zeno. Second reign, AD 476-491. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.39 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 4th officina. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long cross; star to right; Δ//CONOB. RIC X 911 and 930; Depeyrot 108/1. Lightly toned, minor doubling, lightly clippped. EF.

 

4. A Odovacar Solidus wit a retrograde „Z“ at the obverse legend.

Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG (Z retrograde), pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ•, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, •COMOB• in exergue. RIC X 3656; Depeyrot 90/1; Lacam pls. 50-1, 10-24. 4.38g, 20mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely rare with partially retrograde obv. legend.

 

[DonnaML]

The last of my NYINC purchases. The surface is indeed "somewhat rough" (to put it mildly!) but the coin is unusually silvery for a Roman Alexandrian tetradrachm -- Nero is just about the last emperor for whom one ever sees that -- and it looks quite nice in hand.

Nero, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 10 (AD 63/64), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Radiate head right, ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ / Rev. Draped bust of Sarapis right, crowned with modius (kalathos) adorned with laurel leaves, wearing taenia (fillet) and himation, ΑVΤΟ-ΚΡΑ around, LI [Year 10] in right field. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I 5274 (1992)]; RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5274; Emmett 133.10 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Dattari (1901 ed.) 251-252 p. 15 [Dattari, Giovanni, Monete imperiali greche, Numi Augg. Alexandrini, Catalogo della collezione (Cairo 1901)]; Milne 223 p. 7 (ill. as RPC I 5274 Specimen 2) [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; K&G 14.77 (ill. p. 59) [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 124 p. 19 (ill. as RPC I 5274 Specimen 3) [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London 1892)]; SNG France 4, Alexandrie I 333-353 (all same type) (ill. Planches 25-26) [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, France Vol. 4, Alexandrie I, Auguste-Trajan (Zurich 1998)]; Curtis 159-168 (all same type) p. 5 [James W. Curtis, The Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt (1969)]; Köln 160-161 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band I (Augustus-Trajan) (Cologne, 1974); Förschner 114 (ill. p. 53) [Förschner, Gisela, Die Münzen der Römischen Kaiser in Alexandrien, Historisches Museum Frankfurt (1987)]. 26 mm., 12.52 g., 12 h. Purchased Jan. 12, 2024 from Keith Candiotti (Miami, FL) at NYINC 2024; ex Leu Numismatik AG, Winterthur, Switzerland, Web Auction 16, 22-24 May 2021, Lot 1993, described as “somewhat rough, otherwise, very fine,” from “Rhakotis Collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s,” with old German-language coin envelope.*

 

*The coin envelope must date to sometime no earlier than 1974, because among the catalog references it cites is Köln (Geissen) Band I, which was published in 1974. 

If anyone has any further information about the so-called "Rhakotis Collection" (presumably a typical made-up auction house name), or has ever seen a coin envelope like this one before, please let me know.

Edited January 21 by DonnaML

[singig]

1 hour ago, DonnaML said:

....

If anyone has any further information about the so-called "Rhakotis Collection" (presumably a typical made-up auction house name), or has ever seen a coin envelope like this one before, please let me know.

an article that I found :

https://coinsweekly.com/the-rhakotis-collection-of-coins-from-alexandria/

[Curtis JJ]

2 hours ago, DonnaML said:

If anyone has any further information about the so-called "Rhakotis Collection" (presumably a typical made-up auction house name), or has ever seen a coin envelope like this one before, please let me know.

I can't recall if that's the same tag that came with mine (it's at the safety deposit box now), but I think it looked like that.

I've tried my usual strategies, mainly trying to get a picture of where the coins came from before entering the collection (or where published while in it). The odd thing: I haven't found a single Rhakotis Coll. coin traceable to any prior catalog or publication. (If someone knows any, please let me know!) Despite many very fine & rare coins that should've appeared somewhere. (E.g., No Dattari coins at all, as far as I can tell, even though they first hit the market precisely then, 1960s-1970s.)

To me, that suggests it may be the collection of someone working in Egypt and buying directly from local finds/dealers. (Maybe the name is a clue that they worked in the construction industry?)

Leu's PDF is available online, everything else seems based on it. >4 pp. but very little background: 
https://leunumismatik.com/source/images/auction/26/pdf/90173def-0a9b-4f6b-ab0d-da2e1cc7feb3.pdf