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6 minutes ago, robinjojo said:

Nice coin!  The revers looks as if it was struck with a worn die.

Indeed this seems to be the case with most emperors after Gordian III. Also a quite ironic reverse since he's the first emperor to die in Battle 😛.

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Was able to check two emperors off the list today with the arrival of this Byzantine follis. Constantine IV and his younger brother, Tiberius, now grace the halls of my Byzantine emperors.

ConstansIIFollis.641-668Syracuse.png.3a4c3600394fe4083c62ddc03be48938.png

Constans II
641-668 AD
AE Follis, 21mm, 4.43g
Syracuse
Obverse: No legend, Constans with long beard, on left, left hand on hip, crowned and in military dress, holding long cross, and Constantine IV, unbearded and crowned, on right, holding holding cross on globe
Reverse: Large M, with Heraclius, crowned, wearing chlamys, standing on the left, holding cross on globe, and Tiberius, crowned, wearing chlamys, standing on the right, holding cross on globe. TKw monogram above
Mintmark SCL

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I got myself an Antoninianus of good silver with a sharp portrait of Valerian and a decent depiction of Jupiter:


FCEDF437-04E4-49FC-87DC-BB9CC8A91C11.jpeg.3aaa1f20c87a00b22e7cc4db913e9c72.jpeg
 

Roman Empire, Valerian 253-260, Base Silver Antoninianus 2.81g, 20mm Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian right. "IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG" Jupiter standing, head left, holding a thunderbolt and scepter. "IOVI CONSERVATORI" RSC 94

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This isn't my absolute latest but it's part of my backlog I've been meaning to share for a bit. An interesting aes rude with crescent and cross stamps. The meaning of these stamps is not really clear but there are some documented finds around Etruria and later aes grave with similar symbols.

20240220172311-31d89e7b-me.jpg.0efbc90840428438c4f2db8414f5b489.jpg

Italy, Æ Aes Rude(19.64g), before 4th century B.C.. Irregular cast lump with u(crescent?) and +(star of 4 rays?), mark of value. Cf Vecchi ICC 2.2

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Purchased from Harlan Berk Chicago

Trajan; 98-117 AD, Rome, c. 114 AD, Dupondius, 10.05g. Woytek-459b (4 spec.). Obv: COS VI legend; Bust radiate r., with fold of cloak on front shoulder and behind neck. Rx: SPQR OPTIMO [PRINC]IPI around, S - C across field, Mars advancing r. holding spear and trophy over shoulder. Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection

unnamed.jpg

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Here are four coins purchased at the recent coin show in San Jose.  The group consists of three Sasanian drachms of Kurshow II (very common), and a  nice follis of Tiberius II Constantine.  The follis came from Kenneth W. Dorney.  I am still doing some research on the Kurshow II drachms (mint, date, etc.).

The Tiberius II Constantine follis is RY 6 (580/1 AD), Constantinople, officina A.  The coin weighs 14.73 grams.

D-CameraFourancientcoinsfromSanJoseShow20242-21-24.jpg.79cd498155cff75ec6ae386e333d2aec.jpg

Edited by robinjojo
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I bid in the recent NBS auction for a coin I've been looking to add to my collection. Unfortunately, I didn't win it...but I did win some awesome consolation prizes 🙂 I am surprised at how quickly they arrived - 10 days from auction to my mailbox, especially considering I am still waiting on a coin from Prague that I won off ebay a month ago. 

Here are the first 2, both barbarous imitatives:
slazzer-edit-image(31).png.6af87632b8db14b0293d0c8eaa02b671.png

Barbarous Imitative
AE3, 18mm, 3.2g
Siscia Imitative Type
Obverse: VVPOVP-VPOVVVOVHPV, High-crested helmet, three vertical pellets in crossbar, crescents on helmet fields, cuirassed bust right
Reverse: POVDP-VOV-OPVBHP, Two Victories standing, facing each other and holding a shield inscribed IVB / OO / OIO on altar with X and pellets in the diagonals pattern
OAP(?)AO (?) in exergue
ex: NBS Web Auction 22, Lot 270
Comment: This one seems to be a match from beastcoins
Imitative-Siscia-diagonaldots.jpg

 

Here is the 2nd. The engraver certainly tried their best to make the legend but they were clearly not literate...

slazzer-edit-image(35).png.38c0333c816fb1ea946544a365110cec.png

Barbarous Imitative
AE3, 17mm, 2.8g
Siscia Imitative Type
Obverse: IMCOSMNTN(___)TAVC, Crested helmet, cuirassed bust right
Reverse: (__)TNMDOM, Two Victories standing, facing each other and holding a shield inscribed IOT/ III on altar with X and pellets in the diagonals pattern
dot SIS dot
Note: All S's are retrograde
ex: NBS Web Auction 22, Lot 269

 

Thanks @catadc for trying to help me get the coin I was after. Maybe next time! And I hope to see your wins soon! 🙂

Edited by Furryfrog02
shoutout
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To be honest, I didn't know which emperor I bought, I only suspected that it's from the period of Decius. It took me a while to identify it :) now I am happy to introduce you my latest provincial coin 

Province: Galatia-Pontus , Region: Pontus , City: Neocaesarea 
Trebonianus Gallus (Augustus) , AD 251/2 , RPC IX, 1239
ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΓΑΛΛΟϹ ϹΕΒΑ (Imperator Caesar Gallus Augustus) laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallus, right, seen from rear
ΚΟΙ ΠΟΝΤ ΜΗΤ ΝΕΟΚΑΙϹΑΡΕΙΑϹ, ΕΤ/Ο, ΡΠ/Η (Year ΡΠΗ = 188)Tyche standing facing, head right, holding long rudder and cornucopia

30 mm/ 15 g

image.jpeg.17aff6356219e7cb3e37655d37300586.jpeg

Edited by singig
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Here are the other 3 wins from the NBS Auction. I was super excited to win both a enthroned follis and half-follis of Justinian I from Antioch for a VERY reasonable price. I bid on the other coin just because I liked the funny looking face. 😛

JustinianIAEFollisAntioch529-533ADStarACrescentTHEVP.png.8d9cc40d858a8e522e003bba544eb869.png

Justinian I
Follis
Antioch
529-533 AD
Obverse: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, Justinian seated facing on throne, holding sceptre and cross on globe
Reverse: Large M, star left, cross above, crescent right, officina letter A below, mintmark +THEVP

 

JustinianIAEHalf-Follis.AntiochOfficinaGamma.png.a8d776a1c81e03171742b5f924c1cfe3.png

Justinian I
Half-Follis
Antioch
529-533 AD
Obverse: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, Justinian seated facing, holding cross on globe and long sceptre
Reverse: Large K, long cross to left with T/H/E/U/O/P in the four angles, officina letter Γ below

 

ZengidsofMosulBadralDinLuluAE25Dirhem.png.27812bec1eaa7bff2248a19aac8d6a6f.png

Zengids of Mosul
Badr al Din Lu'lu
1234-1259 AD
AE25, Dirhem
Mosul
Obverse: Diademed head in profile facing left, hair in ringlets,eight-pointed star in bottom left corner, in beaded square. Margin at 3:00: duriba bi’l-maw, at 12:00 sil sana, at 9:00: ahad wa thalathin, at 6:00: wa sittmi’a “struck in al-Mawsil the year one and thirty and six hundred”
Reverse: 4-line legend in center: in Naskh script al-imam / al-mustansir / billah amir /al-mu’minin “the Imam, al-Mustansir billah, Commander of the Faithful" Margin: badr al-dunya wa’l-din lu‘lu‘ al-malik al-kamil al-malik al-ashraf “Resplendent Moon of the World and the Faith, Lu‘lu‘, the Perfect King, the Honoured King”

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Been looking for an example I could afford, but they don't seem to come up to often..until today.

6BfFXZ5p2a6Py3ZrkFn4G8medR9HCt.jpg.3695ff9527d8766ee603e98c9240064a.jpg

Dealer photo and description..

VESPASIAN AR silver denarius. Judaea (Judea) Capta. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right. Reverse - Captive Jewess seated right, hands tied before, trophy of captured arms behind, IVDAEA in exergue. 17mm, 3.0g. RCV 2296.

 

One of the more highly sought after Roman Imperial denarii, due to its historical significance, celebrating the 'Judea Capta' in 69 AD. This issue is often struck on quite small flans

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On 2/23/2024 at 2:01 PM, Furryfrog02 said:

Here are the other 3 wins from the NBS Auction. I was super excited to win both a enthroned follis and half-follis of Justinian I from Antioch for a VERY reasonable price. I bid on the other coin just because I liked the funny looking face. 😛

JustinianIAEFollisAntioch529-533ADStarACrescentTHEVP.png.8d9cc40d858a8e522e003bba544eb869.png

Justinian I
Follis
Antioch
529-533 AD
Obverse: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, Justinian seated facing on throne, holding sceptre and cross on globe
Reverse: Large M, star left, cross above, crescent right, officina letter A below, mintmark +THEVP

 

JustinianIAEHalf-Follis.AntiochOfficinaGamma.png.a8d776a1c81e03171742b5f924c1cfe3.png

Justinian I
Half-Follis
Antioch
529-533 AD
Obverse: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, Justinian seated facing, holding cross on globe and long sceptre
Reverse: Large K, long cross to left with T/H/E/U/O/P in the four angles, officina letter Γ below

 

ZengidsofMosulBadralDinLuluAE25Dirhem.png.27812bec1eaa7bff2248a19aac8d6a6f.png

Zengids of Mosul
Badr al Din Lu'lu
1234-1259 AD
AE25, Dirhem
Mosul
Obverse: Diademed head in profile facing left, hair in ringlets,eight-pointed star in bottom left corner, in beaded square. Margin at 3:00: duriba bi’l-maw, at 12:00 sil sana, at 9:00: ahad wa thalathin, at 6:00: wa sittmi’a “struck in al-Mawsil the year one and thirty and six hundred”
Reverse: 4-line legend in center: in Naskh script al-imam / al-mustansir / billah amir /al-mu’minin “the Imam, al-Mustansir billah, Commander of the Faithful" Margin: badr al-dunya wa’l-din lu‘lu‘ al-malik al-kamil al-malik al-ashraf “Resplendent Moon of the World and the Faith, Lu‘lu‘, the Perfect King, the Honoured King”

Very nice purchases!  The seated folles of Justinian I are scarce compared to his portrait types.

Here's a dirhem of Badr al Din Lu'lu that came out of Roma E-Sale 116, lot 1603.  This was a former coin sold by Steve Album back in 2013, Auction 17.  I'm using the Roma photo - I'll take my own soon, I hope.

For a few years now I've focused on the Islamic portraiture coinage.  I find the combination of Islamic and western influences, as well as the symbolisms, fascinating. 

Lu'lu'ids, Badr al-Din Lu'lu Æ Dirham. al-Mawsil mint, AH 631 = AD 1233/4. Diademed head to left; star below chin, all within square border; mint and date in margins / Legend citing the Abbasid Caliph al-Mustansir, Lu'lu, and the Ayyubid overlords al-Kamil and al-Ashraf in four lines and around. Album 1874.1; S&S Type 68. 8.14g, 24mm, 3h.

D-CameraLuluidsBadral-DinLuluDirham.al-MawsilmintAH6311233-4SSType68.8.14g6-13-24.jpg.8694cfa681356ea50edacce4d5e2af87.jpg

Edited by robinjojo
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Just now, robinjojo said:

Very nice purchases!  The seated folles of Justinian I are scarce compared to his portrait types.

Here's a dirhem of Badr al Din Lu'lu that came out of Roma E-Sale 116, lot 1603.  This was a former coin sold by Steve Album back in 2013, Auction 17.  I'm using their photo - I'll take my own soon, I hope.

For a few years now I've focused on the Islamic portraiture coinage.  I find the combination of Islamic and western influences, as well as the symbolisms, fascinating. 

Lu'lu'ids, Badr al-Din Lu'lu Æ Dirham. al-Mawsil mint, AH 631 = AD 1233/4. Diademed head to left; star below chin, all within square border; mint and date in margins / Legend citing the Abbasid Caliph al-Mustansir, Lu'lu, and the Ayyubid overlords al-Kamil and al-Ashraf in four lines and around. Album 1874.1; S&S Type 68. 8.14g, 24mm, 3h.

Catalogue Image

That is a great example!
I am well aware of how scarce the seated Justinian I coins are compared to the others. I have a couple of the portrait coins which led me to wanting a seated coin. I've been looking for quite some time. Would you believe that the follis and half-follis were a whopping 21 Euros total? I couldn't believe my luck!

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10 hours ago, Furryfrog02 said:

I absolutely LOVE it. I wish I could find one like yours. 

Thank you, this is an unexpectedly good pic.

 

10 hours ago, Phil Anthos said:

I just wish I could find a description.

~ Peter 

It's a Stobi for Caracalla sole reign. I have a book by a Bulgarian numismatist about Stobi, if anyone wants it let me know.

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On 2/18/2024 at 12:19 PM, shanxi said:

Two new Faustina II denarii, both with Concordia seated, both with all around legend, but long and short legend.

 

Faustina_II_R866_fac.jpg.deb4ae3d4665a19bea03c541e49c55e1.jpg

Faustina II

AR-Denar, Rome
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right (unbroken legend)
Rev.: CONCORDIA, Concordia seated left holding flower, resting elbow on cornucopia, which is by her chair; under chair globe.
Ag, 17mm, 3.60g
Ref.: RIC III 502a3var., CRE 167 var.

 

Faustina_II_R867_fac.jpg.b80d5c0208c64013839c214cb51e53cd.jpg

Faustina II

AR-Denar, Rome
Obv.: : FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, draped bust right
Rev.: CONCORDIA, Concordia seated left holding flower, resting elbow on cornucopia, which is by her chair; under chair globe.
Ag, 16,5 x 19,5 mm, 3.4g
Ref.: RIC III 502a6 (long legend variation) var., CRE 169 var

 

Coingratulations!! While the ANTONINI legend is not hard to find with Concordia standing, it's quite scarce on the Concordia seated issue. I looked for a few years before I was able to acquire one for my collection.

FaustinaJrCONCORDIAseateddenariusANTONINIinscription.jpg.eba047b31092e410319c097a6e048b23.jpg

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My latest is this cool griffin on a brass as of Hadrian. This issue was minted for use in Syria. 

HadrianCOSIIIGriffinas.jpg.b728b17c415341d13b3986d3b8433773.jpg
Hadrian 117-138 CE.
Roman orichalcum as, 8.88 g, 22.1 mm, 5 h.
Rome mint for use in Syria, 124-125 CE.
Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right, seen from rear.
Rev: COS III S C, Griffin springing right.
Refs: RIC II.3, 754; RPC III, 3759; BMCRE --; Strack 624; McAlee 549; Sear --.

Notes: Some numismatists attribute this to a mint in Antioch. 

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Phil the Arab has some fun coins. He even celebrated Rome's 1,000 year anniversary.

I bought this fella cause I liked the little Mahout, and in hand the toning is a cool bonus as well:

4977897_1703671293.l.jpg.5ff55fda28456d3fca8ba8cad2c2dc05.jpgPhilip I. (244-249 AD). AR Antoninianus, Roma (Rome), 247-249 AD. 3.56 Gr. 22mm.

Radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind.

Rev. Elephant guided by mahout with goad and wand, walking left

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On 2/22/2024 at 12:18 AM, Furryfrog02 said:

Thanks @catadc for trying to help me get the coin I was after. Maybe next time! And I hope to see your wins soon!

Very busy lately and no time for coins. Managed to get two x 30 nummi of Tiberius II:

- One from Constantinopole, officina Delta, being the officina I was missing for his 30 nummi from Constantinopole. I now have all (A, B, D and E). While A and B are common, D and E are rare. Another Delta sold this week-end for 30 EUR. I was the underbidder on that, and although the coin shows good details, I was afraid of the patina chips and potential bronze disease (SOL, auction XXV, lot 755).

- One from Antioch. I hoped for a second that the price will be decent, due to being misattributed, but it was not. 😞 It is the only 30 nummi with XXX reverse (Tiberius II + Phocas) where the emperor can hold something in his hands. 

image.jpeg.5848cf281098538c1e72ddb4dfe77398.jpegimage.jpeg.aa323b392ff870638827a6ba9570fe84.jpeg

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I would like to present my 2 most recent acquisitions.
I have already mentioned the first one in the topic about the Tribute Penny

image.jpeg.2528a664fbcb9f435f1af5cb6bf38034.jpeg

TIBERIUS (14-37). Aureus fourré over a denarius from the Lugdunum mint. Weight: 3.65 g. Diameter: 19 mm.
Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS.
Rev: PONTIF MAXIM. Livia (as Pax) seated right on throne, holding sceptre and olive branch.

I bought this one for 400 Euros. It's my first gold coin. It looks great in hand and I think that it's extraordinarily attractive for a plated coin.
I had been a bit worried about the corrosion that is visible at the borders, but it's absolutely not noticeable in hand. And I assume that the gold plating could have prevented corrosion of the central parts of the coin, so I hope that it's not brittle. But I will handle it carefully due to the gold plating anyway. I put it in a coin capsule as soon as I received it, so it should be safe for the next 2000 years.

My other coin is from the recent Leu auction and I have won it a few minutes ago.
After their last auction, @Prieure de Sion was not happy with Leu's description of many of their lots. I assume that they either read his e-mail or they're secretly active in this forum. Who knows. Anyway, this time, their descriptions seemed a lot better to me. It was a noticeable difference compared to their last auction. 

The prices for denarii with Gallia and the Carnyx on the obverse are very variable. There are some specimens in XF condition that sold for $4000+ in auctions. The one that I just bought hammered for $850 in 2022 (with an erroneous pedigree that dated back to 1977). This time it hammered for $1135, with a pedigree until 2015.
As usual, there was a bid in the absolute last second that pushed my bid to the maximum. I'm still very happy. I would not have liked to miss this coin. There are very few specimens with such eye appeal.

image.jpeg.1c64b4bf8ad1c4ca99e33b4cefa96833.jpeg

Leu writes:

Quote

L. Hostilius Saserna, 48 BC. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 4.07 g, 9 h), Rome. Bare head of Gallia to right, wearing long hair; to left, carnyx (Gallic trumpet). Rev. HOSTILIVS - SASERNA Diana (Artemis) of Ephesus standing facing, with long hair and laurel wreath, holding spear in her left hand and placing her right on the head of a stag leaping to left. Babelon (Hostilia) 4. Crawford 448/3. CRI 19. RBW 1570. Sydenham 953. A wonderful piece, beautifully toned and unusually well centered, and with a fine pedigree. Banker's mark on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of Dipl.-Ing. Adrian Lang, Leu 12, 15 May 2022, 1008 (but with an erroneous pedigree) and ex Numismatica Ars Classica 84, 20 May 2015, 1682.

The denarii of L. Hostilius Saserna consist of three types, all relating to Julius Caesar's conquests in Gaul: the first, Crawford 448/1, depicts a female head, probably of Clementia, on the obverse, and Victory holding a trophy of Gallic arms on the reverse, whereas the second - and probably the most famous - Crawford 448/2, shows a Gallic chieftain on the obverse ('Vercingetorix') and a chariot carrying a Gallic warrior on the reverse. Our coin belongs to the third group, Crawford 448/3, showing on the obverse the personification of Gallia with dishevelled hair, or perhaps the head of a captive Gallic woman, accompanied by a carnyx, a musical reed instrument with a horn shaped into the head of a boar. Carnyces produced a harsh sound and were used by the Gauls in battle to instill fear in their enemies. The reverse of our coin, on the other hand, shows an archaic cult statue of Diana of Ephesus with a spear and a her stag at her side. This is probably a reference to the city of Massilia (modern Marseille), which housed a magnificent temple dedicated to Diana of Ephesus, and which Caesar captured on his way to Spain to confront Pompey.

I also had some denarii of Octavian on my watch list... With only a little hope of winning any of them. The prices went exactly as high as I had feared, so I did not make a bid.

Edited by Salomons Cat
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These are two coins of Constantius II I bought recently , the Phoenix type from Alexandria I noticed after I bought it that it's an extremly rare coin , OCRE has only two examples from this mint and on Acsearch is the only one, it appears there because Themis Numismatics tried to sell it in 2019 without success.


I like the contrast between the two difrent patinas , blue-green against black-brown.


Constantius II , 348 - 350, RIC VIII Alexandria 69
D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG Bust of Constantius II, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right
FEL TEMP REPARATIO , radiate phoenix standing right on globe, star in right field. MintMark: ALEA
17 mm / 2.28 g

image.jpeg.0fc717cebcd0a145a0222d6b46f797b1.jpeg

 

Constantius II, Antioch. 347-348 AD.RIC VIII 113, DI 
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed head right / 
VOT XX MVLT XXX within wreath. Mintmark SMANΔI. 

image.jpeg.e02a3f2b040293ff1a34b5e08f743188.jpeg

Edited by singig
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Bought this under $50 with black gunk all over which was very hard to clean, no choice but to strip it clean orichalcum, which looks much better. 

Claudius AD 41-54. Æ Dupondius (28mm, 11.8g)

Rome mint, struck AD 41-42
Obv. Bare head left. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP
Rev. Ceres seated left on ornamental throne, holding two stalks of grain and long torch. CERES - AVGVSTA SC
RIC I 94

 

calud-ceres.png.3ba1c1e722cf3ba3bf92ce39620559c1.png

 

Edited by AETHER
legend
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