seth77 Posted January 4 · Member Posted January 4 (edited) On 1/3/2025 at 12:22 AM, Imago_Argentum_24 said: This coin will arrive tommorow and it is going to be my first ancient coin that is Roman: Emperor Theodosius I. AE Maiorina (375 - 392 AD) Struck: 378-383 AD Obverse: DN THEODOSIVS P F AVG Helmeted and pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield. Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM Emperor standing left, looking right, on galley, raising right hand, Victory sitting at the helm. Wreath in left field. Mintmark: SMNS - Nicomedia Size: 21,0 mm Weight: 5,48 grams It is a late Roman bronze with Emperor Theodesius I on it. It has a small wreath as a symbol on the reverse. Which according to the forumancientcoins page on late roman coinage, would imply the 4th workshop of that mint. However I am confused with the S in SMNS as that would imply the 2th or 6th workshop. Maybe you would like to read this thread: Edited January 4 by seth77 5 Quote
Phil Anthos Posted January 4 · Member Posted January 4 (edited) This arrived today, a coin I pondered over quite a bit before buying. The deciding factor was that silly little pellet in the left field, which takes it from common to rare and I'm not even sure what it represents. There is one similar type listed in D'Andrea but that type weighs a gram less, which is also kinda strange for this time period (pre-Pyrrhic)... Taras, Calabria 290-281 BC AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.62g) O: Horseman galloping right, holding spear in right hand, shield and two spears in left; ΣA below. R: Phalanthos fixing dolphin left, holding distaff in left hand with right arm outstretched; pellet to the right, ship's prow below, TAPAΣ downward to right. D'Andrea XL, 927; Vlasto 585; Fischer-Bossert Group 80, 1126; HGC1, 800; HN Italy 934 Very Rare ex Romanorum Edited January 5 by Phil Anthos spelling 17 Quote
seth77 Posted January 4 · Member Posted January 4 Salonina antoninian from 'Viminacium' or a branch danubian mint: The sixth emission at 'Viminacium' or this branch mint occurred during the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus in 256-7. But the reverse legend only mentions one Augustus, indicating the somewhat irregular character of the billon issues at this mint, probably struck under Gallienus for his Danube campaign expenditures. The reverse die is intensely used but clear enough to be fully attributable. The obverse effigy is made in the very distinctive 'Viminacium' or danubian-related style but at this point the provincial coinage of Viminacium seems to have already stopped. 10 1 Quote
Imago_Argentum_24 Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 @Sulla80 Thank you so much! When I received the coin the letter B was much clearer as well! @seth77 I will have a look into it! 1 Quote
Anaximander Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 On 1/2/2025 at 5:22 PM, Imago_Argentum_24 said: This coin will arrive tommorow and it is going to be my first ancient coin that is Roman: Emperor Theodosius I. AE Maiorina (375 - 392 AD) Struck: 378-383 AD Obverse: DN THEODOSIVS P F AVG Helmeted and pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield. Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM Emperor standing left, looking right, on galley, raising right hand, Victory sitting at the helm. Wreath in left field. Mintmark: SMNS - Nicomedia Size: 21,0 mm Weight: 5,48 grams It is a late Roman bronze with Emperor Theodesius I on it. It has a small wreath as a symbol on the reverse. Which according to the forumancientcoins page on late roman coinage, would imply the 4th workshop of that mint. However I am confused with the S in SMNS as that would imply the 2th or 6th workshop. I hope you received the coin by now. @Sulla80 provided some really useful clarification and information on this coin. I found another reference: LRBC II #2422. That's Late Roman Bronze Coinage volume II. As denominations go, this would be an Æ2 (21 to 24mm). The Tesorillo website is useful, too. Your coin type: https://tesorillo.com/aes/035/035i.htm 5 Quote
Svessien Posted January 5 · Member Posted January 5 Aeolis, Myrina, Tetradrachm, Stephanophoric type ca. 160–143 BC Obverse: Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath Reverse: Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale in right hand and laurel branch in left; monogram and MYPINAIΩN to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath Reference: SNG Cop 221ff Size: 33 mm. Weight: 15.86 g, The numismatic year seems to be off to a good start for me. I used to have one of these types, but sold it two years ago because I was unhappy with the strike, somewhat lightly struck and shallow. This has a much better obverse, although there is some wear (or dirt?) on the reverse. I really like the Apollo portrait on these coins. It doesn't hurt that this cost 40% less than what I got for the one I sold either. 12 3 2 Quote
Imago_Argentum_24 Posted January 6 · Member Posted January 6 A new bronze! Emperor Constantine II (337 - 340 AD) Type: AE3 Mint: Antioch Struck: 324-329 AD Obverse: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Reverse: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, Camp gate with two towers; star above Mintmark: SMANT Size: 19 mm Weight: 2,58 grams 12 1 Quote
CPK Posted January 7 · Supporter Author Posted January 7 Finally got another one of my Secret Saturnalia gift coins properly photographed! 🥳 I can't help thinking Vespasian would have gotten a chuckle out of this portrait. 😁 LYDIA, PHILADELPHIA Time of Vespasian AE (24.97mm, 9.16g, 12h) Struck AD 69-79 Obverse: ΟΥΕΣΠΑΣΙΑΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ, laureate head of Vespasian right Reverse: Zeus standing left, holding eagle in right hand and long vertical sceptre in left, altar to lower left; ΕΠΙΜΕΛΗΘ ΠΛΕΜΑΙΥΟ ΚΑΙ ΗΡΔΩΟΥ around, ΦΛΑΒΙ ΦΙΛΑΔΕ in left and right fields References: RPC Online, Vol. II, No. 1329 (19th specimen this coin) Earthen patina. A very distinctive portrait of Vespasian, with comically exaggerated facial features and neck creases. 15 1 Quote
Phil Anthos Posted January 7 · Member Posted January 7 54 minutes ago, CPK said: Finally got another one of my Secret Saturnalia gift coins properly photographed! 🥳 I can't help thinking Vespasian would have gotten a chuckle out of this portrait. 😁 LYDIA, PHILADELPHIA Time of Vespasian AE (24.97mm, 9.16g, 12h) Struck AD 69-79 Obverse: ΟΥΕΣΠΑΣΙΑΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ, laureate head of Vespasian right Reverse: Zeus standing left, holding eagle in right hand and long vertical sceptre in left, altar to lower left; ΕΠΙΜΕΛΗΘ ΠΛΕΜΑΙΥΟ ΚΑΙ ΗΡΔΩΟΥ around, ΦΛΑΒΙ ΦΙΛΑΔΕ in left and right fields References: RPC Online, Vol. II, No. 1329 (19th specimen this coin) Earthen patina. A very distinctive portrait of Vespasian, with comically exaggerated facial features and neck creases. What a mug! 4 2 1 Quote
Roman Collector Posted January 7 · Patron Posted January 7 This one arrived in the mail today and it's special because it has the anachronistic DIVA AVG FAVSTINA obverse legend used sometime between 154 and 156 CE alongside the usual DIVA FAVSTINA legends. You may read more about this phenomenon here, here, and here. Faustina I, 138-140 CE. Roman Æ as, 9.48 g, 25.1 mm, 12 h. Rome, 154-156 CE. Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, bare-headed and drapte bust, right. Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Aeternitas seated left, holding phoenix on globe in right hand and transverse scepter in left. Refs: RIC --; BMCRE 1415An.; Cohen --; Strack 1251 (Le 5599); RCV --. Notes: Ex Curtis L. Clay; ex Alistair MacKay Coins. See Faustina Friday, 27 December 2024, for a discussion of dating. 11 Quote
Imago_Argentum_24 Posted January 7 · Member Posted January 7 This silver hemiobol took a while to arrive but has a beautiful depiction of dolphins: Thrace. Thasos AR Hemiobol / Dolphins Date: 411-340 BC Obverse: Head of satyr right Reverse: Θ-A-Σ, two dolphins swimming in opposite directions Size: 7.83mm Weight: .41 grams Catalog: SNG Copenhagen 1033 15 Quote
Phil Anthos Posted January 7 · Member Posted January 7 I found this in my mailbox today... Taras, Calabria 315 BC AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.87g) O: Young boy on horse rearing right, right hand raised and left hand holding reigns; ΣA below. R: Phalanthos riding dolphin left, holding filleted palm branch in left hand, right arm outstretched; Corinthian helmet to right, ΣYM and [Τ]ΑΡΑΣ below. D'Andrea XXXVI, 773; Vlasto 652; Fischer-Bossert group 67, 806-808; Cote 5; SNG ANS 1023-24; SNG Cop 859 Scarce ex Ibarra Collection This coin properly belongs in the period 320-302 BC, but a popular theory suggests that it was struck in 315 to help finance an expedition to Sicily. After becoming tyrant of Syracuse in 317, Agathokles turned to Sparta for help ridding the island of all Carthaginian influence, particularly Akragas. Sparta sent Akrotatus, son of the Spartan king Kleonymos, to Taras to raise a fleet. Akragas was liberated, but eventually rebelled against Akrotatus' cruelty and he was forced to return to Sparta. This is the only type listed in D'Andrea series XXXVI. It's a shame that it wasn't better struck, as the dies appear to have been very fresh. 11 1 3 Quote
Phil Anthos Posted January 9 · Member Posted January 9 I found this at a little coin shop in the wine country about 25 or 30 miles from here. They only had two Greek coins, so I haggled and got this for $80... Macedonian Kingdom 323-319 BC AR Drachm (18mm, 4.25g) O: Head of Alexander III as Herakles right, clad in lion's skin. R: Zeus seated on backless throne left, holding eagle in right hand and sceptre in left, his right leg drawn back; eight-rayed star in field to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY behind, lance head far right. Kolophon mint Price 1759; Sear 6731v ex Magden Coins 15 Quote
Imago_Argentum_24 Posted January 10 · Member Posted January 10 Kelenderis, Cilicia, AR obol, Date: 450-400 BC Obverse: Forepart of a billy (Male) goat right, head looking left. KEΛ above goat recumbent right. Reverse: Forepart of Pegasos left Size: 10 mm Weight: 0.68 grams Catalog: Sear 5537 11 Quote
Sulla80 Posted January 11 · Supporter Posted January 11 (edited) My latest coin is a less common denarius of Clodius Albinus - with a reverse type that is linked to his home town in North Africa. More Here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/saeculum-frugiferum P.S. I think the reverse qualifies as "unique to this emperor" but I didn't find it on @Valentinian's page: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/unique/unique.html Edited January 11 by Sulla80 12 Quote
balmora90 Posted January 11 · Member Posted January 11 A very rare dupondius with double portrait of Aurelian and Severina. It's about to be arrived on this thursday 🙂 9 1 3 1 Quote
Sulla80 Posted January 11 · Supporter Posted January 11 (edited) One could ask, "Really, you didn't have this coin?" - I guess I was waiting for the right one. @Andrew McCabe may recognize the coin from his collection: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/8276846410/ A writeup here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/sulla-portrait-coin Edited January 11 by Sulla80 4 1 1 Quote
CPK Posted January 11 · Supporter Author Posted January 11 14 minutes ago, Sulla80 said: One could ask, "Really, you didn't have this coin?" - I guess I was waiting for the right one. @Andrew McCabe may recognize the coin from his collection: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/8276846410/ A writeup here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/sulla-portrait-coin That is indeed a special one! 🤩 Well worth the wait. Congratulations! 1 Quote
Benefactor robinjojo Posted January 12 · Benefactor Benefactor Posted January 12 (edited) Here's a local coin shop pickup from yesterday, an addition to my Janus-themed coins. Roman Republic, M Furius Philus, denarius, 119 BC. Ex NFA. Sear 222 3.78 grans There are a lot of these coins online; the production must have been huge. This coin has a good, well centered obverse strike, a decent, slightly off centered reverse strike. There are also some areas on the reverse of raised metal which are likely die cracks, but could also be die rust (or both), as well as a flan split from the striking of the coin. Edited January 17 by robinjojo 13 Quote
Factor Posted January 12 · Member Posted January 12 Decapolis, Abila. Marcus Aurelius, dated year 225 of the civic era. 13 1 Quote
Benefactor robinjojo Posted January 12 · Benefactor Benefactor Posted January 12 1 minute ago, Factor said: Decapolis, Abila. Marcus Aurelius, dated year 225 of the civic era. Nice strike, and I really like the sand patina. Quote
Svessien Posted January 12 · Member Posted January 12 13 hours ago, Sulla80 said: One could ask, "Really, you didn't have this coin?" - I guess I was waiting for the right one. @Andrew McCabe may recognize the coin from his collection: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/8276846410/ A writeup here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/sulla-portrait-coin This is a great coin for your collection. Really nice. Congrats! I'm envious! 1 Quote
seth77 Posted January 15 · Member Posted January 15 Brothers Gaius and Lucius, c. 1BC from Aegae in Aeolis, leaded bronze AE18mm 4.02g: 10 Quote
Ursus Posted January 15 · Supporter Posted January 15 (edited) i bought this one in 2024 but only now found time to take pictures and write a ticket: Trajan Decius, Roman Empire, AR antoninian, 249–251 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG; bust of Trajan Decius, radiate, draped and cuirassed, r. Obv: GENIUS EXERC ILLVRICIANI; Genius of the Illyrian army standing l., holding patera and cornucopia, modius on head, standard to r. 22mm, 3.56g. Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 16. I already had one of these but was charmed into buying the second one because of the different execution of the military standard on the reverse. Some might consider this flyspecking. For comparison, here is the other coin that had already been in my collection for a while: Trajan Decius, Roman Empire, AR antoninian, 249–251 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG; bust of Trajan Decius, radiate, draped and cuirassed, r. Obv: GENIUS EXERC ILLVRICIANI; Genius of the Illyrian army standing l., holding patera and cornucopia, modius on head, standard to r. 23mm, 4.67g. Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 16. Edited January 15 by Ursus 10 Quote
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