Coin Talk

I've posted this coin before, and was hoping to acquire its larger brother at a recent auction but unfortunately was significantly outbid. However, the writeup added some helpful historical context (and I recently took much better pictures of it) so I thought everyone might be interested in it here:

"The coinage of Akragas consistently depicted the crab and eagle since its earliest issue of the sixth century BC, and the best engravers were recruited to render these symbols of the city in the finest possible style. Late in the fifth century the coinage of the city underwent a remarkable transformation; like many of the cities of Sicily such as Messana and Syracuse, a renaissance began that saw numismatic art reach new heights of intricacy and magnificence. The traditional types were transformed, and the metamorphosis could not have been more pronounced - the previously static types are replaced by dynamic scenes full of activity and energy.

This particular design of the two eagles...

Those disgusted or are otherwise offended by broken coins, I recommend you click away now!
Only warning! Last chance!

I try to avoid broken coins like many of you, but I love collecting from this time period and the history of the Dark Ages and I knew this coin had a good chance for selling for much cheaper than unbroken examples would usually fetch. I took a chance and snagged it for IMO was a good price: $21 shipped is bringing me home this rare piece of Dark Ages goodness. Now for the obligatory history lesson


Charles the Bald (b. 823 AD) was the son of Emperor Louis the Pious of the Carolingian Empire, and one of the grandsons of the famous Charlemagne. After Louis died in 840 AD, his empire fell into civil war between his sons, Charles included. After becoming allies with his brother Louis the German, they together defeated the other son the emperor Lothair I a year later. In the Treaty of Verdun drawn up between the brothers, the empire was divided among the kings...

I wasn't satisfied with previous photos of it and I also thought this one was interesting enough for a re-introduction. Its easily in the best condition out of my Ostrogothic coins (along with my second Ravenna monogram coin).

This half-follis was struck during King Theodoric the Great's reign over Italy, which began in 493 AD. The use of an exclusively Roman legend, the wolf and twins (along with other Ostrogothic coinage utilizing Roman themes and imagery), by the new, foreign masters of Italia was part of Theodoric's policy to court the Roman population now under his care after his conquest, most of all the Senate of Rome (still existing at this point), to accept barbarian rule over the heart of the former Western Roman Empire that he now possessed. This would also serve to legitimize and gain for Theodoric continued acceptance of his rule by the Roman emperor in Constantinople, who was technically his (more powerful) boss (Theodoric was ordered to invade Italia by the Eastern...

Hello, everyone. In the past couple of months I have successfully conserved 2 coins that had artificial toning. PLEASE NOTE: This is only informational based on my experience. Be careful if attempting to do this for your own coins. My first successful attempt was on an NGC XF45 1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar, that I bought because it was the unidentified 1827/6 over-date. When I received the coin, it was clearly artificially toned and had what I call a "chalky" appearance to the bluish toning, which hid the luster and dulled the surfaces.

The auction room at the Bar au Lac in Zurich Switzerland was ready for the NAC auction. The dealers reserved their seats and the first lot started at 14:30 and was to finish at around 17:00. It was a Monday the dealers had flown in from all over the world at the weekend. There were very few collectors in the room in fact I think only 4 or 5 and the remainder were dealers with now the added internet and telephone bidders of both collectors and dealers.

The highlight of the Auction came early Lot 24 a CALIGULA Sestertia with a wonderful Tiber Patina, estimated at 250’000 CHF it opened at 325’000 CHF and sold at 600’000 CHF hammer price to a ‘hand clap’ ovation in the room. Roman BRONZES are the ‘darling’ of the true Roman coin collectors.

It should always be said that the top auction houses attract the finest coins available in the market and usual because of their name and credibility these auction houses are frequented by...

Another reshoot, this time of my bronze styca of King Eanred, who ruled the Kingdom of Northumbria from roughly 810-850 AD.

This coin has some provenance:

Ex Bolton Percy Hoard (1847); Ex William Fennell Collection; Ex "Property of a Nobleman" Collection (Christies Auction, 14 April 1981), lot 119; Ex Peter Moffat Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 286), lot 574

Currently in the ValiantKnight Collection



Obv: EANRED REX + around a cross
Rev: MONNE dot + around a cross (Monne was the moneyer)
Mint: York (struck 810-850 AD)
Ref: Spink 862
Size: 0.98 gr., 13 mm wide

After the Romans left Britain in 410 AD, the Romano-British were left to fend for themselves from hostile tribes north of Hadrian's Wall (still in use at this time) and raiders from Hibernia (Ireland). The Britons soon turned to the Angles and Saxons for help, but this...

I missed the last Baltimore show (due to my son’s wedding last March) so I was definitely looking forward to being back in Baltimore and seeing some of my east coast customers. I was also pleased that the weather forecasts showed mild weather and that they finished building the casino not far from the convention center!



My travel day began early Wednesday morning with a short connection time in Chicago. So when my flight leaving Orange County was delayed, I became very concerned whether I would make my connection. Then I discovered my plane was landing at terminal B in Chicago, while my flight to Baltimore was leaving from terminal C which was on the other side of the tarmac. When we finally landed, I had about 20 minutes to catch my flight, but my biggest concern was whether there would be overhead space for my roller bag full of coins. I was also worried that my checked bag wouldn’t make my flight! So I dashed as fast as I could dragging along my roller bag and...

Elagabalus, reigned 218-222 CE. AR denarius, 19.4 mm, 3.5 gm. Struck 218-219 CE, Antioch. ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right / SANCT DEO SOLI / ELAGABAL, Quadriga right, bearing sacred Baetyl stone, flanked by four parasols. RIC IV 195, Antioch.

Varius Ativus Bassianus is an interesting character in the colorful Severan Dynasty. Born to the niece of Julia Domna and possibly sired by Domna's son Caracalla, the emperor we now call Elagabalus was known to Romans as Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.

So... if the rumors are true, Elagabalus and Severus Alexander are half brothers rather than cousins; the father is their first cousin, once removed. By adoption, Severus Alexander also became the son of Elagabalus. Then Elagabalus tried to kill his son. Don't you feel better about your weird family now?

The history of Elagabalus is...

I have noticed that there have been a couple of people asking about the 1909 S V.B.D cents recently. As this is something I have been trying to educate myself on I thought I would share a couple of the simplest ways to identify the most common fakes.

Below I will show a Fake example with a real 1909 S V.D.B below it.




#1 look at the mint mark

Fake

....

I recently picked up another Jefferson nickel album full of toners...

Sounds awesome right? Not always.
With the good, comes the bad.

With my experience in buying full albums of toned coins, it's fairly common to get the black "carbon" spots on some of the coins in the album. In fact, I believe these little jerks are the reason the coins are toning. With some luck, they only infect a few coins...

In this case, not many of the toners were spared from the spots.
It's a shame, because some of these are real beauties.

This will be a good opportunity to try some techniques to remove the spots, without removing the color. We shall see what happens.

In the meantime, here are some of the infected coins that otherwise, would be real stunners.


This one is a...