Coin Talk

The Moroccan Cast Money Tree
Or, A Journey to the Deepest Corners of Numismatic History
by Jason Poe

Any of you who know me know that I’m a fan of Moroccan coinage. The simple geometric patterns, the symbolism, the history, the story – it’s all fascinating to me. My latest endeavor was brought about by a recent Heritage auction purchase – and here’s the story about why it is so special. This is one of the rarest pieces in my collection, and also one of the most fragile. Funny story: when it arrived on my front doorstep, I came home to find the box bashed in. I knew what was in the box, so my heart nearly dropped because I knew how fragile the piece was. Luckily, Heritage has experience in shipping fragile items – inside the big box, was a smaller, sturdier box. Inside that smaller box was many layers of bubble wrap. Inside that was a cardboard reinforced envelope with the item inside. What was the item? Read on to find out!


You may be familiar with...

During the 1880s, the Philadelphia Mint produced some beautiful gold dollars. The mintages were generally low, and one result was that the dies often kept their die polish for much of the production run. One result of this was that it became difficult for many people to tell the difference between a Proof and a Proof-Like. Here are a couple of examples.

This 1880 gold dollar is a Proof-Like. It is quite lusterous, but there is some mint frost in the fields. Still if you don't know the difference you could scammed into thinking that this one of the rare proofs, which has a mintage of 36 pieces.



Here is an 1883 gold dollar that is a Proof. PCGS graded it PR-65, Cameo and CAC has approved it. Note the the mirrors in the fields are not subject to any frost and that the devices are all sharp and clear. The Proof mintage for this year was 207.



Here is a less deceptive...

Dear Friends of ancient mythology,

I think it's time for a new article!

The Coin:
Sicily, Syracuse, c.475-450 BC
Silver litra, 12.4mm, 0.653g
Obv.: ΣVPA
Head of Arethusa, with pearl-diadem, r.
Rev.: Oktopus
Ref.: SNG ANS 183; SNG München 1003; SNG Copenhagen 641; cf. Boehringer S.196, 450ff.
about F, slightly toned

Mythology:
Arethusa, daughter of Nereus, the sea-god, and Doris, was a well-nymph on the Peloponnesos, but a passionated huntress and compaignon of Artemis too. Once she came heated from a hunt in the Stymphalic woods to the river Alpheios, took off her clothes and entered the water. At this moment the river-god approached her and shouted she should not flee from him. But she did without her clothes and Alpheios followed her until they came to Elis. Here exhausted she called Artemis for help. Artemis wrapped her in clouds to hide her from Alpheios. But nevertheless he hold her embraced. So she was transformed by...

Hi CT friends

Most probably, only a few people among us know about Peggy Delme-Radcliffe, at least out of the United Kingdom. I discovered myself her existence not long ago.

The story starts more than 25 years ago, as, feeling some interest in parthian coinage (@Alwin's bad influence I presume ) I was looking for a copy of Sellwood's "The coinage of Parthia" at Spinks. Back then the book was quite difficult to find in France. I thus asked my british good friends whether they could do some research for me in their country.



Lucky they were (and I was then) they found in a second hand bookshop a 1971 edition copy and sent it to me. As often, there was a handwritten dedication on the book's frontpage, but I didn't pay much attention to it. I then almost left the book apart as I didn't pursue my parthian coins collection.

A few weeks ago, for some reason, I took the book from the shelf and opened it. For those familiar...

What do Perseus, St. Paul, and Antoninus Pius have in common? My coin of interest this week is another AE from Asia Minor, the Roman region of Lycaonia and the capital city of Iconium. Lycaonia was part of the larger Roman province of Galatia. Iconium a wealthy town on fertile land in the central plains, north of the Taurus mountains, along the Roman Via Sebaste (a nice photo here of the road).

In 25 BC Augustus established a colony in Lycaonia by setting aside a portion of the ancient city of Iconium for veterans. Under Claudius the city was called Claudiconium and the colony Colonia Julia Augusta Iconiensium.

The Apostle Paul visited Iconium on three of his missionary journeys between AD 48 and 57:

Here's another coin procured in the recent FSR auction.

A nephew and close adviser of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, Justin II became emperor in November 565 following his uncle’s death. He began his reign on a note of resolution and common sense; he paid state debts, remitted overdue taxes, and reduced expenditures.

In the early part of his reign, Justin allowed a measure of toleration to the dissident miaphysite Christians. Initially, he hoped to bring about a union of the miaphysite factions and then to unite them with the orthodox church. In March 571, however, he inaugurated a policy of persecution and issued a lengthy antimiaphysitic creed that all clergy were required to sign under penalty of imprisonment.

In the West, despite an alliance with the Franks, Justin was unable to prevent the Lombards from entering Italy in 568, and parts of that country were soon permanently lost. His relations with the Avars and Persians were marked by similar, though less serious,...

Sellers occasionally label certain Flavian Victory types as part of the 'Judaea Capta' series in fairly dubious ways for promotional reasons - doing so will bring in biblical punters and other collectors who would otherwise have overlooked a piece. Not all of these Victory types are part of the series and should more appropriately be viewed in generic terms - especially if there are no legends or devices that clarifies the matter.

IMHO, my latest coin is one that unmistakeably is a true 'Judaea Capta' Victory type based on its design.


Vespasian
Æ As, 10.91g
Rome mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: VICTOR AVGVSTI; S C in field; Victory adv. l. to place shield on trophy; below, Judaea std. l.
RIC 332 (R2). BMC 615. BNC -. Hendin 1556b
Acquired from Witter Coins, eBay, May 2020. Formerly in NGC holder 4683650-004, grade 'F', strike 4/5, surface 3/5.

This is a not so common 'Judaea Capta'...

The Jefferson Nickel replaced the Buffalo Nickel design in 1938. The Mint held a design competition that year for the new Jefferson Nickel which was ultimately won by Felix Schlag. However, after winning the design competition, the Mint required Schlag to make revisions to his original award-winning reverse design of Monticello. In 2002, the Jefferson Full Step Nickel Club commissioned the production of Jefferson Nickels in .999 fine silver which featured Schlag’s original award winning design. Two types of nickels were made, one with a regular proof finish and the other with a matte proof finish. A total mintage of 1,938 sets were produced, encapsulated by SEGS and individually numbered on the SEGS labels.

So, what do you all think about these tokens? Just a gimmick for SEGS/JFSNC to make some $$? Or, something that Jefferson collectors would want? I picked these up when they came out back in the early 2000s, but it was...

Why revolt against Nero, last of the Julio/ Claudian line? And what was the straw that broke the legions back?
Was it fiddling while Rome burned? He may have done it. But just having the bad press and some believing it, even if he didn't, couldn't have helped.



Could it have been soccer kicking his preggers wifey, killing her and his unborn child? Again, he may or may not have done it. Either way, makes it pretty easy to despise the guy.
Or maybe having his own mother killed?!


(Devito would've played a pretty hilarious Nero!)

Which by all accounts DID happen. Those Roman's might've treated their women poorly. But when it came to moms. They sure revered them. Some of the bigger mommas boys of ancient history.
But what may have been the final straw, which ironically Hadrian had no problems nor bad press with, was his incessant love of all things odd those effeminate Greeks!



Whatever the...