Coin Talk

I purchased a tetradrachm of Antiochus II several months ago when I was just dipping my toes into Seleucid coinage. The coin is nice and shows healthy wear consistent with a large demonation that circulated in Asia minor and the Middle East. However, I did not delve much into Antiochus II's reign as King. Initially I thought he was a mediocre King who had no notable achievements in life. However I was wrong. Sources are notoriously difficult to find for the time period, hence why so much of his life's achievements can be written on a postcard, but it seems Antiochus II was a strong ruler who along with Antigonus II managed to successfully check Ptolemaic power.
Here is what we know of Antiochus II Theos

• Born in 287 BCE to Antiochus I Soter and Stratonice I

• 268/7 BCE-Became heir apparent after Antiochus I had his older son, Seleucus, put to death for treason.

• Became King in 261 BCE after the death of his father Antiochus I, he begins...

If one studies the coinage of Trebonianus Gallus and Volusian, it becomes apparent that certain issues of the Rome mint feature reverse types with and without a star in the field. This phenomenon appears to be limited to the Rome mint and such varieties are not to be found on the issues for the branch mint (traditionally attributed to Mediolanum) or for Antioch. Three reverse types issued for Gallus and three for Volusian feature stars. Those for Gallus are: FELICITAS PVBLICA, LIBERTAS AVG, and PIETAS AVGG. For Volusian, these are: CONCORDIA AVGG, PAX AVGG, and VIRTVS AVGG. This thread only deals with those of Gallus; my collection of Volusian issues remains much too incomplete to illustrate them.

In an analysis of the Dorchester hoard,* Mattingly notes that the issues with the star (71 examples for Gallus, 83 for Volusian) are uniformly underrepresented compared to those without the star (200 for Gallus, 195 for Volusian) by about 2-1/2 to 1. On the basis of the portraiture and...

SILVER COIN - 500 Krónur - 1100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST SETTLEMENT
(KM 20) Date: A.D. 1974



Obverse: Maiden walking with cow and the dates 874 in front and 1974 behind

Reverse: The four traditional protector spirits (Landvættir) of Iceland - 500 FIMM HUNDRUÐ KRÓNUR - ISLAND

Engraver: Throstur Magnusson

This is a stunning silver 500 krónur coin minted in 1974 commemorating the 1100th year after the first settlement of Iceland in 874. The coin was designed by the Icelandic artist Thröstur Magnusson and was struck by the Royal Mint of Great Britain. When a major reform of the coinage in the early 1980s resulted in a complete re-design of the circulating coins of Iceland, the new obverses were all taken from Magnusson's highly distinctive treatment. A variety of aquatic life was portrayed on the reverses, including dolphins, cod and northern shrimp. Magnusson has also designed about 180 stamps, and his stamp designs have won "The Most...

So, last week I bought this silver medieval penny, which was identified by the seller as "an English penny with a king". It was @AnYangMan who identified this coin as a silver penny of
Diederik van der Ahr, Bishop of Utrecht (the Netherlands) in 1197–1212.

The coin had some issues, but the price was right (€32, including postage), and as I was looking for medieval coinage of the Netherlands (which is where I live), I decided to buy it regardless. Also, as some of you may know, I enjoy restoring silver coins.

So, the coin:

This is a difficult combination of a nice patina (silver sulfide; Ag2S), with some copper oxides (the dark green parts) and beneath that, iron oxide. Also, there are some spots with metal-like horn silver. Care should be taken not to remove the patina.

Red arrows: horn silver >> dissolves in sodiumthiosulphate
Green arrows: copper oxides >> dissolves in synthetic citric acid...

Here's another coin I bought at the November 2019 Baltimore show, a scarcer Nabataean bronze:

Nabataean Kingdom. Damascus mint. AE 19. Aretas III (87-62 BC). Obverse: Diademed head of Aretas III right. Reverse: Tyche of Damascus seated left, holding cornucopia, river god below, Greek legend around "Basileos Aretou Philellenos" (Of King Aretas, Friend of the Greeks). SNG ANS 1421-1424. This coin: Purchased at the Baltimore coin show, November 2019 from Ephesus Numismatics.

The Nabataeans ruled a kingdom centered on the famous city of Petra in what is now Jordan, spending much of that time as a Roman client state until they were finally absorbed as a province by Trajan. Many here on the CoinTalk Ancients board are familiar with the later bronze coins that feature jugate busts of the king and queen together, however this type features just a "very Hellenistic" bust of the king, and is also notable for being struck at Damascus rather than at...

Greetings, fellow shut-ins! I decided that is time to dust off another old article to help pass the time. I hope that you enjoy it.


In January of 1848 James Marshall, who was an employee of John Sutter, discovered gold in the race of a sawmill that was under construction on Sutter’s property near Coloma, California. (Coloma is located about 36 miles northeast of the state capitol, Sacramento.) The men soon discovered additional gold deposits further upstream, and it was found that there was more gold in the area. Sutter and his men tried to keep their discovery a secret, but that was impossible. By spring dozens of prospectors were looking for gold with tools that ranged from a simple metal pan to a primitive trough-like device called a cradle.

In Monterey, California Colonel Richard B. Mason, who was the military governor of the U.S. territory, viewed the developments with concern and interest. “Gold fever” had prompted many of the enlisted men in his unit...

This coin is extra cool because it is a lifetime issue of Alexander the Great and because it used to belong to my friend @Severus Alexander ! It’s a humble coin at first glance but punches way above its price bracket in terms of cool historical interest.

These coins were made to circulate locally in western Macedonia and were probably struck at the ancestral capital city of Aegeae or possibly at the administrative capital of Pella. But who is shown on the coin and what does it reference? There are a few interesting possibilities.


KINGS OF MACEDON: Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BCE), lifetime issue.
AE15 “half unit.” Macedonian mint.
Dia.: 15 mm
Wt.: 4.13 g
Obv: Diademed head right.
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY, Horse prancing right; below, torch.
Ref.: Price 338.
Ex AMCC 2, lot 23 (Nov. 9, 2019)

Karanos: the First Macedonian...

ever thread.

Sorry. Just not enough room for my entire thread title.
Let’s get this straight. This IS gonna be a thread celebrating the myth of possibly one of, if not, the baddest dudes that ever picked up a club...



but not for the reasons you’ve predisposed in your logarithm of, “What’s Ryro gonna say next?” catalogue.



Alright, alright. It does have to do with a Macedonian shield. Don’t look so self satisfied. My newest avatar to be exact:


KINGS OF MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios (323-317 BC). Ae 1/2 Unit.
Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor.
Macedonian shield; on boss, head of Herakles facing slightly right.
Helmet. Controls: kerykeion to right, monogram to left.
Price 2803.
3,85 gr. 15 mm

I was thinking to mice elf, “This has gotta be one of the best looking 3/4 facing Herakles MSCs I’ve seen and am so pleased to have snagged it up... “
Others O mine for comparison:...

Hi,
I was bored so I went out today to do some detecting. I found some US Coins..
25C - 4 each
10C - 5 each
1C - 11 each
1 Sterling Silver ring


So now I have some more examples of Environmental Toning to the Clad Layers of Quarters and Dimes. Years of exposure to the elements will do this to the Cupro-Nickel Clad
Many times these are mistaken for missing clad errors by newbies -


I also found this 1974 Cent which was damaged by the blades of a grass cutter. Also can be mistaken as a mint error. DEFDAM indeed!


Finally my Sterling Ring!
What does Stering actually mean? What would be the silver content?


I found the ring on the internet -

A Wooden Nickel is a token. They were mostly issued by a merchant or a bank and at times redeemable for specific items. Scrip and tokens have often been issued locally in times of severe economic distress such as a financial crisis ir during the Civil War.

In the depression, a local bank in Tenino, Washington issued emergency currency printed on thin wood strips. Blaine, Washington did the same but included a five cent piece.

The 1933 Chicago World's Fair issued wooden nickels as souvenirs. This practice continues to the present day but not just confined to fairs. In recent times, wooden nickel trading has become very popular.

You can have your own personalized token made and trade or sell them. The phrase "don't take any wooden nickels" is American in nature and it's a lighthearted reminder to be cautious in your dealings. It also means "don't be a sucker".

Wooden Nichels can date back to the 1880s but they did not become abundant until the 1930s. The most valuable wooden...