Coin Talk

The city
Nicomedia was founded in 284 BC as the capital of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Bithynia; the King Nicomedes I gave his name to the place. Its strategic location made the city a significant trading, military and artistic centre throughout the ages and it was once one of the four largest cities of the Roman world. It is now in Turkey and is called Izmit.


The city is destroyed, in 111 AD by a big fire, which made many victims, because of the absence of firemen. Nicomedia reached its peak in late Antiquity, as the imperial capital of Diocletian and frequent residence of Constantine the great who was baptized there on his deathbed. The emperor Diocletian made it the eastern capital city of the Roman Empire in 286 AD when he introduced the Tetrarchy system. Galerius Maximian and Licinius also chose it as the capital of the eastern half of the Empire....

We all know that coins in better condition cost more--sometimes a lot more. Not long ago we had a thread in which a US nickel in MS68+ was $25,000 when the same type in MS66 was listed at $85. That seems crazy to me.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/which-coin-is-a-better-investment.347257/

But, we in ancient coins are not immune to condition-fever. I bought this coin recently at a well-publicized public auction for under $25, shipping included:


It is a large Byzantine follis of Anastasius. At 34 mm (a US half dollar is under 31 mm) and 18.08 grams it is pretty impressive in hand. It has lots of wear and an uneven strike, but a bold obverse legend and a very good patina. It is Sear Byzantine Coins 19.

If the type were in better condition it would cost more--maybe a lot more. Take a look at this example from the recent Triton auction of CNG:
https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-7O8FQ/

...

This recently acquired coin, gives me a reason to return to the story of Sulla and the War with Mithridates VI of Pontus. After hastily wrapping up with Mithridates, Sulla began his return to Rome (related post here). During his absence from Rome, Sulla had been exiled as an enemy of the state by Marius, however he still had allies and supporters.

Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius joined Sulla with troops in 83 BC. He was cousin to Sulla's wife Caecilia Metella - their fathers were brothers. Political lines between the elder Metellus and Marius had been drawn by events surrounding war with Numidia.

King Croesus ruler of Lydia:


(Croesus on the Pyre, Louvre)

The man had money. His name is synonymous with wealth and riches.
Almost 2,600 years later we're still saying it. He may have done more for the development of Coinage than any other single individual in history.

It wasn't enough wealth to have his name used for the myth of King Midas. Though, certainly he fits the story better than anyone else in ancient history. And probably helped inspire the Midas myth.



There is a wonderful story of Croesus meeting an elderly Solon, told by Herodotus. Yep, that Solon whom reformed Athens by rewriting all is laws. After showing Solon his palace and wealth Croesus asks Solon who the happiest man he had met was. Obviously, expecting to hear his own names.
Solon replied, "There was a man in Athens named Tellus who was able to live until his children had children and he was still able to fight and die in battle. It was a...

The silver double-massa sandalwood flower coins were a short-lived series that remain to be one of the rarest in the Southeast Asian numismatic history. The double-massa coin is an oddly formed lump of two coins weighing 4.8 grams with a thick bar connecting them, termed the double-massa because its weight is double the standard coin weight; one massa or 2.4 grams. The only source of information on these coins is Dr. Jan Wisseman Christie, who studied the archaeology, epigraphy, and history of Indonesia and Malaysia, with special emphasis on the pre-Islamic kingdoms of Java. She remains one of the best sources of information on the development of Javanese markets and their early coinage. Her research piece A Preliminary Survey of Early Javanese Coinage Held in Javanese Collections...

It's been a while since I posted on this forum. I originally had this idea for a thread and posted on a tpg forum where I usually spend my time. Unfortunately it didn't last long.


There was a discussion there several months ago about whether or not blue and purple colorfully toned copper is AT or if when coincare or MS70 are applied to the surface of UNC brown copper coin the surface contaminants or brown tone is removed to reveal the colorful blue and purple toning underneath. Some of the biggest names in copper coins were arguing on both sides so I bought some MS70 thinking I would experiment. The bottle sat on my shelf for months and I finally got around to it. I don't claim to be a chemist and others might be able to explain what is happening better than I can, but it seems to me that the MS70 is not applying any color to the surface, but reacting to certain surface toning to change the color.
Some of the coins had no change other than to appear brighter, while others...

I particularly like Republican denarii with reverses showing animals, so I thought I'd post a few of mine. I'm excluding horses -- real and mythological -- because that would take in what seem to me to be a substantial minority (if not a majority) of Republican coins, especially the earlier ones.

Instead, here are a bull, a lion, a dolphin, a hound, and a wild boar. (In addition, although I won't re-post the Juno Sospita denarius from the thread about shields, there's a small snake on the lower right of the reverse of that coin. See https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/l-procili-juno-sospita-reverse-jpg.1061246/.)

The images are all from the sellers, except the last one.

First, the bull: Roman Republic, L. Thorius Balbus, AR Denarius, 105 BCE. Obv. Head of Juno Sospita R., “ISMR” [Iunonis Sospitae Magnae Reginae] / Rev. Bull Charging Right, A above, “L. THORIUS BALBUS.” RSC I Thoria 1, Crawford 316/1, Sear RCV I 192. 20.11 mm., 3.85 g. David R. Sear Certificate...

This type has been on my wantlist for many years but I've only had a couple opportunities to attempt to buy one and hadn't succeeded. It never comes beautiful and, to @Valentinian 's thread on "Condition and price balance", I wouldn't be 5x happier to buy the finest known (real) example which is just a bit nicer but at 5x the cost.

I was the underbidder but never saw the coin in person (I had a dealer view and represent me). Upon seeing it at the NYINC show last month, I was willing to give the winning dealer a modest profit and finally cross an important type off my list.

This coin depicts the story of Noah, including the dove, his wife, and the ark itself.

It shows how Noah and his wife standing in the ark floating on the water, first sending out a raven and later a dove (to get information about the current status of the flood) and how they thank God for their rescue after leaving the ark. These successive events are artfully drawn together into a single...

I would like to ask if anybody here has experience or knowledge concerning the Ecu de Six livres struck by the French National Convention during the revolutionary year of 1793.

I have two examples in my collection, one struck at Lyon (Atelier D), the other at Lille (Atelier W).

The Lille raises some question for me as it shows some anomalies not seen on coins of this type: first, it displays a die break on reverse which, I think, was the reason for the weak strike which can be seen in places.

The other anomaly is the irregular spacing of the date, specially the '9' which is wildly out of line with the rest of the digits in the date.

It have observed neither of these anomalies on any of the Ecu de Six Livres from Lille listed on Acsearch. Wider internet searches have also revealed nothing.

The coin otherwise conforms well to the nominal specification for the Ecu de Six Livres de la Convention which are: diameter of 38,5 mm, nominal weight of 29,23g.
The edge of my piece...

I haven’t posted for quite awhile - but I visit and lurk here at CT every day in order to soak up the great wit, wisdom - and information. It is very enjoyable!

I have disposed of my vintage woodworking tools, Samurai swords, and antique firearms collections in a very satisfactory manner and now I am enjoying every day doing calligraphy, reading about Roman history - and researching Roman Imperial coins.

Life doesn’t get any better than this!

The coins that I retained to admire, fondle and study for the remainder of my days remains at fifteen. Here are the representative Julio-Claudian coins:



Denarius, Crawford, Roman Republican Coins (RRC), No. 480/8 (March 44 BC - Alfoldi)
Coin obverse depiction: Julius Caesar wreathed head facing right
Inscription clockwise from right: CAESAR DICT PERPETVO...