NYINC Cherrypicks

Plugging away at a few more coins today. This is a hemilitron of Himera, Sicily, 420-409 BC. Himera (Termini), on the north coast of Sicily, was an ancient Chalcidic colony from Zancle, founded in the middle of the seventh century BC.

Not a rare type, but it was primarily a utilitarian coin, hastily struck for use as small change, so it's tough in better grades. The minter of this coin was kind enough to line up the flan properly and give it a really good whack, so that I could find it in New York 2400 years later and go, "Ooh... that's a nice one."

Head of nymph right, 6 pellets in wreath. The reverse has great centering - you've got all the leaves in the wreath.

 

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What a thoughtful minter!

 

Yeah, I'll take an Indian drachm with extra schnoz please, hold the pickles.

I am completely unfamiliar with this coinage, but I did get a chance to browse through several hoards that were bagged up by emperors. This one was marked Damajadasri, who according to wikipedia was satrap from c. 170-175.

This example represents the average quality of the coins, and it's a little rough. I know these come in much better grades, but being a novice to them, I did not want to spend a lot of money before doing some research. Neither did I want to walk away without one, so here it is. If nothing else, this coin will set me on a path to further learning...

 

Got one of those.


Western Kshatrapas: Rudrashima I (130 - 150 B.C.)
O: Head of king right.
R. Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around.
14.mm
2.0g

 

The remind me of a hobo nickel.

 

A couple of attractive Severan denarii, starting with Elagabalus and Sol. A little dirty, but it's the sort of dirt that's eye-appealing.

 

And Julia Mamaea...

 

Indeed, John, I like that kind of look also.

James

 

Hopefully that was cheap, even I would have passed on that. Her coins can be found nicer and cheap too.

 

Almost everything I bought was cheap. I'm a cheapskate. I feel that I overpaid on only one coin. Out of 25, that's not bad.

 

I'm sure but that one is not bad looking. One could do way worse.

 

And now for the coins you've all been waiting for. Nabataeans!

This first is the most common of all Nabs, Aretas IV in a jugate portrait with his queen Shaqilat. I had the opportunity to look through several hoards of Nabataeans, hundreds of coins, and pulled out a handful of better pieces. This one has great, expressive busts, and the centering is pretty good on both sides. The king's name is slightly clipped on the reverse, but not badly so.

Also, there are few dealers that have taken to "improving" their Nabataeans with false desert patinas. It's refreshing to come across coins with plain old ancient dirt.

 

I'm pretty sure I could be fooled by the false desert patinas. It's something I don't have any experience with.

 

I wouldnt be surprised if a few of mine may have fake sand too. I test it with my fingernail and the sand stays in place.

 

Here is a minute bronze from an earlier period of Aretas IV's reign, dated to 4 BC. This coin celebrates the birth of his son Phasael. Phasael was not his first son, and yet he is the only one whose birth is celebrated on a coin. It's likely that his other sons were born before he became king in 9 BC - that would account for the discrepancy. His first born, Malichus II would go on to succeed him.

As with all Nabataeans, centering is paramount, and this coin does the trick. Good bust in the middle of the obverse, and the reverse is also well-centered, giving us both parallel cornucopias, the palm branch, and Phasael's initials in the right field. They are frequently off-flan. Just a great example of a scarce and interesting type in my opinion...

 

To me, this is the most useful of your posts. I am embarassed in my lack of Nabataeans (I have one) but when I see them, I usually see their faults rather than their good points. I am not interested in rarities but would like a few representative, common coins. Seeing what you consider a 'good' one will help me decide if I see a bunch just how picky I should be. I have been very hard on coins with legend missing and striking problems. Maybe I should lighten up if they are cheap.
Rabbel II? Gamilat??

 

Yes, Rabbel II with Gamilat. I have one coming up with a fun double-strike.

 

Congrats JA, It seems you had a wonderful time and a very productive outcome (excluding the traffic, of course ).

 

Here is one of the most interesting of all Nabataean types. These were minted on the occasion of Aretas IV and Shaqilat's wedding in 12 AD. They show the king in full military regalia and the queen in the gesture of a hamsa, a sign of blessing and protection.



This coin came from an uncleaned batch, and I mean uncleaned. I had to wash my hands after sorting through them - they looked like I had just replaced a head gasket. This one is going into a water soak and we'll see what happens with a little brushing and picking.

I already have two of these types, so why would I bother with a third? Well, this is the first coin on which I've seen the king's funky Arabian boots.

 

I'm interested in seeing how it cleans up.