Post your latest ancient!

Yup, that is indeed a Salton Collection envelope in Mark Salton's hand. Congratulations on a nice addition from a fascinating and important collection! Apparently he spent years tracking down and recovering books & coins looted by the Nazis from his father's firm (Felix Schlessinger, killed Auschwitz, 1944). I'd love to know if anyone kept track of which ones.

Kuenker 390 was all Salton Collection (Part IV). I don't think I got any from 390, but I have at least 5 of those manilla envelopes from the prior sales, and also handwriting samples from the Salton Library (happily, he included lots of extra papers in his books).

The "reverse" of your envelope (especially the RIC and BMC references) are very distinctively in Mark's handwriting.




I have noticed there is often more than one hand-writing style (e.g., the front of your envelope). Sometimes maybe Lottie Salton's handwriting, but they also kept the envelopes and tags of previous collectors, and just added their own notes.

Here's my copy of his father Felix Schlessinger's final sale in Amsterdam in 1939 while in exile. The Nazis finally invaded The Netherlands and caught up with them months later. One of my favorite catalogs. Ex ANS Library Duplicates:



And, below, a Mark Salton-Schlessinger Fixed Price list (I've got a few of these, all ex-BCD Library Duplicates, would love to have more!). Two of my coins are listed in this one:

 

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Thanks very much! I knew if anyone could tell me more about an old collection provenance it'd be you.

 

Last coin before I turn 30 on Thanksgiving! I've always wanted to get one of Constantius II's Fallen Horseman coins. I know these coins are very common (as are many other Late Roman coins) but I'm still amazed that I got a coin as striking as this for less than $50, encrustation aside. Even though the obverse is technically no longer "realistic" like the Roman portraits of old, the emperor after having changed from "princeps" to "dominus" still looks very elegant and refined, at least in the example I have here. The post-Constantine, pre-Theodosius imperial portraits are still tastefully done in my opinion even if they're not individualized anymore as they were before the Third Century Crisis. The reverse is also incredibly dynamic and is among my favorites on any Roman coin. I'm happy to have it!



Constantius II. 337-361 AD. Æ-2 (22mm, 5.60g). Struck 350-355 AD. DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, Soldier standing left, holding shield and spearing fallen horseman; shield on ground to right; Γ // AN ( ΓI) ?. (mint of Antioch). RIC VIII, pg523, #132. Brown patina. Encrustations on Obverse and reverse. - otherwise Good VF+. VERY SHARPLY STRUCK !

 

I was planning to sit out today's CNG e-Auction but couldn't pass this up. Don't mind admitting I got it for less than half my max bid.

CNG & the consignor (apparently) didn't recognize it as being from the Dattari (1853-1923) collection, published in the Dattari-Savio rubbings (DS 7999 on pl. 103) and plate coin in Figari-Mosconi #424 (according to RPC III 6242 [this coin = specimen 33]), which republished the image from Kunst und Munzen 42, 1980, lot 78. (I can't find a copy of F-M, though I've been trying desperately for years.)

Note: Unusual reverse with something below / falling out of the patera? None of the other specimens seem to show that... Any idea what it is? Have only started looking into it...



Egypt, Alexandria. Aelius Æ Diobol (24.5mm, 8.73 g, 12h), dated RY 21 of Hadrian (136/7 CE).
Obv: Bareheaded and draped bust right, seen from the front.
Rev: ΔHM • ЄΞOY C • VΠAT • B •, Euthenia(?) standing facing, head left, holding patera and grain ears.
Ref: Dattari-Savio 7999 (this coin) = Figari-Mosconi 424 = RPC III 6242 (specimen 33, this coin); Emmett 1353.
Prov: CNG 551 (29 Nov 2023), Lot 279; From the Rocky Mountain Collection of Alexandrian Coins, purchased from William M. Rosenblum; ex Giovanni Dattari (1853-1923) Collection; Kunst und Munzen 42, 1980, lot 78 .




Despite being a relatively pricey volume, my copy of Dattari-Savio 2007 has paid for itself multiple times over by now, as far as I'm concerned. (I've found & bought several coins with lost Dattari provenances & verified others.)

 

Another of the 12 Caesars checked. Vitellus Denarius.

 

I personally like to see well preserved, good style portraits and (mostly) uncorroded surfaces on my ancient coins and my budget isn't the highest, so it took me a few years.. but I finally found a fallen horseman that made me click the button! . I've also been on a bit of a Constantinian binge lately, which also helped to pull the trigger..



Constantius II, AE2/Centenionalis, Antioch mint, bought as an RIC 132 but I'm pretty sure it's an RIC 135. Diameter 23 mm, Weight 4.82 grams. Expect better pictures soon.

 

Yes, you are correct, it is RIC 135 because the horseman is falling across the neck of the horse.

 

Here are some of my new coins I have gotten recently,
Photographing toning and luster is hard and might not fully show in photos.


ZEUGITANA, CARTHAGE
(CARTHAGINIAN OCCUPATION IN ITALY)
218 BC – 201 BC HN Italy 2016
AR Half Shekel 18mm. 3.56 g.
Southern Italy circa 215 BC - 205 BC
Obverse: Head of Tanit left wearing wreath of grain ears facing left.
Reverse: Horse standing right with sun above, Punic letter below.



Roman Republic
Q. MINUCIUS THERMUS
103 BC Crawford 319/1
AR Denarius 20mm. 3.84 g.
Rome mint circa 103 BC
Obverse: Head of Mars, left, wearing helmet with long crest and plume on each side.
Reverse: Roman soldier fighting barbarian soldier in protection of fallen comrade.



Roman Republic
LUCIUS CAESIUS
112 – 111 BC Crawford 298/1
AR Denarius 20mm. 3.98 g.
Rome circa 112 BC – 111 BC
Obverse: Bust of Vejovis facing left, hurling a thunderbolt, monogram in right field.
Reverse: Lares Praestites seated facing, with dog between, each holding staff in left hand; above, bust of Vulcan with tongs over shoulder.



FAUSTINA THE YOUNGER
161 AD – 175 AD RIC III 676
AR Denarius 17mm. 3.61 g.
Rome circa 161 AD – 176 AD
Obverse: Draped Bust Right
Reverse: Fecunditas, draped, standing left between two children reaching up and holding two infants in her arms.



Roman Republic
ANONYMOUS ISSUER
206 BC – 195 BC Crawford 114/1
AR Denarius 19mm. 4.08 g.
Rome circa 206 BC - 195 BC
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind.
Reverse: Dioscuri riding right, below rostrum tridens and roma.



MACEDON UNDER ROMAN PROTECTORATE, FIRST MERIS
167 BC – 149 BC SNG Cop. 1310-11
AR Tetradrachm 29mm. 16.75 g.
Amphipolis circa 167 BC – 149 BC
Obverse: Diademed bust of Artemis right, with bow and quiver on shoulder, in center of a Macedonian shield.
Reverse: Club right; monograms above and below; all within oak wreath; thunderbolt to left.

 

This is a fairly new addition to my Carthage trays. It is ex Henry Clay Lindgren who had a very large collection of provincial coinage and published it in a three volume set. So this coin being a Roman Imperial from his collection is unusual.



Constantius I
A.D. 303
30mm 9.0g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H in left field.
In ex Γ
RIC VI Carthage 34a

 

I have been drawn to Roman Republic coinage as of late. It's only been a month and I feel like an addict.
Q.Marcius Libo 134 B.C.
Roman Republican Denarius,

Wildwinds example 3

 

Very nice. Welcome to the ancients side!

 

I know what you mean, Republican Denarii have some of the most interesting types and variations especially during the mid-late republic.

Very nice example you posted with strong toning!

 

My coin buying the later years have typically been 40-60 cheap coins in low grades or very common coins, plus a "top ten" of more expensive ones. I've already grabbed 20% of the cheap ones for 2024 at the Concordia auction last weekend:



As you can see, it's mostly Greek coins that trigger the bidding finger these days. I really love Greek coins, even in poor condition. In addition, I picked up a Roman woman; Julia Soaemias, that I didn't have from before, and a butt-ugly budget Judaea Capta.

 

Haven’t posted this here. Utterly unique. Probably Lycian. There are two examples of a larger module extant (showing full forepart), one of which is in the BM.

 

All Great coins. Its amazing so many coins in such good condition for how old they are.

 

I bought the Ptolemy, trying to find a coin that I saw years ago. It was around this size, but massively thick, with a very beveled edge. This was not the coin.





Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy VI–VIII. Circa 180-116 BC. AE Diobol (22.97g, 30mm). Coregency issue. Alexandria mint. Struck 170-163 BC. Obv.: diademed head of Zeus-Ammon to right. Rev.: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟY ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, two eagles with closed wings standing to left on thunderbolt; cornucopiae in left field. Svoronos 1424 (Joint reign of Ptolemy VI Weiser 142 (Ptolemy V); SNG Copenhagen 308-310 (Joint reign of Ptolemy VI Noeske 212-5 (Joint reign of Ptolemy VI Lorber & Faucher Series 7C.


Postumus. 259-268 AD. AE Double Sestertius (22.72g, 31mm). Uncertain ‘Barbaric’ mint. Obv.: radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: Fides standing left with a standard in each hand. Cf. RIC 123. Overstruck on 2nd Century AD Sestertius flan. Crude style


Licinius II, as Caesar. 317-324 AD. AE Follis (g, mm). Alexandria mint. Struck 321-4 AD. Obv.: D N VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder in right hand, shield on left arm. Rev.: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe in right hand and eagle-tipped scepter in left, to left, eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak, to right, bound captive seated right, head left, X-IIΓ in right field, SMALA. RIC 30.




Licinius I. 308-324 AD. AE Follis (2.53g, 19mm). Nicomedia mint. Struck 317-320 AD. Obv.: IMP LICINIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust left, holding mappa, globe and sceptre. Rev.: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and sceptre; palm branch in left field; Γ in right field; SMN in exergue. RIC 24. Traces of silvering

 

Nick -- what a fantastic little coin! Do you have the weight? (Hemi/Obol?)

As a collector of Greek AR fractions, I believe strongly that some types are much better in miniature. I'm sure this is among them.

I wonder how firm Lycia is? And/or whether any kind of alliance/League would make sense?

Reminds me of the Lesbos, Methymna turtle fractions, matched w/ various other designs. (Incidentally, Lesbos had a strong tradition of alliance coinage...)

Lebos' turtle was *usually* on the rev. But yours is very similar to the obv. of Hemiobol type SNG Kayhan 96. (Same arrangement & number of segments on shell [exactly ten], same linear "border" around shell, combination of segmented land-tortoise shell w/sea-turtle flipper-legs.) Below: the Coll. sans Pareille 817 specimen. (More ACSearch results.)

¡ NOT MY COIN !


There's also an Obol that's been attributed in commerce to Cilicia, Mallos, with turtle & *forepart* of man-headed bull (facing *left* nor right). Similar fabric maybe but different artistic style. A couple from CNG ("Unpublished in the standard references, but cf....") here (CNG 2022) = Heritage (2021) and here (CNG 2016). There are a few others in acsearch from the budget auctions, e.g. this one (DEMOS 2021) in better shape

¡ NOT MY COIN !


I'm curious about your coin. It's pretty awesome!

 

Not solid at all--I had originally listed this as Mallos following the various auction attributions of the larger module, but then noted the BM has them listed as Lycia, and since the weight seems to match that standard I listed it there. They received it from Harlan J. Berk in 1978.

It is .34g, so presumably a hemiobol and the larger modules like the one you posted are obols. Lesbos is an interesting suggestion and the weight matches. Certainly an Acheloios cult there, too. Were there other pairings with the turtle there?

 

My latest has a nice portrait of Gallienus and an unusual reverse with crossed cornucopiae and a winged caduceus. It came with a fairly non-descript tag that doesn't give much clue to the previous owner except for the handwriting. My notes are here:
https://www.sullacoins.com/post/city-of-the-sun


Syria, Coele-Syria, Heliopolis, Gallienus, AD 253-268, Æ (22.8mm, 9.72 g, 6h), 8th emission of Valerian I, AD 256/7
Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front
Rev: Winged caduceus between two crossed cornucopias.
Ref: Sawaya series 78, coins 773-776 (dies D109/R280)

Ref: https://www.pave.fr/ebook/978235159...iopolis-d-apres-leurs-monnaies-jean-lauffray/

 

I have similar habits - a few pretty coins each year and more not so pretty but interesting coins. Here are two recent coins from the interesting category:

Any time I am complaining about islamic script on coins and readability - I have to remind myself that I seem to have little difficulty reading this:

as
Laur[eate]