Bing....I would be in "heaven"! I find in my case, every time I receive a coin/banknote in mail, I am very happy/excited to open the letter, cherish my new treasure. However, I can see your point, I once back in 2006 saved money for three months to bid/win a FDC Aureus Constantius I Chlorus 205AD/ so that coin means a LOT. But with unlimited $ one would be getting 10 or more of these every day/ still would treasure every new coin/ but would not be as special as in first case. But, with deep pockets bidding can get crazy, in recent Kunker(Ancients) auction, A Vespasian AV Aureus in EF (estimate 30K euros) sold for 300K euros 10X estimate!!!!! A case of more $ then brains.....
That is another problem. If you have more money than you know what to spend it on, paying 10x estimate means nothing. As you know, I was in the army for a VERY long time. I know what an adrenalin rush feels like. There's nothing like it. I get a rush, albeit much smaller, when I bid over my budget. BUT, where's the rush if you don't care how much you spend?
I get your point, however....this is just me/ I find that my greatest pleasure is knowing that I have a certain coin, but also get satisfaction everytime I examine the coin's beauty/workmanship/history. I also take pleasure in admiring all the coins you and others post, reflecting on this amazing hobby, we are all part off.
Severus Alexander brings back good collecting memories. It was a Mars type of Severus Alexander that introduced me to ancients. Severus Alexander denarius Obv:– IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding a spear and shield Minted in Rome, A.D. 232 References:– RIC 246, RSC 161a Severus Alexander denarii also introduced me to the concept of coins coming from eastern mints that were just stylistically different from Rome output and that there was stuff out there that people hadn't seen before. Alexander denarius Obv:– IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– VIRVS (sic) AVG, Virtus standing right, holding reversed spear and victory I still dabble with his coins but only when I spot something that interests me Severus Alexander Denarius Obv:- IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:- LIBERTAS AVG, Aequitas, standing front, head left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left; Minted in Antioch. A.D. 223. Reference:– BMC -. RIC -. RSC -. Wrong legend for deity....
Cherry on the cake (I kept it for a sunday treat), one of my all time favorite coin Severus Alexander, Sestertius Rome mint AD 231 IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate bust of Severus Alexander righ, with light drapery on left shoulder IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, with a small figure of the emperor at his feet, SC in field 14.75 gr Ref : RCV #7966, Cohen # 74 Q
Atta-boy, Smojo ... coingrats on your new OP-addition!! Wow, there are a lot of great examples in this fine thread (you guys are good!!) SEV-ALEX, eh? => I'm fairly sure I only have this one big example ... Pontus, Amasia. Severus Alexander. Æ35 A.D. 222-235 Civic year 228 (A.D. 228/9) Diameter: 35 mm Weight: 26.18 grams Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander right, seen from behind Reverse: High altar upon which eagle stands facing, head left; above, Sol in facing quadriga, holding whip; to left of altar, tree Reference: Dalaison 566 (D145/R439); RG 101; cf. SNG Copenhagen 119; BMC 39 (same obv. die); SNG von Aulock 6710 (same obv. die) Other: 12 h … Grayish-green patina under earthen deposits, light roughness
Here one of mine: I just love these Mars advancing! Severus Alexander, Rome, AD 222-235 AR, denarius, 19mm, 2.4g; 6h; Rome mint, AD 226 Obv.: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG; laureate bust right Rev.: PM TRP V COS II PP; Mars advancing right holding spear and trophy arms
Cappadocia, Caesarea. Severus Alexander AE20. Obverse: AYK CEOV ALEΞAND, laureate bust right. Reverse: MHT P K AIC, three stalks of grain tied together, ET - H. Phoenicia, Sidon. Severus Alexander Æ26. Obv: Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. Rev: Three standards surmounted with eagles. 26mm., 8.3g. BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; AUB -.
Since ancientone and Steve brought their provincials out, here's one of my favorite coins. SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE24. 6.97g, 24.6mm. TROAS, Alexandria Troas, 222-235 AD. Bellinger 341cf (Bellinger obv A341 & rev A338), possibly unrecorded. O: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust left, holding spear & shield decorated with head of Medusa. R: COL AVG, horse grazing right, herdsman (Ordes?) behind holding pedum (shepherd's crook), tree to left, TROAC in exergue.
I don't have time to photograph any coins this am, so I'll post some photos of some provincials I already have on hand. Bithynia, Nicaea 4.57 gm; 21.5 mm Obv: Μ ΑVΡ CΕV ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC ΑV, radiate and draped bust, r., seen from behind. Rev: ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ between three standards. SNG von Aulock 634; SNG Copenhagen 520 var; Sear 3287 var. (laureate bust). Bithynia, Nicomedia 4.59 gm; 20.4 mm Obv: Μ ΑVΡ CΕV ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC ΑV, laureate and draped bust, r., seen from behind. Rev: ΝΙΚΟΜΗΔΕΩΝ ΔΙc ΝΕΩΚ, aquila between two military standards. SNG Copenhagen 577 var. (radiate bust); Recueil général 327 var. Severus Alexander with Grandmother, Julia Maesa AE Pentassarion Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis 11.0 gm; 27.0 mm Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ CΕVΗ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΜΑΙCΑ, confronted busts. Rev: VΠ ΤΙΒ ΙΟVΑ ΦΗCΤΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Nemesis standing l., holding scales and scepter, wheel below; E (5) in r. field. AMNG 1057; Moushmov --; BMC --; SNG Copenhagen 250 Severus Alexander and mother, Julia Mamaea AE Pentassarion Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis 10.1 gm; 25.7 mm Obv: ΑVΤ ΚΜ ΑVΡ CΕVΗ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC KAI ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΜΑMAIA, confronted busts. Rev: ΗΓ ȢΜ ΤΕΡΕΒΕΝΤΙΝΟϜ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Dikaiosyne standing l., holding scales and cornucopiae, E (5) in r. field. Unpublished?? AMNG --; Sear --; Moushmov --; SNG Cop --; BMC --; SNG von Aul --
SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE20 OBVERSE: M AVP CEVH ALEXANDROC AV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: N-IK-AI-E / WN between and beneath three standards Struck at Nicaea, 222-235 AD 3.8g, 20mm BMC 103 SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE25 OBVERSE: AVT K M AVR CEVH ALEXANDROC IOVLIA MAICA, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Sev. Alex. right, facing draped bust of Julia Maesa left REVERSE: HΓ OM TEPEBENTEINO MAPKIANOΠO, ΛITΩN (in exergue), male figure enthroned left, holding patera and sceptre, E in right field Struck at Markianopolis under Legate Tereventinus, 222-235 AD 12.42 g; 26.5 mm Moushmov 732 SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE Sestertius OBVERSE: IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate, draped bust right, seen from the back ALEXANDROC AV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: PONTIF MAX TR P II COS P P S-C, Pax seated left, holding branch and sceptre Struck at Rome, 223 AD 17g, 26mm RIC 402
Hello. I always feel satisfied with acquiring such a sestertius of Alex. Sev. having Mars on reverse. Cohen 262.
My Sestertius inevitably is a Mars type. Severus Alexander Sestertius Obv:- IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust Rev:- MARS VLTOR SC, Mars standing left holding spear, shield, with standard resting against his right arm Minted in Rome. Reference:– RIC 638
Shame about the boil on his neck. Severus Alexander Coin: Bronze AE25 AVT K M AVR CEVHROC ALEXANDROC - Laureate head right VP TIB IOVL FHCTOV MAPKIANOPOLITWN - Hygieia standing right, feeding serpent in arms. Mint: Markianopolis (221-235 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 9.45g / 25mm / - References: Varbanov 1791.
Another Sev Alexander Sestertius: Ox: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate head right Rx: P M TR P VIII COS III P P, Emperor in quadriga right holding scepter surmounted by eagle, S C in ex