Gordian III, AD 238-244 AE sestertius, 30mm, 16.5g, 12h; Rome mint, AD 241. Obv.: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: SECVRITAS AVG; Securitas enthroned left, holding scepter, resting head on elbow leaning on chair back, S C in exergue. Reference: RIC IVc 311a, p. 49
Yup! You might know already from my previous threads, but Rome, unlike for Roman imperial coins, is a rare mint for Byzantine coins. And the condition of my particular example is pretty good for the type. I'll give more info when I make a thread for it.
Yeah, I've read a theory (in Italian, haven't been able to find the webpage again) that these might not have been struck in the city itself but by Byzantine legions stationed in the area. Also, Grierson states this half-follis type and other fractional bronzes are Italian in style and provenance but the style doesn't seem to correspond to either Rome or Ravenna, but he still keeps open the possibility that the coins did come from these mint cities. In my searches I haven't found any meaningful evidence towards the "military mint" theory so I consider the Italian bronzes from this era as official mint issues. In any case, these are IMO interesting coins from a lesser-known part of Italy's history.
Just got one in today....not ancient but still nice! Wanna see it anyway German States/ Baden-Durlach AV 20 Mark 1873-G Karlsruhe Mint Grossgherzog Friedrich I Slabbed MS-65
There's a coin I've been keeping tabs on for nearly a dozen years, following it from one dealer to another, and in various different auctions. Last year it surfaced in a Belgium coin dealer's online store and I finally decided to pull the trigger! The coin has been in 'origin post is preparing shipment' purgatory for the past 4 days. So near, yet so far ...
....Is it obvious that I've turned green with uncontrollable jealousy? Just kidding. Beautiful Daric Alegandron! I especially love how the flow lines make the running motion look more dynamic. An example just like that is on my wish list for the future. As an update to anyone interested I am still waiting on my newest addition coming from Israel. Been almost seven weeks and USPS doesn't have a scan since it entered customs. The USPS customer service people told me that customs has had it longer than their maximum time to either clear it or send me a notice. So frustrating!!!
Thank you for the kind words. It is a coin that holds historic significance to me, that is offered in a very trusted auction that I have used often, they always ship quickly, and I have and enjoy gold. It is amazing to have a little over a 1/4 oz, like a 1/4 TOZ AGE, but with huge historical significance of around 2500 years ago. This was literally the first pure gold - large unit of account that was used in the Ancient World. Before, it was Electrum as precious metal, but the Daric was the first Gold unit. Then, Philip II of Makedon's AV Stater took over after the Achaemenid Daric, then Alexander III's AV Stater took over that role as a Gold Standard Unit. Purdy cool...
The history is why I like this type as well. Like you said this was the main source of gold that circulated in the Greek and near east world before the staters of Alexander. It's cool to think your coin was struck some time from the Persian invasion of Greece to the end of the first stage of the Peloponnesian War. During that time the Parthenon was built and Athenian democracy was fully developed. Very cool. Must have been a difficult wait. At least CNG is usually pretty fast with their shipments
On the reverse of the first one, the left figure looks like a dancing corn that would be in a commercial.
The only ones I'm waiting on are US. I cannot afford to buy any more ancients right now, at least non-Chinese. I can share pics if anyone so desires.