I've seen a few threads here at CT on these Nemausus Croc coins, but it was @Julius Germanicus's My first Crocodile thread and @dougsmit's Impossible to Grade? article that got me looking and I stumbled across this lot from a French seller on ebay: At 48 Euros shipped, or about 1.95/coin, I didn't think I could go to wrong - They arrived today: I've only had a couple hours with them so far, but I already found one interesting Croc with a DD Countermark, which stands for Decreto Decurionum (Decree of the Council). I'm excited about these, but it may take me a while to catalogue them as there's lots to learn. How about sharing any countermarked coins. -d
A couple of those cut-in-half croc coins look really nice for the price, especially the one with the bottom half of the croc on one side and Augustus's full head on the other. I've also never seen a $1.95 As of Agrippa before. Nice!
Very cool lot! A no-brainer at the price, I think! I like the patina on the half that's to the right of the top row (just to the right of a whole coin). @dadams- Amazon told me your Christmas gift from @Aethelred and I would arrive Thursday. I guess if it didn't, you should see it today (it's early AM Friday as I type this). LMK how it is. I have not read it yet, nor listened to Mike Duncan in a little while. Michael has the audiobook, I believe. Anybody else read this one yet?
Oh, and now you've got ME thinking about croco-coins! Too bad I'm broke at the moment. Eh, well, I've got other stuff on my radar anyway. But now those are gonna be at the back of my mind, 'cause I've never had one.
From what I see, you did quite well for the price. I paid about $13.00 shipped for this sole 'half' back in 2015 and thought that was more than reasonable for the type.
Fun project to go thru that Lot! Congrats on the cool lot and great price @dadams ! Crocs are always cool, but it also looks like a few hidden gems in there. Are you going to do a cleaning or keep them as is? Cilicia - Tarsos turret counterstamped Bow Pompey Pirates AE 19 164 BCE Tyche-Zeus seated These bow case stamps are occasionally found on coins of the south coastal regions of Asia Minor, although their meaning is uncertain. In 67 BC, Pompey crushed the Cilician Pirates and subjected the city to Roman rule, making Tarsos the capitol of the Province of Cilicia. Tarsos was also the scene of Marc Antony and Cleopatra’s first meeting, so it’s possible the counterstamps remonetizing these issues had something to do with the political struggles of the Late Roman Republic. The counterstamp on this coin is unusually crisp, showing the bow, case, and several arrows in their entirety.
Got the book!!! I started in on it late last night and got through about 15 pages. So far reads well. I immensely enjoyed Duncan's THoR podcast series and am sure to like TSBTS. I'll send it your way when I'm finished with it.
A really fascinating group of coins at a killer price. I love the mystery and discovery process of buying group lots and uncleaned lots. I think I have been burned at least half the time but your lot looks like a great score. John
Apologies for dropping off the face of the planet since Friday - I'm guessing this is the one you both spotted: This cut one showing Augustus facing right and wearing oak-wreath on the obverse and with the letter P. This coin would have included P P (Pater Patriae) across the fields on the obverse in front of each of the busts. Augustus, received the Pater Patriae title in 2 bc which indicates this to be a later "revival" piece. COL and the back end of Crocodile to right on the reverse. Most of the crocs seem pretty decent to me, so I'll most likely just leave them alone. Secondly, I don't know anything about cleaning ancients and I'd fear doing more harm than good. There are a few non-crocs in this lot that could probably be helped with a scrub. One such is this Trajan: My attribution skills are seriously lacking as well, but I've determined this to be a dupondius of Trajan, Radiate Bust Right and I think: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM PM on the Obv I can make out PO on the reverse making this TR POT COS (II / III / IIII ?) I can make out S C in exergue This Would narrow it down to RIC 385, RIC 398, RIC 411 or RIC 428 - my eyes don't seem to be making out any more detail to narrow it further
