And A Sanguine Saturnalia To All!

My secret saturn sent me something so unexpected. I don't normally collect early imperial issues, but when I opened the package, and saw this bust staring back at me, I immediately knew who it was: Nero. I was so excited! First ever Nero coin, and the portrait is beautiful. He was the Emperor who burned Rome, blamed the Christians and killed a bunch of them. He also had St. Paul killed. I have already thanked by Secret Saturn, but, once again:

Thank you Secret Saturn!!!

 

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IO Saturnalia! Very cool gifts so far! So I just opened mine and wow did @TheRed go way above and beyond! Thank you very much!!! He went through my albums and made choices based on my collecting habits! Some quick & dirty cell phone shots:



Included was a handwritten letter explaining how and why he picked these coins and he was dead on! The Constantine has tons of detail and I love the Corinthian helmet reverse for the Domitian! Both coins are winners and I'm very pleased to add them to my collection. Once again thank you!

 

@Smojo you don't have M.E.K.?

 

Metropolitan Extraterrestrial Kitties? I doubt it.

 

Either my Secret Saturn knows that I'm a sucker for nice London Mint Romans or this coin was a happy accident. Either way I love the coin which looks much better than my limited photographic skills can convey. A keeper for sure, thank you Secret Saturn!

 

You mean MPK? Yes, but that stuff is toxic. I once squirted some on a wasp never seen one die so quick. Leaves me to wonder exactly what that mpk is doing to my skin amongst other health stuff.

 

Oh, but I do

 

That's really nice one from the London mint. Enjoy it!

 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone. Think they're similar...

 

Methyl Propyl Ketone, I think you're right, similar.

 

I've also heard of MBK but I don't know what that was...

Getting things back to S.S.here is last years gift from Steve:

 

I wish you could see it in person, a real beauty!

 

A quick note to my SS, I'm waiting until Christmas! No worries, I'm strong in the force.

 

I loved the 'gifts' posted throughout this thread!!!

Please excuse my crappy photos....and thank you so much Secret Santa

Obviously, my SS knew of my FONDNESS for Republicans and this denarius of Cipius, struck 115-114 BC,was missing from my collection and is a very welcome addition!!

 

Hi JA! After I said I wouldn't take part in your SS this year because of finances, I saw a thread about something similar. It said the rules would limit it to USA participants and there was a suggested amount to spend on the gift that was within my budget, so I signed up for that. I realized later that it was not just someone helping you conduct it. It was a whole different group - It appears to be a non-ancients flavored group. It is still fun.

 

@Kirkuleez had done the SS the last couple/few years and like our own JA has done a great job, it's a big task in addition to their normal lives.
And is greatly appreciated

 

Yesterday may have been the day most jumped on board with their SS gift revelations, but since Saturnalia was not a one day festival, and I could not participate yesterday, I am going to do my show-and-tell today.

This is my first time at it, and JA had asked for a thumbnail of the kinds of things we collect as a guage for interests. Since my interests in silver of Roman imperial women can get rather pricey, I also mentioned that I enjoy Fel Temp Reparatio reverses. My package arrived quite a while ago, having been sent via JA to keep my SS anonymous, so I have no idea who they might be. Now the unveiling. They sent me a coin that had been in the collection of Doug Smith. I have known Doug for years, but do not recall having ever gotten any coins from him, so this is a treat:

The coin is a maiorina/centenionalis of Constantius II, Falling Horseman reverse - RIC VIII 132 for Thessalonica. John thinks it's officina delta, though A is also a possibility. I'd kind of like it to be an A since I don't have an example for that officina. But either way, it's special because it was once in Doug's collection, and now it's in mine. Thank you SS, whoever and wherever you are!!!

 

That's a beauty!

 

Me toooooo! Oh my goodness! Look, @TypeCoin971793 !



That note also raises questions for me - and especially now! Because although I never registered to take part in even the non-JA SS until after I got this coin and note from JA, about a week before receiving my beautiful coin, (which you see below), I sent another CT member a little gift. I thought it would be fun to send it anonymously, but the day after I had it sent, I thought it best to let the recipient know that I was the sender. I did so in a way I thought was effective; but, now it is pretty clear that my communication did not get through. In the meantime, when I unexpectedly received the coin from JA about a week later, I figured it was a reciprocal gift (and a gorrrrrgeous one) from the person to whom I had sent one. Oy!



I also adore the coin I received. Whoever the sender is has exquisite taste. I posted a thread that this is my favorite coin for 2017 and it truly is no matter who had it sent to me. It is so beautiful. It is not at all like the strange and not very elegant coin I sent.