My First 'Roman' Gold

Very nice! Congratulations, that Basiliscus/Marcus Semissis is very rarely seen!

 

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Thank you. Yes it is rare. It came out of an Italian source in the 1950s. Glad you like it. And your Severus Alexander is exquisite. My only early Roman gold is an aureus of Domitian, but it is nothing exceptional like your S. A.

 

I really love Roman aurei, if i were better off financially, I would have a really big collection of these beautifull coins. I am now trading some of my butterfly/moth/beetle collection for some mint state aurei with a man from Quebec City. He is doing the opposite.....which is nice for me At one time these coins were used to pay Roman legionnaires, when translating their value into 2018 money/ they were well paid. But then, I am happy to do what I do for a living, at least there is no danger, on the contrary, I get a good workout

 

Trading your butterfly, moth, and beetle collection for aurei?! Wow! I had no idea the former could be so valuable! But I am like you, if I had a more lucrative job than university librarian, I would collect mint state Roman gold, too.

 

Librarian: You should chat with @ancientcoinguru
And she and I have kin collecting interests. Nope, I am not a Librarian.

Ok, I gotta be a rebel: Here is a gold coin of the hated Nemesis of Rome:


Carthage - Zeugitana AV 1-10th Stater-Shekel 350-320 BCE 0.94g 7.5mm Palm- Horse Head

 

I have to say two things....
First, I do like Roman coins way more then Cathaginian ones Also their symbols (Eagle) military/ parades/ regalia....
But in the end, the Carthaginians were the, "good guys" who sadly could not win vs the Roman Republic. I would say, we would have all cheered on Hannibal with his elephants to finish the job after Cannae.

 

I have to say two things....
First, I do like Roman coins way more then Cathaginian ones Also their symbols (Eagle) military/ parades/ regalia....
But in the end, the Carthaginians were the, "good guys" who sadly could not win vs the Roman Republic. I would say, we would have all cheered on Hannibal with his elephants to finish the job after Cannae.

 

Dear Alegandron, I am sorry to ask an ignorant question, but how do I go about contacting @ancientcoinguru, as you suggest? In the meantime, here is my Carthaginian...

 

Super huge apologies @Nicholas Molinari ! Your OP Gold is fantastic! Cograts! Hey... are there any Acheloos Golds???

I have no Romano Gold yet! I want to get Republican Era gold when I do... but that may take an arm or so to do that...

- I just go to SEARCH;
- put ancientcoinguru in the "posted by member" slot;
- click the name as it pops up;
- then SEARCH... a bunch of her postings will be on your screen.
- Click on her AVATAR;
- a pop up will appear.
- Top Right is "Start a Conversation" ;
- And away you go!

I love your Carthage EL!

I have one similar:

Carthage Zeugitana 310-270 BCE EL Dekadrachm-Stater 18.5mm 7.27g Tanit Horse 3 pellets in ex MAA 12 SNG COP 136

I agree with you John... however, sometimes the simplicity and cleanness of some of the Carthage coins are just great looking too!

 

@Nicholas Molinari

 

Had Carthage been around till 410AD, I am sure they would have had many diverse coin types. Its the same with Germany, they produced magnificent coins from 1500-1872, esp. the dukat coinage from 4 Dukats-50 Dukaten. Now, they are bland, boring. modernistic The Holy Roman Empire certainly had great mint masters/ engravers. Transylvanian coinage probably was the most beautifull ever made, yet they were a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, which made drab coinage. Here is one of my fav. coins for design that I could afford to get this year.

 

I love these Roman gold. Unfortunately i don't collect much of them..The only piece I got is this solidus of Justinian.

 

Thank you! Your Carthage is much nicer than mine. I love yours. The horse is spectacular, and having a horse myself, I enjoy coins with equestrian themes. Mike

 

Thank you. Got that from a Coin-Friend of mine who has a wonderful eye for quality. I enjoy collecting the Roman Republic and those entities that interacted with them. The Carthaginians and their 3 Punic Wars were an incredible dynamics in human struggle. I grew up in farming country and had cattle, sheep, horses. When I ex-patted to the UK for a few years, I leased a home in the Hedgerows of Wales that was on a Farm. I helped with 50 head of Sheep and they had 12 Welsh Cobbs along with a couple Arabians. I bought 48 chickens, and my kids had a ball growing up a few years there.

Quick database count: I have around 120 Horse Ancients, NOT including Quadrigas, Trigas, or Bigas (probly another 100)... I love 'em!
Brian

Bull:

Carthage 216-215 BCE Sardinia mint AE 3.3g Tanit L - BULL stndg R CNP 377a

Sheep:

Kebren AR Obol Archaic hd Apollo L - Hd Ram in Incuse sq 5th C BCE 7.65mm 0.64g SNG Ash 1086

Horse:

Carthage Zeugitania 400-350 BCE AE 15mm 3.39g Head of Tanit left Horse galloping r SNG Cop 97

Chicken:

Campania Cales 256-240 BC AE 18 Athena Cock Star

 

Very nice group of critters, Brian. As my interests center in late Roman and Byzantine, there is little chance of animal types, but I'm always willing to invite into my home the stray Tarentine horse and dolphin, as well as the Roman adventus or profectio types. Warmest regards, Mike.

 

Wondering. Is there an ample amount of gold roman coins. Saw alot of copper bronze or brass. Whatever. Thinking very few were able to possess gold coins back in the day. Wasn't it if you had gold the government took it?

 

Very nice. Nice farm going on

 

no bacon???

 

I do not like Pig. Bacon is good. But I do not like any other parts, except the tenderloin.

When I was growing up, I worked for a veterinarian. He was responsible for testing all farm animals at the Sale Barn Auctions every Saturday. He made ME ALWAYS step in the pen of a 200-300lb. sow WITH her piglets to hold her in a hand-stanchion while he stuck a needle in her neck to draw blood to test. THEN, it was MY job to scoop up each of the 12-16 piglets and tag their ears. If you have ever been in a 8'x8' pen, with a VERY ANGRY Sow, and you are attacking her kids... Her sole thought is to KILL you... well, I didn't grow up loving those critters. Learned a lot starting at 9 years old doing this. Get a little stronger, get a little meaner, get a little bolder... Helped me play sports growing up!


Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 BCE Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE


Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 BCE Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE

 

Indeed, I had wondered lately how that was said.