Who is that coin that you've been dreaming about? For days, for months or years?? What's that coin on the side, the one that you've been on the prowl for as you go about your regularly scheduled perusing of ancients??? For me it's a Julius Caesar portrait. Yes. It is to finish out my "12 Caesars" that the national enquirier of his day, Suetonius, made a sensation amongst nobility to run out to begin collecting! Do some pride themselves on it being a lifetime issue? Sure. But this ain't like ATG3 (Alexander The Great) where there are a ton more coins created after his death. Nor is it easy being on a po boy budget. It is something incredible to say you own not 1 but 2 ancients bearing the busts of both JC1 and Augustus Caesar. Plus, I got a crazy countermark! Check em out... Augustuswith Divus Julius Caesar (27 BC-14 AD) MACEDON. Thessalonica. Obv: ΘEOΣ. Wreathed head of Julius Caesar right; uncertain c/m on neck. Rev: ΘEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN. Bare head of Augustus right; Δ below. RPC I 1554. Fine. 12.3 g.21 mm. Former: Numismatik Naumann The D has been interpreted as either a denomination mark (four assaria) or, more likely, a date - year four of the Actian era (28/7 BC). The ligate NK monogram has been generally accepted as a reference to Nero (Nerwn Kaisar). This is problematic considering that Thessalonica had abundant coinages issued under Claudius and Nero, such that countermarking these quite older coins would be unlikely. Touratsoglou (p. 105) follows Kraay's suggestion that the NK is an abbreviation for Nike (NiKh), and was applied to the coins during celebrations of the city's 50th anniversary of its grant of liberty by the Romans. Allbuttwoofthe knownspecimensofthis countermarkoccuronthe coinsofthisfirst issue ofThessalonica, and the wear on thecountermarks is nearly identical tothat of the coins, suggesting that the countermarks could not have been applied very long after the coins entered circulation. DivusAugustus Augustus with Divus Julius Caesar (27 BC-14 AD). MACEDON. Thessalonica.Obv: ΘEOC. Bare head of Julius Caesar right. Rev: ΘECCAΛONIKEΩN. Bare head of Augustus right. RPC I 1555. Condition: Near very fine. Weight: 8.0 g. Diameter: 19 mm. Former: Numismatik Naumann Post all those dream coins. JC1 coins. ATG3 coins. Anything you deem relevant coins...
Excellent coins! Congrats on the score, and thanks for the information on the interesting countermark. Not that I think there's anything wrong with the concept of the more being the merrier, but I'm curious why you decided you wanted two Augustus/JC bronzes of Thessalonica? My dream coin is the proverbial one that got away. I have a specific coin in mind, but I'm going to spare myself the pain of posting it. Instead, here's one I won a few months ago, a type that was always somewhere between my want list and my dream list. LOKRIS, Opuntii AR Stater. 12.09g, 24.9mm. LOKRIS, Opous, circa 350-340 BC. BCD Lokris-Phokis 60; McClean 5433; HGC 4, 992 var (control). O: Head of Demeter left, wreathed with grain. R: OΠONTIΩN, Ajax advancing right, brandishing sword and holding shield decorated with griffin and palmette; spear on ground behind, Λ between legs. Ex CNG 63 (21 May 2003), lot 313 I'd love to have a JC bronze someday, but for now all I have is silver. And, here it is for the umpteenth time . JULIUS CAESAR AR Denarius. 3.77g, 19mm. Rome mint, struck by L. Aemilius Buca, February - March 44 BC. Crawford 480/8; Sydenham 1061; RCV 1411. O: CAESAR DICT PERPETVO , wreathed head of Caesar facing right. R: L BVCA , Venus standing left, holding Victory and a sceptre. Ex David Sellwood Collection; Ex Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin (1 Oct 1977) Lot 793
My dream coin would probably be a Parthian tetradrachm of Phraataces with Queen Musa, like this one (photo borrowed from CNG): These seldom come up for auction, and the final price is several thousand dollars... but maybe someday...
Congratulations two great and popular coins, both with good JC portraits. Well done. My dream is owning a Titus Colosseum coin, so looks like I will be dreaming forever.
Congratulations on your dream acquisition, @Ryro ! In all truthfulness I'm going to have to say that I've acquired my dream coins many times over. Many of the coins in my Judaean collection were elusive but I was finally able to find them. When I started collecting Judaean coins, I had no intention of taking the collection as far as it has gone. I don't think that I'll be making any more additions to it. I'm planning to turn my attention to other ancient kingdoms now. I'll likely continue adding to my Roman denarii collection.
AWESOME @Ryro ! Great coins! And super-congrats capturing some DREAMS! That is ALWAYS big fun! Everyone's posted coins are incredible! And, yeah, @ominus1 had the same version of Who's That Girl (cripes, soooo 80's): Roman Imperatorial Julius Caesar Lifetime P Sepullius Macer AR Den 4.03g Minted 1st 2 weeks ofMar 44 BCE Obv: CAESAR – DICT PERPETVO Veiled (symbolic of his office - Pontifex Maximus)- Rev: Venus Victory sceptre star Syd 1074a Sear Imperators 107e Cr 480-14 Rare I agree with @Deacon Ray : I, too, have captured many of my Dream Coins many times over... Etruria Populonia AR 5 Asses 3rd C BCE 2.0g Young Hd L V behind HN 173 Vecchi Rasna III 52 ex NAC 29 No 9 RARE Carthage Zeugitana 310-270 BCE EL Dekadrachm-Stater 18.5mm 7.27g Tanit Horse 3 pellets in ex MAA 12 SNG COP 136 Makedon Philip II Tet Pella LIFETIME 353-349 Zeus Horse star spearhd Le Rider 102 And I can continue to post each and every one of my collection as my Dream Coins... I will also say, there are SOoo many coins posted by folks here that are or would be a Dream Coin for me also.
Thanks for all the kind comments all!@zumbly Your recently acquired masterpiece is simply beautiful! (Great! Now I've got another dream coin for the ol bucket list). Reason for the deuce is 2 fold funny enough. 1: I am a sucker for countermarks. And this one has some pretty interesting hypothesis around it. And B: JC wearing the wreath is iconic. So much so that it's kinda fun to see him without it. All that said, I'm actually doing the whole Christmas in July thing and feeling very much in the spirit of giving. I'll trade you straight up either one of my bronzes for your silver @Parthicus I can see why this is your dream. Between her beautiful portrait (look at that hair! More like queen mesa!) and his countenance (is that an earring?) it's certainly hypnotic. Plus, there's nothing like holding so some big ol tets Awesome to see more out there @Topcat7 and @Ancient Aussie ! Interesting that the countermarks are on the neck. Were the descendents of Brutus in charge of CM placement?
I most want an EID MAR Brutus denarius. Very historical but a pretty good investment if you can find one for a reasonable cost. I haven't seen any for less than about $5,000.
My answer to the actual initial question: Crispus, Chi-Rho shield, RIC Trier 372. Above may be found thanks to Warren on his wonderful website, at... http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Christian/ChristianSymbols.html
..and you're saying Eurythmics ain't?~!?...but i love those tunes and those days... not to mention the coins from even earlier!