[Poll-16] #6 Jwt708 vs #27 Severus Alexander (Round 1) CIT 2018

I passed on your friends' messages to Domitius and he does not appear to be very regretful about missing the Christmas party, he will be at Saturnalia anyway. Unfortunately, most of the rest of his response is, ahem, not suitable for CoinTalk. Maybe this part is OK, though: "OH YEAH, well litigate THIS then, horse-boy!! "

Alexandria follis in the name of Diocletian, issued by Domitius Domitianus 296/7, RIC VI 18a. Ex Dattari.

(Yes, it seems I stumbled upon a little mini-collecting theme here. No, I don't have any other ex-Dattari examples, but I do have a Galerius. No Max yet...)

 

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@Severus Alexander

That coin is out of this world.

 

Welp, so much for using this coin in the competition....

 

Well, a Domitius Domitianus (sort of) at this price is really something you can't pass through, well done !

Before @TIF asks ( ) here's mine


Domitius Domitianus, Octadrachm, Emmett plate coin - Alexandria mint, AD 296-297
ΔOMITI-ANOC CEB, Radiate bust of Domitius right
No legend, Serapis going right, LB in field (regnal year 2)
12.79 gr
Ref : Emmett, Alexandrian coins #4241/2, this example illustrated, Dattari # 10830, RCV # 12982 (2000), Sear # 4801 var (It's actually an hexadrachm in Sear)

Domitius Domitianus, stationed in Egypt, rebelled against Diocletianus in july 296 AD and was proclaimed emperor. He was defeated during spring 297 AD. Diocletian decided to close the alexandrian mint, so the coins of Domitianus are the last provincial coins from Alexandria. Also, Domitianus was the only ruler to strike octadrachms (in parallel with didrachms, tetradrachms and hexadrachms)

For more information, see : http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Domitius Domitianus

Also, the following comment, about another specimen sold at CNG (Triton XI, Lot # 539) "For the most part, scholars agree that the larger coins featuring the radiate bust must be a double, and thereby call it an octodrachm. At half the weight, then, the smallest coins with the Nike on the reverse must be tetradrachms, though these coins have erroneously been called heretofore didrachms. The weights of these tetradrachms appear consistent with the final issues of pre-reform tetradrachms of the Tetrarchs. The middle denomination poses the largest challenge to this arrangement. By weight, it should be a hexadrachm. However, no such denomination was known to have been struck in Egypt, though tetradrachms earlier in the third century achieved this weight. The obvious problem here would be the confusion caused in circulating the same denomination in two different weights. As this type is the rarest of the group, it is possible that it was meant for a special occasion, or more remotely, a stalled attempt to reinstitute the pre-reform coinage on an earlier weight standard. Further investigation may shed more light on this subject.

Q

 

These are happy tears. I'm happy for you. Not at all sad for me. Happy tears

 

@Jwt708 , you mentioned that the rider has both a sword and severed head in his left hand. This is not a natural way to carry two things and shows his right hand didn't work to hold things. By the way, the type never shows even a hint of a right arm (not that it would).

@Severus Alexander , your Constantius is spectacular. My page:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/usurpers/Usurpers.html
discusses the usurpation of Domitius Domitianus (and that of Carausius).

This is an excellent round, all the more so for featuring coins that did not cost a fortune.

 

Now THAT is a coin. Just wow.

And it looks like there is a story behind your acquisition of it. Opening bid 1295 euros, winning bid 1296 euros? What's up with that?! Jeez, I would have bid at least 1297.

There is much discussion surrounding these. Schwartz dates the revolt to 295/6 in part because he thinks the production of the traditional Alexandrian coinage continued on from the last common issues of the tetrarchs, dated 295/6 (the year ended in August). If the revolt is 296/7, as most now believe, Domitianus needed to have restarted the tetradrachms after a hiatus. It now seems this is the case. It also makes sense of the very few tets (I think maybe 2?) from 296/7 featuring the tetrarchs. Domitianus renewed the Alexandrian tet production only after hostilities had begun, and so the tetrarchs' images are barely featured on them. The folles with the tetrarchs' images came earlier.

So very cool that he produced octodrachms!

 

Thanks, Warren. What a great page; I actually cited it in footnote 1 but since few read the footnotes I'm glad you drew further attention to it!

 

Diocletian is secretly jealous... usurpers throw the best parties

Diocletian's rancor aside that is a great coin and write up! This is one of my collecting interest areas so I'm glad that you made me aware of these and the distinctions involved. Well played, sir.

WOW! Nice coin Q!

 

He did not have a right arm. Some dies show a gap that makes this more clear but most run the body into the horse. If anyone thinks their solid example is poor, see my fourree.


I selected my solid coin for the clear, armless gap. I have selected coins for worse reasons.

 

As I remember it, I wasn't self confident enough to play big bucks (I mean bigger bucks, as it's big bucks already) on that one at the time of the auction, and prices were still in french francs back then. I just went a shy 5 francs above starting price, the only other bidder probably thought the starting price would be enough and here it was.

I've never regretted it and it's worth every franc I paid for it

Q

 

They say that a false arm was made for him to wear around. Which brings out the horror sci-fi nerd in me and makes me wonder if this is where Bruce Campbell's evil dead character, Ash, landed in his trip through time...

https://goo.gl/images/FwsFR3

 

Don't be shy folks. Vote or comment if you have a mind to. This is the last of our Round 1 matches and will close in less than 1 hour!!

 

Ya, if 125 or so lurkers want to keep me in the game! Haha!

 

Our final match comes to a close much to the dismay of a grumpy Diocletian.

Results
#6 @Jwt708 - 47
#27 @Severus Alexander - 130 Winner

Both participants played fantastic and historic coins but SA comes out on top on the scoreboard. Thank you to both participants!

@Severus Alexander will advance to meet @panzerman in Round 2.

 

Thanks for the match, jwt... I'm totally jealous of your coin! It has moved up on my want list and I'll let you know as soon as I manage to land one. I think it will be a while because I'll be waiting for one as nice as yours!

But dude... did ya hafta toss me right into the jaws of the p-man!?! Kick back, relax, and watch the show. And if you can lend me a bit of Rambo to help me out, I'd be grateful...

 

Congrats on the win @Severus Alexander! Good luck in the next round.

 

Congrats @Severus Alexander very well played !
@Jwt708 your coin might have win many of the others matchups, a beauty

Q

 

Very well played @Severus Alexander , congratulations in the win! I wish you the best going forward. Heck, I even voted in one of the categories for you coin.

Also thanks everyone for voting and the kind words!

 

@Jwt708, I picked up my Rambo coin today! I really liked the mustachioed Gallic head on this one, I've never seen a die quite like it:


As a bonus, it shows the gap that @dougsmit pointed out:

Thanks for boosting this on my wantlist, I'm very happy finally to have one.