I posted this coin on the Hadrian Provincial thread when I received it a few weeks ago.. but I can't stop handling it. I just think it has good size, patina, portrait of a super cool emperor and provincial details that make it special to me. It is a great coin that has been handled and while not near an EF it is certainly a pretty cool little number. Is it "slab-worthy" .. haha.. No..most probably not - but I am so glad I am not looking at this through a window - but holding in my hand! Please post any coins that you can't put down .. or that make you open up that flip more than most others....... and have avoided the tomb. CAPPADOCIA. Tyana. Hadrian, 117-138. Diassarion (Bronze, 26 mm, 11.15 g, 12 h), RY 20 = 135/6. ΑΥΤΟ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΑΙΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СЄΒΑСΤΟС Laureate head of Hadrian to right. Rev. [Τ]ΥΑΝΕΩΝ ΤΩ ΠΡ Τ ΙΕΡ ΑСΥ ΑΥ / ЄT - K City-goddess, turreted and veiled, seated left, holding grain ears in her right hand and leaning left on seat; below, river-god swimming left. RPC III 2955.
That's a nice looking coin, Cappadocia is an interesting place and you can't go wrong with Hadrian. This is the coin that I can't put down tonight, not because I love it but because I am in a battle of wills with it. It's a coin of Justinian. It's clearly a year 30-something but the last numerals of the regnal year are worn away. He reigned for 38 years so the options are limited... but I can't seem to decipher those last few marks. I feel like if I just stare at it long enough, I'll see the answer... or not. (I think it's either II, III or IV... or sometimes I see IX which I don't think can be possible.)
Too late! Heehee. In my defense, I will say as before that if I collected only Ancients, they would be unencumbered by plastic. In fact, I have several times in the last few months thought about liberating them. But then I'd need to make a separate album for them from the rest of my collection. I'm still undecided on that step, and not quite ready to do that. Believe me, I totally "get it" when it comes to the appeal of fondling one's ancient coins. That has always been one of the biggest drawbacks to slabs. For me personally, I find they have some advantages as well. 'Tis a mixed bag.
PS- speaking of Hadrian, and fondling "nekkid" coins, I had the pleasure of owning this one for a while. It came from @AncientJoe and went to @Aethelred. I miss it dearly. I never got around to entombing it in plastic, so that saved Aethelred the trouble of cracking it out. I do get yearly visitation privileges. And yes, a big bronze is a joy to hold in one's hand.
Nothing like the heft of a big ol' sestertius with a glossy patina in your hand! Here are three from the Antonine dynasty:
@Orange Julius Your Justinian looks like a year 32 to my eye, with the II at the bottom spaced to match the general width of the column above. I tried putting mine in organized flips, but couldn't stand the unnatural separation so right now I've got a few glorious disorganized piles of treasure; silvers, then usually separate Roman, Greek, and Byzantine bronze piles. Makes it a treasure-hunt every time I look through the piles, plus it encourages remembering on-sight at least the basic attribution information. Coins (and artifacts) were made to be handled and that's precisely what I do. At this stage in life I can't imagine paying the ballooning premiums for minty coins and would much rather have 10 times the variety in attractive circulated coins than one that I can't even touch in fear of rubbing-off half the value. Not to knock different personality types and your natural preferences or investment strategies, but I've always been very hands-on and intuitive in my learning process, and never cared for the very frequent admonishments in my youth to "touch with your eyes; not with your hands." Here's a pic of the table next to my computer from about 6 months ago. I wasn't trying to pose them for a picture, just had some of my goodies spread out for handling and enjoyment and realized it would make an interesting snapshot: The big Ptolemaic AE Drachm nested inside the Slovakian Celtic “Érsekújvár” glass bracelet was and is a frequent victim of my handsy advances.
lordmarcovan, that Hadrian sestertius is a jewel & should never be slabbed. I generally don't slab ancients unless I'm ready to sell them, but I do make exceptions. If the coin is in super choice condition I'll get it slabbed for the sake of protection, like the follis pictured below. If the coin has a value over $5,000.00 I will get it slabbed for the simple reason that a TPG gives it more credibility, like the Jewish shekel pictured below. There are so many fakes of these shekels & so many that have been clipped & doctored with artificial toning the cost of slabbing seems justified.
Great thread and great coin @Clavdivs! Funny enough, I was out having dinner with my new boss the other night and I brought a few of my favorite coins along to show him. He was really interested in the history of the coins and absolutely floored that I poured them into his hand and let him handle them. There's just something that stirs the imagination holding these things. Here are some of the coins I brought. CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS, Pantikapaion. Circa 310-304/3 BC. Æ (11mm, 1.40g, 12h). Beardless head of satyr right / Bow in bowcase. Anokhin 1025; MacDonald 72; HGC 4, 135. Good VF, Thrace. Trajanopolis. Caracalla AD 198-217. Bronze Æ Obv: Caracalla Rev: Eros rising dolphin 16mm., 2,99g. nearly very fine
I used to be a slab-a-holic but I was successfully treated for the disease and re-educated by the loving members of the Ancients Forum. I've been slab free for two years. Here's a photo from those days of the plastic prison.
Never have slabbed anything. In fact, I'm getting averse to using plastic flips as sometimes they crack and have to be replaced. I'm now in favor of those little manila envelopes where you can just plop the coin into your hand. There is something magical about holding ancient coins in your hands, knowing they have passed through the hands of many souls back in ancient times. Also, the manila envelopes are easier to store and take up a lot less space than flips. I have my coins for the most part in cigar boxes, though I have three mayonnaise jars full of late 4th century bronze coins - yes, I know the mostly unloved ones...
Ryro, counter-stamped coins like the tet you have pictured have interesting stories to tell. The anchor on that coin is a great impression. The worker who counter-stamped that coin took great care not to impair the handsome impression of the original coin, showing respect for that artist.
