Cucumbor's six - 2018 review

Hi CT friends.

With season greetings comes the time for an appraisal of the 12 past months : 2018 has been a minor year for me in terms of adding coins to the collection. Anyway, out of the 20-ish coins I purchased this year, I’ve chosen some that can make it for a top 6 (as I did for 2016 and 2017)



6 – Inpulse buy. I was following an online auction and had been outbid on the few I had planned to buy. I needed a revenge. When that one popped up I thought it might be cool to add a first serratus to my republic coins collection

Republic, L. Procilius L.F., Denarius - Rome mint, 80 BC
Head of Juno Sospita right, clad in goat’s skin, S . C behind
Juno Sospita in biga right holding spear and shield. A snake below biga. [L. PROCILI. F] at exergue
19,5 mm - 3.89 gr
Ref : RCV # 307, RSC, Procilia # 2



5 – I like Mamaea’s portraits on coins : she looks kind and benevolent (just like she was in real life according to reference books )


Mamaea, Alexandria tetradrachm, AD 231-232 (year 11),
IOY MAMAIA CE MHTE CEB K CT , Diademed and draped bust of Mamaea right
Radiate and draped bust of Helios right. in front, palm-branch and behind LIA.
23.5mm., 12.67g.
Ref : Emmett # 3205 (R4)
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection.



4 – Not yet in hand, this one made its way into the selection because of its provenance : I’ve not been lucky enough (or rather clever and fast enough) to be bidder #1 on coin #1 at SA’s auction #1, yet it’s from the same SA’s first auction, and from the collection of a most venerable member here at CT, Mr @zumbly Himself. And, as I’m not ashamed of borrowing pictures and descriptions, these are Severus Alexander’s words and picture from the auction online catalog :



Maximinus II Daia (308-313), follis, issued 312-313. Alexandria, 5.1g, 21mm.
Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right.
Rev: GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left holding head of Serapis left in right hand, cornucopia in left; star, N and palm-branch in left field, gamma in right, ALE in exergue.
RIC VI Alexandria 160b
From the zumbly collection, Ex CNG as Superb EF ($145) (Zumbly helped to popularize the term “head on a platter” for this type on CoinTalk.com.)
This coin was issued in the name of Maximinus, the last zealous persecutor of Christians, near the end of his life when he was defeated and rendered irrelevant by Licinius I at the Battle of Tzirallum



3 – For decades I’ve wanted a Roman Republic quadrigatus. I’ve extensively described this one, its historical context and « why it’s cool » in the round 3 of the CIT 2018 tournament here :

Republic, Didrachm (Quadrigatus) Rome or other Italian mint, c 215-211 BCE
Laureate janiform head of Dioscuri
ROMA in relief in linear frame at exergue, Jupiter, holding thunderbolt in right hand and scepter in left hand, in fast quadriga driven right by Victory.
6,69 gr - 20-21 mm
Ref : Crawford # 28/1, RCV #33, RSC # 24



2 – I wasn’t planning getting such a coin before I saw it. During a private conversation with a fellow collector, she was explaining me why she would give up collecting for sad personnal reason, and she eventually showed me the last remaining coin in her collection, asking whether I could drive her to someone willing to purchase it. After thinking a (very short) while, and because of that tremendous Aegis, I bravely volunteered, and here it is….


Caracalla, AE 30 - Serdica, Thrace, AD 216
ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC AVTK M AVP CEV, laureate heroic bust left, seen from behind, with sword belt and Aegis on left shoulder
OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC, Hermes, naked, standing left, holding purse and caduceus
17,14 gr - 30/28 mm
Ref : Moushmov 4804 (obv), Varbanov 2372 (rev)
See Agora auction #62/102, same dies



1 – All of you here know how much I like the Trajan Decius Divi series. The featured thread here says it all about the series. To make a long story short, after a 18 years of the 22 main types in the series, this one is the 22nd and last, and among the rarest. It has to be #1 for the achievement it implies : not every day do we complete a set when it comes to ancient coins







Marcus Aurelius, Antoninianus - Rome mint 250/251 CE
DIVO MARCO ANTONINO, Radiate head of Marcus Aurelius right
CONSECRATIO, Altar
23 mm - 3.84 gr
Ref : RIC IV # 92a, Cohen # 1058
In qblays catalog : MA08-P114
Same dies as the example in the Bibliotheque nationale de France

A merry Xmas and happy new year to you all my coinfriends
Q

 

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What a year, @Cucumbor!! Completion of that Trajan Decius set was quite a feat-- congratulations again .

I love that Caracalla but feel a little sad about the circumstances of it joining your collection. I'm glad it found a good home though.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year, dear coin friend .

 

Some really great coins @Cucumbor. My favorites are the top 4 and I would be hard pressed to name one of them better than the others. Congratulations on a great collecting year.

 

Nice selection, I happen to like the Mamea Tet the best, followed by the Didrachm. That Divi set is something.

 

I love every one of them @Cucumbor . My favorites are your #1 #3 and #4

 

Great 6, Q! That ex Zumbly is pristine! And I love that Caracalla! Such a sad way to have the opportunity arise, but it's in great hands.

 

Wonderful acquisitions. Regarding your Quadrigatus, it's likely a mint in Apulia. Crawford lumps these with the better-style, higher-relief, incuse legend coins, but they are certainly of different style and fabric, and should be a separate series. Like other Apulian coins, they typically show tabs or other signs of cast flan production. See my discussion of the Quadrigati series at my Forum gallery: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=34967

 

Cucumbor, The "piece de resistance" is the serrate denarius of Juno Sospita! Wonderful die work & a great action reverse. The serrations are deep & sharp too.

 

Great accomplishment on completing your CONSECRATIO coins of earlier emperors. I have yet to see an example of one of these at auction or fixed price but I guess I should google it and see what results I get. Congratulations. It's pretty interesting that even Commodus was deified.

 

What a year!

 

I choose Julia with Helios. They fit together. Cheers..

 

Another stunning ensemble of coins from another CT member! 2018 seems to be a stellar year for us. 2, 3, and 4 are my favorites...

 

Some great coins there Q, I am still gobsmacked with your brilliant Divi series completion and love your detailed RR Didrachm. Congratulations.

 

Pièces merveilleuses, Q!
J'ai particulièrement aimé celle de Caracalla.

 

Nice set of coins ... and congrats on completing your Divi series!

 

congrats on your Trajan Decius Divi series!
I like your Juno Sospita two fer with a lil snake and nutterbutter shield best.

 

Nice selections, Q! The serratus is an outstanding example. I’m always wanting to add one of these (Procilius) types to my collection, but have yet to find the right one. Yours will be perfect for next Saturnalia. Or, if you find yourself too attached it, the Julia Mamaea tet has a really charming look to it, and would be a most acceptable substitute.

Jokes aside, I’m pleased and humbled to see my Maximinus II follis on your list. I’m sure you will not be disappointed when you get it in hand. Sev’s pic is excellent and very faithfully captures how the coin looks.

Elsewhere on your list, the quadrigatus was a solid and memorable Tournament entry, and of course the Marcus Aurelius from the Divi series is both rare and extra special for it completing your set.

My personal favourite howver is that magnificent Caracalla. I think it’s the sort of coin one will always feel proud to be the custodian of.

Again, wonderful coin additions this year, my friend! Have a great 2019!

 

Very nice selection, a man with great taste. I also Wish You and Your Family a Happy Christmas Holidays, and some nice coins from Santa

 

Great additions @Cucumbor
I like 3 and 4 a lot, but I can't say no to number 2, a nice big chunk of bronze. Also, number 1 a great set of Trajan Decius Divi series. Very happy Christmas to you as well.

 

All awesome but especially congrats on the TD series, that's a super group of coins!! Way to complete that 18 year quest!