Hi all, Bored and "coining" late after getting the kids to bed. I don't have any great write-ups or anything new worthy of a big thread. I just thought it would be fun to have a thread for anyone still up to post anything fun, new or interesting without the pressure of a stand-alone post. Let it fly, what you working on tonight? Here's a fun new-ish Gordian As with an old tag. We see lots of roaches... but the bronze needs some love too. I wish I could better capture the green patina but tonight under my desk lamp, this is what you get. Gordian III, AE As, 241-243 AD, Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. laureate bust right as seen from behind, draped and cuirassed. Rev: AETERNITATI AVG, Sol standing, facing with head left, raising right hand and holding globe in left, S-C across fields. RIC 297b; Cohen 44; Sear 8773.
It may just be me slumped over coins while everyone else is in a Turkey coma... but here's another one. Coins of Valentinian don't get much love either. I LOVE coins from Alexandria and these late ones are fun too. All these years later, they are still just a bit different than coins from other mints. This little one is just cool to me. Valentinian I Ob: DN VALENTINI-ANVS PF AVG, Diademed bust, draped and cuirassed on the right, R: RESTITV-TOR REIP, Emperor standing right, dressed in militarily digs, holding a sign with chi-rho, globe in the left hand ALEA in the exergue Alexandria - 364/367 RIC 2a Cohen 21
I find myself up late far too often lately. My sleep schedule is all messed up. Nice Gordian AE @Orange Julius . I will pile on with a new photo of an old favorite. Persian Empire Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II, AR Siglos, Mint in Asia Minor, struck ca. 420-375 BC Wt.: 5.4 g Dia.: 16 mm Obv.: Persian king / hero wearing kidaris and quiver, kneeling-running right holding spear and bow Rev.: Incuse punch Ref.: Carradice Type IIIb C
Night owls unite! Those are great coins! I've been looking for one of those but haven't been able to find the right balance of price and condition. They seem plentiful but are either rough and cheap or nice and the seller has them listed for a crazy amount. Anyway, great coin!
While getting my crazy toddler to bed, I've been reading "The Reign of the Emperor Probus." It's interesting and in the public domain... it sorts through all of the primary sources and attempts to put together what you can from such little, and unreliable information. https://ia802703.us.archive.org/32/items/reignofemperorpr00creerich/reignofemperorpr00creerich.pdf Here's a few of my favorite Probi.
Thanks! I feel like this siglos was a good buy at a good price. I got it from one of John Anthony’s weekly auctions he used to have. I suppose I will throw in a coin I had a lot of fun studying but seems to be a bit outside many collectors focus area on here. Still a fun coin and a fascinating period in history to me. Apollodotos: Apollo and Tripod Indo-Greek Kingdoms Apollodotus I AE Hemiobol, mint in northwest India, struck ca. 180-160 BC Dim.: 22x22 mm Wt.: 9.27 g Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΠOΛΛOΔOTOY ΣΩTHPOΣ; Apollo standing facing holding arrow in right hand and bow in left. Rev.: Karoshthi legend; tripod and monogram surrounded by square of dots. Ref.: BMC 17, SG 7594 Ex Deacon Ray , Ex Agean Numismatics
Those are great too! There's a lot of value to be found in more eastern coins. I should really buy more of them but don't know much of the history in Indian or greater Asia. An opportunity to learn more!
Anyone what to know what those cruddy coins of Claudius II looked like before they were roughed up by 1750 years in the ground? ...pretty much the same but silvered. This coin is a "Kevin Special" for sure but still has silvering both front and back, and is almost 'as struck.'
That Claudius II is in remarkable condition. When the portrait is that sharp it looks like someone from the Beano haha. Great coin.
Then there's this tasty nugget. This coin has been called an imitation but I'm not so sure. From an article that mentions this coin: "This tribal imitative is most distinguished by the exaggerated helmet crest and low-relief fabric." I'd source the article but the URL leads to a dead link now. Lysimachos I Obverse: helmeted head of Athena right Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, lion leaping right, spear head below SNG Cop 1149 305 - 281 B.C.
Totally! I don't know if it's because I like underdogs or my budget just does't allow me to buy mint state Augustus coins (both)... but finding interesting coins from this era is more interesting to me than it is to most. That Claudius is awesome. It's so sharp and crappy at the same time, I love it.
My collection so far is made up of the Nerva-Antonines, so I am very used to a particular style of portrait, and so anything from Diocletian onwards still appears strange to me. That said, I have been playing with the idea of adding a side collection which encompasses emperors with close links to Britain, which would include figures like Constantine, Constantine III, Carausius, Allectus, Magnentius, etc, so hopefully I'll have a few of these odd but endearing portraits to sit alongside my Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius coins.
The reverse of that Valentinian I is very artistic, OJ! The reason I'm up early and late these days: The movers are coming tomorrow. Am I ready? Not even close! Looking forward to having more time for coins and CoinTalk in a couple of weeks .
Good luck with that @TIF , I was in the same position this time last year and now the constant boxing and stress are a distant memory.
Got lots of those too! Here's a few in my "to book" tray: An early portrait of Trajan with some Nerva mixed in. We'll miss you AP! things are going so well Victory will take a chair
Ugh... moving is both the worst and the best. I wish you easy travels. I enjoy your posts and know you like Alexandrian coins like I do! Hopefully you get some time to relax and get back to 'coining' soon!
Al, you've got some great coins! I really like that coin. I wish there were more primary sources on these crazy kids. I keep telling people (that don't have time to listen) that "Game of Thrones" has nothing on the late Roman Empire!
O.J. I share your thoughts ! Ancient history is my great escape & the seed that spawns all these crazy fantasies that kids today are hooked on.