Cucumbor’s Top(less) in 2019

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Cucumbor, Dec 8, 2019.

  1. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Hi CT folks,

    No, you won’t have the pain to see me naked, that would be against CT rules, and I know for sure you don’t want to have nightmares the nights to come

    As I wrote in @Curtisimo ’s 2019 top of the tops my year has been very slow in terms of purchasing ancients. But as Curtis (Hum, him again….) threatened me with very weird and naughty consequences, should I not post at least a top 3...

    I really have not enough material to build a decent top 3 with ancients this year, it would be pityful, but what I can do is to mix it with modern and medieval. Hence, I will show you one modern, one medieval and one ancient. But I will also show off one copper, one silver and one gold (they are the same).

    3 – Copper : France, 1st republic (1795-1803) – Cinq centimes l’AN 5 (1796-1797)


    Long story short : If anything , the french revolution has been a very troubled era. When the period called « Convention » ended in october 1795, a new rule of power was initiated, named « le Directoire » with a five member collegial government (directors), ruling the country until Bonaparte’s coup in 1799 . Among many other changes, the metric system replaced the old, monarchic system. After the population had lost confidence in the paper money previously massively produced, it was decided to re-introduce some metallic currencies. The first copper 5 centimes issues were so much lighter than the older Louis XVI copper sols and demi-sols that it was then felt necessary to increase the weight of the said coins. Reason why the AN 4 cinq centimes weights 5 grams, while from l’AN 5 onwards it was rose to a mere 10 grams.


    0121-5centGMb.jpg
    DIRECTOIRE – Cinq centimes l’AN 5 (1796-1797)
    REPUBLIQUE - FRANÇAISE.*. Buste drapé de la Liberté à gauche coiffée du bonnet phrygien (Mesdames Tallien ou Récamier) ; signé Dupré cursif au-dessous.
    CINQ / CENTIMES./ L’AN 5 . en trois lignes. En dessous la lettre d’atelier A (Paris) encadrée des différents, dans une couronne fermée composée de deux branches de chêne opposées nouées à leur base par un ruban.
    9,05 grammes – 28 mm
    Ref : Le Franc F115
    Ex CGB




    2 – Silver : Roman Republic, L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi – denarius 90 BCE

    This denarius has been presented to the CT community on may, 11 and you can see the related thread here if you like

    Sometimes a coin type is so common that one always thinks time will come when they'll find the right one.... but time flies and they still don't have it.

    The L Calpurnius Piso Frugi Apollo/horseman is one of those. Although I've been collecting ancient for 40 years, I never found myself ready for one until a few months ago

    0010-061-2000.jpg
    L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, Denarius Rome mint, 90 BC
    Laureate head of Apollo right, Δ below chin
    Naked horseman galloping right, holding whip; above swan. L.PISO.FRUGI / ROMA at exergue
    3,93 gr - 18,8 mm
    Ref : RCV # 235, RSC # 12b, RRC # 340/1-Calpurnia 12b-symbol 166

    Ex. Naville Numismatics

    What really drove me to bidding on that one are the swan in the reverse field, above the horseman, and the slight off-center giving a feeling the rider and his horse are going to jump out of the flan just as they would in a rush (a tiny off-center sometimes gives a dynamic to the reverse scene). In hand the toning isn't bad either (yes I'm pretty happy with it as you might guess)

    Quote from a comment in RCV, millenium edition, p.117 : "this extraordinarily large and complex issuerepresents one of the principal war-coinages of the Romans during the conflict with the Marsic confederation. The control marks are legions and consist of letters, numerals and symbols in a multitude of combinations on obv. and rev."



    1 – Gold : Dombes principality , Anne Marie Louise d’Orleans - sequin (undated)

    Anne Marie Louise de Bourbon, AKA La Grande Mademoiselle, was born to Gaston d'Orleans and Marie de Montpensier in 1627 CE. A few days after her birth her mother passed away and she became sole heir of the principality of Dombes. Until she'd been emancipated by her cousin Louis XIV "Le Roi Soleil" in 1650 CE, her father (and Louis XIV's uncle) Gaston d'Orleans ruled the Dombes as regent.

    For those interested in reading a little more here's the Wikipedia page on the subject of the Dombes principality (in english) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dombes

    Anne Marie Louise coinage is abundant, especially 1/12 ecu also known as Luigini, which have been shamelessely copied by other rulers as they were very popular in the whole Middle East at the moment, purportedly because they featured a female bust on the obverse.

    Other than that are liards, a rather crude billon coinage, usually struck on short flans (finding one with complete legends and date is quite unusual) that you can find by the million.

    Some other very rare denominations exist, such as a gold sequin, and exceedingly rare ecus and 1/6 ecus. I’ve been in chase for a sequin for ten years now, one of them popping up at auction every other year at maximum. Having been outbid everytime I had tried to put my hands on an example, when this one appeared at Kunker auction last october, and because it was far above average as per preservation, I jumped on it and didn’t let it go.

    DG-027-219.jpg
    Dombes – Anne Marie Louise d’Orleans, Sequin, or - sans date
    Atelier de Trévoux
    FRANC PRINC - SM TREVO, Saint Marc à droite remettant un etendard au prince à gauche. Dans le champ DVX
    SIT TX ADIVTO - REGIS TE DOMBA, Le Christ bénissant de face, entouré de seize étoiles
    3,47 gr
    Ref : Divo Dombes # 219, Friedberg # 123, Mantellier -, Poey d'Avant # 5134 (Poey d'Avant attribuait cette monnaie à François II de Bourbon Montpensier)
    Ex Kuenker


    As it’s undated, and because the obverse legend reads FRANC PRINC, this sequin has for long been attributed to François II de Montpensier, great grand father of Anne Marie Louise on her mother’s side. Stylewise, this sequin is more of the mid 17th century than one century before. Also, the coin obviously copies the venitian sequins that were in use all over Europe at the time. three of the Doges of the period being Francesco Contarini (1623-1624), Francesco Erizzo (1631-1644) and Francesco Molino (1646-1655), it’s likely this sequin could have copied their sequin’s legends to fool people. Don't forget to remember the whole coinage of Dombes copying various emissions of their time, be it Italy with the cavalier d'or, Spain with the Pistole, France with most of their testons, liards double and denier tournois, and finally Venetia with that sequin

    Q
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2019
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  3. PlanoSteve

    PlanoSteve Well-Known Member

    Wow, can't believe you had to be coerced into posting these three! :D Thank you @Curtisimo! :happy::happy::singing:;)

    Beautiful specimens, all! I particularly like the reverse of the L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi. I'm going to have to find one (for my granddaughter), but I'm going to have to call it a flamingo, because, well,...you know....:smuggrin:
     
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  4. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    That is a solid top 3! The gold and silver are purdy but I have a soft spot for classic French coins.
     
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  5. akeady

    akeady Well-Known Member

    Very nice - I like the Piso Frugi coins, especially. And indeed the Year 5 coin - "Rip it up and start again"!
     
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  6. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Yowza! Thanks so much for sharing!
    That Piso Frugi is something special. Love the French liberty lady portrait. Medieval gold is nothing to thumb your nose at.
    Despite not showing a single boob this post didn't disappoint.
    Here's a modern French, a RR and a gold coin:
    E8D855A9-7B9A-48DD-BDA5-EAA6C281C80B.png
    Napoleon Bonaparte, J. Andrieu e D. Denoy, France, 1810, Argento, g 36,35, mm 40,00, D/ (The busts of Napoleon and Maria Louise, to right)

    Below the cutting of the neck: ANDRIEU F . / DENOY D.

    R/ NAPOLEON IMP. ET ROI M. LOUISE D’AUTRICHE

    (Napoleon and Marie Louise are holding hands, old clothes, next to an altar decorated with a bow and arrow and the text: J. JOUANNIN)

    In exergue: Ir . AVRIL . M . DCCCX / DENON . D .

    Medal for the marriage of Napoleon and Marie Louise of Austria April 2nd 1810.Ex: in Asta

    A RR:
    6B6C2581-8F59-4D7B-8510-30E2D7FB3340.jpeg
    L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi.Quinarius 90, AR 15 MM 1.8 g. Laureate head of Apollo r.; below chin, N. Rev. L·P – ISO Victory standing r., holding wreath in r. hand and sword and spear in l.; in exergue, FRVGI. Babelon Calpurnia 13. Sydenham 672c. RBW –. Crawford 340/2f. Former LANZ coins
    Gold coin... Subject missing
     
  7. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Nice coins....and even better click bait title. :cool:
     
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  8. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Wow, @Cucumbor , I LIKE this idea... it covers the Tops of you cool collecting foci ! Gorgeous coins! VERY well done!

    Well since @Ryro hawked up a Napoleon, I git to too! Even better, I got it from The Cuke!

    France Napoleon Emperor 2 Francs 1808-I Limoges mint Republic Rev AU55.JPG
    France
    Napoleon Emperor
    AR 2 Francs
    1808-I Limoges mint
    Republic Rev
    AU55
    Ex: @Cucumbor

    WOW on the Swan device on your Piso reverse... just, WOW!!!
    upload_2019-12-8_18-30-47.png
    RR Calpurnius Piso Frugi 90 BCE Social AR Den CXXXII ROM-A monogram Apollo Horseman - Marsic Sear 235 Craw 340-1


    DOMBES??? Well, I have nuthin' like 'em. I think it is a really cool specialty / infatuation. Akin, to my Etrurian specialty / infatuation.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
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  9. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    My God, Cucumbor....there is nothing wrong with you going topless! France is famous for even women doing that, again, I would not mind seeing that here in Canada:(
    On the otherhand, I spend most of my time outside, "shirtless", while at work:)

    Better get back to coins....
    All three of yours are "magnifique", the RR one is exceptional/ while the cinq centimes L'AN 5 is quite amazing in its preservation. This piece was struck after the evil Robespierre went to the "Paris Razor", during the "Reign of Terror". Your Dombes AV Zecchino is beautifull, I am glad you won it. :)
    John
     
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  10. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    great coins @Cucumbor ! I especially like the whip on your Piso coin. Looks like the rider is serious about urging hid horse faster.
    The gold La Grande Mademoiselle is exceptional.
     
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  11. PlanoSteve

    PlanoSteve Well-Known Member

    Beautiful medal, but a handshake? (that's not holding hands, that's an actual handshake)....really...how puritan...:p:joyful::D
     
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  12. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    The gold is awesome of course, and the Frugi also with that neat little swan guy on there. I have a soft spot for 18th century copper coins, especially big ones, I'd like to have that French coin you have there. I bet is has a cool edge doesn't it? I can see just a hint of something on the pic there!
     
  13. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Great coins Q, love the fact your coin interests vary so much, beautiful gold Dombes. I'm easy swayed in some more modern architecture coins/tokens as well. Clifford_s_Tower-removebg-preview.png
    1795 Yorkshire, York, Halfpenny Conder Token, D&H 631
    :View of a cathedral. Ex : YORK . 1795.
    R: View of a castle and drawbridge. CLIFFORD'S TOWER A.D. 1100.
    E: YORK BUILT A. M . 1223. CATHEDRAL REBUILT A.D. 1075.
    Dalton & Hamer as Yorkshire 63
    Extremely Fine (Sheldon AU58).
    Temple Janus 1681.jpg
    Louis XIV 168110 Catalog: Feuardent 12708
    Material: Brass, Weight: 7.3gm.
    Diameter: 27.00 mm
    LOUIS XIV - Alsace Propaganda jeton struck in 1681 to celebrate the surrender of Strasbourg. On reverse: the temple of Janus, closed, to mean it is now peace time. Legends LOUIS LE GRAND ROY DE FRANCE IEN AY LA CLEF (='j'en ai la clé', i.e. I keep its key) Uneven color on reverse.
     
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  14. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    I both want and don’t want to hear the “very weird and naughty consequences” that @Curtisimo threatened you with, but perhaps we should spare a thought for sensitive ears. :shame:

    Congrats on scoring the long sought after Dombes. Your Frugi is an outstanding example. Here’s my humbler version, with the swan looking quite faded and ghostly.

    [​IMG]
    ROMAN REPUBLIC
    AR Denarius. 3.97g, 18.8mm. Rome mint, AD 90. L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, moneyer. Crawford 340/1. O: Laureate head of Apollo right. R: Naked horseman galloping right, holding whip; above, swan and below, L PISO FRVGI / ROMA.
    Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection
     
  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Great swan! Even if it is in the Ghost World!
     
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  16. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    You don’t even wanna know :eek::wideyed:. Luckily for all involved I will now not have to resort to such drastic measures... :wacky::D

    Despite the false advertising in the title ;) this is a fantastic list and great idea to break it down into your three main collection focuses. In honor of your topless 3 I will post some of my favorites in the modern / Republic / Medieval categories. Unfortunately, none of them are topless.

    Of all the modern coin designs I think pre-Euro France had the most appealing designs. Here is one I like very much... you might recognize this beauty. :)
    3E63DB56-ED97-46F2-9277-8FFFF74C23E9.jpeg

    I’ve shown my favorite Roman Republic coin so many times I’m sure everyone is flat tired of it... still me favorite though so here it is again. :D
    9FB7EF11-7F14-49A4-823D-A49B0416C96A.jpeg

    My favorite Medieval. Bought after my visit to Dubrovnik in Croatia.
    889F43DF-A6F4-49B2-9C4E-8E54B6A506D7.jpeg
     
  17. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    That RR denarius is fantastic.
     
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  18. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    They are all really nice but I especially like the Frugi...Lovely coin! Great swan/Flamingo....
     
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  19. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    Beautiful coins... love that gold!
    I have a very worn Napoleon to share..

    Napolean MERGE.jpg
     
  20. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    I have a AV 40 Francs 1811-A Paris Mint to share
    Napoleon I Emperor of France
    ex: Lissner collection MS-63
    Bought as "unsold" lot from Maison Palombo Auction france-br-napoleon-ier-1804-1814-br-40-5417117-XL.jpg
     
  21. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Since we're doing Napoleon for some reason (who needs a reason?) I will add this tiny coronation medallion, which is meant to imitate a denarius, though the size is closer to a quinarius. I believe it was even struck by hand.

    Screen Shot 2019-12-10 at 9.21.29 PM.jpg
     
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