I opened my Secret Saturnalia a few days early since my mom & I will be leaving for Vegas tomorrow to see her brother for a few days. Since she's been going through liver cancer for years now, it's a chance this will be her last holidays. So internet access isn't a big priority. I was pleasantly surprised. I own zero Alexandrian denominations outside of Tetradrachms & this Diobal is my first of it's kind. Plus you can never go wrong with Agathodaemon being featured. And I still have a soft spot for the empresses, even though I don't add them like I once did. So a Domna provincial was a welcome addition to my collection. Thanks, Secret Saturnalia! Antoninus Pius (138 - 161 A.D.) AE diobol EGYPT, Alexandria O:Laureate bust r., drapery on l. shoulder. R: Agathodaemon erect, crowned with skhent; in field, L-IE. issued 151-2 (year 15) 7.45g 23mm RPC Online 15718 (this coin), Dattari-Savio Pl. 162, 3066 (this coin). From the Dattari collection. From the Orfew collection, ex Naville 34 lot 281, 17.09.2017. Giovanni Dattari assembled what was undoubtedly the best ever collection of Imperial-era Alexandrian coins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; see Lucia Carbone, “Giovanni Dattari and His Fabled Collection of Alexandrian Coins,” ANS Journal (Issue 2, 2018), pp. 6-27. Julia Domna (193-217 A.D.) AE23 MACEDON, Stobi O: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right. R: MVN STOB, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. 6.33g 22.7mm Varbanov 3867 From the zumbly collection, Ex Roma E-sale 20 (29 Aug 2015), lot 445
Those are both great! I love the Agathodaemon reverse on the Antoninus Pius. I haven't seen too many of those in my short time with ancients. And I've said it a million times on here, anything with Victory is a winner in my book. Io Saturnalia!
A very giving Saturn for you this year! Coin-grats! That Domna Provincial Stobi is smokin... I do love me some Domna provincials and that A Pius snake is wicked. Sounds like it is mighty deserved though. You're a real good guy looking after your mom and best of luck with the trip to your uncle. Wonderful things happen around the holidays with family and love.
I wish you a fulfilling family time this week! I know you don't put much emphasis on provenance, but you can't get better than ex Dattari for an Alexandrian. And ex @Orfew is almost as good! So I do hope the coin's recent history adds some enjoyment for you this time. But my lips are sealed regarding the identity of your Secret Saturn...
Io Saturnalia! Great gifts. I love the Antoninus Pius even though it's worn. It was either Steve or @TIF that showed the first I had ever seen and I have wanted one ever since. I can only image how you felt when you opened the package:
Great coins! Anything from the Dattari collection is awesome. Orfew and Zumbly collections are nice pedigrees too! John