Still waiting for my last in the mail, but need to post these otherwise 2019 will be over. Presented in the order I received them. This year was heavy with Seleucid bronzes, many of which cost more than average silver Tetradrachms. I have been using any spare time to complete my Seleucid coin identification website which I have recieved good feedback from members thus far. If anyone has more feedback please share or pm! #1 Is an interesting military type displaying a war elephant and Seleucid power which I made a post on. This was a better example so I bid on it, fortunately I was the only bidder. Former D. Alighieri Collection. Seleucus I Apamea on the Axios 300 to 281 BC Obvs: Elephant right, dotted border. Revs: BAΣIΛIEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, bridled & horned horse head left. Horizontal anchor below. AE 19x20mm, 8.57g SC 35; HGC 10, 79(R1) #2 I needed an inscription-less version of these to complete a type set from Antioch. I did considerable research and came up with my own reason on why these exist. Being anonymous these are quite a mystery to most as to why and when they were produced. Civic coinage of Antioch Summer 312 AD Antioch mint Obvs: Draped veiled and turreted bust right of Tyche of Antioch. Revs: Apollo holding lyre and patera. AE 17mm, 1.34g Ref: Vagi 2957; Van Heesch 5 #3 Supposedly belonging to #2 above, this was one I was on the look out for a long time. Another anonymous mystery issue that I plan to tackle once my site is further along. Early 4th century AD Alexandria mint Obvs: DEO SARAPIDI, Bearded bust of Sarapis right, wearing modius. Revs: GENIO ALEXAND. Alexandria reclining left, rudder in right hand. MS AE 11x12mm, 0.97g Ref: Vagi --; Van Heesch 9 #4 The sheer size of these monsters was the reason I wanted one. Would prefer a 100+ gram version, but they are typically out of my budget. Ptolemy III Euergetes 246 to 222 BC Mint: Alexandria Phase 2, Series 1 AE Oktobol Obvs: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right. Revs: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt. No control marks. 45mm, 93.26g Ref: Svoronos 412; SNG Copenhagen 141 #5 Sellers photos as I am still cleaning this one. I purchased this crusty because it is a reverse die match to #2 and my GENIO ANTIOCHENI bust. I wanted to verify the triple die match and now that I have cleaned the reverse, I am happy to see they are from the same die. Other epsilons exist, this one is harder to find at least for me, but my primary purpose was the die match. Civic coinage of Antioch Summer 312 AD Antioch mint Obvs: GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Tyche of Antioch facing; river god Orontes below. Revs: APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo holding lyre and patera. epsilon in right field, SMA in ex Ref: Vagi 2954; Van Heesch 3 #6 Sold my only Nabataean Drachm long ago and wanted another. Good examples are expensive and this was was a bargain I think. The year is on the left field on the reverse and I believe it is unpublished. Tried unsuccessfully nail down the year on Forvm. Not listed in Meshorer. Aretas IV Mint: Petra AR Drachm RY 20 to 29, 11 to 20 AD Obvs: Laureate head of Aretas right. Revs: Jugate busts of Aretas, laureate, and Shaquilat, draped. 13x14mm, 3.50g Ref: Meshorer, Nabataea -; Schmitt-Korte - Note: Appears to be unpublished in the standard references with regnal year 20 and different obverse legend. #7 Another one I did a post on. Mystery surrounds this coin as it was issued posthumously for Antiochus I but it is still not known why, when, or by whom. The inscription only occurs on three issues, a unique gold, silver, and this bronze. Unknown Mint associated with Antioch 246 to 244 BC Obvs: Diademed head of Antiochos I right. Revs: ΣΩTHPOΣ ANTIOXOY, anchor between caps of the Dioskouroi; ΔEΛ monogram to right. AE 15x17mm, 3.75g Ref: SC 642; HGC 10, 296(R3) #8 Coins of his are harder to come by, particularly in bronze. He only has 3 types, zeus seated Tetradrachm, bronze dioscuri caps, and Nike. I have not seen another Nike offered and this is in better condition than his other bronzes. Bought it misidentified as a common coin. Antiochus X Antioch on the Orontes 94 BC Obvs: Diademed and bearded head of Antiochus right. Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOV EVΣEBOYΣ ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ, Nike advancing left holding wreath. AE 15x17mm, 4.86g Ref: SC 2433 #9 Antiochos IV allowed a few cities in asia minor to issue coins in his image. Aegeae being one of them and this is the first coin to be minted by this city. I would like to have one from each of these cities, most if not all are rare. Antiochus IV Mint: Aegeae Denomination B 168 to 164 BC Obvs: Antiochus IV radiate and diademed right, dotted border. Revs: AIΓEAIΩN above, bridled horse head left. Dotted border. AE 20x22mm, 7.61g Ref: SC 1389.1; HGC 10, 652(R2-3) #10 Still in the mail and a sellers photo. My quest still incomplete is to obtain all Seleucid line of kings, rulers, and usurpers. Out of 33 rulers, depending how you count, I have 28 (29 if I positively id another) from over 2 dozen mints. I've wanted one of his for a long time especially from this largest Seleucid bronze denomination octuple. Being from Ecbatana is a bonus! Timarchus Mint: Ecbatana Denomination AA 164 to 161 BC Obvs: Diademed head of Timarchus right, dotted border. Revs: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΤΙΜΑΡΧΟΥ, Nike advancing left crowning royal name and holding palm branch over shoulder. AE 34mm, 29g Ref: SC 1598
Some awesome stuff man, a nice run of Seleucid stuff...but I REALLY REALLY REALLY like that Nabatean AR! It didn't even click in my brain what that was at first when I saw the pic...not use to seeing them in any thing other than bronze. I have several AE coins and would love a Nabetean silver!
Nice coins David. I really like that #4 monster!! I'll have to spend more time on your site clicking around but it looks good.
Wow! Yours is a GREAT and ECLECTIC collection of really COOL coins! I am not much into Seleukids, but yours are some nice coins! Well done, @David@PCC . Those are the type coins I would try to find. The Elephant and Horse-Head... nice.
The anepigraphic Antioch civic issue is my favorite. I really enjoyed your writeups on the series. The oktobol is my other favorite, and another one on my want list that I’d love to be able to check off in 2020.
Interesting collecting year. The 93 gram Ptolemy is great... Big is better in this case. #1 could be a political decision coin if you pretend the head on the reverse is a donkey. My favorite is #7. I am a fan of anchors on coins and your coin clearly shows the anchor pointing up. Roman anchors point both ways.
There is so much to like on this list. The war elephant of #1 is fantastic. I'm always fond of anepigraphic coins so #2 gets a high vote . #3's mystery makes it intriguing. I love that Nabataean drachm!! Nice Ptolemaic hockey puck .
Amazing coins, David@PCC ! Coins of Antioch, the Nabatean Kingdom, and the Seleucid Empire have always fascinated to me!
Great coins, David! That Elephant is striking.....love it. Yeah, the mail is slow right now, I have seven reg. packets on way/ caught up in the Christmas mad rush.
Great additions David! We both have the same taste in collecting Seleukid coins, and I really appreciate the Timarchus coin! Great addition and from the biggest denomination as well, a rarity.
David, You did well working on your Seleukid theme . Your #1 War Elephant is my favorite followed by #4 the beefy Ptolemy III bronze . Will you try to remove the chunk of incrustation on the obverse of the Ptolemy bronze ?
I know what you mean, they look very similar to bronze coins, especially when they have a dark patina. Some nice aes! The anchor is prominent on Seleucid coinage and connected to naval warfare. Here are some more examples. I think I could but don't want to remove the patina on the entire coin as that is the only way I know how. If it was over Zeus's face I think I would try but probably would have just purchased a different example if that was the case.
