As one who is known to hyperbolate (just go with it, he’s on a role) his own hyperbole, If I round up from three weeks to a month, forgive me. Time has slowed down immeasurably and a package I’d ordered from Artemide, in Italy no less, took three solid weeks to show up in tracking, stretched its legs a bit in New York and inspections, and finally arrived yesterday. I had been told that nothing was being shipped out of there. So it was a big surprised The coins had been won on Feb 29 and in transit for long enough that, from what peer reviewed doctors say is the length that COVID-19 can stay alive on Metal or plastic (3 days), I felt safe in opening the package to remove the treasures inside and throw away the packaging directly into my outside dumpster. Immediately went and washed my hands for 30 seconds, Ran back to make sure everything was intact and looking good... And it was looking real good! The main “target” of the batch I will be excluding from this post, so she can have her own grand reception But the 40 euro snack pack of buddies that came along symbolizes one of my favorite rushes of the hobby. Identifying strange and unique Greek coins Had a nice overcast day yesterday, so here’s their pics and the best I could muster with an iPhone 7: The brute from Bruttium! A rather menacing looking helmeted Mars hunk of metal was certainly the initial factor that drew me to the lot. I’d wanted one of these beasts for years! And this guy is just so hard to show off in pics due to that screaming green patina: BRUTTIUM. The Brettii. Ae Didrachm (214-211 BC). Obv: Helmeted and bearded head of Mars left. Rev: BPETTIΩN. Nike standing left, erecting trophy; star between. SNG ANS 38. Condition: Good very fine. Weight: 14.3 g. Diameter: 23 mm. Ex ArtemideAste Next up seems almost certainly from Syracuse. I thought for sure this was Hiketas II, but since then I’ve seen some “second’s democracy” coins that look very close. Insights are appreciated. Here we have a tiny, heavily circulated, crystallized, unknown male wearing a crested helmet, kithara/lyre. Possibly Karia, .09gr 10MM Head (Herakles?) Barley w/ 1 pellet .04 gr 8MM Thoughts, corrections, anything related and recent acquisitions are appreciated!
I almost posted about that. I was certain from the original pic that it was BD. Adding to the aggravation of an extended wait (I wanted to get the Sicilian into distilled water asap!) When I received it I found the light green was not flaky. Nevertheless, due to the neon green coloring and purpleish red around it(usually a sign of previous flare ups) it is taking a distilled water bath, will get a scrub and the good old bad thad especial.
I believe that little Athena/Lyre silver is from Lesbos. That type came in various denominations, including bronze. 0.9 grams makes it an obol. Compare to others at acsearch here. A very rare coin in any grade.
Awesome line up, Dude! A plethera of coolness. Somehow, I had no concerns with that little Sicilian... but the cautious distilled bathing of that Baby, is always prudent. Well done! The Bretti-Brat is my favorite... You know me; the Punic Wars always excites! BONUS POINTS! All are BCE, none of that "Modern" CE schtuff! Nice! And, super-congrats / good-feelings that the coins wended their way through the Shipping / Customs / New York black-hole OBSTACLE COURSE! Great feeling that they are in the new home! I will toss on a Bruttium Second Punic War... Bruttium, Carthaginian Occupation AR Half-Shekel. 3.26g, 19mm, 12h. Punic mint in Bruttium, circa 216-211 BC. Struck during the Second Punic War. Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left Rev: Horse standing right; solar disk above, Punic letter 'ayin' below. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 361-3; HN Italy 2016. I think the 'O' under the Horse's belly means: "HANNIBAL WAS HERE!" in-die graffiti
Thanks JA. I had seen those in my search but the only ones around the same size were the bronzes and mine is AR. I thought these https://www.acsearch.info/search.ht...s=1&thesaurus=1&order=0¤cy=usd&company= looked more alike, but I couldn't find any this small...
Yeah, that's a possibility. It's probably impossible to get an exact attribution without any lettering.
Thanks. Now I'm gonna have that Sonny & Cher tune stuck in my head for the next three days. Fun thread otherwise.
Nice coins @Ryro! Your last coin reminds me of a fraction from Metapontion: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2570842
What a wonderful catch and identification, Pavlos! How cool! Thank you so much. What I thought was the bottom of the lions jaw from Herakles hat is actually the horn that Apollo Carneius wears!
@Ryro An interesting mix - your coin from "Syracuse" looks a bit like mine from Bruttium Bruttium, The Brettii, circa 211-208 BC, Reduced Semuncia AE Obv: Winged bust of Nike left Rev: BPETTIΩN, Zeus driving fast biga left Size: 3.30g, 15.5mm, 12h