Recently, I purchased several Roman Republican coins from the collection of Antony J. Scammell (1937-2019), an Englishman and collector of coins from the Greek, Roman and British empires. Many Roman Republican coins in the Scammell Collection had an “old collection” look which raised my hope that earlier provenances could be found. By way of example, a few of the denarii had toned surfaces containing small remnants of clay, likely from the process of plaster cast production. So far, I have found no earlier provenances for the coins I acquired. I wonder whether any Coin Talkers might have known Mr. Scammell during his collecting life and might be able provide some background as to where he tended to purchase coins for his collection. Here are the coins: Rome, The Republic. L Series, 214-212 BCE. AE Triens (24.79g; 30mm). Luceria Mint. Obverse: Helmeted head of Minerva facing right; ●●●● above (mark-of-value=4 unciae); L behind Reverse: Prow right with two mariners on deck and club within deck structure, star symbol on flank of prow and small wing on keel; ROMA above; ●●●● (mark-of-value=4 unciae) below. References: Crawford 43/3a; Sydenham 125; BMCRR (Italy) 5; RBW 152-153. Provenance: Ex A.J. Scammell Collection. Rome, The Republic. Dog Series, 206-195 BCE. AE As (35.91g; 34mm). Rome Mint. Obverse: Laureate head of Janus; I (mark-of-value) above. Reverse: Prow right; dog symbol above; I (mark-of-value) to right; ROMA below. References: Crawford 122/3; Sydenham 251; BMCRR 489-90. Provenance: Ex A.J. Scammell Collection. Rome, The Republic. Q. Marcius Philippus, 126 BCE. AR Denarius (3.92g; 18mm). Rome Mint. Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma, facing right; * behind. Reverse: Armed horseman galloping to right; Macedonian helmet with goat horns behind; Q·PILIPVS below; ROMA in exergue. References: Crawford 259/1; Sydenham 477; BMCRR 1143; Marcia 11. Provenance: Ex A.J. Scammell Collection. If you knew Mr. Scammell as a collector, please share any hints as to where he tended to buy his coins!
If you google his name as “anthony j scammell” (with h) you find a report on an excavation near Glastonbury (Congresbury Hill) in 1961. So possibly he was an archaeologist.
Maybe you got these from DNW? I don't know anything about Scammell beyond that his collection was sold in two auctions by DNW this year - in April & June - and there's a brief biography of him in the two listings: https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/special-collections/foreword.php?specialcollection_id=932 And his Roman collection: https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/special-collections/foreword.php?specialcollection_id=940 There may be an obituary in Coin News (UK magazine) if he was well-known - I'll have a look at some back issues. ATB, Aidan.
Thanks, I already knew of the sales and the biography. My interest is where he may have done his buying. Coin shows, auctions (if so, whose?), particular dealers? This is stuff you can't find with a Google search. It's someone who actually knew the collector that I need to hear from.
I'm saddened by the number of coins that were "withdrawn" (presumably as fakes). These particular coins were probably the ones he was most proud of and spent the most money on, too.
From the Anthony Scammel collection via DNW Athens New Style Tetradrachm 93/2 BC Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet 29 mm 16.15 gm Thompson issue (new) 73 Thompson catalogue: Obs: 1063b ΑΘΕ ethnic Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora on which month mark K control ΠEP below 3 magistrates : DEMEAS ERMOKLES LYSIM RF symbol :Headdress of Isis All surrounded by an olive wreath
