My Coin collection in 2021 (Part 2)

Last year I announced here that I was downsizing my ancient coin collection to just twenty coins that I especially treasured - ones that I took great delight in fondling, admiring and researching above all others I owned. These would be the coins that I would keep until I die. I announced that I would not buy any more coins: twenty would be it! There were some skeptics here who said I could never exist with just twenty coins, and they were right!

The accursed coronavirus hit and that changed everything. Beverly and I were prescribed home quarantine due to our age and medical conditions (and have essentially remained so for a year). I wanted more coins to prevent me from becoming “stir-crazy”.

So,I purchased 12 additional coins (all Julio-Claudian) and my collection grew to 32 coins.

I have now reduced my collection once again to 20 coins in two parts:

Part 1 - ten portrait coins of Caesars and Augusti who actively campaigned in Britain (i.e. actually holding the title while campaigning).

Part 2 - ten Julio-Claudian Coins.

This collection fits just right in my shoulder carry bag and satisfies my coin historical association research very well.

…………………………………………………………………

Part 2 - Julio-Claudian Coins.


RIC Vol. I, CAIUS (CALIGULA), SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 51, 40-41AD,(35mm, 26.2gm)

Obverse depiction: Personification of Pietas, seated left.
Obverse Inscription: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TRP IIII PP In exergue: PIETAS

Reverse depiction: Caligula standing left holding patera over altar - attendants (victimarius) on either side holding bull for sacrifice - hexastyle temple of Divus Augustus festooned with garlands in background.
Reverse Horizontal Inscription: {small lettering} DIVO AVG and below: S C (left and right)



RIC Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 356, 66-67AD, (36mm, 24.8gm)
BMCRE Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 114, 66-67AD

Obverse depiction: Nero, laureate head facing right
Inscription: IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM PM TRP XIII PP
Reverse depiction: Personification of Roma seated left on cuirass
resting elbow on shield and holding spear, helmet behind.
Inscription: ROMA in exergue S C left and right



Sestertius, RIC, Vol. I, Tiberius, No. 68, AD 36-37 (35mm, 22.6gm)
Cataloged in Wildwinds under Augustus - Sear 1784

Coin obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate, togate, holding laurel branch in r. hand and long sceptre in l., seated on throne, placed on a car, drawn l. by four elephants, each bearing a mahout on its neck. The side of the car is ornamented with shields.
Inscription across top in three lines DIVO AVGVSTO SPQR

Coin reverse depiction: Large, centered S C
Inscription clockwise from top: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXXIIX



RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 112, 50-54AD (36mm, 28.2gm)

Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right
Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP
Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath.
Inscription in four lines:
EX SC
P P
OB CIVES
SERVATOS
(within wreath)



BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 157, Plate 35-7 42-43AD (38mm, 28.9gm)

Same as No. 157 except reverse legend ends in IMP


RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 109, AD 42-43 (38mm, 28.0gm)

Obverse depiction: Nero Claudius Drusus (father of Claudius), bare head facing left.
Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP

Reverse depiction: Claudius seated left on curule chair holding olive branch, panoply of weapons and armor beneath.
Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP - S C in exergue

I lightened up the above pic of the Claudius RIC No 109 sestertius to show the details better. Here is a more natural photo of that coin:


BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 157, Plate 35-7 42-43AD (38mm, 28.9gm)

It was a real coincidence that I found both of the above coins- one of the joys of collecting Ancient coins!


RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 99 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm)

Obverse depiction: Claudius, bare neck laureate bust, facing right.

Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP

Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand.
Inscription clockwise from bottom: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue)



RIC 1, (second edition) Gaius/Caligula, Dupondius, No. 56

Obverse depiction: Radiate bust of Augustus.
Obverse Inscription: DIVVS AVGVSTVS, S. C (left and right)

Reverse depiction: monument of Caligula seated on a curule chair holding an olive branch in right hand.
Inscription: CONSENSV SENAT ET EQ ORDIN P Q R
Note: This legend is unique.

The translation is:
“By consensus of the senate, the equestrian order, and the Roman people”



CLAUDIUS SESTERTIUS, TITUS RESTORATION ISSUE, 80-81 AD

1. (34.5mm, 23.12 gm)
   BMCRE Volume II, Rome, Titus No. 297 (pl. 56.1)
   RIC Volume II (1962 Edition), Rome, Titus, No. 234
   RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 472 (Sear No. 2601)
   
   Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right
   Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP
   Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower
   in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand
   Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right)
   
   Clickable links:
   
   Sear Roman Coins and their Values (RCV 2000 Edition) Number 2601 (via Wildwinds Claudius)
   
   Sale: CNG, Triton XII, Lot: 555 (5 January 2009) - this coin

 

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I like elephants. The elephants coin is cool. I know this 1 from Thailand is not ancient, but it is my best elephant coin...

 

I do too @spirityoda Thanks for posting your fascinating coin.

 

Since I do not know ancient coins yet......is your elephants coin rare ?

 

I do not think it is particularly rare, @spirityoda. I see them offered for sale in Auction House listings from time to time. It is a popular coin and specimens in better condition than mine can be quite pricey,

 

Mine to is a grade rarity. I have had 3 people offer to buy my coin, but I said no to all 3 offers. 1st reason it was from a friend dealer in a Vegas coin show, 2nd he actually went to Thailand to get it and other coins in my collection. 3rd you can not find this grade easily on the market and if you do they get pricey. I am gonna enjoy my coin for a very long time.

 

Fine examples, well struck and centred with complete legends.

 

An interesting selection.I especially like the Titus restoration issue
and the Tiberius elephant sestertius. I would love a decent example
of this like yours - currently I just have this one which I bought for the
countermark :

counter-mark NCAPR (Neronis Caesaris Auctoritate PRobatum).

 

Thank you, @thejewk - that is what I aim for (along with reasonable surface wear and significant historical association).

 

Thank you @eparch. I especially enjoy countermarked coins, they add further historical association. Nice coin you have there.

Here is an example of a countermarked sestertius which is kind of “waiting in the wings”.


Agrippina the Elder, Sestertius, BMCRE vol. 1 (Claudius), No. 222, AD 42-54, 25.2 gm. (Countermarked NCAPR and with partial legend obliteration).
……… RIC I (Claudius) No. 102, AD 42-54, 25.2 gm.

Obverse depiction: Agrippina the Elder, draped bust facing right, hair in long plait down back
Inscription: [AGRIPPINA] M F GERMANICI CAES[ARIS]

Reverse depiction: [Large SC centered]
Inscription: [TI CLAVDIVS] CAESAR AVG [GERM P M TR P IMP P P]

NCAPR countermark in incuse rectangle above SC

Agrippina the elder was the daughter of Agrippa and Julia (the daughter of Augustus). She married Germanicus, the brother of Claudius, and was the mother of Caligula.

 

Whenever I take coins with me when I leave the house I carry them in a “Shoulder Bag”. I put them in archival quality paper envelopes together with accompanying attribution tags and, in turn, vinyl flips cut from standard commercial sheets. I write a brief generic coin description on the outside of each envelope so that I can quickly identify them.

The coins are well protected from the elements and I can easily get them out for examination, etc.

I am not overly concerned about anyone cutting the strap on my shoulder bag and absconding with my coins, because the strap incorporates strands of tempered steel that resists all kinds of cutters - I had the clerk who sold it to me demonstrate that before I bought it.

 

I like the post, I learning, thank you.

 

Thank you Mr. Q! IMO, that is the greatest feature and benefit of participating in Coin Talk - we are constantly learning from each other!

 

I love this installment too! My favorites: the Tiberius elephant sestertius and the Caligula dupondius with Divvs Avgvstvs on the reverse.

Four elephant coins of my own, plus a couple of elephant tokens, if you don't mind, since I'm particularly fond of elephants as well:

Metellus Pius denarius:



Antoninus Pius as:



Septimius Severus denarius:



Philip I antoninianus:



Plus two British tokens with elephants, one Pidcock token and one "Lady Godiva" token from Coventry:

 

I do not mind at all, Donna, for I am also fond of elephants! Your coins are wonderful, thank you for posting them.

 

Claudius approved the use of countermarked sestertii, dupondii and asses in order to extend the supply of money after his invasion and conquest of Britain in 43AD. Here is a typically much worn example:


BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 120, 41-45AD (38mm, 29.2gm)

Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right
Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP

Countermarked PROB (Probatum - temporarily accepted)

Mattingly note - Cmk. in oblong incuse in front of neck and face; end of legend obliterated

Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath
Inscription in four lines:

EX SC
O B
C I V E S
SERVATOS
(within Civic Oak Wreath)

 

Lovely coins @jamesicus. I really enjoy seeing your Claudius sestertii.

 

Good for you James! Keep on collecting and having fun.
You picked up some great coins. Hope you do the same in 2021!
Here is one of my "elephants"
AV Fanam ND 6mm. 0.36 g. NGC MS-67
Orissa Mint
Western Gangas of Talakad/ Anonymous Kings circa 1080-1160AD

 

Thank you, @Limes!

 

@panzerman wrote:

Good for you James! Keep on collecting and having fun.
You picked up some great coins. Hope you do the same in 2021!
Here is one of my "elephants"?

AV Fanam ND 6mm. 0.36 g. NGC MS-67
Orissa Mint
Western Gangas of Talakad/ Anonymous Kings circa 1080-1160AD

Thank you for that nice greeting and for posting that wonderful Elephant coin, John. I look forward to your intriguing posts this year containing those superb gold coins!