A New Year and New Focus

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Spargrodan, Jan 5, 2021.

  1. Spargrodan

    Spargrodan Well-Known Member

    After a year of hunting Flavians I feel that many come at a bit too high a price for me if I want that sweet condition so I’ve been re-thinking how to move forward with my collection and decided to change the theme to “appeal”. I've realized that I run into very nice Severans all the time fitting my budget. As I like to specialize, maybe I should dive into collecting Severans solely; Septimius, Julia Domna, Caracalla, Fulvia Plautilla and Geta?
    But there are so many coins in other areas that would be nice to have too gahhh. I guess time will tell, for now “appeal” is the only rule and I hope to make a little webpage like the awesome ones of AncientJoe and TIF mainly for my own sake to keep track and maybe do some fun write ups.

    Anyway first out is a denarius from Septimius Severus. Not much thought went into this one more than I found it really nice. I'm trying to be really picky so finding a good portrait and reverse are even more important now than before.

    RIC IV Septimius Severus 167A (denarius)
    Date: A.D. 200 - A.D. 201
    Mint: Rome
    Obverse: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX: Head of Septimius Severus, laureate, right
    Reverse: RESTITVTOR VRBIS: Septimius Severus, in military attire, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over tripod and holding spear in left hand
    brm_624187 (1).jpg


    Second is a denarius from Caracalla. I found the depiction of Hercules with the Nemean lion really cool. The coin type is not that rare but finding a lionhead that actually looks like a head with the paws visible turned out to be pretty hard. I have been looking for quite some time until I ran over this little gem. A bit unfortunate that it has small cracks 12 and 6 o’clock but I think the portrait and lionhead makes up for that.

    RIC IV Caracalla 206a
    Date: A.D. 213
    Mint: Rome
    Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT: Head of Caracalla, laureate, right
    Reverse: P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P: Hercules, naked except for lion-skin draped over left arm, standing left, holding branch in right hand and club in left hand
    brm_626272.jpg


    Please post your Severans and Nemean lions.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
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  3. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    very nice @Spargrodan ...

    ROMAN REPUBLIC Nemean
    upload_2021-1-5_20-46-9.png
    C. POBLICIUS Q. f. . (80 BC)
    Obv: Helmeted and draped bust of Roma right. ROMA behind, I above.
    Rev: Hercules standing left strangling the Nemean lion, club at his feet, bow and arrow in quiver on left. I on upper left, C POBLICI . Q . F.
    Mint: Rome. Struck 80 BCE
    Ref: Cr. 380/1. Syd. 768. Poblicia 9.
    Comment: Stannard Scoop, reverse, Hercules leg - Blank flans were not weighed individually, but as a batch. When the weight was above the target, one roman pound, individual random flans were taken out and gouged. The gouging mark in this coin, therefore, precedes the actual striking of the coin and it's not the result of later damage.
     
  4. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Two very nice coins. I've had good luck with finding coins at cgb. Certainly my favorite dealer at MA-Shops.
     
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  5. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Here's my example of the C. Poblicius Roma/Hercules & Nemean lion.

    Poblicius (Hercules & Nemean Lion).jpg

    And some coins of Septimius Severus, in no particular order.

    Septimius Severus - Parthian captives, jpg version.jpg

    Septimius Severus - Africa jpg version.jpg
    Detail Septimius Severus denarius, purchased 01.04.2018 (2).jpg Septimius Severus, Indulgentia, Dea Caelestis & lion - jpg version.jpg
    Septimius Severus - Elephant.jpg
     
  6. Spargrodan

    Spargrodan Well-Known Member

    That's a really cool one too so much action in the reverse with Hercules strangling the lion.
    It is my favourite too Donna. :happy:
     
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  7. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    Both are beautiful, especially great detail on that Hercules reverse. Love those videos too.

    Here’s my example of the same Sep. Severus type:

    D7E092FB-8BF1-4320-AE6A-DA546ECA30F2.jpeg
    Septimius Severus, AR Denarius, 200-201 AD, (19mm., 3.23g), Laureate head of Septimius right/Rev. RESTITVTOR ORBIS, Severus standing left, sacrificing with patera over tripod and holding spear. RIC 167.
     
  8. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I didn't realize that you're in Sweden. So France is a good deal closer to you than it is to me. Still, I've had coins shipped to me by cbg by federal express, and arrive in New York a few days later.
     
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  9. Spargrodan

    Spargrodan Well-Known Member

    Ahh thanks! Somehow I can't embed the videos so I get better resolution, will investigate more if it's possible to solve, might be the forum that dosen't allow it.

    Great version of the same type you too. I've seen lots of coins with fine details on the reverse but they all kind of missing the faces. Not entirely sure what's causing this in the creation process.
     
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  10. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Gorgeous examples, @Spargrodan!

    Here is a Severan husband/wife pair with Herakles and the Nemian lion.

    [​IMG]
    Septimius Severus, AD 193-211.
    Roman provincial Æ 18.6 mm, 4.37 g, 7 h.
    Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211.
    Obv: ΑV Κ CΕΠΤΙ CΕΥΗΡΟC Π, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: MAPKIA-NOΠOΛITΩ-N, Herakles standing left, wrestling the Nemean lion.
    Refs: AMNG I 585 v.; Varbanov 710; Moushmov 397; H&J 6.14.14.5-6; Mionnet Suppl. 2, 126.


    [​IMG]
    Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman provincial Æ 16.8 mm, 4.33 g, 1 h.
    Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211.
    Obv: IOVΛIA ΔO-MNA CEB, bare-headed and draped bust right.
    Rev: MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Herakles standing right, wrestling the Nemean lion.
    Refs: AMNG I 606; Varbanov 673; Moushmov 419; SNG Copenhagen --; SNG Budapest --.
     
  11. Spargrodan

    Spargrodan Well-Known Member

    Yep that's correct. I think the fastest delivery was two days for me so they are really fast. It's quite convenient to use them when I'm living so close and within EU.
     
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  12. Spargrodan

    Spargrodan Well-Known Member

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  13. Spargrodan

    Spargrodan Well-Known Member

    That's a nice combo indeed!
     
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