Well, sort of. My latest arrival is a thick, chunky bronze with quite a bit of heft to it, which I suppose in a pinch could serve as a hockey puck. The photo really shows off the concave flan shape which was a Rome mint trademark. Titus as Caesar [Vespasian] Æ Sestertius, 28.15g Rome mint, 72 AD Obv: T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: S C in field; Mars adv. r., with spear and trophy RIC 427 (C). BMC -. BNC 621. Acquired from Incitatus Coins, April 2021. Mars advancing right is one of the more common types struck for Titus Caesar's second bronze issue at Rome. Like many of his reverses, this Mars type is shared with Vespasian. It also shows up on the contemporaneous denarii. H. Mattingly in BMCRE II states the Mars with spear and trophy "was perhaps traditionally regarded as 'Mars Pater' - the ancestor of the Roman nation." Oddly enough, this type for Titus Caesar is missing from the BM's extensive collection. Show off your 'hockey pucks'!
Wow that’s ridiculous. Amazing. Wonder if it was traded at a higher-than-1S par value due to the extra thiccness.
Wonderful acquisition.... What is the diameter? I really love the heft and size of large ancients in hand - so impressive!!! Here is a well worn sestertius .... she's large and heavy.. this is very hockey puck-like.... As far as diameter ... this Justinian I.. while lighter, is a massive coin - awesome! Byzantine Empire, Justinian I (527-565) AE follis Condition: Very Fine Weight: 23.4 gram Diameter: 42.3 mm What a thrill it is to hold these coins... wow
Here are my heavier hockey pucks. It's a thrill to hold these of course. Faustina Junior AE Sestertius. 161-176 AD 27.57g, 32mm, 6h. Faustina Junior AE Sestertius. 154-157 AD 23.96g, 29mm. Lucilla Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 164-182. 31.63g, 34mm, 12h.
My 11 EUR hockey puck! Antoninus Pius AD 138-161. Rome Sestertius Æ 32 mm., 24,77 g. RIC III Antoninus Pius 840 Date Range: AD 147 - AD 148 Obverse Legend: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XI Type: Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right Reverse Legend: ANNONA AVG COS IIII Type: Annona standing left, holding grain stalks over modius with grain stalks left and anchor
My Vespasian of the type (71 AD?) is only 23.7g but much thinner and wider ('boardwalk margins'). I never considered calling it a 'hockey puck' since the proportions are thin compared to many sestertii. I have very few Flavian bronzes but, overall, they give me the impression as thin in proportions. Have you seen any year by year weight statistics or was there just a lot of daily variation through the period? I have no Titus Caesar sestertii.
Super congrats on your Monster Coin, @David Atherton . I like that is a “scyphate”! I have posted this before, but it is the largest Hand-Stamped Ancient Coin (not a pour-cast coin), in my collection... and, honestly, a 15-Shekel Coin (roughly 30 Denarii) is an odd denomination. I am not sure if they truly know its denomination, but this one is a "HORSE" of a Coin: These were minted after Hannibal was defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE. Carthage was defeated and owed massive indemnity payments to Rome. Hannibal was asked to lead Carthage and reorganize their finances... This appears to be the largest denomination at 15 Shekels. Seller write-up: Carthage. Circa 201-175 BC. Æ 15 Shekels 45 mm. dia. 7.5 mm. thick. 102.6 g Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left Rev: Horse standing right; uraeus above. Ref: MAA 104 ; SNG Copenhagen 400. Comment: Original green patina. Note: The largest Carthaginian coin and likely one of the largest coins struck in antiquity. rare
I have a Ptolemaic hockey up like @Andres2 which, since I have shown it already, I will refrain from posting...
Just in last week, this might be my fattest Faustina II - 27.75 grams. She must've been quite hefty before all the wear: Faustina II Æ Sestertius (161-175 A.D.) Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, double row of pearls / HLA[RITAS] SC, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm and cornucopiae. RIC 1642; Cohen 112; BMC 911 (27.75 grams / 30 x 28 mm)
Every once in a while a thread will ask what your dream coin would be. This 15 shekel manhole cover is mine. If I could only find and then afford one..............
Thank you. I really enjoy the history behind it. @TIF also has an awesome, well struck version of it!
That portrait is right up my alley - even with the wear on it, it is still so expressive. I absolutely love this coin! Well...okay, you asked for it: Game Puck, 2013 AD, Unknown Mint, many mm, many grams, RIC 2013 Obverse: Big Ten logo, surrounded by script Reverse: Penn State logo
@David Atherton.....Sweet looking coin with a lovely portrait... Antoninus Pius, 138 - 161 AD, AE Drachm, Egypt, Alexandria Mint, 34mm, 29.55 grams. Obverse: Laureate head of Antoninus right. Reverse: L DEKATOV, Zeus holding patera and scetpre reclining left on open wings of eagle. Emmett1699 // Dattari2933 // Koln1560 // Milne1905
If it's any consolation, this was handed out at the Penn State women's hockey innaugural D-1 game, even though they don't play in the Big Ten (I'm a fan of Penn State women's D-1 hockey).
It varied depending on the issue - some were more consistent than others. My lowest weight Titus Caesar sestertius from this issue is 23.43g, while the heaviest is the Mars in the OP at 28.15.
Congrats, David! Love the side view . I felt like I won the lottery when I won this coin as the sole bidder. Unfortunately for the seller (estate?), it was not at all the right venue for the coin and that was my good fortune. It remains a favorite, affectionately called the PBC (for Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, which it truly resembles). ZEUGITANA, Carthage early 2nd century BCE AE 15-shekel, 45 mm, 95 gm Obv: wreathed head of Tanit left Rev: horse standing right, left foreleg up; solar disk with uraei (or is that the Flying Spaghetti Monster?) above Ref: Alexandropoulos J (2000) Les monnaies de l'Afrique Antique, 103; Müller L (1861) Numismatique de L'Ancienne Afrique, 131; Luynes 3782; Jenkins GK and Lewis RB (1963) Carthaginian Gold and Electrum Coins, Royal Numismatic Society, London, pl. 28 12 It's as big as an island Another puck: 48 mm bronze from the Ptolemaic dynasty, 3rd century BCE. My smallest coin is atop-- that a 5 mm Macedonian monkey from ~500 BCE.