Hats off to AMCC for holding a great auction. Lots of amazing coins, and I was fortunate enough to score five awesome provincials. The packet was sent on Jul 29, and arrived on Aug 6, just one week! It sometimes takes USPS longer to deliver a single letter from my parents about 60 miles away... My main collecting focus these days is large provincial bronzes, the larger the better. I was fortunate that the prices were stomachable, and the provenances were excellent. From small to large... Gordian III AE25 Markianopolis Features: The Three Graces Price: 4 Large Big Mac Combos Seller pic: My pic: In this case, I think the seller pic is more accurate to in-hand appearance. I've always wanted a Three Graces coin, and now I finally have one. The flan is a bit wonky with off centering on the reverse, but the grade is high, patina is nice, and I'm pleased. This bad boy is also from the @Severus Alexander collection, which only makes it THAT MUCH BETTER Septimius Severus AE28 Caesarea Feature: Fireball Island Price: 2 Large Big Mac Combos Seller pic: My pic: This time, I think my pic is more representative, especially of those gorgeous mineral deposits on the obverse. The colors here (green malachite and blue cobalt?) are more what you see on those Alexandrian tetradrachms, so seeing blue and green here was amazing. A slight break in the patina shows the original bright brassy orichalcum. The reverse is a fire altar; Caesarea is known for those Mount Argaeus reverses;now I have the mountain the mountain-like altar Valerian I AE28 Anazarbos Feature: Easter Baskets Price: 2 large Big Mac combos + extra fries Seller pic: My pic: Here I believe my pic captures the color a bit more accurately. Anazarbos was known for holding these awesome festivals with lots of games and competition. The winner would be awarded an Easter basket full of goodies. This has six whole prize urns. I wonder what was inside... Diadumenian AE29 Mopsos Feature: I like big flans and I cannot lie Seller pic: My pic: Once again, my little iPhone camera more accurately captures the color on this coin. Although the coin itself isn't super interesting overall, with a rather poor state of preservation and a bunch of minerals, I like it because the die diameter is about 24mm while the entire flan is 29, which is a MASSIVE discrepency! Then again, this is also rather thin, especially for a provincial, so I suspect that the slaves just sort of messed up on size, but the weight I would imagine is correct. Philip I AE30 Antioch Feature: Filed Edges Price: 3 Big Mac combos with a McFlurry and a pie on the side Seller pic: My pic: My picture is more accurate for color. It's definitely not that dark, and the color is really a rather pleasing brown. This coin is MASSIVE, and I love every bit of it. The obverse obviously has some pitting, perhaps it was under water and part of it was sticking out. But I can forgive that for the sharp details on both sides, and a very delicate and pretty rendering of Tyche on the reverse. The edges are heavily filed to make a very round and pleasing flan shape. You don't often see such careful post-striking preparation for a coin, but obviously the slaves at Antioch had some sort of pride in their work, or were simply tasked with finishing the coins. Provincials are often rounder than their imperial counterparts (cf centration dimple), but this was was really rather carefully handled. This coin also has a double-provenance: first from Triskeles Auctions, and then from our very own @Terence Cheesman. I've never had such a powerful provenance, and I'm super stoked. This coin is so good that I am almost certain this will place in my Top Ten of this year. I can't wait for AMCC 4!
Those are great pieces! I'm partial to the G3 with the Graces. I have one as well but not as detailed as yours. It's also on a bit of a wonky flan.
I have to be pleased that two CT ers found my coin of Philip to be an attractive purchase. I hardly think of myself as a provenance. (Though I think my doctor is trying to fob me off onto a paleontologist. ) I am glad that some of my coins are going to good homes within the community. Thank you I collected these large Ae coins from Roman Syria at one time. The production of these coins commenced with Elagabalus and ended with Gallus and Volusian. At one time they were readily available. I kept one. Philip I Ae 29 (8 Assaria) Antioch 247-249 AD Obv Bust right laureated draped and cuirassed seen from back. Rv. Bust of Tyche right draped wearing turreted crown Mc Alee 977 var (minor legend variation) 15.39 grms 29 mm
I'm glad they got to you so quickly, @hotwheelsearl, and that you're pleased with them in-hand! I agree that @Terence Cheesman is a superb provenance. Great pic of the minerals on the Sep Sev! Here's my Commodus Three Graces from Markianopolis:
Here a large provincial from Pergamum. 35mm and 19.80g. Apollo and Herakles. Unclear if as naked as those three graces. Cng photo
Is there a chance to find your Greek Silver Tetradrachms in the next AMCC coin auction- I will be there to participate!!
That's some mighty fine acquisitions you got there, @hotwheelsearl A while back I got a pair of those big Philips from Antioch, one of which I think is McAlee 977 like yours - these can be a bit of a challenge to attribute, what with all the variations (radiate and laureate here): Philip I 8 Assaria Syria, Antioch ad Orontem (244-249 A.D.) AVTOK KM IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust r. / ANTIOXƐΩN MHTΡO KOΛΩN, Tyche bust right, ram leaping right above, Δ-Є S-C, across fields, star below bust. (11.75 grams / 28 mm) eBay May 2021 Attribution Note: Radiate bust right, seen from rear / Tyche bust right with star below. Note: This specimen has ligate reverse legend: ...KOΛΩN McAlee 990; RPC VIII 7493. Philip I 8 Assaria Syria, Antioch ad Orontem (244-249 A.D.) AVTOK KM IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust r. / ANTIOXƐΩN MHTΡO KOΛΩN, Tyche bust right, ram leaping right above, Δ-Є S-C, across fields, star below bust. (11.94 grams / 28 mm) eBay May 2021 Attribution Note: Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right, seen from rear / Tyche bust right with star below. McAlee 977; RPC VIII 7494. It was a relief to see that I still possess the World's Worst Roman Provincial Three Graces coin - I definitely prefer your "wonky flan." Here it is, with a particularly dour Julia Domna glowering disapprovingly at what's left of the three Graces: Julia Domna Æ 16 (193-217 A.D.) Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis IOYΛIA Δ[O]MNA CЄB, draped bust right / [MAPKIA] NO[Π]OΛЄITΩN, Three Graces standing facing, first holds an amphora, third holds a wreath. AMNG 605 var. (obv. legend); Varbanov 887 var. (same). (6.14 grams / 23 mm) eBay Sep. 2020
