Featured Follow the coin theme GAME - ancient edition - post ‘em if you got ‘em

The person whose collection this coin is from died the year year I was born. Making it a very interesting provenance to me (anyone here heard of Karel Castelin?):

Kassander

Pella or Amphipolis. 306-297 BC. Struck circa 306-298 BC Bronze Æ 5,11g. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress / BAΣIΛEΩΣ KAΣΣA-N-ΔΡ[OΥ], horseman riding right, right hand raised, monogram of ANΓ before, M (or monogram of MY) below. very fine Cf. SNG Alpha Bank 92.
From the collection of Dr. Karel Castelin 1903-1981. Purchased from Art & Coins #2 Jan 2022

Next up: another Diadochi

 

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next: someone wearing an animal scalp

 

That is very cool! Czech numismatist, author. He has dozens of entries in Clain-Stefanelli's 1985 Numismatic Bibliography (highly recommended reference), and his bio summary on p. 1553. If you can find a copy, his obit: Bulletin de la Société Française de Numismatique Vol. 36, no. 8 (Oct., 1981), p. 101-102

 

Several examples:

Nero, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 12 (65/66 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Radiate bust of Nero with aegis, right, ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ / Rev. Bust of Alexandria, right, wearing elephant headdress, AYTO-KPA around, LIB [Year 12] in right field. RPC I Online 5289, Emmett 109.12, Milne 238 at p. 7 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)], K&G 14.88. 20x23 mm., 12.11 g.



Hadrian AR Denarius, Travel Series, Rome Mint, 130-133 AD (according to RIC II.3) [134-138 AD according to Mattingly & Sydenham in old RIC II]. Obv. Bare head left, HADRIANVS - AVG COS III PP / Rev. Africa reclining left, leaning with left elbow on rock, wearing elephant-skin headdress, holding scorpion with extended right hand and cradling cornucopiae with left hand and arm, basket of grain-ears to left at her feet, AFRICA. RIC II.3 Hadrian 1497 (2009 edition) (see http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.2_3(2).hdn.1497); old RIC II Hadrian 299 (1926 ed.) var. (head right), RSC II Hadrian 137, Sear RCV II 3459 var. (laureate head left), BMCRE III Hadrian 821 var. (this type cited at BMCRE 821 fn. at p. 344); Foss 81 at p. 117 (dating Hadrian’s travels in the province of Africa to AD 128) [Clive Foss, Roman Historical Coins (Seaby, London, 1990)]. 18 mm., 3.31 g. Purchased from Akropolis Ancient Coins, Jan. 2022.



Septimius Severus, AR Denarius 207 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, SEVERVS - PIVS AVG / Rev. Africa in elephant-skin headdress standing facing, head right, holding out drapery containing basket of fruit[?], lion crouching to her right at her feet, head left, PM TR P XV CPOS III PP. RIC IV 207, RSC III 493, Sear RCV II 6341. 18.73 mm., 2.95 g. Ex. Madroosi Collection (Joe Blazick).


Next: Another provincial Nero.

 

Oh, wow! That is very exciting! Thanks for the info. I'll be updating my collector's tag

 

Lydia, Sardeis, AD 60
ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙⳞΑΡ, laureate head of Nero r / ΕΠΙ ΜΙΝΔΙΟΥ ⳞΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ, laureate head of Heracles, r., with lion skin tied round neck
RPC I, 3002, BMC 120, Cop 522 corr.

Next - Herakles portrait on reverse

 

Next: bust/portrait of unknown person/deity/nymph.

 

Next: a coin that you purchased due to reading a thread on CT

 

A lot of coins in my collection match this condition but this was the first that came in my mind.



L. Papius Celsus 45 BC. Rome
Denarius AR
17 mm, 3,70 g
Obv: Head of Juno Sospita right. Border of dots / Rev: L·PAPIVS CELSVS·III·VIR, wolf, right, placing stick on fire; on right, eagle fanning flames . Border of dots.
Crawford 472/1; RCV I 461

I saw this coin on CT and admired the reverse (mythical themes are a major turn on for me) plus I like the particularity, probably unique, that the reverse design exceeds the dotted border. I was very happy to get this example at a decent price since it's not a common coin.

Next - a coin depicting a myth

 

Very cool! It's difficult to find one of these that has the complete eagle's wing. The majority of the examples I've seen have the eagle's wing -- and often the entire eagle! -- off the flan.

 

I know! And I think I saw this coin in one of your posts (not sure, but definitely here on CT).
I was a little worried the coin is a fake but there are no points suggesting this.

 

Yes, @ambr0zie, I did post mine here, after I bought it at a Nomos Obolos auction in October 2021. And, I'm no expert, but I don't see anything wrong with yours.

 

Diana Lucifera, the bringer of light.

This coin, by the way, was purchased after a very informative CT thread by Roman Collector on a rare dative Latin obverse for a sestertius of Faustina II, depicting Diana Lucifera on the reverse.

RIC 1630




Next: Another mythological figure of a winged variety.

 

Garuda
Next, Hindu deities

 

AV Half Pagoda ND/ NM
Vijayanagar Empire
Hari Hara II 1377-1404
Siva and Parvati Seated
Devanagari Legend: sri pra ta pa hari ha ra
next: more Hindu dieties

 

Avantivarman 857-883 AD (1st ruler of Utpala dynasty)
Copper Kaserah or Punchshi 18/19mm (4.70gr)
Obverse- Goddess Ardochsho/Lakshmi seated facing in half lotus position, with Nagari legend 'Aadi' at right
Reverse- King standing facing and sacrificing at altar, with Nagari legend 'Deva' at right

Next. . .Kashmir/ Northern India.

 

Ghorid dynasty, minted under Muhammad Bin Sam between 1173-1206. Imitating early Samanta Deva coins.

Next- south India

 

Next up: Huna Empire

 

Hephthalites. Nezak Huns.. AR drachm. "Napki Malka" series. .
Circa 515.680 A.D.
Obverse..Bust right wearing winged-bull head-dress. Pahlavi legends nycky MLK-A
Reverse:Fire altar with attendants, Solar wheels above.
3.41 grams....24.64 mm.
Vondrovec [Göbl] 198

Next...Unusual headdress.

 

Hunna Chieftains/ Sind
AV Dinara ND (circa 475-500AD)
Sind Mint
Anonymous Hun King
Imitation of Sasanian Dinara
More unusual Headdress....