I don't think we'll continue on this theme much longer, but I thought it might be interesting to see the second oldest coin since contributors frequently show and discuss their oldest coin. Here is my contribution: ACHAEMENID EMPIRE AR Siglos OBVERSE: Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding spear and bow REVERSE: Incuse punch Struck at Persia, 485-420 BC 5.5g, 16mm Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XII, 18)
Kelenderis, Cilicia, (440 - 400 B.C.) AR Stater O: Young man riding sideways on horse galloping left, nude, preparing to dismount, bridle in left hand on near side of horse, whip in left hand, A below before hind legs. R: Goat crouching left on solid exergue line, head turned looking back right, KEΛEN over ivy spray with leaf and berries, all in a shallow round incuse. Kelenderis (Aydincik, Turkey) mint 10.83g 20.1mm Celenderis Hoard 3 (O15/R15); SNG BnF 46; cf. BMC Cilicia p. 52, 10 (KEΛ); SNGvA 5617 (KEΛEN) Ex. Numismatik Naumann Auction 77 (5 May 2019), lot 304.
This is likely my second oldest coin (c54-63 AD): Nero AR Hemidrachm of Caesaria, Cappadocia. c54-63 AD. NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI, laureate head right / Victory seated right on globe, writing on shield, SGI 616, RPC 3645. RIC 617. Sydenham 82.
Nice example. I also favor my Nero example of this coin NERO AR Hemidrachm OBVERSE: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI, Laureate head right REVERSE: Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath in both hands Struck at CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea, 59-60 AD 1.51g, 15mm RIC 617, BMC 409, RPC 3645
..both those are very desirable coins of Nero gents! i don't have one o dem...yet! ..but i do have some Neros..
Bing, You hit it outa the park with your 'Post your Oldest...' Such a great idea to get people thinking about their collection this hot Summertime. For yours and the group consideration my 2nd oldest...maybe a lifetime..maybe just shy of...Alexandrean tetradrachm Myriandros mint. J.T.
I guess this is the second oldest. Given the date range for this type if might be the oldest. Thrace, Abdrea, 520-492 BC Oktadrachm, period II Spencer-Churchill 96 29.3 grams
I also own a IVPPITER CVSTOS denarius of Nero in similar grade to yours. I guess we’re getting off topic with all the Nero coins. I’ve already shown a group of my 2nd oldest coin(s) in Bing’s oldest coin thread, so I have nothing else to post here.
Not my second oldest but one of my oldest and a coin which started a trend in Magna Graecia Sybaris Ar Nomos 550-510 BC Obv Bull standing left head reverted. Rv, Bull standing right head reverted but incuse HN 1729 7.13 grms 27 mm Photo by W. Hansen This is the city that apparently started these rather unusual and technically tricky coinages.
My second oldest cast bronze coin is from Olbia. The oldest & 2nd depend on who you believe. I think they are about the same age - 450 to 300 BC. Any one of those dates predates cast bronze coins from Rome & Central Italy.
I’ve shown my oldest Greek coins on Bing’s previous post about our oldest coins: https://www.cointalk.com/posts/8385656/ However, my main collecting areas are Roman Republic and Roman Imperial. Obviously most Roman coins aren’t as old as Greek coins. After all, the Greeks were minting coins long before the Romans did. Here are my oldest Roman Republic coins. My oldest Roman coins date to the Punic wars period. Unfortunately I don’t own any of the archaic cast bronzes such as Aes Rude, Aes Signatum, Aes Grave etc: Roman Republic, Anonymous, 211 - 208 BC Silver Victoriatus, Rome Mint, 17mm, 3.29 grams Obverse: Laureate head of Jupiter right. Reverse: Victory standing right crowning trophy of arms and armor, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 53/1 // RSC 9 Ex. Ken Dorney Roman Republic, Anonymous, 217 - 215 BC AE Quartuncia, Semilibral Standard, Rome Mint, 16mm, 3.36 grams Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right. Reverse: Prow of galley right, ROMA above. Crawford 38/8 // RBW 103 // Sydenham 88 Ex. Ken Dorney AR denarius, 187-175 BC, 21mm, 3.45gm. Winged head of Roma right / Dioscuri on horseback right, VF+, old collection patina, SR 112 Ex. Wayne Sayles P. Maenius Antiaticus M.f. 132 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 4.03 g, 12h). Rome mint. Helmeted head of Roma right; mark of value to left / Victory driving quadriga right, holding goad, reins, and wreath. Crawford 249/1; Sydenham 492; Maenia 7 Ex. Sphinx Numismatics
Same Reverse as my oldest but a different emperor: Emperor Tiberius - As - Lugdunum mint Obv.: TI CAESAR AVGVST F IMPERAT VII Rev.: ROM ET AVG
Here is my second oldest and heavyest coin, 46.12 grams , 34.75 mm i still need to attribute this one.
Lots of nice coins again. Thrace, Sestos Demeter/Hermes 300BC Some attributions say this is Persephone on the obverse. It could be the first depiction of Hermes standing holding a caduceus on a coin. If you know of one older let me know. The image was used by many rulers all the way to Carinus and Numerian. That's the last time I could find it used.
I only have three coins depicting Hermes/Demeter. Here is one: CILICIA, KORYKOS CITY COINAGE AE 19 OBVERSE: Turreted head of Tyche right; A behind. Circle of dots REVERSE: ΚΩΡΥΚΙΩΤΩΝ, Hermes standing left, holding caduceus, ΕΥ/ΕΠΙ/ΕΡ in left field Struck at Cilicia 1st century BC (100-30 BC) 5.87g, 19.42 SNG Levante 792; SNG France 1075