Below are a couple of new additions I thought the group might be interested in. Both have really nice provenances that I am very happy with. Kroton Nomos BRUTTIUM, Kroton AR Nomos, dumpy incuse type, struck ca. 475-450 BC Dia.: 18.5 mm Wt.: 7.39 g Obv.: Tripod with legs terminating in lion's feet; to left, crane standing right. Rev.: Incuse tripod. Ref.: HN Italy 2102; SNG ANS 259; CMG Class IV No. 2 Ex J. G. Le Breton Collection (1884-1968) (Glendining, 30 October 1963), lot 457 (part of; Seaby listed as buyer); Ex Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin 548 (January 1964), no. A1014; Ex CNG E-Auction 462, lot 11 (Feb. 26, 2020) Further Reading: A Kroton Nomos with a Wonderful Old Provenance You'll note if you read my above linked write up that the tripod design on the coins of Kroton are thought to be associated with Apollo due to the fact that the Pythia at Delphi gave her prophesies while seated on a tripod. Therefore, it is very possible that this coin shows the Delphic Tripod. My favorite myth involving the Delphic Tripod is the story of a struggle between Herakles and Apollo. The story begins when Herakles has one of his frequent fits of madness and throws his friend Iphytus off the walls of Tiryns. In remorse, he travels to Delphi to seek Apollo's advice on how to cleans himself of the crime. However, the Pythia refuses to give him an oracle. Herakles becomes so enraged that he knocks the Pythia off her tripod, picks it up and starts heading for the door. Apollo sees this and tries to stop Herakles from stealing the tripod and a struggle ensues. The fight becomes so intense that Zeus is forced to intervene and separate the brothers. In order to stop the conflict from escalating further it is decided that the tripod will stay in Delphi but that Herakles will be given his desired oracle. The oracle states that in order to cleans himself, Herakles will need to be sold into slavery for a year. Hermes then sells Herakles to Omphale, Queen of Lydia. Herakles and Apollo struggling over the Delphic Tripod Q Minucius Rufus Denarius ROMAN REPUBLIC Q. Minucius Rufus, moneyer AR Denarius, Rome mint. 122 BC Wt.: 3.73g Dia.: 19.9mm Obv.: Helmeted head of Roma right; X (mark of value) below chin, RVF behind. Rev.: Dioscuri on horseback riding right; Q MINV / ROMA below. Ref.: Crawford 277/1; Sydenham 421 Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection (1870-1955); American Numismatic Society (1001.1.25440) as part of a loan from the Hispanic Society of America in 1947; (CNG E-auction 328, June 11, 2014), lot 429; Ex Minotaur Coins, purchased May 2022. Further Reading: A Crude but Charming Republican Denarius with an Excellent Provenance Please post anything you feel is relevant!
Thank @lordmarcovan . My avatar was my #1 coin from 2021. It is a tetradrachm struck by King Maussolos of 7 Ancient Wonders fame. Satraps of Caria Maussolos AR Tetradrachm, Halikarnassus mint, struck ca. 377 - 352 BC Dia.: 23 mm Wt.: 15.06 g Obv.: Laureate head of Apollo facing three-quarters right Rev.: MAYΣΣΩΛΛO, Zeus Labraundos standing right Ref.: BMC 1 var; SNG Von Aulock 2359 var.; Traité II, 91 Ex Roma Auction II, lot 302 (Oct. 2, 2011)
That Kroton Didrachm is beautiful. The RR denarius is nice as well. Minotaur Coins is one of my favorite dealers. Here’s a couple of coins I got from that dealer: ROMAN REPUBLIC L. Titurius Sabinus Moneyer, 85 BC AR Denarius. 3.89g, 18.2mm MINTED: Rome mint, 89 BC REF: Crawford 344/2b; Sydenham 699 OBVERSE: SABIN, bare head of King Tatius right; palm to lower right. REVERSE: Tarpeia, facing, buried in shields, raising both hands in protest; to left and right, two soldiers about to cast shields at her; star in crescent above; L.TITVRI in exergue. Ex. Minotaur Coins AUGUSTUS 27 BC - AD 14 AR Denarius. 3.51g, 19.3mm MINTED: Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 15 BC REF: RIC I 167a; Lyon 19; RSC 137 OBVERSE: AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head right. REVERSE: Bull butting right, left forefoot raised, lashing his tail; IMP • X in exergue. Ex. Minotaur Coins
Many thanks to you that posted pictures of your coins. I am not into foreign country coins, but I am aware that many countries have artists that make beautiful coins. Back when I was in my "heyday", I had just graduate from high school at a U.S. Military high school for U.S. dependents. I was fortunate to be able to travel by myself over several countries. I started my venture of collecting coins from foreign countries. I also worked at a Stars and Stripes newsstand and collected comic books published by Marvel. I had collected many first and early published Marvel comics. I knew my father. would be returning back to the States soon, so I quit my job and started hitching around Europe. During my trip, I collected many beautiful coins from the many countries. This was in 1965, and it was a great time to hitch rides. Many were from Americans, and I was able to do many things base to base PX & Commissaries. When I called home, I was told I needed to come back home. It was a sad time to do so. I had collected many beautiful coins from the various countries. Most of them were just everyday coins. When I returned home, I found my parents had donated my comics to the Armed Forces Thrift Store. Wow! Was I ever pissed. Today, those comics would be worth thousands. Not much I could do about it though. I packed up what I had left, i.e., clothes, and other collectables. Anyway, I bought a lock box and put it in another metal box to protect my coins. I had coins from Germany (East and West), France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, and several other countries. It was amazing what a military dependent's I.D. card allowed me to do. That was in 1965-66. When we finally returned to the States, I got all of my boxed items, especially my coins. They were nowhere to be found. The company that moved our furnishings would not pay for my loss, as well as my family's loss, nor could anything else be done. The only coins that I had left were those that my father got while he was serving on a sub in the South Pacific. I still have those coins, although, not as pretty as my other items. I did have a list of all of my stuff, but that didn't help. Overall, I lost thousands of dollars for my comics and coins. No lawyer would touch my loss. I learned a very valuable lesson. Keep your family close, but keep your collections closer. That was in 1965-66...That was over 56 years ago and I still cry over it. I will be 75 shortly.