Other than posting our new coins when they are new, what can we post that might be different? One answer would be to close our eyes and stick a hand in our coin bag to draw out a coin we can talk about. I found a site that will simulate this randon grab nicely: http://www.random.org/ My collection is numbered with sequential accession numbers. Low numbers have been with me a while; high ones came recently except when I reuse a number after selling a coin (I sell rather few so only about 1% of my numbers have been recycled so far). On the above site you put in the highest number (in this case the last coin number you bought) and push the button. It selects a random number up to that number. I tried it and got a number so below is my matching collection number. It may not be worth discussing and it may be one of my favorites. I don't know yet but will now go see. 1080 is: Marcus Aurelius, AR denarius, Rome, 165 AD, Captive seated left reverse ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS / PM TRPXIX IMPII COSIII - ARMEN The interesting part of this coin, to me, is the naming of the specific foe, the Armenians on both sides of the coin. It dates to the period of joint reign with Lucius Verus but he gets no mention on the coin. The portrait has no laurel wreath which I usually use as a guide to grading but I'd call it a VF with flatness on the high points of both sides. Most of my denarii are like this one since I consider them attractive but am not willing to pay the extra asked for EF coins with more hair detail. The reverse is similarly worn but we see the captive with hand under chin sitting amid a pile of weapons and a standard. All of the dating numbers are clear. I prefer coins with clear legends and would never take an unworn EF with centering problems over this clear coin. This coin was not in the running for one of my listed favorites but it is still what I would call welcome to my humble expectations group of coins. I have rather few coins of Aurelius and this is above average for him. Now what should I ask you to post. Rather than adding an Aurelius you have shown before, perhaps you can use the random generator to select a coin you have not shown before. I wonder how many times I will use it before I get a number of a coin I know you are tired seeing because I have posted my favorites too often. It would be easy to toss that one back in the bag and draw again. What should I do if I draw a real loser? Are any ancients THAT bad? This first draw strikes me as a decent coin that I am glad I bought.
Well, I tried this Random selector, and wouldn't you know it selected one of my LRBs of which I rarely collect any longer. However, let me give it a try. HONORIUS AE2 OBVERSE: D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor standing, head right, holding labarum & globe, star in right field, SMNA in ex Struck at Nicomedia, 392-95 AD 4.9g, 22mm RIC 46c What set this coin apart for me when I bought it was the sandy patina highlighting the black legends and portrait/reverse. However, once I received the coin, it was easy to see that the lettering on the reverse was of varying sizes especially the "o", making me wonder if this coin was "fixed" once it was found.
Using random.org's generator with 101 coins (just the ones posted to my website; I'm not as organized as most of you!), here's my random coin. #4. Sicily, Syracuse. Dionysos I 390 BCE Æ tetras, 14 mm, 1.8 gm Obv: head of nymph facing slightly left, wearing necklace Rev: octopus Ref: CNS 29; SNG ANS 385 I wanted a nice octopus. While this coin has its faults, it's actually not a bad example. The nymph's portrait is charming. I'd also like to get a bronze or silver coin showing the octopus with it's two "front" tentacles intertwined. For some reason that is amusing. CoinTalk has been slow. I haven't been as active lately due to work and other time-consuming events but I do have many new coins to share and eight more on their way. Of those eight, one is lost (the Doson tetradrachm), another disappeared in Customs but will hopefully arrive within another month, and six were not shipped in a timely manner. I doubt I'll see any of those eight within the next two weeks.
My first file wasn't a coin. It was a meteorite Sinkhote Alin Meteorite 12 g. Type: Iron Structural classification: Octahedrite, coarsest Group: IIAB Composition: 93% Fe, 5.9% Ni, 0.42% Co, 0.46% P, 0.28% S Country: Russia Region Sikhote-Alin Mountains, Primorsky Krai Coordinates 46°09′36″N 134°39′12″E Fall date February 12, 1947 10:38 a.m. local time. TKW >28 tonnes (31 short tons) (est. 70 tons) Strewn field Yes My 2nd time around came up with this one. Minus the green crust, I think this about what it it looked like when it went into the ground. It does not look as rough in hand as the it does in the photo. Constantine I AE Follis. Struck circa 309-310 AD. Lugdunum mint. IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the back / SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol standing facing, head left, chlamys hanging behind from left shoulder, holding globe and raising right hand. F-T across fields, mintmark PLG. Lyons RIC VI 310
TIF: That portrait is awesome, especially since the nose hasn't been rubbed down. Ever since our little brother Stevie posted his octopus coin, I've been on the lookout for one within my budget and still recognizable as a cephalopod. There have been a few, but in really poor condition. Yours, on the other hand, is outstanding IMHO.
Unfortunately my coins are not numbered nor attributed very well either, but with the random number and a search of all my ancients this came up on the first page. This one weighs in at 28.8g and is 33.5mm. Pretty well worn, but one you don't see everyday. Ursone Osuna (Sevilla) Obv: Cabeza viril a derecha, con laurea, delante VRSONE subrayada. Rev: Esfringe a der., debajo L AP DEC Q F entre lineas. Similar to Burgos 1982, Heiss VRSO 3. I been collecting some Iberians lately. Their tough to attribute and learn much about because most all of the good stuff written about them is in Spanish, but I'm having fun giving it a try and I like the coins. The Efringe (Sphinx)was used on the reverse of coins at four places: Bastele, Castulo, Iliberi and Ursone. Bastele would be tough to find and I haven't seen a Iliberi yet either.
I got 37, one of my favorite primes. It's this VRBS ROMA with the less common soldiers/standard reverse...
sure you can aidan, you just need one ancient to play i would think. well, like doucet, i'm not well organized, and had to guistimate a bit. here's what i came up with (don't ask me to explain how i came up with it..but i was attempting randomness and did us the RN generator). a constantine i from aquileia, i like the AQP mint mark.
#39 is... an AE4 of Valentinian II? I was still in my early box-checking phase and this one checked the Valentinian II box. I don't think it has been out of its flip more than once, if at all. Anyway, it was fun reading the Marty Feldman wiki. Thanks, Bing! VALENTINIAN II AE4 1.13g, 14.4mm Siscia mint, 384-387 AD RIC IX 39(a) O: D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right R: VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory walking left, wreath in right, palm frond in left, ASIS in ex
I got number 38. It is a big bronze from Alexandria (Roman Egypt). The reason I got it is because It's got a quadriga of elephants and it's the size of a US silver dollar! ROMAN EGYPT ALEXANDRIA Hadrian AE Drachm 117-138 A.D. 27.00 grams, 34 mm. Obv: Laur. Dr. Cuirassed bust right Rev: Hadrian in quadriga of elephants right. LENΔE.KATOV Grade: Fine light chocolate brown color Other: Sear 1175 (pg 151) B.M.C.G.860., Milne 1216var., Koln 967var. Rare 15 leg variety much like the USA 3-legged buffalo nickel? From Eye Appealing Coins 11/2013.
View attachment 367545 My number 73 Recent auction score. Theodosius II AV Solidus 20mm 4.43g 7h Constantinopolis, AD 408-420 D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted, three-quarter facing bust, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman Constantinopolis seated facing with sceptre and Victory on globe, CONOB in exergue. RIC 202; Depeyrot 73/2 Grafitto on obverse field
View attachment 367545 My number 73 Recent auction score. Theodosius II AV Solidus 20mm 4.43g 7h Constantinopolis, AD 408-420 D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted, three-quarter facing bust, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman Constantinopolis seated facing with sceptre and Victory on globe, CONOB in exergue. RIC 202; Depeyrot 73/2 Grafitto on obverse field
Great coins, gang ... I spun a #111 => good ol' Hermes & Lyre (great random choice) Sestus, Thrace AE bronze 'after' 150 BC diameter: 16.2 mm Weight: 2.34 grams Obverse: Hermes head left Reverse: Lyre
Ahhahha , you're correct ... ummm, or maybe I meant to type Hermes head, right? ... I'm gonna fix the typo (thanks, C89)
Khan Academy has many good points but they heve no idea how to grade coins. That 'Fair' is at least AVF. Now a question for you Precalculus students: Which CT member should you ask for help with your homework?
My brother. Technically he is a member, he created an account in order to test a program he was writing.
