i'll post part 2 and 3 together, they are both alexandrian tets...and one of them may look familiar to you. i have a couple alexandrian tets, but wanted one with an ealge, and wanted some different rulers other than maximian and diocletion (already have those in tet flavor). part 2...new to me. Claudius II Gothicus 269 - 270 A.D. Billon tetradrachm Alexandria mint obverse: AVT K KLAVΔIOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right from behind; reverse: L-B (year 2), eagle standing right, looking back, holding wreath in beak; 22 mm 10.8g Milne 4265, SNG Cop 850, Geissen 3027, BMC 2332 this is only my 3rd claudius ii coin, the other two are pretty poor quality coins i picked up in uncleaned lots. part 3...new to me, not to cointalk i picked this coin up from a forum member, it was just posted here a couple of months ago. this is a wildwinds coin also. it has an amazing color that is difficult to capture on film, i did my own pics, but i didn't really improve on the original owners. i'll just copy and paste the attribution from the original thread.. Gordian III ( 238 - 244 A.D.) EGYPT ALEXANDRIA Billon Tetradrachm O: A K M AN GORDIANOC EVC, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right. R: Nike seated left, holding palm and wreath; LΓ (date) across field. RY 3 (AD 239/40) 22mm 11.36g Köln -; Dattari 4753; cf. Milne 3357; Emmett 3416.3 question: shouldn't year 3 be 240-241 for gordian iii? this was the attribution from wildwinds, so i'm probably wrong...but why am i wrong? or am i? feel free to pile on a couple of your tets that need some love!
yeeehhhaaa => yup, those are sweet Alexandrian clumps of Tet-awesomeness!! (I love the looks of those mangled and gnarly ol' Tets!!) => 100% great new addition (well done, turtle)
At that time (starting during the reign of Augustus), the Alexandrian calendar year began on what is now August 29th. The regnal years follow the Alexandrian calendar, not actual time in office. Gordian III's reign began CE 238 prior to August 29. His regnal year 1 issues were for through August 28, 238. Regnal year 2 was August 29, 238 - August 28, 239. Year 3 was 239/40. Etc. I have scores of Roman Egyptian coins. Odd, because I hated the first one I bought as part of a mixed lot. Now I love them and collect them rabidly. Here's one I haven't shown before. The reverse is has an odd flan flaw and the coin is rather homely. I still like it though EGYPT, Alexandria. Faustina II year 8, CE 167/8 billion tetradrachm, 23mm, 12.1 gm Obv: ΦAVCTINACEBACTH; draped bust of Faustina II right Rev: Helios bust right (L-H not visible but this reverse was only issued in year 8) Ref: Emmett 2277(8), R5 from a private dealer at the ANA World's Fair of Money, August 2014
ah, thanks TIF, now i get it. that's an interesting "thing" on the reverse, have't seen one quite like that.
Well okay, if you insist ... here are a few of my humble Alexandrian Tets ... Saloninus 258-260 AD Tacitus 275-276 AD Probus 280-281 AD Carinus 283-284 AD => they're grungy, but they're cool
OK NERO AR Billon Tetradrachm OBVERSE: NERW KLAV KAIS SEB GER, radiate bust right, wearing aegis REVERSE: AVTOKPA, draped bust of Alexandria right in elephant skin headdress, LIB to right, year 12 Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 65/6AD 10.8g, 28mm Köln 172-174; Curtis 36-54, Dattari 204, SGI 633, RPC 5289 TITUS Billon Tetradrachm OBVERSE: AVTOK TITOY - laureate head right REVERSE: Bust of Serapis right, LB before Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, Year 2 = 79-80 AD 12.7g, 25mm Dattari 426, BMC 2741, RPC 2464 HADRIAN Billon Tetradrachm OBVERSE: AΥT KAI TΡAIAN AΔΡIANOC CEB, laureate head left REVERSE: L EN-NEAKΔ (year 19), naked bust of Nilus right, wearing taenia, lotus on head, cornucopia on shoulder Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 134/5AD 8.95g. 24.6mm Dattari 1430, Geissen 1147, Curtis 452,SNG Cop 393, BMC Alexandria 645 var (aegis)
I am not crazy about the Alexandrian tets, but they do have a certain quality to them, which makes them desirable. I have only two remaining humble examples... Carus
nice lookin' tets everyone, thanks for posting. these things look cool and feel great in hand..hard to capture that aspect on a pic.
=> very true, eh? (100%) ... yup, the really big ones and the really tiny ones are always pretty fricken amazing "in-hand"
