We got this coin the other day with an interesting temple on the reverse and I've been having trouble figuring it out. I have typically seen buildings depicted in elevation or in a 2d view rather than this perspective view. My first thought was roman provincial because of the greek inscriptions, but I don't believe that the figure on the obverse is an emperor. Is it greek? The coin is bronze and measures 26mm. Thanks for any thoughts or ideas.
It's a mid 3rd century Roman provincial issue from the Koinon (federation of communities) of Macedonia. The obverse head is that of Alexander the Great, and the legend spells out his name - AΛEΞANΔΡOΥ. Your pictures are a bit out of focus, so I can't quite see the details of the reverse clearly, but there are a variety of these coin types and they generally feature two temples. Some examples illustrating just a few variations: http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=79022 http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=62703 http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=61526
Cool coin, archicard ... I have a couple of Koinon examples to share ... Macedonia, Koinon AE25 238-344 AD Alex The Great & Athena Macedonia, Koinon AE25 238-344 AD Alex The Great & Alex on Horseback
I have an interesting Koinon example from a mixed lot. Unfortunately it isn't in good condition and has suffered from someone's clumsy cleaning. Macedon Koinon 3rd century AD (in the time of Severus Alexander? Gordian III? Caracalla? This type was minted during several reigns) AE27, 13.5 gm Obv: (in theory...) AΛEΞANΔPOC; head of Alexander right (flowing hair? lion skin? helmeted?) Rev: KOINON MAKEΔONΩN ΩN; Alexander standing right, naked except for chlamys which flies behind him, taming his horse Bucephalas who rears left before him; [something] in exergue Ref: SNG Copenhagen 1357? From CNG's archives:
Hey TIF (great coin) => Alex must be riding Bucephalas in my second coin-example, proving that your coin is a few moments older than my example, eh?
Okay so my eyes aren't the best they've ever been but I can't match the emperor of the first post with anything shown. His hair looks like the early US large cent flowing hair style of 1793 and the peaks in the roof of the temple are different as well. Just my observation folks. Rich
It's Alexander the Great. However, the coin was struck many centuries after he lived. Here's a higher grade example of a coin similar to that of the original post: (from CNG's archives) Also, even when coins were struck contemporaneously, the portrait may not look anything like the emperor-- especially for later roman coins and for coins struck in the provinces. The provinces' engravers may have never seen the emperor in question.
This is probably why I don't collect ancient coins. You folks know what you're talking about and old farts like me put in our two cents. They are great looking coins.
It's not as difficult as it may seem. Step one: buy an ancient coin Step two: repeat step one I promise you that we have far more fun here on the old dark side . Plus, we get to actually handle our coins without fear of a dreaded fingerprint. Try it, you'll like it
Thats funny. You're absolutely correct about handling. I owned about 10 ancient coins at one time. I couldn't even tell you what they were - other than one Greek and the rest were Roman. They were in a collection of US coins that I bought and the owner told me how much he wanted for them and I paid him. The envelopes they were in had all of the details about them and prices he paid - like 25 to 50 cents each. That was probably 30 years ago and he was around 80. I'm rambling sorry....
I did sell them. I was working the Ocala coin club show and I sold them to a world coin dealer from FUN in Orlando. He is actually the VP of that club. I made his day and sold him all the foreign coins I owned. My wife has told me for years to specialize and stop buying everything. I think this was the second time I sold off my foreign!
My wife doesn't seem to care how many coins I buy, never says anything about it. Probably she's just glad my hobby isn't strip clubs.
I've been married for 40 years. My wife really is patient with me when I bring home new treasures. She gets a kick out of when I sell something because she knows its very hard for me to part with "stuff".
