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2 new arrivals this morning


Diocletian AD 284-305. Potin Tetradrachm (19.5mm, 7.38 g.)
Egypy, Alexandria mint, dated RY 6 (AD 290/1).
Obv. A K G OYA ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev. Eirene standing left, holding branch and scepter, leaning on a lituus shaped column, SL (date) across field. No reverse legend.
Attractive brown patina.
Very rare leaning and SL instead of LS

L. Memmius AR Denarius (20mm, 3.77 g.)
Rome mint, struck 109-108 BC Gens Memmia
Obv. Apollo facing right, wearing oak wreath, mark of value below chin.
Rev. The Dioscuri standing facing, each holding spear and bridle of his horse.
Crawford 304

 

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Finally knocked Didius Julianus off the list! Not the greatest condition, but I enjoy sestertii more than other denominations so it's worth the trade off

Didius Julianus (28 March-1 June AD 193). AE sestertius (28mm, 21.03 gm, 1h). NGC Fine 4/5 - 3/5. Rome. IMP CAES M DID SEV-ER IVLIAN AVG, laureate head of Didius Julianus right / P M TR-P COS, Fortuna standing facing, head left, rudder set on globe in right hand, cornucopia cradled in left arm; S-C across fields. RIC IV.I 15.

 

Here's a type I've been wanting to add to my subcollection of Thessaly, Phalanna for a while. The obverse is Zeus Peloris, the reverse is the nymph who is familiar on most Phalanna bronzes. A small module type (14mm, 2.71g).

Thessaly, Phalanna AE Chalkous (14mm, 2.71g, 12h), mid-late 4th cent. BCE.
Obv: ΛΟ below [ΠΕΛΟΡΙΣ, fragmentary]. Head of Zeus Peloris right.
Rev: ΦΑΛΑ to right. Head of nymph right.
Ref: BCD Thessaly II 589.3; cf. BCD Thessaly I 1259.2; Rogers 455; Papaevangelou-Genakos 16.
Prov: Ex Tom Mann (Frascatius), previously BCD Collection (w/ collector tags), acq. “V. ex Thess. Nov. 1991, Sfr. 120.—”; prob. from CH8.132: “Phalanna (?), Greece, 1991” Hoard of 600+ Phalanna AE.​

Notes: A scarce type today (w/ many rare sub-types), was very rare before the BCD Coll. was dispersed, many of which likely came from the CH8.132, Phalanna 1991 Hoard (which may correspond to his tickets for coins "ex. Thess." c. "1991").

The fragmentary ΛΟ (from ΠΕΛΟΡΙΣ) is actually a substantial obv. inscription for these Zeus AEs. Most have no obv. legend; it seems to never be complete. Combined with the lovely deep blueish patina, a very nice example of this type despite the wear.

 

Here’s a couple of my newest.

 

Okay it's not my latest purchased but just last night I took fresh photos and created a new composition. I also studied the type some, and found that my earlier attribution, copy/pasted from the auction house, was incorrect.

The auction house said it was RIC III 1207 but as far as I can tell it is RIC 1221b. This is going by OCRE, not the printed RIC, for which reason I've begun to label my attributions OCRE in my photo compilations. It isn't listed in Sear, and I've been able to find only few examples on ACSearch, and none in the archived sales of various dealers.

As a nice little bonus it also has a provenance to the Kenneth Bressett collection.

 

Not in the best condition, but this interesting rarity came today in a CNG mystery lot (13 coins ex C.J. Sabine Collection). They had it misdescribed only as "bronze issues...Constantine I."

Maximinus II Daia. AE Follis (28mm, 7.30g, 6h).
Jumbo campgate reverse (four turrets).
VIRTVS MILITVM. Cyzicus, 308. RIC 40.

 

Now that I've had some to photograph the rest of the batch, here's the full group of 13.

I'm especially happy with the Cyzicus Fallen Horseman, a nice upgrade from my current one (though I'm always happy to have duplicate FH's!). The Rome mint Constans Galley FTR is nice, too. The big Theodosius has really lovely crazed brown surfaces. Also happy with that Theodosius "Captive" type (VIRTVS EXERCITI, bottom r.). And others.

All in all, very happy with this group for the opening bid / $90 hammer (+20% fees).

 

Small group, not perfect but each has something going for it





Top 38.2g
Left 23.3g
Right 16.4g

 

Most recent purchase, it's not yet delivered but I'm far too eager to not talk about it.


Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-454 BC. Late "transitional" issue. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Starr pl. XXII, 1-3'; Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1596. 17.20g, 25mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine

I think the coins issued by Athens during this particular period thread the proverbial needle of the uncanny valley of owl anatomy. The earlier period of coinage shows the owl elongated and hunched, the later period's owls being squat and bulbus. Might just be insane though.

 

Beautiful!

 

Very nice!

 

I just got this one because of the colorful patina



Diocletian
A.D. 295-6
28mm 7.8g
IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, with cornucopiae and patera from which liquid flows.
In ex. KS
RIC VI Cyzicus 12a

 

Love it!

 

Another fine portrait of the Tetrarchy.

 

One of my most recent coins is this silver tetradrachm struck under Ptolemy I. I have always liked this type struck under Ptolemy of the deified Alexander wearing an elephant headdress, but they usually sell for even more than the already almost prohibitively expensive (to me) Lysimachos types. Ptolemy was one of Alexander's ablest and most trusted generals who carved out one of the richest and longest-lasting kingdoms of all the Diadochi. Under Ptolemy and his successors, Egypt - and more specifically, Alexandria - became the cultural center of the Mediterranean world for centuries to come. It is this history, as well as the interesting portrait of Alexander the Great, that I find so appealing.

Despite the scratches and crystallization, I am very pleased to have been able to unexpectedly score an example of this iconic coin. And honestly, I can't complain about the defects too much - I've seen worse - and after all they are what made the coin affordable. I am curious about the defacement of the portrait. Apparently at some point in the coin's timeline there converged a sharp instrument, a dislike for Alexander, and time to kill.

 

Also have a Ptolemy I as Satrap tetradrachm; it has different monograms, but what I find quiet interesting is that it also has a large flan flaw on the obverse on the neck of the head.

Alexandria, 315 - 306 BC,
26 mm, 15.660 g
Svoronos (1904-1908) no. 146, Pl. V, 7; Lorber Monogram 20 and Lorber Monograms 35 and 58; SNG Copenhagen 18; BMC 21 in Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Reginald Stuart Poole, 1883, p 3; No. 21 where the mint is said to be Cyprus; SGCV II 7749;

Ob.: Head of the deified Alexander to r., wearing diadem and elephant skin headdress, scaly aegis around neck, and horn of Ammon on his forehead; tiny ∆ before elephant's ear. Dotted border
Rev.: AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Athena Alkidemos advancing r., hurling spear with her r. hand and with shield over her extended l. arm; Lorber Monogram 20: ΓA in l. field. In r. field above eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt: Lorber Monogram 35: ΑT and Lorber monogram 58: ΔΦO. Dotted border.

My apologies for the bad quality of pictures, I just can't get good ones...

 

Hi @cmezner,

Nice one! I don’t think it’s a flan flaw. I think it’s one of the later overstrikes on an earlier Alexander. There are signs on your reverse as well. See https://www.jstor.org/stable/43573327

The weights were adjusted downwards and then rest tuck.

PS, don’t use BMC Ptolemies for attribution. At about 240 years old it’s almost totally useless.

- Broucheion

 

Thank you so much @Broucheion for the information. Will read the article at Jstor

 

@Broucheion after reading the publication at Jstor [Brooks Emmons “The Overstruck Coinage of Ptolemy I”, Museum Notes (ANS), Vol. 6 (1954)], that you suggested, the mint and date of my tetra is probably Alexandria, 305 – 285 (?) BC, type D over-struck under Ptolemy on a tetradrachm type C, Attic standard.

However, in this publication there are no AR tetradrachms with the monograms that are on mine, but they are the same monograms as on the ones at
http://numismatics.org/pco/id/cpe.1_1.59 where they are all dated to 306 BC, which makes me wonder if all these coins are also over-struck on type C tetras.

 

Hi @cmezner,

I think you’re right. I only took a quick look and see one with signs of over striking ( see reverse of http://numismatics.org/collection/1964.79.56 ). Some may have been struck from new blank flans. CPE’s dating is the most current.

- Broucheion