I completed it today when Geta, Mum and Dad were delivered. Geta is in a slab though and cant decide whether to free him. Feel free to comment or add your own Severus and/or family members
Nice group of Severan Denarii! The Geta has a nearly complete obv. border -- a big plus on Roman Imperials (aside from being attractive, means they're well-centered & evenly struck on a broad flan). I'll post some coins separately, but, re: the NGC tag (shown in the other thread) -- this is not a knock on your coin at all, just some thoughts it provoked: The Geta is listed by NGC as "SPQR Collection." I don't have many (maybe a dozen, give or take), but most of my NGC-encapsulated coins (and even one ICG) also list some kind of provenance. For "SPQR Collection" & some others I've seen, though, I can't find any information about the collections besides NGC tags & their later sales. NGC only adds certain provenances with supporting evidence (i.e., in the case of old collections, plate coins, or published hoards, you have to show them the publications). But sometimes they let people create their own collections for the labels. Such as the "Parliament Collection" on Athens Tetradrachms. When no other info exists, though, I always wonder if it was really a "Collection," as opposed to someone's inventory, who just buys a bunch of coins to encapsulate & resell. Which then leads to the questions, when, how, and why does it matter if a coin was in a prior collection? A coin's "object biography" is actually quite important to me, and I always want to know about its prior collections & publications, and what that coin has meant to previous owners or viewers or readers. So I get frustrated when I can't learn anything more! Thankfully we at least know that it is now in the "Expat Collection," and the Geta exemplar in their Severan Dynasty set!
@Curtis I too wondered the same. The SPQR Collection consists of all slabbed coins, and I have only seen them in auctions by VCoins dealer Parr´s Coins on California. And the questions when, how and why are the reason I will probably release him from his tomb as there is no history or info on the collection.
Here are some of my favorite Severus Alexanders from interesting old collections, two of them NGC encapsulated. Favoritest-favorite: Provincial bronze from Lydia, Acrasus. From "The Morris Collection" (i.e., Phil Peck). I would like to remove from encapsulation to photograph & submit to RPC, but just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. (I don't know why, but that's how it often goes w/ me & slabbed coins.) An ERROR-SLAB! Sev. Alexander Antioch Denarius The "ex AK Collection" part is correct, though. (Also: "AK" bought it from Münzen & Medaillen FPL 311 [Apr 1970], 285.) NGC accidentally switched two Severus Alexander denarii's tags, so the website shows the correct coin with the correct holder, but not the holder I actually have! The holder in my possession is shown with a different coin. (And vice versa.) Took a long time to figure it out & find both coins & both NGC tags. Only time I've seen/heard of it. My coin came with this XF tag in the holder: But it was supposed to come with this AU tag: Sestertius from one of my favorite collectors: Elvira E. Clain-Stefanelli (1914-2001) Collection, famous numismatist & important long-time Curator of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian (Washington, DC). Incidentally, her son was named Alexander (1943-2014, reportedly born in Buchenwald Concentration Camp during the 18 months his parents were held there). I doubt Alex Clain-Stefanelli was actually named after this coin or emperor, but one can imagine, right? Perhaps, while he was away at his first semester of college, Elvira & her curator-husband Vladimir (1914-1982) would look at this coin and be reminded of their son? E: "It has his eyes, don't you think?" V: "But look how much thicker his body is? Our Alex is so slender!" E: "Have you seen how greasy the food is at that dormitory cafeteria?" V: "Ah, you're right. The 'freshman fifteen' could be the 'freshman forty' for him!" E: "He will be as beefy as a bare-chested Severan by the winter break!" Laughter... [end of scene, join us for tomorrow's presentation of Curtis' Numismatic Drama Theater] Also: I love the burly bust on the boy-faced emperor! Here's another Provincial Severus Alexander from Bithynia, Nicaea. Lindgren Collection (L & K 145) & RPC VI (Temp.) 3173.4 The 1985 photos from Lindgren vol. I (w/ Kovacs, Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant):
I have a strong leaning to the eastern mint coinage. Here is a small family grouping from a range of eastern mints. Septimius Severus Julia Domna Caracalla Geta Plautilla Elagabalus Julia Maesa Severus Alexander
