Post your latest ancient!

As someone who is also interested in the history around Constantine and the Tetrarchy, I really appreciate your amazing collection @Victor_Clark ! Thanks for sharing.

 

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I had one of those weeks where a few auctions you're in all close in a bunch. I got the 3 lots I really wanted, 2 are coins that were on my "list" (the handful of coins you really really want but can't find/afford). I don't even have them in-hand yet (knock on wood), but I'm walking on air & I gotta crow a little or I'll burst.
Picked up:
-Evdocia AE, Emps. Enth. Arms X-ed at chest, CONCOR-DIA AVG / CONS (it's not the prettiest coin there ever was, but devices are all there w/enough Ob leg to attribute & portrait is nice enough & I love it so much from just the listing pics)
-Theodosius II AE3/4 CONCOV-DIA AGV (sic), Emp. Stg. F. W/Stdrd & cross on globe / CONS
Full Ob-Leg on a full flan, which is VERY unusual, but an unfortunate scratch through the portrait. Full Re, too, just a little weakness? or worn-die? at 12°. Sure, it's got a little wear & could've been burried in better conditions & nothing from that time is nice, but it's pretty darn good for-type, I think. Thrilled to have one in any condition, really.
-Theoderic monogram 2.5 nummi.

Got them for pretty good prices, too. Hell, the Theoderic was flat out cheap (Ebay).

Theoderic was the last one to end so I guess it's the latest. Screen-shot of the listing-pic below (not my finger, sorry for the junk in the border, best I can do right now & too pleased with myself to care). Can't wait to see it in-hand; looks like it'll be a beautiful coin.
I'll post pics of the other 2 when they arrive.

Oh, the Theo II & Evdocia were my list coins. I've been hunting the Evdocia type for years (comes in the name of 3 Empresses; Evdocia, Galla Placidia or Pulcheria). I've seen some others offered but kept losing out in the end (only 1 was actually attributed. Not this one. I think the type may be a bit more common than it's thought to be & a good percent hide in plain sight, unnoticed). And I thought I'd never really get a chance to own the Theo II type; hoped, but didn't expect.

On air! Walking right on it!

 

That sounds like a great haul of 5th century minima! Gotta love those little AE4s!

I'm planning to post more about this one later, but I'll throw it in, since there's a degree of thematic similarity...

Not yet in hand...

I've already got the VOT XIIII type Nummus (Year 14) and some Carthage mint Siliqua.

I may have seen one or two in (slightly) better condition, but this is definitely the most complete legend I can recall or find. It's really amazing by the standards of these little tinies -- especially at only 9mm!!

Justinian I AE Nummus (9mm, 0.88g), Carthage Mint, RY 13 (539/540).

 

That is an exceptional example. Congrats!

 

This is my latest ancient and one I have been seeking for quite a while. I was pretty excited to find it last night.



ANT AVG / III VIR R P C.
Praetorian galley right with scepter tied on prow.
CHORTIVM PRAETORIARM.
Aquila between two standards.
3.25 g 18 mm
I found this with a German dealer who despatched it next day. This was a far harder coin to find than Legate IIII.

 

As most here know, I collect MA Legionary denarii. This is one of the harder to find. The Delos Hoard of 1905 shows only 6 included in the hoard. It is considered scarce but not rare.

The praetorian cohorts took their name from the praetorium, or tent, of the commander. These elite troops went on campaign as the personal accompaniment of their generals (Marc Antony likely had four or more praetorian cohorts with him at Actium). Augustus drew from these cohorts to form the Praetorian Guard, a unit that would come to possess tremendous political power.

 

Yours is a beautiful coin @Bing. It was actually you that inspired me to start this collection and I have been grateful over the years for your references and to view your coins which started my enthusiasm. Thank you!
It has been a great additional collecting theme for me and a continuing enjoyable journey. Of course what will now happen is that I will probably see a much better Praetoriarm turn up in the coming weeks. However I am a great advocate of "if you snooze, you lose" so I was grateful for this and I have others in worse shape. I'm very happy with this coin and the next on my list is a Lybicae. I don't seek perfection only completion of the series.

 

That's probably a good thing. The hardest to find was LEG IIII. Mine is a poor example, but, hey, I have one right?


And as for Lybicae:

 

I keep telling myself not to purchase anymore coins until I get caught up on cataloging my back log. I still have more than 100 coins to weigh, measure, photograph and document. So with my head slump down, like a dog wearing their “cone of shame”, I reluctantly opened my package I just received today. Well actually my neighbor received my package and was kind enough to deliver it to me without opening it. My latest acquisitions:


BITHYNIA. Nicaea. C. Papirius Carbo (Proconsul, 62-59 BC). AE Dichalkon. (21mm, 7.0 g) Dated Proconsular era 224 (59/8 BC). Lovely detail with a nice desert patina.


Phrygia, Apameia AE (23mm, 5.6 g). Kokos, magistrate. Circa 100-50 BC
Fairly common coin but I just couldn't beat the price.


PISIDIA, Isinda. (16-15 BC) AE. 5.46g. 19mm
This has to be one of the ugliest portraits of Zeus I have ever seen; must have been engraved by a 5 year old.


PISIDIA. Termessos Major AE (Circa 71 BC). 3.53g. 16mm
Now that's the Zeus I know and love...


Bithynia, Cius. Pseudo-autonomous, uncertain AE (22mm, 5.0 g)
I know I'm really ugly, but hey there's only 3 of us that are known to exist.


CILICIA, Anemurium. Valerian I AE. 7.97g. 26mm.
This one was actually listed as Volusian, but based on the obverse inscription I believe it's Valerian I.


LYDIA. Saitta. Gallienus (253-268 AD) AE. 14.6g. 29mm
Does anybody have a copy of "Greek and Roman Provincial Coins - Lydia" by Dane Kurth because this one isn't in any standard references.


CAPPADOCIA, Caesaraea-Eusebia. Nero. (AD 54-68) AR Hemidrachm. 1.64g. 13mm.
I've been wanting this one for awhile. Not the best condition but it's a nice placeholder.


Gordian III (238-244), Sestertius, Rome, AD 241-243; AE 16.7g. 30mm.
Nice detail and shape for a Sestertius.


Gordianus III. (238-244 AD). AR Denarius (18mm, 2.79 g), (Rome), 240 AD
I didn't really need another RIC IV 81, but hey the price was right.


I seriously need to join coin collectors anonymous. I promise no more purchases till I get everything cataloged; yea right....

 

I couldn't agree with you more! That may not necessarily be a good thing, but, I will grab what I can get, at the time, then try to improve. If I'm not able to improve on it, well, "I have one". From the little I've seen while being a member of CT, you have an amazing collection. You also are a wealth of knowledge, again, my opinion, but I believe that I'm correct. You are very willing to share when needed. You don't try to "take over" a post, but add to it. I've learned a lot from you, but I've still got a long way to go. I've always collected U.S. coins. Recently have moved (just a little) to some ancients, because of "CT friends" like you. I then realized just how little I did know. But, I'm encouraged by being a member of CT. Almost everyone on here have been kind (I qualified this with "almost" because I remember a few years ago when a few were less then "kind", but I learned from some of them, too), considerate, helpful, etc. I'm very glad to be a member of CT. I'm not about to try to name all of you on CT that have gone out of your way to help me (and many others). For one reason, the list would be long. Another reason is I'm old, and I might forget someone. And, the third reason is... well I can't remember it!

 

Ha, I was just telling myself the same thing last night.

 

Here is the back log I still need to get thru.


At least I've already attributed most of them. However, I still have about 30+ denarii to identify. I don’t know what I would do without the OCRE and Wildwinds databases. Even then I still have to weigh, measure, photograph, and print flip labels for all of them (whew).

PHOTO DISCLAIMER – under no circumstance should you ever store coins in PVC baggies or flips. I ran out of storage space in my coin boxes so I had them in these baggies temporarily.

 

I just got this one in a lot yesterday.



Constantine I
A.D. 307- 310
25x27mm 6.2g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing left, tower on head, loins draped, r. holding patera, l. cornucopiae.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 103 corr.; LMCC 5.04.003

 

Domitian (81-96) AR Denarius (Silver, 3.20g, 20mm) Rome, 81
Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M Head laureate right.
Rev: TR P COS VII - DES VIII P P Minerva, helmeted, aegis on breast, standing left, holding Victory on extended right hand, left hand resting on shield to right of her legs, transverse scepter under left arm.
Ref: RIC II 62

This was listed as scarce, with just six specimens in Reka Devnia hoard, but I'm not sure that makes it more valuable than the 7 Otho coins in the same hoard. I'd probably rather have one of those. But, still a halfway decent Domitian.

 

Two recent purchases. Not in the most amazing condition but I am very pleased to have them and also keen to have a growing (though still small) collection of Hadrian denarii. Will probably be a while before I acquire any more in the travel series as prices seem to be increasing rapidly!



Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 130-133. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head to right / AFRICA, Africa, wearing elephant headdress, reclining to left, holding scorpion and cornucopiae; basket of corn to left. RIC II.3 1494; BMCRE 816; RSC 138.



Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 130-133. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head to right / AEGYPTOS, Egypt reclining to left on basket, holding sistrum; before, Ibis standing to right. RIC II.3 1482; BMCRE 797-8; RSC 99.

 

A very respectable pair. Congratulations!

 

Arrived today
AR denarius (3,87 g. 17 mm.). Rome, 138 B.C. C Renius
Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet and 5 drop earring; behind, X designating value/
C•RENI below, ROMA in exergue, Juno Caprotina, holding crook, reins and scepter, driving biga of goats right.
Crawford 231/1; Sydenham 432; Renia 1.

 

2nd today
Agrippa. Struck under his Grandson Caligula, 37-41 AD.
M . AGRIPPA . L . F . COS . III, head left wearing rostral crown / S-C in field flanking Neptune standing facing, head left, naked except for cloak draped behind him & over both arms, holding small dolphin in right hand & vertical trident in left.
AE As 12.62gr, 28mm. RIC 58,Cohen 3.

 

a new one



Maximinus II
A.D. 311
26mm 6.8g
IMP C GALER VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS; Genius standing left, holding patera & cornucopiae; crescent over K in left field, Γ over X in right.
In ex. ALE
RIC VI Alexandria 144b