I love those Seleucid bronzes with the great sandy patina, and ... (@stevex6 ) I'm particularly fond of that one with the owl. In fact, I've had a piece so similar in my VCoins watchlist for a while, that I thought you'd bought the very same coin for a moment! Nice stuff! I'm a sucker for Seleucids. They pack a ton of bang for the buck. I haven't had any of those "bottle caps" yet, though.
We're doing Sele elephants now? Antiocus VI, ca. 148–142/1 BC Minted in Antioch - for some reason I didn't weigh and measure this coin. Obv.: Radiate head of Antiochus VI, wreathed with ivy. Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ∆ΙΟΝΥΣΟΥ; elephant walking left holding torch in trunk, ΣΤΑ above right, cornucopia right.
I just purchased one of the Antiochos VIs from a dealer on VCOINS. I haven't received it yet. It's coming from Israel so it's going to take a while.
FAC = Forvm Ancient Coins. It's an extensive site. Here's the link to their shop: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp They also sell on Vcoins but there they jack up the prices a bit so if you find a FAC you want, it is best to buy it on their site.
They are a great place to do some shopping for more unusual coins you may not find on vcoins regularly. However, their Forum section can best be described as a North Korean labor camp, so I stick to the gift shop when I visit and skip on actually making any posts less it upsets the Dear Leader.
Have to agree with the rest,... nice score, MKent! And since we're bringing out our Seleukid elephants and helping a 'bottlecap' climb up Mikey's want list...
Not a bottle cap, but an elephant from the the First Seleucid: Seleucid Kingdom Seleucus I Nikator (Diadochi) 312-280 BCE AE 20 Seleucia on the Tigris mint Obv: Athena, helmeted Rev: Elephant, MHP monogram above and B? below Ref: Spaer 129 or Spaer S.N.G Israel I # 129 or SNGIs 129v; ESM 15A Scarce
Theyre kinda different thats what got me started with them. I think theyre great if you can find them with a good strike, hmm just like any aother when you think about it
The rules can be off putting but there's a lot of good information there and a few experts in certain types who only post there. I prefer the atmosphere of CoinTalk for sure, but I wouldn't recommend avoiding it completely.
ANTIOCHOS VII EURGETES (Sidetes) Syria, Levant 138 - 129 B.C.E. Bust of Eros to right, dotted border Headress of Isis, crescent and star below, inscrptions to side, control mark on left SNG Spaer 1980