Well, at 10.30 this morning, FedEx arrived at our shop and delivered a package from Savoca. I was not expecting anything and was about to e-mail them. My Wife came through from the office and said open it, it is for you trust me. Well, to say I was surprised is an understatement. She had registered to take part in last weeks auction to get me a surprise. Crispus AE follis. 316-317 AD. CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPIA IVVENTVTIS, Crispus in military dress, standing left with vertical spear, resting right hand on a shield at his side. Mintmark AQT. RIC VII Aquileia 9. 22 mm, 3,30 g Post your surprises
My surprises arrived today as well. A couple of budget Constantine's, that I purchased just to decrease the cost of shipping, and a double struck mint error of Constantine I the Great. Victor Clark - any idea on an attribution for the double struck error as the mint mark is missing?
Although I have never received an ancient numismatic surprise in the mail, I did once receive an ancient oil lamp surprise. A very good friend of mine who collected ancient holyland lamps passed away about 10 years ago. About 6 months later UPS delivered an unexpected, big, brown, otherwise non-descript box to my porch. Inside was some of his oil lamps, sent from his widow. (I offered to buy them, but she insisted they were gifts. I thanked her PROFUSELY of course.)
