The Coin Court of Magnus Maximus.

2016 has been a great year for coin collecting, I've continued my relentless buying spree of Roman Siliquae while branching out to the early "Byzantine" empire

No.10

The only Greek coin I added this year, a drachm of Ariobarzanes III. He was a loyal friend of the Roman Republic and his coins are cheap and plentiful.

No. 9

I sometimes dabble in earlier Roman coinage if the price is right, it was for this coin.
Caracalla. A.D. 198-217. AR antoninianus (24 mm, 5.35 g, 6 h). Rome, A.D. 215. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right / P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Jupiter seated left, holding Nike and scepter; at feet to left, eagle standing left, head right. RIC -; BMC -; RSC 277b. Rare bust type for the issue. Lightly toned. Very fine.

No.8

My first "Goldie" of 2016, a Semiss of Emperor Justin II.
Love this one a lot!
Justin II. 565-578. AV Semissis (18mm, 2.16 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory seated right on trophy, inscribing shield set on knee; star to left, reversed staurogram to lower right; CONOB.DOC 12; MIBE 10; SB 352. Good VF.

No.7



Now we get into the really good stuff!
Constantius II. AD 337-361. AR Siliqua (18mm, 2.09 g, 6h). Arelate (Arles) mint, 1st officina. Struck AD 355-363. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VOTIS / XXX / MVLTIS / XXXX within wreath; PCON. RIC VIII 261 and 291; RSC 342-3r. Near VF, toned.

Ex 2010 Gussage All Saints Hoard (PAS Ref. DOR-A1CCB1; NC 171 [2011], no. 54).

No.6


I've been hunting a coin from this specific die for years, I finally got one it this year. Certainly one of the best portraits of Magnus Maximus I've ever seen.
Magnus Maximus, 383-388 Siliqua Treveri circa 383-388, AR 18.5mm., 1.84g. D NMAG MAXIMVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VIRTVS ROMANORVM Roma enthroned facing, head l., holding globe and spear; in exergue, TRPS. RIC 84b. C20.

To be continued.....

 

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No.5

My latest pickup and last one for 2016, bought this bad boy 20 minutes ago: A Valens Siliqua from Rome.
Rome in the 4th century CE was a tranquil backwater. The style of their coins are the best in the Late Empire.

Valens AD 364-378. Rome
Siliqua AR

18mm., 2,05g.

D N VALENS PF AVG; pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VOT V MV·LT X/ RB, in four lines within wreath.

very fine

RIC 10c.

No.4-1 will be continued later today as I've got to study for a Chem. exam.

 

Great coins. That Caracalla has a great portrait.

 

Great coins. I really like the justin II semissis.

 

That's a nice reverse, who is the old auntie dragging that umbrella? With her other hand she holds a wheelbarrow with a midget on it, and a halberd is standing in the background.
(Did the old Romans have wheelbarrows??? or umbrellas?)

 

No.4
A lovely Tremissis of Tiberius II Constantine. He is one of my favorite Emperors so I naturally had to get a coin of his.

Tiberius II Constantine. 578-582. AV Tremissis (17mm, 1.48 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Cross potent. DOC 7; MIBE 9b; SB 425. VF, traces of deposits in devices, scrapes and scratches, hints of die rust, slightly wavy flan.

No.3

This coin comes in at number 3, but if looks were all that mattered then it would be a clear no.1
C. 337-355 CE
Pre-reform Siliqua

Rev: VOTIS / XXX / MVLTIS / XXXX within wreath.
Constantinople mint .
Slight cabinet tone with super detail and metal
RIC 102
3.11g


No.2

By the 6th century the Siliqua had all but ceased circulation in the Eastern Roman Empire. This was not the case in the West, silver Siliquae and their fractions would freely circulate there way past the 700's.
When Justinian reconquered North Africa from the Vandals he immediately began striking Roman coins there.

Justinian I AD 527-565, AR Siliqua (15mm, 1.23 g) Carthage
DN IVSTINIANVS PP AG; draped, cuir. and diademed bust r.
VOT/MVLT/HTI in wreath; CONOS in ex
Sear 253; very fine, toned
Struck shortly after the reconquest.

No.1(kind of)
These two coins are tied for the number one slot.

Honorius AR Siliqua
1.28 Grams
Minted in 407/08 by the mint at Rome.
This coin is a uber rare issue from Rome that was possibly struck during the first siege of Rome by the visigoths. If only it could talk!

and


This coin was struck in the 18 month period of time that Magnus Maximus occupied Milan and the entire Western Roman Empire.

Magnus Maximus
AR Siliqua
387-388 CE
1.84 Grams
Mediolanum mint

 

Love the Mag Max siliqua you have at #1, as well as your #3. That Caracalla has a great portrait. Congrats on a good year all around!

 

Many thanks to @Topcat7, @Valentinian, @SIliquae, and @Pishpash for their help in assisting me this year with my collection.
You guys, and girl, rock!

 

WOW, @Magnus Maximus ! Wonderful Silver and Gold collection! Great coins, cool collecting focus, and you have been great bringing the History to LIFE with your write-ups.

 

If two coins are tied for number 1, the next coin down is number 3, isn't it?

 

My favorite has to be the Caracalla but of the siliquae, the Justinian has an appeal I can not explain.

 

@ All ancients board members:
Of all the coins posted here, which is your favorite?

 

i'm with zumbly, 1 and 3 are lovely coins MM...what a great year for you!

 

My favourite has to be #4, the Tremissis. (I can't believe that the price was so reasonable.) I just love the gold coins.

I only have two, an Indian Fanam, and my Avatar. (In the interests of accuracy, I do, also, have a gold 'Sovereign', but that doesn't belong here.)

Congrats, M.M. A great 2016, and hoping for an even better 2017, for you.

 

I think the Justinian Siliquae is doing it for me... I like all the others though!

 

A wonderful mix means a great year!!!

I'm a #1 and #3 fan as well!! And, I find #10 interesting because of the relatively 'crude' devices (and the 'wicked witch' with a broom reverse). I'm chasing a Tet of Mithradates---not at ALL a friend of the Romans---- that exhibits the same 'style' on most of his coins while others are 'high style' and clearly duplicate the type issued..... 'in the name of Alexander'.

 

My favourite is the Justin II. It has a certain character I like very much.

 

It(the Semissis) does make Justin II look a tad mad

 

MM, your #1 Magnus Maximus siliqua is gorgeous. What a great coin!

 

Great coins, Mag-Max ... congrats on a good year

Hmm? => I like #9 (Caracalla) and #1b (Mag-Max)