I wanted to wait til after the 25th to make this topic so you could share coins you've recieved for Christmas but I could't wait. So most of the nicer coins I got were in December, I had a total of 7; 5 of which are very special though, since they were gifts. I wanted to say a big thank you to Dan, Mat and Doug. It's gifts like these that bring joy to a tough time of the year. Thank you! This first one is a coded Ant. of Diocletian. These are really neat coins. I don't know if I could explain it well so here is a link to one of Dougs pages on them. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/code.html Diocletian Siscia, silver AE pre-reform IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / CONSERVATOR AVGG, Diocletian and Jupiter, each holding a sceptre, standing facing each other by an altar. A in left field. XXI dot I dot. Next is nice little denarius of an Empress I didn't have. Was a very nice surprise. Julia Maesa (218 - 225 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IVLIA MAESA AVG, Draped bust right. R: IVNO, Juno standing facing, head left, holding scepter and patera. Antioch mint., 218 - 220 A.D. 1.97g 20mm RIC IV 256 var. (diademed); RSC 20a This one is the secret santa gift I just received. I hadn't gotten a coin of AP this year for myself and was very happy to get this one. Antoninus Pius Sestertius. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right / OPI AVG S-C, Ops enthroned left with transverse sceptre & drawing up draper from shoulder. RIC 612, Cohen 569, BMC 1258 The next arrived last night, another really big surprise, 2 very nice coins of Carus and Carinus (apparently the worst emperor ever ) Both emperors I lacked too. Carus Antoninianus DIVO CARO PIO; radiate head right / CONSECRATIO; Eagle standing left, head right. II in ex Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 2nd officina. 10th emission of Carinus and Numerian, AD 284. IMP C M AVR CARINVS P F AVG, radiate draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS AVGGG, Carinus left, standing right, parazonium left, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left holding scepter, star above, B in center, XXI in ex Definitely a special month for me. Thank you very much. Please feel free to post gifts you've received this year.
Huh, never heard of the "coded" ants., interesting. And very nice additions. Love the reverse on the Carus.
Wow, wonderful Xmas gifts! Randy, it looks like Christmas is starting out WELL for you! I always wondered if Greek were spelled using Latin words... Never knew about the "Coded" Ants... way cool!
Coded ants of Probus, Diocletian and Maximanus are relatively easy to pick up unidentified because so many dealers seem to ignore such things and sell them for the price of commons. Maybe we should just let well enough alone and keep it that way. I once asked a dealer about them and was told they were very rare and he never had seen one. I bought the Probus he had and quite a few since. Sometimes we get them mentioned in a listing but as much as the one below is oddly unusual. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=268407
Super gifts!!! I never made the connection about the coded ants either. No gifts for me to post But I'm hoping AJ will have pity on me
nice RG...dang! here's a coin a gave away this year! I picked this up at a coin show, just took/edited this pic ..and then I opened my saturnalia gift and received a much nicer one. It's actually a pretty darn good pic by me, so i'm glad i get to show it off once!
