Had to take a break from Medieval coins

Since it really tough for me to attribute Medieval coins, I took a break and went downtown to HJB to buy nice coins.

Going to HJB definitely made my day. This is one of the coins:

AE 21
Macedonia, Amphipolis, 27 BC – 14 AD
21 mm, 9.44 g;
RPC 1626; BMC (Catalogue of the Greek Coins, Macedonia, p. 52) 73; SNG Copenhagen 89; SNG ANS 164-65; Lindgren 963; Sear Greek Imperial 29.

Ob.: ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟΣ Bare head of Augustus to r.
Rev.: ΑΜΦΙΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ (of the Amphipolitans) Artemis Tauropolos with billowing veil, riding on bull wearing basileion of Isis between its horns and galloping to r.

Ex Collection Prof. David MacDonald
Don't know who Prof. David MacDonald is, does someone know?

Pictures courtesy HJB:




Please share coins that made your day or anything you'd like to share

 

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Very cool! I haven't been to HJB since about 2000, but I remember the fun.



Class A2 Anonymous Follis - S 1813 - DOC A2.14, (34mm, 19.04g) F plus natural patina

This made my day. A not terrible, 34mm., heavy example for under $30.

 

A really nice heavy example, the obverse is nice and the lettering is readable

 

That's a very attractive coin @cmezner ! Well done!
I recently won a coin that I've tried to acquire 5 separate times (no, not just the type - the same exact coin!) So I'm excited about that. I'll share it whenever it arrives.

 

First, enjoy your respite from your deep dive into Medieval coinage.

Congrats on the new coin. Full, complete legends are always a pleasure to see on any ancient coin. I particularly like the reverse's complete device and legend, with a full circular border.

I just did an Internet search. It turned up many hits. I don't have time to peruse the info the links lead to. I'm just passing them along. However, I couldn't avoid realizing though that he recently passed. Also, you may want to ask HJB what info they have on him since I noticed in the process of doing this that they listed 75 coins from his collection in an auction. FYI, there were more links I did not "cut & paste" for this post, but these links below look like they will go a long way toward answering your question...

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-macdonald-a43897158

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pantagraph/name/david-macdonald-obituary?id=58043102

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/n...9eeR8s_Er5b0nwazR9GG0HRvREbIbYxZbQ9q1UhESeBaE

See the author info in this CNG listing:
https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=62255

See the seemingly VERY interesting article on pg. 15 of this newspaper:
https://videttearchive.ilstu.edu/?a=d&d=vid19950126-01.2.44&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------

Scroll down to see the June 2, 2025 post here:
https://www.facebook.com/PtolemyBronze/

This article speaks mostly to his numismatic life here:
https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n28a05.html

EDIT:
p.s.: I just realized one of the far too many numismatic library books I have on my shelves but have not yet read is by David MacDonald. I'll let your post be the catalyst to my reading it: Overstruck Greek Coins: Studies in Greek Chronology and Monetary Theory. (Its Foreword section was written by Harlan J. Berk.)

 

I bought the following coin at the HJB offices a few years ago. It's one of those Byzantine "good enough for the type" examples. I liked the portrait, at least. Every time I look at it I'm reminded of that fascinating trip to their store. Going through the revolving doors, then getting sent to an upper floor for the ancients, entering a room crawling with antiquities. They gave me a decent price cut on the coin as well. So a good experience overall.

 

Wow, nice capture, congrats! I really like that one.