Ancients => Capricorn versus Scorpion (any side-bets?)

Well, this is my 4th and final CNG-score from last Wednesday's auction ...

This last minute pickup was definitely a random & thrifty purchase!!

The initial estimate for this cool coins was $150 => so I swooped-in at the last second to snag it for an opening-bid steal => $90 Hammer

Not only do I love this sweet animal-combo coin, but it is also my first "Capricorn" example (*tick*) ..... so yah, this was a no-brainer (I wanted this coin!!)


Sure, the green spots are a bit concerning, but the fact that Ardy mentioned some "encrustations" made me fell a bit more at ease about pulling the trigger (I don't mind hard green crusties at all ... ummm, but it's the powdery ones that give me the creeps)

... anyway ...

=> I love this new score and I'm hoping that you dudes will love it as well

CYPRUS. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Æ16
Time of Augustus(?), 27 BC-AD 14
Diameter: 16 mm
Weight: 2.64 grams
Obverse: Capricorn right; above, six-pointed star
Reverse: Scorpion; six-pointed star to right
Reference: Amandry, Julio-Claudien I, Group 6; RPC I 3916 and Suppl. 3916 note
Other: 11h … VF, brown patina, some encrustation

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Winna winna scorpion winna

Seriously, great coin. It is probably my favorite from the 4.

 

Very cool! That probably has some astrological/astronomical significance, I would think. Do we know what circumstances surrounded its issue? What was going on in the sky at the time?

 

Ummm, sorry => "please" post any relevant-enough examples of things ...

Coins
Food
Capricorn examples
Scorpion Examples
Star examples
Examples of examples
Underpants
Etc

 

Here's my capricorn coin:


Cornelia Supera, wife of Aemelian. Augusta, 253 CE.
Mysia, Parium. Æ (20.5mm, 3.78g).
Struck 253 CE.
Obv: G CORN SUPERA, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: C. G. I. H. P., Capricorn right, cornucopia on back; globe between legs (Sear describes as a star, but this appears to be a globe).
Refs: SGI 4408 (var.); SNG Von Aulock 7448.

 

Awesome, thanks Roman Collector



Hmmm ... well, perhaps I'll even it up by tossing-in another one of my scorpion examples

KINGS of COMMAGENE
Antiochos IV Epiphanes Æ28
AD 38-72
Diameter: 28 mm
Weight: 15.57 grams
Obverse: Diademed and draped bust right
Reverse: Scorpion within wreath
Reference: RPC I 3854; AC 199 (obv. legend)
Other: 12h … Near VF, earthen brown patina, rubbed on the high points, two long scratches near obverse edge

 

Really cool coin! Animals on both sides! That's a winner for sure!

When I went to China, I found out that scorpions were apparently an edible delicacy. So I guess "Winna Winna Scorpion Dinna" is an applicable phrase.

 

Had them several times! Eat'em up YUM!

 

Capricorn and a scorpion.....how can I not LOVE it!! Congrats once again Steve!!!

 

That's three things I want in a coin - capricorn, scorpion, struck in Cyprus. Great pickup!

 

Love the Capricorn lil bro.

 

Great coin. Here is my Capricorn.

 

Scratches is not the word I would have used. Note mine has just one at the top. I see this as pre-minting 'damage' perhaps having something to do with the flan preparation. IDK. Who does? Too many things to study!

 

Yah, I merely inherited those "scratch-comments" from the seller ... I totally agree that these marks look more like mint-type marks (thanks for commenting, Mentor)

 

A perfect Steve coin! Your Commagene is fabulous too-- I keep looking for one but always like yours better.


Don't think I have any Capricorns but I have a fat scorpion for this thread . It's a teensy tiny coin but packed with great designs.


CARIA, Mylasa
450-400 BCE
AR hemiobol, 7 x 9 mm, 0.5 gm
Obv: facing forepart of lion
Rev: scorpion within incuse square
Ref: SNG von Aulock 7803

 

This is a really neat type. Congrats

 

Another great one! But given that lions are more usually shown in a rather fiercer pose, could that be a lion skin, related to Hercules, rather than a lion?

 

I suspect it is really a flayed lion skin, but that's just a guess.

 

So, it seems like you folks liked my four CNG coins well-enough, eh? (thanks)

Here they are again for a final curtain call ...

THESSALY, Pharkadon. Æ Dichalkon
Circa 400-350 BC
Diameter: 17 mm
Weight: 4.23 grams
Obverse: Horse grazing right
Reverse: Crescent
Reference: BCD Thessaly I –; cf. BCD Thessaly II 623.1-2; HGC 4, 309
Other: 8h … VF, red and black patina
From the BCD Collection




ISLANDS off TROAS, Tenedos. AR Obol
Late 5th-early 4th century BC
Diameter: 8 mm
Weight: 0.55 grams
Obverse: Janiform head of a diademed female left and laureate male right
Reverse: Labrys in linear border within shallow incuse square
Reference: SNG Ashmolean 1235; HGC 6, 387
Other: 6h … Near VF, toned
CNG 398 – Lot #168




IONIA, Ephesos. AR Drachm
Circa 500-420 BC
Diameter: 16 mm
Weight: 3.19 grams
Obverse: Bee with spiral antennas and no front legs; no ethnic
Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square
Reference: Karwiese Series VI, Type 1A; SNG Kayhan 119 var. (obv. border type)
Other: VF, irregular flan, some roughness




CYPRUS. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Æ16
Time of Augustus(?), 27 BC-AD 14
Diameter: 16 mm
Weight: 2.64 grams
Obverse: Capricorn right; above, six-pointed star
Reverse: Scorpion; six-pointed star to right
Reference: Amandry, Julio-Claudien I, Group 6; RPC I 3916 and Suppl. 3916 note
Other: 11h … VF, brown patina, some encrustation




I'll play a card from Ro's deck and predict that you guys liked these coins in the following order (rated by the number of likes they received in their OP-posts) ... sure, it's only one data point, eh?



1) Phark It (horse & crescent) => 35 likes ..... runaway favourite!!

2) Janus & Axe => 23 likes
3) Buzzy Bee => 23 likes
4) Capricorn & Scorpion => 24 likes

... the final three coins seemed like a "tie" (I love them all ... but I probably like the bee the best)

Thanks again for your comments (I always appreciate feedback)

 

MC Hammer 90
MYSIA, Parium Hadrian Ae 20 Capricorn