[Ancients] Welcome the New Members. Post a Coin and a little about Yourself.

Hello coin-friends! Over the last few months I’ve noticed that the regular contributors to our ancient’s sub-forum have changed quite a bit. We have lots of new members that have jumped right in and started contributing and we have had a few active members that seem to have taken a break. I love how interactive and friendly our little group here at CoinTalk is and so I thought I would start this thread as a way of allowing us all to get better acquainted with new members so we all know whose posts we are liking and commenting on. In fact, I am embarrassed to say that there are still several long time contributors that I haven’t interacted much with and am unsure what their collecting focus is. Lets fix that!

So here is what I had in mind.

1. Post a coin that is within one of your areas of collecting interest and tell us why you like that area! It doesn’t necessarily have to be a coin that you currently own. It can also be a coin that you hope to own someday or that you just find interesting. (Hint: CNG has some great coin images for research purposes if you haven't pulled the trigger on an ancient coin yet)

2. Tell us a little about yourself or the area that you are most interested in collecting. What made you interested in ancient coins? How long have you been collecting? What is the capital of Zimbabwe? Anything you want to post about yourself or collecting in general.

3. Please feel free to post on this thread whether you are a brand new member or long time contributor. Lurkers welcome as well!

Okay so I’ll get us started.

1. A coin:

Roman Empire
Domitian AR Denarius (AD 81-96), Rome Mint, Struck AD 90
Obv.: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP VIIII; Domitian bust right
Rev.: IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P, Minerva stand left holding spear
Wt.: 3.15 g
Dia.: 19 mm
Ref. RIC II 150

Putting together a collection of the twelve Caesars (Julius Caesar to Domitian) is probably the most mainstream collecting goal within the hobby. It is not difficult to see why as it covers one of the most fascinating time periods in history and includes many colorful personalities within the set. I have always been more interested in historical coins that tell a specific story than with completing sets but when the above coin was recently offered for sale by a dealer I trust at a great price I had to jump on it. I am very glad that I did.

1. About me:
I’m a structural engineer and I design bridges for the most part. My favorite sports team is TCU (GO FROGS!) and my favorite thing to do is travel and explore with my soon to be wife Jessica. We prefer to visit historically interesting locations. I also like to draw and build things out of wood when I have the time (meaning never anymore). Below you can see me supporting my sports team and getting my Leonidas on at Thermopylae in Greece.

Like a few other members on the forum I like to collect historically. My favorite coins are the coin types that can be traced to specific events in history or else depict a subject that I find interesting. Coins associated with the Peloponnesian War are probably my favorite… also I like bacon.


Okay so who is next? Don’t be bashful if you are new as this is a welcoming group... also please don't leave me hanging

 

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I'm Mat, I am 38 years old.

Been collecting coins since 1986, got into ancients around 2010 due to buying my first one here on cointalk from a former poster. Since then ancient's have been my main collecting interest in the coin world.

I started out collecting the Roman Empresses but I am mainly a scatter collector, I buy whatever fits my budget & its appeal to me.

Last few years I have branched more into Roman Tetradrachms. No particular reason really.

A sample of one of my Tetradrachms.


Philip I (244 - 249 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Billion Tetradrachm
O: A K M IOV ΦIΛIΠΠOC EVC, laureate and draped bust right.
R: Alexandria standing left, facing, clothed in elephant hide, holding stalks in hand, vixellium in other, L-Δ in field.
Year 4 = 246-247 AD
23.5mm
13.9g
Alexandria 4853; Dattari 2725, Emmett # 3468

Very Rare


I also collect medieval and world moderns, especially when some areas of ancients I collect are in a drought or if budget is tighter than usual at a given time.

I collect due to my love of history & they're little arts of work.

Other things I collect are toys, autographs, comic books, fossils, various pop culture memorabilia.

Favorite food is Pizza, filipino food, & anything shoved in a sausage casing.

 

Uh... how recently should you have coined Cointalk in order to be considered a "New Member" for purposes of this thread?

 

Marcus Junius Brutus (54 BC). AR denarius
(20.36 mm 4.04 g.). Rome.
Obv: Head of Libertas right
Rev: The consul Lucius Junius Brutus walking left between two lictors, carrying axes over their shoulders, and preceded by an accensus; BRVTVS in exergue.
Crawford 433/1. Sydenham 906. RSC Junia 31.
Purchased March 23, 2017 from Munzenkontor Kornbum on MA-Shops

I am a twelve Caesars collector, but that is not my only interest as you can tell from the coin I chose. I teach in a university, but not within a history department. History has always been an interest of mine and collecting coins is just an extension of that interest. I am fascinated by the 12 Caesars because of the momentous events that occurred during that time and which have shaped our modern world. I assembled the set of 12 last year, but I am always looking to upgrade the coins I have by adding interesting or rare examples to the collection.

In the meantime I have 2 other collections that I focus on when there is a drought in interesting 12 Caesars coins. I collect coins of historical figures and the above coin is one of those. The Brutus of the above coin was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. That was enough for me to get one of his coins. Note the use of Libertas on the obverse. Brutus was worried that Julius Caesar was a direct threat to Liberty and that he had to be removed (violently, as it turned out).

I am also putting together a subset of historical figures, those who were dramatized by William Shakespeare in his plays. I have, from my youngest years, been a fan of these plays. What better way to continue my interest than to collect coins of some the historical figures mentioned by Shakespeare?

I also have coins of important historical figures from the "middle ages". This includes a coin of one of the most fascinating women to ever live, Eleanor of Aquitaine. I also have coins of many English and French kings from this period of history. The illiteracy of the times meant that messages had to be delivered in a visual way. Coins served this purpose. They were agents of propaganda and politics, and provide interesting insights into the hopes and aspirations of those that went before. As well they tell us the priorities of the ruling class.

Holding an ancient or mediaeval coin provides a link to historical events and figures that have shaped the modern world. Who would not want to hold a coin struck in the name of Brutus, one of the most interesting and controversial historical figures who ever lived. These people actually lived, and they left us some connections to their lives and to the times in which they lived and died.

To anyone new to this area of collecting I will say enjoy it. Do some reading, find out what interests you, and then dive in and buy a coin or 2.

 

Long time members and new members alike are welcome and encouraged to participate

 

Fantastic posts and thank you both for sharing. You can get a feel for what someone finds interesting by following the items they post but it is much more interesting to hear it from them directly. Your historical figures collection sounds fascinating @Orfew

That is a pretty sweet tet @Mat. I've been noticing these Alexandria issues seem to be getting fairly popular on the forum recently. Very cool!

 

@TIF & I are the ones that post Alexandrian Tets. often. But I also like Antioch issues too, but they can get a bit pricey, depending on whom you go after.

 

Curtis' dream find?

 

I am not TIF and I am not Mat but I collect Alexandrian also. I also specialize in Septimius Severus and family so will use my favorite Alexandrian tet of Julia Domna (Mrs. SS) for the purpose of this thread. The reverse is her two sons shaking hands and the coin was issued within moths of one of them killing the other.

More thanyou want to know about my views on the hobby are to be found on my web page below.

 

Thanks. I think I misunderstood the title of this thread -- that it was inviting only the new members to post a coin and some personal information.

 

Hi, I'm Carl and am one of the chemists on here. I wandered into ancients from seeing the amazing coins many of the members here have. I am cheap and don't want to put out the bucks that many of these cost, but two I really wanted were an Alexander Tet and an Athena Owl...
Here is the Tet I finally got:


And settled for a bronze (for now) for the owl

 

Nice Idea @Curtismo
My main collecting focus is 1st Century Roman and Greek coins. I like a little of everything and don't tie my collecting to any one area.
I've only been collecting ancients since around May/April 2016 about when I joined CT, but collected U.S & world moderns for a couple of decades.
I come from a military family and a veteran myself, so I do favor military theme.
I love history as well as any war history and tend to favor historical battles. My collection doesn't really show or imply it. Like Mat I buy what I like that's in my budget at the time.
Trajan is one of my favorite emperors, and any Greek coin themed mythology, which covers a broad area itself.
I'm also slowly working an empress sub.
I'm 50 and by title "structure mechanic", I build airplane componenents, wings, flaps, fuselage, ect., on a wide range of aircrafts. A lot of you already know my name, David.


Provincia Arabia, Trajan, AD 98-117
AR Drachm, 18mm, 3.2g, 6h; Bostra mint AD 114-116.
Obv.: Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙΣ ΝЄΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ΣЄΒ ΓЄΡΜ ΔΑΚ; Laureate bust right, with slight drapery.
Reverse: ΔHMAPX ЄΞ IZ YΠAT ς; Arabia standing left holding branch and bundle of cinnamon sticks; at feet, camel left.
Reference: Metcalf 16; Sydenham 185 (Caesarea).
Ex-JAZ


Lot 154. Roman Empire, Trajan 98-117, Denarius

Roman Empire, Trajan 98-117, Denarius, 2.86g: Obv: Laureate head of Trajan right "IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P" Rev: "COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC" Aequitas standing left holding a cornucopiae and scales.. RSC 85.
Aegean Numism. 7/20/2017



Lykaonia, Laranda
AR obol 10mm, .69g, 2h 324/3 BC
Head of Herackles slightly right. Wearing lion skin head dress, holding club over shoulder.
Forepart of wolf right ☆ above.
SNG BN-; CF. SNG Levante
Triskeles 3/17/2017 sale 323 lot 176

 

My name is Gerard, I'm 44 years old and been collecting ancients for a couple of months. It was always something I wanted to do, but knew the pitfalls of jumping in without the appropriate knowledge. I started coin collecting as a kid. Like many, I lost interest for quite sometime until my son caught the bug. He learned about modern coins on YouTube of all places. So, I got back into it, and we collect together.

I've been married for 22 years to my beloved Dana and we have three kids, two girls and a boy.

Chicago will always be home, however, at the moment I reside in Pickerington, OH which is a suburb of Columbus.

The members here made it possible for me to finally start a modest collection of ancient coins and I will forever be in their debt. @Deacon Ray, @Bing, @Sallent, @John Anthony, @Valentinian, @Orfew, @jamesicus, @Curtisimo, @dougsmit, @Alegandron, @Ken Dorney, @TIF, @LaCointessa, @ominus1 have shown an incredible amount of patience with me (I hope I didn't accidentally leave anyone out).

The US Army was my calling until a neurological disorder ended my career with a medical discharge. Since then I've had five brain surgeries, a spinal cord surgery and several other surgeries to remove tumors. They aren't cancerous, but cause severe nerve damage.

Currently, I work as a project manager for a utility engineering and construction company. The team I manage has thirty employees, so I have my hands full at work.

Outside of work, I helped found Buckeye Firearms Association/Foundation, and work to protect Second Amendment rights. In that role I've written articles for several gun magazines and well known political media outlets, as well as a book that is no longer in print. Other hobbies include golf, cars and shooting.

I try to keep my political views off of the board because they don't have a place here. But, they are part of my biography, so I felt obligated to mention it.

Being so knew to the Ancient game, I'm still finding my niche and so far my purchases have been impulsive. Although I do take the time to price check before acting. When I won @Deacon Ray's big bag o'romans contest I was about to start buying coins of my favorite historical figure - Alexander the Great.

That turned me around and got me going on two other favorites, Constantine the Great and Trajan.

The coin is my first true Ancient purchase, a Trajan AR Denarius. It was an easy choice.




TRAJAN AR DENARIUS, 114 - 117 C.E.

RIC 318, RSC 154, Very Fine, 19.2mm, 3.59 grams
Obverse: Laureate draped bust of Trajan to right, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC aroundReverse: P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR around Fortuna seated to left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopia in left, FORT RED in exergue

 

We are glad you decided to join CT and participate in the threads Gerard. That is a great first purchase. Those Fortuna Redux reverses were issued by the senate while Trajan was in the Middle East conquering Mesopotamia. The reverse type was a way of wishing an emperor a safe journey back to Rome. It didn't work though as Trajan died on the way back and Hadrian became emperor under unclear circumstances. Great stuff

Love the tet @Kentucky! I bet you a buffalo nickel you won't be able to stop after just two

 

Nice Trajan.
Wow man. I had a stroke in 2012 a rare syndrome and in 2000 had my neck fused C2-C5. I thought it was all over. The surgeons said I'd never work my field again. I did the rehab religiously, to this day they tell me its nothing short a miracle. I still have my struggles, daily but the human spirit is strong.

 

My fusion is C6-T1, and the doctors always like to tell us what we can't do. I can't play golf, or shoot a rifle according to them.

They were wrong!

 

Thanks for the info and the nice words about the coin. My plan is to pick up more Trajan coins and single him out among that era.

 

Hello everyone my name is Jacob, I am 14 years old and currently attend high school, I participate in extra curricular activities including Football, rugby, band, and marching band. My hobbys are airsoft, Atv riding, hunting, fishing, rc cars, and of course, coin collecting. I am extremely grateful to be a part of this forum and the coin collecting experience I'm truly in debt for all of those on cointalk for sharing with me their knowledge but I'm going to call out 3 individuals who have shared with me more then knowledge, but many coins themselves @Sallent @Valentinian @Deacon Ray they are the reason I am an ancient coin collector without them I would be lurking in the dark of this ancients forum drooling over others coins not being able to share any of my own. My interest for coins are roman, greek, judaeic and chinese I also collect modern us coinage and world coins, (those are only the types I have I'll collect any coin truly I'm currently looking into everything ). I have been collecting solidly for about 4-5 months and been on here (cointalk) about that long, here are some of the (ancient) coins I want really bad but don't own.



Thanks,
Jacob

 

That made me tired...

 

Imagine writing it now that makes you pass out.

Thanks,
Jacob