Was a bit hungry recently and decided to head over to my local @Valentinian 's Snack Shack" and picked up a new Byzantine & Armenian coin. On my way out after paying I saw a scruffy Marcus Aurelius laying not too far from Ebay Ave. and it ended up being a type I have wanted for some time due to the bust & it was the last type minted before Marcus passed on. So it's a bit scarce. Needless to say it was a good and inexpensive outing. Constantine IV, King of Armenia *Gosdantin IV* (1365-1373 A.D.) AR Takvorin O: +ԿՈՍՏԸ(ԱՆԴԻՆ) (ԹԱԳԱ)ՈՐ ՀՈՑ, King riding right holding cross sceptre, below horse s R.+ՉԻՆԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ , lion right, right paw raised, cross in back, below s. Sis (now Kozan, Turkey) mint, 18mm 1.98g Bed.2106 Alexius III (1195 - 1203 A.D.) Billon Trachy O: IC-XC, + KE HQEI Bust of Christ facing, beardless, wearing nimbus cross, holding scroll & raising hand in benediction. R: [ALEZIW ECP TW KWCTANTI] Alexius & St. Constantine standing facing, holding labara, globe cross between. Constantinople mint 3.29g 30mm Sear 2013 Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180 A.D.) AR Denarius O: M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R:TR P XXXIIII IMP X COS III P P, Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath with her right hand, cradling trophy with her left arm. Rome mint. Struck 180 A.D. 3.14g 19mm RIC III 411 var. (bust type); BMCRE 808; MIR 18, 463-4/37; RSC 975a.
@Mat , I like your mastery of the Armenian keyboard! I'd say "It's Greek to me" but that wouldn't be true. I can wade through Greek, but Armenian is a mystery.
I don't consider that Marcus A. to be "scruffy" at all. I rather like the greyish toning on it. Ditto to @Valentinian's comment about your mastery of the Armenian keyboard squigglies.
I guess we all get the 'snack attack' from time to time and I often go to FAC auctions when I can't shake that craving
@Mat : +ԿՈՍՏԸ(ԱՆԴԻՆ) (ԹԱԳԱ)ՈՐ ՀՈՑ to you TOO! And just for that: ՉԻՆԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ RIGHT back atcha! LOL, Kidding. WAY cool on the great pickups. Knowing you, you are the Master of the Deal. These are coins that I do not have. Each time I watch your posts, I seem to think that I need to get some of those too! Thanks for the inspiration. That MA is great! and having a last issue is cool. The Armenian is very cool, and I had not thought much about coinage from that area of the world! I have no Armenia: I have only this Trachy, just to have a Trachy. I honestly think these are goofy coins, odd shaped, and the concept of portability is lacking. BZ Manuel I Comnenus 1143-1180 CE Aspron Trachy 35mm 4-6g Christ Gospels Labaran globus cruciger Virgin maphorium SB 1966 scyphate And I just got an AR Aurelius, because my bronze was super worn.: RI MARCUS AURELIUS AR Den as Caesar TR POT VI COS II - Genius stg at altar hldg standard
@Mat i really like the Aurelius. Nice pick ups all. I have a hard enough time with the Greek keyboard, no need for me to try Armenian.
