Just when I thought Christmas was over for another year I’ve been traveling and have not made a visit to the post office for two weeks until today. I opened my PO box and looked inside and there it was—a gift from my Secret Saturnalia Santa, who goes by the screen name @hoth2 . It was an awesome surprise. Walking out of the post office, I was feeling that amazing feeling that I felt when I was a kid on Christmas morning. The package contained a pair of excellent pen and ink sketches of details from one of my Judaea Capta denarii, a superb book entitled Coins and Christianity by Kenneth Jacob (never seen this before) and a beautiful Trajan denarius. I know what you’re thinking—Deacon Ray already posted his Secret Saturnalia gift. It was the Pisidia, Etenna bronze, featuring the beautiful nymph with the serpent. No, I was mistaken about that—that was a generous gift from our awesome CoinTalk Ancients Forum friend @LaCointessa and was not meant to be part of the Saturnalia gift exchange.
The coin and book is pretty awesome but the sketches - wow!!! Per the Julian Calendar Christmas is in January so you're not late at all.
What a wonderful and thoughtful combination! I noticed the 'punch hole' on that cool denarius....and now I can't help but wonder what stories it could tell
You're a boss, hoth. Great gift, the drawing, coin and book all rule! I gotta check out that book. Erin
That's a great gift, mad props to @hoth2 for such generosity! I have read that book and can confirm that it is a good read. There was some information that was very familiar (the Widow's Mite and Tribute Penny), but also a lot that I had never encountered before. I would strongly recommend it.
coool! DeaconRay, hoth2: “Oh would some power the giftie gie us, To see ourselves as others see us.” -Robert Burns
@chrsmat71 The market is ripe for a book on the collective collection of THE premier online ancient coin community. I say we coauthor The Coins of Cointalk: Illustrations. I'm picturing a glossy coffee table book, maybe with gilt letters on the cover and profiles inside.
@Deacon Ray, I am glad everything got straightened out with your gifts. The past week has presented a bit of a struggle over whether to thank you for speaking so kindly about this one or whether to try to ignore it. Deacon, I am well aware I am not awesome in any sense; but, you are. So when you used that term in relation to me, it could not be blithely accepted or nonchalantly ignored as it immediately reminded me of my various inadequacies and areas where improvement is mandatory. I expect your words will continue to serve as impetus for my personal and spiritual growth. Thank you so much.