I was thumbing through the latest issue of the CSNS publication called The Centinel, and an illustration caught my eye. I knew right away, from its distinctive style, that is was an Eastern coin of Severus Alexander. But something about it looked so familiar I thought I'd check to see... and sure enough it's mine! Here's my image of the coin with a description, and below that is an image of the same coin (seller's photo) illustrating page 30 of The Centinel. Severus Alexander. AR denarius, Eastern mint, struck 222–8 CE; 19mm, 3.30g. BMCRE 1036, RIC 286, RSC 147. Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG; laureate and draped bust right. Rx: LIBERTAS AVG; Libertas standing half-left, holding pileus and long scepter; star in field left. Apparently rare type, although it should be merely scarce, Moushmov recorded fifteen specimens in Reka Devnia with star in reverse field. My research has produced only a few other examples: one posted to Wildwinds.com in August 2009, contributed by CGB; another on Wildwinds is a variant of the type without star; another variant with cuirassed bust which was sold in Peus 386, 26 April 2006, lot 822. A while back I was reading an article on NGC's website called "Collecting the Severan Dynasty", and recognized one of their illustrations as one of my Julia Paula coins. Again, here's my image of the coin with description. If you want to see it illustrating the article (image by CNG), please click the link above and scroll down a bit. As an aside, I think it's significant that none of the images NGC uses for this article show ancient coins in slabs. Julia Paula. AR denarius, Rome mint, struck 219–20 CE. 20mm, 2.96g, 6h. BMCRE 172, RIC 211, RSC 6a. Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG; draped bust right. Rx: CONCORDIA; Concordia seated left, holding patera, star or comet in field left. From the Leo & Paula Gorelkin Collection. I should make a disclaimer and say that the published images weren't made by me, but were lifted from the sellers' websites. The ones I posted to this thread are my own. If you have any accidental "plate" coins, please share. I now have two, and both surprised the heck out of me. Accidental for the purposes of this thread means that you discovered your coin illustrating a book or article, in print or online, which was published after the coin came into your possession, and without your permission or knowledge. Alternatively, in honor of Severus Alexander and Libertas, please share your Severus Alexander coins, or any coins with depictions of Libertas!
Never had that experience! It must have come as quite a surprise! Here's a Severus Alexander sestertius with Libertas on the reverse to go along with your denarius, though: Severus Alexander, AD 222-235 Roman Æ sestertius; 21.72 gm, 28.4 mm Rome, AD 229 Obv: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate head right; slight drapery on left shoulder Rev: P M TR P VIII COS III P P S C, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter Refs: RIC 492; BMCRE 570; Cohen 372; RCV 7996.
Excellent coin. Yes, please also share images of coins with Libertas from any era, or images of your Severus Alexander coins!
I noticed that right away too! Very curious. I completely understand not wanting the ugly prongs to detract from a coin photo, but I thought they would have used coins they'd photographed out of the slab, and then slabbed, so they could note the NGC grade in the image caption and promote the practice.
And published to boot. I was surprised to see one of mine, not in a book but an online addenda that was started by Oliver Hoover one author of Seleucid Coins. He started the site because they are discovering new examples, about 100 every year, since the 2nd volume was published. He must of pulled it off Vcoins when I was selling there and I still have it. He made the background white which is why I probably didn't notice it until just last year. I took a new photo since then. Here is the link for those interested in unpublished Seleucid Coins https://seleucidaddenda.wordpress.com/category/coins-by-ruler/20-demetrius-ii-first-reign/ Mine is the top one. Demetrios II, FIRST REIGN Mint: Antioch 145 BC Obvs: Laureate head of Apollo, hair rolled with two long locks escaping down neck, dotted border. Revs: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ in two lines on right, ΘΕΟΥ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ ΝΙΚΑΤΟΡΟΣ in three lines on left. Filleted tripod. AE 19mm, 5.5g cf. SNG Isr.220.1624, cf. SC Vol.2 1913.1b, SC 1912.1Ad (This coin) Note: Unpublished except for online addenda by Oliver Hoover. Adds new control mark.
One of the main objections to slabbing is that it detracts from the visual enjoyment of the coin because the prongs are distracting and get in the way. For me this is not a big issue with most modern coins, given that they are mass-produced, and all are essentially identical and perfectly round. But much of the personality of an ancient coin resides in its unique irregularity, and anything that obscures its distinctive contours is a disadvantage. It seems that NGC's preference to use unslabbed ancients in their illustrations is confirmation of this. Certainly there must be numerous attractive slabbed ancients that they could use. The Heritage website is full of them. A well-known NGC employee, who has written several articles about ancients published in The Numismatist (ANA's publication), only illustrates his articles with unslabbed coins. I find this very curious.
Very cool! Your image and the one in the article look different enough that it would be easy to overlook that they're the same.
Lets remember that a photo is the intellectual property of the photographer or his employer and rights to a photograph does not pass to the subsequent owners of the coin unless there is a contract to the contrary. Sellers with good photos are usually very good about allowing others to use their photos and I have never heard of a dealer suing someone who bought a coin for stealing a photo. I am a bit amazed that some of the big producers of quality images have been so free allowing others to profit from their work but most seem to take the attitude that what is good for numismatic education is good for all of us. I am not a great photographer of great coins but have been asked and granted permission to use my photos over a hundred times. I have been informed by others of several other printed uses of my images that did not ask but just used/stole the image. My favorite was a microscope seller that used a photo of mine to illustrate what could be done with a microscope but failed to mention that their microscope did not take the photo. You are in no way entitled to control the use of images taken of coins you now own unless you also took the photo or bought that photo from its maker or his employer who owns the photos made as part of his job. I am not a lawyer. Would our members who are like to correct the above?
Accurate. I didn't mean to imply by my post that I own the rights to the published images or should have control over them. Nonetheless, I'm a little surprised that the editor of The Centinel didn't include a credit line for Coins to Medals, which is the source of the image. NGC did include the proper credit for the CNG images they used.
Great sleuthing, love the Julia Paula denarius. I have a new Claudius Libertas AE As thanks to alde as part of his secret Santanalia gift to me.
Those are some handsome bronzes. I especially like the elegant artistic style of Lady Libertas on the Claudius coin.
Thank you, Ancient Aussie! You and randygeki both have these wonderful Claudius bronzes with Libertas. Love them!
Severus Alexander Denarius Obv:- IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:- LIBERTAS AVG, Aequitas, standing front, head left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left; Minted in Antioch. A.D. 223. Reference:– BMC -. RIC -. RSC -. An oddity mixing the legend and deity I will have to check my trays to see if I still have the following coins.... I might have sold them a few years back.
Wow, this is a handsome group. I like the minor varieties. I notice that these Eastern Sev Alex coins often come cracked in a very similar way. Must have been something going on with the production process at this mint.
