MY First Purchase of 2018

Here it is nearly the end of January 2018, and I just received the first coin I purchased since the beginning of the year. Nothing overly special about the coin other than the control mark on the obverse. The seller's description indicated it was a grape bunch, but I thought it hardly looked like one. So some further investigation revealed, to me at least, that it is the leg of some animal. I think it may be a Horse's leg. I found one coin with the same control mark on Acsearch, but there may be more examples I just didn't find.

So, what is the consenus of my fellow collectors about the control mark? The following screen shot's, posted by @TIF, I plagerized from a 2016 thread regarding the same kind of question: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/m-plaetorius-m-f-cestianus-denarius-new-entry.280396/






M. PLAETORIUS M.F. CESTIANUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS PLAETORIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Head of Bonus Eventus right; horse's leg behind. Argentarii mark in obverse
REVERSE: M. PLAETORI CEST. EX. S. C, winged caduceus
Rome 57 BC
3.87g, 19 mm
Cr405/5; Syd 807; Plaetoria 5

From Wiki
The gens Plaetoria was a plebeian family at Rome. A number of Plaetorii appear in history during the first and second centuries BC, but none of this gens ever obtained the consulship. Several Plaetorii issued denarii from the late 70s into the 40s, of which one of the best known alludes to the assassination of Caesar on the Ides of March, since one of the Plaetorii was a partisan of Pompeius during the Civil War.

 

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My first thought was a fish or dolphin or other sea creature but you're right... CNG calls it an animal leg. Whatever the mark is, it doesn't seem to be common. The coin below looks like a die match to your obverse.

from CNG's archives


M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus. 57 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.94 g, 7h). Rome mint. Head of Bonus Eventus right; animal leg behind / Winged caduceus. Crawford 405/5; Sydenham 807; Plaetoria 5. Good VF, toned, underlying luster.

 

It's a type I'm really fond of !

I've had the same interogation about mine, although the control mark was a different one : https://www.cointalk.com/threads/m-plaetorius-m-f-cestianus-denarius-new-entry.280396/#post-2453633

Hmmm : @Bing, I see now the table you quote being from that very thread


M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus. Denarius Rome mint, c. 69 BC
Male head right (Mercury ?) with flowing hair. Behind symbol
M·PLAETORI – CEST·EX·S·C Winged caduceus
18 mm, 3,86 gr
Ref : RCV #344, RSC Plaetoria # 5, Sydenham # 807, RBW # 1453, Crawford # 405/5
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection

Q

 

Very nice, JW.

 

Eggplant control mark?



Neat RR denarius with a sweet cadeucus! Man, my first ancient is jut now in the mail, probably wont have my first 2018 coin until February! Brutal!

 

A neat addition.

 

Very nice addition @Bing

 

My first thought was also dolphin, and that was BEFORE I reviewed the list to see that dolphin was listed. I can't imagine why an animal leg would be shown upside down (unless butchered!).

 

A very good looking type and a nice example.

 

Is this control mark used to verify purity, or is it a counting measure like a tellers mark? Looks like a cat lying down. Face on the left.

 

Hey Bing,

Good score

 

Nice one Bing! A worthy choice for first coin of the year. I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment on the control mark.

Coincidentally my first coin of 2018 was a Roman Republic coin as well. Just picked it up last week from my local dealer Joe Riggs. I love the serrated edge.

C Naevius Balbus;
Roman Repbulic BC 79
AR Serrated Denarius; 21mm/3.9 g
OBV: Diademed head of Venus Right, SC behind
REV: Victory in triga Right, numeral CXXXIII above, C. NAE BAB in ex
(have not attributed it yet)

 

The control marks were used at the mint in order to distinguish the exact date/sequence of the issue. These controls allowed the moneyer to keep close accounts of the coins produced and silver used.

There are many collectors that base their collection themes on the differring control marks of a particular issue. A fun way to approach collecting IMHO.

 

Great coin Bing especially the obverse.

 

Great looking coin @Bing! Nice way to start off the year.

 

looks like a squid to me.

 

Nice pickup Bing! I kinda figured your first coin would be a RR. I ended up with a RR from Triton XXI, when my first 5 choices went ballistic in the final winning bids I ended up with MUCH better luck in NY Sale/ Spink USA auctions.

 

I was going to post a picture of a plate of frog legs, just to be funny. However, it seems I was closer to the Mark than I thought.

 

I dunno, but it sure doesn't look like a "grape bunch" as the seller described it. Could be frog legs.......

 

I agree. It totally looks like frogs legs.

Nice example and a great first pick for 2018, @Bing.

Mine has no cool symbol, just a boring ol' letter. Still, it was my first RR ever and will always be a favorite.


ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius. 4.0g, 18mm. Rome mint, 57 BC. M. Plaetorius M F Cestianus, moneyer. Crawford 405/5. O: Head of Bonus Eventus right, A behind. R: M PLAETORI CEST EX S C, winged caduceus.