Post the First and Most Recent Coins in your Collection

I know we've had threads where we post the coin that started it all before but since we have a lot of new members lately (and I just recently re-photographed mine!) I thought it would be fun to do so again... but with a twist!

Post the first ancient coin you ever collected as well as the most recent! Sort of like showing the current bookends to our respective collections.

I'll go first!

First Ancient Coin

Roman Empire
Elagabalus
AR Antoninianus, Rome mint, struck AD 218
Dia.: 21.9 mm
Wt.: 4.5 g
Obv.: IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG; Head right, radiate, bust draped
Rev.: P M TR P COS P P; Roma seated left, holding Victory and scepter, shield at side.
Ref.: RIC IVb 1

This coin is far from beautiful but it's well centered, the legends are readable and it was the first coin I purchased for my ancient coin collection back in 2011. I had some ancient coins before this one but they were gifts from family from when I was a kid. I remember stumbling onto Vcoins and being astonished that something so old could be had for about $30! Sold!

Even besides its value to me as a milestone I still think this coin is kinda neat because it was one of the first coins struck for Elagabalus. It was struck in AD 218 in Rome before Elagabalus had even arrived from the east... those unsuspecting Romans had no idea about the level of strange that was coming their way!

Most Recent Ancient Coin

Roman Empire
Trajan (AD 98-117)
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 110
Dia.: 18 mm
Wt.: 3.46 g
Obv.: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P; Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder
Rev.: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMP PRINC; Roma standing left, holding Victory and spear.
Ref.: RIC II 115 var.; Woytek 287b

This was one of 7 coins I picked up during the recent AMCC 1 Auction. Since it was technically the last lot I bid on in that sale that makes it my most recent ancient coin.

So is it just me or does it look like Roma is accepting an Emmy on this reverse???

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...so if you would like, please
Post your first ancient coin! AND...
Post your most recent ancient coin!

 

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First:
Received from @Jwt708 while I was deployed to Djibouti in 2015 but not actually identified until summer of 2018

Constantine AE follis. 326-327 AD.
Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG, Laureate head right
Rev: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, Campgate with six rows, two turrets, no doors, star above, top and bottom row blocks.
Mintmark dot BSIS dot.


Most Recent:
Purchased by my father in London in 2004 but given to me today, 23 Dec 2018

Obv: Constantine AE follis. 324 AD. CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate bust right
Rev: D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG, Laurel wreath enclosing VOT/XX.
Mintmark TSΓVI. Dot in badge at top of wreath


Kind of cool that they are both Constantine.

 

Not much to say except I seem to be keeping a narrow focus.

First in 1981:


Last of 2018

 

Those Legions are quite a good focus!

 

First one I bought:



Last one I bought

 

I am yet to post here, but dont worry I will soon once I get some bread after this chistmas

 

Cool idea, Curtis! Here we go...

My First Ancient Coin

Maximianus, AE Follis
Struck 302-303 AD, Thessalonica mint
Obverse: IMP C • MA • MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, head of Maximian, laureate, right.
Reverse: GENIO POPV-L-I Romani, Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand; Δ in right field.
Exergue: •TS•
References: RIC VI Thessalonica 25b
Size: 27x29.5mm, 10.6g

My first ancient coin purchase was in early May 2017. It was listed as a "Lotan" ... I haven't heard that term (if it is even a term) since.

My Most Recent Ancient Coin

Claudius II Gothicus, AE Tetradrachm
Struck 269/270 AD, Alexandria, Egypt
Obverse: AVT K KΛAV-ΔIOC CЄB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Claudius II right.
Reverse: Eagle standing right, head left, holding wreath in beak; date L-B across field (RY 2).
References: Dattari 5415
Size: 20mm, 7.2g

I've been working at filling out more of my Roman Egyptian sub-collection.

 

The more I learn of ancients I really want to get into them, they seem so alluring!

 

Well, it's not like you haven't seen my first one, purchased when I was a grad student:




And this one just arrived in the mail yesterday:

 

Here's my first and my second latest (I have a new purchase which I'm waiting to post). I paid a strong price for the recent purchase but I proportionally overpaid far more for the first which rang in at $40 many years ago. I still love it, though, as it caused me to be bitten by this hobby.

 

I technically don't have a first, since my first ever purchase was for an order of 10 coins from the same vendor. I wanted a decent assortment of rulers and denominations, and after a few days of window shopping on VCoins, I settled on the ten below. If it counts for anything, the Nero bronze of Antioch has number 1 on my catalog spreadsheet.



I'm still waiting for two coin packages, but this one arrived on Friday, one of three more ex stevex6 coins I picked up. It's my first silver coin of Pharsalos, and it sure is sweet in hand.

THESSALY, Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 5.87 g, 12h). Helmeted head of Athena right; TH to left / Φ-A-[P-Σ] (partially retrograde), Thessalian cavalryman on horse rearing right, holding goad; T below; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly I –; BCD Thessaly II 639; HGC 4, 624. VF, toned.
Ex stevex6 Collection; ex BCD Collection

 

I've always liked the composition of those Selinos tetradrachms and yours is just a flabbergastingly excellent example. You've sure come a long way, AJ.

 

I had troubles remembering my last purchase, unlike my first...funny that, but I'm sure a lot of others had the same problem.
1st GRATIAN.
Gratian. AD 367-383. Æ (3,07g). Rome mint. Struck AD 375-378. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm branch. R.QUARTA. RIC IX 24c.
Last AUGUSTUS
Augustus, AE As of Emerita Augusta, 8.82 gr. 26 mm. DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head left / AETERNITATI AVGVSTAE. C A E, Front view of tetrastyle temple. Burgos (2008) 1047; RPC 29.

 

My actual first ancient was acquired when I was 8 years old, a small worn Roman bronze of Tetricus I. I havent seen it in years as it's in a box somewhere in storage, but should I ever dig it out it's time to ID that sucker and post a proper picture...

__________________________________________

My next first ancient as a 38 year old was this


BRUTTIUM.KROTON.circa 480-430BC.AR.Nomos ( didrachm ). ( 7.67g, 20mm, 5h )
Tripod, Heron standing left, volute in exergue.
Reverse.Incuse tripod.
Ref:SNG ANS 312.
Good very fine, attractive gray tone.
Ex: David Sellwood collection. Baldwins Argentium sale 4th June 2016. part lot 23

___________________________________________

My most recent acquisition is this Alexander III 'the Great' Tetradrachm.
I cannot get enough of the portrait on this coin



Grade: AU(50-53) | Abbreviations
Material: Silver
Weight: 17.11 g
Diameter: 27.00 mm
Coin, Kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander III, Tetradrachm, Amphipolis, AU(50-53),Kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander III, Tetradrachm, Amphipolis, struck by Antipater under Philip III, circa 322-320 BC, AU(50-53), Silver, Price:110,Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin,Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, bow in bowcase,BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY

 

Cool idea for a thead @Curtisimo
I should really hold off because I know I have a few coins just sitting wrapped in paper that I can't get to for a couple of days.
My first (atleast I think it was anyway) I'm almost embarased. This is an old picture that I re cropped and is my only that is left in its tomb.
I'm also not 100% sure this is my first but it is on my spread sheet so here it goes.




As far as my newest it has to be one of the recent Saturnalia gifts since anythng newer is either sitting under the tree or are still in the mail somewhere.
So I'm gonna go with this little sweet thing.


THESSALY, Perrhaiboi
c. 450-400 BCE
AR obol; 12 mm, 0.87 gm, 6 h
Olosson or Phalanna mint
Obv: bridled horse rearing left
Rev: Π-Ε-Ρ-Α; Athena in running stance right, holding shield and spear; all within incuse square
Ref: BCDThessaly I 1242; BCD Thessaly II 552.2; HGC 4, 151
Ex X6 Collection, from CNG 393, lot 40 (15 March 2017)
Ex BCD Collection

It is amazing how all of our collections have evolved.

 

I'm pretty sure everyone here has seen my first ancient ever at least ten times. Anyway, it's your fault @Curtisimo, you asked, and I will quote the write up taken from the epic battle against @Ancient Aussie from last year tournament :



Commodus,
Sestertius- Rome mint, 192 CE
Wt.: 21.01 g
Obv.: L AEL AVREL CO---MM AVG P FEL,Laureate head of Commodus right
Rev.: HERCVLI ROMANO AVG,Hercules facing, head left, holding club and lion's skin, resting on trophy.SCin field
Ref : RCV #5752, Cohen #203

Price: For me: Listening to my grandfathers’ old war stories; For my grandfather: Getting shot at

My grandfather, born 1894, has been "lucky" enough to get involved in the whole WWI where he's been wounded five times (two actual wounds and three gas attacks). While digging a trench at Verdun battle (1916), he eventually found three coins that he carefully kept with him during three years (he's not been sent back home earlier than 1919). After the end of the war, being in a train, back home with two other "poilus" he decided he whould give one coin to each of them and keep the last one for himself (probably one of the first "ancient coin giveaway" in the 20th century). As written above, when I was 18, being the only one in the family showing an interest for coins he told me the story and gifted me with the coin.



Why it’s cool:
It is the very first roman coin I have ever possessed. It's of course the real start of my addiction for ancient coins.

My grand dad finding it during his service and keeping it until the end of the war and for almost his entire life makes it the coin I will keep whatever occurs in my own life and/or to my coin collections.

As for the coin itself, its coolness comes from it being minted the last year in Commodus' rule, in 192 CE, as he'd turn completely crazy finding himself being a reincarnation of Hercules. Even though the obverse doesn't show him with the lionskin, the reverse has an explicit legend and clearly shows the emperor/hercules with Hercules' attributes.

And to finish with, the following comment is taken from the description of a similar example (in far much better condition) in NAC auction 4, # 477 :Few Roman coins excite as much commentary as those of Commodus, which show him possessed of Hercules. Not only do they present an extraordinary image, but they offer incontrovertible support to the literary record. The reports of Commodus’ megalomania and infatuation with Hercules are so alarming and fanciful that if the numismatic record was not there to confirm, modern historians would almost certainly regard the literary record as an absurd version of affairs, much in the way reports of Tiberius’ depraved behaviour on Capri are considered to be callous exaggerations. Faced with such rich and diverse evidence, there can be no question that late in his life Commodus believed that Hercules was his divine patron. Indeed, he worshipped the demigod so intensely that he renamed the month of September after him, and he eventually came to believe himself to be an incarnation of the mythological hero. By tradition, Hercules had fashioned his knotted club from a wild olive tree that he tore from the soil of Mount Helicon and subsequently used to kill the lion of Cithaeron when he was only 18 years old. Probably the most familiar account of his bow and arrows was his shooting of the Stymphalian birds while fulfilling his sixth labour. The reverse inscription HERCVLI ROMANO AVG (‘to the August Roman Hercules’) makes the coin all the more interesting, especially when put into context with those of contemporary coins inscribed HERCVLI COMMODO AVG, which amounts to a dedication ‘to Hercules Commodus Augustus’.

My last purchase came from @Severus Alexander's first sale a few days ago, and it's an ex @zumbly's coin


Maximinus II Daia (308-313), follis, issued 312-313. Alexandria, 5.1g, 21mm.
Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right.
Rev: GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left holding head of Serapis left in right hand, cornucopia in left; star, N and palm-branch in left field, gamma in right, ALE in exergue.
RIC VI Alexandria 160b
From the zumbly collection, Ex CNG as Superb EF ($145)

Merry Xmas to you all my coin friends

Q

 

My first ancient coin purchased in April 2015



My latest purchase (yet to arrive from Leu)

 

Not my first ancient, I did not have photos of those but it is the first of my current collection acquired in the late 1990's. SBCV-1968 Manuel Comnenus , it is an unusual example, Very brassy and heavy, I don't know what got my attention, the two weeks it took to attribute, it however was my very first.
My original collection of tetartera I kept on line at Forum, This was the collection at 8 years old.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=26

I kept the album because I did not want to delete the comments of friends passed. The current collection is part of my signature. It has come a very long way.

Now my newest coin, I am excited about it not because it is rare but it is in the best condition I have ever seen, it has a complete inscription , nicely centered , well judge for yourself. I am proud to show it off.

ALEXIUS AE TETARTERON S-1931 DOC 40 CLBC 2.4.7
OBV Jeweled radiate Cross, decorated at the end of each limb with one large globule and two smaller, all on two steps.

REV. Bust of emperor wearing stemma, divitision and jeweled loros of traditional type; holds in r. hand scepter cruciger and in l. Globus cruciger. Complete Inscription

Size 19mm

Weight 3.08

This is a Thessalonica minted coin.

DOC lists 25 examples with weights running from1.09gm to 4.22gm and sizes ranging from 17mm to 23mm

 

Wow- what a story of your first coin gift that your Grandfather dug up! Love it and a hefty sestertius!

 

My first came to me when I was 14 yo in a small plastic box of several beat up coins, including some old English cents, Bavarian Talers etc. and this little worn denarius. All unidentified from an Uncle who just knew I collected coins(USA) up till then. I looked for it in my pb edition Coins of the World and there it was in a plate on one of the first pages! Read the caption and my life changed forever.
That is the only coin I still possess from my teenage ancient collection along with two Bavarian Talers(from the same giftbox) and a Judaean war prutah I bought in a little coin store in Connecticut. The latest:
Here is the most recent obtained beside the New Style Athenian Tet, A Roman quadrans with Olive Tree and the two coins from the Leu auction- an MA sestertius and a Cistophoric Tet of Octavian.
A Pius,
Pamphylia, Side Æ18 138-161
Laureate head rt. - A KAI ANTWNEINOC
Athena advancing left over serpent holding pomegranate and shield CIDH-TWN
RPC IV online 5717.1, Weber 7366
Extremely Rare with RPC just citing the Weber specimen obtained from @MarcosX
8.25 Grams
VF
Rare Unlisted
A.Pius and Athena/Trees and snakes as symbols of wisdom("Be ye as wise as serpents") are all areas of interest. Rarity comes in as a factor for me if other areas fall into place.