Post the First and Most Recent Coins in your Collection

I am surprised to see some of us still have their first coins, even some of the 'old timers'. It seems likely that many people either dont remember that first one or have upgraded or otherwise move on. Here are my two:


Valerian I, 253 – 260 AD
Silver Antoninianus, Rome Mint, 21mm, 3.88 grams

Obverse: IMP C LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian right.
Reverse: RESTITVT ORIENTIS, The Orient standing on left presenting wreath to Valerian who stands on the right.

References:
RIC287

Cost:
$29

Provenance:
Local Antique Show, 1985.



Justinian I, 527 – 565 AD

Æ Follis, 31mm Constantinople Mint, 13.67 grams

Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVC, Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian right.
Reverse: Large M, star on left, cross above, crescent to right, E below, CON in exergue.


References:
Unpublished? DOC 32 var // MIBE 88 var
Rare, no other examples in sales record, three similar examples sold (two with cross in obverse field, one with obverse legend variant).

I like weird stuff, including those which have been modified. I have no idea what was behind this modification. Its carefully done and is centered for displaying the obverse. I can only imagine it decorated a chest or box, belt, necklace, etc. But as the cut areas are worn from circulation like the coin itself I imagine the original owner became poor and spend it. Either that or his heirs. Who knows? That's what's fun with coins like this!

 

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Here's my recent first, a gift from Victor Clark...





And my last, Vespasian billon Tet of Alexandria...

 

My dad gave me this, Julius Caesar fouree, coin a couple years ago...and nothing has been the same since:


My most recent purchases I've shown recently. I won these in last week's auction:

Merry xmas all. I hope your stockings are stuffed full of ancients and your hearts with love!

 

My first ancients were boxed sets of coins of the Holy Land that I saw advertised in the back of an archeology magazine in 2007. I bought three sets of these and have since given one of them away.




My most recent purchase is a Judaean prutah from the time of Tiberius and Pontius Pilate.



These are not my most recently acquired however. I have several beautiful and amazing coins that I have received as gifts in the past week. I am planning to begin posting those tomorrow.

 

My first, a Septimius Severus denarius with MARS PATER reverse - bought in 1987.


My latest - part of a lot of 10 generically-described ancients I found on eBay for $25. Five of them were pretty poor: 2 Constantine-era LRBs, a dog biscuit Herod Agrippa prutah, and an Indian (?) slug (not shown).

But the other five, despite the overall low quality, made me very happy (especially for $2.50 each). This kind of chancy quantity-over-quality collecting has been appealing to me lately - it has been a fun way to learn about stuff I didn't know before on the cheap.



The sestertius is Trajan Decius, DACIA with a wolf-head (or ass or whatever) staff. The cruddy Claudius II is scarce - SECVRITAS PERPETVA reverse. The other is a Constantine the Great, Rome mint, I think - my first SOL issue of his.

The 2 Greeks (top row) have proven difficult to attribute. Here is my best guess (any help would be appreciated - those palm tree Tarsus issues are abundant, but the information online (Vcoins, etc.) is contradictory and sketchy and nothing exactly matches mine). I came closer with the Halikarnassos (location of one of the 7 Wonders of the World), but no exact match on the inscription spacing and decorations on the trident.



Halikarnassos, Caria Æ 17
(c. 150-50 B.C.)
Bearded head of Poseidon right / Ornamented trident head with dolphins between prongs; caduceus (?) left, fish hook right [???] P left, ΜΕΛ(Γ ?) right.
Sear 4881;
SNG Cop. 354-360 (?)
(7.09 grams / 17 mm)



Phoenicia, Tyre Æ 15
(c. 2nd-1st Century B.C.)
Tyche turreted and veiled right, right, palm behind (?) / [AΚ?]Σ ΜΗΤΡΟ [Ι]ΕΡ ΑΣ, [Phoenician letters לצר (‘of Tyre’)?]; palm tree with two fruits.
RPC 3880 (sim. or var. ?);
BMC 284/285; Sear 5923 var.?
(3.34 grams / 15 mm)

 

My first roman coin, 1976, was a gift from a patient and generous shop owner of a coin "not good enough to sell" - it remains a favorite today:


Valerian I, Sestertius, 253-254, Rome
Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANV PF AVG; Valerian I, laureate head right
Rev: FELICITAS AVGG / S C, Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopia

My most recent, 2018, again 3rd century AD. Sister-in-law to Septimus Severus and older sister to Julia Domna, Julia Maesa was a somewhat ambitious grandmother. She lived in her sister's shadow for a while, then came forward with a vengeance - first to unseat Macrinus and establish Elagabalus, her grandson by daughter Julia Soaemias with a strong family resemblance to Caracalla, as emperor. When she didn't have the control or influence that she hoped for, she arranged for the assassinations of her daughter and grandson to establish another grandson, by younger daughter Julia Mamaea, as emperor Severus Alexander.

AR Denarius, 3.2g, minted in Rome 220-222 AD

Obv: JULIA MAESA AUG; draped bust of Julia Maesa to the right
Rev: SAECULI FELICITAS; Felicitas standing facing, head left, sacrificing out of a patera over altar to left, holding long caduceus; star in right field

 

My first bought here on CT.


Septimius Severus (193 - 211 A.D)
AR Denarius
O: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Laureate head right.
R:RESTITVTOR VRBIS (Restoration of the City), Severus in military attire, spear in left, sacrificing over a tripod altar with right.
Rome mint, 201 A.D.
3.3g
18mm
RIC 167a, RSC 599, BMCRE 202

Last bought.


Hadrian (117 - 138 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Billon Tetradrachm
O: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ - ΑΔΡΙΑ СƐΒ, laureate head of Hadrian, r., drapery on l. shoulder; to r crescent.
R: Nilus reclining on crocodile, l., holding reed and cornucopia L Ϛ = year 6 (121/22 A.D.)
23.5mm
13.7g
http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5335/

 

A Valerian sestertius "not good enough to sell"! Wow. That is a great coin (and a really great dealer) - your newest one is pretty spiffy too.

 

Well guys and gals...I just pulled the trigger on another coin about 5 minutes ago which will be my last of 2018 (I promise!)

It's a sestertius of Volusian - not particularly rare, but not particularly common!

Grade: VF |
Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C. Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus and sceptre.

Comments from the seller:

Nice coin, MUCH better in hand than in photo, conserving complete details in both sides: very difficult to find in this rude issues. Superb natural patina. Good VF.

RIC V 251a. Rome mint, A.D. 251-253. 15.2 g - 25 mm



Anyone else doing some last-minute coin shopping?

 

Thanks @Marsyas Mike - your Septimus "first coin" is a nice one too and the Ebay collection a best buy - I cannot add much to your attribution on the AE17, other than lots of variations in this family.

 

*raises hand*

 

Like Ken, I am surprised to see many of you held on to your first coin!

Here is my first, purchased in 2003.


Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.40g
Rome Mint, 75 AD
RIC 772 (C3). BMC 161. RSC 366.
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: PON MAX TR P COS VI; Pax, bare to the waist, seated l., holding branch extended in r. hand, l. hand on lap
Acquired from Old Roman Coins, March 2003.

And my latest.



To be opened later tonight!

 

Well @David Atherton ? What did you get?

 

I am away from home at the moment, but will post it later tonight when I've returned. Small hint - it's large, it's bronze, and it's a first issue.

 

How rude of you to lead us on and not tell us until later...  (???)

 

My first was a whimsical Ebay purchase back in 2011.



My latest was my Saturnalia gift!

 

First purchased about a month ago:



RIC III [Commodus] 268, Marcus Aurelius denarius, 18mm, 2.60 gr, AD 180
DIVVS M ANTONINUS PIVS - Bare head of Divus Marcus Aurelius right
CONSECRATIO - Eagle flying right carrying sceptre in claws

And my second as a (self chosen) gift today:


Sear 3242, RIC 417, Trajan As, 27mm, 12.3gr, AD 100
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM PM - Laureate head of Trajan right
TR POT COSII PP SC - Victory alighting left, wings spread, holding shield inscribed SP/QR

This is my entire collection thus far. I hope for there to be many more in the coming years.

 

My first

Gordian III, AR Antonianus. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right / VIRTVTI AVGVSTI, Hercules, naked, standing right, right hand on hip, left hand on club on rock, lion-skin beside club. RIC IV-3 95; RSC 404; Sear 8670.

 

My first ancient coin was a denarius of Marcus Aurelius, bought in Madrid in 2001. Unfortunately, it was stolen in a burglary in 2004. I don't have a pic of it to hand. This is my latest and last purchase of 2018 - an Eraviscan denarius:


I haven't received it yet - maybe the first arrival of 2019

ATB,
Aidan.

 

My latest purchase was:


APULIA Luceria 211-200 BCE AE Quadrunx 9.7g 24mm Hd Herakles R lion skin headdress 4 pellets behind - LOVCERI Quiver club bow SNG Cop 660
Ex: @Severus Alexander 1st Auction
Ex: @Justin Lee Collection
Yeah, cuz it is a Quadrunx, even though I have Republic Triens which are basically a Quadrunx...

HOWEVER, my LAST coins that I received this year were 2 Chinese coins that I JUST received! I need to photogragh and attribute them. They came from a great coin friend here on CT. THANK you so much! When I return home, I plan to spend some time on them.