Won 3 nice coins, I was surprised with the constantine II from @TheRed it had no bids and I managed to get it for the starting bid. Only a couple more needed for the Constantine family left. These coins have gone to a forever home ILLYRIA, Dyrrhachion 229-100 BC AR drachm/victoriatus, issued under Xenon and Pyrba-, magistrates 3.18g 17mm Obv: ΞΕΝΩΝ, cow standing right, looking back at suckling calf standing left below, above, eagle standing right with wings open Rev: ΔΥΡ, ΠΥΡ-ΒΑ, and club around double-lined quadrilateral containing stellate pattern. BMC 112. From the JB (Edmonton) collection Faustina II, under Marcus Aurelius 161-170 AD AR denarius Rome 3.30g 17.5mm Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bust right Rev: VE–NVS, Venus stg. l. holding dove and sceptre. RIC 730 (Marcus Aurelius) From the Doug Smith collection Scarcer than the variety in which Venus holds an apple Constantine II as Caesar 317-337AD AE follis issued 321, Rome 3.46g 18mm Obv: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate head right. Rev: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM, VOT X in two lines within wreath; RT in exergue. RIC 242(R) From TheRed collection
Those are great coins. Lots of variety too for those who collect different varieties of the same issue. For example, mine has no eagle, but it does have two hats, wheat and a dagger.
All three of your wins are beautiful examples of interesting types. That's what I'd call a good auction outcome! In AMCC 1, I managed to pick up this drachm from Apollonia, a sister city of Dirrhachion minting very similar coins: Illyria, Apollonia, c. 229-100 BCE, AR drachm. Obv: ΝΙΚΑΝΔΡΟΣ, Cow standing left with suckling calf, monogram below. Rev: AΠOΛ ΑΝΔΡΙΣΚΟΥ, double stellate pattern. 3.04g, 18mm. Ex AMCC 1, lot 16 (their picture – I'll have to take my own soon).
Soon as I saw the little dove I had to have her, she's gone to a good home And a cool fact this Constantine II is now my cheapest coin in my collection so far. Pretty crazy no one else wanted it for how cheap it went.
The Probus was ex Frank Robinson in 1986. I do not remember why/how it ended up in the sale group. It probably was an accident/error. At least I'm glad it stayed in the CT family. Selecting coins to sell was stressful for me.
I can imagine. I know I will have a very difficult time ever parting with this one. Maybe my heirs will be able to bring themselves to sell it, since none of my kids seem to have much interest in ancient coins. I guess I wasn't a very good parent.
Those are three very nice picks, @Yorkshire. Rather jealous that I somehow missed noticing them, especially that ex Doug dove in hand. I decided to adopt Doug's Diva Mariniana to finally complete my family of Valerian set. MARINIANA Diva Mariniana (d. before 253), AR antoninianus. Rome, 3.21g, 20.5mm. Obv: DIVAE MARINIANAE, Veiled and draped bust right, set on crescent. Rev: CONSCRATIO, Mariniana, raising hand and holding sceptre, reclining left on peacock flying upwards to right. RIC 6 From the Doug Smith collection, ex Gitbud & Naumann 42, lot 901 03.04.2016
Nice wins @Yorkshire . Some really nice detail on that Constantine II. Here are a couple of my semi-relevant examples Dyrrachion Stater: A Frustrating Coin to Study Greek Colonies in Illyria Dyrrachion AR Stater, struck ca. 450-350 BC Dia.: 21.5 mm Wt.: 9.78 g Obv.: Cow suckling calf Rev.: ΔΥΡ around star pattern within linear square; club in field Ref.: BMC 22, SNG Copenhagen 421 Ex Numismatica Ars Classica sale 641, 2012, lot 224 Roman Empire Constantine II as Caesar (AD 317 - 337) AE Follis, Siscia mint, struck ca. AD 330 - 333 Obv.: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C. Laureate, cuirassed bust right. Rev.: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS. Two soldiers standing, facing each other with spear in outer hand, inner hand on shield resting on ground; two standards between. Ref.: RIC VII 220 (Siscia) Purchased in the old town of Jerusalem, November 2016.
Catching up on some threads! I loved all three of those coins (the toning! the dove! the perfection!) It's always bittersweet packing them into their envelope... mostly sweet though especially when I know they're going to a forever home! Coingrats!
Mine arrived in today's mail! An ancient forgery of Elagabalus and an VRBS ROMA with the GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse.
