Valentinian's top 10 under $100

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Valentinian, Dec 8, 2019.

  1. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    Each of these coins cost me, including shipping, under $100.

    These ten are listed in order of purchase during the year:

    #1 ThraceThasos1914.jpg

    12-10 mm. 1.13 grams.
    Thrace. Thasos. c. 510-480 BC.
    no legend. Archaic style ithyphallic Silenos "running" right
    quadripartite incuse square.
    Sear Greek I city of 1356ff but not listed.
    Hoover Handbook 6 "Islands" 333.

    I like cute Greek silver fractions. However, there is no "focus" on them in my collection.
    #2
    SG5228LyciaDynast1906.jpg

    Dynast of Lycia, Mithrapata
    15-13 mm. 1.14 grams.
    lion's scalp/triskeles with letters around
    SNG Copenhagen supplement Lycia 476v "c.40-1st half of fourth C. B.C."
    Sear Greek 5228

    I do have a focus on folles of the tetrarchy. This is a left-facing bust I did not have:
    #3
    Maximian1GPRmmTRleft1936.jpg

    Maximian (286-305). Follis.
    Trier mint. Left-facing bust.
    26-25 mm. 9.62 grams.
    IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
    Laureate head left
    B Γ in fields. TR in exergue
    RIC VI Trier 176bB, page 182



    Severus II (305-306-307) became Caesar in 305 in the second tetrarchy and participated in the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI series as Caesar from 305-306 and as Augustus from 306-307.
    #4
    SeverusIIGPRmmSMSD1943.jpg
    27 mm. 9.54 grams.
    FL VAL SEVERVS NOB CAESAR
    RIC VI Serdica 13a
    Sear IV 14633 (with a different portrait style--curly hair).
    "Scarce, c. 296-7"

    One of the first ancient coins I bought in the US was a follis of Severus II from a local coin dealer in Montana in 1977. At the time I thought Severus II was rare and special. That imprinted on me. Now I know I paid too much and they are not rare. Nevertheless, now, whenever I see a nice Severus II follis which I don't have and that costs less than my first one did in 1977, I think about buying it. This one got bought.

    I love Byzantine AE and buy distinctly different types I don't have if they are inexpensive (one reason for collecting Byzantine AE). This next coin is not so different, but it does have an interesting mintmark.
    My page tells the story of the Antioch mint under Justinian and why its mintmarks changed from abbreviating "Antioch" to abbreviating "Theopolis.":

    http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/Justinian.html

    The new coin has Theopolis abbreviated with the abbreviation beginning in Latin (TH, not Θ, and ending in Greek (Π, not P). The slash at the end is like the ' in "don't"
    #5
    SB221Justinian1943.jpg
    35-34 mm. 18.73 grams. Sear 221, year 26. Sear 219 through 223 are quite similar but have (slightly) different mintmarks, each issued in certain years only. This mintmark was used in years 24 through 29. Sear 221 lists the years of officina numbers for each. Δ is not recorded there or in MIBE. A minor rarity!

    Here is another Byzantine coin:
    #6
    SB1667Theophilus1953b.jpg
    Byzantine emperor Theophilis, 829-842.
    28 mm. 8.19 grams.
    Sear 1667

    Another tetrarchal follis:
    #7
    Constantius1FIDESmmAQS1989.jpeg

    Constantius I. Augustus of the second tetrarchy, 305-306.
    29-27 mm. 8.74 grams.
    FIDES MILITVM AVGG ET CAESS NN, Fides seated left, holding standard in each hand
    AQS in exergue
    RIC VI Aquileia 62, page 320. "C"

    I got that one because I love folles of the tetrarchy and this Fides seated (as opposed to standing) type is rare.

    Another Byzantine follis, this one an upgrade:
    #8
    SB1730LeoVIAlexander1992.jpg

    27 mm. 8.46 grams.
    Byzantine emperor Leo VI and Alexander, 886-912
    +LЄOҺ-S AΛЄΞAҺGROS, Leo VI on left, smaller Alexander on right, both crowned and wearing loros, labarum between [The letter that looks like a G may be a version of Δ]
    4-line legend
    +LЄOҺ /SALЄΞAҺ/GROS BASIL/ROMЄON
    Leo VI was the elder son of Byzantine emperor Basil I and assumed the throne in 886 when Basil died. Alexander was the younger son.

    Another Greek fraction:
    #9
    MysiaCzyicusHemiObol1996b.jpg

    Cyzicus (Kyzikos) hemiobol. c. 450-400 BC.
    Head of Hemes right wearing winged petasos
    KY IZ (Z shaped differently than my fonts allow) around tunny right
    7 mm. 0.25 grams. (That is very small.)
    The attribution to Kyzikos is obvious, both from the lettering and the tunny. But, the attribution would not be so obvious from checking the major catalogs.
    SNG Copenhagen -- Supplement --, BMC Mysia --, SNG France Mysie --
    Sear Greek --, Klein --, Rosen --, Boston --, Dewing --, SNG Turkey I Kayhan --
    and SNG von Aulock 7338 (It's in there!)

    Another Byzantine follis:
    #10
    SB1721BasilI19100.jpg
    Byzantine emperor Basil I and Constantine, 867-886.
    Struck winter 867/8.
    26 mm. 7.60 grams.
    Sear 1761.

    The average cost was $67, including shipping.

    Your comments are welcome!
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
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  3. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    Love the coins 4, 5 and 8.....You did well picking up some of these coins for under $100 with postage well done!
     
  4. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Well, Warren, a good year for you. All of these below $100! All bargains! I don't collect Byzantine but I can appreciate them. Some very nice ones. My favorites are the Cyzicus hemiobol, Dynast of Lycia and the Thasos. The Thasos has great detail and I've been after a Dynast of Lycia coin, but haven't been able to find one with a good obverse and reverse together. This one has both. The Cyzicus hemiobol's reverse is just plain outstanding. Makes me want fish for dinner.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Warren, You've got a sharp eye for bargains :D. Your follis of Severus II is a nice looking coin :). His folles are scarce compared to other members of the Tetrarchy. The coin pictured below sold at the last CNG auction for $413.00 (including buyers premium) on an estimate if $150.00 :jawdrop:!
    465_1.jpg
    The follis pictured below of Maximinus II from the London Mint, from the same sale, fetched $708.00 (including buyers premium) on a $150. estimate :eek:! High quality folles are finally bringing high prices. Your follis of Justinian I is a beauty :).
    467_1.jpg
     
  6. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    All great additions! I think my favorite has to be the Leo VI and Alexander. Well centered, nice looking design, and I like that chocolate patina.
     
  7. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I think that from this time period the coins of Trier have the best and most realistic style. That can explain some of their premium. Here is a Constantine as Caesar from Trier (from 1987, not a recent purchase):

    Constantine1GPRmmPTR8701.jpg
    29-28 mm. Struck as Caesar c. Spring 307.
    RIC VI Trier 694.
    I think the face is very well done.
     
  8. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    Nice to see the Byzantines get some representation on the "best of" lists! That the dual bust coins are great!
     
  9. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    Great coins, I really like your #1.
     
  10. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    You scored some exceptional coins! Sledom, does one get such pristine coins for bargain prices;) Thanks for sharing, Warren:) Really like the Byzantine examples!
    John
     
  11. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Nice group for ea. under $100! I like the Kyzikos and the Lykia the best, @Valentinian . Great idea, under $100...
     
  12. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Love this list! I like all the Tetrarchic coins, the Thasos and the Lycian, but my favourite here is the Kyzikos. Not only are the details impressive for such a little coin, the condition it’s in is outstanding for a silver fraction from this region and period. What a score!
     
  13. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    For someone who doesn't focus on small cute Greek fractions you sure know how to buy quality and at a great price, I love your 1,2 & 9, fantastic coins.
     
  14. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Nice coins and great prices. I like #3 (I’m a sucker for the tetrarchy) and #9 (cool funny fish :)).
     
  15. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    All beautiful coins, I like Severus II and Justinian.
     
  16. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    @Valentinian great set of coins - nice to see some Byzantine coins and the good looking lion's scalp/triskeles! Best wishes for 2020.
     
  17. catadc

    catadc Well-Known Member

    It is good to see some byzantines, including common types, getting into the top 10, and for a price that many could afford. These are nice coins, and #5 is very interesting.
    AJ's coins (taking him as a random example) are nice to watch, but getting any single one of his top 10 will mean using my budget for many years (afraid to calculate).
     
  18. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I really enjoy these under $100 lists, I hope we see many more of them. My favourites here are the Thasos and the Justinian Antioch.

    Screen Shot 2019-12-09 at 5.22.29 PM.jpg
     
  19. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Those a fricken bargains !
    For my taste, the best one is the Cyzicus hemiobol

    Q
     
  20. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Mine is Ticinum with shorter legend. I bought it long ago because I 'needed' a Constantius I as Augustus. He died so soon after his elevation to Augustus that any of those coins seems a bit special despite RIC rating this one C2. I have never followed the rarities within groups out of my specialty so I do not know how hard they are to find.

    ru3930bb1502.jpg

    That strikes me as a better reason than I had to buy my Severus II. I had a few hundred Septimius Severus and a dozen Severus Alexander (Who was Severus I?) so I thought I needed a Severus II.
    ru4080bb1590.jpg

    Years later, I bought a second one (from Rome) but I suspect the reason was mostly that the Moneta reverse was not a Genius.
    ru4075bb3239.jpg
     
  21. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Mine is Ticinum with shorter legend. I bought it long ago because I 'needed' a Constantius I as Augustus. He died so soon after his elevation to Augustus that any of those coins seems a bit special despite RIC rating this one C2. I have never followed the rarities within groups out of my specialty so I do not know how hard they are to find.

    View attachment 1035240

    That strikes me as a better reason than I had to buy my Severus II. I had a few hundred Septimius Severus and a dozen Severus Alexander (Who was Severus I?) so I thought I needed a Severus II.
    View attachment 1035243

    Years later, I bought a second one (from Rome) but I suspect the reason was mostly that the Moneta reverse was not a Genius.
    View attachment 1035242
     
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