Secret Saturnalia 2019

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Curtisimo, Nov 14, 2019.

  1. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I surprised myself with self control and didn't open my Saturnalia envelope till just a little while ago. I even waited for a couple hours this morning till my wife was out of bed and we had our morning joe.

    I was more than surprised by my Secret Saturnalia gifts. Not only were the three coins very thoughtful, but even the selection behind the enclosed card was profound. I want to send my sincerest thanks to my secret benefactor ( I believe I know who it is after doing some sleuthing). Here are quick images of the coins sent:

    1. Cappadocia.png
    KINGS of CAPPADOCIA. Ariobarzanes I Philoromaios. 96-63 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 3.73 g, 12h). Mint A (Eusebeia-Mazaka). Dated RY 28 (68/7 BC)?. Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to inner left. Simonetta, Coins 38s

    2.
    Larissa.png
    Thessaly, Larissa
    AE16
    Ca 344-321 BC.
    Head of nymph Larissa right, hair rolled
    ΛAΡI below, ΣAIΩN above, horse grazing right, foreleg raised.
    BMC 89

    3. Pulumari.png
    Vasishthiputra Pulumavi,
    Satavahanas Dynasty, ca 131-155AD,
    OBV: ??? (help please)
    REV: Elephant right (help please)
    Struck at Northern Deccan
    ca 131-155 AD
    Mitchiner 1978, 4363-g

    4. 20191217_093943a.jpg
    Card showing 15th century manuscript of Levy's History of Rome showing a knight in armor.

    Io Saturnalia and thank you so much
     
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  3. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    I opened my Saturnalia package this morning to find this amazing :jawdrop:
    (jaw dropping) Seleucid/Judaean coin.

    I have always considered these “Judaean Lily” coins to be the most beautiful “Biblical” region coins and this one is the finest that I’ve seen. The images are well centered which is rare in coins of this type. It could not have been cheap :greedy::greedy::greedy: !

    Secret Santa
    Whoever you my be, I sincerely appreciate this gift but more than that I appreciate you for your thoughtfulness and generosity!


    LILY.jpg


    Also, this awesome Secret Saturnalia gift coin replaces my old Hendin 1131 on my Judaean poster.

    ARTXXX.jpg

     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2019
  4. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    The elephant it usually considered to be on the obverse. Above is the regent's name in Brahmi script. Unfortunately, these are generally struck on small flans, so that either part of the name or part of the elephant's trunk is missing. (Most collectors appear to prefer complete trunks to complete legends.)

    The reverse is a bit boring, showing only an "Ujjain symbol" (C4 on the image below) whose significance is unclear. Your reverse is a little off center.
    Bildschirmfoto 2019-12-17 um 17.59.41.png
    (source and more info here)
     
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  5. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Oops, I guess I blew the "secret" part of the exchange. Not sure how I messed that up but I am glad @TheRed was pleased with my selections.

    :oops:
     
  6. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Io Saturnalia Everyone!
    After getting FFIVN from the bus, we checked the mail and waiting was a package waiting for us.
    Inside was...a very nice letter....and (is the suspense killing you yet?)...this very nice Constantine AE3! Apologize for the poor images. I had to use the hall light since it has been dark and cloudy all day.
    Thanks again SS and I hope you are feeling better!

    Constantine
    AE follis
    320-321 AD
    Obverse: CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate head right.
    Reverse: DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG, VOT XX in wreath with dot in badge at top of wreath
    Mintmark TSΓVI
    SS19 Constantine.jpg
    IMG-5560.JPG
     
  7. H8_modern

    H8_modern Attracted to small round-ish art

    What a great Saturnalia gift! It absolutely checks all the boxes for awesome.

    Roman Republican - cool
    Serrate denarius - very cool, love them
    Victory in a Triga - extremely cool, one of my favorite designs

    I have to apologize for the quick pics that don’t do the coin justice. Thank you Secret Saturn! With Warren Esty on the assist serving as a cut-out I have no clues as to who you are but thank you, thank you, thank you.
    upload_2019-12-17_19-1-37.jpeg

    upload_2019-12-17_19-1-59.jpeg
     
  8. Collect89

    Collect89 Coin Collector

    My secret Santa certainly researched my interests prior to selecting my gift.
    8A34F39E-BB4A-4BB3-B5E5-FFCBA54AB40D.jpeg CC905F38-5E23-4AB0-814F-F6B166379B8E.jpeg Is this coin cool or what?

    Pharsalos Thessaly
    Hemiobol.
    ca. 550 BC
    0.4 grams 7-8 mm.

    It looks incredibly nice in hand. Under magnification and in the photos you see only a few details lost to antiquity. It is tiny but from afar you can see the very obvious full crest Athena on one side and the crystal clear horse head on the other.

    My present beats your present - Na Na na na na. :)

    BCD provenance !
    BCD Thessaly II 648 !

    I made out pretty well this year with secret saturnalia:).


    Edit to add this SNL link; Enjoy:
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=MVXN85TJabg
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2019
  9. Archilochus

    Archilochus Active Member

    I had to spend a few hours after work researching my Secret Saturnalia gift! Here it is:
    pergamon.png
    MYSIA, Pergamon. Mid-late 2nd century BC. Helmeted head of Athena right; Nike walking right.

    But I had a really hard time deciphering the lettering: it looked like "Pergamon" was written on both the obverse and reverse. Strange! Finally I found this explanation on CNG:

    So there was a magistrate in Pergamon named Pergamos. Bet he caught a lot of flak for that! It's EΠI ΠEPΓAM[OY] on the obverse.

    This elegant and fascinating coin has found a long-term home in my collection. Thanks very much to my Secret Saturnalia!
     
  10. HAB Peace 28 2.0

    HAB Peace 28 2.0 The spiders are as big as the door

    Here are my Secret Saturnalia gifts.

    2534F6FD-6E3A-47C8-9482-913BDBAF1603.jpeg 60CB30F3-8405-43E1-A5E9-4B773B9E6403.jpeg
    Septimius Severus (who I know of)
    2 Constantines ( who I definitely know)
    A Kushan India coin. Which I don’t know much about.
    Finally, a Sang Dynasty coin. Yes, by watching Marco Polo lol. I know about the Sang Dynasty.
    I understand that getting gifts for 1 who no longer really collects ancients, but is still interested in them. Might not be the easiest thing to do? But, a big thank you to my Secret Sat gifter. You did well. Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2019
    SeptimusT, Jwt708, Ajax and 17 others like this.
  11. HAB Peace 28 2.0

    HAB Peace 28 2.0 The spiders are as big as the door

    I know others may have already said this? But, I am honestly VERY impressed by the quality of the gift coins. There are apparently, a lot of generous and devoted people here!? All of the gifts, are thoughtful and nice. But, there are 4-5 coins that REALLY stuck out, and got my attention!? If only Septimius Severus knew, that him and his son would be stars of Secret Saturnalia lol?
     
  12. dadams

    dadams Well-Known Member

    I’ve been out of town since middle of last week, but I’m back and happy to have awaiting me an envelope from my S.S.
    I’ll post more tomorrow, but wanted to let my Santa know to stop worrying since it’s been well received.
     
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  13. FitzNigel

    FitzNigel Medievalist

    first thing I did this morning was open my Saturnalia gift - but I have been so busy I haven’t had much time to work with it and enjoy it! Saturn gifted me a pair of wonderful coins from Metz, which I will have to identify later (but thank you for the hint on the city - that helps tremendously). I’m fairly certain they are both from the 13th Century - excuse my poor phone photos until I am able to use my actual camera
    A8874FDA-2E83-46A1-93C6-404A6F35B1A7.jpeg
    A5B3171C-ECAD-4AF3-9EE0-51459C071C87.jpeg
    I am excited to learn more about these! There is some beautiful imagery on them.

    I was also surprised by another anonymous Saturn who had a spare coin S/He thought I would like, and requested permission to send it to me (and who would say ‘no’ right? ;)) Again, forgive the poor photograph until I can spend more time with the coin:
    B8155E52-BF48-407A-8AF6-2646C69A290B.jpeg
    FAAF0446-414E-4F2D-9D36-7E4A25AE5912.jpeg
    These Roger I Trifollaro are fascinating!

    I am humbled by the generosity of both Saturns - and grateful for this wonderful community. I wish I knew who you were so I could thank you both properly!
     
  14. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    I've finally had a chance to pause at work to take a few snaps of my new gift from Secret Saturn and share it with you all!! I'm very pleased with this lil' silver guy, but, nope it's not a tiny Greek AR fraction... It's the less lucky, less aggressive Severan boy, Geta! A good lil' boy all set to "Secure the Empire". I've only had one Geta, and no longer have it, so I'm very happy to adopt this guy into my collection. It's such a sad story that will eventually befall this innocent cherub on the obverse of this denarius, and equally as fascinating!

    So, I'll stop gushing now :rolleyes: and get to showing you all my new coin!
    CollageMaker_20191218_133922815.jpg
    20191218_133725.jpg

    He has a wonderful head of hair too! But of course, he was a Severan after all. :smuggrin:
    20191218_133659.jpg

    A huge thank you, again, to my Secret Saturn for such a lovely and thoughtful gifted coin!! :singing::singing::)
     
  15. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    Beautiful coin and tragic figure. Your angled view image is excellent.
     
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  16. Ajax

    Ajax Well-Known Member

    A big thank you to my SS! These are awesome gifts. I got a pair of sweet pocket knives and a sweet t-shirt.
    IMG_4203[1].jpg
    And wrapped up in the shirt was this little beauty
    Marcus Aurelius.png
    My first official coin of Marcus Aurelius!
    Thank you SS these are very thoughtful gifts. Go Hokies!
     
  17. bcuda

    bcuda El Ibérico loco

    My SS was very thoughtful and sent me a wonderful Saturnalia gift.
    Thank you so much , I just love the people here in this forum !
    Here are the coins in no particular order.

    IMG_6677 (3).JPG
    Western Han dynasty
    Jian Wu Wu Zhu 25 AD
    5 zhu weight


    IMG_6679 (2).JPG
    Tang dynasty
    Kai yuan 732-907 ad

    IMG_6683 (2).JPG
    Septimus Severus
    Denarius
    Obverse: Severus Pius Aug
    Reverse: Jupiter standing holding thunderbolt

    IMG_6685 (2).JPG
    Moesia - Istros
    Cast AE wheel
    Late 5th century BC
    Reverse: IET
     
  18. TypeCoin971793

    TypeCoin971793 Just a random guy on the internet

    Sorry for being super late to the party. I have been working on a five-case exhibit for the FUN show.

    I opened my package and was greeted with a message: “There is no such thing as too many empresses on one’s collection.” Oh how correct my Saturn is. :) Amazingly, all three were empresses who were not yet in my collection!

    Julia Domna denarius:

    3D2E2354-48E7-4BF5-9C71-7A2AEE0DE94E.jpeg

    Salonina Antoninianus:

    F2BFCE13-3390-40FF-A11A-87440B504AD6.jpeg

    Otacilia Severa Sesterius (officially the best sestertius in my collection!):

    E4D6EDF8-99DA-4508-81BE-FBF68B931DC8.jpeg

    Thank you so much for your generosity!
     
  19. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    My wife and I opened our Secret Saturnalia gift this evening and were pleased to find we were matched up with the most excellent @John Anthony !

    We were very excited to find this super sharp and fully silvered coin of Maximianus:
    Maximianus Temple Follis 1a.jpg Maximianus, Second Reign, 306-308 AD
    AE Follis, 26 mm, 7.14 grams, Rome Mint
    Obverse: Laureate head of Maximian right.
    IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG.
    Reverse: Hexastyle temple with three steps with a decorated and festooned triangular pediment; in the center, Roma seated, facing left, holding a globe in her right hand and a long scepter in her left hand; behind her, a shield.
    CONSERVATO - RES VRB SVAE / R*P (The Protectors of the City).
    RIC 194b
    Extremely fine with full silvering.

    The only coin of Maximianus we had until now was a ratty Alexandria tetradrachm, so this is a HUGE upgrade for our Roman collection. It is a very striking coin in hand, it looks fresh from the mint.

    Thanks very much for the excellent gift, it made our day.

    John
     
  20. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Congrats, @Ajax!! I have a soft place in my heart for early MA bronze with Minerva reverses. Very nice! A very generous SS!
     
  21. dadams

    dadams Well-Known Member

    Great gifts everyone has received and mine is no exception:
    Persis-SS2019.jpg
    My SS sent this coin unattributed and as they mentioned half the fun is learning more about your coins. I've not dug in too deeply yet but do know this is an AR Obol from Persis and I think this being one of Darius I.

    My package arrived from Canada and included a name, but not a username, however I'm almost certain this sweet coin came from @Clavdivs ?

    *On a side note, I've not revealed myself yet to my giftee, but did give one small clue as to who I might be.

    io Saturnalia and Merry Christmas to you all!

    -d
     
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