Thank you for that information, RC. So if I am understanding this right, my attribution should be: RIC 548 (var. obv bust type); BRCRE6 346 (p. 149). I am much obliged!
I appreciate the help - I am still learning the Big Sources, so I didn't notice the typo. Thanks again!
My Saturday night is turning out to be fairly enjoyable - just in the mail today, an undescribed batch of (mostly LRBs) from eBay. Just getting started on them - the Constantine Sarmatian got me rather excited (second row left). There is one of them that I am utterly stumped on - bottom row left. Here's the Mystery Coin. It is 20 mm in diameter and weighs 5.50 grams. The lettering is Greek. The portrait looks like Augustus, but heck if I know. Any help much appreciated:
Couple of interesting coins I photographed today: 1. Ankyra Phrygia Ae (15mm, 4.2gms) Obv: ΘEΩN ΣYNKΛHTON; Bust of Senate right Rev: Stele; ΠO OYAΛAΣENNA ANKYPANΩN AITHΣAME BAΣΣIΛA around and to either side (36 greek letters on the reverse of a 15mm coin ... maybe the record) 2. Zeno Ae4 (10mm, 0.6gms) : Ref: RIC X 3650 Obv: ( )ENOS AVG; Bust right Rev: Victory walking left holding wreath and palm branch; cross to left
Not 100% sure but it looks like ΓAIOΣ (the lettering runs CCW from top left) to the left of the obverse bust which would lead me to believe it may be a provincial of Caligula.
Caligula! I sure hope it is - I'll poke around in that direction and see if I can find anything. Thanks for the suggestion.
That's a really nice SARMATIA DEVICTA! I had noticed that coin too and had been watching it for a rainy day (if it is the same lot). Here's mine:
Whoa - that is a stunning example, OJ. Mine isn't as nice, but it is pick o' the litter as far as that lot goes. Now I need to read up on Sarmatians and try not to get them mixed up with Samaritans. So much to learn...
Thanks! The one I need to find is a better (almost identical) ALAMANNIA DEVICTA. I have one of Constantine II but it's ugly.... been looking for a nice one at a good price for awhile but they seem more scarce. BTW... as a fellow ebay searcher... have you noticed that coins on ebay auctions are going for crazy prices lately? Makes me feel like I should sell some of my duplicates.
New large follis pick up.... love these in hand.. Maximianus (286-305). Æ Follis (28mm, 8.38g, 12h). Cyzicus, 295-6. Laureate head r. R/ Genius standing l., holding patera from which liquor flows and cornucopiae; KЄ in exergue. RIC VI 10b
Yes, I think you are right about ancients eBay prices, OJ - they do seem higher lately. My best luck is with undescribed lots/singles. Anything with an individual attribution does seem to be going higher. Although I don't keep records to prove this, it seems a low-grade sestertius I could get for $15 a year ago goes about double that now. As for selling duplicates, I am having similar urges. Selling off some junk silver is tempting too - the metals market is going berserk again (or this is the "new normal" as we say nowadays).
Again Brian, I owe you thanks. That "Gaius" tip led me down a long search that came up with a Gaius, but not Caligula - this is Gaius Caesar, grandson of Augustus. And that lady on the back is Augustus's wife Lydia as Demeter. From Tralles in Lydia. Here's RPC, where I finally found it: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/2648 This is pretty much the coolest thing I've pulled out of an undescribed lot. I love this hobby. Gaius Caesar Æ 20 Tralles, Lydia (5 B.C.-1 A.D.) ΓAIOΣ KAI[ΣA]Ρ, bare head r. / KAI[ΣA]ΡEΩN ΛEIBA, Livia, veiled, as Demeter standing front, holding corn-ear and poppy, right hand raised, crescent beside her head. RPC I 2648; BMC 117. (5.50 grams / 20 x 18 mm) Attribution Notes: Per example in Wildwinds, full attribution is: RPC I 2648; BMC 117; Imhoof LS 27; BMC 118-120; Waddington 5419-5420 etc.
That is a favorite of mine. I always enjoy that coin... cool portrait. I feel it truly captures Claudius.
Saturday night and I thought I'd post this one. Nothing new, just kinda cool. Gordian III, AD 238-244. Roman provincial Æ Pentassarion, 13.30 g, 27.1 mm, 7 h. Thrace, Anchialus, AD 238-244. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑΝWΝ ΑΓΧΙΑΛΕWΝ, Nude athlete standing facing, head right, holding palm branch and wreath. Refs: AMNG II, 632.3, p. 276; Mionnet Suppl. 2, 136; RPC VII.2, — (unassigned; ID 48982); Corpus Nummorum Thracorum cn.anchialus.4915.
Finished my "Rag Tag 12 Caesars" set tonight... with a bargain Vitellius. Galba, Otho and Vitellius are now en route.. Ya - I know.. she's pretty rough.. So not over celebrating (not in hand yet) .. but I am certainly raising a glass!! I really cannot believe this happened.
Just post it, cuz I likem Aesernia, Samnium Bronze AE 20 9g, 20mm, die axis 0o ca. 263 - 240 BCE Aesernia (Isernia, Italy) mint, Obv: VOLCANOM, head of Vulcan left, wearing laureate pileus, tongs behind Rev: AISERNINO, Jupiter galloping a biga right, Nike above flying right crowning horses Hard to find without flan splits. However, their flan split are actually pretty cool... Samnium Aesernia AE21 263-240 BCE HN Italy 430 Vulcan - Biga
CONGRATS, @Clavdivs ! Super nice to have the Seut12! And, as a RagTag set, that would be my style! But, what IS it about this Vit-Guy, having NO EAR! I mean just a BLOW-HOLE on the side of his head? Too much interbreeding among those Emperors... VITELLIUS RI Vitellius 69 CE AR Denarius Pont Max Vesta Seated Hey, your reverse Gal is just sittin’ the wrong way.