I've been through a handful of Sev Alexs lately, none of them nice. I got rid of them all when @tenbobbit sent me two nice examples, below. My first Severus Alexander: A much nicer example of a similar version from @tenbobbit Another nice Imperial Denarius from @tenbobbit Then, I found this one at an unbeatable price ($16.68), and I don't think I'll ever need another Severus Alexander after this one. I do plan on keeping the coins from @tenbobbit because they are good, affordable examples of two interesting types. However, I won't be in the market for anything else now! The "final upgrade": Severus Alexander AE Deultum Provincial Obv: IMPCMAVRSEV ALEXANDAVG Rev: COLFLPA CDEVLT Diam: 23mm Province: Deultum Reference: Moushmov 3583 I LOVE the hard, black patina this has. I suspect this is some sort of wax or lacquer applied a hundred years ago, but I have no plans on removing it since I really like the "cameo effect" it gives.
Nice "final upgrade" (yeah, we'll see about that ). Gotta love an Artemis hunting reverse type. Sev Alex's bronzes from Nicaea come in an astonishing number of varieties. I have one of the better-documented varieties of this one: Severus Alexander, AD 222-235. Roman provincial Æ 21.5 mm, 4.57 gm. Bithynia, Nicaea, AD 222-235. Obv: Μ ΑVΡ CΕV ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC ΑV, radiate and draped bust, r., seen from behind. Rev: ΝΙΚΑΙΕ-ΩΝ between three standards. Refs: SNG von Aulock 634; SNG Copenhagen 520 var; Sear 3287 var. (laureate bust).
There were SO MANY of oh-so-similar Nikaie examples on Wildwinds I just completely gave up on trying to get a full ID! lol
Nice upgrade , Congrats! I have one Nicaea example of Severus Alexander and similar Deultum coin , Faustina II , Artemis , strange fact this provincial coin was covered in gold at one moment.
Wow, great coins! I was not aware that the ancients plated their coins in gold. That’s a strange as the aureus was rather much smaller! The plot thickens...
Oh man famous last words am I right... I guess what I should say is the last SA I’ll actively seek out, but if I see something else that catches my eye then who knows... Over the past 6 months or so I’ve found this hobby to be incredibly addicting. I started out with a strict “one coin per emperor” policy which I failed after the first half dozen of coins. Lol
this seller from VCoins gave a very nice explanation , for a similar Faustina II coin : https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/in...d_with_gold_in_antiquity/1080650/Default.aspx
Very interesting. Makes sense to plate it for jewelry; they do that today with Morgan’s or other older American coins. my first impression was as a fake (a la gold V nickels in 1883) but the aureus was so much smaller. anyways, really neat coin and such a wonderful piece of history!!!
Here's my Severus Alexander from Nicaea. And another of the type, but from Gordian III. The commentary in my files says: "Rev.: Two legionary eagles between two standards, crowned with two model quadrupeds. With 2-3-3-2 balls in the standards. NIKAI/EΩN. Smoothed. 20 mm, 3.14 gr. According to Wildwinds, there are several finicky variants between the standards. Sear 3671. SNG Cop 526."
Nice upgrade, but I'm with @Roman Collector, I bet you will soon find a better one that you "need" desperately Severus Alexander is among the emperors you find the best coins of in terms of style and preservation, for quite decent prices. Q
I sold most of my severus alexander denari, including this one. However, one is too fun not to share. This is not a still image, but a GIF of 2.5 seconds, showing the effect of sodium thiosulphate on horn silver (AgCl). The process took about 15 minutes.
@Roerbakmix very funny! But if I may say so, the difference is clear, but not great. Or did you remove more of it in the end?
Thanks, @Roerbakmix. With a pseudo like yours that's what I expect: tasty chemical treatments resulting in a dishy denarius. I'm most into Provincials. And here is Severus Alexander, or is it Alexander Severus?
Sestertius: Typical oblong flan of the mid third century Sestertii: Severus Alexander, 222-235 A.D. VICTORIA AVGVSTI
