I have decided to go through some of my coins that I bought back when I started collecting ancients that have been sitting in a coin storage box for too long unlooked at. This will force me to assess which of these coins will stay and which I will part with as my interests have changed so much since I started out. I am taking time to look at, check out my attributions, update the photography, weigh and measure. Then the coins will be put in smaller piles whilst I figure out how I dispose of the ones I will part with. The first coin is the one that got me into ancients in the first place and one that I have shared here before. This one has a sentimental place in my collection and I will never part with it. I thought it worth sharing my up to date images though. I hope that you don't mind me sharing some of my finds on my trip down memory lane as I work through these boxes.... Severus Alexander denarius Obv:– IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding a spear and shield Minted in Rome, A.D. 232 References:– RIC 246, RSC 161a 3.64gms. 19.91mm. 180 degrees Dark grey toning. And here is a section of the reverse in close up.
I mean, if you don’t want it.... for real tho, I would never part with my first one either! i LOVE the reverse detail. Amazing How skilled the celators were
A very nice coin, and relatable way of collecting. I have one coin that hooked me to ancients, and I hope I'll never have to sell it: INDIA, WESTERN KHSATRAPAS, Bhartdaman . Denomination: AR Drachm, minted: uncertain mint; 278-295 AD Obv: Head of Bhartdaman, legend around is missing Rev: Rajno mahakshatrapasa rudrasenaputrasa rajnah kshatrapasa bhartrdamnah. ("[coin of] the sun of king and mahasatrap Rudrasena, king and satrap Bhatrdaman") Weight: 2.25g; Ø:14mm. Catalogue: not found. Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 07-2017 Bhartrdāman was the second of two sons of Rudrasena II who came to the throne. He started to issue coins as kshatrapa in the year S. 200, which was the last year that his father was still in power. At the time, his brother Visvasena had been issuing coins as kshatrapa for a few years, and he continued to do so for two more years before claiming the title of mahakshatrapa in 201 or 202. Bhartrdāman issued coins as kshatrapa until 204, at which point he started issuing coins as mahakshatrapa. The mahakshatrapa series continued uninterrupted until S. 217 (= 295 CE). I paid a grand total of €10 for it, including shipping. The thrill of holding a coin minted c. 1700 years ago never really went away, though this specific coin is not representative of my collection at all.
I bought this one before I started cataloging my collection on computer in 1987 from one of the early FSR lists for $5. It was my first coin that was neither Greek nor Roman. I have it listed as Bhartdaman but not separated by which title it was.
@dougsmit I'll be of little help. I've learned that the bust is more or less useless to pinpoint a definite ID. I tried deciphering the reverse text, but only after @AnYangMan translated it for me, I obtained the final ID. I'm quite sure I identified this one myself: INDIA, WESTERN KHSATRAPAS, Rudrasena II. Denomination: AR Drachm, minted: Uncertain; 256–278 AD Obv: Head of king to the right; date not visible Rev: Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around (rajno kshatrapasa viradamaputrasa rajno mahakshatrapasa rudrasenasa) Weight: 0g; Ø:mm. Catalogue: uncertain. Provenance: Ex private collectoin; acq.: 05-2019 Rudrasena II came to the throne in S. 177, presumably at the death of his uncle Dāmajāadasri III. His father, Viradāman, had ruled from 156 to 160, but as kshatrapa only and Rudrasena II's coins reflect this ... they name his father as kshatrapa. Rudrasena II had a long reign by Kshatrapa standards - 24 years. His earliest coins are dated 177, and coins of his are known for every year from then to 200 (278 CE). Late in his reign, in 197, his son Visvasimha started issuing coins as kshatrapa.
It is a wonderful coin, Martin, especially the face of Mars. I've posted it before but this is my very first ancient, bought on here at CT, that started my ancient journey. Is it wrong to say I would sell my Julius Caesar portrait coin over this? Crazy how sentimental value can be. Septimius Severus (193 - 211 A.D) AR Denarius O: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Laureate head right. R:RESTITVTOR VRBIS (Restoration of the City), Severus in military attire, spear in left, sacrificing over a tripod altar with right. Rome mint, 201 A.D. 3.3g 18mm RIC 167a, RSC 599, BMCRE 202
Here's my first Septimius Severus denarius with Victory holding a wreath. One of my first ancients, and my very first purchase with FAC. Septimius Severus AR Denarius 202 - 210 A.D., Rome Mint 2.843g, 19.5mm, 12H Obverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, Bust of Septimius Severus, laureate, facing right Reverse: VICT PART MAX, Victory, winged, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and palm sloped over left shoulder in left hand Provenance: Ex. Forvm Ancient Coins 2016 Reference: RIC IV Septimius Severus 295
My first coin was uncleaned junk, and I had a ball for a few months getting lots that gave me great enterainment. I am intending to get rid of loads, but only when I can go to the Post Office, that is not going to be for a while yet.
..this 'coin', a 2003 $5 Liberian piece was offered on a commerical for 5 bucks with free shipping...it proudly sits(in front of the arrowheads display, left of the rabbit and bottle of BadThads Verdi-care) amongst my 'table of coins and stuff' my 1st ancients were LRB's bought from rusty Romans on ebay...they are scattered to and fro now, as my interest in ancients and history grew, and still does.. oh i sometimes move around in my collecting frenzy, but ancients are always on my mind.
This one hasn't had an updated image since 2004 when I was using a flatbed scanner to take my images. Septimius Severus denarius Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– VIRTV-T-E AVG, Virtus standing right, holding spear in right hand, parazonium in left Minted in Emesa, A.D 194 - 195 References:– BMC 403, RIC 431 (Scarce), RSC 771 2.88gms. 16.64mm. 180 degrees Old Image New Image
I have had this one since 2008 and it appears that I have never taken an image of it. Probus Obv:–IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:–SALVS AVG, Salus standing left, holding scepter, feeding serpent rising from altar Minted in Rome (//XXIΔ) Emission 1, Officina 4. (RIC attributes to Siscia but Pink re-attributes to the first emission of Rome). A.D. 276 Reference:– RIC 744 Bust type F (C) 3.82gms. 23.49mm. 180 degrees
And then there are the coins that bring you to a complete halt. A fellow collector had an interest in some Greek bronzes that I had recently obtained and she knew that I had an interest in early Probus coins. We came to a mutual agreement, She passed away in 2012. I will always think if her when I see this coin. Probus Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front Rev:– ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated in temple, holding Victory and sceptre Minted in Rome (RΓ in exe) Emission 2. A.D. 277 Reference:– RIC 190 var. Bust type F (Not listed with this officina in RIC) 4.15gms. 23.74mm. 0 degrees
