Secret Saturnalia 2020

Whoops! Hit ‘post’ before getting the photo in (although I need to take a better one...):



Imperial Rome
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D. (213-17 A.D.)
Rome Mint, AR Denarius, 18.81 mm x 3.37 grams
Obv.: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate Head right
Rev.: INDVLGENTIAE AVG, Indulgentia enthroned left holding patter and scepter
Ref.: SRCV 6808, RIC IV-1 Caracalla 300, p. 258

 

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Perhaps you should face the fact that FFIVN made the 'Nice List' and you did not.

 

Oh that is a given. He is infinitely more nice and kind than I will ever be.
We even have a naughty/nice list on the whiteboard at work. I am on the naughty list there too.

 

I’m loving seeing the first round of coins posted! Some great coins already! I know some folks like to wait till Christmas or the weekend etc. to open gifts so I am sure we will have several days of worth of coins to look at in this thread.

If you haven’t received your Saturnalia gift yet please send me a PM and let me know. I doubt there is anything to worry about other than the slower rate of the various postal services but I can at least check up and make sure everything has been sent out.

 

My SS has sent be this lovely halfpenny of Edward III, to be added to my (very) small collection of english hammered silver. Thank you for the wonderful gift!



Apologies as usual for my incompetent photography.

 

I was good. I waited until 12:00.01 to open my gift. Thanks so much. I had neither of these, Judaea- First Revolt, prutah, 67-68 AD and Ottoman Empire - Murad III 1574-1595, ache. Thank you Nathan for the nice present.

 

Here is my SS gift, I waited till I got home from work to open my gift.

Carteia (Spain)
Obv Turreted Tyche
Rev Neptune standing left foot on rock
holding dolphin and trident.

 

I've finally had time to take hasty images of my SS gifts. I will say again how wonderful and thoughtful these are. MY SS took into account my collecting preferences for sure.

I haven't had time to research any of them yet. I think it may take me a while to find the correct attributions, so if you have an idea where to start on the first two, I would appreciate it. The last is a Mark Antony legionary coin, so no help needed here.

Here they are in as much glory as a cell phone camera can give:


Thank you so much SS. Perhaps I was a good boy this year (well, good enough, eh?). You were much too kind.

 

Although not part of the Secret Saturnalia posting, I recently received an AWESOME Holiday gift from a great CT person:

Super kind generosity and thoughts from a great friend from afar.


Indian AE Square Fractional Karshapana punch 125 BCE 9.0x8.2mm 0.86g Ominus1

 

I am just so humbled and still coming to my senses (over twelve hours later) at what I just recieved from my gracious Saturn:


And so much more to the story...
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-...y-bcuda-is-this-years-saturnalia-king.371784/

 

Io Saturnalia! I want to thank my Secret Saturnalia person for sending me some wonderful coins — three Greek and one Roman provincial! A thoughtful and generous gift. I won't reveal the real name of the sender, since he chose not to include his CoinTalk handle.

I'm a collector of Romans, so these are my first Greek coins. I appreciate the opportunity to expand my collecting horizons. All four coins come with tags that include some basic information about them, but I had fun researching these coins to try to describe them as thoroughly as possible. If anyone has any corrections please feel free to let me know. In order of oldest to newest, I've posted photos I made of each of the four coins sent by my Secret Saturnalia giver below:


Thessaly, Crannon (Krannon). 350–300 BCE; Æ Dichalkon, 19mm, 4.87g, 11h. Rogers 179 var. (trident on rev.); BCD Thessaly I 1081.1 var. (same obv. die; trident on rev.); BCD Thessaly II 117.3 (same dies); HGC 4, 384. Obv: laureate head of Poseidon r. Rx: KP-A; Thessalian warrior on horse rearing r.

Ex BCD Collection.

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Antigonos II, Gonatas. Kingdom of Macedon, Pella or Amphipolis, 277/6-239 BCE; 17mm, 3.32g, 12h. SNG München 1090 var. Obv: helmeted head of Athena r. Rx: Pan standing r., erecting trophy; to l., club above wreath; to r., A; below, AI.

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Time of Mithridates II. Pontos (Pontus), Amisos (Amisus), 105-65 BCE; 19mm, 7.80g, 6h. SNG BM Black Sea 1226. Obv: laureate head of Zeus r. Rx: ΑΜΙΣΟΥ; eagle standing l. on thunderbolt, head r.; star above in l. field, monogram.

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Lucius Verus. Syria, Cyrrhestica, Hieropolis; 161–9 CE. Æ24. 24mm 10.20g, 6h. BMC 36. Obv: laureate head r. Rx: ΘEAC CYΠI / AC IEΠOΠO / Θ, in three lines within laurel wreath. Rare.

 

Mine arrived right on the 17th (it’s just past midnight on the 18th here), so talk about perfect timing!



I love Byzantine coins from the reconquered western territories like Italy and North Africa, so this Justinian decanummium from Carthage is an awesome gift, and I am very grateful for my Secret Saturn that they got it for me and also took the time to research my collecting focuses.

Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AE decanummium
Obv: DN IVSTINI-ANVS PP AVG. pearl diademed, draped bust right
Rev: Large I, cross above, ANNO to left, XIII to right
Mint: Carthage
Mintmark: CAR (in exergue)
Ref: SB 269

(it’s darker in hand but my camera has no batteries and I had to use my phone)

 

Oh - that is a wonderful gift.. the surfaces are very nice and the reverse is quite special.

 

Beautiful coins... I think the artwork will send you in a new collecting direction!

 

I opened my Saturnalia present today and was really excited to see this rare and artistic Greek bronze coin!


Aeolis, Tisna
AE18,4th century BC, 3.2 gms
Obverse: Horned head of the river god Tisnaios left.
Reverse: TIΣ-NAIΩN either side of one handled cup.
References: SNG Cop 283
Secret Saturnalia, 2020
Very rare

Tisna is one of several ancient cities known only through its surviving coins. The city name is clearly listed on this example. It is believed the city was located on the Tisna river. The horns on the god on the obverse indicate he is a river diety, which makes sense for a town located on a river.

This coin has a beautiful dark, shiny green patina, which made it hard to photograph using my normal camera set up. I ended up holding it and using a cell phone so I could capture the light reflecting off it at just the right angle to illustrate it well.

Thanks Secret Saturn, you clearly figured out my collecting interests and selected a coin I will enjoy for many years! My wife was very impressed as well.

John

 

I received another sweet coin for Saturnalia this year, from @Curtisimo the organizer of these festivities. As the organizer, he would not be able to participate in the fun, so I let him know I was sending him a surprise. He very kindly sent me this excellent coin from Philip I:


Philip I “The Arab” AD 244-249
Rome, AD 244-247, AR Antoninianus , 4,2 gms, 22 mm
Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: ADVENTVS AVGG, emperor riding horse l., raising hand and holding sceptre.
References: RIC IV.3, 26b
Secret Saturnalia, 2020

I love the Adventus series and all coins featuring horses (how did you know?) This is definitely the nicest Antoninianus I have and my best coin of Philip I. A well done portrait with a small die break behind his ear? Anyone else have this obverse die, it would be interesting to track the progression of the die? Look at the detail of Philip's head and armor on the reverse. A well engraved and preserved coin.

I always thought "Adventus" was somehow related to the word and meaning of "adventure", implying the Emperor was out exploring, campaigning, or touring the provinces. According to Wikipedia, "Adventus" refers to a ceremony formally welcoming the Emperor into a city during or after a military campaign, usually Rome. So the reverse portrays the Emperor returning to Rome and not riding around out in the wilds of the Empire.

Thanks Curtis, really love the coin.

John

 

Wow ! That's a stunner . Congrats.

 

I just received a text that a package entitled “IO Saturnalia“ has arrived. When and if, I get home this evening ? Pics will be incoming.
Good day, and I hope this gives my Sat gift- giver some relief.

 

I also got an email from USPS that a letter from "COINTALK" will be in my mailbox today.