Hey guys, where the heck have you been? Just kidding! I sincerely appreciate the kind emails from my CT friends. I could go on and on about where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing but I won’t go there. This site has always been a pleasant escape from the unpleasant stuff going on outside and I don’t want to violate that sanctity. Here’s my latest acquisition and a “Proof of life” selfie. This is my largest and heaviest ancient coin. I wanted a nice heavy “pocket ancient” to replace the Antoninus Pius Sestertius that I used to carry in the watch pocket of my Dockers !
It’s good to see you again @Deacon Ray ! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Io Saturnalia!!! ...also nice coin!
I am so so happy to see you back, Deacon Ray!!!! That’s a nice sized hockey puck you have there! Please stay awhile. Erin
Good to see you again @Deacon Ray ! Hope you're having a good Christmas season, and I... Waaaaait a minute. That selfie you posted... that's Kevin Bacon! Who are you, and what have you done with the real Deacon Ray?
It's great to see you back on the forum @Deacon Ray and congratulations on that awesome Ptolemaic hockey puck. There is something wonderful about those coins, the size and weight are really pleasing.
Super to see you again, Deac! Hope all is well with you and yours! Pocket piece: LOL, well done! THAT will definitely get folks attention when you show them an ancient! Carry a Prutah / Widow’s Mite, also, to REALLY drive home the effect!
It is good knowing you're OK. After 2020, I wish everyone a year full of joy and health. PS - if you carry that coin around with you in your pocket all the time, you're bound to wind up with a back ache.
I remember many years ago, when I only had Roman coins in my collection, seeing one of these at a show. I couldn't believe my eyes. I think I had a late roman coin that was as wide as this thing was thick. I set it down and wandered around the show but couldn't stop thinking about it. Luckily for me there were no late Roman coins there that I was interested in, so my self-alloted budget was unspent and I went back to buy the "thing". SC
Glad your back sound and safe on Cointalk , Ray I think your coin is a Ptolemy IV Philopater , though svoronos 1127 is correct = DI between legs, cornucopia at left. Heres my Ptolemy III Eurgetes, cornucopia at right:
Went and looked: I have a HemiDrachm of PIII, a BABY CHALKOUS, as well as his Tet: PIII HEMIDRACHM Egypt Ptolemy III 245-222 BC AE 34mm 31g HemiDrachm Zeus-Ammon Eagle Tbolt Cornucopia XP Chi-Rho SV 965 CHALKOUS - A BABY COIN among these monsters... Egypt Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-222 BCE AE Chalkous 12.0mm 2.0g Zeus-Ammon Eagle Trident Svoronos 840 ex Righetti Collection TETRADRACHM Egypt Ptolemy III AE Tet 41mm 7.2mm thick 67.5g Zeus Ammon Eagle Cornucopia XP Chi-Rho
Selecting a coin as a pocket piece is hard for some of us. I would suggest one with poor and encrusted surfaces that carrying around might even improve. Thirty years ago a dealer at a show reached in his pants pocket and pulled out his pocket change. Among the nickels and quarters was a tetradrachm of Uranus Antonius. He said that it had been an ugly mess when he started and was not bad looking now with a few months of 'honest' wear. He was going on the theory (then correct) that a smooth Fine would be easier to sell than a crusty lump VF. I never heard when he decided to stop and sell it. My sestertius of Galba has the look of a pocket piece carried by a previous owner (not me). I have no idea what it looked like when its service began.