Secret Saturnalia 2020

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Curtisimo, Nov 4, 2020.

  1. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Nice! Big chunky coins are great :D
     
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  3. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    I had the same idea, and guess what, I got a package from the very same person, including an ancient coin, reason why I can post it here, plus a run of nice US modern silver coins (one 1881 Morgan dollar, one 1909S Barber half, one 1931D Mercury dime and one 1945 walking Liberty half, all of them with very nice old cabinet patina), plus a 1957 Mexican peso. I was blown away when opening the package, as I was expecting a Season's greetings card of some sort (it was a bit heavy before opening though :) )

    0180-220b.jpg
    Septimius Severus (193-211), AR Denarius, issued 205. Rome, 3.37g, 19mm.
    Obv: Laureate head right
    Rev: Jupiter standing facing, head left, holding thunderbolt and scepter; eagle at feet to left.
    RIC IV 196; RSC 469.
    Issued in the year that the powerful Praetorian Prefect and father of Plautilla, Plautianus, was executed for treason.
    The flatness at 8 o’clock creates a rather amusing headless eagle.

    Note it's an ex. AMCC1 auction coin, which gives it an even better savour....

    Thank you @Curtisimo for organizing these festivities, for your time and patience, for your generosity and for your friendship. They are priceless in those troubled times

    Q

    PS : I'm not at home today, but I've been told a package from a certain Secret Saturn should have arrived. I will update you all ASAP
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2020
  4. NLL

    NLL Well-Known Member

    I have received my package and am waiting to open it on the 25th. I can’t wait! 75760BA4-35EF-4DFF-91AF-8ABF26EBE326.jpeg
     
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  5. Raymond Houser

    Raymond Houser Active Member

    Thanks for the reply. One of those looks like it could be from me, if you live in Colorado. Hope you like the coins.
     
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  6. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Io Saturnalia!
    With still a couple days left in the holiday I hope everyone's spirits are bright (and drinkable:wacky:).
    I have been incredibly fortunate. And the hits keep coming:woot:
    In my mailbox last night what should appear but a wonderful book on Alexander the great by Plutarch:wideyed: (I LOVE the cover art)
    20201222_073239.jpg
    The book has a very ominous feel. You could say it is an @ominus1 ;) Thanks good buddy.
    I'll be excited to read it during my up coming four day weekend that work has given me off (to celebrate some lesser holiday).
     
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  7. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ...and with last package being received, this cointalk Santa has left the building...:D
     
  8. AdamsCollection

    AdamsCollection Well-Known Member

    Just wanted to post here, awaiting my gift still, but to the person awaiting my gift, I really hope they add to your collection! Not going to lie, I was very intimidated when I saw your collection and post history! haha but I went all out on you, some of my beloved items are on their way to you.

    They should make it prior to Christmas!

    Can't wait to see your post about my gift though! Truly hope it makes your day! And adds to your wonderful collection!
     
  9. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Lol, I know that feeling when you get appointed as the vassal of a great Ancient CoinTalker... I feel like anybody would appreciate getting sent something picked out thoughtfully :D
     
  10. AdamsCollection

    AdamsCollection Well-Known Member

    Yes, haha.

    I have no doubt they will appreciate and love them.

    Sad to give them up to be honest, but I seriously went all out.

    2020 was too tough, and celebrating with random people who are passionate about the same things and sharing our collections and gifting each other is a seriously amazing thing, this forum has brought so many people together, to learn, become friends, and to share. A lot of people lost a lot this year, including myself. So I am more then excited and happy to be able to participate again, thanks to the folks who host these events too! Brings that spark of joy I think a lot of us really need in our lives during this season!
     
  11. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    I am glad you liked the coins I sent Q. I thought this denarius had a nice portrait and I thought the little headless eagle on the reverse was kinda funny. There are no ends to the silly reasons I will buy a coin. :oops::D Plus I wanted to send a few coins that prove that once upon a time the US made some nice coins.

    As for the package I received from Q... it contained a truly wonderful surprise.

    2D2D51C5-7CAC-488F-9AAB-819413A4CF28.jpeg
    Philippus II
    AR Tetradrachm, Antioch mint, AD 248
    Dia.: 27 mm
    Wt.: 12.5 g
    Obv.: ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philippus II right
    Rev.: ΔHΜΑΡX ΕΞΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟΔ, Eagle standing right, holding a wreath in beak. ANTIOXIA / SC in exergue
    Ref.: BMC 551, Prieur 474
    Ex Cucumbor Collection


    Thank you Q. The coin is great in every way and I’m honored to have it. Plus, I must say I feel very sophisticated having a French friend :artist::cool::D.

    Truth be told I feel entirely unworthy of the nice gestures that have been extended to me this year by my friends on this forum. I am very grateful though. The last few months on the forum have really rekindled a lot of the joy in the hobby I was missing throughout a tough year.

    I will have to think of a way to pay it forward... perhaps in 2021 I will resurrect the coin tournament.
     
  12. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Io Saturnalia! If you haven't been paying attention, it's the last day of Saturnalia!!!
    [​IMG]

    I hope you all have been drinking from an everlasting cup and eating babes with Bacchus!
    I propose a toast to the man of the hour (well, an hour lasting 7 days), @Curtisimo the great(ish)! I wish we were all able to party in person so I could hold Curtisimo's feet while he does keg stands! If it wasn't for him following in @John Anthony's footsteps and putting on this party it may well have fallen to the wayside and just been 2020 ending as sadly as possible. Thanks so much for making it happen buddy :)
    I was so appreciative that I sent him some Saturnalia tidings and within days I had received something back from him.
    I thought I would save sharing it for day 7 of the party, as it puts such a wonderful exclamation point at the end of my wild 7 day revelry.
    Check out this beauty!:
    upload_2020-12-23_8-27-14.png

    Again, thanks so much Curtis. This is just and absolute joy to hold in hand!
    And please let me know if anyone was left in the cold. I have a few more Saturnalia gifts for those that weren't as utterly spoiled as I have been this year.
    Ps, if you bring back the coin tournament, not only will I win, but I will donate a prize to the winner:smuggrin:
     
  13. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Much thanks to @Curtisimo for putting everything together. Top-notch work.
    Great coins all around and great commraderie as well.
     
  14. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

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  15. otlichnik

    otlichnik Well-Known Member

    Just out of curiosity, as this is my first year here, are people paired up - sending gifts to each other - or is it one large daisy chain? I have seen both types at workplace "Secret Santa's".

    I know that my gift had to cross a border and is therefore likely delayed - apologies to the recipient. I assume the same is true in reverse.

    SC
     
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  16. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    No sign of Saturn here in Churchville, NY yet :(. All my neighbors are on the lookout for Saturn too, & will promptly inform of any sightings :happy:.

    thXER89HQS.jpg
     
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  17. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    More like a daisy chain. Personally, I try to make it so the recipient cannot identify me as the sender. I use a return address to one of my relatives elsewhere. I'm not sure if any of my gifts have traced back to me or not.
     
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  18. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Like a daisy chain. I have two groups of pairings, one for US only and one for international and members willing to ship internationally. Everyone is assigned a number and then I use a random sequence generator to assign a giftee to each gifter.

    It is possible that two people end up gifting each other (especially on the international pairings where there are less possible number sequences) but the majority of the time you are not receiving a gift from the person you gifted.
     
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  19. otlichnik

    otlichnik Well-Known Member

    Ah, good. I avoided return true address details too, just in case.

    SC
     
  20. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Thanks for the kind words @Ryro . Also thanks for the offer of some keg stand support at this hypothetical CoinTalk party :smuggrin:. I’m sure I would otherwise end up busting my face up :hurting::blackeye::D.

    Also, I love the editing job on the photo. :D If you would rather have photos on a plain background here you go buddy.
    B7552184-7FF1-4E3B-B359-81D73B6E412D.jpeg

    For those interested here are the fantastic coins I got from CoinTalk’s funniest Scooby Doo fan. (It’s a shame you and @stevex6 weren’t members at the same time... my guess is some amusing shenanigans would have ensued.)

    FC91F2D3-2E0E-48E7-AB75-76F7EA323324.jpeg
    Achaemenid Empire
    Spithridates as Satrap
    AE10, mint in Ionia or Lydia, struck 334 BC
    Dia.: 10 mm
    Wt.: 1.5 g
    Obv.: Head of Spithridates right, wearing bashlyk
    Rev.: Forepart of horse right; TO monogram in upper left
    field, ΣΠ-I below and in right field
    Ref.: SNG Copenhagen 1538; SNG von Aulock 1823; Klein 367; Babelon, Perses 380
    Ex Ryro Collection


    CB515E45-992D-45E2-8333-CB77EF1567AC.jpeg
    Seleukid Kingdom
    Diodotos Tryphon
    AE17, Antioch mint, struck ca. 142-139 BC
    Dia.: 17 mm
    Wt.: 4.8 g
    Obv.: Diademed head of Tryphon right
    Rev.: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ TPYФΩNOΣ AYTOKPATOPOΣ to right and left of a Macedonian helmet left, adorned with ibex horn. Star in lower left field
    Ref.: BMC Vol. IV 11-12; Babelon 1052; Hoover HGC 1061; Houghton SC 2034.2e
    Ex Ryro Collection


    43D9D28A-5D98-4736-9A44-D86E996C1CA6.jpeg
    still working on the ID for this one :bookworm:

    You’ll note that the coins I received include a guy who got his arm cut off for trying to kill Alexander the Great, and a guy who lost his army in what is surely the most improbable fashion in history... a giant tidal wave!

    I know the mighty Ryro would be greatly feared in such a coin battle! I have some ideas for a 2021 tournament, including some unique prizes for the final four. Hopefully I will have the time to make it happen. More to come...

    ......................................​

    It’s almost embarrassing to show all the the thoughtfulness that was sent my way this year. I have very much enjoyed picking out coins to send in return and rest assured I put a lot of thought into it. :) I can truly say it was the highlight of my collecting year.

    Thanks again @Theodosius , @Cucumbor and @Ryro .

    ......................................​

    As to those who have not yet received a gift. I stand by my guarantee that everyone will get a gift. It’s a bit harder this year with the postal delays to know which coins are truly lost and which will arrive eventually. Keep me updated if you don’t have anything after Christmas.
     
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  21. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Thanks !

    I will remind you of that, when you'll happen to have snails, frogs legs and smelling cheeses for lunch :D
    Well, we can be sort of sophisticated....sometimes :D

    Q
     
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