Featured Follow the coin theme GAME - ancient edition - post ‘em if you got ‘em

12 hours

Northern Song Dynasty of China
1078-1086 AD
Issued under Emperor Shenzong
AE Cash | 4.25g | 26mm
Obv: Yuan Feng Tong Bao in running script
Rev: Plain
Ref: H#16.235
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Next: A patina you really enjoy

 

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I really like the patina on this denarius of Hadrian.

It’s a bit underweight and I think it’s been clipped but I love the cameo appearance on the obverse and the iridescent colors on the reverse.

Next: A coin of your favorite Roman emperor

 

My favourite emperor is Aurelian, dude singlehandedly saved the Roman Empire from collapse!

Next, your least favourite emperor, and why?

 

Definitely Commodus!

Unlike some of the notorious Emperors (such as Caligula) Commodus grew up and was trained by the great Marcus Aurelius and thus had no excuse for being such a terrible Emperor.

His apathetic attitude towards being Emperor and appointment of freedmen like Cleander led to prevalent corruption and his selfish hoarding of grain led to a famine that caused the Roman people to riot and literally demand his head.

Commodus had every opportunity to be a great Emperor and failed miserably thus ending an era of relative prosperity from Nerva to Marcus Aurelius.

He is an example of Emperorship being passed down by blood rather than previously when Emperors adopted sons they thought would be good emperors such as Trajan adopting Hadrian.


At least Caligula had an excuse in the sense that all his family was murdered and naturally that would lead to paranoia as well as a “brain fever” and coma that changed who he was.

Before his sickness he was also the son of a great leader (Germanicus) in the same way Commodus was the son of a great leader in Marcus Aurelius.

At least prior to Caligula’s “brain fever” and coma historians describe him as a capable ruler who was doing good things and in general the Roman people were happy with him.

Whereas Commodus was raised from birth to be Emperor and failed miserably.

Appointing him Emperor is one of those few times when Marcus Aurelius made a terribly foolish mistake.

Even his sister Lucilla saw he wasn’t capable and tried to assassinate him.





Next: A coin depicting Roman military units or military activity of some kind such as equites, legionaries, centurions, praetorian guard etc.,

 

next: guys on horseback

 

Dudes on Horseback


RR AR Denarius 214-208 BCE Roma R X behind - Dioscuri R ROMA linear frame stars Sicily R Cr 68-1b

Next: Aes Grave

 

More than 12 hours and no sign of an Aes Grave....so, here's an obscure coin of the Kings of Sophene - from the time of the expansion of Armenia by Tigranes II The Great against a weakened Parthia, and the end of the Seleucid empire:
Mithradates II Philopator, circa 89-after 85 BC, AE dichalkon (16.6 mm, 3.43g, 12h), Arkathiokerta (?)
Obv: Diademed and draped bust of Mithradates II to left, wearing bashlyk tied with a diadem
Rev: [BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΜΙΘΡΙΔΑΤ / ΦΙΛO], club; all within wreath

Next: another coin of an obscure ruler

 

next: Parthian king

 

88,000 Italians by Cities in the Asia area were killed at that time by order of Mithradates IV of Pontos... significant times, interesting Histories. Cool coin, @Sulla80

 

PARTHIA KING


Parthia 177-138 BCE AR Drachm Diademed draped Mithradates I left bashlik - archer seated on omphalos Sellwood 10.1

Next: Another Parthia King

 

Orodes I
80-75 BC.
3.86g

A coin featuring Zoroaster or Ahura Mazda.

 

It’s been over 12 hours and no sign of a Zoroaster or Ahura Mazda so I’ll share one I thought was pretty cool.



CILICIA. Mallus. Tiribazus (ca. 388-380 BC). AR stater (22mm, 10.59 gm, 8h). NGC Choice XF 3/5 - 4/5. TRIBZW (Tiribazos), Ba'al standing left, naked to waist, holding scepter and eagle, TEP (Tarsus) in field / Ahura-Mazda, body terminating in winged solar disc, holding lotus flower and crowning himself. SNG Levante Supplement 16.



Next: Your first “big” ancient coin purchase. Collectors range from low income to super high income so let’s just say: The first coin you bought that made you think “I can’t believe I’m paying this much for a coin.”

 

At the time -- some 20 years ago -- this was the most I'd ever paid for a coin.




Next: same theme.

 

My first ancient gold,
This Javanese/Sri Vijayan gold massa from the Sailendra dynasty, 7-8th century AD, 2.44g
This one is an impulse purchase at the start of the year when I got some new cash and I wanted to add some gold, and thought why not splurge it on an ancient coin from a region of interest.
So I got this.

Next, your first ancient gold.

 

Byzantine Solidus. 613-641 AD. 4.43g
Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine
Obv: Two Emperors
Rev: Cross potent on steps

Next: another ancient gold.

 

Next: Medieval Gold

 

Rajendra Chola 1/8th Kahavanu
Shows the tiger, the Pandyan emblem fish and the Chera emblem bow (off center), indicating that the Cholas had achieved political supremacy over the latter two dynasties.
1014-1044 AD

Next, more Asian gold.

 

Next up: African Gold (Axumite/ Ptolemaic/ Zeugetania)

off to work....

 

AFRICAN GOLD

Carthage - Zeugitana
AV 1/10th Stater-Shekel
350-320 BCE
0.94g 7.5mm
Palm-
Horse Head
SNG COP 132

Next: More Ancient African Gold

 

Here's a little Ptolemy I gold coin

Coin: Gold Triobol
Obv.: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, lion skin tied around neck
Rev.: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΥΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΥ - Eagle standing left on thunderbolt with spread wings; in left field, MI ligate
Mint: Alexandria (ca 305-282 BC)
Wt./Size/Axis: 1.75g / 10mm / 2h
References:

• BMC 48
• Svoronos 200
• SNG Berry 1466

Acquisition: Roma Numismatics Online Auction E-Auction 2 #302 2-Nov-2013



Next - another Ptolemaic coin