Some tragic news; and some solace in coins

Dear Severus Alexander, For the years to come I wish you the blessings of Salus and of course Spes. Encourage your wife with your good spirits.

Frans

 

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Dear Sev. There have been breathtaking strides in immunotherapy treatment of cancer patients in the last several years. I have seen near miraculous turnarounds in my practice by patients who have failed conventional chemo.
So, IT AIN'T OVER! You keep fighting, we'll keep praying.

I would be glad to post my Julius Caesar denarius for you. Also, for good measure, I'll through in a Mars Vltor of your very own name sake , Alexander Severus.( or is Severus Alexander?).
Salve Bene!

 

I am really sorry to hear this @Severus Alexander. It is good to read you take your strength from your wonderful family and ofcourse coin collecting! I pray it turns out fine on the long run, do not give up!

I hope Saint Pantaleon and other saints can assist you in your journey:

Euphemios, imperial protospatharios and courtier of the imperial bedchamber guarded by God, 2nd half of 10th-1st half of 11th century. Lead Seal.
Obverse: ... - T/ЄΛ, Nimbate bust of St. Pantaleon, holding medical instruments in his right hand and medicine box in his left.
Reverse: +ЄVΦHM / R’A’CΠAΘ, Є/ΠI TOV ΘЄ[O/Φ]VΛAK[TOV] / [K]OIT[ⲰN,] in five lines.
Reference: Unpublished in the standard references.
6.21g; 27mm

Also glad to have this pretty coin from your collection in mine!

EMPIRE OF NICAEA. John III Ducas-Vatazes (1222-1254). AE Trachy. Magnesia mint.
Obverse: MP - ΘV; The Virgin Mary, orans, seated facing on throne, with Christ medallion on breast; lis to left and right.
Reverse: John and St. Demetrius standing facing, holding between them a staff surmounted by patriarchal cross.
Reference: SB 2128
1.90g; 27mm
From the Severus Alexander collection, ex Naumann 45, 03.07.2016, lot 1034.

 

@Severus Alexander I an very sad to hear this news, but at the same tame I am deeply encouraged by the tone of your post and your fighting spirit. I believe if anyone can beat this it will be you, and I will be praying for that outcome!

Here is a denarius of Caligula that I was fortunate enough to have bought recently. I hope you do to the cancer what Cassius Chaerea did to Caligula, beat it so hard it doesn’t know what hit it!

 

Best wishes for a recovery

 

@Severus Alexander - very sorry to hear of the tough diagnosis - your attitude and spirit are to be commended and of course I hope for a positive outcome.

Here are a couple of Salus/Valetudo coins.




ATB,
Aidan.

 

I’m very sorry to hear this. Perhaps something can reverse it? Stay positive!

 

I am amazed and so very grateful!! It reminds me that people are almost universally good and kind, whatever our differences. We stand together in the face of adversity. It's a good thing to remember in this general time of turmoil.

Thank you so much for the many healing deities: to @Roman Collector (I had forgotten Glykon could be included here!), @happy_collector, @Julius Germanicus, @gogili1977, @Orielensis (thanks so much for your support for AMCC!), @Marsyas Mike, @tenbobbit, @Orange Julius, @Archeocultura, @akeady, and to @Pavlos for St. Pantaeleon the healer!

Thank you for the panoply of Fighters: Trajan from @Clavdivs, the first king of Bohemia fighting a dragon from @FitzNigel (thanks so much for your support of AMCC, Fitz!), Hercules from @happy_collector and @singig, Athena Alkidemos from @Broucheion, Mars from @JayAg47, @gogili1977, @gsimonel, and @DonnaML; Caesar from @Limes (beautiful veiled DICT PERPETVO!), @Jay GT4, and @octavius (wow!); Seleukos I from @Ignoramus Maximus and @TheRed plus his elephant from @David@PCC; a golden knight from @Cucumbor, steppe archers from @Parthicus, Freddy II of Prussia from @panzerman, and gladiators from @Fugio1 - probably my favourite Republican coin type, that is a beauty! Here's mine, ex @dougsmit:


Thanks for the Hope (Spes) from @JayAg47, @dougsmit, and @Archeocultura, and to all of you, really for the hope this thread gives me; hope for victory of some sort (five years would certainly be a victory!) as symbolized by the Victories from @Harry G, @dougsmit, and @lordmarcovan.

Thank you for the illustrations of resilience: Ariobarzanes from @Sulla80, the nadir and recovery of the Roman Republic from @Alegandron (I NEED a quadrigatus! love that Sicilian denarius too), Artabanos IV from @Parthicus (I love that avatar tet!), and Diocletian from @corvusconstantius.

Thank you for the many Sev Alexes including those from @dougsmit, @Cucumbor (you know I LOVE that sestertius!), @singig, @DonnaML, @octavius (lovely!), the SA going to war from @galba68, and my favourite CT-ancients aureus from @panzerman.

Thank you for the following unique takes on our theme: Severus/SALVIS from @Victor_Clark (thanks again for helping me complete my DD set, Victor!), Aeneas the supportive son from @Gavin Richardson (I have a wonderfully supportive son!), Churchill from @tenbobbit, Edward I as the hammer from @TheRed (thanks so much for your support for AMCC!), the wise words of Marcus Aurelius from @Numisnewbiest (what an amazing aureus!), and Cassius Chaerea nailing the cancerous Caligula from @Aethelred (I have such fond memories of standing in the cryptoportico in Rome where this happened!)

More in a moment...

 

... continued from previous comment:

Thank you for your stories, cancer survivors @JPD3 ("stay physically active," yes!!), @Tall Paul, @Al Kowsky ("never give up hope" yes!!), @Cucumbor (yup, I've been buying a few presents for myself! ), @Voulgaroktonou (thank you so much for your heartfelt prayers... and also for keeping a lookout for a John V for me!), and for more stories of cancer survivors from @Harry G and @octavius (it's especially great to hear from board doctors!) If any of you had or are aware of people who recovered from bone metastases, please do let me know!

Thanks also from those who have experienced loss: @spirityoda, @robinjojo, @CaptHenway (a good 5 years would be wonderful, thank you!), and @Campbell Miller. My thoughts are with you.

Thank you @GinoLR, @Bing, @thejewk, @PeteB, @John Conduitt, @Spaniard, @Johndakerftw, and @ominus1 for the exceedingly kind words!

@spirityoda: As tempting as a GoFundMe page is, I think I’ll resist that temptation. I’m sure everyone has much better things to spend their money on than me!

@robinjojo: Classical music is a big part of my life, and I thank you for that lovely Vaughan-Williams Fantasia, a work I have neglected in the past but will no longer! And you're right, along with coins, music is a great source of solace... and joy too.

@dougsmit: You are the Mentor of this board, and I’m so grateful for all you contribute. I’m amazed that on the day I posted about my cancer, you happened to buy an As of SA with Victory on it, from the beloved Don Zauche (RIP). (Note to others: middle bronzes of SA are a specialty of mine.) What are the chances?? I don’t really believe in signs, but surely the Roman augurs would have something to say about this! Here’s mine:

 

I'll add you to my prayer list.

 

@Severus Alexander

You have the spirit of Gallienus!

 

@Severus Alexander, I am very saddened to read your news. BUT, I am encouraged by the spirit with which you are approaching your battle with cancer. A positive attitude is absolutely key for everyone in this situation, and it sounds like you have such positivity.

Speaking of positivity, thank you for all the mentoring and assisting you do here on the forum boards, and by email as well--I know I have asked you quite a few questions in the past!

Finally, I remember some time ago you wrote that you were collecting coins with Pan on them. You may recognize the coin above--part of a lot I won at AMCC 3. Despite your situation, you were still able to take beautiful pictures of this coin, package it as part of a lot, and sell that lot along with some hundreds of others as part of the auction. That took enormous courage, dedication, and vision, and I believe that these qualities will stand you and your family in good stead as you fight your cancer. So this is my tribute to you, if you will. I also hope that you find encouragement in seeing the enduring power of this small bronze coin with its graceful portrait of Pan erecting a trophy. I wish you that same grace, endurance, and triumph.

 

This was hard news to hear.

I have a lot of faith in our modern medicine, and the rest of the battle is in our own minds. I am glad to see that you've resolved to fight and never accept defeat - and that you will continue with the hobby that brings you joy.

We're all rooting for you.

 

Sorry to hear that.

I have family history of skin cancers, so fortunately I’ve been able to look out and nip it in the bud a couple times before something bad happened.

although it doesn’t sound like much, I’ll be praying for you as I do for the health of everyone on our planet.

 

@Severus Alexander I’ve been away from the forum for a while concentrating on some battles of my own which suddenly seem so insignificant. So very sorry to hear about your illness and like several others have said before, I’m sorry but I just cannot bring myself to add a ‘like’ to it. However, your determination to continue to enjoy your hobby while fighting the cancer is reassuring.

Yes there will be some bad days but lean on the support of your loving wife and family and keep reminding yourself that you will fight it. I pray that the creator will give you many more wonderful and happy years with them.

Have faith and always believe you can beat it and He will stand by you.



Victory of Good over Evil.

 

@Severus Alexander I read your post several times over the last couple of days. It must have been hard to write but I am so happy the key conclusion was to continue doing what gives you joy.
Friends, family, hobbies, passions, community, love, laughs, and purpose will keep your mind strong for the challenge ahead. I’m inspired by the outpouring of support from the group we have here.
You are a pillar of this community and we are all rooting for you my friend.
Wishing you all the best

I don’t have a really good fighter coin - but others have that covered.

The Healer




Description
Septimius Severus Æ29 of Pautalia, Thrace. AD 193-211.
AY K Λ CЄΠTI CЄVHPOC ΠЄP, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right /
Asclepius seated right on back of winged serpent, holding serpent-entwined staff; serpent-entwined staff; OVΛΠIAC ΠAVTAΛIAC in two lines below. Varbanov 4681-9 var. (obv. legend).
29mm
14.65g,
7h
Very Fine.
Extremely Rare.

Nigel

 

@Severus Alexander I don't know you, but I've been on this forum long enough to see many of your contributions. I'm wishing you all the best and sending you positivity for successful treatments. I will echo the sentiments of others in saying that your continued passion for collecting is truly inspiring!

Here's a coin depicting Salus and another depicting your namesake!


Don't lose hope and keep fighting!
Rc

 

@Severus Alexander, I have had very little time to post here lately, but please know that I am still very sad to hear this, and that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. There are no good words for times like this, but please stay strong and keep those that you love and the things that make you happy close to you. I always find some comfort in remembering that the ancients dealt with the same feelings that we do, so we are never alone in facing our struggles.

It may not be the most beautiful coin, but I quite like this Septimius Severus Hercules denarius that I got from the AMCC bargain bin. So, may you have all the strength of Hercules!

 

I knew about @Severus Alexander's medical issues when I consigned a group of coins to his auction earlier this year. I had hoped that they had been resolved but I am very sorry to hear that the fight continues. All I can offer is this which is at best the slimmest of support.
Denarius of Severus Alexander 232 AD Obv. Bust right laureate draped and cuirassed. Rv. Spes advancing left. RIC 254 3.49 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin was remaindered in an auction a few years ago and I purchased it afterwards. It has remained with me ever since.

 

These are sad news.
I lost a dear friend to cancer in November. There is no justice in it.
I wish you the best of luck, and that you remain strong through the treatment.
I can’t come up with much more to say, other than I am saddened to hear the news.