Well, it isn't what it used to be, when it was held in downtown SJ many years ago. This show is being held at a hotel near the airport, running from today until tomorrow, and there were 25 dealers present, with only two selling ancients. One dealer, who you might know since he sells on VCoins is Glen Lindwall of Berkeley, California. I had a nice discussion with Glen, who is a bio-chemist. He had a small but nice selection of ancients at the show, so I had to buy one. I couldn't leave empty handed! Unthinkable! The folles of Justin I are almost a dime a dozen, but this coin is a nicely struck example. This follis of Justin I (518-527 AD) is from Constantinople, officina A, weighs 15.64 grams and measures between 30 and 32 mm. References: DOC 8a; MIBE 11; SB 62
Actually, I think decent Justin I folles aren't that easy to come by. That's a nice one! w/ star on shoulder An odd little pentanummium from Cherson:
It sounds like it was an enjoyable show, @robinjojo. The next big show I plan to attend isn't until May. I have only one coin of Justin I. It's from a different officina, but the same issue as yours. Justin I, AD 518-527. Byzantine Æ follis, 17.03 g, 34.3 mm, 7 h. Constantinople, 4th officina, AD 518-527. Obv: D N IVSTI-NVS P P AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: Large M; cross above, stars flanking; Δ//CON. Refs: DOC 8d; MIBE 11; SB 62.
First, that is great news about the cancer treatment. I do hope this turns the tide for you! I went through a bout with basal cell back in 1996. I think it is flaring up again. Now, getting back to Justin I, your coin's spokes and wheel pattern on his shoulder is very interesting. It didn't occur to me that some imaginative designs were used, and I wonder if they have any reference to an event, or if they were simply elements introduced by the artistic whim of the engraver. I have another Justin I follis in the mail, slowly wending its way to California from the UK. It is from Roma, a leftover from E-Sale 92 which probably didn't attract any bids because of its crudeness. However, the should pattern for this coin is a spiral. There are parallel line extending from the base of the circle, just like your coin. Possibly a comet or meteor (shooting star)? It's fun to speculate, though in fact those lines just represent folds in his gown, I believe. 15.58 grams Here is the Roma photo: Once the coin arrives I'll take a picture of it.
I also attended the San Jose coinexpo, I went Friday afternoon. I also talked to Glen, he's a great dealer, I've been buying from him since middle school! As you said, not many ancients dealers at the show, I still managed to pick up a few ancients and two moderns, overall, really happy with my purchases. Here's what I got at the show; Kingdom of Paeonia, King Patraos AR Tetradrachm 340-315 BCE 24mm, 12.4 grams Laureate head of Apollo to right Π-Ο-ΡΤΑΥ Paeonian horseman, wearing crested helmet and full armor, galloping to right and spearing fallen Macedonian soldier. Obverse die match with SNG ANS 1040, Reference- Paeonian hoard I 461, SNG ANS 1040 I wasn't planning to buy anything like this at the show, I mainly collect Roman imperial, but this coin, especially the horse and soldier on the reverse really appealed to me, and the coin was well priced, so I snatched it up. Video of the coin- Maximinus Thrax, AR Denarius Rome mint January 236- April 238 CE MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding baton over a globe and cornucopia. RIC IV (I) 20, 19mm, 3.74 grams I bought this mainly as an upgrade to my current Maximinus Thrax denarius, the portrait is just amazing, it's in great overall shape, despite a mediocre reverse strike, and it's even kinda lustrous. Video of the coin- Macrinus, AR Denarius Rome mint April-December 217 CE IMP CM OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, Bust of Macrinus, laureate, long bearded, cuirassed, right. PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Securitas, draped, standing left, legs crossed, holding sceptre in right hand and resting left arm on column. RIC IV (I) 24, 20mm, 3.00 grams I kinda had to buy this coin because it was so well priced, the denarius is just in overall great shape, and I don't mind the obverse flan flaw that much, I just couldn't pass this denarius for $100! Video of the coin-
Part 2: Coin on the right- Nanryo gin, 1824-1830, 7.5 grams Coin on the left- Ansei era Ichi Bu Gin coin, 1859-1868, 8.8 grams These two coins are waaayyy out of my collecting area, but the two were very well priced, come from a very interesting period and place in world history in my opinion, and these always looked interesting to me, so I bought the pair. Video of the coin- Picked up this really Crisp Crispus follis from the show as well Crispus, AE Follis Siscia mint, 321-324 CE IVL CRISPVS NOB C, Laureate head right CAESARVM NOSTRORVM, VOT dot X within wreath, Mintmark Delta SIS sunburst RIC VII Siscia 181 Finally, picked up this Claudius quadrans Claudius, AE Quadrans Rome mint, 41 CE TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, hand holding scales, PNR in center PON M TR P IMP PP COS II around S C RIC I 85
Nice one, @robinjojo - I particularly like the unusual portrait. Justin I folles are fairly easy to get cheap, not so easy to get nice. This is my best one by far, which isn't saying much: Justin I Æ Follis (518-527 A.D.) Constantinople Mint DN IVSTINVS PP AVG, bust right, wearing diadem with cross, draped and cuirassed / Large M, star left, star right, cross above Officina Δ below, CON in exergue. SB 62; DOC 8. (13.88 grams / 30 mm) eBay Jan. 2020
thanks for sharing @robinjojo . It is good to see other coin folks in person. @roman99 I have a Claudius scale quadrans for my coins with scales collection. When I used the coin in a talk I re-read the inscription around SC. It is hard to see, but I think it is: Rev - DESIT PON M TR P IMP COS around S C. (Designated Pontifex Maximus, Tribune of the Plebs, Imperator, Consul; Senate Consulto)I found the term DESIT = Designated interesting and new to me. I think yours might be the same. The seller of my coin used the same inscription as yours. I do not know if DESIT goes with COS or PON M.
CLAUDIUS AE Quadrans OBVERSE: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG around hand holding pair of scales above PNR REVERSE: PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT around S C Struck at Rome, 41AD 2.8g, 15mm RIC 85, Cohen 71, BMC 174
For anyone who doesn't know, Glen Lindwall sells on VCoins through his company Musa Numismatic Arts. I have bought from him, and recommend him as a dealer as highly as everyone else.
@roman99 See our recent thread elucidating the Paeonian tetradrachms.. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-ct-collaboration-paeonians-celts.392714/
Nice catches, particularly the Paeonia tetradrachm and the denarii, follis and quadrans! I did go back yesterday and picked up this Sabaean drachm, which I need like another hole in the head, but I do. It is quite crude, not the highest grade for sure, but the centering is decent. Arabia Felix, 4th century BC Sabaeans and Himyarites AR drachm Obverse: Imitation of Attic head of Athena right, with Sabean character on cheek. Reverse: AOE, owl right, head facing, reversed crescent (South Arabia) at foot. Munro-Hay 1,1ai/SNG Ans 1455 var. 4.61 grams Getting back to Glen Lindwall, I really like his labels. He really goes the extra mile for them. This is the label that came with the Justin I follis:
Hi Al The J does appear to be missing. There appears to be what could be part of a J beginning above the V and cutting diagonally to the N, but whether that constitutes a J or not is anyone's guess. The letters are clearly hand engraved, so whoever was in charge with the legend appears to have skipped the J, perhaps due to space considerations, poor lighting, or a terrible hangover (or all three).
Yeah, I'm also fond of Musa's coin flips, I think I still have my first Musa flip from when I first started collecting back in 2011 or something.
Reading through the thread rn, looks like I have shared obverse die of Paeonian hoard 461 in common with several people in the thread, nice.
