Yet another misattributed Flavian rarity lurking in plain sight on MA Coins. Vespasian Æ Quadrans, 3.11g Rome Mint, 76 AD Obv: IMP VESPASIAN AVG; Rudder on globe Rev: P M TR P P P COS VII; S C in field; Caduceus, winged RIC 900 (R). BMC p. 170 *. BNC -. Acquired from London Ancient Coins, April 2022. The quadrans in the early imperial period typically lacked an imperial portrait. Possibly the denomination was deemed so lowly by mint officials that a portrait was considered improper. They were struck haphazardly and functioned primarily as an urban low value coinage in Rome and central Italy. The quadrans was the typical fee for entry into the baths, a urinal, or for a tryst in a cheap brothel. Being of rather low value quadrantes were not typically hoarded and thus are relatively scarce today being virtually absent from site finds outside central and south-central Italy (in contrast, over 1,827 quadrantes have been found at Pompeii). The rudder over globe suggests Vespasian's continued steady hand guiding the empire. Extremely rare issue dated COS VII. Missing from the BM and Paris collections. Do you have a coin with an odd shape? Let's see it! Thank you for looking!
Nice oval add! This one is somewhat square: Judaea. Herod the Great (40-4 BC). AE Prutah (17 mm, 2.32 g). HPΩΔOY BACIΛ, cross within open diadem, inscription often incomplete. / Tripod-table in circle. Good very fine. Struck on the flan of 2 Prutot. Hendin 1179.
Latin Emperors of Constantinople, AD 1204-1261. Æ (20x22mm, 1.19g, 6h) Small Module, Constantinople mint. Obv: MP-OV; The Virgin nimbate, wearing tunic and maphorion, seated upon throne with back; holds beardless, nimbate head of Christ on breast. Rev: Full-length figure of emperor, wearing stemma, divitision and chlamys; holds in right hand labarun on long shift and anexikakia in left. Ref: SB 2044; Doc IV.-Pl. LII-B30.2. Good Fine, nice patina, small striking area. This one brings a new meaning to the term "high relief".
It's a neat addition to your wonderful collection! I've also been ordering a lot from London Ancient Coins of late. I don't think I have any quadrantes , or a semis . What was the original attribution?
Kyzikos coins are among my favorites as I like coins with animals and small coins, these fit the conditions. I kept searching for one having the full design on flan as many of them don't show the fish or even the entire boar/lion. Many were expensive for the price I was willing to pay, but this was perfect, cheap and for a big bonus - a very oddly shaped flan, like an egg. Corrosion is not that distracting in hand since it is a very small coin.
David, Nice score, the reverse image is strong . The Tet pictured below has an odd ovoid shape , fortunately the portrait is complete . SELEUCIS & PIERIA, Antioch. Elagabalus, AD 218-222 (struck AD 219). Billon Tetradrachm: 13.46 gm, 25 mm, 6 h. "Emesan Issues". McAlee 762; Prieur 251 & 264. Ex Michel Prieur Collection; Ex CNG 67, lot 1132, 2004.
The oblong flans on coins of Trebonianus Gallus make me wonder if they were made by some sort of rolling machine or rolling pin before striking.
This worn (but apparently unpublished) Volusian also has an abnormally oblong flan. Volusian AD 251-253. Antioch Antoninianus AR 22 mm, 2,97 g IMP CV AF GAL VEND VOLVSIANO AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r., Rv. ROMAE AETERNAE AVG, Roma seated left with Victory and spear, shield at side. In exergue, 3 pellets Cf RIC 234a (
