Some various 'snacks' arrived today, purchased from two different dealers. My favorite of the lot: HOSTILIAN, as Caesar, AE sestertius. C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C, bare headed, draped bust right. Reverse - PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Hostilian standing left with standard & spear. RIC 216a, Cohen 35. 27mm, 14.6g. (Incitatus coins, although the red backgroud should give that away). I can't remember if I alread have an Hostilian. I think I have a Viminacium AE. The half-cleaned look actually gives the piece some charm. It was only until relatively recently that I began collecting the Caesars and wives in earnest. I think I only have two coins of the wives. (Of individual purchases, the random bags don't count). DIVUS VALERIAN II AR silver antoninianus. Struck 258-259 AD, Rome mint. DIVO VALERIANO CAES, radiate, draped bust right. Reverse - CONSACRATIO, Valerian riding on eagle flying right. 18mm, 1.5g. RCV 10605, RIC 9. The Valerian II was more of an impulse throw-in. I had wanted an eagle flying to heaven type, and it will do until I get around to getting a VF or EF one. There was a Divus Claudius II, but it was nothing to write home about. The next one was a pick-me-up after a trying day. I was about to pick p an AE but ended up getting this. I'm not much of an Antoninianus collector, but I enjoy the coins of Philip, especially the 23-25mm. ones. itle: Philip I AR Antoninianus / Pax Attribution: RIC IV 40b Rome Date: 244-247 AD Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; Radiate draped cuirassed bust right Reverse: PAX - AETERN; Pax standing left, holding branch and sceptre Size: 23.35mm Weight: 4.66 grams Description: EF. ex Harlan J Berk sale 165 of July 2009, lot 377 with tag. (Marc Breitsprecher). The HJB tag says 'mint state.' Both parcels arrived very quickly.
