Post your latest ancient!

I was inspired to buy this coin to add to my small collection of "star" coins when @Dafydd posted an example of the type in @Roman Collector's recent "Faustina Friday – AETERNITAS and Star Edition" thread (see https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-–-aeternitas-and-star-edition.396436/#post-8340824).

Hadrian, AR Denarius, Rome Mint AD 126-127 [see RIC II.3 p. 132]. Obv. Laureate bust right with slight drapery on far shoulder, HADRIANVS – AVGVSTVS / Rev. Six-pointed star within crescent moon (points of crescent upwards), COS III above. 18x19 mm., 3.27 g. RIC II.3 864 (ill. Pl. 20) (2019 ed.), old RIC II 200 (1926 ed.), RSC II 460, BMCRE III Hadrian 457, Sear RCV II 3484 (ill. p. 145). Purchased from cgb.fr, 13 May 2022.



As is often the case, the coin looks quite a bit nicer in hand than in a magnified photograph; the two gouges in Hadrian's cheek, for example, are hardly noticeable. However, I don't think any reasonable person could justify classifying the coin as "AU," as the dealer did -- something typical of dealers in France (see my comment in the recent "Grade inflation" thread).

This is my 23rd coin of Hadrian, counting both Imperial and Provincial issues. It may not seem like many to a lot of you, but it's the most I have for any emperor.

 

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Did anyone else win anything in the latest Steve Album auction? The Chola/Pandya 25-coin lot that I wanted went for over $1,100 prior to the fees. Really wanted that lot . Of the 25 bids I placed, I was only able to secure 3. All of them went for waaay above the normal price (never mind the estimate). Here is one of the 3 coins I did manage to snag:

India, Mahasenapatis of Telangana: Anonymous (ca. 3rd century CE) Pb Unit (Unpublished)

Obv: Horse left, swastika above, Brahmi legend (mahasenapatisa) at top
Rev: Railed tree left, 10-arch hill right

 

Just in today, a lot of three asses issued for Antoninus Pius. These came from an eBay German seller, shipping time: April 29 to May 19, for those who keep an eye on these matters.

They're not going to win any beauty contests, but they are rather interesting I think and I got to spend a few hours figuring them out, which is a lot of fun, as many of you know.

Left: Early issue showing clasped hands and (barely) a caduceus. Issued under Hadrian, I think before AP became an AVG. Any assistance with the latest RIC numbering would be greatly appreciated; OCRE doesn't seem to have this anywhere, at least that I could find and I don't own the book.

Middle: Worst condition of the batch, but perhaps most interesting - that is Janus standing on the reverse, facing left and right, you know.

Right: Justitia seated on the reverse; not quite as common as other goddesses-sitting-around-holding-stuff types for AP. As far as condition goes, this is pick of the litter.


Antoninus Pius Æ As
(138 A.D.)
Rome Mint
IMP T AELIVS CAE[SAR ANTONINVS], bare head right / TR[IB POT C]OS, S-C, two clasped hands holding winged caduceus and corn ears.
RIC II 1088a (Hadrian); (old RIC used; see notes).
(10.50 grams / 24 mm)
eBay April 2022
Attribution Notes: Could not find in OCRE; probably because Hadrian redone, which includes this issue. So old RIC number used here until I figure out the new one: RIC II 1088a (Hadrian); BMCRE 1948 (Hadrian); Cohen 1066.

Antoninus Pius Æ As
(140-144 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[ANTO]NINVS AVG [PIVS P P], laureate head right / [TR POT COS III], S C: Janus
standing front, head left and right, holding sceptre
RIC III 693a; BMCRE 1369; Cohen 882.
(6.95 grams / 23 mm)
eBay April 2022

Antoninus Pius Æ As
(150-151 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[IMP CA]ES T AEL HADR ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP, laureate head right / [TR POTX]IIII [CO]S IIII S-C, Justitia seated left, [IV]STITIA in ex.
RIC III 881; BMCRE 1879; Cohen 474.
(9.00 grams / 25 x 24 mm)
eBay April 2022
Attribution Notes: Only two Justitia seated types for Pius:
RIC 835: TR POT COS...
RIC 881: TR POT XIIII COS...
RIC 881 date is 150-151 A.D. in OCRE and most auction (some were 151-152 A.D.); Wildwinds has 140-144 A.D.

 

This one arrived yesterday so I can safely go ahead and post it. A Pharos of Alexandria type was something I’ve wanted for a while and I’m very glad to say that I now have one. I will try to make a thread for it soon.

Hadrian, Roman Empire
AE drachm
Obv: [AVT KAIC TΡAIAN AΔΡIANOC CEB], laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder
Rev: Isis Pharia sailing right, holding sistrum, the Pharos Lighthouse to right with three figures on its summit. L-I-[H] across fields
Mint: Alexandria
Date: 133-134 AD
Ref: Milne 1414; RPC 5895; Dattari 1767
(coin information from Wildwinds)

 

That is a very nice example!

 

I recently bought this "budget" version of an iconic ancient Greek coin. Good detail for the money IMO (~ $60 - 70)

 

Roman gold baby!

Heritage Coin pickup. My first gold coin.

 

C. 80 BC Obverse: Head of Juno Sospita wearing goat skin. Reverse: Juno Sospita in biga hurling spear. Serrated edges with a grey tone and good detail. Ref: Crawford 379/2; Procilia 2 Weight: 3.94g Size: 19mm

 

I like all of them. Replying to the most recent ones, I like the Pharia type and the surfaces are nice. A solidus is always nice to have; I have none of Theodosius II. That's a nice Sospita example.

 

AR Serrate Denarius 18mm. 3.80g. Rome Mint Head of Juno Sospita r., wearing goat's skin; helmet and sword behind. Gryphon springing r., ladle(?) below; In ex.: L.PAPI RSC I Papia 1; Craw 384/1

Ex. Civitas Galleries

 

I've actually been *mostly* good on my New Year's resolutions to decrease purchases and increase time sorting through and making some actual pen-to-paper progress on my Indo Sassanian reference guide, but I caved and bought this one as part of a group lot



Antioch(?)
Nero, with Divus Claudius AR tetradrachm

Ironically I spent 2+ years losing auctions on this type, and finally gave up and got the much smaller drachm from Caesarea last year


I think the new one is quite an upgrade!

 

It's quite a bit nicer than mine! Is that a hoard patina on the Nero Tetradrachm?

 

Thanks! I assume so although the lot looked like it was a collection, not a hoard. It was mostly Philip type tets with two Nero/Divus Claudius and a Trajan

 

I picked up this very rare bronze as of Lucius Cornelius Sulla(yes, that Sulla) recently for a song. It also happens to be the last Janus/Prow issue under the Roman Republic, the others being later Imperatorial issues from the warring factions during the civil wars. It's not pretty but they don't really come pretty.

From Andrew McCabe: "Issued by Sulla whilst he was travelling with his army for his second March against Rome, this is the last As featuring Janus that was issued under the Roman Republic. Sulla was proclaimed 'dictator legibus faciendis et reipublicae constituendae causa' (dictator for the making of laws and for the settling of the constitution) by the Senate at the end of 82 or beginning of 81 BC after his defeat of the Samnites and Marian forces at the Battle of the Colline Gate just outside of Rome."


Roman Republic Æ As(13.86g), Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Imperator, 82 BC, military mint moving with Sulla. Laureate head of bearded Janus; I above/Prow of galley right; L•SVL above; IMPE below. Crawford 368/1

Here's an image of a better example from the Netherlands National Collection that might help you see the legend better

 

I don't normally go to ebay for anything except Indo-Sassanian coins, but something told me to go check randomly, and I'm glad I did - got a killer deal on this lot


For those who are unsure what they are looking for - the Maximian is the PAX AVGGG type minted by Carausius in London, from when he tried to peacefully gain recognition as the third legitimate emperor of Rome.

While I was at it, this one tagged along for a minimal additional charge


The one on the top is pretty obscure- I wonder if anyone else recognizes it?

 

Another heritage coins pickup

 

Nice pickups; I love bargain lots like this, and they are a lot of fun to attribute.

I do recognize that top one in your bottom pictures - I am fairly certain it is a tetradrachm from the Characene Kingdom with a countermark. Last March I posted mine here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/characene-ae-tetradrachm-of-attambelos-iv-with-countermark.377689/

A whole bunch of these have been turning up on eBay over the last year or so. I suspect a hoard rather than mass-fakery. They are mostly quite worn, with an array of different countermarks, etc. If somebody is faking them, they are going to a lot of trouble to make them look pretty bad!

 

Here is a recent addition to my collection.

DIOCLETIAN (284-305). Argenteus. Nicomedia.

Obv: DIOCLETIANVS AVG.
Rev: VICTORIA SARMATICAE / SMN Γ.

RIC 19a.

Weight: 3.19 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.

I got this one quite cheaply. I was after an Argenteus with a reference to victories over the Sarmatians for some time. Does anybody know more about the campaign, which the coin celebrates?

 

Aurelian, 270 - 275 AD AE Antoninianus, Ticinum Mint, 21mm, 3.80 grams Obverse: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Aurelian right. Reverse: ORIENS AVG, Sol standing left trampling bound captive seated on left, another bound captive seated on right, TXXT in exergue. RIC 154

Ex. Ken Dorney




100-50 BC Northwest Gaul, Coriosolites BI stater, 6.58g, 20mm
Celticized head right Devolved biga right with victory flying above. SCBC 15
Good silver for the type. Irregular thickness flan resulting in a flat area around the horse's chest.

Ex. Aegean Numismatics

 

Balbinus AR Denarius