Post your latest ancient!

Very nice!

 

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Got this one a few weeks ago. I don't think I'll be collecting the whole "Muses" set, since they tend to be a little pricey due to their popularity. Also, Republican coinage isn't my main interest. But it's fun having one of them.

 

Nice example of one of the Muse

 

Here's a coin that arrived today.

Artuqids of Mardin,Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan, AE dirham, AH 598 (1201/02 AD).
SS37.2; Album 1830.1
14.25 grams

Some numismatists, including Spengler and Sayles, think the obverse figure is a reference to the sun. This theory is supported by the occurrence of an 84% solar eclipse on November 27, 1201 (early AH 598). The hair of the obverse figure is flared, very similar to some of the depictions of Helios on Greek ancients. Two prominent stars flank the portrait on either side.

 

This arrived yesterday. It is an example of why you need to look outside the popular auction venues - such as CNG, Roma & Leu et al, since inexperienced bidders will jack up the price.
I had been looking for a pre reform aureus of Nero under 2K all in - tough since even phat Nero is close to that now. There are certainly enough of them.
This auction was largely missed since most coins were German, thank the search engines for finding it.


Ex Morton & Eden 116

In hand its a lot nicer than the image (which is pretty merciless). Grading is good, unlike many - CNG largely exempted in this.

 

Here are my recent CNG pickups,




Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Apollodotos I Soter
Obv: Elephant standing right; monogram below /
Obv: Zebu standing right; monogram below.




BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Menander I Soter
Obv: Diademed and draped bust right / Rev: Athena Alkidemos advancing left; monogram to right.




Caracalla
Obv: Bust of the emperor
Rev: Pax standing left, holding olive branch and scepter

 

I mean no disrespect, but something seems off about this coin. Are we 100% certain it's not a modern forgery?

 

This is my latest, but I have no idea what it is haha. I want to guess Iberian though... maybe Nabataen?

 

Doesn't look Iberian, but I have no idea what else.

 

Marc Antony and Cleopatra of Chalcis?

 

Here are a couple of Roman coins that I picked up post auction from Roma's E-Sale 100.

The first one didn't attract any bids, probably because it is somewhat crude, especially on the obverse, plus the fact that the obverse is somewhat off center. Still, it is a nice type coin, with a Freeman and Sear and Terner Collection pedigree.

Anonymous AR Didrachm (Quadrigatus). Rome, circa 225-214 BC. Laureate head of Janus / Jupiter standing in galloping quadriga driven by Victory to right, holding sceptre and reins, brandishing thunderbolt overhead; ROMA incuse on tablet below. Crawford 28/3; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 78-99; RBW 67; RSC 23. 6.43g, 20mm, 5h.



The second coin, from the same sale, is one of those rough, dark Limes denarii, which also attracted zero bids. Again, taking into account the crude nature of these imitation coins, its overall style is quite nice, especially the obverse.

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, Æ Limes Denarius. Uncertain mint after Rome, AD 145-160. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F, bare head to right / COS II, Spes advancing to left, holding up flower and raising skirt. cf. RIC III 431 (Pius); BMCRE 604 (Pius); RSC 103. 3.40g, 18mm, 7h.

 

Really like your new coins @robinjojo but especially the Didrachm.

 

Thank you, Bing.

With a sewer line replacement looming, my funds for coins will be basically zilch, so looking for bargains will be the rule for a few months.

 

I think that's true for most of us.

 

I agree with @Bing, the Didrachm is really attractive and this coin has been on my bucket list for years but I never seem to close on one and often regret not making that "extra bid". Nice work @robinjojo!

 

My most recent purchase is this Ptolemy IV.



I saw this coin for sale, by a dealer, without an attribution. Curiosity caused me to 'research' it and I believe it to be:-

Ptolemy IV Alexandria Cornucopia Series 5, Drachm
Obv: Zeus head right
Rev: BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOY around eagle standing left on thunderbolt,
head left, wings closed, ΛΙ (Lambda Iota) between the legs

Ref: Svoronos 1126 Lambda Iota

And did I mention it is AE42mm., and 70 gm?

(I had to get it.)

It is not in 'great' condition, and has been damaged (overcleaned?) at some time in it's story

 

Picked this up from @barnaba6 off the BST. Wanted a nice brockage for a while.






PROBUS ROMA H2 BUST OBVERSE BROCKAGE


OBVERSE: IMP PROBVS AVG
REVERSE: Obverse incusum
BUST TYPE: H2 = Radiate bust left in consular robe, holding eagle-tipped sceptre (scipio)
MINT: Roma
WEIGHT: 3,91 g
Coll. no. 1576

Provenance: ex G. J. R. Ankone collection

 

Hi @Topcat7,

Other equivalent references for Svoronos 1126 are: Lorber CPE-B493 and SNG Copenhagen 199–200.

Enjoy this hefty prize!

- Broucheion

 

Not the greatest example in the world. But, both varieties of these Antony/Octavia coins have literally tripled in price since the start of this year, I needed to fill the hole, and figured that if I didn't grab something in my wheelhouse now then I might miss the opportunity all together!

And hey, so long as you're not comparing it side-by-side with others then it's really not that bad. It's gotta be the smallest rendition of Antony's head that I've seen on this coin though. And, he doesn't have that typical, exaggerated-looking Meaty Head (which is actually a downside to me).

 

Mis-post