I just noticed that I passed this milestone today!!! Thanks everybody. I've been a member for a shade under 4 years and it's been a great community to talk about ancient coins. Prior to joining it was a solitary antiquarian activity of little interest to people in my life. Now it is more of a passion and also quite social.
Isn't that a great feeling? It was nice for me to find this site. Before I knew close to zero people, it was dissapointing
Congratulations! I am also preparing for 2 milestones, 500 messages and 2500 likes. I joined CT in 2016 but I became active last autumn and yes, I totally agree that this forum just enhances the passion. I learned a lot of new things about ancient coins + "met" a lot of nice people, because in "real life" I don't know any other ancient coins collectors.
Congratulations! It's a great place. I don't know any other ancient coin collectors in "real life" either, and rarely bring up the subject for fear of boring people and seeing their eyes glaze over. It's a more socially respectable hobby for an adult than, say, "Mom's basement"-type hobbies, but not really of much greater general interest. At least in my case, I can truthfully pitch it as part of my interest in collecting ancient art, but I'm still careful not to bring it up much.
Congrats!! Your nice description of your feelings about this site match mine exactly. I see I passed the same milestone recently, but didn't notice soon enough to celebrate! I think this coin has a celebratory mood to it: Edit: the reverse. Aurelian himself doesn't exactly look like he's partyin'. Although he should: he just made it 5 years into his reign during the third century crisis!
I agree, I don't know anyone interested in ancients other than here. And then, my 9 year old great grandchild and his mother just stopped by tonight. He and his mother had to look at each and every one of my cleaned and cataloged ancients. They are very interested in coins. I have given him many coins and he will get many more as the years go by. He is coming over tomorrow with some of his foreign coins to fit them to 2X2's.
Congrats, @ancient coin hunter ! I lurked for two years prior to making any posts. Just reading and learning. Carthage-LIBYAN UPRISING - Mercenaries issue Mercenary War 241-238 BCE 7.36g AR DiShekel Melqart / Herakles Head in Lion's Head- Lion walking; Punic M above; LIBYA below R SNG Cop 240f Overstrike Coins were struck in the name of Libya and "M", which has been taken as either "machanat" - the Camp (of the mercenaries), or perhaps Matho, their leader