A Few Interesting Denarii from the Frankfurt Numismata Show: Diadumenian, Clodius Albinus, Hostilian

I decided to brave the sudden drop in temperatures, and the horrendous parking prices in Frankfurt in order to attend the yearly Numismata coin show on 23 and 24 November.

This show draws dealers from all across Europe, as well as the occasional visitor some from overseas. All of the major german auction horses are there, as well as PCGS and NGC offering their certification services.

I went there this year with the full intention of finding nice Napoleonic coins, or possible some nice british to add to my collection. Well, that was not to be, but not due to the lack of nice french and british material, but because some of the roman that I found were just that much more interesting.

I met a favorite dealer of mine from Austria, a father and son team, and I could not refuse a nice denarius of Diadumenian which he pulled out from behind the counter after I had browsed his offering for about half an hour. This is a coin I have been looking for for some time. It is not really rare (or possibly even scarce), but bears an endearing portrait of the young caesar, and the reverse showing Diadumenianus in military dress, bearing legionary standards. It has a very nice tone, and even faint remains of mint bloom. I 'had' to take it.
The colours are a bit off - it has a very nice shimmering patina.

Diadumenianus as Caesar. 217 - 218.
Rome mint. RIC 107
2,66 g

 

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'Unfortunately', this favorite dealer of mine had just too many nice coins. I have known them for some time, so I was able to get good deals on these two.
The Marcus Antonius legionary joins my growing fleet of legionary coins - LEG VI Ferrata, LEG XII, LEG XIX, and my newest acquisition, LEG IX Hispana.

Most interesting was a Clodius Albinus denarius minted at Lugdunum. I have always wanted one of the Lyon coins due to the marked difference in portrait as compared to his coins minted in Rome. This one has a nice portrait, but the reverse is unfortunately much off-cente and quite rough. It honors the Fidelity of the legions which followed Clodius Albinus in his struggle against Septimius Severus, represented on this coin symbolically by two hands joined .

Clodius Albinus denarius, Lugdunum.
RIC 20b. C 24
2,75 g

 

Very impressive. I love the portrait, I can see why you just had to have it.

 

The last coin I found more than compensated the long drive to Frankfurt. I was browsing at the table of a foreign dealer, and happened to notice that in addition to spanish and latin colonial which interest me, he also had a tray with selected high quality romans at quite high prices, but also a few trays with more common material, all in high grades but at more affordable prices.
From what I saw most of the denarii on these trays were Trajans, Hadrians, Caracallas, Geta, Severus Alexander, and Gordianus, but there was one coin with quite a different portrait style and which vaguely looked familiar to me. Upon examination I noticed the word HOS in the legend but, I did not make the immediate connection with Hostilianus, since all of his Antoninians that I have seen spell his name as HOSTIL. Since I did not have a catalogue handy, I decided to take a chance anyway, and buy the coin at the requested price. At worst I had a common, but quite appealing coin; at best it was indeed an antoninian of Hostilianus.
I was able to ask an acquaintance who was at the show, and he told me he thought it was Hostilian. When i got home i was able to verify that it is indeed an Antoninian of Hostilian.
A nice coin with superb detail.

 

Beautiful coins Eduard. All of them are indeed on the scarce side. The portrait on the Diadumenian is really something. Even there reverse facial details are great.

 

Looks like your effort was quite worth it! Congratulations on finding some special coins.

 

Outstanding coins, especially the Hostillian and the MA Legionary Denarius. Once again I am jealous.

 

Outstanding acquisitions. Congratulations on the Hostilian cherrypick!

 

Thank you, friends. Yes, I think I was lucky this time and am quite excited to add Diadumenian and Hostilian to my collection. You are correct, Mat, interesting facial detail on the reverse of the Diadumenian.
Bing, yes the Hostilian is quite nice - I think it was actually never in circulation.
The MA legionary luckily has only a very faint bankers mark.

I don't know how available ancients are at shows in the US? but I guess here we are lucky in that a large fraction of dealers at most shows have at least some, and sometimes the choice is overwhelming so that leaves room to bargain. There must have been at least 30 dealers with ancients at this show.

 

In Long Beach, few times I have gone, its about 7 to 9 dealers total. Jencek Historical Enterprise is the main regular there.

 

You are right John Anthony, I guess this was a cherry pick. Actually, I was not too sure myself about what I was taking home, and I'm glad I decided to buy it anyway.
What I am surprised of is how the seller missed it.

 

Excellent picks. The Diadumenian looks nice! I wonder how many collectors skipped over that Hostilian think it was gordian III. I wonder if I would have

 

Thats a good question. When you look at the portrait it sure does look like Gordian III. And thats probably why the dealer didnt notice it. Doesnt help the legends are a bit messed up on the obverse.

I admit if I saw a tray full of Gordian III, I would have passed over it.

Plus being a dealer, the seller has seen his share of ancients, especially Gordian III, the ancient equivalent to wheat lincolns & morgan dollars.

 

Very good buys, and congrats on spotting the Hostilian
Nice coins indeed
Q

 

Wow => Eduard, you sure can pick 'em, eh?!! (well done!!)

 

Ummm, I think that my favourite is the Diadumenian, but it is obviously hard to deny that fantastic Hostilianus!!

I have a Diadumenian example, but it isn't quite as sweet as your new addition ... ummm, but it does have that cute lil' eagle cloaked in exergue!!



Outstanding => Eduard, your four new coins rock!! (I am always a fan of your top-notch stuff!!)

 

eduard....good show sir! all super coins.

 

Eduard what a haul, love coin show's, it would be fun to go to one in Germany. although i wouldn't know what anyone sayin'..first class coins, very nice..

 

Awesome coin show. I wish the coin show was here was of this quality

I hope to travel to Europe next year...I wonder if there will be a coin show when I am there...I wonder if the gf would allow me to go to one!

 

Thank you for your comments, guys.
I am very pleased with my new acquisitions, and yes, that cherry pick makes it all that much more pleasurable.

Whiz, Eng, or anybody, I hope you are able to make a show in Europe one day. And don't worry about the language - I saw a dealer with a customer, both of whom did not understand one word of what the other was saying, still transact a deal worth a lot of money just by gesturing with their hands and scribbling numbers in bits of paper.
It was really funny to watch that, but it worked.

Steve, that Provincial Diadumenian is very nice. I like the portrait very much.
Here is my first Diadumenian, nice bust too, but weak reverse. View attachment 298979