I think Jack's photo captures my expression when I am outbid LOL I think we have found the successor of the grumpy cat!
Gosh, all these gun posts! I’m shocked! OK, here’s one more. Ready to ride off to fight the Hagarines. The helmet obscures my face, so two others. Then, more apropos, two of my favorite coins. And for any autograph hunters out there, here's one you might enjoy, although I much doubt you'll find a copy to acquire: the signature of Constantine XI Palaeologos, 1448-1453, the last emperor of the Romans. This is from a contemporary chrysobull, or imperial decree. The wording follows very closely the inscriptions found on his stavrata and that of his immediate predessors. + Κωνσταντίνος εν Χριστώ τω Θεώ πιστός βασιλεύς και αυτοκράτωρ των Ρωμαίων ο Παλαιολόγος :+ Constantine, in Christ, God, faithful emperor and autocrat of the Romans, the Palaeologos. Also, photos of my 2 eighth stavrata of Constantine XI. They were published in Simon’s article in Revue Numismatique v. 33 (1991) pp. 134-142. They are Bendall 110 and Bendall 129 respectively. Constantine XI. Constantinople. 1449/53. Eighth Stavraton. 0.63 gr. 12.7 mm. hr. 11. Sear -; DO 1789. Bendall, “The coinage of Constantine XI” (Revue Numismatique 1991, pp. 134-142), #110 (this coin). Constantine XI. Constantinople. 1449/53. Eighth Stavraton. 0.63 gr. 13 mm. hr. 12. Sear -; DO 1789. Bendall, “The coinage of Constantine XI” (Revue Numismatique 1991, pp. 134-142), #129 (this coin).
Your picture reminds me of our late cat Fearless, who so thoughtfully would help us put together jigsaw puzzles by hiding pieces to make the puzzle more challenging:
My wife and I went to an orchard today and she took this shot: But the only thing I could think to do was this:
Brilliant! I love it. I quite like the unaltered source picture to begin with. Needs more coins in the tree, however.
So my late mother was wrong, money does grow on trees. You must share this secret source with us. There is an Eid Mar gold that calls my name.
A rare selfie of me so I'm trying to look serious. I had just finished installing the ceiling in this basement. Feels weird not posting a coin.
So @FitzNigel, help us out with your avatar. Looks episcopal, c. 12th- (mmMaybe 13th) c.; the obvious first guess would be Köln. Granted, even if this is in the ballpark, the strike on that one is kind of, what, quietly mind-blowing. (Right, below is me from last year. Most current and best picture in a while.)
Wife's been telling me - need a shave and a haircut.. get your crap together and stop blaming Covid!! She's right - always. Oh well - here are some new additions to my office wall. Can't stop staring at them - I feel so proud and honored to own these coins. Ya - pretty rough in most cases but they've found a great home! View attachment 1177411
Nice @Clavdivs ! I took up coining just after getting married in 2014. So before I was a "cool" guy with a social life, now she just rolls her eyes as I get worked up over the daily mail. I've been avoiding this but here is a pic of me and my mini-mes on Father's Day this year.
you are correct sir! The strike is a little flat in the center, and a little worn on the reverse, but I was enamored when I first saw it. HRE - Cologne Archbishop Philipp von Heinsberg, r. 1167-1191 AR Pfennig, 3rd type, 18.05 mm x 1.4 grams Obv.: HITARCH EPICOV, Archbishop with mitre, crosier, and bible seated on lion throne Rev.: EIACOLONIA PAICHAI, Three towers over wall and gate, likely representing the Cathedral of St Peter, Cologne Ref.: De Wit 1993 I made this my avatar when I first bought it. At the time I was switching around my avatar to highlight different coins, but this one stuck for a while. I then started having fun with it by photoshopping the coin for different holidays or events, and which made it my permanent avatar. I suppose I should change it up - normally the football avatar would be going up now, but with how politicized the game has become, I have simply lost interest. Maybe something in honor of Mario’s 35th year?
@FitzNigel, that is easily, and by multiples, the best example of a Philipp von Heinsberg I have ever seen. (I've got one, confidently better than average, and nowhere near this good. Wanted to find it for contrast, but am running into my endemic trouble finding pictures on this machine.) The strikes on these, if not the worst, are definitely typical of the region; Lousy. Getting it why you made this your avatar!