Featured [ancients] A Boy and His Stone

Great post TIF! History and humor, a fantastic mix.

The diorama with Bart Simpson and the My Little Ponies is a hoot! Well done.

Here's my "Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus" or the Emperor previously known as Elagabalus.

Sadly, I have no meteorite to add .

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Here's my meteorite, still awaiting a coin to pair with it:



CAMPO DEL CIELO METEORITE
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Gran Chaco, Argentina

This Campo del Cielo exhibits well-defined regmaglypts (the small thumbprint-like impressions in the fusion crust caused by frictional burning and melting as the meteorite plunges to Earth). A protuberance on one side evokes a human profile. Accompanied by an ebony display stand, this is a winsome example of a meteorite. 5.25 x 6.75 x 3.5 inches and 4.45 kg (9.8 pounds).

 

It appears that the venue for this re-enactment of an ancient event was the modern-day Forum Shops at Caesars casino in Las Vegas. True or not?

 

I was hoping someone would notice that detail.

 

I have several Provincials of Elagabalus, some of which I may not have posted here before.


I purchased this a year ago and just now noticed that the seller's attribution is wrong . It was listed as Moeshia Inferior, Marcianopolis but the reverse clearly says NIKOΠOΛITA.

This is probably the correct attribution:

MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum
Elagabalus.
AE18, 2.8 gm
Obv: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNINOC, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICTPΩN, Priapus standing left, drawing back his cloak to expose his phallus, right hand extended pouring from patera
Ref: Varbanov 3811, AMNG 2022


This one came from a large mixed lot and had no attribution. It drove me crazy for a while but I think it's Elagabalus. It could be Caracalla though.

MESOPOTAMIA, Edessa. Elagabalus
AE27, 15 gm
Obv: AVT K M A ANTΩNEINOC; radiate cuirassed bust left, holding shield and raising right hand.
Rev: AVP ........ EΔECCA; Tyche seated left on rock, holding corn ears; to left a column surmounted by a statue of Marsyas, river god swimming right at feet
Ref: Mionnet supplement 8, 26. Very rare. Mionnet is the only work which lists this coin with a column on the left.

Screencap of the Mionnet citation:



One of my earliest ancient purchases from when I was on a Zeus Ammon kick. I'm still actively acquiring coins showing Zeus Ammon and would like to upgrade this Alexandrian.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Elagabalus
tetradrachm, regnal year 5 (CE 221-22); might be year 2
Obv: AKAICAPMAAVPANTΩNINOCEVCEB; laureat head right
Rev: head of Zeus Ammon right; L-(E?)
Ref: Emmett 2961(2), R2


MOESIA INFERIOR. Nicopolis ad Istrum
Elagabalus (218-222)
AE 26 mm, 11.1 gm
Obv: AYT K M AYP ANTΩNEINOC. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: VΠ NOBIOV POVΦOV NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICTPON. River-god reclining right, holding branch; prow at side
Ref: Varbanov 4055
ex Falter Collection, Nature Gods

And my newest and current favorite provincial...


PHOENICIA, Tyre. Elagabalus
Æ29, 13.4 gm
Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Dido overseeing the building of Carthage; she stands to the front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work [below, a man digging with a pick]; murex shell in upper field, palm tree to right
Ref: Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748. Rare.

 

Holy Moly => those are some pretty sweet coins, TIF (I'm jealous that you have an old stock-pile of coins that you haven't yet posted!!) ... man, you must buy quite a few coins!! (sadly, I am stuck at approximately 1 coin every two weeks => it's like watching paint dry!!)

oh well

Once again => bravo => those are some great additions (yummy-yummy)

 

Where is the Sacred Black Stone, now that we need it?

 

I just picked up a couple peices of Campo del Cielo meteroites

 

AJ's CDC is a nice one and big. The nice thing about that fall is that many of the interesting characteristics show on small specimens as well as they do on the big ones. This is not the case on all types of meteorites. I like irons like CDC and Sikhote Alin but have had trouble warming up to some of the stones that have to be cut in half to appreciate. I also have trouble appreciating the ones that rust extremely easily. It is like having bronze disease! My personal favorite is the Tuscon Ring currently in the Smithsonian where it has been since this photo was taken of it a few years ago.

 

Fantastic coin, write up, and diorama!!! Thanks for sharing the coin, history, and dramatization!!! Here is my only Elagabalus:

 

One (apparently baseless) internet rumor is that the Sacred Stone of Emesa is now the sacred Black Stone, al-Hajar al-Aswat, now enshrined in the eastern corner of the Grand Mosque at Mecca.

 

Well now..the only thing left to deduce is the pronunciation. would someone who is hooked on phonics want to give it a try?

 

I will not bore everyone & divert this remarkable TIF thread by posting a bunch of my rocks. However, here is a product that fellow meterorite enthusiasts may find useful:

 

I've been on the lookout for another of this coin for two years and one finally popped up in an auction which just closed-- further confirmation that the Mionnet attribution to Elagabalus is probably correct.

https://www.pecunem.com/auction-36/lot-537

Very Rare
MESOPOTAMIA. Edessa. Elagabal (218-222).Ae.
Obv: AVT K M A [...].
Laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding round shield and raising right hand.
Rev: M [...] OΛ ΕΔΕCCA.
Tyche seated left on rock, holding ears; to left, small column with statue of Marsyas standing right, whine-skin over shoulder; below, river god swimming right.
Mionnet Supp. 8, p. 403, 26; BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG France -; Babelon -.
Condition: Fine.
Weight: 14.44 g.
Diameter: 24 mm.

 

Its a beautiful coin all around, Tif!

 

To clarify, I did not buy the Pecunem coin today. I just noted it because I have a similar coin which has been a bit of a question mark .

 

Sweeet pickup!! ... but I'm curious why you bought yourself a second example?

Oh wow, did I wreck the surprise?!! .... did you buy it for me?!!



yeah!!! (you're the best!!)

 

As above,
See below.
If you need me
Let me know.

XOXO,
TIF

 

Ah, thought you did. Still a nice coin.

 

Very informative post TIF (full of life, as opposed to some dead bore scholars writeup) for a most interesting coin type
No meteorit here either, and not a lot of coins of his, as I'm not particularily at ease with the fellow...


Elagabalus, Denarius Rome mint, ca AD 218-219
IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right
MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right
3.49 gr
Ref : Cohen # 109v, RCV # 7526, RIC # 123



Elagabalus, Tetradrachm Antioch mint
AUT K M A ANTWNEINOC CEB, laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder, seen from front
DHMARC EX UPATOC TO B =twice consul =219 A.D., eagle standing facing, wings spread, head left, wreath in beak, star beneath, Delta and epsilon in field
14,11 gr
Ref : Prieur #251_012, Sear #3096

Q