[ancients] a dozen Alexandrian potin tets

From the 'TIF's Folly' mixed lot. I was happy to see these and will add them to several others I also got from Stack's a few months ago.

All were in individual envelopes and based on information written on a few, likely purchased by the collector in the 1950's. They all had "Roman Egypt" written in pencil. One or two had slightly more ID, although incorrect ("Trajan" turned out to be Hadrian). Attributing these really makes me appreciate the vast amount of information readily available online! Coin collecting must be a lot easier now than it was just a few decades ago.

Looks like a nice assortment-- I was glad to see some varieties other than the ol' standing eagle. Several appear to be less common. Only one real dog in the group with regard to condition and it could be worse. All in all, compared to the average potin tet, not a shabby group!

It's interesting to see the deterioration of metal quality, size, and engraving quality over the years.





I was able to attribute most of them, hopefully correctly-- was unable to find a few in the various resources available online. Please correct me if I've made mistakes. The legends, if incomplete or unreadable on the coin, are best-guess from similar coins found in online databases. I have substituted letters because I don't know how to find them in my computer.

From top, left to right:

Hadrian. (similar to one found on WW but different year) 24 mm, 13.5 gm. Year 2 (117/8 AD). AVT KAIC TPAIANOC ADPIANOC CEB; Laureate bust right/Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia; L-B.

Lucius Verus? (Was unable to find this one but it sure looks like him.) 24 mm, 13.4 gm. Year 4, 164/5 AD. [legend] Bare head right/laureate head of Zeus (?) right; L-delta.

Salonina. (unable to find) 22 mm, 12.0 gm. Year 11, 263/4 AD. KOPNHLIA CALWNEINA CEB; draped bust right/Dikaiosyne (?) seated left, holding scales and cornucopia; LIA

Claudius II Gothicus. 20 mm, 10.2 gm. Year 3, 270 AD. AVT K KLAVDIOC CEB (maybe); laureate draped bust right/Tyche standing left holding rudder and cornucopia; L gamma in left field. Maybe Milne 4286.

Claudius II Gothicus. 20 mm, 9.6 gm. Year 3, 270 AD. AVT K KLAV DIOC CEB/eagle standing right, head right, wreath in beak, palm frond under far wing. Milne 4291?

Aurelian. 21 x 23 mm, 9.6 gm. Year 4, 272/3 AD. A K L DOM AVPHLIANOC CEB;
laureate and cuirassed bust right / Eagle standing (flying?) right on wreath, head turned left; LD to right. Milne 4398?

Aurelian? 20 mm, 8.9 gm. Maybe year 5 or 6, 274-6? [legend] bust right/eagle standing right, head right, wreath in beak, palm frond under far wing; ETOYC in left field.

Probus. 20 mm, 7.9 gm. Year 2, 276/7 AD. AKM AYP PROBOC CEB; laureate cuirassed bust right/eagle standing right, head left, wreath in beak; L-B. Milne 4540?

Probus. 20 mm, 7.9 gm. Year 3, 277/8 AD. AKM AVP PROBOC CEB; laureate cuirassed bust right/eagle standing left, head right (no wreath in beak?); L-gamma. Milne 4566?

Probus. 20 mm, 8.5 gm. Year 6, 280/1 AD. AKM AVP PROBOC CEB; laureated cuirassed bust right/eagle standing right, head right, wreath in beak; L-S. Milne 4632?

Probus. 20 mm, 7.4 gm. Year 8, 282/3 (he died in the fall of 282; don't know if this was minted before he died or after). AKM AVP PROBOC CEB; laureate cuirassed bust right/eagle standing right, head right, wreath in beak; L-H. Milne #?

Diocletian. 17 x 19 mm, 8.5 gm. Year 7, 291/2 AD. DIOKLHTI ANOC CEB; laureate head right/Zeus standing left, chlamys over left arm, holding patera and sceptre, eagle at foot left. Milne 5013?

 

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Wow! Very nice additions imho. Really like the Hadrian.

 

Nice haul, I like the one that looks like Lucius Verus the most. Could be Marcus A. too.

 

Dang it TIF I really want the Salonina and first Aurelian.

Too...awesome!

 

Yeah vlaha, love that Aurelian reverse! Not sure which I like best. The first three are all very nice, plus that first Aurelian. I wonder if the year 8 Probus carries a premium? Perhaps the run was cut short when Alexandria learned of his death?

Mat, I'm pretty sure that's Lucius Verus based on latter part of the legend, comparing it with wildwinds potin tets of LV, Marcus A, Aelius, and Commodus (ie, bushy-haired bearded dudes).

As I learn more about each of these my favorites may change. Isn't that always the case? The more you read and learn of the history, the more precious it becomes.

 

There are a few very nice pieces in that bunch. I'm not sure if it offsets your disappointment over the lot in general, but I think it should. I'm too lazy at the moment to go through all the attributions, but you go girl!

 

I'm just about over my disappointment, which was mostly due to the lack of Greeks. I'm certainly getting a lot of entertainment value from looking up the attributions.

 

all cool, some are very nice...i like lucius verus the best...cool reverse bust also. but a great mix for sure...even with the eagles, lost of interesting variation.

 

another double post....sorry.

 

Wow TIF, all of these coins are well centered and have great details, so far i haven't seen a coin i don't like, very nice group...

 

The Probus year 8 coin is from the short issue minted before his death. Year 1 and Year 8 are in general scarcer that the other years due to the shorter production times.

Here is mine with some attribution help

Probus, Billon tetradrachm
Obv:– A K M AVP PROBOC CEB, Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– None, Eagle standing right, head right, wings spread, wreath in beak
Minted in Alexandria, Egypt. Year 8. (L in left field, H in right field). A.D. 282
Milne 4659. Emmett 3982(8) R2. Curtis -.

Ex-M&R February 1983
Ex-Keith Emmett Collection.

 

Thanks for the assist, Martin!

 

Wowzers => I'm lovin' the eagles!! (man, perhaps I should have hung-in there for my prize, eh?) ... just jokes, I'm still very happy to donate my "Pink Floyd-Animals-Prize" to whizb4ng!!

... I'd be asking for that Aurelian or the Claudius II Eagle!! (nice score, coin-sister)

 

I now have access to my references and am working through them coin by coin. Do you wish me to check / provide references for the others?

The Hadrian is Milne 824, Emmett 833 (R1).

The Lucius Verus, Bust of Zeus is Milne 2475, Emmett 2367 (R1)

 

Martin, I would certainly appreciate that if it is not too much trouble.

 

Probus year 2, year 3 and year 6 Milne attributions correct.

 

Correction..... I read the wrong rows for the Hadrian
The Hadrian is Milne 825, Emmett 901 (Rated R5 - one example known).
Salonina is Milne 4087, Emmett 3848
Your C II Gs are both correct
Diocletian is Milne 5012/5013, which are identical.

 

No kidding? The Hadrian is that rare? Wonderful!

When was Milne's book compiled? In other words, how likely is it that significant numbers of this Hadrian have turned up since then?

Edited: found the book, 1983.

 

No book that gives numbers seen is likely to have them all. After all, no one asked us if we have one, did they? I do not know how hard or where Milne looked.

 

Good point of course.

Maybe I should write my own book and provide my own numbers, based on what I've seen (not much). I'd have TONS of rare coins