Ancients => Capricorn versus Scorpion (any side-bets?)

It's probably not a coincidence that the order of your posting this round of CNG wins matches the the numbers of likes, so factor that in. Related, the Pharkadon has been up for longer than the Tenedos which has been up for longer than... etc. (in other words I think no conclusions can be drawn from your data )

 

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TIF, your theory is fairly sound (and that's why I called the other three coins a "tie")

... but the Pharkadon is a definite outlier

QED



Hey => I hope you're having a great Saturday!!

Oh, and if the numbers change, then I'll be happy to update this post (I doubt they will, because this site is so popular lately that my threads have already been bumped to page 3 ... 4 ... )



Funny, because despite everybody's "likes", the Pharkadon is probably my least favourite of the bunch (oh well, I guess that's why these ancient-coins are so fricken cool => luckily, we all like different things, eh?)

 

Great type, Steve! I love the scorpion.

This coin was identified by the auction house as coming from the Vatsa janapada with the Vatsa royal symbol of a scorpion... but I can't even tell which punchmark is supposed to be a scorpion! Which makes this a pretty weak pile-on...

AR karshapana, 3.39g. 21.5 mm

 

I like the Pharkadon best followed by the Capricorn/Scorpion. When you win four cool coins in a CNG auction and don't get Clio-ed, you have done well!

My favorite of my Roman Capricorns:



Mysia, Parium
Caracalla AD 198-217
AE23 mm, 6.46 grams
Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Capricorn right, with globe between hooves and cornucopia over shoulder.
SNG BN 1494-5

Another small Roman Capricorn:

Philip I “The Arab” AD 244-249
Æ30, 13.7g, 6h; Zeugma in Commagene.
Obv.: ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΑΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ; Laureate draped bust right, from behind.
Rev.: ΖΕΥΓΜ-ΑΤΕΩΝ; Tetrastyle temple with peribolos enclosing the sacred grove of trees, statue of seated Zeus within temple, capricorn left in exergue.
Reference: BMC 29

John

 

I am a Capricorn, so I had to have this, and I am glad I got it back. The Ephesus issues for Augustus have the largest Capricorns I have seen. Everyone here has seen this one before.



AUGUSTUS. 27 BC-14 AD. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (24mm, 11.89 gm, Die Axis 1:00). Ephesus mint. Struck 24-20 BC. IMP. CAE-SAR, bare head right / AVGVSTVS, capricorn right, head left, holding cornucopiae; all within laurel wreath. References: BMC (Vol. I) No. 696; CBN (Vol. I) 916; RIC (Vol. I) 480; RPC (Vol. I) 2213; RSC (Vol. I) 16; Sutherland Group VI No. 239 (O33/R43) THIS COIN (illustrated). Toned. Satin brown patina. Silver highlights
Sutherland plate coin (The Cistophori of Augustus)
Ex Rodolfo Ratto Sale, Lugano Switzerland (Feb. 8, 1928), Lot 1719
Ex Lempertz (23 February 1939), lot 960.
Ex CNG via private sale
Ex John Malcolm Hayes Collection (corinthstater.com) who donated this coin back to me after my collection was stolen. He wanted me to stay in the hobby. It worked.

 

Now they don't get any prettier than this. Love it.

 

Steve , all four of your new coins are winners!

~Doug

 

That is a superb coin!