Last month I purchased this L Calpurnius Piso Frugi Roman Republic Denarius from a seller in Japan. It took less than two weeks for it to arrive, which I think is quite fast. It's my second of this series with a much different reverse from my other. The seller identified the reverse as having a crescent followed by Roman numerals XXII, and the seller sent along a certificate of authenticity issued by Timeline Originals in the UK. The certificate presented the reverse marking above and further referenced Calpernia 11. Once I received the coin, I noticed that the "crescent" looked more like a downward facing arrow, so I did some research. Many coins I found on the internet showed a downward arrow and either identified it as such or as the Roman numeral "L". More research turned up this interesting tidbit from Wikipedia: "Thus 50 was written variously as N, И, K, Ψ, ⋔, etc., but perhaps most often as a chicken-track shape like a superimposed V and I: ᗐ. This had flattened to ⊥ (an inverted T) by the time of Augustus, and soon thereafter became identified with the graphically similar letter L." So, I am now leaning towards the Roman numerals at the top of the reverse to read LXXII. I cannot make out the symbols behind the head of Apollo very well, but I believe them to be a downward facing arrow and a V or thus LV. All this being said, I believe the proper attribution should be Calpurnia 12, even though I do not think it makes much of a difference. I was able to acquire the coin for $32.50; however, looking at Timeline Originals current listings, even the poorest quality of his offerings of this coin sell for much more. So, I think I got a good deal. Here is my most recent acquisition followed by my other of this series. L CALPURNIUS PISO FRUGI ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate head of Apollo right, number LV behind REVERSE: Horseman galloping right, holding palm L PISO FRVGI below, ROMA monogram, number LXXII above Struck at Rome 90 BC 3.75g, 18.4mm Cr340/1, Calpurnia 12 L CALPURNIUS PISO FRUGI ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate head of Apollo r., behind, point control, front, check letter REVERSE: Horseman galloping towards r., holding a palm branch, above, symbol, and below Piso Frvgi / check letter Struck at Rome 90 BC 4.0g, 18mm Cr340/1, Sydenham 670d. bb/Calpurnia 11 A little history from Wikipedia: "Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi was tribune of the plebs in 90 BC, or less likely 89, and may be identical with the praetor of 74. According to the historian Sisenna, his legislation as tribune proposed adding two new voting tribes and granting Roman citizenship to soldiers who demonstrated exceptional valor." If you have any Calpurnia coins, feel free to post.
nice new denarius bing..I don't know which one I like better. I think I like your old coins reverse and you new coins obverse.
Another great deal, Bing, and that portrait of Apollo is superb. They get so cartoonish sometimes on RR's.
Nice pick up! I don't have one of these but have always been amused by the variety which has the horseman being chased by a flying scorpion
Yeeeehaaaa => atta boy, Bing!!! Man, you're buying a few more coins lately (I love seeing you back in the ol' saddle again!!) ... great new addition Ummm, I also have an example of this type (but mine has a whip!!) ... *crack* ... I definitely admit that your coin has better centering, but my example has deadly high-relief (both are absolutely awesome ... congrats, coin-bro)
Thanks everyone for the coin compliments. However, I was also hoping to get some kind of confirmation or non-agreement with the "down arrow" information from those of you who know and understand Latin better. Anyone?
