Ancients => stevex6 => 2015 To Date (merely an OCD chore)

Here is a picture of my coins for 2015


Yep. I am, unfortunately, coinless for 2015. This should change in the next couple of months though. The tax return will be giving me a little bit of spending money for something frivolous.

I will be on the wagon, except for a few minor purchases for special occasions, for the next two years because my girlfriend and I will be moving back onto a student budget because she has officially accepted an offer to attend law school in the Fall! I get to brag to all of my coin friends before we tell a lot of our real life friends because she has been keeping it on the down low for right now.

 

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Wow, Steve and everyone else, those are just amazecoins!
And in case anyone is wondering, yes, that's a freshly-coined word, in honour of "amazeballs" making it into Oxford Dictionary's 2014 list. I'll be lobbying for the inclusion of "amazecoins" into the 2015 list by attaching a list of all the excellent coins posted in this thread .

My Fab Fifteen for 2015 so far...

 

Congrats to your girlfriend and good luck.

 

Nice coins all, but I love the Lamia

 

Whiz, I'm not sure if having a girlfriend who may be a lawyer some day is something one gets congratulated on ...

j/k, as someone whose wife was once a lawyer, I can attest to the fact that they can be good people too . And yeah, quick buy some frivolous coins soon!

 

I sweat group of coins all!

 

Awesome coins gang, i would post mine but there's a couple weeks left in the month, maybe update then...

 

Y'all know how I roll...

Domitian, Roman Empire (revalued under the Ostrogothic Kingdom)
AE As/42 nummi
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate head right, countermark XLII (42 nummi) in left field
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST, Victory advancing right, standing on prow, holding wreath and palm branch, S-C across fields
Mint: Rome (struck 73-74 AD; revalued 498-526 AD)
Ref: RIC 677



In the name of Honorius, Vandal Kingdom
AR siliqua
Obv: D N HONORI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: VRBS [ROMA], Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear
Mint: Carthage (RVPS in ex; struck 440-480 AD)
Ref: MEC 1, 1-3; BMC Vandals 6-9
Size: 16 mm wide



Hilderic, Vandal Kingdom
AE nummus
Obv: HILD [REX], pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: Cross potent within wreath, ring above
Mint: Carthage (struck 523-530 AD)
Ref: BMC Vandals 9



Honorius, Western Roman Empire
AE3
Obv: DN HONOR-IVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right
Rev: VRBS RO-MA FELIX, Emperor standing right, holding trophy and Victory and globe, OF to left, Q to right, SMROM in ex
Mint: Rome, struck 404-408 AD
Ref: RIC X 1280



Constantine VII, Byzantine Empire
AE follis
Obv: CONST bASIL ROM, bust facing, crowned, with short beard and wearing vertical loros, holding akakia and cross on globe
Rev: +CONST-EN QEO bA-SILEVS R-OMEON, legend in four lines
Mint: Constantinople (struck 913-959; overstuck on another coin)
Ref: SB 1761



Doge Reneiro Zeno, Republic of Venice
AR Grosh
Obv: Christ enthroned, facing, wearing nimbus and holding book of gospels.
Rev: RA CENO DVX - S M VENETI, doge standing left and receiving banner from Saint Mark standing right, holding book of gospels.
Mint: Venice (struck 1253-1268)
Ref: Gamberini 32; Biaggi 2775



Also have another one incoming as well. Will post when I get it.

 

Sweet-sweet coins, fellas!!

Z-Bro & Jango => thanks for tossing-in your 2015 additions ... man, those are two considerably different coin target-areas, yet both are amazingly alluring!! (I'd certainly welcome all of those coins into my hoard)



=> please keep your 2015 additions coming!! (I never get tired of gawking at other people's coins!!)

 

I'll point out that 20 years ago I did not collect late Roman at all and publicized things I then found interesting like the Eastern Septimius denarii which very few people then collected. After about 5 years, the competition picked up and I was no longer able to afford the Severans I wanted. About that time I did the photos for the Failmezger book and started buying things it included. That has continued as a pattern now with it getting hard to find a specialty that I can afford. There even was a run here on some of the medieval Asian silver that no one would pay $5 for a decade ago. Perhaps the correct answer is to just tell everyone that coins are boring and they should only buy shiny bullion.

 

Guys, to change the subject a bit...I have attached a photo of a Lebedos, Ionia Electroplate replica (previously listed on Forum auctions)...said to have been sold ( and produced?) at the British Museum circa 1850 and copies a coin that would be valued about six figures in the condition depicted---and the 'replica' seems to have a market value of about 3 figures because of the coin it copied....most reproductions i have noticed, after viewing this item, typically retail for about $10-$20---and I'm surprised any replica has a collectible value of anywhere near a hundred dollars...

Personally, I have little or no interest in 'replicas' but could understand the value it has as a 'hole filler' for that coin example one may never afford to own themselves...

Any thoughts on this?? It's a Tet so TIF should have something to say LOL

 

I'm not averse to the idea of buying a "genuine" British museum electrotype of certain coins, even for low 3 figures, if it is something I could otherwise never hope to buy.

 

Wow nice selection- new to Ancients any information from the group?

 

In ancients we have a situation that may seem a bit strange to 'modern' collectors. We have some fakes that are valuable in their own right. We also have copies of copies where the original fake is collectible and the fake of the fake is not. The British Museum replicas are of interest simply because they exist and were made long ago for reasons that we can accept. Another category is represented by fakes made a couple hundred years ago for the purpose of fooling rich collectors by 'name' artists like Becker. Originals produced by him have a collectible interest but casts of his fakes made later are considerably less in demand by those who collect 'history of numismatics'. Really valuable are the replica and fantasy coins of the Renaissance by artists like Giovanni Cavino collectively known as the 'Paduans'. They are available in original for big money, early casts for less and poor grade aftercasts for a lot less but probably still more than is reasonable. The originals of these were made to be collected as space fillers by those who could not find originals and some of them are fine art but not Roman art. Of course there are also fakes made in ancient times either to fool people or to provide circulating currency in places poorly served by the real things. Several of us will collect these but there are still collectors of ancients who will only have official mint product so fakes are appropriately cheaper than genuine. It is a matter of opinion. Does a worthless fake gain value when it is 100, 200, 1000 or 2000 years old? Some say no; some seek them out as interesting sidelights of our hobby.

Persian Empire c.500BC silver over copper 'fourree' copy made to deceive



Indian replica of Tiberius denarius - solid silver made to provide circulating currency - One theory is these were made after Nero began debasing the denarii and the Indian merchants wanted good old days quality silver so they made it.



Cast fake (19th century?) of a struck Paduan replica of a medallion of Septimius Severus - not worthless but not worth anything like the original Paduan would be or the item it copied


A group of late 20th century Bulgarian struck fakes really next to worthless compared to their originals but I paid $4 each for these knowing they were fakes. I see some of them selling regularly as ancients but they really have terrible style and should not fool people willing to pay $100 to $1000 for such coins. Most often seen is the Pescennius Niger (row 2, right) which is probably the least deceptive of the group if you have ever seen a real coin of his. Will 'Slaveis' be worth something someday like Beckers are now? Not in my lifetime.


Let me add that there is a cottage industry dirtying these up so they don't look so new. Can I fool you by adding 4 cents worth of dirt to my $4 coin and sell it to you for $400?

 

Supurb coins! I must suck it up and photograph my 2015s ASAP.

 

Excellent presentation Doug....I think you could fool a few of us ...at least enough to take a chance on a bargain---if some of the coins you posted were dirtied up a bit ...

Of course, most are 'off' a bit and ----as you mentioned---of terrible style...But it seems someone totally new to ancients could easily be fooled if the price was a bit lower than you stated and made to look older and more circulated...

Once again, I learned a few more things again...

By the way, I mistakenly bought that 'Replica" I listed (Lebedos, Ionia Tet) by typing in a higher proxy bid than i intended....But I discovered the probable retail value is about or higher than i paid for...so I have an example of a coin I could never afford and didn't get screwed in the process...Lucked out this time LOL

 

Well, despite my poor numbering on page 1, I'd purchased 14 coins from January 1st 2015 through March 11th ...

=> I will now update my YEAR-TO-DATE collection ...

15 - March 24th
Magnentius AE Centenionalis
(Lyons mint)
Date: 350-353 AD
Diameter: 22.4 mm
Weight: 5.9 grams
Obverse: D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG - Draped and cuirassed bust of Magnentius
Reverse: SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES - Large Chi-Rho; A - W at sides, PPLG[dot] in exergue
References: RIC 158
Characteristics: very cool




16 - March 27th
GAUL, Northwest. Coriosolites. BI Stater
100-50 BC
Diameter: 19 mm
Weight: 6.46 grams
Obverse: Celticized head of Apollo right
Reverse: Celticized driver in chariot right; below, boar right; ornaments around
Reference: D&T 2338; Depeyrot, NC 182
Other: 6h … VF, minor encrustation on obverse




17 - April 8th
ARKADIA, Arkadian League. AR Obol
Megalopolis mint
Circa 340-330 BC
Diameter: 10 mm
Weight: 0.74 grams
Obverse: Horned head of Pan left
Reverse: League monogram above syrinx
Reference: BCD Peloponnesos (Megalopolis) 1517-8; HGC 5, 930
Other: 12h … Near VF, toned
Ex BCD Collection (not in previous BCD sales)




18 - April 13th
L. PAPIUS CELSUS, AR DENARIUS
ROME 45 BC
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 4.06 grams
Obverse: Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin headdress tied at neck; all within border of dots
Reverse: She-wolf standing right, placing stick on fire; on right, eagle standing left, fanning the flames, CELSVS • III • VIR above, L • PAPIVS in exergue
Reference: Crawford 472/1; CRI 82; Sydenham 964
Other: VERY FINE CONDITION … Nice silver tone
Better in hand!! Very scarce


19 - April 22nd
THESSALY, Lamia, AR Hemidrachm
Circa 350-300 BC
Diameter: 15 mm
Weight: 2.58 grams
Obverse: Head of young Dionysos left, wearing ivy wreath
Reverse: ΛMΑΙΕ ΩΝ, amphora; ivy leaf above; to right, prochous with handle to right
Reference: Georgiou, Mint 11; BCD Thessaly II 127.3; HGC 4, 120
Other: 3h … VF, lightly toned, minor porosity
From the BCD Collection



20 - April 25th
Galba, Æ As
Rome mint
68-69 AD
Struck circa October 68 AD
Diameter: 27 mm
Weight: 10.6 grams
Obverse: Laureate head right
Reverse: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing facing, head left, holding pileus and rod; S-C across field
Reference: RIC I 328


21 - April 30th
Lycia, Phaselis AE18
2nd-1st century BC
Diameter: 18.3 mm
Weight: 4.3 grams
Obverse: Galley with Nike flying over
Reverse: Athena holding thunderbolt




22 - May 6th
KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios.
Fourrée Fifth Tetradrachm
323-317 BC
Copying Amphipolis mint issue struck under Polyperchon, circa 318–317 BC
Diameter: 13 mm
Weight: 1.94 grams
Obverse: Head of Apollo right, wearing tainia
Reverse: Youth on horseback right; shield below
Reference: For prototype, cf. Le Rider pl. 46, 29 & 32; cf. Troxell, Studies, Group 8, 382; cf. SNG ANS 731-5
Other: 8h … VF, toned, breaks in plating exposing bronze core
From the collection of a Southern Pathologist, purchased from Antioch Associates, 23 February 1998




23 - May 11th
Ptolemy V AE26
Date: 204-180 BC
Diameter: 26.3 mm
Weight: 16.5 grams
Obverse: Wreathed and draped bust of Isis
Reverse: Eagle standing on thunderbolt




24 - May 11th
Ptolemy I AE20
Date: 280-265 BC
Diameter: 20.2 mm
Weight: 8.4 grams
Obverse: Head of Alexandre III wearing elephant skin
Reverse: Eagle standing on thunderbolt; EY / XAP left
References: Svoronos 363

 

25 - May 26th
LUCANIA. VELIA AR NOMOS
Date: 300-280 BC
Size: 21.65 mm
Weight: 7.29 grams
Obverse: Head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet decorated with Griffin, Θ behind neck
Reverse: YEΛHTΩN, Lion right, tearing at prey; above, grasshopper between Φ-I
Attribution: SNG ANS 1364


26 - May 29th
Maxentius AE Follis
(Ostia mint)
Date: 309 AD
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Weight: 6.2 grams
Obverse: IMP C MAXENTIUS P F AVG - Laureate head of Maxentius
Reverse: AETERNITAS AVG N - The Dioscuri, facing each other, holding scepters and horses by bridles. MOSTS in exergue
References: RIC 35




27 - May 29th
Maximianus AE Follis
(Cyzicus mint)
Date: 305 AD
Diameter: 28.5 mm
Weight: 8.44 grams
Obverse: D N MAXIMIANO BEATISSIMO SEN AVG - Bust of Maximianus, holding mappa and branch
Reverse: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG - Providentia and Quies facing each other. * between, S / F in fields, KD in exergue
References: RIC 28 b




28 - June 3rd
Faustina Junior. Augusta, AR Denarius
Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AD 161-164
AD 147-175
Rome mint
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 3.35 grams
Obverse: Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Reverse: Draped and ornamented throne on which are two infant boys
Reference: RIC III 712 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 27-4b Diad.; RSC 191
Other: 12h … Good VF, toned
From the Dr. George Spradling Collection




29 - June 3rd
Caracalla. As Caesar, AR Denarius
Struck AD 201-202
AD 196-198
Rome mint
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 3.17 grams
Obverse: Laureate and draped bust right
Reverse: ADVENT AVGG, galley left; signum and aquila at stern
Reference: RIC IV 120; RSC 3
Other: 6h ... VF, lightly toned
From the Dr. George Spradling Collection



30 - June 7th
Lycaonia, Laranda, AR Obol
Date: 4th cent. BC
Diameter: 10.6 mm
Weight: 0.4 grams
Obverse: Baal seated, holding grain ear, grape bunch, and scepter
Reverse: Forepart of wolf, crescent above



... and that's all I've got so far, my coin-friends (so far, so good!!)

 

So far so good is an understatement. Great collection, Steve!

 

is it time for the CY (coin year) 2015 second quarter reports? man, it's flying by.

some great coins, love those "crystallized" greeks, love the lion reverse, love the caracalla boat...so many great ones! i'd love to have every one of them.