Ancients => Two Alexandrian TETs (yah, I needed a fix!!)

I've got a Tacitus, working on the camera situation today. These Alexandrian tets are wonderful, glad I have many... will likely get more

 

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=> I've got faith in you, coin-girlfriend!!

 

Perhaps because it's possible that her husband, Aurelian, had died before this coin was minted, and she was apparently functioning as a true sole ruler of Rome when this coin was struck?

 

Got one of my cameras working, sort of... and still having lighting issues. Seems like I'm going backwards in my photo skills

Anyway, I was looking through a mixed lot purchased a few months ago and whaddya know... A Severina, and I think it's year 7! Having trouble finding info on this coin in various online resources.

Not in the best shape but I like it



EGYPT, Alexandria
Severina, 275 AD (?)
Potin tetradrachm, 20 mm, 8.5 gm (is it correct to say 'potin' or just 'AE'?)
Obv: OVΛΠ CEVH PINA CEB; draped bust right, hair brushed straight with long plait running along the back of head and tucked under stephane
Rev: ETOVC; Dikaiosyne standing facing, head left, scales in right hand, cornucopiae in left; Z in right field
Ref: ?
Ex Professor James R. Eaton collection. In his family from when he collected it in the 1800's until I bought it from Stack's Bowers.

Severina may have had sole reign for a while after her husband's death in ~Sept/Oct 275, or at least that's what some online sources say. I bet Doug has more information...

Short bio of Professor Eaton:

Professor James R. Eaton (1834-1897)

James Eaton was born the second son of Reverend George Washington Eaton, D.D., L.L.D., who was the president of Madison University (now called Colgate University) in Hamilton, New York. James graduated from Madison University and the Hamilton Theological Seminary and, though he was ordained as a Baptist minister, chose teaching as his profession. He became a professor of mathematics, natural science, ancient languages, and theology, and in 1868 he accepted a position at William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri. He served as the head of the Department of Natural
Sciences for 28 years.

By 1897, his increasing frailty convinced James that he should take a sabbatical, and it had been his lifelong dream to visit the Holy Land. He set sail from New York, but tragically suffered a heart attack shortly aer arriving in Cairo. He died a few days later on March 20, 1897.

Professor Eaton was an enthusiastic collector, and in addition to his extensive cabinets of minerals and geological specimens, he spent 30 years collecting coins. He created many different sub-collections, including a complete collection of Biblical coins, a collection of the earliest gold, silver,
and bronze Greek and Roman coins, a portrait collection, a collection of early American copper coins, and many others.

The last coin was integrated into this impressive collection back in the 1890s, meaning that this collection has been off the market for more than a century!

The coins eventually came into the possession of James' son, Hubert Eaton, who was the one of the founders and presidents of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Hubert periodically displayed the coins at the museum there, along with other family sculptures and art.

 

Here's one of the first ancients I bought. Early on, I was interested in Zeus Ammon (still am) and sought out several examples. That's how I became interested in the huge Ptolemaic bronzes. Zeus Ammon makes up the majority of deities in my collection.



EGYPT, Alexandria
Elagabalus, uncertain year of issue (can't quite make out the letter on the reverse)
Potin tetradrachm, 23 mm, 11.4 gm
Obv: KAICAP MA AVP ANTWNINOC EV-CEB (in theory...); laureate head of Elagabalus right
Rev: Head of Zeus Ammon right; L in left field, (some letter indicating date) in right field

 

Nope. There seem to be a lot more Z Severinas than Z Aurelians making the idea that they stopped striking his when he died and struck hers longer seem reasonable. I really do not know how much power she had during that period but it seem like a reason to have a Z coin. She only became Augusta the year before (S) so half of her coins we see are Z.

 

Here are a couple more Zeus Ammons reverses, both Commodus, both purchased at the same time as the Elagabalus and from the same seller, both badly overcleaned. I've since elevated my standards when buying individual coins, but I don't plan on selling these.

I think they're both from year 27 (186/7 AD) since the Z is readable and I don't think he had any Alexandrian tets prior to year ~20. Could easily be wrong about that though.




The attribution for both is probably:

EGYPT, Alexandria
Commodus, year 27 (186/7 AD)
Potin tetradrachm; 24 mm & 11.7 gm 1st coin, 23 mm & 8.3 gm 2nd coin
Obv: M A KOM ANTW CEBEV CEB (in theory...); laureate head of Commodus right
Rev: horned head of Zeus Ammon right; L K - Z in fields

With as many Alexandrian tets as I have and with my continued interest, I should look for books about these, both for full attribution purposes and for general reading.

 

And here's another of my early purchases, also from a small mixed lot, one which had obverse and reverse pictures of the coins. (yes, I love buying mixed lots )

Not certain of what the obverse legend is or is supposed to be; can't tell if there is a word or words missing at the upper left/top. In hand it has more silver shine than I captured in this picture. Rough surfaces but a nice fat coin.

Browsing through wildwinds just now, looking for attribution, I was taken by the wide variety of interesting reverses for A-Pi's Alexandrian tets. Putting them on the list.



EGYPT, Alexandria
Antoninus Pius, year 11 (147/8 AD)
billion tetradrachm, 23 mm, 11.7 gm, ~4 mm thick
Obv: [_?_]ANTWNINOC CEBEVCEB laureate head of Antoninus Pius right
Rev: L-END-E-KATOV; Dikaiosyne seated left, holding scales and cornucopia
Ref: ?

 

Nice thread, everyone. Keep up the good work!

 

Awesome additions, TIF

=> please keep 'em coming!!

 

Commodus BI Tetradrachm
Obv:– MA KO ANTW CEB EVCEB, Laureate head right
Rev:– Bust of Nilus right, with cornucopia over shoulder, K/L | D
Minted in Alexandria (Year 24) in A.D. 183/4
Reference:– Milne 2561

 

Elagabalus Billon Tetradrachm
Obv:- A KAICAP MA AVP ANTWNINOC EV CEB, laureate head right
Rev:- Helmeted bust of Athena right; L-G to either side.
Minted in Alexandria, Year 3, (219/220 A.D.).
References:- Milne 2768. Emmett 2914 (Year 3) rated R3

 

Trajan Billon tetradrachm
Obv:- AVT KAIC NEP TRAIAN CEB ΓEPM, laureate head right
Rev:- eagle standing right, L - S across fields (year 6)
Minted in Alexandria 29 Aug 102 - 28 Aug 103 A.D.
Reference:- Milne 566, Dattari 707, SRCV II 3255 var (date)

 

Nero Billon Tetradrachm
Obv:- NERW KLAY KAIS SEB GER, Radiate head of Nero right
Rev:– AYTO-KPA, Draped bust of Serapis right
Minted in Alexandria. LI in right field. Dated Year 10 (63/4 AD).
Reference:– Köln 160; Dattari 251; Milne 222; Emmett 133; RPC I 5274

 

Here's my one Tacitus. Might benefit from some skilled cleaning/conservation, so I guess I'll leave it alone



EGYPT, Alexandria
Tacitus, 275/6 AD
potin tetradrachm, 20 mm, 7.5 gm
Obv: AKKL TAKITOC CEB; laureate and draped bust right
Rev: ETOYC-A; eagle standing left, head right with wreath in its beak
Ref: Milne 4510, Emmett 3974
Ex Professor James R. Eaton collection

This was part of a 12 coin lot from Stack's. The auction listing included a picture of pile of 8 of the coins. It was listed as Ptolemaic bronze issues although there may have been a visible Alexandrian tet. There was also a bit of a COL-NEM peeking out which I didn't recognize until the lot arrived-- badly worn but I was happy to have it! I bought the lot primarily for the 48+ mm Ptolemy bronze but was delighted with each of the 12 coins. It wasn't a cheap lot but it was well worth the price. There were 3 Alexandrian tets in that lot-- Severina, Salonina, and this Tacitus.

 

I'm feeling the need to join the tet club.

 

Last of the 3 from the Professor Eaton coins, Salonina. She's rather crusty and I can't make out the date and am hesitant to try to remove the hard verdigris. L I something, but what's the something?



EGYPT, Alexandria
Salonina, 253-268 AD (unsure of the year of this coin; date is LI_ so it's in the ~263-268 range)
potin tetradrachm, 20 x 23 mm, 9.1 gm
Obv: KOPNHΛIA CAΛωNEINA CEB; draped bust right
Rev: eagle standing left, head left, wreath in beak; LI _ in left field
Ref: ? since I can't read the date
Ex Professor James R. Eaton collection

 

If I weren't someone who hates cursing I'd really be laying it on right now. In fact I'm sorely tempted.

You guys are making me cry.

Any way, I've been looking at some nice ones recently, although with Christmas coming up I don't know if I'll be getting any of them.

Now, enough with the wining, let's post some winners!

Carus Potin Tetradrachm of Alexandria. Year 1 = 282/283 AD. A K MA KAPOC CEB, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right / Dikaiosyne standing left holding scales & cornucopiae, LA to left. Geissen 3161, Dattari 5565; Sear5 12197

Diocletian Potin Tetadrachm of Alexandria. Year 7 = 291-292 AD.
DIOKLETIANOC CEB, laureate & cuirassed bust right
ENATOV, L to right, Elpis standing left, holding flower and raising hem of robe, A in ex
Milne 5063

 

Sweet coins, vlaha!!

 

I know that it's an eagle but.....

Salonina - tetradrachm
Billon tetradrachm
Obv:– KOPNHΛIA ΣALΩNEINA ΣEB, Draped bust right wearing stephane
Rev:– None, Eagle standing to the left, wings open, wreath in beak, palm to the right
Minted in Alexandria LIΔ | _.
Reference(s) – Curtis 1640, BMC 2278, Milne 4151