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<p>[QUOTE="Cucumbor, post: 5163347, member: 4298"]Hi CT folks</p><p><br /></p><p>2020 hasn’t been a good year in many ways, especially with the Covid pandemic and its millions of victims. Collecting coins may appear very futile in such circumstances. However I feel it’s even more necessary, as it’s a place/time out of the real world, were we can breathe and dream at ease, and escape to all this darkness.</p><p><br /></p><p>I’ve not bought many coins in 2020 (less than 20), but some of them are very important in my collecting process. As a side note, I’m a roman empire guy, which you won’t find obvious in what follows !</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, here are the 5 ½ that stand out the (small) horde…</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><font size="5">6 – Thick roundness (or round thickness…) : a Syracuse bronze </font></b></p><p><br /></p><p>While following an online auction during a very frustrating lockdown #1 last april, I saw that coin, and because I like so much Syracuse coinage, I thought (well, sort of « thought ») it might be a good idea to adding it to my small series. Upon arrival it appeared to be even better than expected with its kind of globular aspect : very thick and with round, soft edges. I find the hippocamp very attractive. All in all, a good surprise, well deserving a room in the top of the year list</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210128[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Sicily, Syracuse</b> - Bronze litra, circa 375-344 BCE, </font></p><p><font size="3">[ΣYPA] Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with neck guard, </font></p><p><font size="3">Hippocamp left</font></p><p><font size="3">15mm., 6.13g</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : Calciati # 34, Sear # 1193 </font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="5"><b>5 – A rare douzain : Dombes, Marie de Montpensier, douzain 1616 </b></font></p><p><br /></p><p>Among french royal coinage, the douzain is quite a popular denomination, being abundant, and large enough to allow collectors to having fun at reading legends and finding unrecorded varieties. On the other hand the billon they’re made of isn’t the best metal to strike coins, hence quality isn’t often there.</p><p><br /></p><p>When it comes to Dombes (yes, you will have to stand Dombes coins this year too <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> ), if douzains are quite numerous for Henri II de Montpensier, they are scarce before him (i.e. Louis II and François II), and become very rare after him. His daughter, Marie de Montpensier has had douzains struck in her name from 1613 to 1620, of which only a total of 15 specimens are known. When that one showed up, I had to have it, my 1613 specimen being very sad, alone in its tray. It was sold as 1616, not quite sure about that, it might well be 1618 all the same, the last digit being cut in half at the edge of the planchet. Anyway, it’s either unique, or the 5th known example.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210129[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Dombes, Marie de Montpensier (1608-1627) </b>- Douzain, billon - 1616</font></p><p><font size="3">Atelier de Trévoux</font></p><p><font size="3">+ MARIA • P • DOMBAR • D • MONTIS • P (cœur) Ecu de Bourbon couronné, dans le champ, deux M couronnées</font></p><p><font size="3">+ DNS • ADIVT • ET • REDEM • MEVS 1616 Croix échancrée cantonnée de couronnes</font></p><p><font size="3">22 mm - 2,11 gr </font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : Divo Dombes # 129a</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="5"><b>4 – An unusual bust : Trajan Decius, Antioch tetradrachm</b></font></p><p><br /></p><p>That one was the last important purchase this year, and I presented it in a thread not long ago, <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-decius-tetradrachm-an-unusual-bust-with-balteus-trabea.370336/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-decius-tetradrachm-an-unusual-bust-with-balteus-trabea.370336/"><b>here</b></a>. What appealed to me was the unusual bust, with balteus and trabea.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have since contacted CGB (the french auction house) whose former director was Michel Prieur. They still host and maintain his Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms database, and confirmed the rarity of the coin which is now #8 of the type</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210134[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Roman provincial, Trajan Decius (09/249 – 07 or 08/251) </b>– Billon Tetradrachm, Antioch mint - 7° officina</font></p><p><font size="3">AYT K Γ ME KY TPAIANOC ΔEKIOC CEB Radiate bust right, cuirassed with trabea on right shoulder, and balteus on chest, seen from front. Z under bust.</font></p><p><font size="3">ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC Eagle standing right on a palm branch, head right holding wreath in beak, and wings spread. At exergue SC</font></p><p><font size="3">27 mm - 12,35 gr - 6h</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : Prieur # 558_08 (2), McAlee # 1140 (very rare)</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><font size="5">3 – An attractive portrait of Octavian, but lacking a portrait of Julius Caesar : Vienna half dupondius</font></b></p><p><br /></p><p>That one too has been presented not long ago in a thread <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/of-galleys-and-crocs-about-a-nice-portrait-of-octavian.370127/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/of-galleys-and-crocs-about-a-nice-portrait-of-octavian.370127/"><b>here</b></a>, even though I bought it earlier this year. After the Covid frenzy not allowing a lot of time for writing up, I am now at home for a few weeks and can do some…</p><p><br /></p><p>As the title suggests, I’ve been drawn to this half coin for its beautiful portrait of Octavian. Moreover, those somewhat crude gaulish coinages (Vienna, Arausio, Lugdunum, Nemausus) have a great symbolic and historical background that I find very attractive.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210132[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Gaul, Julius Caesar & Octavian</b> – Halved dupondius, Vienna (Gaul), ca. 36 BCE</font></p><p><font size="3">[•IM]P• [DIVI•IVL•CAE]SAR•DIVI•F bare headed portraits [of Julius Caesar to left] and Octavian to right</font></p><p><font size="3">C•[I•V] Prow of galley to right, surmounted by superstructure and mast (CIV for Colonia Ivlia Viennensis)</font></p><p><font size="3">31,5 mm – 9,96 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RPC # 517</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="5"><b>2 – Where non specialists begin to think you’re nuts : Dombes, Anne Marie Louise de Bourbon, luigino 1665 </b></font></p><p><br /></p><p>Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans was Princess of the Dombes principality. She was born to Marie de Montpensier and Gaston d'Orléans in 1627 CE. Her mother passed away soon after her birth, and her father ruled the principality as a regent until her majority. The family was of highest rank, Gaston being king Louis XIII's brother, hence Louis XIV'S uncle.</p><p><br /></p><p>When Anne Marie Louise issued her famous 5 sols silver coins, aka <i>luigini</i>, they soon became very popular in the Middle East countries, allegedly because they featured an advantadgeous female bust. Many duchies, counties and principalities, especially in Italy followed the trend and flooded the market with copies of various quality and legends. The fact is that very quickly the silver content decreased, to the point where a royal edict lead to a withdrawal of all of them.</p><p><br /></p><p>The usual, standard, design is the following, with the date in the reverse field, left and right to the ecu :</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210131[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>As written above, you find them by the million. The reference book to them, the « Cammarano », describes a variety with the date at the end of the reverse legend, instead of being in the field. </p><p><br /></p><p>« What the heck do you care about this, dude ? »</p><p><br /></p><p>Although it’s been given a R1 rarity rate, I haven’t seen any 1665 of those in 22 years of collecting other than in public collections . In the middle of june, leaving home for work around 7 AM, I got an alert for new items from a dealer. Needless to say I jumped on it (litterally) even considering its poor preservation, knowing I might have to wait decades before I see another. And now I have plenty of time to upgrade if necessary</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210130[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Dombes, Anne Marie Louise d'Orleans (1650-1693) </b>- Douzième d'écu, argent - 1665</font></p><p><font size="3">Atelier de Trévoux</font></p><p><font size="3">AN •MA • LVD • PRINC • SVP • DOMBA, Buste drapé de 3/4 à droite</font></p><p><font size="3">(Rose) DNS (trèfle) ADIVTOR • A • ET • RED MEVS 1665, Ecu d'Orléans couronné.</font></p><p><font size="3">20 mm - 2.23 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : Divo Dombes # 232, Camarano # 46 </font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="5"><b>1 – In the end, the sun rises ….. Bosporan kingdom – Sauromates II, Electrum stater</b></font></p><p><br /></p><p>That was the most joyful purchase this year. Not just because it’s yellow. For quite a while I’ve been lurking around a bosporan kingdom stater, but never pulled the trigger for financial/necessity ratio reasons : should I come across a rare Dombes coin 5x the price of that one, I would buy it, as it would be a brick in the wall I’m currently building. It’s not the case here. Just something I find appealing, but not fitting in any of the directions I pursue. But it gives some diversity to the small roman provincial collection I have, which was enough (we need reasons for acting, don’t we ? <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> )</p><p><br /></p><p>When I got it I was blown away. I had previously hold gold, of course, but the feeling of the coin’s weight in hand, the pale color of electrum, the dual portrait, all together, was really something special.</p><p><br /></p><p>I’ve lenghtly written about it <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/bosporan-kingdom-sauromates-ii-el-stater.360957/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/bosporan-kingdom-sauromates-ii-el-stater.360957/"><b>here</b></a>, if you would like to know more</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210133[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Bosporan kingdom, Sauromates II (173/174 - 210/211 CE) </b>– El stater, dated 491 (194-195 CE)</font></p><p><font size="3">BACIΛΕωC CAVPOMATOV (anticlockwise). Draped and diademed bust of Sauromates II right</font></p><p><font size="3">Laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Star in right field. Retrograd VPA at exergue (year 491)</font></p><p><font size="3">20 mm - 7,69 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : MacDonald # 502/2, Sear # 5476 var</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you for reading</p><p><br /></p><p>I wish you all, my CT friends, a merry Christmas, and a most happy new year</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1210136[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Cucumbor, post: 5163347, member: 4298"]Hi CT folks 2020 hasn’t been a good year in many ways, especially with the Covid pandemic and its millions of victims. Collecting coins may appear very futile in such circumstances. However I feel it’s even more necessary, as it’s a place/time out of the real world, were we can breathe and dream at ease, and escape to all this darkness. I’ve not bought many coins in 2020 (less than 20), but some of them are very important in my collecting process. As a side note, I’m a roman empire guy, which you won’t find obvious in what follows ! Anyway, here are the 5 ½ that stand out the (small) horde… [B][SIZE=5]6 – Thick roundness (or round thickness…) : a Syracuse bronze [/SIZE][/B] While following an online auction during a very frustrating lockdown #1 last april, I saw that coin, and because I like so much Syracuse coinage, I thought (well, sort of « thought ») it might be a good idea to adding it to my small series. Upon arrival it appeared to be even better than expected with its kind of globular aspect : very thick and with round, soft edges. I find the hippocamp very attractive. All in all, a good surprise, well deserving a room in the top of the year list [ATTACH=full]1210128[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Sicily, Syracuse[/B] - Bronze litra, circa 375-344 BCE, [ΣYPA] Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with neck guard, Hippocamp left 15mm., 6.13g Ref : Calciati # 34, Sear # 1193 [/SIZE] [SIZE=5][B]5 – A rare douzain : Dombes, Marie de Montpensier, douzain 1616 [/B][/SIZE] Among french royal coinage, the douzain is quite a popular denomination, being abundant, and large enough to allow collectors to having fun at reading legends and finding unrecorded varieties. On the other hand the billon they’re made of isn’t the best metal to strike coins, hence quality isn’t often there. When it comes to Dombes (yes, you will have to stand Dombes coins this year too :D ), if douzains are quite numerous for Henri II de Montpensier, they are scarce before him (i.e. Louis II and François II), and become very rare after him. His daughter, Marie de Montpensier has had douzains struck in her name from 1613 to 1620, of which only a total of 15 specimens are known. When that one showed up, I had to have it, my 1613 specimen being very sad, alone in its tray. It was sold as 1616, not quite sure about that, it might well be 1618 all the same, the last digit being cut in half at the edge of the planchet. Anyway, it’s either unique, or the 5th known example. [ATTACH=full]1210129[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Dombes, Marie de Montpensier (1608-1627) [/B]- Douzain, billon - 1616 Atelier de Trévoux + MARIA • P • DOMBAR • D • MONTIS • P (cœur) Ecu de Bourbon couronné, dans le champ, deux M couronnées + DNS • ADIVT • ET • REDEM • MEVS 1616 Croix échancrée cantonnée de couronnes 22 mm - 2,11 gr Ref : Divo Dombes # 129a[/SIZE] [SIZE=5][B]4 – An unusual bust : Trajan Decius, Antioch tetradrachm[/B][/SIZE] That one was the last important purchase this year, and I presented it in a thread not long ago, [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-decius-tetradrachm-an-unusual-bust-with-balteus-trabea.370336/'][B]here[/B][/URL]. What appealed to me was the unusual bust, with balteus and trabea. I have since contacted CGB (the french auction house) whose former director was Michel Prieur. They still host and maintain his Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms database, and confirmed the rarity of the coin which is now #8 of the type [ATTACH=full]1210134[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Roman provincial, Trajan Decius (09/249 – 07 or 08/251) [/B]– Billon Tetradrachm, Antioch mint - 7° officina AYT K Γ ME KY TPAIANOC ΔEKIOC CEB Radiate bust right, cuirassed with trabea on right shoulder, and balteus on chest, seen from front. Z under bust. ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC Eagle standing right on a palm branch, head right holding wreath in beak, and wings spread. At exergue SC 27 mm - 12,35 gr - 6h Ref : Prieur # 558_08 (2), McAlee # 1140 (very rare)[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=5]3 – An attractive portrait of Octavian, but lacking a portrait of Julius Caesar : Vienna half dupondius[/SIZE][/B] That one too has been presented not long ago in a thread [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/of-galleys-and-crocs-about-a-nice-portrait-of-octavian.370127/'][B]here[/B][/URL], even though I bought it earlier this year. After the Covid frenzy not allowing a lot of time for writing up, I am now at home for a few weeks and can do some… As the title suggests, I’ve been drawn to this half coin for its beautiful portrait of Octavian. Moreover, those somewhat crude gaulish coinages (Vienna, Arausio, Lugdunum, Nemausus) have a great symbolic and historical background that I find very attractive. [ATTACH=full]1210132[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Gaul, Julius Caesar & Octavian[/B] – Halved dupondius, Vienna (Gaul), ca. 36 BCE [•IM]P• [DIVI•IVL•CAE]SAR•DIVI•F bare headed portraits [of Julius Caesar to left] and Octavian to right C•[I•V] Prow of galley to right, surmounted by superstructure and mast (CIV for Colonia Ivlia Viennensis) 31,5 mm – 9,96 gr Ref : RPC # 517[/SIZE] [SIZE=5][B]2 – Where non specialists begin to think you’re nuts : Dombes, Anne Marie Louise de Bourbon, luigino 1665 [/B][/SIZE] Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans was Princess of the Dombes principality. She was born to Marie de Montpensier and Gaston d'Orléans in 1627 CE. Her mother passed away soon after her birth, and her father ruled the principality as a regent until her majority. The family was of highest rank, Gaston being king Louis XIII's brother, hence Louis XIV'S uncle. When Anne Marie Louise issued her famous 5 sols silver coins, aka [I]luigini[/I], they soon became very popular in the Middle East countries, allegedly because they featured an advantadgeous female bust. Many duchies, counties and principalities, especially in Italy followed the trend and flooded the market with copies of various quality and legends. The fact is that very quickly the silver content decreased, to the point where a royal edict lead to a withdrawal of all of them. The usual, standard, design is the following, with the date in the reverse field, left and right to the ecu : [ATTACH=full]1210131[/ATTACH] As written above, you find them by the million. The reference book to them, the « Cammarano », describes a variety with the date at the end of the reverse legend, instead of being in the field. « What the heck do you care about this, dude ? » Although it’s been given a R1 rarity rate, I haven’t seen any 1665 of those in 22 years of collecting other than in public collections . In the middle of june, leaving home for work around 7 AM, I got an alert for new items from a dealer. Needless to say I jumped on it (litterally) even considering its poor preservation, knowing I might have to wait decades before I see another. And now I have plenty of time to upgrade if necessary [ATTACH=full]1210130[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Dombes, Anne Marie Louise d'Orleans (1650-1693) [/B]- Douzième d'écu, argent - 1665 Atelier de Trévoux AN •MA • LVD • PRINC • SVP • DOMBA, Buste drapé de 3/4 à droite (Rose) DNS (trèfle) ADIVTOR • A • ET • RED MEVS 1665, Ecu d'Orléans couronné. 20 mm - 2.23 gr Ref : Divo Dombes # 232, Camarano # 46 [/SIZE] [SIZE=5][B]1 – In the end, the sun rises ….. Bosporan kingdom – Sauromates II, Electrum stater[/B][/SIZE] That was the most joyful purchase this year. Not just because it’s yellow. For quite a while I’ve been lurking around a bosporan kingdom stater, but never pulled the trigger for financial/necessity ratio reasons : should I come across a rare Dombes coin 5x the price of that one, I would buy it, as it would be a brick in the wall I’m currently building. It’s not the case here. Just something I find appealing, but not fitting in any of the directions I pursue. But it gives some diversity to the small roman provincial collection I have, which was enough (we need reasons for acting, don’t we ? :D ) When I got it I was blown away. I had previously hold gold, of course, but the feeling of the coin’s weight in hand, the pale color of electrum, the dual portrait, all together, was really something special. I’ve lenghtly written about it [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/bosporan-kingdom-sauromates-ii-el-stater.360957/'][B]here[/B][/URL], if you would like to know more [ATTACH=full]1210133[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Bosporan kingdom, Sauromates II (173/174 - 210/211 CE) [/B]– El stater, dated 491 (194-195 CE) BACIΛΕωC CAVPOMATOV (anticlockwise). Draped and diademed bust of Sauromates II right Laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Star in right field. Retrograd VPA at exergue (year 491) 20 mm - 7,69 gr Ref : MacDonald # 502/2, Sear # 5476 var[/SIZE] Thank you for reading I wish you all, my CT friends, a merry Christmas, and a most happy new year [ATTACH=full]1210136[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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