It's been a slow year for me....4 months in and only 4 coins acquired. ButI feel like I've matured collection wise, and I'm no longer a newbie buying just to buy because I don't have too many coins. Rather, my tastes are a little more specific and I prefer to wait for something really special. Here's my latest offering to this forum: I have a Mark Antony Denarius, but just not a portrait one And I have an Augustus denarius, just not an Octavian denarius (before he was emperor) I know what I want, a special coin with the portrait of Octavian before he was emperor, and one of Mark Antony with this portrait. I wonder, oh how I wonder, how I'm going to accomplish that. Oh, what's this? Killing two birds with one stone! Isn't it a beauty? AR Denarius Mark Antony and Octavian Traveling military mint, or possibly Ephesus mint 3.467g, 19.5mm Spring - Early summer 41 B.C. Obverse M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C M BARBAT Q P, bare head of Antony right Reverse CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C, bare beardless head of Octavian right Ex: Errett Bishop Collection Crawford 517/2, Sydenham 1181, BMCRR East 103, Sear CRI 243, RSC I Mark Antony and Augustus 8, SRCV I 1504 Ok, so it's less that perfect. There's a banker's mark under Mark Antony's chin, some scratches, toning, etc., but let's look at the positive and endearing things this coin has to offer. Namely, the price. because it is less than perfect my bank account did not take a major hit. Also, the portraits are well centered and the legends are all there. And unlike later issues that cost more $$$, this early issue was also within my reach because of the less than realistic Octavian portrait (the celators clearly knew what Antony looked like but had never seen Octavian). So all in all, I think it was a good acquisition in a year that's all about quality of acquisition over quantity. Here's a Wildwinds specimen for reference:
Very nice @Sallent. I would love one of these, but I've put my buying on hold for a while while I try to cull my herd.
Well done Oz! Very nice. Honestly, until you pointed out the bankers mark, I totally missed it. (I like banker's marks, they add character.) Congrats on the super find! Looks great! Good to see you back, @Sallent ! Here is mine, similar: RImp Antony-Octavian AR Denarius 41 BCE 3.65g 18.7mm Military mint Syria star Craw 528-2a Sear 1507
Great coin, much better than mine. Mark Antony and Octavian (41 B.C.) AR Denarius M. Barbatius Pollio, quaestor pro praetore O: Bare head of Mark Antony right. R: Bare head of Octavian right, wearing slight beard. Ephesus mint, Spring-early summer 41 B.C. 3.5g 20mm Crawford 517/2; CRI 243; Sydenham 1181
...yeah ole buddy big O..nice choice coins there!...good to see ya back..(wow, i just bought tonite a telescope and believe it or not, while i was checking it out, i thought of you and your mobile fone one )
Congrats on your new telescope. This is a great time of year to watch Jupiter and Saturn, as well as the Orion nebula, Pleiades star cluster, and Venus just before sunrise. Can't wait to see some images of your scope. Congrats.
You warned us you wouldn't be buying as much at the beginning of the year. But man, I thought you were just BSING! Glad to have you and your bird smashing sense of humor back (even if I do love me some birdies). But what a way to show up! I've wanted one of them for some time. And I really like bankers marks, so long as they don't touch the portrait nor distract. Fantastic acquisition! Here's my po boy, no portraits please, quiny version: Marc Antony & Octavian AR Quinarius. Military mint moving with Octavian, 39 BC. Head of Concordia right, wearing diadem and veil, III VIR R P C around / Two hands clasped around caduceus, M ANTON C CAESAR around. Crawford 529/4b
