Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Pellinore, post: 4284950, member: 74834&quot;]I was a keen collector as a boy, especially of Roman coins. With the determination of my still youthful brain I managed to learn all the Roman emperors from August to Theodosius by heart, including their reigning years. Much of this has worn off in the course of life, but I still can manage to amaze friends and neighbours by correctly answering staccato questions for dates of emperors (and classical composers).</p><p><br /></p><p>So - in the collection of my youth there were many emperors missing, and these I have been longing for ever since. In the case of the short-lived emperor Marius (Gallic Empire, 269) a recent treasure found in Britain brought salvation:</p><p>&#039;<i>On Wednesday 13 November 2013, amateur archaeologist George Hughes was investigating some farm land near South Petherton in South Somerset, England, when he discovered a hoard of 7565 coins. Upon inspection, the hoard was declared to be Treasure, and much of the hoard was acquired by the British Museum and the Somerset County Museum; the coins offered here </i>[at CNG auctions]<i> were returned to the finder. The hoard, which consisted almost entirely of antoniniani, had been in the ground since 274 AD, when they had been buried in a bag during the fall of the Gallic Empire. The lion’s share of the coins – over 3000 – were issued by Victorinus; only 81 of the coins in the group were issued by Marius.&#039;</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>I probably bid too much, but that doesn&#039;t matter: finally I have my Marius now.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1090443[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Marius (269), antoninanus. Cologne. Radiate, cuirassed bust right. IMP C M AVR MARIVS AVG. Rev. Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm frond. VICTO RIAAVG, Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm frond. 2nd emission, circa mid AD 269. Some silvering and brown patina, struck with worn reverse die. Ex 2013 South Petherton Hoard, Somerset.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in