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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 3577687, member: 75937&quot;]I&#039;ve acquired a lot of coins so far this year, many of them for my collection of Antonine women, but I have a lot of interests and these ten stood out as the most interesting and educational.</p><p><br /></p><p>10. This pentassarion of Gordian III and Tranquillina from Marcianopolis was interesting because of the mystery of the <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/migratory-compass-dot.331189/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/migratory-compass-dot.331189/">migratory compass dot</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]954058[/ATTACH]</p><p>Gordian III, with Tranquillina, AD 238-244.</p><p>Roman provincial Æ Pentassrion, 12.74 g, 27 mm, 6 h.</p><p>Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis.Tertullianus, <i>legatus consularis</i>. Struck AD 241-244.</p><p>Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CЄ | ΤΡΑΝΚVΛ | ΛЄΙΝΑ, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left.</p><p>Rev: VΠ ΤΕΡΤVΛΛΙΑΝΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤ- (ΩΝ in r. field), Homonoia standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; E in l. field.</p><p>Refs: AMNG-I 1186; Moushmov 830; Mionnet <i>suppl 2</i>, p. 113, 343; H&amp;J, <i>Marcianopolis</i>, 6.38.36.2; Varbanov 2046.</p><p><br /></p><p>9. This denarius of Faustina II struck under her father, Antoninus Pius. It is interesting because Concordia is facing left, rather than right. This inspired me to <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-filia-flyspecking-concordia-variant.336093/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-filia-flyspecking-concordia-variant.336093/">compare all of the known variants of the coin</a> and to determine that RIC 500c probably does not exist:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/faustina-jr-concordia-standing-left-denarius-jpg.914635/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Faustina II, AD 147-175.</p><p>Roman AR Denarius, 2.84 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h.</p><p>Rome, AD 150-152, under Antoninus Pius.</p><p>Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust right.</p><p>Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing facing, head left, holding skirt and cornucopiae.</p><p>Refs: RIC III 501 (Pius); BMCRE 1078 note (Pius); Cohen/RSC 46; RCV --; CRE 166; ERIC II --.</p><p><br /></p><p>8. And while we&#039;re talking about interesting Concordia reverse variants of Faustina II, I noticed Concordia on this sestertius was leaning on a column, which was not a variety noted by RIC, BMCRE, or Sear. Even though other examples have been sold, it was a matter of some <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/does-this-look-like-a-column-to-you-guys.340012/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/does-this-look-like-a-column-to-you-guys.340012/">controversy here at CT</a>, but Curtis Clay of the Harlan Berk company was able to <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/does-this-look-like-a-column-to-you-guys.340012/#post-3552401" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/does-this-look-like-a-column-to-you-guys.340012/#post-3552401">settle the matter</a>, noting that the variety had been previously described by Strack.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/faustina-jr-avgvsti-pii-fil-concordia-sestertius-jpg.943856/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Faustina II, AD 147-175/6.</p><p>Roman orichalcum sestertius, 29.89 g, 31.0 mm, 6 h.</p><p>Rome, AD 154-157.</p><p>Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.</p><p>Rev: AVGVSTI PII FIL S C, Concordia standing left and leaning on column, holding patera and cornucopia.</p><p>Refs: Strack 1328; RIC --; BMCRE4 --; Cohen --; RCV --.</p><p><br /></p><p>7. This denarius of Faustina I is interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all, it&#039;s a lifetime issue. Secondly, it&#039;s quite scarce, which allowed me to do a <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-faustina-i-lifetime-denarius-die-study-to-boot.336597/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-faustina-i-lifetime-denarius-die-study-to-boot.336597/">die study</a>. This issue seems to have been the product of as few as two different reverse dies and five obverse dies.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]954061[/ATTACH]</p><p>Faustina I, AD 138-141.</p><p>Roman AR denarius, 3.30 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h.</p><p>Rome, AD 139-140.</p><p>Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Bust of Faustina I, draped, right.</p><p>Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Throne, on which stands peacock with tail spread; behind throne, transverse scepter.</p><p>Refs: RIC 340; BMCRE 145; Cohen/RSC 221; RCV 4670; CRE 135-6; UCR (Hill) 283; ERIC II-83.</p><p><br /></p><p>6. This cool provincial of Gordian and Tranquillina from Mesembria because it was very hard to attribute and <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/gordian-iii-and-tranquillina-mesembria-provincial-help-needed.339210/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/gordian-iii-and-tranquillina-mesembria-provincial-help-needed.339210/">I had to ask for help</a>. Fortunately, [USER=57495]@zumbly[/USER] <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/gordian-iii-and-tranquillina-mesembria-provincial-help-needed.339210/#post-3529186" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/gordian-iii-and-tranquillina-mesembria-provincial-help-needed.339210/#post-3529186">came to the rescue</a> with his copy of Varbanov (who cites Karayotov), because there are no other examples anywhere online. Another cool thing is that this obverse die was used to strike <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/one-damaged-obverse-die-eight-different-reverse-types.339606/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/one-damaged-obverse-die-eight-different-reverse-types.339606/">eight different reverse types</a>!!</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/gordian-iii-and-tranquillina-mesembria-homonoia-jpg.937721/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Gordian AD 238-244 and Tranquillina.</p><p>Roman provincial Æ 28.6 mm, 11.36 g, 7 h.</p><p>Thrace, Mesembria, AD 241-244.</p><p>Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ-ΤΡΑΝΚVΛ|ΛΙΝΑ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, confronted.</p><p>Rev: ΜΕCΑΜΒΡ-Ι-ΑΝΩΝ, Demeter standing left, wearing stephane, holding phiale and long torch.</p><p>Refs: Varbanov 4190, citing Karajatov 83; SNG Copenhagen --; BMC --; Moushmov --; Lindgren --; Mionnet suppl 2 --; Sear --; Wiczay --.</p><p><br /></p><p>5. This run-of-the-mill antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus depicted what I <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/my-little-pony.341090/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/my-little-pony.341090/">thought was a comically small horse</a>, but I learned from [USER=76194]@Sallent[/USER] that <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/my-little-pony.341090/#post-3575720" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/my-little-pony.341090/#post-3575720">ancient Roman horses really were tiny</a>! What an educational thread that turned out to be!</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/trebonianus-gallus-adventvs-avg-antioch-antoninianus-jpg.931264/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 3.82 g, 19.7 mm, 11 h.</p><p>Antioch, second series, AD 251-252.</p><p>Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: ADVENTVS AVG, Emperor on horseback, left, raising right hand and holding scepter.</p><p>Refs: RIC 79; Cohen 2; RCV 9622; Hunter 56; ERIC II 44.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. This small provincial of Faustina II from Hadrianopolis not only has a cool depiction of both Hygieia and Asklepios on the reverse, but some very <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/interesting-paleography-on-this-%C3%86-23-of-hadrianopolis.339347/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/interesting-paleography-on-this-%C3%86-23-of-hadrianopolis.339347/">interesting paleography</a> in its obverse inscription.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]954077[/ATTACH]</p><p>Faustina II, AD 147-175.</p><p>Roman provincial Æ 22.7 mm, 6.54 g, 7 h.</p><p>Thrace, Hadrianopolis, AD 147-155.</p><p>Obv: ·I·AVCTEINA CEBACTH, pearl-diademed and draped bust, right.</p><p>Rev: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ, Hygieia, feeding serpent from patera, and Asklepios, leaning on serpent-entwined staff, standing facing one-another.</p><p>Refs: <a href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/10453/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/10453/" rel="nofollow">RPC (temp) 10453</a>; SNG Cop 560; Jurukova 84-87; Varbanov 3219; Moushmov 2521; Mionnet suppl. 2, 636.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. This dupondius of Faustina I with a veiled bust may not look like much, but that doesn&#039;t matter when it may be only the second known example of the coin. The <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/when-grade-condition-doesnt-matter-faustina-dupondius-with-veiled-bust.334230/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/when-grade-condition-doesnt-matter-faustina-dupondius-with-veiled-bust.334230/">original thread</a> was chosen to be a featured article, too.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]954079[/ATTACH]</p><p>Faustina I, AD 138-141.</p><p>Roman orichalcum dupondius, 10.62 g, 28.1 mm, 7 h.</p><p>Rome, AD 147-161 (probably AD 150/51).</p><p>Obv: DIVA FAV-STINA, diademed, veiled and draped bust, right.</p><p>Rev: AETER-NITAS S C, Fortuna standing left, holding globe and rudder.</p><p>Refs: RIC 1160b; BMCRE4 1557 var. (bust); Cohen 9; RCV 4640 var. (bust); ERIC II 356.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. This common Antoninianus of Trajan Decius is one of my favorites. Why? Because it <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/this-is-not-a-donkey-head.336071/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/this-is-not-a-donkey-head.336071/">taught me all about the Dacian draco battle standard</a>! It was so interesting, it became a featured thread.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/trajan-decius-dacia-antoninianus-jpg.914452/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Trajan Decius, AD 249-251.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 3.81 g, 21 mm, 6 h.</p><p>Rome, AD 250-251.</p><p>Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: DACIA, Dacia standing left, holding Dacian draco battle standard.</p><p>Refs: RIC 12b; Cohen 16; RCV 9368; Hunter 7; ERIC II 59.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. This Gallienus zoo coin is my favorite so far. Why? Because this tigress is just plain cool!! Not only that, but, as Jim Phelps notes while <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Liber%20Pater" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Liber%20Pater" rel="nofollow">writing about the coins of this issue</a>, I learned there are two varieties -- an unmarked cat with a sleek build (the panther type) and this tigress type.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/gallienus-libero-p-cons-avg-tiger-antoninianus-jpg.894260/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Gallienus, 253-268 AD.</p><p>Roman Æ Antoninianus, 2.63 g, 20.8 mm, 5 h.</p><p>Rome Mint, 10th emission, 267-268 AD.</p><p>Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right.</p><p>Rev: LIBERO P CONS AVG, tiger walking left, B in exergue.</p><p>Refs: RIC 230K; Göbl 713b; Cohen 586; RCV 10281; Cunetio 1341; Hunter 112[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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