Haven't been getting too many ancients lately, but did manage to score a fairly scarce emperor, Hostilian, for a price in my weekly budget, which was a surprise considering he wasn't on "the list". Hostilian (250 - 251 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C, radiate & draped bust right. R: MARTI PROPVGNATORI, Mars advancing right holding spear & shield. Rome Mint 2.24g 21mm RIC IV 177b; RSC 15.
Is a good looking coin. I'd add it if I had a few budget bucks left to spend & it was presented to me.
Nice Hostilian Mat. Looks like a substantial amount of silver remaining. Here is my only Hostilian Hostilian, 251 AD, AE 27, 10.66 grams Viminacium O: VAL HOST M QUINTVS CAE, Bareheaded and draped bust rt. RX: PMS COL VIM, Moesia left between bull and lion Exergue: ANXIII
Nice additions. I never thought about buying a provincial of his for a better portrait, he just was never in my radar. I knew I needed him but that was it.
hostillian is still on my list, and this guy was on my list until just last week...his co-ruler (for a while) trebonianus gallus.... Trebonianus Gallus, Antoninianus, 251-253 A.D. O: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, R: IVNO MARTIALIS, Juno seated left, stalks of grain in right hand, long scepter in left, RIC IV 46 , Mediolanum mint, 22 mm, 3.3 g this coin is better than my my pic, but not much.
@Mat when you say you haven't got many ancients lately does that mean no coin buying or that other time periods were explored? Cool pick up! I have none to share.
I haven't been getting many ancients in general. Still pick up great Britain coinage but not too many ancients lately mainly due to other plans I have for the holidays. So I am saving $.
For the record, the coin which began the thread is not silvered as one of the comments upstream in the thread mentioned. Although it is billon and a good bit less than .500 fine AR, at the time of Hostilian, Antoniniani had not yet become so debased as to require "silvering". This wasn't done officially until the sole reign of Gallienus. Anything you may have from before 260 AD which appears silvered is most likely a contemporary copy. I don't know if this is permitted or not - if not, sorry, I mean no harm - but if anyone is interested in acquiring a Sestertius of Hostilian, please get in touch with me.
