In the light of other discussions, I was wondering how to point to the end of Antiquity in my collection. If you are thinking about that, this is a good pondering point. I have Western Europe, Rome-Greece and Central Asia (with Persia) to consider. In Western European Antiquity, you have barbarous imitations at the end. Like this tiny bronze. Imitation of Valentinian III (423-455). Obv. Laureated head t.r. with unreadable lettering. Rev. VOT/ X/XX in wreath. 8 mm, 0.49 gr. My last Roman coin is also of Valentinian III. Minted in Rome. Obv. Draped, diademed and cuirassed bust to the right, ...ANVS PF AV. Rev. Campgate with two towers, 4 layers, [VOT] - PVB; T (?) in the field. In exergue: [RTM?]. 10.5 mm. 0.99 gr. In Persia, I think Antiquity ends after the fall of the last of the three great dynasties, the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sasanians. That was in 651 AD. Then my last coin is this one, a tiny bronze issued by the last of the Great Kings, Yazdgard III (632-651). Sasanian empire, AE pashiz, Yazdgard III (632-651). ST mint. Obv. crowned bust right. Rev. Fire altar with ribbons and attendants; star? to inner left. 12 x 15 mm, 1.24 gr. But if you want Antiquity ending earlier in Persia, you could think of the end of Great King Peroz who succumbed to the Hephthalite Huns (who were driven from Mongolia) in 484. That was the first major blow of the Great Migration to Persia. There's a lot more to this if you want to study Persian history of the 6th century, very absorbing. In that case this would be my last Antiquity coin. Peroz (457-484), AR drachm, mint ST. Obv. Bust t.r., winged crown topped with korymbos. Rev. fire altar with two priests, flanked by star and crescent. 27 mm, 4.2 gr. As for Central Asia, I think estimates of dates and the interpretation of countries and dynasties are just too difficult and controversial to determine a Last Ancient. If you can substantiate a name, maybe I can furnish a picture.
Here's my last ancient coin of the Roman world: Libius Severus, Western Roman Empire AE nummus Obv: D N LIBIVS SEVERVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right Rev: Monogram of Ricimer within wreath Mint: Rome Date: 461-467 AD (Libius Severus reigned 461-465 AD) Ref: RIC X 2715 And my second to last: Majorian, Western Roman Empire AE nummus Obv: D N IVL MAIORIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right Rev: VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory advancing right, holding palm branch and trophy Mint: Milan Mintmark: MD Date: 457-461 AD Ref: RIC X 2642
VIII is my last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire: RI Valentinian III 425-455 CE AE 9mm Rome mint (looks like I got this one in a gumball machine with the candy coating) His Regent: RI Aelia GALLA PLACIDIA Augusta Regent for Valentinian III 423-437 CE mo of Theodosius Æ4 Bust E - cross CID visible ex FSR 102
Here is the last of Byzantines with this capstone of the Ottoman Turks over-running Constantinople... Ottoman Turks Sultan Mahmed II 1451-1481 took Constantinople in 1453 Serez mint AR 1.2g
Here are a couple of links of interest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_antiquity Peter Brown, author of the book The World of Late Antiquity, highly recommended I was fortunate to have Peter Brown as a lecturer at UC-Berkeley when I was a student studying classics and near eastern studies with a specialization in Egyptian archaeology and languages back in the day.
