Lot of Harshly Cleaned Roman Provincials, etc. from eBay

This was a lot of fun for me. A batch of harshly over-cleaned Roman Provincials (and some others) from eBay, 14 coins for $19.99 ($1.43 each, not including shipping). There's a lot of this kind of material on eBay, most of it is pretty unappetizing, but this one got my bid (I was the only bidder).

I'll start with the best one first. I've really been into countermarks lately, and this oval head of Antoninus Pius is fairly common (Howgego 113), but to me interesting (and worth the price of the whole lot - it is why I bid). The countermark is on a Trajan host from Laodicia ad Mare (I think) - attribution is vague because so much is worn on the host coin. Fortunately, this one hasn't been polished to a high brilliance:


Trajan / Ant. Pius Æ 25
(c. 98-117 / 140-160 A.D.)
Syria, Laodicea ad Mare
[AYTOKΡ NEΡ TΡAIANOC AΡICT KAIC CEB ΓEΡ ΔAK ?], laureate head Trajan right / [IOYΛIEΩN TΩN KAI] ΛA[OΔ-
IKEΩN IOY ?], turreted head of Tyche right. BMC 42-44?
Countermark: A. Pius in oval. Howgego 113. (7.95 g. / 25 mm)

My second favorite is this one (the only one attributed in the lot - correctly so, as far as I can tell). Unfortunately harshly cleaned, the style is fine and I don't have to worry about damaging the patina when I handle it:

Domitian (Caesarian Era) Æ 19
Year 127 (77-78 A.D.)
Syria, Seleukis & Pieria
Turreted and veiled bust of Tyche right, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ before / Garlanded and lighted altar; ET digamma-KP in exergue.
RPC II, 2020; SNG Cop. 112; Butcher 168; BMC 97.
(4.88 grams / 19 mm)

I am pretty sure this one is Caracalla from Carrhae - near where he was assassinated while relieving himself. A new Province for me, it suffers from a grievous over-cleaning like most of the others

Caracalla Æ 18
(198-217 A.D.)
Carrhae, Mesopotamia
[M ANTONINVS P F AVG], laureate head right / [COI MET ANT]ONINIANA [AVR ALEX], turreted and veiled head of Tyche right.
SNG Cop 177; BMC 30-42 (?).
(3.15 grams / 18 mm)

There were a couple of LRB in the lot, this being the only one I could fully attribute (with some CT help on the mint mark). It too is overly-cleaned, but rather attractively so, I think, with some nice contrast between fields and devices remaining.


Valentinian I Æ 3 (Æ 19)
(367-375 A.D.)
Siscia mint
DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG diademed draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory walking
left, holding wreath & palm. dot ΔSISC.
RIC IX Siscia 7a, type ii.
(2.31 grams / 19 mm)

Here are two I could not quite attribute. The Antioch SC is, I believe, Severus Alexander - I found an identical on Vcoins but the dealer didn't provide any attribution information (the circle around the SC and the A below are the key identifying factors, I think). The other one is from Moesia, I think, with the common standing eagle reverse - one of the "kid" emperors - Caracalla, Geta, Elagabalus, Sev. Alexander, Diadumenian?


Here is the rest of the lot - pretty cruddy stuff, although I think the bottom left one is a Phoenician with a ship's prow reverse and date - sadly the obverse is obliterated. There's a Gallienus zoo (stag?), and a few others that are partially identifiable. I haven't gotten around to looking into these yet.

Last but not least, the seller included three free Dutch East Indies shipwreck coppers from the early 19th Century.



All in all a very satisfying experience; figuring these out kept me out of the taverns for two days. Please share your junkyard or un-described lots - I really enjoy the winnowing process that comes with these.

 

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Fun pick ups for $20

 

I find the even wear on that Valentinian pleasing. I've got a few of those in worse shape for sure.

 

I like that first one with the counter mark as well and got mine in a small lot (if I remember right) too!

The Antoninus Pius countermark is common on these (cool huh?). On most of the examples, they take care to place it so it does not deface Trajan. Most countermarks appear on Trajan's neck.


Info from RPC Online: http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/3796/
Volume 3
Number 3796
Province Syria
Region Seleucis
City Laodicea ad Mare
Reign Trajan
Person Trajan (Augustus)
Issue Year 162
Date 115/16
Obverse inscription ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟС ΑΡΙСΤ ΚΑΙС СΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΔΑΚ ΠΑΡ
Obverse design laureate head of Trajan, r., with drapery on l. shoulder
Reverse inscription ΙΟΥΛΙΕωΝ ΤωΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕωΝ ΒΞΡ
Reverse design turreted and veiled bust of Tyche, r.
Metal Bronze
Average diameter 27 mm
Average weight 11.87 g
Type reference BMC 40; Adra 1445-9
Supplement new specimen(s) added (not in printed version)
Note - in field, r., ΙΟΥ: 1; - in field, r., ΔΑ: 2; - in field, r., ΤΑ: 3-5.

I also like that worn Valentinian too. There's something great about coins with the right amount of wear, good metal and that retain some good detail.

 

Ohhh, I really, really like that Trajan/Ant. Pius countermark, Orange Julius. Very nice indeed.

I have one other Antoninus Pius countermark, applied rather redundantly on an Antoninus Pius host with a chewed-up flan:



Antoninus Pius Æ 25
Yr. 190 (142-143 A.D.)
Syria, Seleucis & Pieria Laodicea ad Mare
[ΑVΤΟ ΚΑ ΤΙ] ΑΙ ΑΔΡ [ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟΝ СЄ ЄV], laureate, draped, cuir. bust left / ΙΟVΛΙЄΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΟΔΙΚЄΩΝ ΚPA ϞΡ, turreted bust of Tyche left.
Mionnet V, 753; Hunter 30
Countermark: A. Pius in oval. Howgego 113.
(8.11 g. / 25 mm)