Today I went downtown to HJB to pick up my last buy of 2024. It was a pleasure going to their office and meet with Aaron, Harlan and a young collector who was there with his mom. I told him about cointalk Of course I searched through the pick bin and got two more, of which I don'y have any attribution nor pictures yet. All the following descriptions and pictures are courtesy of HJB: 1.) Septimius Severus; 193-211 AD, Rome, 199 AD, Denarius, 3.65g. Bust var. of BM-132. Obv: L - SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX Bust laureate r. with fold of aegis on front shoulder and behind neck. Rx: IOVI PRO - P - VG - NATORI around, Jupiter charging r., about to hurl thunderbolt with r. hand, and extending l. arm before him, around which his cloak is wrapped. Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection; ex Manfred Olding List 96, March 2019, lot 382 (Fritz Reusing Coll.). A rare bust variety with aegis on the emperor's shoulder.. toned virtually ms 2.) Vespasian; 69-79 AD, Rome, 74 AD, As, 10.54g. RIC-733 (R2). Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS Head laureate r. Rx: VICTORIA - AVGVST on l. and r., S - C across field, Victory advancing r. on prow holding wreath and palm over shoulder. Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection. Scarce variant obverse legend with CAES not CAESAR and adding T P.. aEF 3.) Sicily, Syracuse; c. 480-475 BC, Tetradrachm, 17.16g. Boehringer-224 (V100/R152), Dewing-734. Obv: Charioteer driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right to crown horses. Rx: ΣVPA-KOΣ-IO-N Head of Arethusa right, wearing pearl necklace and pearl diadem, beaded hair tied in queue at back of neck, four dolphins. Ex HJB BBS 162, January 2009, lot 60.. gEF / gVF 4.) Vespasian; 69-79 AD, Rome, 74 AD, Denarius, 3.44g. RIC-703 (C2), pl. 6. Obv: IMP CAESAR - VESPASIANVS AVG Head laureate r. Rx: PON MAX - TR P COS V on r. and l., Winged caduceus upright.. gVF
Wow, you're going out of 2024 in style! That is a marvelous portrait of Septimius Severus. And the other coins are superb as well. Couldn't ask for a better way to end the year!
Thank you all for your very kind replies. Regarding the Septimius Severus denarius, I'm not so sure if there is really an aegis on his shoulder. Maybe it's just something that happened with the die when the coin was struck and its attribution is really BMC 132, RIC IV 131 (no var.)
The you should come to Chicago; it's a very beautiful city (a bit too cold in the winter). I'm sure you would have a great time visiting HJB. Additionally, it would really be great meeting you here in person
In the early 90’s, I lived in Crystal Lake for a couple years. Been to Chicago many times since childhood, and many business trips throughout my career. I would really enjoy meeting you sometime, and visit Burk’s !
