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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2432947, member: 19463&quot;]Elsewhere here we have a thread on two letters from 1940&#039;s coin dealers.&nbsp; That drove me to do the images and transcriptions below.&nbsp; </p><p>John Yonge Akerman was a numismatist of the 19th century and published a two volume book on rare Roman coins in 1834 which I bought years ago but I believe is now available free online ( <a href="https://archive.org/details/adescriptivecat00akergoog" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://archive.org/details/adescriptivecat00akergoog" rel="nofollow">https://archive.org/details/adescriptivecat00akergoog</a> ).</p><p><a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Akerman,_John_Yonge_(DNB00)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Akerman,_John_Yonge_(DNB00)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Akerman,_John_Yonge_(DNB00)</a></p><p><br /></p><p>My books were rebound with a personal letter from Akerman to the owner dated 1848 inside each front cover.&nbsp; The first is three short pages and the second just one.&nbsp; Akerman did not put a lot of effort into these replies but I find interesting what he considered worthy of comment and what he did not.&nbsp; Below the images here are transcripts (correct me if you think I erred) and a few notes on what I found interesting. Clicking on image should enlarge for easier reading (depending on your browser).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]505754[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]505755[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]505756[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]505758[/ATTACH] </p><p>Transscript:</p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Dear Sir;</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">The coins of Tetricus with laureated head are certainly uncommon. If you should have any friend coming to town I should be glad to see your coin;- but I wd not on any account advise your sending it by the post. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">The “fides legionum” of Albinus is a common type. Many of his denarii were found in france about 14 years ago &amp; most of them were this type &amp; legend. </span><span style="color: #ff0000">(1)</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&nbsp; Yours, I suppose, like the rest, is of same execution</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">&nbsp;---------</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">very inferior to those which bear the title of Caesar only.</span><span style="color: #ff0000">(2)</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">I am, Dear Sir, </span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Yours faithfully </span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">J. Y. Akerman</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Society of Antiquaries&#039; Apartments</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Somersetplace 19. June 1848.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">&nbsp;---------</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">You have doubtless heard of my appointment as Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries. If you could at any time favor me with a communication on the subject of any of our national antiquities, for a reading at our ordinary meetings, - or induce yr friends to do so, you would be advancing the cause &amp; render me much service. </span><span style="color: #ff0000">(3)</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">&nbsp;_________</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">&nbsp;_________</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Dear Sir, </span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Thank you for the sight of the Tetricus which I now return. It is a curious coin, and, I believe, unpublished. From the circumstance of his appearing always with laureated head on his gold coins, we may suppose that this die was originally intended for an aureus. I need not remark that the style of work, as well as the flan of metal, differ from those of his small brass money.&nbsp; </span><span style="color: #ff0000">(4)</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&nbsp; It wd be interesting to Englishmen to know what part this usurper played in the province of Britain. I am, Yrs Faithfully, </span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">J. Y. Akerman</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Somersetplace, 23 June 1948</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><br /></span></p><p>Comments:</p><p><br /></p><p>1.&nbsp; This type is now considered scarce and very rare in its two varieties but Akerman considered them common based on a huge find the year he published his book which explains them being in it.&nbsp; His intent was to list only rare types.&nbsp; The coins are rare to me now but common in the high end market with all in great condition and probably from the mentioned hoard???&nbsp;&nbsp; I wonder if a worn one exists. </p><p><a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=fides+leg+albinus&amp;category=1-2&amp;en=1&amp;de=1&amp;fr=1&amp;it=1&amp;es=1&amp;ot=1&amp;images=1&amp;currency=usd&amp;thesaurus=1&amp;order=0&amp;company=" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=fides+leg+albinus&amp;category=1-2&amp;en=1&amp;de=1&amp;fr=1&amp;it=1&amp;es=1&amp;ot=1&amp;images=1&amp;currency=usd&amp;thesaurus=1&amp;order=0&amp;company=" rel="nofollow">https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=fides+leg+albinus&amp;category=1-2&amp;en=1&amp;de=1&amp;fr=1&amp;it=1&amp;es=1&amp;ot=1&amp;images=1&amp;currency=usd&amp;thesaurus=1&amp;order=0&amp;company=</a></p><p><br /></p><p>2.&nbsp; Note the disdain for the Albinus as Augustus coins for their style.&nbsp; I like them. I only have one but it is a different reverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>3.&nbsp; I had a little trouble with the final 8 in 1848 on both letters but that was the year that Akerman became secretary so it is what it is. </p><p><br /></p><p>4.&nbsp; He fails to make clear if the &#039;different&#039; style is right for gold making this a test piece or if it is perhaps a plated coin missing its surface metal.&nbsp; Either seems possible.&nbsp; He failed to mention the reverse type so I can&#039;t follow that lead.&nbsp; RIC has nine AE denarii for Tetricus (and 44 aurei).&nbsp; It would be interesting to know if this coin ended up being published.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Many times I considered selling my books (they are pretty with nice drawings but not terribly useful).&nbsp; I know the letters saved them more than once.&nbsp; I wonder if the same sale had my volumes and a matching one lacking letters, which would sell.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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