I know I've shared one of my personally exciting purchases already, but I wanted to share some of the others that have recently made it into my collection. I really enjoy sharing my coins with others, people that appreciate them as much as I do, people like you! Also, I'm looking forward to attending my local coin club tonight (we've been on summer break) and sharing with my face-to-face coin friends! Which coin is your favorite? And please share whatever you deem relevant. Septimius Severus, Ruled 193-211 AD AE Sestertius, Struck 193 AD, Rome mint Obverse: IMP CAES L SEPT SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right. Reverse: VICT AVG TR P COS, Victory, winged, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and palm sloped over left shoulder in left hand; S-C across fields. References: RIC IV 656 Size: 30mm, 21.2g Faustina I, Wife Of Antoninus Pius AE Sestertius, Rome Mint Struck in 151 AD as 10-year remembrance of her death. Obverse: DIVA FAVSTINA, veiled bust right with stephane. Reverse: AETER-NITAS, Fortuna standing left holding globe and rudder. References: RIC III 1107c Size: 33mm, 23.9g Notes: Very scare. (Thank you @Roman Collector for validating my identification and adding more insightful commentary!) Maximinus Thrax, Ruled 235-238 AD AE Sestertius, Rome Mint Struck 235-236 AD, 2nd Emission Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right. Reverse: VICTORIA AVG, Victory, winged, draped, advancing right, holding wreath in extended right hand and palm in left hand, S-C across fields. References: RIC IV 67 Size: 30mm, 17.0g Hadrian, Ruled 117-138 AD AE As, Struck 125-128 AD, Rome Mint Obverse: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right. Reverse: COS III, Salus, draped, standing right, feeding out of patera in left hand snake held in right, S-C across field. References: RIC II 669c Size: 25.5mm, 9.1g Notes: Superior design and rendering of bust of Hadrian on obverse. None similar found in online databases. Aurelian, Ruled 270-275 AD AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria Struck 274/275 AD Obverse: A K Λ ΔOM AVPHΛIANOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak, ЄTOVC - S to right and left, RY 6. References: Emmett 3924, Köln 3096 Size: 21.8mm, 8.3g Zeugitania, Carthage, 290-260 BC First Punic War AE Shekel, Carthage (or Sardinia?) Mint Obverse: Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain and earrings. Reverse: Horse head right; pellet on head behind ear; palm tree to right. References: MAA 57l (var pellet on horse head), SNG Cop 173 (var same) Size: 19mm, 3.9g Zeugitania, Carthage, 290-260 BC First Punic War AE Shekel, Carthage (or Sardinia?) Mint Obverse: Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain and earrings, pellet or control mark below. Reverse: Horse head right; palm tree to right, pellet below. References: MAA 57n, SNG Cop 174-176 Size: 19mm, 4g Zeugitania, Carthage, Circa 300 BC AE ½ Shekel, Uncertain Sicilian Mint Obverse: Date palm with fruits. Reverse: Horse standing right, head turned to look back. References: MMA 22, SNG Cop 126 Size: 16.3mm, 2.91g Saguntum, Iberia AE 1/8 Unit, Circa 200-150 BC Obverse: Shell. Reverse: Dolphin right, crescent above, [unknown below]. References: ACIP 1978 Size: 14.3mm, 2.1g
Great coins @Justin Lee! Thank you for sharing! I think it is a tie for me. I have never seen a Septimius Severus Sestertius before and I absolutely LOVE anything with Victory on it. Which brings me to my other favorite, the Maximinus Thrax Sestertius. Great portrait of him (nice huge chin!) and of course, I love the reverse for the reasons I already stated above I am peanut butter and jealous of those coins. Amazing additions to your collection.
Excellent stuff! The Faustina and Max Thrax are beauts... But man I love those Carthage coins! Great haul
You've been busy! They all have their good points but my fave is the first Punic war shekel with sprue remnants. The patina is lovely and the overall strike and preservation are better than usual. The sprue remnants add interest .
Here are Severans in a Victorious mood : In AD 208 SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS set out for Britannia accompanied by his sons CARACALLA and GETA (who fought along side him during the campaign) with the avowed aim of restoring the much damaged Hadrian's wall and subduing the warlike native tribes of northern Britain and Caledonia (Scotland). In AD 211 he became terminally ill during the campaign, and after proclaiming Victory over Britannia, he withdrew to his headquarters at Eboracum (York) where he died later that year Septimius Severus, Denarius, RIC Vol. IV, No. 335 Obverse: Septimius Severus,, Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse: Victory (Britannia?) seated left writing on shield Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT Caracalla, Denarius, RIC Vol. IV, No. 231a Obverse: Caracalla, Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse: winged Victory advancing right holding trophy Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT Geta Denarius, RIC Vol. IV, No. 91 Obverse: Geta, Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse: Victory standing left holding wreath and palm branch Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT
@jamesicus you sir, are a scholar and a gentleman I only have some LRBs with Victory on the reverse but one day I would love to own something heftier, like a sestertius, or shiner, like a denarius.
All are nice but my favorite is the Carthage shekel with one dot & sprue remnant. Thanks for sharing.
Great coins! I would have to say that the Maximinus sestertius is my favourite of the bunch. Sestertii are definitely worth it for the hefty size compared to most coins!
Nice selection there, Justin. That big ol' Septimius sestertius is my favorite as well. I've always wanted one of those. Here's my ex @Bing Arse. IBERIA, Arse/Saguntum AE Quarter Unit. 4.15g, 18.2mm. SPAIN/IBERIA, Arse/Saguntum, circa 150-100 BC. ACIP 1998; SNG BM Spain 1109. O: Scallop shell. R: Dolphin right; three pellets above, Iberian script below. Ex @Bing Collection
I prefer the first year Septimius sestertius. I wonder if our coins knew each other when they were hoarded. Sestertii from the early period of Septimius' rule are not all that rare but coins much nicer than ours are not easy to find. Mine are about average. Legionary (all AE are LEG XIIII but few show the number) Saeculi Frugifero Liberalitas Fidei Leg. Virtus There is a rare platform type I do not have: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4957419
I agree with you bunch, that there's something so satisfying about the heft of sesterti, and all 3 of them have that weight. Of all 3 my fave is the Septimius just because you see soooo many denari of him (I don't have any) and its refreshing to hold a bigger, bronzer coin of his and the portrait is pleasing (Doug, I like your reverse better though) and it's nice and smoothly worn. The Maximinus is decently preserved on the obverse, but the reverse isn't as nice as I was wanting when I purchased it (not the greatest seller photos)... I'm satisfied with it though. And that Faustina is just cool with her being veiled and her greenish glow with plenty of wear feels like a ghost coin. I have been busy lol I surprise myself at the quantity too. Yes, I love sprues too! Tells the story of the coin and its "birth"... There should be a post where we can all share our sprue coins throughout history. Maybe there is... I'll check after I post this (these aren't my only ones with sprues or evidence of sprues) (Edit: close to a thread about sprues). I too like the dot under the horse, and I didn't know there were ones like that until this one came up and it feels special. And the palm is very nice too! Thank you, Sir! And thank you all!!
