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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 5312109, member: 110226&quot;]I was hoping that another shipment would arrive this month, but that is clearly not to be.&nbsp; The volume of packages flooding the postal system has created additional delays, this at a time when the capacity to process mail has been diminished in the midst of a worsening pandemic.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, here are a few Roman coins that I picked up over the course of the year.&nbsp; You&#039;ve seen some before, but there are a couple new coins as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>1)&nbsp; Livia, dupondius, 21-22 AD, RIC 47.&nbsp; 13.4 grams.</p><p><br /></p><p>Why include Livia in this list?&nbsp; Well...because it&#039;s Livia, of course.&nbsp; That aside, the acquisition of this coin was spurred by &quot;I, Claudius&quot; plus my efforts to diversify the collection by expanding the Roman section. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224273[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>2)&nbsp; Trajan, AR tridrachm, 98-99 AD, Cappadocia-Caesarea.&nbsp; 9.9 grams.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another area of Roman coinage that I find fascinating, both in terms of variety and historical interest, is the provincial coinage.</p><p><br /></p><p>Due to the immense size of the Roman Empire, the provinces had a great amount of autonomy with the coins they issued, as long as the emperor&#039;s or empress&#039;s image appeared on the obverse.&nbsp; Here we have a wonderful fusion of Roman and Phoenician elements.&nbsp; The coin&#039;s reverse, of Zeus/Baal, holding a lion topped scepter in one hand, and a thunder bolt in the other is particularly interesting.&nbsp; His turreted crown (over what appears to be a turban), too, resembles that often depicted on coins featuring Tyche.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224272[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>3)&nbsp; Faustina II, AE drachm, Alexandria, 175-176 AD.&nbsp; 25.84 grams.</p><p><br /></p><p>This isn&#039;t the prettiest coin to view, but it does have a nice portrait of Faustina II, as well as a nice reverse of Tyche reclining on an ornate couch.&nbsp; I like the couch so much I am tempted to go to my local furniture store to see they stock something like it.&nbsp; I doubt that Ikea would have something like this, but you never know.</p><p><br /></p><p>This year I have discovered, or actually rediscovered the rich variety of the Roman Alexandrian coins.&nbsp; This is an area that I hope to focus on more in the future.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224278[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>4)&nbsp; Sabina, sestertius, 128-136 AD, RIC 1029.&nbsp; 27.0 grams.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin has a nice obverse portrait of Sabina and Pietas seated on the reverse. Overall a nice coin, despite some smoothing.</p><p><br /></p><p>I used to have quite a few Roman sestertii, years ago, but many were sold, so the acquisition of this coin is part of long-term effort to rebuild that part of the collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224301[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>5)&nbsp; Sabina, denarius, 128-129 AD, RIC II Hadrian 414.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is one of a few denarii acquired this year.&nbsp; I was drawn to the is coin, not for grade (VF), but for the interesting anepigraphic reverse depicting Concordia seated.&nbsp; The portrait of Sabina wearing a bejeweled headdress is also nicely executed.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224307[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>6)&nbsp; Gordian III, tetradrachm, Antioch, circa 240 AD,&nbsp; Prieur unlisted.&nbsp; 15.11 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>During this year, I have acquired some coins of Gordian III.&nbsp; I find his coinage accessible and quite affordable, generally speaking.&nbsp; This is one of the more unusual examples, featuring a left facing portrait.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224324[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>7)&nbsp; Julian II, The Apostate, double maiorina, Antioch, circa 361-363 AD.&nbsp; 9.2 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>This was my only foray into late Roman bronzes.&nbsp; I&#039;ve been looking, on and off, for a Julian II type coin, and this one seems to fit the bill.&nbsp; I have done some research online to find a match for this coin, with SMANTA in the exergue, but have not found one yet.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224334[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>7)&nbsp; Septimius Severus, tetradrachm, Laodicea ad Mare, Seleucis &amp; Pieria, 209-11 AD.&nbsp; Prieur 1140.&nbsp; 15.42 grams.</p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, this was an auction purchase.&nbsp; I am working on a type set, of sorts, of tetradrachms from the Levant of the Roman emperors.&nbsp; Since I am working on other areas, plus the fact that I am a terrible organizer, I doubt that I will ever accomplish this task, but, at least, there&#039;s fun to be had in this endeavor.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin does have a well centered strike, especially on the obverse, and is quite pleasing overall.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224343[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Happy holidays and a great 2021 to all CT members![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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