Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2569346, member: 19463&quot;]I am quite fond of these.&nbsp; These are a few of my favorites for reasons many may not see as important but that spoke to me.</p><p><br /></p><p>First is a Marcianopolis with large denomination mark E=5 assaria.&nbsp; The long legend on the reverse did not fit so was finished vertically in the right field IT &quot;omega-nu&quot; in ligate form.&nbsp; The left side specifies the coin was issued while Tertulian was in office while the right names the city.&nbsp; Since Gordian&#039;s titles took the outer circle, Tranquillina is named in two lines under the busts. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]555425[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>My favorite of the bunch is from Tomis.&nbsp; In the left reverse field is a raised bump where the denomination mark was dug out of the die.&nbsp; I have seen two of these.&nbsp; The other was sold by a high end seller who did not even see fit to mention the matter.&nbsp; I really would like to know if the buyer realized what he was buying or just wanted a coin of G&amp;T.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]555426[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I have no idea what was dug out of the above reverse die but I wonder if it might have been the unusual Tomis 4 1/2 mark comprised of a delta ligate with a semis sign &lt;.&nbsp; I need to upgrade my example but am too cheap to pay what dealers ask for coins worse than mine. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]555428[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>More common than the ligate 4 1/2&nbsp; are coins with delta on the left and the &lt; on the right separately.&nbsp; The obverse of this coin is a great example of the recessed dimple or pit between the busts and a tiny raised dot at about 1 o&#039;clock on its edge which was where the compass centered to lay out the dotted borders and legends.&nbsp; This dot will be in the same place on every coin struck from this die while the pit came from flan preparation and will vary greatly from coin to coin. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]555427[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Next is a coin from Anchialus with what I consider a great rendition of Aesculapius.&nbsp; This city often shows good style in this period.&nbsp; Perhaps they had a die cutter with more skill than most.&nbsp;&nbsp; Many will fault this coin due to the off center obverse &#039;dimple&#039; wiping out Gordian&#039;s mouth.&nbsp; I try not to be too hard on these perfectly normal artifacts of the flan preparation process but I do have to prefer them placed nicely in places like the graphic belly button on this reverse. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]555429[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Most of these we see are from cities in Moesia and Thrace but the AE29 below is from Singara, Mesopotamia.&nbsp; The reverse is Tyche sitting on a rock with Centaur Saggitarius shooting an arrow above.&nbsp; Nicer specimens will show a river god Mygdonius under the rock but my poor coin leaves that to your imagination.&nbsp; In truth, more of these much nicer than mine require imagination on that god.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]555438[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in