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<p>[QUOTE="Blake Davis, post: 2987109, member: 91820"][ATTACH=full]736114[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]736115[/ATTACH] I apologize in advance if this doesn't work but this is the first thread I've attempted.</p><p><br /></p><p>Like many collectors my collecting interest in ancient coins went through an early period of experimentation. Ancient coins is an immense field - somewhat like 500 cities struck coins at one time or another that could be deemed "ancient." Plenty of coins to collect, but like most collectors I like coherence - I needed to focus on something that was interesting to me. Note: Doug Smith wrote an interesting article on this issue, I strongly recommend it as well as the other articles Mr. Smith wrote on ancient coins and related interests.</p><p><br /></p><p>After flailing around I focused on imperial sestertii, first attempting to collect as close to a VF example as I could afford of every personage that struck one in every major style. That was good until I reached the end of the easy ones, and there seemed no possibility that I would ever be able to afford at least 20 or more personages in any condition - I mean, where could I ever find an affordable Augustus, Tiberius, Tranquillina (has anyone ever seen a Tranqillina sestertius?), Domitilla, Saloninus, Anna Faustina, Plautilla, Pertinax or many more. Even a worn Plotina would be impossibly expensive.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, a few years ago my collecting went through another change - this time resolving itself down to the family of Septimius Severus, including Elagabalus, but excluding Severus Alexander. The reason? I very much liked that the imperial coins of the family of Septimius are not very well documented, and there are rarities, and even completely unlisted coins to be found. In fact, a couple of years ago a completely unknown reverse of Caracalla was discovered, although unfortunately too rich for my pocketbook. Also there was a period, roughly from roughly 200 to 206 AD when very few imperial bronzes of the family of Septimius were struck. And those that were struck from say 202 to 206 AD appear to be presentation pieces, of which many examples are known in the single digits. In fact, since undertaking to collect sestertii of the family of Septimius Severus I have found only about four examples from this period offered for sale, of which only three were affordable, and I managed to buy two, foolishly letting the other go.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hopefully I can add more to this as it is very late - I have put the two examples up - I apologize for the poor photography - these coins deserve better and I will try to put up better photographs.</p><p><br /></p><p>I intend to add discussions of each coin, as well at least one other from my collection. One of the points I intend to make is that, based on the portraiture of the second of these coins, I am convinced that the provincial celators based their portraiture on imitation of coins coming from the Rome mint, and not from statuary, as has been asserted in some articles I have read.[ATTACH=full]736098[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]736098[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]736111[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Blake Davis, post: 2987109, member: 91820"][ATTACH=full]736114[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]736115[/ATTACH] I apologize in advance if this doesn't work but this is the first thread I've attempted. Like many collectors my collecting interest in ancient coins went through an early period of experimentation. Ancient coins is an immense field - somewhat like 500 cities struck coins at one time or another that could be deemed "ancient." Plenty of coins to collect, but like most collectors I like coherence - I needed to focus on something that was interesting to me. Note: Doug Smith wrote an interesting article on this issue, I strongly recommend it as well as the other articles Mr. Smith wrote on ancient coins and related interests. After flailing around I focused on imperial sestertii, first attempting to collect as close to a VF example as I could afford of every personage that struck one in every major style. That was good until I reached the end of the easy ones, and there seemed no possibility that I would ever be able to afford at least 20 or more personages in any condition - I mean, where could I ever find an affordable Augustus, Tiberius, Tranquillina (has anyone ever seen a Tranqillina sestertius?), Domitilla, Saloninus, Anna Faustina, Plautilla, Pertinax or many more. Even a worn Plotina would be impossibly expensive. So, a few years ago my collecting went through another change - this time resolving itself down to the family of Septimius Severus, including Elagabalus, but excluding Severus Alexander. The reason? I very much liked that the imperial coins of the family of Septimius are not very well documented, and there are rarities, and even completely unlisted coins to be found. In fact, a couple of years ago a completely unknown reverse of Caracalla was discovered, although unfortunately too rich for my pocketbook. Also there was a period, roughly from roughly 200 to 206 AD when very few imperial bronzes of the family of Septimius were struck. And those that were struck from say 202 to 206 AD appear to be presentation pieces, of which many examples are known in the single digits. In fact, since undertaking to collect sestertii of the family of Septimius Severus I have found only about four examples from this period offered for sale, of which only three were affordable, and I managed to buy two, foolishly letting the other go. Hopefully I can add more to this as it is very late - I have put the two examples up - I apologize for the poor photography - these coins deserve better and I will try to put up better photographs. I intend to add discussions of each coin, as well at least one other from my collection. One of the points I intend to make is that, based on the portraiture of the second of these coins, I am convinced that the provincial celators based their portraiture on imitation of coins coming from the Rome mint, and not from statuary, as has been asserted in some articles I have read.[ATTACH=full]736098[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]736098[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]736111[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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