The Meat Man's Top 13 Coins of 2023 (Sorry, I just couldn't limit it to ten!)

Hello to all my fellow CT members! I hope that you are all doing well.

2023 has been a great collecting year for me. As a relative newcomer to this hobby, there is so much to learn and study - not just about the coins, but about ancient history in general. I owe much to all of you here for being so generous with your knowledge, for helping me with questions, and for inspiring me in my own collecting goals. Thank you!

My interest in ancient history is wide and varied, and my list reflects a bit of that wide general interest - coins of Judaea, Greece, Rome, and Constantinople - and others which I was compelled to leave off the list. I tried very hard to limit it to a Top Ten, but I just couldn't! So instead, I will present..

The Meat Man's Top 13 Coins of 2023!

(feel free to post which of the coin(s) are your favorites!)

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13 – John Hyrcanus Prutah



HASMONEAN DYNASTY, John Hyrcanus, 134-104 BC
AE Prutah (14.32mm, 2.05g, 12h)
Struck 134-104 BC. Jerusalem mint
Obverse: Paleo-Hebrew inscription "Yehonanan the High Priest and Head of the Council of the Jews" surrounded by wreath
Reverse: Two cornucopias splayed outward, adorned with ribbons, pomegranate or poppy between the horns
References: Hendin 6177
Excellent obverse with complete inscription. Off-center reverse. Light orange earthen patina.

The main reason I purchased this coin was to go along with a presentation I did a few months ago on the Dead Sea Scrolls. The coin carries a few connections: first, not only being from the time period when the Qumran community was flourishing and engaged in writing the scrolls, but also struck a mere dozen miles away in Jerusalem; second, the coin's issuer, John Hyrcanus I, being the son of Simon Thassi, who has been identified by some as being the "Wicked Priest" referred to in some of the Qumran texts; and third, the coin's inscription being written in the same type of Paleo-Hebrew script that was used in many of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Since the main interest in the coin lay in the inscription, I took some pains to find an attractive specimen with a full obverse. Forvm Ancient Coins was the vendor of choice – and though it was not an inexpensive purchase, I think it was well worth it.

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12 – Constantine the Great AE3



CONSTANTINE I, AD 306-337
AE3 (20.86mm, 2.66g, 6h)
Struck AD 329-330. Rome mint
Obverse: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Constantine I right
Reverse: D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG around edge, VOT • XXX in two lines within laurel wreath; RFP below
References: OCRE VII 322, RCV 16226
Well centered and struck. Area of flatness on reverse. A magnificent portrait with toned silvering.

I’ve taken something of a mild specialist interest in Constantine. Probably not since Augustus had there been such a pivotal figure in ancient history – it is well-nigh impossible to imagine world history from the 4th century onwards without the influence of Constantine. His conversion to Christianity, the establishment of Constantinople, and his other reforms/building projects essentially marked the close, for better or for worse, of the traditional Roman empire and ushered in the new age of Byzantine and medieval history. I would rank Constantine along with Alexander the Great and Augustus as the three most influential rulers in all of ancient history.

I purchased this coin solely for the magnificent obverse portrait. It is certainly (IMO) one of the finest numismatic portraits of Constantine I’ve ever seen – including those on solidi and commemorative types. This is all the more extraordinary since during the late 3rd and early 4th centuries numismatic portraiture had declined sharply in realism. A minor “renaissance” seems to have happened under Constantine, exemplified by this coin.

What strikes me most about this portrait is its sense of majestic gravity and regal splendor. I see in it the true Constantine - Dominus Noster, Maximus Augustus - sole ruler over the largest and most powerful Empire on Earth. The proportions are exquisitely executed; the detail is superb. Constantine's expression is serious and grave but not without its humanity - he almost looks like he is about to smile. Crowned with a beautifully rendered rosette diadem, cuirassed, and draped, he presents an impressive, kingly figure, surrounded by his name and titles.

The reverse is a common type but also is very attractive - well-struck (although with a few areas of flatness.) I do really like the balance and symmetry of these VOT reverse types. All in all, very nice coin, and not that expensive to boot!

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11 – Commodore Turner coins



GRATIAN, AD 367-383
AE3 (18.37mm, 2.51g, 6h)
Struck AD 375-378. Siscia mint
Obverse: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gratian right
Reverse: GLORIA RO-MANORVM, emperor advancing right, dragging captive with right hand and holding labarum in left; P|S/P in fields, ΔSISCA in exergue
References: OCRE IX 21b, subtype xlvb; RCV 20066
Pleasant brown surfaces with good detail.
From the collection of Commodore Daniel Turner (1794-1850), naval veteran of the War of 1812 and later captain of the USS Constitution.



MAXIMIAN, AD 286-305
AE Post-Reform Radiate (22.17mm, 2.91g, 12h)
Struck AD 295-299. Cyzicus mint
Obverse: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Maximian right
Reverse: CONCORDIA MI-LITVM, Maximian, in military attire, standing right holding short scepter and receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left, holding long vertical scepter; KS in center field
References: OCRE VI 15b, RCV 13315
Old collection patina with copper-bronze highlights.
From the collection of Commodore Daniel Turner (1794-1850), naval veteran of the War of 1812 and later captain of the USS Constitution.


I’m cheating a bit here by including two coins under this heading. But in this case the attraction for me is not so much in the coins themselves (although they are perfectly fine) so much as the historical provenance. They are both from the collection of US Commodore Daniel Turner.



Daniel Turner was born in 1794 on Staten Island, New York. On January 1 of 1808 he received his midshipman’s warrant and was assigned to the USS Constitution. Later, he was transferred to the USS President – another of the six original frigates built by the fledgling United States Navy.

During the War of 1812, Turner assumed command of several different vessels, and distinguished himself enough to receive a Congressional silver medal for action and a sword from the State of New York.

After the war, Turner served on various ships in the Mediterranean Squadron and in the West Indies Squadron. Turner returned to the USS Constitution as captain in 1839, a position he held until 1841, after which he was placed in command of the Brazil Squadron. Turner returned to the US in 1846, where he died suddenly on February 4, 1850.

In addition to being a competent naval commander, Daniel Turner was also a keen coin collector, and during his career he accumulated a large collection of ancient coins, which he stored in a wooden chest along with his own handwritten labels.


(Auction House photo)

165 years later, the Turner descendants consigned this collection to Cowan’s Auction house. The coins had sat undisturbed in the chest for 165 years; apparently nobody in the family shared the Commodore’s collecting passion. Their loss was my gain, I suppose!

As you can see, the coins themselves are quite nice. The Gratian is actually a rather rare subtype, and both have good eye appeal and are well-preserved. And you can see the Maximian coin pictured in one of the auction photos.

At least as appealing, though, are the nearly 200-year-old handwritten labels penned by Daniel Turner himself. The paper is very fragile, but the writing is still clear, done by fountain pen (or possibly quill?) in a neat script.

Maximian label, showing both sides:



Gratian label, one-sided:



Attractive coins with a 200-year-old provenance steeped in old Americana – what’s not to like?

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10 – Justinian I Solidus



JUSTINIAN I, AD 527-565
AV Solidus (20.95mm, 4.32g, 6h)
Struck 542-565. Constantinople mint, 5th officina
Obverse: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing, holding globus cruciger in his right hand and with a shield over his left shoulder
Reverse: VICTORIA AVGGG E, angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by a staurogram in right hand and a globus cruciger in left; star in right field, CONOB in exergue
References: DOC 9e, MIB 7, SB 140

As my first ancient gold coin – and only my second Byzantine coin – this solidus was something of a bucket list item. Like the Athenian Owls, these solidi of Justinian I are common and run about the same in cost. There’s nothing too remarkable about the coin itself and I don’t have much to say about it. The condition isn’t that great, but it’s respectable and helped make the coin affordable to me.

Justinian I was one of the last great Latin-speaking emperors; he gave his name to the monumental legal reforms in the Code of Justinian, built the Hagia Sophia, and generally expanded the power and grandeur of the Byzantine Empire. His wars to retake the West were less beneficial and had the ultimate effect of draining the finances of the Empire without offering any lasting gain. Still, he is justly regarded as being one of the great rulers of antiquity, and I’m happy to own a small piece of this history.

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9 – Septimius Severus Denarius



SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, AD 193-211
AR Denarius (19.71mm, 3.70g, 12h)
Struck AD 209. Rome mint
Obverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head of Septimius Severus right
Reverse: P M TR P XVII COS III P P, Neptune standing left, foot on rock, right hand resting on upper leg, left hand holding long trident
References: RIC IV 228, RCV 6346
A beautiful specimen, choice EF with lustrous fields, perfectly centered on a large and heavy flan.
From the Mark Salton Collection. (1914-2005)

This coin is one of my more recent acquisitions. It’s a case of where everything comes together – style, condition, eye appeal, and provenance – to create a wholly attractive specimen.

The coin itself has a lovely old cabinet tone, with hints of iridescence and rich mint luster. I love the fact that it’s so perfectly centered and struck that the dotted border is complete on the reverse and nearly so on the obverse. Also, I find the heavy weight of 3.70 grams really satisfying for some reason.

The provenance to the Mark Salton Collection is the icing on the cake. Salton (born Max Schlessinger) came from a long line of established German coin dealers, going back to the early 1800's. His father, Felix Schlessinger, ran a coin dealership until he was imprisoned and murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust; Max and his brother managed to escape, eventually settling in America. Their story is a fascinating one - you can read more about it here.

The coin also came with Salton's hand-written paper envelope, dated 1946:



It will remain a favorite in my collection.

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8 – Augustus Quinarius



AUGUSTUS, 27 BC - AD 14
AR Quinarius (16.11mm, 1.76g, 4h)
Struck 25-23 BC. Emerita Augusta mint
Obverse: AVGVST, bare head of Augustus right
Reverse: P CARISI LEG, Victory standing right, crowning trophy
References: RIC I 1a, RCV 1642
Attractive dark cabinet toning with a particularly fine portrait.
"The colony of Emerita Augusta (modern Mérida) was founded in 25 BC by P. Carisius, governor of Lusitania, for veterans of legions V Alauda and X Gemina who had recently participated in Augustus' campaigns in north-western Spain."
- David R. Sear, Roman Coins and Their Values, Vol. I (p. 324.)

The quinarius is an interesting denomination. A small silver coin valued at half a denarius, they were struck intermittently from around 211 BC until the 3rd century AD. This is my first example of the denomination, struck under Augustus early in his reign. The portrait on this coin is unusually fine – and a great example of the earlier, more idealized bust style of Octavian/Augustus. The reverse is well-preserved with some mineral deposits. The coin is also deeply toned which I find very appealing.

The provenance of this coin is interesting as well – from the collection of William Taylor McAnich (sic?), U.S. Army Lt. Col UN Peacekeeper during the Palestine/Israel conflict from 1951-1955. Lt. Col. McAnich apparently accumulated a very large collection during his time in the Middle East, which was auctioned off by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. a few years ago. According to the auction house’s information, these coins were acquired from “Shlomo, a well known and respected antiquities dealer, in the Old City of Jerusalem.” Same Shlomo as this gentleman?

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7 – Antoninus Pius Denarius



ANTONINUS PIUS, AD 138-161
AR Denarius (16.38mm, 3.29g, 6h)
Struck AD 144. Rome mint
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P COS III, laureate head of Antoninus Pius right
Reverse: MONETA AVG, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae
References: RIC III 76b, RCV 4092
A scarce type, with attractive old cabinet toning and a wonderful portrait struck in high relief.

I had been looking for a top-quality portrait denarius of Antoninus Pius (partly inspired by @Severus Alexander's fabulous specimen) when I saw this one come up for sale. It didn’t take me long to hit the ‘buy’ button.

In hand the coin was even better than the photos. The portrait is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve ever seen, struck in high relief and beautifully toned. The reverse is also well done and crisp in its detail. The one drawback is the rather tight flan, but I guess you can’t have everything!

This type, as it turns out, is pretty scarce. I think I found maybe 6 or 7 on acsearch.info. Rarity always adds appeal to a coin, for me anyway.

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6 – Septimius Severus Bridge As



SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, AD 193-211
AE As (25.59, 9.08g, 12h)
Struck AD 208. Rome mint
Obverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate bust of Septimius Severus right, with aegis on left shoulder
Reverse: P M TR P XVI COS III P P S C, bridge of single curved span, flanked by triple triumphal arches surmounted by statuary, five figures crossing bridge, boat in river below
References: OCRE IV 786b, RCV 6472

Speaking of rarity, here is a good example of what is meant by the term ‘decrepit rarity’. Visually, there isn’t a lot to recommend this coin. But the combination of extreme rarity, and the satisfaction of not having paid much for it, gives this coin a high spot on my list of favorites.

How rare is the type? The coin is given a rating of R3 in the RIC reference work – meaning 6 to 10 specimens known in the examined collections. In my online searches at the time, I was able to find 16-17 specimens total. The renowned expert on Severan coinage (and ancient numismatics in general), Curtis Clay, also commented: “My die catalogue of Severan asses, which I drew up mainly in the 1970s, with only occasional later additions, now includes 32 Bridge asses of Septimius, struck from three reverse and five obverse dies.”

The exact identity of the bridge depicted on the reverse is uncertain, but theories include a military bridge built over the Firth of Forth during Severus's Caledonian campaign, the Milvian Bridge north of Rome, or some other bridge in Rome.

See this thread for more information.

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5 – Akragas Hemidrachm



SICILY, AKRAGAS
AR Hemidrachm (14.76mm, 1.86g, 2h)
Struck 420-406 BC
Obverse: Eagle facing left, standing on and tearing at hare
Reverse: Crab; below, fish swimming right
References: SNG ANS 1003-9
Toned. Well centered strike. A pleasing example of the artistic talents of classical Akragas.

The coins of classical Akragas are famously among the most beautiful and recognized coins of the ancient world. The city itself was founded around 582 BC by Greek colonists from Gela, a nearby city about 40 miles to the east. Akragas quickly became one of the leading centers of art and culture in the Classical world and this is reflected in the coinage.

Of the larger denominations, such as the tetradrachm or decadrachm, I could only dream. But the hemidrachm, though a smaller canvas, also features the same degree of artistry, and are much more affordable. But even so, a nice specimen doesn’t come super cheap, so it was a while before I found one that struck a good balance between affordability and quality.

The strike on this coin is even and centered, and the silver toning helps bring out the details. It’s a very pleasing little coin aesthetically and I’m delighted to own one of these iconic coins.

See this thread for more about the coin.

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4 – Domitian Quadrans



DOMITIAN, AD 81-96
AE Quadrans (17.62mm, 2.58g, 6h)
Struck AD 84/5. Rome mint
Obverse: African rhinoceros, head down, charging left
Reverse: IMP DOMIT AVG GERM around large S C
References: OCRE II 250, RCV 2835
A choice specimen, perfectly centered and well-struck from artistic dies. This type recalls a rhinoceros which fought in the Colosseum during Domitian's reign; these coins were likely distributed as largesse to the crowds in attendance on that occasion.

There are several areas of interest for me in collecting ancient coins – historical significance, fine artistry, and coins with animals, to name a few. This coin fulfills those and more.

Aside from fascinating and unusual rhino obverse, I’d been attracted to this type ever since reading about the theory that they were handed out as souvenirs to the crowds at the Colosseum during the public games under Domitian. To me, owning such a coin is what this hobby is all about – that connection through thousands of years to a specific event, a time and place.

The coin is, unsurprisingly, a popular type, and this one is an unusually fine specimen. It was one of the few times I’ve ever bid live on a coin, and I just barely won it. But I’ve been repaid many times over by the satisfaction it gives me in my collection.

The rhinoceros on this coin is very well-done – perhaps the engraver had been to the games and seen the actual animal? The strike is strong and centered, both obverse and reverse. A true masterpiece.

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3 – Trajan ITALIA REST As



TRAJAN, AD 98-117
AE As (27.59mm, 10.04g, 6h)
Struck AD 103-111. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate head of Trajan right, with paludament on left shoulder
Reverse: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Trajan standing left holding eagle scepter, extending hand to Italy kneeling before with two children between; ITALIA REST in exergue
References: RIC -, BMCRE -, RCV -, C -, Woytek 367b (same dies), Strack 412. This coin published on Numista (369513)
R4. Extremely rare, apparently the fourth specimen known.

My third favorite coin of 2023 is this extremely rare as struck under Trajan. Though I’ve posted about this coin before, I hope you’ll forgive me going through the story again!

Trajan’s ‘ITALIA REST’ or ‘REST ITAL’ (Italy Restored) series of coinage was struck in aurei as well as the three main AE denominations. All types must have been struck in very limited numbers, but the as is perhaps the rarest of them all. Extensive research has uncovered just three other specimens besides this one: one in the Munich collection, one in the Vienna collection, and a very worn specimen pictured on Wildwinds.com. Strack and Woytek are the only references I know of which even mention the type, and both cite just two specimens (Munich and Vienna.)


This coin is a double-die match to the Vienna specimen illustrated in Woytek. It also appears to be a double-die match to the Wildwinds coin, though given that coin’s state of wear it’s hard to be certain. I have so far not been able to examine and compare dies with the Munich specimen, but it is at least plausible to suppose that it too is a double-die match given the extreme rarity of the type – which, if it were the case, would mean that all known examples were struck from a single pair of dies.


Moreover, in my research I was also able to examine 6 of the 8 dupondius versions of this type known to Woytek, and it appears that all 6 share the same reverse die as the asses. Could it be that only one reverse die of this type was produced, and used for both denominations? It's certainly possible if not likely, given the available evidence.

The reverse scene itself is interesting and recalls the ‘ALIM ITAL’ series of coinage struck at the same time or immediately afterwards. David R. Sear comments on that type:

“The alimenta was a scheme under which needy children were provided support through the investment in agriculture of funds donated by wealthy philanthropists (including the emperors Nerva and Trajan).”
- David R. Sear (Roman Coins and Their Values, Vol. II, p. 95)

Though this coin does not explicitly mention the ‘alimenta’, the presence of the children raising their hands to the emperor, and the legend ‘Italy Restored’, both suggest a commemoration (at least in part) of that beneficent program.

The research is still ongoing, and most recently I’ve reached out to the wildwinds coin contributor to see if he has any other information about the type. I also am still trying to establish contact with the Munich Collection to see if they can send me pictures of their specimen.

See this thread for the more information.

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2 – Lysimachos Tetradrachm



LYSIMACHOS, 306-281 BC
AR Tetradrachm (28.30mm, 16.15g, 12h)
Struck 297 - 281 B.C. Alexandreia Troas mint
Obverse: Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with the horn of Ammon
Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; cornucopia to inner left, Λ under throne
References: SNG Stockholm 845 (same dies)
A rare variant. Toned with scratches on reverse. Well centered portrait of Alexander in fine style.

There isn’t much to say here – I think the coin is self-explanatory: a fantastic portrait of the one and only Alexander the Great. Though it is No. 2 on my list, it is without question my most "awe-inspiring" coin in hand: the large heavy silver, beautifully toned, struck in such high relief as to be practically round sculpture. The reverse is a little worn and scuffed, but it’s not too bad and anyway the obverse is the main focus on these coins.

As it happens, this is a somewhat rare variant and is a double die-match to several auction listings which themselves claim to be double die-matches to the Stockholm plate coin.

See this thread for more on the coin.

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1 – Julius Caesar Lifetime Portrait Denarius



JULIUS CAESAR, 49-44 BC
AR Denarius (18.91mm, 3.53g, 12h)
Struck late February to early March, 44 BC. Rome mint
Obverse: CAESAR DICT PERPETVO, wreathed head of Julius Caesar right
Reverse: L·BVCA, fasces and winged caduceus in saltire; axe, clasped hands, and globe in three quarters
References: RRC 480/6, RCV 1409
Toned. A scarce, late-lifetime portrait denarius of Julius Caesar. Caesar received the title of Dictator Perpetuo (Dictator for Life) in February of 44 BC; this coin would have been struck mere weeks before his assassination on the Ides of March that same year.

A lifetime portrait denarius of Julius Caesar is a bucket list item for many collectors, and for good reason – there are few coins more weighted with historical significance, fascination, and intrigue. These coins aren’t terribly rare, but the sky-high demand means that they are among the priciest of ancient coins. I wasn’t sure when, if ever, I would get one.

When I saw this one come up for sale at a just-so affordable price, I bit the bullet and bought it. Wow! I couldn’t believe it at first. The coin took a while to come (some shipping mix-ups), but eventually I had it in hand. What an incredible piece of history – this type was struck at most maybe within a few weeks of Caesar’s assassination on the ides of March. Just holding it gives you a sense of awe – again, that connection through time. The coin is worn, but not too bad; the essential details are all for the most part intact. It’s also nicely toned.

The reverse type is a bit rare, which is a nice little bonus. But for me the primary attraction is the obverse portrait of Gaius Julius Caesar – DICT PERPETVO. This coin is without question my favorite in my entire collection – my top collecting goal achieved!

My original thread on this coin.

Thanks for looking! I can't wait to see what 2024 has to bring and I wish you all a very successful and satisfying year of collecting!​

 

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All I can say is WOW! Very nice. The write up and descriptions are fantastic. I don't suppose you were able to acquire the chest from the Commodore Turner coins? The tags are more than exciting to get, but having the chest along with the collection would really be a boon. Congratulations!!!!

 

Thank you! No, I didn't buy the entire Turner collection (though I would have loved to!) Some dealer bought it and I bought the coins from the dealer. It's by far my favorite provenance of all the coins I own!

 

Fatastic coins, a very diverse group with huge historical interest, congrats.

 

Always glad to see everyone's top coins of the year. Yours are exceptional this year.

 

Nice coins from Turner coll, especially the Gratian (I think I may have watch listed that one at some point, or another of the same type). Quite an interesting collection history!

Nice group! Note that it was the prior collector (whose handwriting is on the front) who bought it in Istanbul 1946. It seems like Salton may have bought that person's entire collection (prob. 1950s-60s, when he bought full colls. regularly).

A bunch of his Roman coins sold at the Künker sales were still in these peach-colored envelopes (dozens or 100s), many acq. by the collector in Istanbul (and a few other locations) c. late 1940s.

I have a few hypotheses, but haven't yet been able to figure out for sure who it was (I'll let you know when I do; I may need to see all his old FPLs).

That's Salton's distinctive neat handwriting in blue added to the back of the old envelope (also a common practice of his).

 

Yes, I should have been more clear on that. The envelope wasn't originally Salton's. I would love to know who originally bought/acquired the coin in 1946!

 

You inspire me @The Meat man. Wish I hadn't started collecting so late and hope to someday be able to share such fine examples. The stories behind these coins are what really makes them special. Cheers and well done!

 

Great post. Love all the coins, especially the Julius Caesar. Like the mix as well. Looks like you had a great year!

 

Thank you all for the kind words!

@Bing I asked the dealer about the chest and he told me he sold it about a year ago. That would have been a really cool grab!

By the way @Curtis - you love a good provenance - have you acquired any of the Daniel Turner coins?

 

I haven't yet -- although I probably should while a few of the ones on my watchlist are still there. (By the time I started looking at them, all the remaining decent ones were very expensive, but there were still some acceptable $30-50 coins in my collecting areas last I checked.)

I spent some time trying to figure out if he had any connection to John Quincy Adams (the 6th President, or John Adams the 2nd, or Charles Francis Adams, Minister to UK during the Civil War), since I have a couple from the Adams Collection -- and I try to collect by "provenance clusters" or networks where possible.

The answer was yes, one of them (but I can't remember to whom at the moment) signed his commission or awarded a medal or appointed him to something I think?

I love the old hand-written paper slips that come with some of the Admiral Turner coins!

 

That's interesting! I would suspect that might have been John Quincy Adams. Turner was too young (b. 1794) to have had anything to do with the original John Adams. Charles Francis Adams comes somewhat later in Turner's career, and I don't know if he would have been in a position relevant to Turner. I'll bet it was JQA who commissioned Turner or whatever it was.
I did read that Turner was awarded a Congressional silver medal, as well as a sword from the State of New York.
I would really like to own a coin from the Adams Collection - I bid on one recently but was absolutely crushed.

 

The JQA and Descendants Collection is fascinating to me. I was lucky enough to be able to handle and take full photos of the Charles Francis and Henry Adams original handwritten catalogs for the ancient coins part of collection from around 1838 and 1880s respectively. I also grabbed some photos of the world coin portion written by JQA in around 1813.

There has been a particular Probus coin from that collection with a KA exergue from Siscia that I have been hunting for in that collection for ages! It has continued to eluded me.

The suspect. Last seen 2018.

 

Edit: oh, that Probus was also ex Gysen! Great object biography!!

I've committed your White Whale of a Probus to memory & will let you know if I recognize it anywhere! Do you intend to buy it? (Otherwise I certainly will -- but won't try to buy it out from under you.)

I notice the surfaces are a bit similar to those of my Diocletian, which is reportedly from the Adams/MA Hist. Soc. collection (3 lots later, 939, part of):

That's awesome! I've thought about trying to visit the Mass. Hist. Soc. to see those catalogs -- I've never heard from anyone who has done so.

Do you recall if the coins were individually described and/or if it was noted where they were acquired? I've read that the M.H.S. still has Charles Francis Adams' old Sotheby's catalogs (including one that I really want to see!).

I have biographical entries on my "Provenance Glossary" page for JQA, CFA, and Henry Adams (still in progress, but my Adams entries are complete).

As far as I can tell, the ancient portions of the surviving collection was probably all added by CFA (JQA collected ancients, so did John Adams, but not Henry, and there's a letter saying that the box of JQA's ancients was lost outright!). JQA's world coins were inherited smoothly. (I suspect some even date back to 2nd Pres. John Adams. CFA inherited 265 coins, per my notes, but died with >10,000!)

CFA famously (it's recorded in several books!) bought lots of ancients at Sotheby's while serving in London in the 1860s (during and after the American Civil War). Apparently it upset the dealers since back then collectors usually didn't buy directly from auction -- they were dealer-only wholesale affairs. But CFA didn't care, he went anyway. (But employing an agent sometimes, I understand.)

I think I know where he got one of mine (through his agent, Joseph Curt), a Republican Quinarius. (Later RBW Collection / RBW 1325.) Likely from Sotheby's sale of the collection of John Lindsay, Esq., of Cork … [14 August 1867], Lot 526 (part).


It wasn't photographed in the 1860s Sotheby catalog, of course, but the Royal Belgian Library has a "named" copy, so I plan to write and see if I can get a photocopy of the page to see if Joseph Curt was the buyer. If I'm right, that'll be my most satisfying bit of provenance research yet, so fingers crossed.

 

Yes! I have some Gysen coins in my collection as a Probus collector. I am continuing on heavily researching Probus in my free time. Quite a field to behold. If I were to find that KA coin I'd buy it quickly haha, the KA coins are my specialty within my specialty of the Siscia Probus niche.

To my understanding I thought that the 1838 Catalog from CFA included coins from both CFA and JQA and the later 1880-1890s-ish (Its undated, so just a guess) catalog by Henry Adams has the more complete CFA stuff. I believe I did find your quinarius in the undated catalog, but correct me if I am wrong haha I do Siscia Probus. Sadly, the right side is a little cut off but it is the grain measurement which looks to be around 26 grains. I don't believe I've seen anywhere that the catalog lists the provenance of the coin, but they do give individual descriptions like this as well as grain weight in both catalogs. JQA although in his world coin catalog does note some places such as Russia or from the US mint master from where he'd get certain coins.

I can always check for the Sotheby's Catalog if I make another visit there. I am always in the area. But searching their online inventory system is a pain haha.
Below is the section in which I think your coin is in. The middle coin.

 

Oh, that is fantastic!! I've added this image to my notes, what a treasure, thank you!

So glad you mentioned the "26" was a weight! That provides excellent additional circumstantial evidence that this is the correct coin, as it weighs exactly 1.68 grams = 26 grains! (Not a terribly common weight for that coin, either.)

Those catalog dates are consistent with what I have, but I believe the ancients portion of JQA's collection was lost c. 1835, during the transfer, by the time of the 1838 catalog (but not the world and other coins). CFA had probably already begun a collection of his own then, as well (but wasn't yet obsessed, as he would become later, esp. c. 1860s).

See: Friedlaender, 1974, "Charles Francis Adams, Numismatist, Brought to the Bar: Groux v. Adams," Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society vol 86: pp. 3-27:

Page 6, note 9:
"A second and larger part of the collection JQA had formed, consisting of coins of ancient Greece and Rome, which he kept in a "casket" at Washington and which he had also intended for his son, had mysteriously disappeared when he sought to send it to Boston later in 1835 (see Diary of Charles Francis Adams, VI, xiii, 185, 249, 280)."​

(Great article, if you haven't seen it! You can sign up for JSTOR free w/ email if you don't have access, I use my gmail; you may be also able to find the article from the MHS website.)

I can't find any indication the lost "casket" of Greek & Roman coins was ever recovered.

My notes mention 3 collection records made across the three generations:

First, by JQA, 1813/1817: For his important volume Report on Weights and Measures, which discusses Greek and Hebrew coins & weights (Roman coins mostly p.19 ff.), as relevant to establishing the weights and measures for the new nation.

(Two thousand years later! Amazing that John Quincy Adams actually used his ancient coin collection to help design a new country & administer its functions! Apparently it was a very serious project to him -- but others were less enthusiastic.)

Then, CFA, 1838: Stack's 1971 catalog: "A further list compiled by Charles Francis shows additions made to the collection by his father and himself down to 1838. It would appear that in all probability he received the entire collection from his father at some time between 1834 and 1838.”

[I believe that must reference the surviving portion of JQA's coins -- world coins, medals, maybe early American?]​

Finally, Henry Adams cataloged the holdings, sometime c. 1880s-1913? (Between death of Charles Francis and donation the Society.)

 

Those are wonderful coins for 2023! The rhinoceros on the obverse of the Domitian AE quadrans is really nicely done. The Septimius Severus denarius is exquisite and the original envelope is frosting on the cake!

Thanks for the story behind the two 3rd-4th century Roman bronze coins - very interesting!

 

Very diverse coins/ with great pedigrees! Also your photographing is breathtaking. Very informative historical writeup. Thanks for sharing
John

 

Great haul from 2023, @The Meat man. Nice to get those two coins with such an interesting provenance!

 

Excellent coins @The Meat man, I have a hard time selecting favorites from the list, and enjoy the provenance story & photo. I'll bypass #1 although no debate that a Julius Caesar Lifetime Issue is very understandable at #1. My favorites:
4 – Domitian Quadrans the Rhino is amazing
9 – Septimius Severus Denarius a fine Neptune
12 – Constantine the Great AE3 - a glowing Constantine
Congrats and best wishes for 2024!