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<p>[QUOTE="svessien, post: 4457289, member: 15481"]Times like these make you think. Things are happening, the world is changing - hopefully to the better.</p><p><br /></p><p>How have I spent my limited time on earth?</p><p><br /></p><p>Did I bury myself in a geek world of Sear books and RIC volumes, shutting myself out and distancing myself from the great variety of impressions and experiences that life has to offer?</p><p><br /></p><p>Did I spend my resources on something that gave me only an instant rush, a false sense of joy, or as Ebenezer Scrooge would call it "humbug"?</p><p><br /></p><p>These questions are on my mind these days.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have come to a conclusion: There is more to life than Roman Imperial Coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>There are for example Byzantine coins! Here is Romanus IV Diogenes with Eudocia, Michael VII, Constantius and Androcius on a Histamenon Nomisma that was struck in Constantinople sometime between 1068-71:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1111539[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Around the same time there were things going on up in the Anglo Saxon reign of Britain: The Danes and Norwegians were coming in longboats with shields and swords, and went so far as to conquer the green island. That was done by Knut den Mektige (the Mighty), or Canute the Great as he is known in English, in 1016. Here he is with a pointed helmet, on a penny struck in Lincolnshire between 1022 and 1029 AD:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1111536[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Eventually, the Norwegians didn't keep up with time (what else is new), but the Danish sure did. Here is a nine-penny (nipenning), or Gros from one of the important Danish kings, Eric of Pomerania, who was a Polish prince who lived 1382-1459 and became King of Norway as Eric III 1389-1442 and King of Denmark and Sweden 1396-1439, in Denmark as Eric VII. The Danish kingdom would continue to be a force to be reckoned with for centuries, until it chose the losing side during the Napoleonic wars, had to give up Norway and Schleswig-Holsten and chose to focus on making great beer, red hot dogs and furniture for the coming 200 years.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1111537[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Then there are of course Roman Provincial coins. Case closed.</p><p>Here's a tetradrachm with Vespasian and Titus, struck in Antioch in the "holy year" 69/70. It's a holy year because father and son happened to burn down the temple of Solomo at the time while they were around. Perhaps this coin is made from some of the silver they plundered there? Who knows?</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1111540[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And, let's face it: Some modern coins have something going for them too (yes, I know you hold all these coins as modern, Doug). Here's a 5 mark Eichbaum from the Weimar Republic; a restoration into silver coinage after the miserable years of hyperinflation. And what a restoration! I hold this as one of the best designs of the 20th century:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1111538[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>And at last: The occasional pick up of a Republican coin that was just outside your area of collecting, but hey... 35 pounds? Come here sweetheart, you belong to daddy now:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1111535[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Now you can behold what isolation and major dramatic events have led me to. And I haven't even shown the Parthian and Sasanid coins. What about you? Have you reached out to the wider numismatic history in desperation, giving in to the human instinct of hoarding before disaster strikes? Show us, please![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="svessien, post: 4457289, member: 15481"]Times like these make you think. Things are happening, the world is changing - hopefully to the better. How have I spent my limited time on earth? Did I bury myself in a geek world of Sear books and RIC volumes, shutting myself out and distancing myself from the great variety of impressions and experiences that life has to offer? Did I spend my resources on something that gave me only an instant rush, a false sense of joy, or as Ebenezer Scrooge would call it "humbug"? These questions are on my mind these days. I have come to a conclusion: There is more to life than Roman Imperial Coins. There are for example Byzantine coins! Here is Romanus IV Diogenes with Eudocia, Michael VII, Constantius and Androcius on a Histamenon Nomisma that was struck in Constantinople sometime between 1068-71: [ATTACH=full]1111539[/ATTACH] Around the same time there were things going on up in the Anglo Saxon reign of Britain: The Danes and Norwegians were coming in longboats with shields and swords, and went so far as to conquer the green island. That was done by Knut den Mektige (the Mighty), or Canute the Great as he is known in English, in 1016. Here he is with a pointed helmet, on a penny struck in Lincolnshire between 1022 and 1029 AD: [ATTACH=full]1111536[/ATTACH] Eventually, the Norwegians didn't keep up with time (what else is new), but the Danish sure did. Here is a nine-penny (nipenning), or Gros from one of the important Danish kings, Eric of Pomerania, who was a Polish prince who lived 1382-1459 and became King of Norway as Eric III 1389-1442 and King of Denmark and Sweden 1396-1439, in Denmark as Eric VII. The Danish kingdom would continue to be a force to be reckoned with for centuries, until it chose the losing side during the Napoleonic wars, had to give up Norway and Schleswig-Holsten and chose to focus on making great beer, red hot dogs and furniture for the coming 200 years. [ATTACH=full]1111537[/ATTACH] Then there are of course Roman Provincial coins. Case closed. Here's a tetradrachm with Vespasian and Titus, struck in Antioch in the "holy year" 69/70. It's a holy year because father and son happened to burn down the temple of Solomo at the time while they were around. Perhaps this coin is made from some of the silver they plundered there? Who knows? [ATTACH=full]1111540[/ATTACH] And, let's face it: Some modern coins have something going for them too (yes, I know you hold all these coins as modern, Doug). Here's a 5 mark Eichbaum from the Weimar Republic; a restoration into silver coinage after the miserable years of hyperinflation. And what a restoration! I hold this as one of the best designs of the 20th century: [ATTACH=full]1111538[/ATTACH] And at last: The occasional pick up of a Republican coin that was just outside your area of collecting, but hey... 35 pounds? Come here sweetheart, you belong to daddy now: [ATTACH=full]1111535[/ATTACH] Now you can behold what isolation and major dramatic events have led me to. And I haven't even shown the Parthian and Sasanid coins. What about you? Have you reached out to the wider numismatic history in desperation, giving in to the human instinct of hoarding before disaster strikes? Show us, please![/QUOTE]
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