Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Magnus Maximus, post: 2472907, member: 73473&quot;]It&#039;s called a Contorniate, I have had the luck of actually holding a few but I never have owned one.</p><p>From A Vcoins dealers&#039; description:</p><p><i>CONTORNIATES were manufactured mainly in the fourth century AD as New Year&#039;s gifts intended to bring good fortune. The obverses often bear portraits of highly respected Greek and Roman rulers (e.g. Alexander the Great) or philosophers (e.g. Homer), whereas the reverses often show themes from mythology. In addition, there are various motifs such as successful charioteers or gladiators. The term contorniate is derived from the Italian word contorno (rim) and denotes the deep furrow on the edge of the medallion. As private persons generally could not afford the artistically manufactured contorniates, they often used old sestertii, generally bearing the portraits of &quot;good&quot; emperors, and hammered up the rim. So also the less wealthy citizens were able to give a &quot;self-made&quot; New Year&#039;s token to beloved persons.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><a href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ancient_coin_art/6/product/nero__concorniate_4th_century_ad_new_years_token_read_story/13931/Default.aspx" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ancient_coin_art/6/product/nero__concorniate_4th_century_ad_new_years_token_read_story/13931/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ancient_coin_art/6/product/nero__concorniate_4th_century_ad_new_years_token_read_story/13931/Default.aspx</a></i>[/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