Benefactor DonnaML Posted July 23 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted July 23 Links: Poseidon/Neptune and trident. Claudius II Gothicus, Billon Tetradrachm, 269/270 AD (Year 2), Alexandria, Egypt mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, wreath ties type “e” (Milne) (one tie straight down and one pointing back), ΑVΤ•Κ•ΚΛΑV–ΔΙΟϹ•ϹΕΒ / Rev. Poseidon standing left, nude, hair bound with taenia, head looking downwards, right leg bent at knee with right foot resting on dolphin, holding trident in left hand and Lorbeerbäumchen (small laurel tree or branch) or palm branch [not sword or aphlaston]* in right hand, L – B (Year 2) across fields. References: RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. X Online 75618 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/75618) (palm branch in Poseidon’s right hand); Förschner 1151 (ill. p. 361) [Förschner, Gisela, Die Münzen der Römischen Kaiser in Alexandrien, Historisches Museum Frankfurt (1987)] (Lorbeerbäumchen in Poseidon’s right hand; see fn.); Milne 4254 at p. 101 (same obv. legend) [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)] (sword); BMC 16 Alexandria 2307 at p. 300 (rev. ill. Pl. II) [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892] (sword); Kellner Teil 17, p. 51 (ill. p. 139 Abb. 6) [Wendelin Kellner, Die Münzstätte Alexandria in Ägypten (2009)] (jagged sword or cutlass representing navy]; Sear GIC 4742 (ill. p. 461) [D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (Seaby 1982)] (sword); K & G 104.32 at p. 329 [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria (2008)] (aphlaston); Emmett 3893.2 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)] [no mention of object held in Poseidon’s right hand]; Geissen (Köln) 3045 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band IV (Claudius Gothicus - Domitius Domitianus) (Cologne, 1983) (aphlaston); Curtis 1718 at p. 124 [James W. Curtis, The Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt (1969)] (sword); Sear RCV III 11414 at p. 407 (“uncertain object”). 22 mm., 10.09 g., 12 h. Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC) Electronic Auction 556, 21 Feb. 2024, Lot 418 [object held by Poseidon identified as “aphlaston?”), from the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection**, ex A.H. Baldwin (London, UK), purchased 16 Oct 1989 (with coin tickets from Beniak Collection and A.H. Baldwin). A photo I took of the reverse -- a bit blurry, but it shows the coin's actual dark brown color: [Footnotes omitted re Beniak Collection, and demonstrating that object held by Poseidon is a Lorbeerbäumchen or palm branch, not an aphlaston or sword.] 5 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted July 24 · Supporter Share Posted July 24 Link: Poseidon Hieron II Sicily, Syracuse AD 276-215 Obv.: Diademed head of Poseidon left Rev.: IEP-ΩNOΣ, ornamented trident, at sides dolphins AE, 8.65g, 21.4mm 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted July 24 · Supporter Share Posted July 24 Link: Syracuse Sicily. Syracuse. Hieron II, 275-215 BC. Æ26 (17.14g, 7h). Struck circa 230-218/5 BC. Obv: Diademed head left. Rev: [IE]PΩN[OΣ]; Horseman riding right, holding couched spear in right arm; AP monogram below. Ref: CNS 195 R1 22; BAR Issue 62; HGC 2, 1548. Very Fine, slight die clash, nice dark green patina. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Anthos Posted July 24 · Member Share Posted July 24 (edited) Ditto, but Hieron laureate... Syracuse, Reign of Hieron II 275-215 BC AE27 (17.93g) O: Laureate head of Hieron left; plow behind. R: Horseman prancing right, with couched spear; [IE]PΩNOΣ in ex. HGC 2, 1547; SNG ANS 919v; SNG Cop 833; Sear 1222v; BMC 2 570; CNS 193 Edited July 24 by Phil Anthos 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted July 25 · Supporter Share Posted July 25 Link: horseman Constantius Gallus AE2, Constantinople Obv: DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES/ Bust of Constantius Gallus, bareheaded, draped, cuirassed, right Rev: FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, Soldier, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, advancing left, spearing fallen horseman with right hand and wearing shield on left arm; shield on ground to right MintMark: Γ•/-//CONSZ AE, 4.36g, 22-23 mm RIC 7, p.456, 107 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted July 25 · Supporter Share Posted July 25 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted July 25 · Member Share Posted July 25 14,3 mm, 1,6 g. Constantius II 337-361. Ӕ follis. Cyzicus. 347-348. D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, head of Constantius II, rosette-diademed, right / VOT/XX/MVLT/XXX within a wreath. MintMark: -/-//SMKA. RIC VIII Cyzicus 49. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted July 25 · Supporter Share Posted July 25 AE follis Constantine II AE follis. 337-340 AD. CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate head right / PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, campgate with no doors, two turrets and star above. Mintmark: Epsilon SIS double crescent. Siscia 2.92 g, 19.2mm RIC VII 216 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIF Posted July 25 · Supporter Share Posted July 25 (edited) Link: gate Here's a coin I bought in 2021, looks like I have never shown it before. I remember putting it on my top 10 of 2021 list but I guess I never finished/posted that either 🤣. THRACE, Bizya. Pseudo-autonomous Time of Antoninus Pius (138-161) AE 21 mm, 4.64 gm Obv: Draped and bearded bust of Poseidon right Rev: ΒΙΖVΗΝΩΝ; Monumental city gate: wall section with closed gate between two round towers; upper wall decorated with gallery of arches; on top, quadriga right. Ref: RPC IV.1 online 9314, temporary (4 specimens; not including this coin) Rare Edited July 25 by TIF 8 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Anthos Posted July 26 · Member Share Posted July 26 I love that bust. ~ Peter 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIF Posted July 26 · Supporter Share Posted July 26 (edited) 57 minutes ago, Phil Anthos said: I love that bust. ~ Peter Thanks, me too! Looks like Poseidon just arose from the Mediterranean, seawater still dripping from his beard. The lack of an obverse legend makes the portrait stand out even more, like a little work of art. 95% of the time, I buy coins for their interesting reverse, but I love both sides of this coin 😍. Edited July 26 by TIF 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted July 26 · Supporter Share Posted July 26 37 minutes ago, TIF said: Thanks, me too! Looks like Poseidon just arose from the Mediterranean, seawater still dripping from his beard. The lack of an obverse legend makes the portrait stand out even more, like a little work of art. 95% of the time, I buy coins for their interesting reverse, but I love both sides of this coin 😍. Exactly! That is really an extraordinary coin. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted July 26 · Supporter Share Posted July 26 Link: Bizya Faustina Junior Thrace, Bizya AE23 Obv.: ΦΑVСΤΕΙИΑ СΕΒΑСΤΗ, Draped bust right. Rev.: ΒΙΖVΗΝΩΝ, Artemis standing left, holding torch and arrow over stag to left Ae, 7.25g, 23mm Ref.: RPC IV online 9308. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIF Posted July 26 · Supporter Share Posted July 26 (edited) Link: stag IONIA, Ephesus. Anoynmous c. CE 1st century Æ tessera, 19mm, 5.14 g Obv: CKωΠI, stag kneeling left, head right; E to left, Φ to right Rev: KHPIΛICωΔEΠPOCΠAΛVPIN surrounding a bee Ref: SNG Copenhagen 355; BMC 186; SNG von Aulock 1875 There are a some colorful theories about these tessera. Barclay Head, in Historia Nvmorvm (1911), says: Eckhel believed they were apothecaries' advertisements. Babelon felt they were charms with inscribed with magic formulae (the coin's legend, which is either nonsense or abbreviations whose meaning has been lost to history). Head thought they might be charms used in apiculture. In 2016, a CNG cataloger had this to say about the type: "A series of tesserae, or tokens, was produced at the cult center of Ephesus during the Hellenistic period and later. The legends generally cannot be translated and are probably, for the most part, meaningless mystical formulae." Twenty years ago, another CNG cataloger offered this story: "In the ancient world, many people carried magic talismans to ward off evil. In addition to symbols, these devices often included magical incantations, though many times there is no coherent meaning to the pharse. Such incantations are known as "Ephesian letters", since their source was alleged to be Ephesus, as is the case with our example. The obverse legend may refer to the Greek verb skopew, or "look", an allusion to the "evil eye" against which many of these objects were intended. The reverse legend can best be translated as "This, as a coating toward the disease," with PALVPIN being a corruption of palurion, some type of disease." Another interesting theory about these strange bronzes was published in a medical history journal. The Tesserae of Ephesos in the History of Medicine, Med Hist. 1968 Jul; 12(3): 292–294. I invite you to read that short article. To briefly summarize, the authors make a case for these being health amulets. While Asklepios and his family are perhaps the best known ancient medical figures, in Ephesus it was Artemis who assumed the role of protector of health, among her many other roles. Non-metal versions of these tessera were produced near the Temple of Artemis in earlier centuries. The charms were worn around the neck as treatment for disease and protection from evil. So... I guess we may never know the real story behind these tesserae. Feel free to conjure up your own theory. Perhaps I'll try holding this tessera and whispering kerilic ode proc palurin next time I have a headache 😄. Edited July 26 by TIF 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Anthos Posted July 26 · Member Share Posted July 26 Ephesos, Ionia 350-288 BC AE12 (2.09g) O: Bee with straight wings, seen from above; E - Φ on either side. R: Stag kneeling left, looking back; astragalos above. SNG Cop 245v; Sear 4402v; BMC 14,55 ex Jack H. Beymer 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted July 26 · Member Share Posted July 26 Bee from Ephesos 11 mm, 0,92 g. Ionia, Ephesos. AR diobol. Circa 500-420 BC. Bee with slightly curved wings, on it spiral decoration / Quadripartite incuse square. Karwiese Series VI, 2A; SNG Kayhan 124. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted July 27 · Supporter Share Posted July 27 Link: Bee Lydia, Hierokaisareia Pseudo-autonomous issue 2nd century Obv: Bee within wreath Rev.: ΙЄΡΟΚΑΙСΑΡЄΩΝ, Stag standing left. AE, 4.00g, 18mm Ref.: RPC III 1868 Next: AE with animal on obverse and reverse 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted July 27 · Supporter Share Posted July 27 Link: Lydia Lydia, Sardes. Circa 2nd to 1st Century BC. Æ14 (6.86g, 12h). Obv: Unbearded, laureate head of Herakles right, lionskin knotted around neck. Rev: [ΣA]ΡΔIANΩN; Apollo, naked, standing left, holding raven on outstretched right hand and laurel branch in lowered left, monogram in lower left field, all within laurel wreath. Ref: BMC Lydia 23 var (monogram); GRPC Lydia 126, (Monogram 126, MAP). Fine, dusty green patina, thick compact flan. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIF Posted July 27 · Supporter Share Posted July 27 Link: Apollo TROAS, Alexandria. Trebonianus Gallus CE 251-253 AE 21 mm, 4.76 gm Obv: IMP VIB TREB GALVS AV; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: COL AV / TROA; Apollo, head right and holding kithara, seated facing on griffin springing right, head left Ref: RPC IX 407; Bellinger A403 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted July 27 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted July 27 Link: Griffin. Roman Republic, L. Papius, AR Serrate Denarius, 79 BCE. Obv. Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin; control-symbol of lyre behind/ Rev. Griffin prancing right, control-symbol of lyre-key below, L. PAPI in exergue. Crawford 384/1 (see also Crawford Vol. II Plate LXVII, control-symbol pair 127 & p. 788), RSC I Papia 1, Sear RCV I 311 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 7 at pp. 32-35, BMCRR Rome 2977-3095 [control-symbol pair of lyre and lyre-key is not listed in BMCRR]. 19 mm., 3.79 g., 9 h. [Double die match to two examples depicted at https://www.bonannocoins.com/l_papius/l_papi_coins.php?type_id=127.00 .] 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted July 28 · Supporter Share Posted July 28 Link: griffin Kilikia Uncertain Persian King AR Obol, 400-350 BC Obv.: Head of female facing slightly left Rev: King with bow and quiver, stabbing griffin on hind legs with knife AR, 0.63g, 10,3mm Ref.: Göktürk 38 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted July 28 · Patron Share Posted July 28 Link: portrait in 3/4 view. Troas, Sigeion, c. 335 BC. Greek Æ 12.2 mm, 2.37 g, 5 h. Obv: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet and necklace. Rev: ΣΙΓΕ, owl standing right, head facing; crescent to left. Refs: BMC 17.86,7-10; SNG von Aulock 7637; SNG Ashmolean 1214–6; SNG Copenhagen 496–8; Sear 4145. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIF Posted July 28 · Supporter Share Posted July 28 Link: 3/4 facing portrait (the bull 😁) EUBOIA, Eretria 357-267 BCE AR drachm, 18 mm, 3.1 gm Obv: head of nymph Eretria left Rev: head of bull facing, fillets from horns, EY above, satyr's head facing in right field Ref: Wallace pl. XI, cf 126. ex Frank James Collection ex BCD Collection 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulla80 Posted July 28 · Supporter Share Posted July 28 2 hours ago, TIF said: Link: 3/4 facing portrait (the bull 😁) EUBOIA, Eretria 357-267 BCE AR drachm, 18 mm, 3.1 gm Obv: head of nymph Eretria left Rev: head of bull facing, fillets from horns, EY above, satyr's head facing in right field Ref: Wallace pl. XI, cf 126. ex Frank James Collection ex BCD Collection LInk: the bull's relative Euboea, Euboean League, circa 304-290 BC, AR drachm (16mm, 3.80gm, 12h). NGC Obv: Head of the nymph Euboea left, hair rolled, wearing triple-pendant earring Rev: filleted head of bull right Ref: HGC 4, 1421 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIF Posted July 28 · Supporter Share Posted July 28 10 minutes ago, Sulla80 said: LInk: the bull's relative Euboea, Euboean League, circa 304-290 BC, AR drachm (16mm, 3.80gm, 12h). NGC Obv: Head of the nymph Euboea left, hair rolled, wearing triple-pendant earring Rev: filleted head of bull right Ref: HGC 4, 1421 Terrific artistry on that coin. Such a serious look from that bull. He is glaring at you and you'd better run 😄. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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