Post your latest ancient!

[Ryro]

I thought it would be fun to add a lion to Gallienus zoo...the Nemean lion! I know, I know, not part of the official zoo series, still a fun type to have for anyone who likes Gallienus and Herk:

Gallienus ,

PONTUS, Heracleopolis (as Sebastopolis).. AD 253-268. Æ (28mm, 13.14 g, 11h). Dated CY 266 (AD 264/5). [AVT K]AI ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / CЄBACTO [HPAKΛЄOΠO], naked Herakles standing right, strangling Nemean lion; across field, ЄT monogram and Ξ[I]/C (date). RG 24; SNG von Aulock 137. Purchased from Bucephalus June 2024

[DonnaML]

My current budget doesn't permit me to buy more than one relatively inexpensive coin per month, so this was my purchase for August, picked up in the current Harlan J. Berk After Sale at a substantial discount from the originally stated price. There's something about the chubby little Sarapis on the reverse, standing there in his booties, that appealed to me. He reminds me of a medieval friar with his staff, as if he were depicted in a marginal illustration in an illuminated manuscript.

Trebonianus Gallus, Billon Tetradrachm, AD 252-253 (Year 3), Alexandria, Egypt mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from front, Α Κ Γ ΟΥΙΒ ΤΡΕΒ ΓΑΛΛΟϹ ΕΥϹΕΒ [Translation: Imperator Caesar Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus Pius] / Rev. Sarapis standing left, crowned with kalathos [or modius], wearing chiton and himation [see Milne p. 146], raising right hand and holding scepter upright in left hand, date L –  Γ [Gamma] across fields [= Year 3], with Γ placed slightly higher than L. 23 mm., 10.84 g. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] IX Online, 2308 [see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/9/2308 ] [specimen no. 40 is this coin, from M&M GmbH Auction 14, 16 Apr. 2004, Lot 868; see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/25766 and below]; Emmett 3674.3 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Sear RCV III 9703 p. 237; Milne 3852-3853 p. 92 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)] ; BMC 16 Alexandria 2105 p. 275 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892]; K & G 83.10 (ill. p. 310) ) [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)]; Dattari 5118 p. 345 [Dattari, Giovanni, Monete imperiali greche, Numi Augg. Alexandrini, Catalogo della collezione (Cairo 1901)]; Curtis 1467 p. 105 [James W. Curtis, The Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt (1969)]. Purchased 3 Aug 2024 from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., Chicago, IL, 228th Buy or Bid Sale, After Sale, Lot 601, ex Peter Lowrek Collection, ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH, Weil am Rhein, Germany, Auction 14, 16 Apr 2004, Lot 868 [ill. at RPC IX 2308, specimen 40, as described above].

If anyone knows anything about who Peter Lowrek is or was, please let me know.  All I've been able to find out on Google is that at one time, decades ago, he was located in Edmonton, Canada.

[Edessa]

This came just the other day. An amazing portrait of an Augusta I didn't have in the Roman Egypt series and a Kerry coin to boot!

Roman Egypt, Alexandria. Herennia Etruscilla, Augusta, AD 249-251. Potin Tetradrachm (24mm, 10.74g, 11h). Dated RY 2 of Trajan Decius (AD 250/1). Obv: ΕΡ ΚΟΥΠ ΑΙΤΡΟΥϹΚΙΛΛΑ ϹΕ; Draped bust right, wearing stephane. Rev: Athena Nikephorus standing left, holding Nike and spear; shield at side, L-B (date) across field. Ref: Köln 2825; Dattari (Savio) 5099; K&G 80.5; RPC IX 2285 (17 examples); Emmett 3650.2 (R2). Brown patina, minor marks, edge split. Good Very Fine. From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (CNG Auction IV (21 Sept 1988)), Lot 325. Ex CNG e567 (31 July 2024), Lot 451.

[Sulla80]

 

Edited August 10 by Sulla80

[Phil Anthos]

Here's a new diobol from Taras, this one with a lovely long-stemmed rose in the field...

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

New just received from Frank Robinson. I told this story before but this coin type was the first in my collection dating back to the late 1970s. I parted ways with it but now have replaced it with a new example.

It's Gordian III. 238-244 C.E. struck for the Persian War in 244. The emperor opened the Temple of Janus for the last time and headed east. While the Romans won the first battle at Resaena and marched towards Ctesiphon they were defeated at Misiche in Iraq where an inscription of Shapur claims that Gordian was killed in the battle whereas some other historians believe his demise might have been engineered by Phillip, the new Praetorian prefect who replaced Gordian's mentor and father-in-law Timisitheus. At any rate Phillip was forced to conclude a humiliating peace treaty with Shapur who invaded the Eastern provinces a few years later.

 

Type: Antoninianus 22mm 3.8 grams. 

Note: Lustrous silver, soft strike on reverse

Rome mint

Obverse: bust of Gordian right

IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG

Reverse: Mars advancing right

MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM

Dative case: "To Mars the Defender"

Reference: Sear 2442, RIC 147

Edited August 11 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Victrix]

Really excited to finally get this type back into my collection! 😀

Very interesting coin of Commodus as Hercules. One of my favorite coins from Roman times. During his reign, Commodus, who was probably insane, increasingly identified with the god Hercules, going so far as to think he was Hercules. He had statues erected and coins minted, such as this one with lion scalp. He even beat slaves to death with a club in the Arena (see the film Gladiator). The legend reads: Hercules the Roman Augustus.

[Orange Julius]

On 8/9/2024 at 2:39 PM, DonnaML said:

My current budget doesn't permit me to buy more than one relatively inexpensive coin per month, so this was my purchase for August, picked up in the current Harlan J. Berk After Sale at a substantial discount from the originally stated price. There's something about the chubby little Sarapis on the reverse, standing there in his booties, that appealed to me. He reminds me of a medieval friar with his staff, as if he were depicted in a marginal illustration in an illuminated manuscript.

Trebonianus Gallus, Billon Tetradrachm, AD 252-253 (Year 3), Alexandria, Egypt mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from front, Α Κ Γ ΟΥΙΒ ΤΡΕΒ ΓΑΛΛΟϹ ΕΥϹΕΒ [Translation: Imperator Caesar Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus Pius] / Rev. Sarapis standing left, crowned with kalathos [or modius], wearing chiton and himation [see Milne p. 146], raising right hand and holding scepter upright in left hand, date L –  Γ [Gamma] across fields [= Year 3], with Γ placed slightly higher than L. 23 mm., 10.84 g. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] IX Online, 2308 [see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/9/2308 ] [specimen no. 40 is this coin, from M&M GmbH Auction 14, 16 Apr. 2004, Lot 868; see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/25766 and below]; Emmett 3674.3 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Sear RCV III 9703 p. 237; Milne 3852-3853 p. 92 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)] ; BMC 16 Alexandria 2105 p. 275 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892]; K & G 83.10 (ill. p. 310) ) [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)]; Dattari 5118 p. 345 [Dattari, Giovanni, Monete imperiali greche, Numi Augg. Alexandrini, Catalogo della collezione (Cairo 1901)]; Curtis 1467 p. 105 [James W. Curtis, The Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt (1969)]. Purchased 3 Aug 2024 from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., Chicago, IL, 228th Buy or Bid Sale, After Sale, Lot 601, ex Peter Lowrek Collection, ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH, Weil am Rhein, Germany, Auction 14, 16 Apr 2004, Lot 868 [ill. at RPC IX 2308, specimen 40, as described above].

If anyone knows anything about who Peter Lowrek is or was, please let me know.  All I've been able to find out on Google is that at one time, decades ago, he was located in Edmonton, Canada.

Nice coin Donna! Looked familiar, I have one very similar!

[LongShanks]

Just received a cool mythology coin. I've had a Triptolemus type before but not with the Gaia waiting to catch the seeds.

Caracalla, 198-217 AD, Hadrianopolis, Thrace

Æ Tetrassarion 28mm 13.92g. 1h, VF, brown patina, Somewhat smoothed and with minor traces of corrosion

Obverse: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡ CΕΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC; Caracalla head right, laureate
Reverse: ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ; Triptolemos driving biga of winged serpents to right, spreading seeds; below, Gaia reclining to left, holding dress out in her right hand to catch the seeds and cradling two  grain ears in her left hand

References: Jurukova 308. Varbanov 3591
acquired from Leu 30 lot 1261 on Jul 14, 2024; From the Rev. Dr. Stephen Knapp Collection, formed since 1982.
 

Edited August 15 by LongShanks

[AETHER]

Corinthia, Uncertain colony Circa 350 BC, Silver Stater. Cannot afford a better example..

 

8.28g, 20mm

Pegasus flying left, monogram below

Head of Athena right, wearing a Corinthian helmet, Phrygian helmet right to the left.

Pegasi II p 629 2

 

 

ref CNG 75, lot 305 - same dies

[robinjojo]

Over the past month or so there appears to be a hoard of tetradrachms of Seleukos I Nikator, hitting the market.  I am not sure about its origin, but I suspect that it might have come out of Iran.  I'm still looking into that.

The coins appear to generally mid to high grade, with some examples showing hoard deposits.

Back in late May I ordered one of these coins.  Though very expensive, for me, it seemed a good time to pick up one of these coins for type.  The coin was shipped Priority Express, and it never arrived.  True to my rotten luck the USPS managed to lose one of the most expensive coins that I have ever purchased!  Needless to day I was very disappointed but not deterred.  So I ordered another from the same seller, and that coin did arrive safely last week.

Seleucus I Nikator, tetradrachm, Susa Mint, ca. 304–294 BC.

SC 173.12

17.00 grams

Obverse: Bust of Alexander the Great, with the features of Seleukos, as Dionysos to right, wearing Attic helmet covered with a panther skin and adorned with bull's ear and horns, ear guards lowered and panther skin tied around neck.

Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ Nike standing right, placing wreath on top of a trophy of arms to her right; to lower left, Η; between Nike and trophy, ΑΧ.

 

This coin is a lovely example, but when I look at it, there is always a twinge of sadness about the one that was lost.  I was refunded the cost of that coin, but the fact that such a scarce and historical coin is somewhere out there in the world at large tempers the ownership of this coin.  Such a waste!

I guess context is important, and the best thing, which I am sure time will assist, is to move on.

Edited August 20 by robinjojo

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

That's a really cool coin.  I'm glad that you received the second one.  It seems that late May was a bad time for the USPS.  My much less expensive coin also went bye-bye during that period.

Wouldn't it be wild if both our lost coins suddenly show up?

[Phil Anthos]

My latest is an example of a Tarentine 'trade dollar' as it were, the so-called Campano-Tarentine didrachm. This one sports a cool rhyton with a goat's head.

Taras, Calabria

272-240/35 BC AR Didrachm (19mm, 7.16g) O: Diademed head of nymph Satyra, wearing triple-drop earring. R: Youth on horseback right, crowning horse; dolphin swimming downward to right, rhyton with goat's head below, TA above. D'Andrea XLIII, 1335; Vlasto 1034; SNG France 1974; SNG ANS 1299-1300; SNG Cop 907 ex Aegean Numismatics

Taras enjoyed a strong trade in their terracotta items, votives and pottery, etc. Here is a Tarentine rhyton I had a chance to see at the SAM when I was in Seattle with a friend ten years ago, this one with a griffin head.

~ Peter 

Edited August 20 by Phil Anthos

[Phil Anthos]

Here's another coin from Taras, this one a diobol I bought cheap but slabbed. It is now formerly slabbed and in my collection...

Taras, Calabria

281-276 BC AR Diobol (12mm, 1.12g) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone. R: Herakles kneeling right, left leg bent, strangling the Nemean lion; grasshopper above, club behind. D'Andrea XLI, 1028; D'Andrea Diobols Series G, Type 180; Vlasto 1027-28v; SNG ANS 1421; HN Italy 976 Very rare ex Aegean Numismatics This coin is a rare variety of a fairly common type. Most sources only site the Herakles kneeling on both knees type, while this specimen with the left leg bent is far more rare.

[Phil Anthos]

From Herakleia in Lucania...

Herakleia, Lucania

281-272 BC AE17 (17.5mm, 5.07g) O: Head of Demeter left, wreathed in grain. R: Ear of grain; ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΩΝ downward to right. Van Keuren 153; SNG ANS 99; HGC 1, 1010; HN Italy 1442 Scarce ex Aphrodite Coins

Edited August 21 by Phil Anthos
Replaced image

[akeady]

I've been remiss with taking photos recently, but finally attacked a growing pile of coins this week.

Here's a Roman Republican as from a Lucernae auction in March.   They sold it as an example of Cr. 56/2, the common anonymous issue - even with a little authenticity note.   However, it's actually Cr. 149/1a, which is quite scarce.   It's heavy, but I should probably weigh it myself, as only going on the seller's figures.

Gens:	Mamilia
Moneyer:	L. Mamilius
Coin:	Bronze As I - Laureate head of Janus ROMA / L·MAMILI - Prow, right; above, Ulysses holding staff in left hand
Mint:	Rome (ca. 189-180 BC)
Wt./Size/Axis:	42.97g / 37mm / -
References:	Sydenham 369 Crawford 149/1a RBW 660
Acquisition:	Lucernae Numismatics Online auction Decimanovena XIX #232 24-Mar-2024

ATB,
Aidan.

[AETHER]

Recently got interested in making a Julio Claudian collection of sort.. so I picked this up to add... Wonder how deep I can build this..

[Orange Julius]

Here’s a newer one with a less common legend ending for Galerius. It has some slight porosity and a bit of a weak strike on the obverse, but still a nice addition.

Galerius Maximian. AE Follis. 303-305 AD. Trier. MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C, laureate, cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, tower on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae. S-F across fields, Mintmark: PTR. RIC VI Trier 594b.

[Croatian Coin Collector]

Roman Billon Antoninianus of Probus (minted in Siscia in 279):

 

[Phil Anthos]

A uncommon litra from Taras, and I haven't found it in D'Andrea (yet)...

Taras, Calabria

470-450 BC AR Litra (10mm, 0.87g) O: Scallop shell within linear border. R: Head of nymph Satyra right, hair tied in topknot. Vlasto 1171; D'Andrea----; HN Italy 840 Scarce From the Avarae collection. ex Harlan Berk; ex CNG; ex Herakles Numismatics

Edited August 24 by Phil Anthos

[Lelouch]

Not my latest coin, but wanted to post my first coin as my first post. Bought in March, right before Roma closed. Was just reading the threads about them now.

Octopus / Blank
Populonia (Etruria) - 1 As
Roma Auction XXX - Lot 10
Numista 152079

 

[Ten-Speed]

 

Here is a recent purchase of Domitian. I find the green patina to be very alluring. I have just received a Canon A 590 camera so this is my first photo not using the camera in the computer.; I was able to get this reasonable obverse but I think it would be clearer if I had a camera stand. But perhaps this is a step in the right direction. Domitian is known, among other things, for his persecution of Christians.

RIC II 707 Rome; AD 90-91; Obverse Radiate Head (Right); Reverse Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia. I don't know the meaning or significance of "rudder." Is it for a ship.

Now there's just some sizing issues to figure out...

 

 

 

Edited August 25 by Ten-Speed

[CPK]

18 hours ago, Lelouch said:

Not my latest coin, but wanted to post my first coin as my first post. Bought in March, right before Roma closed. Was just reading the threads about them now.

Octopus / Blank
Populonia (Etruria) - 1 As
Roma Auction XXX - Lot 10
Numista 152079

 

A very cool first coin. 🙂 Welcome to the Forum!

[robinjojo]

Here's an unusual coin, at least terms of denomination.  It is a didrachm, South Arabia, Qataban Kingdom.  The examples from this kingdom that I had to this point were a few tetradrachms and a hemidrachm. 

Given the rarity and expense of this coin I don't anticipate acquiring any additional examples.

South Arabia,, Qataban Kingdom, didrachm, k (South Arabian mark of value) on cheek, c. 350-320/00 BC.

Van Alfen, Studies QII.A; CAF 1.0.2; Huth 339–40; HGC 10, 708.

7.08 grams

Struck on a narrow flan.  Hoard patina.

 

Edited August 25 by robinjojo

[seth77]

Another Lucilla, this time from Amphipolis in Macedonia: