Post your latest ancient!

[Lelouch]

I bought this coin from Vcoins recently. While it is a good ole Arethusa / Octopus litra. The particular design of Arethusa on this is quite rare and this was not mentioned in the original description.

Sicily Syracuse AR silver Litra, 2nd. Democracy, 420-415 BC. 11 mm / 0.69 grams. Arethusa / Octopus.

On acsearch I count three other examples, this being the fourth. Interestingly the latest sale in 2021 Roma only counts 1 other than itself though. Roma as well seems to confidently date it to 420-415 BC, so I used that as it was the latest as well.

1. MINE Senatus Consulto - SKU: 1201482, 13.09.2024
2. Roma - E-Sale 81 - Lot 51, 25.02.2021 f fdf
3. Stack's - January 2016 NYINC Auction - Lot 31031, 08.01.2016 (previously Stack's - August 2015 ANA Auction - Lot 33014, 12.08.2015)
4. Stack's - April 2010 Coin Galleries Sale - Lot 66, 28.04.2010

All of these however have both different obverse dies and reverse die as can be seen by looking at the obverse noses, and the position of the lettering of the legend of the reverse dies.

Boehringer lists 4 as well, 729-33, I believe mine might be a match to 732, especially considering the positioning of the P on the reverse. There is also a reference to HGC 2 1377 according to the Roma sala, if you have a picture of that (and/or HGC 2 1375) as well, would appreciate it.

Edited September 30 by Lelouch

[CPK]

1 minute ago, Lelouch said:

I bought this coin from Vcoins recently. While it is a good ole Arethusa / Octopus litra. The particular design of Arethusa on this is quite rare and this was not mentioned in the original description.

Sicily Syracuse AR silver Litra, 2nd. Democracy, 420-415 BC. 11 mm / 0.69 grams. Arethusa / Octopus.

On acsearch I count three other examples, this being the fourth. Interestingly the latest sale in 2021 Roma only counts 1 other than itself though. Roma as well seems to confidently date it to 420-415 BC, so I used that as it was the latest as well.

1. MINE Senatus Consulto - SKU: 1201482, 13.09.2024
2. Roma - E-Sale 81 - Lot 51, 25.02.2021 f fdf
3. Stack's - January 2016 NYINC Auction - Lot 31031, 08.01.2016 (previously Stack's - August 2015 ANA Auction - Lot 33014, 12.08.2015)
4. Stack's - April 2010 Coin Galleries Sale - Lot 66, 28.04.2010

All of these however have both different obverse dies and reverse die as can be seen by looking at the obverse noses, and the position of the lettering of the legend of the reverse dies.

Boehringer lists 4 as well, 729-33, I believe mine might be a match to 732, especially considering the positioning of the P on the reverse. There is also a reference to HGC 2 1377 according to the Roma sala, if you have a picture of that (and/or HGC 2 1375) as well, would appreciate it.

 

 

You are building quite an impressive octopus collection!

[Gumrum]

I love checking in on this thread and seeing all of your latest ancients!

Currently, I'm awaiting the arrival of what I believe is a lovely example of Aurelian. I'm particularly fond of the more realistic proportions depicted on this coin, whereas most of Aurelian's portraits suffer from having either a very wide or very long neck!

Obv: Bust of Aurelian, radiate, draped, right | IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Imperator Aurelianus Augustus Supreme commander (Imperator), Aurelian, emperor
Rev: Aurelian, standing right before Roma, helmeted, draped, seated left on shield, holding spear in right hand and Victory in left hand | ROMAE AETERNAE Romae Aeternae [Everlasting Rome]
 

Edited September 30 by Gumrum
Clicked save too early!

[shanxi]

A new Faustina II Sestertius

Faustina II

Sestertius
Av.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Bust of Faustina the Younger, draped, hair elaborately waved and fastened in a low chignon at back of head.
Rv.: VENVS VICTRIX S C, Venus, draped, standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and resting left hand on shield on which are the she-wolf and twins.
AE, 27.5g, 31.4mm
Ref.: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1688

 

[shanxi]

Another Faustina II

This is quite worn, and someone has obviously treated deep corrosion spots.

Faustina II
Sestertius
Av.: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, Bust of Faustina the Younger, draped, hair elaborately waved (Beckmann hairstyle 10)
Rv.: CONSECRATIO S C, Faustina II with veil floating in a semicircle behind her, holding sceptre in her right hand, seated left on peacock soaring right, with wings spread
AE, 23.4g, 30mm
Ref.: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1702

[Robi]

On 9/4/2024 at 5:38 PM, Limes said:

One of my latest additions deserves its own thread. But I've noticed there are quite a few threads already about this issue and the same reverse by other emperors. So I'll briefly point out this thread by @ValiantKnight and just show my issue below. I'm really happy having added this lovely albeit worn specimen to my collection. It fits neatly with my other three 'ancient wonder coins'. Four more to go. 

 

Hadrian
Rule:  117 - 138 AD
Drachm, 34 mm, 26,09 gr
Mint: Alexandria, Egypt
Obv:  AVT KAIC TPAIAN AΔ[PIANOC CЄB], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right
Rev: Isis Pharia standing to right, holding billowing sail with both hands; to right, the Pharos of Alexandria surmounted by two Tritons, each blowing a trumpet; between them is a lantern surmounted by a statue, holding situla and sceptre; entryway below on left; L IH (date) above 
Ref: RPC Online 5895, Dattari 1768 (via webarchive.org)
Ex: Romancoinshop, 2024

 

@Limes Despite the coin being some worn out it is a beauty and historically significant coin! I have only a hemidrachm, worn diobol of a Domitian with Pharos.

[CassiusMarcus]

I just got him today! 

My first aureus 😄 
 

[Prieure de Sion]

3 hours ago, CassiusMarcus said:

My first aureus 😄 

Great example!

[Al Kowsky]

8 hours ago, CassiusMarcus said:

I just got him today! 

My first aureus 😄 
 

Congrats on a great score 🤩! I remember watching that coin sell on CNG Feature Auction 127, Ex Wayne Scheible Collection. The coin sold for well over two times estimate, but still a great buy.

[CassiusMarcus]

10 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

Congrats on a great score 🤩! I remember watching that coin sell on CNG Feature Auction 127, Ex Wayne Scheible Collection. The coin sold for well over two times estimate, but still a great buy.

Indeed,  

I dont even know if it is worth looking at the estimate sometimes set by any auction house  😅

Often times means nothing. The Seleukos Nikator tet which was my primary target had an estimate of I think 10k and it went to 26k - bonkers 😮

[Croatian Coin Collector]

Roman Silver Denarius of Geta (minted in Rome sometime between 200 and 202):

 

[red_spork]

I've been super busy lately with a cross country move, selling and now buying a house and haven't bought any coins in a few months but recently a coin I was offered privately was just too tempting to say "no" too. It's a type I've wanted for quite some time. The use of Marsyas here is a pun on the moneyer's name, Marcius.

Roman Republic AR Denarius(3.86g), L Marcius Censorinus, 82 BC, Rome mint. Laureate head of Apollo right. Border of dots / Marsyas walking left with right arm raised and holding wine-skin over left shoulder; behind, column bearing statue on top. Border of dots. Crawford 363/1d

Ex Jason Irving Collection via private purchase, 27 September 2024, ex Tauler y Fau Auction 141, 22 April 2024, lot 520, ex JD Collection Part II, NAC 72, 16 May 2013, lot 1181

[Prieure de Sion]

The type Gordianus III Prieur 282 is anything but not rare, but there are simply beautiful coins, so I only look at the exterior 😉 - Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, but I think this coin is simply beautiful.
 
Gordianus III (AD 238-244). Syria. Antioch. BI tetradrachm (28mm, 12.95g, 7h). NGC AU. AD 240. AYTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right, seen from behind / ΔHMAPX ЄΞOYCIAC, eagle standing facing on ground line, head and tail left, wings spread, wreath in beak; S C in exergue. Prieur 282. McAlee 860. RPC VII.2, 3488.

  

[seth77]

A large AE nominal from the late reign of Elagabal at Seleucia:

AE32mm 16g orichalcum(?) multiple (obol?), minted ca. 221(?)
ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΡ ΑΥ [ϹΕ]; radiate head of Elagabalus, left / Ϲ.Ε.Λ countermark in rectangular cartouche
ϹΕΛΕΥΚΕΩΝ; thunderbolt on draped throne.
RPC VI 8119

This Syrian large AE nominal was probably meant to be an obol (as marked on some issues RPC 8122-8124) and due to style and flan appearance being very close to the issues for Alexander, it should probably date late in the reign of Elagabal. RPC assigns it to Group 3, the very last coinage under Elagabal.

The countermark (RPC 689) is known on coins from both Elagabal and Alexander but only on this large denomination -- possibly applied at a time after the reign of Alexander locally in Seleucia, since new minting here stops with Alexander.

The same obverse die was used for an issue of Antioch (Butcher 479, RPC VI 8026). Seems to be a scarce occurrence both at Seleucia and Antioch and adds to the info regarding a likely centralization of coinages for multiple cities and towns to one/several workshop(s) carving the dies for the metropolis of Antioch and other cities and possibly even smaller towns in Syria Coele, Phoenice, etc. Further double die-match here.

[zadie]

I recently had the fortune of acquiring a very rare and early denarius of Galba. That alone would have been good enough but as it happens it also has a very nice pedigree. I'm happy to know four named collections this coin has resided in.

Galba, 68-69. Denarius. Mint in Gaul (Vindobona?) circa April-December 68. 3,49 g. SER GALBA IMP, Galba on horseback left, raising hand in salute / VIRTVS, Helmeted bust of Virtus right. RIC I 93. From the collections of Frederick S. Knobloch (Stack's 1 May 1980, Lot 264); V.J.E. Ryan (Glendining 2 April 1952, Lot 2119); Arthur Löbbecke (Adolph Hess Nachfolger 6 January 1926, Lot 994); Johann Horsky (Adolph Hess Nachfolger 30 April 1917, Lot 2975).

This coin was most likely struck by C. Julius Vindex on behalf of Galba shortly after he was hailed as imperator on 2 April 68.

In hand:

Edited Thursday at 10:05 PM by zadie

[akeady]

On 9/30/2024 at 1:13 AM, Lelouch said:

I bought this coin from Vcoins recently. While it is a good ole Arethusa / Octopus litra. The particular design of Arethusa on this is quite rare and this was not mentioned in the original description.

Sicily Syracuse AR silver Litra, 2nd. Democracy, 420-415 BC. 11 mm / 0.69 grams. Arethusa / Octopus.

On acsearch I count three other examples, this being the fourth. Interestingly the latest sale in 2021 Roma only counts 1 other than itself though. Roma as well seems to confidently date it to 420-415 BC, so I used that as it was the latest as well.

1. MINE Senatus Consulto - SKU: 1201482, 13.09.2024
2. Roma - E-Sale 81 - Lot 51, 25.02.2021 f fdf
3. Stack's - January 2016 NYINC Auction - Lot 31031, 08.01.2016 (previously Stack's - August 2015 ANA Auction - Lot 33014, 12.08.2015)
4. Stack's - April 2010 Coin Galleries Sale - Lot 66, 28.04.2010

All of these however have both different obverse dies and reverse die as can be seen by looking at the obverse noses, and the position of the lettering of the legend of the reverse dies.

Boehringer lists 4 as well, 729-33, I believe mine might be a match to 732, especially considering the positioning of the P on the reverse. There is also a reference to HGC 2 1377 according to the Roma sala, if you have a picture of that (and/or HGC 2 1375) as well, would appreciate it.

Here they are...

ATB,
Aidan.

[CPK]

I recently upgraded my Fausta portrait coin. The old one had a provenance to the Dattari Collection, but this one features a better portrait IMO, is struck on a better flan, and has a nice patina for greater overall eye appeal.

FAUSTA as Augusta, AD 324-326
AE3 (20.76mm, 3.61g, 1h)
Struck AD 326. Rome mint
Obverse: FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG, bust of Fausta wearing necklace and mantle right
Reverse: SPES REI-PVBLICAE, Spes (or Fausta as Spes) veiled and draped, standing front, head left, holding two children; R [wreath] P in exergue
References: RIC VII 292 (R4), RCV 16567
Dark green patina. A rare type with an attractive portrait.

[Kamnaskires]

At first glance the coin below might appear to simply be a nice, but unspectacular, 3rd-2nd century BC Seleucid tetradrachm with the usual Apollo-seated-on-omphalos reverse iconography. However, you may note that the reverse-left lettering doesn't spell out any of the Seleucid names you might expect to see, such as ANTIOXOY, ΔHMHTPIOY (Demetrios), or ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (Alexander, for Alexander I Balas).

Instead, the king's name here starts with KAMN. (The full Greek name that appears is KAMNIΣKIPOY and at the bottom is NIKH for NIKHΦOPOY - the victorious.) This rare coin is actually a very early issue of Elymais. It was minted at Susa and is attributed to Kamnaskires II Nikephoros. As you can see, the earliest coinage of Elymais borrowed its iconography from the Seleucids - and, for a time during the late second century BC, control of Susa vacillated between the Seleucids, Elymaeans, and Parthians. I suspect that some (most?) of the die engravers and other mint workers in Susa may have stayed on while governmental control became a revolving door.

Although Kamnaskires II Nikephoros is usually recognized to have been the second king of Elymais, some scholars (Assar and Hansman) believe that there was actually no predecessor - that there was no king of Elymais before him. They believe that the king Kamnaskires I Soter, who many recognize as an earlier (and the first) ruler of Elymais, was actually the same individual as Kamnaskires II Nikephoros rather than, as some believe, his father. 

The coin has "issues" but is still pretty exceptional for the type. In fact, it's nearly impossible to obtain a tet from the Early Kamnaskirid Dynasty that doesn't have at least some preservation problems along with evidence of smoothing or outright tooling. CNG's listing for this coin mentioned "minor obverse smoothing," which is undoubtedly correct. But, with the coin now in hand, and now seeing it under magnification, I can add that there seems to have been some sort of filler (Pb?) applied in parts, prior to that obverse smoothing. So, sadly, the coin comes with evidence of "work" being done in some areas. However, the majority of the devices seems untouched - and the die engraving was impressive. Given the extreme rarity of the coin, as well as the artistry that still shines through, I'm happy to have it despite the problems.

Kamnaskires II Nikephoros

AR tetradrachm, c. 147 - 139 BC
Van't Haaff 2.1.1-2b
Ex-Saeed S. Ghobash Collection

Edited Friday at 01:25 AM by Kamnaskires

[Prieure de Sion]

A Koson gold stater is nothing absolutely rare, yet these coins fetch a certain minimum price at every auction - although, as written, they are available at auctions every few weeks and months. It is probably due to the “reputation of the coin” that the coins were used to finance Brutus' campaign against the Caesarians, among other things. This naturally sells well.
 
According to my current knowledge, there are four possible scenarios:
 
1) The Koson Gold Stater were actually struck by an allied king in support of Brutus' campaign.
 
2. the coins are merely a regional prince who - like other regional rulers - simply imitates a coin, in this case a design of the Roman Republic (in this case two designs).
 
3. it is the (historical) Geto-Dacian king Kotison, who repeatedly undertook raids into northern Thrace and Scythia. As there is said to have been an attempted marriage between his daughter and Octavian, the issue would have been later than in Brutus' time - see also: https://www.muenzen-online.com/post/die-gold-und-sibermünzen-des-koson
 
4. these gold staters were first discovered in the 16th century, before that this type of coin was apparently completely unknown. The hoard finds must have been considerable when you see what was and is offered in bulk at auctions. I am still slightly skeptical as to whether these coins actually date from the turn of the century / Roman Republic. In this context, is there any information on when and where the silver Koson staters appeared? They have been appearing more and more in stores in recent months - all of a sudden.
 
If anyone has any further, more recent information about the Koson Stater, I would be delighted to read about it.
 
And of course I don't want to withhold this “new” Gold Stater from you.
 
 
Pedigree: From the Euclidean Collection
 
KOSON GOLD STATER; King of the Scyths, probably Military mint for Marcus Iunius Brutus; Reign: Geto-Dacians Epoch, Roman Republic, Civil War; Mint: Probably Olbia (?), King of the Scyths; Date: ca. 44/42 BC; Nominal: Stater; Material: Gold; Diameter: 18mm; Weight: 8.62g; Die Axis: 12h; Reference: RPC I 1701A; Reference: BMC Thrace 208; Reference: Bahrfeldt, Berliner Münzblätter 1912, 366–81; Obverse: Procession of Consul Marcus Iunius Brutus and two lictors, left; the foremost and hindmost carrying an axe over shoulder. Monogram in the field; Inscription: KOSON ΟΛΒ; Translation: Koson Olbia (?); Reverse: Eagle standing, left, on sceptre, holding wreath in on claw.

 

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

A Koson gold stater is nothing absolutely rare, yet these coins fetch a certain minimum price at every auction - although, as written, they are available at auctions every few weeks and months. It is probably due to the “reputation of the coin” that the coins were used to finance Brutus' campaign against the Caesarians, among other things. This naturally sells well.
 
According to my current knowledge, there are four possible scenarios:
 
1) The Koson Gold Stater were actually struck by an allied king in support of Brutus' campaign.
 
2. the coins are merely a regional prince who - like other regional rulers - simply imitates a coin, in this case a design of the Roman Republic (in this case two designs).
 
3. it is the (historical) Geto-Dacian king Kotison, who repeatedly undertook raids into northern Thrace and Scythia. As there is said to have been an attempted marriage between his daughter and Octavian, the issue would have been later than in Brutus' time - see also: https://www.muenzen-online.com/post/die-gold-und-sibermünzen-des-koson
 
4. these gold staters were first discovered in the 16th century, before that this type of coin was apparently completely unknown. The hoard finds must have been considerable when you see what was and is offered in bulk at auctions. I am still slightly skeptical as to whether these coins actually date from the turn of the century / Roman Republic. In this context, is there any information on when and where the silver Koson staters appeared? They have been appearing more and more in stores in recent months - all of a sudden.
 
If anyone has any further, more recent information about the Koson Stater, I would be delighted to read about it.
 
And of course I don't want to withhold this “new” Gold Stater from you.
 
 
Pedigree: From the Euclidean Collection
 
KOSON GOLD STATER; King of the Scyths, probably Military mint for Marcus Iunius Brutus; Reign: Geto-Dacians Epoch, Roman Republic, Civil War; Mint: Probably Olbia (?), King of the Scyths; Date: ca. 44/42 BC; Nominal: Stater; Material: Gold; Diameter: 18mm; Weight: 8.62g; Die Axis: 12h; Reference: RPC I 1701A; Reference: BMC Thrace 208; Reference: Bahrfeldt, Berliner Münzblätter 1912, 366–81; Obverse: Procession of Consul Marcus Iunius Brutus and two lictors, left; the foremost and hindmost carrying an axe over shoulder. Monogram in the field; Inscription: KOSON ΟΛΒ; Translation: Koson Olbia (?); Reverse: Eagle standing, left, on sceptre, holding wreath in on claw.

 

P. de Sion, Calgary Coin published useful information on Koson Staters.

https://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/articles/koson/koson.htm

Pictured below is a Koson stater I scored from Freeman & Sear 19 years ago.

[Prieure de Sion]

5 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

Pictured below is a Koson stater I scored from Freeman & Sear 19 years ago.

Your Stater is type A. My Stater was type B. There are three known Gold Stater types. 
 

A - simple Monogram, but with detailed axes

B - expanded Monogram, but only sticks 

C - without any Monogram

[Mucius Scaevola]

Tiberius „Tribute Penny“. I think we all know this type, so I will not bother you with the details again 😉 but needs some new pictures.

3,69g

 

Edited Friday at 05:37 PM by Mucius Scaevola
Change of picture

[shanxi]

Thrace, Lysimacheia

A strange type of coin. All these coins from Lysimacheia were overstruck on older coins. In some cases, as here, the original coins were larger than the dies used for the overstriking. In addition, all specimens were countermarked on the obverse.

Thrace, Lysimacheia

Av.: Youthful head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress; c/m: lion head

Rv.: Artemis standing to right, holding torch; ΛΥΣΙ-ΜΑΧΕΩΝ around.

AE, 24 mm., 9,17 g

Ref.: SNG Copenhagen 903-4; HGC 3.2, 1495

Traces of overstriking on both sides (uncertain undertype)

 

 

[shanxi]

A little bronze coin from Philomelion

PHRYGIA. Philomelion.

Late 2nd-early 1st centuries BC

Skythinos, magistrate

Obv.: Draped bust of Nike right, palm frond over shoulder.
Rev.: ΦIΛOMH,  Two cornucopias, each bound with fillet; between, star-in-crescent above thunderbolt; ΣKYΘI below.

AE, 5.42g, 19.5mm
Ref.:HGC 7, 756; SNG Copenhagen 645.

[justus]

Postumus

AR Radiatus, mint of Trier 266/267 AD.

Obv. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right (seen from front).

Rev. SAECVLO FRVGIFERO, winged caduceus.

Ref. Mairat 346 (Trier); RIC 84 (rare); RIC² 296 (Trier); AGK 78 (Trier); Cunetio 2426; Elmer 381 (Köln).

Weight: 4.22g Diameter: 20-22mm. Axis: 1 o'clock.

Ex. Kölner Münz Kabinett Auktion 121 Los 1245; ex. CNG, Auktion 39, 1996, Los 1643.

Edited 4 hours ago by justus