Post your latest ancient!

[wuntbedruv]

Recently I've been cultivating a little mahogany cabinet of Greek and Roman Provincial 'ancient curiosities', with no particular theme or focus in mind. I guess my objective is to accumulate a varied group of coins spanning a broad swathe of the ancient world - both in regards to time and space. My reason for omitting Roman Imperial coinage thus far is mostly due to the fact that I previously collected these and have a good level of knowledge on them, so acquiring material outside my comfort zone pushes the boundaries of my knowledge further as a result.

This coin was my latest addition via a CNG e-auction a few weeks back, a Greco-Baktrian bronze trichalkon of Demetrius I Aniketos, struck somewhere around c. 200-185 BC. Baktria, centred on what is today Uzbekistan/Tajikistan/northern Afghanistan, was originally one of the easternmost provinces of the Achaemenid Empire. It then came under the influence of Alexander the Great following his conquests, after which it was ruled by his general Seleucus before ceding from Seleucid control in the middle of the 3rd century BC. Its territory butted up against the Mauryan Empire of India, with which there was initially conflict - though predictably a trading relationship and exchanges of a cultural nature were cultivated. Over a century later under Demetrius' rule, as the Mauryans collapsed, the Greco-Baktrian kingdom opportunistically expanded its territory into the Indus valley.

The use of elephants on Seleucid, Greco-Baktrian and later Indo-Greek coinages is widespread and notable, occurring both as depictions of the living animal and as a mask/headdress worn by rulers in their portraits - the so-called exuvia elephantis. Their significance to the Hellenistic world as a weapon of war cannot be underestimated, though of course elephants are not just physically strong and awe-inspiring but also intelligent and sensitive creatures - attributes which the writers of the ancient world were just as attuned to as we are today. 

[Phil Anthos]

Here's another bargain coin I got at auction for $22, no big whoop...

Seleukid Kingdom, Reign of Antiochos VIII (Epiphanes)

121-97 BC AR Drachm (17mm, 3.18g) O: Head of Antiochos VIII (Grypos) right. R: Tripod; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY downward to right. HGC 9, 1209m; Newell 409; Sear 7149; BMC 4, 98,6 ex Forvm Auctions

Edited May 17 by Phil Anthos

[El Cazador]

19 hours ago, Cordoba said:

 

Beautiful, really well done!!

[seth77]

The veiled personification of the Boule of Hieropolis (not Hierapolis) of Phrygian Pentapolis:

[Sulla80]

[robinjojo]

Here are two coins from Arabia, a region that conjures images of spice trade routes, caravans, sand dunes, and Peter O'Toole riding camelback across a Super Panavision 70 screen at the local movie theater in 1960.

They are from the ancient Nabatean Kingdom during the rule of King Aretas IV.  What is interesting about these coins is the marked difference in flan size, weight and inscriptions, or lack thereof.

The coin on the left was struck on a narrow (12 mm at the widest point) yet quite thick (4 mm) flan.  The coin on the right was struck on a much wider flan, at 16 mm yet thinner flan at 3 mm.  They are representative of the wide range that coins have in terms of flan size, strike and inscriptions.

These two coins are likely the only ones to represent this particular type.  Examples that are better struck, with complete portraits, and possessing RY information are too costly for me.  While the undated sela cost only $18, it is kind of a cool coin in its own way.  The other coin was far more pricey, at $150.

Arabia, Nabataean Kingdom, Aretas IV (9 BC-AD 40), two AR selas, Petra mint.

Left: RY not visible. 4.34 grams.

Right:  RY 44 (35/6 AD).  Barkay 181; Meshorer 108.  3.74 grams.

Edited May 19 by robinjojo

[Factor]

Nabatean drachms are fascinating topic, they have very unique style and they are historically important. Also many of them are relatively affordable. I don't know many other silver coins of the first century CE that are known in a dozen or so specimens and can be purchased for $100-200. 

Last year I published a paper describing several new types: https://www.uni-muenster.de/Ejournals/index.php/ozean/article/view/4673/4760

[robinjojo]

2 hours ago, Factor said:

Nabatean drachms are fascinating topic, they have very unique style and they are historically important. Also many of them are relatively affordable. I don't know many other silver coins of the first century CE that are known in a dozen or so specimens and can be purchased for $100-200. 

Last year I published a paper describing several new types: https://www.uni-muenster.de/Ejournals/index.php/ozean/article/view/4673/4760

Thank you!  I've bookmarked the paper.

[Phil Anthos]

I just took in a stray.

While putting my latest coins away in their permanent homes I came across this one. I don't remember buying this coin at all, not when or from whom. I checked all my receipts and all the records at the vendor sites I usually use. I do vaguely remember something about Antigonos Gonatas, but overall I have to consign this one to the 'Senior Moment' category...  🤔

Macedonian Kingdom, Reign of Antigonos II Gonatas

277-239 BC AE16 (16mm, 3.85g) O: Helmeted head of Athena right. R: Pan standing right, erecting trophy; B - Φ downward to left. HGC 3, 1049; SNG Cop 1206-09; Sear 6786v ~ Peter

Edited May 20 by Phil Anthos

[Ordinary-Ride-1595]

I won this coin in the same auction with my Kimon Dekadrachm. Thought I’d share cause I like Sicilian coinage.

 

Leontini 
Tetradrachm circa 430, AR 17.11 g. 

Obv. Laureate head of Apollo 
Rev. Lions’ head, three barley grains and one leaf

 

[MrZun]

Khusrow II

Damn, these potato Chips truly are addicting

 

[ewomack]

Oh my. I did it yet again. I clicked "buy" on yet another coin online. It should arrive in a week to two (I hope). Until then, my latest ancient remains this Byzantine Leontius Constantinople follis. Which, given the state of coinage and the empire at the time (referred to as "the 20 years anarchy" on this forum and elsewhere), qualifies as a "good enough for the type" example. Definitely not a good time to be emperor. Many tongues slit, including his, many executed, including him. Despite all of that, I really like Leontius's fierce and fuzzy expression on this piece.

Leontius (695 - 698), Æ Follis, Constantinople, Obv: Legend obscure, bearded bust of emperor facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding globus cruciger, small cross in right field; Rev: large M, ANNO on left, probably year 1, officinal Δ; 23-24mm, 4.01g, MIB 32 var., Sear 1334 var.

 

[CPK]

I've had this coin for a couple years but only now got around to taking photos: a bronze prutah struck under Antonius Felix.

Felix was a freedman who had gained his governorship by the influence of his brother Pallas, Claudius's finance minister. Felix had an interesting and checkered career and was known for his corruption, avarice, and cruelty: qualities which revealed themselves in his dealings with the Apostle Paul as related in Acts 23 and 24:

"And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him...." (Acts 24:24-26, KJV)

ROMAN PROCURATORS OF JUDAEA
Time of Antonius Felix, AD 52-60
AE Prutah (16.40mm, 2.27g, 4h)
Struck AD 54. Jerusalem mint
Obverse: ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ, crossed shields in front of crossed spears
Reverse: ΒΡΙΤ ΚΑΙ above and below palm tree; L-ΙΔ across fields
References: RPC I 4971, Hendin 6377
Earthen patina. Struck under the procuratorship of Antonius Felix, the Roman governor before whom Paul appeared in Acts 23 & 24.

[MrMonkeySwag96]

I got myself a beautifully toned denarius of C. Postumius:

 

 

Roman Republic, C. Postumius, silver denarius c. 73 BC, Diana facing right with bow and quiver/hound bounding to right, spear below.

VF+, old collection tone, minor surface marks.

Cr. 394/1a

From the collection of Rudolf Hoesch (1904-1990).

[CassiusMarcus]

A new arrival today

A nice addition to my Seleucid set, I know that there is debate on whether or not this is actually Seleucus I Nikator himself, I like to think it is just for collecting sake 😆🤣

[El Cazador]

8 minutes ago, CassiusMarcus said:

A new arrival today

A nice addition to my Seleucid set, I know that there is debate on whether or not this is actually Seleucus I Nikator himself, I like to think it is just for collecting sake 😆🤣

Cool

Edited May 28 by El Cazador

[robinjojo]

This is a recent purchase out of my local coin dealer's box of ancients.  This is now the best example in terms of strike (most legends visible) engraving, and metal quality, which can vary greatly with this issue for the Melqart type. The flan has the typical oval shape of tetradrachm coinage of this period.

Trajan, AR tetradrachm, Antioch, 113/4 AD.

Wruck 168;  Prieur 1518;  McAlee 463, RPC III №: 3550.

14.83 grams 

RPC Specimens: 10 (5 in the core collections)

Obverse: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ; laureate head of Trajan, right above eagle standing right; club below head.
Reverse: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΙΗ ΥΠΑΤ Ϛ; laureate head of Melqart, with lion skin, right.

 

This is my Tyche seated type, purchased in 2020:

Trajan, tetradrachm, Antioch, 109/10 AD.

RPC Volume: III №: 3537

14.3 grams

Edited May 29 by robinjojo

[Victrix]

Trajan. AD 98-117. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.06 g, 6h). “Dacia Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck circa AD 103-107. Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Dacian captive seated right in attitude of mourning at foot of trophy. RIC II 222; Woytek 190b; RSC 537a.

[AETHER]

Dual portrait from Alexandria..

I think this may be correct attribution;

Material: Billon

EGYPT ALEXANDER, UNDER TIBERIUS, Laureate head of Tiberius r.,

 Rv. Head of the deified Augustus with radiate crown. 23mm / 13.3g. Geissen 49, RPC I, 5090.?

however I can't tell the year or much of the legend

 

[DonnaML]

1 hour ago, AETHER said:

Dual portrait from Alexandria..

I think this may be correct attribution;

Material: Billon

EGYPT ALEXANDER, UNDER TIBERIUS, Laureate head of Tiberius r.,

 Rv. Head of the deified Augustus with radiate crown. 23mm / 13.3g. Geissen 49, RPC I, 5090.?

however I can't tell the year or much of the legend

 

It could be RPC I 5090, since one can clearly see the "LI" on the lower right of the obverse, but it's very difficult to read the last number. So it could also be RPC I 5092, 5094, 5097, 5098, 5100, 5102, or 5104, all of which also apparently have Tiberius facing right and Divus Augustus facing left. You can try comparing the photos to see which type has a final number that looks the most like yours.

Edited May 31 by DonnaML

[KenDorney]

I've been way behind processing new coins to the collection, so here is a small group of recent things.

[robinjojo]

This tetradrachm is a recent purchase from Roma.  Nothing rare here, actually quite a common type, but attractive despite the off-center reverse and obverse flan crack.

Thrace, Maroneia tetradrachm, circa 189/8-49/5 BC.  From Roma E-Sale 119, day 1, lot 493.

Head of young Dionysos to right, wearing taenia and ivy wreath / Dionysos standing nude to left, holding bunch of grapes, two spears and cloak; ΔIONYΣOY to right, ΣΩTHPOΣ to left, monogram to inner left and inner right, MAPΩNITΩN in exergue. Schönert-Geiss 1262 (V77/R261); HGC 3.2, 1556. 15.94g, 32mm, 12h.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

On 5/31/2024 at 1:06 PM, KenDorney said:

I've been way behind processing new coins to the collection, so here is a small group of recent things.

What's the top right green coin?

[KenDorney]

3 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

What's the top right green coin?

Caracalla:

[Romancollector]

This is definitely not my latest ancient, but it is the most recent one I have photographed.

 Nero (AD 54-68)

Æ Pentassarion (33mm, 25.45 g, 1h). Thrace, Perinthos. AD 59-63. ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, Laureate head left / ΠEPIN/ΘIΩN in two lines within oak wreath. Schönert, Perinthos 234; RPC online 1754 (this coin); Varbanov 20.

 

Ex Wild Rose/Terence Cheesman Collection; CNG Electronic Auction Triton XXVII (17 January 2024), lot 5413; CNG Electronic Auction 233 (26 May 2010), lot 274; CNG Feature Auction 75 (23 May 2007), lot 789; CNG Feature Auction 73 (13 September 2006), lot 699.