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I’ve been searching for a denarius of Macrinus with a short beard, a well-executed portrait, and good centring. Surprisingly, it took me longer than expected to find the right coin — just in time before he becomes a movie star in November.

It appears that the earliest coins of Macrinus depicted him with a short beard, while later issues showed him with medium and long beards. Emperors with such rather short beards supposedly triggered the 'Crisis of the Third Century' (according to @Shea19 on cointalk).

image.jpeg.8be31e92e937056b5864e680ef277c8d.jpeg

Macrinus (AD 217 - 218). Minted AD 217,  Rome. 19 mm. 3,11 g.
Obv: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG. 
Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI. Diminutive Macrinus beside Jupiter.
RIC 76

Edited by Salomons Cat
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Maximinus II Daia

Æ Maiorina, Trier 306-307 AD.

Obv. GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C, laureate, cuirassed bust right.

Rev. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, loins draped, holding patera and cornucopiae. S – F across fields. Mintmark PTR.

Weight: 10.73 g. Diameter: 28 mm. Axis: 12 12 o'clock.

Ex. Gut-Lynt Auktion 17 Los 382.

 

IMG_6715.jpg

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This poor coin never had a chance, being struck from worn dies (especially the obverse!). Certainly less of a chance than Herakles playing with his friends. But I got it to match up with my right facing Athena with a similar reverse, and because it was cheap...

Taras, Calabria

240/35-212 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.71g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone.
R: Infant Herakles, nude, strangling a serpent with each hand; TA above left, thunderbolt in exergue.
D'Andrea Diobols I, 274; Vlasto 1454-59; SNG ANS 1472; SNG Cop 1014
Scarce
ex Auctiones GmbH

5986167_1724921402.l~5.jpg

Edited by Phil Anthos
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This wasn't good enough to be a standalone post, but this is my first solo Albinus, and first Albinus imperial.  It's also my first buy from CGB.  There's been quite a few coins over the years that I've been tempted with but the generally high prices chased me away.  This one wasn't outrageously priced and I saved 10 Euros by buying direct from the website.  Shipping was very fast and it was well-packed.  Had something gone wrong I also suspect that customer service would have been very good.

The coin has an attractive green patina and the price was really not that bad.

I like to drop in order-filler coins, but the Gordian III Antoninianus, the cheapest coin I could find on their site, is really too ugly to post. It is, however,my first Gordy Ant purchase, and it's been 30 years since my previous Gordian Ant, a present.  I decided that 30 years was long enough.

Im not familiar with some of the references (also the mysterious GAD mentioned for the Gordian.  I'm guessing that SIR is related to MIR?  I also have no clue what the H.2 refers to.

ClodiusAlbinusCaesar-193-195-AESestertius-27mm15_73g.greenpatinaR2.jpg.2d460a9f8183826db1a215a50abd2c65.jpg

Translated CGB description:

Comments on the condition:
Short and centered flan. Pleasant portrait of the emperor on the obverse. Reverse a little more worn. Green patina
Catalogue references:
C.49 (30f. or) - RIC.54 a - H.2/120 - RCV.6151 ($300 in Fine) - SIR.24
Obverse
Obverse legend: [D - CLOD SEPT - ALBIN CAES].
Obverse description: Laureate head of Clodius albinus to the right (O*).
Obverse translation: “Decimus Clodius Septimius albinus Cæsar”, (Decimus Clodius Albin césar).
Reverse
Reverse legend: [MINER - PACIF COS II]/ S|C.
Reverse description: Helmeted and draped Minerva standing to the left, holding a laurel branch in her right hand and, in her left, a spear and a shield.
Reverse translation: "Minerva Pacifera", (Minerva who brings peace, consul for the second time).
Commentary
Lightweight.

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Posted (edited)

Here's a budget coin that I picked up recently for $13.50, plus sales tax and shipping, so $20.48 total.

I purchased the coin for the countermark, the first that I have seen for this type, though I've read that such countermarks are fairly common.  Still, it is an interesting example from an obscure kingdom and king.

Characene, Attambelos IV, 54/55-64/65 AD, Æ tetradrachm.  Obverse countermark Dobbins type 1;  reverse variety 2 (Hercules seated left and holding his club down).

14.20 grams

As is typical for this type the SE date in the reverse exergue is missing.  The countermark is quite bold and neatly placed on the neck.  It seems that countermarks were located in this manner to avoid placing it on the king's face, a definite no-no!  Dobbins mentions in his article that this type of countermark was probably an official one.

This coin is a later issue, with Attambelos IV sporting a short beard.

D-CameraCharaceneAttambelosIV54-55-64-65ADtetCMDobbinstype1var2(clubdown)14_20g.jpg.e4c2a5c4b1b4fde7c03a21b3f8a9e824.jpg

For more information on the countermarked coinage of Attambelos IV, here's a link to the Dobbins article:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000025519863&view=1up&seq=1&q1="american+journal+of+numismatics"

 

Edited by robinjojo
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I purchased this nice respectable as of Titus earlier this year. I like the portrait (and it also happens to be a rare type.)

 

TitusasAequitas.jpg.06afd2d2532c0f354480103cb3f9dc14.jpg

TITUS as Caesar, AD 69-79
AE As (27.39mm, 11.84g, 6h)
Struck AD 76. Rome mint
Obverse: T CAESAR IMP COS V, laureate head of Titus right
Reverse: AEQVITAS AVGVST, Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and long vertical rod in left
References: RIC II 911 (R), RCV -
A rare type. Excellent portrait of Titus in fine style.

 

 

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This fell onto my doormat this morning courtesy of Aegean Numismatics. 

Septimius Severus, drachm of Caesarea (Cappadocia). Regnal year 13 (AD 204-205). Obv: AV K Λ CЄΠ CЄOVHPOC - Laureate head right. Rev: MHTPO KAICAPI / ЄT IΓ - Mount Argaeus surmounted by statue, crescent in right field.

image.jpeg.7f033ad64c1261e57aeeeea5e9a95b93.jpegWhatsAppImage2024-10-09at19_26.27(1).jpeg.777816f586ec1f4ff6d87f82e35cff72.jpeg

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Posted · Supporter
29 minutes ago, wuntbedruv said:

This fell onto my doormat this morning courtesy of Aegean Numismatics. 

Septimius Severus, drachm of Caesarea (Cappadocia). Regnal year 13 (AD 204-205). Obv: AV K Λ CЄΠ CЄOVHPOC - Laureate head right. Rev: MHTPO KAICAPI / ЄT IΓ - Mount Argaeus surmounted by statue, crescent in right field.

image.jpeg.7f033ad64c1261e57aeeeea5e9a95b93.jpegWhatsAppImage2024-10-09at19_26.27(1).jpeg.777816f586ec1f4ff6d87f82e35cff72.jpeg

Wow, that's a lovely coin! 🤩

But, it looks like there was a mistake and this one was supposed to go to @TIF. 😉  

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Purchased this from a friend earlier this week. He bought from Ed Waddell a couple years back and at the time I told him I'd have absolutely bought it had he not beat me to it. I'm glad I got a second chance. This quinarius comes from a medium sized, well engraved issue that Crawford assigns to an "uncertain mint". I suspect, based on the spike on the helmet reminiscent of Crawford 68 along with the reverse cape style and overall angular obverse style, that it hails from Sicily.

coin-cabinet-lgCpP5-stitched-1600.jpg.abb31df5c673079749b8b2891e6fbfc7.jpg

Roman Republic AR Quinarius(2.05g). Anonymous. After 211 B.C, Sicilian(?) mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head and three-piece visor, earring and necklace; behind, V. Border of dots / Dioscuri on horseback riding right, each holding couched spear and wearing chlamys, cuirass and pileus surmounted by star; in relief in linear frame, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 47/1a(uncertain mint)

Privately purchased 9 October 2024, ex Ed Waddell inv 56586, 5 December 2022, ex Freeman & Sear Mail Bid Sale 11, 23 November 2004, lot 249

Edited by red_spork
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A haunting Demeter with an interesting obverse:

5151761_1708091580.jpg.bb12bbf2cc93bf5efe468898265d0d45.jpg

NICOMEDIA
ANTONINUS PIUS as CAESAR (138)
AE17mm 3.62g copper unit, c. 138-139(?)
[KAI]CAP ANTONINO; bare-head bearded right
MHTPOΠ NIKO - MHΔEIAC; veiled Demeter standing, left, holding two ears of corn and long torch.

Part of a series of petty currency that starts probably early in the reign of Antoninus Pius and follows through to the early 140s. This issue is not recorded in RPC and is likely very early in the series -- Antoninus is bareheaded and not (yet) Augustus, struck possibly while Hadrian was still alive or soon after. The obverse effigy is very similar to the Imperial denarii of 138 (as Caesar) and 139 early Augustus and very likely modeled after them: long(er) flowing hair, no laurel crown, head-only in truncation.

Bought in March, likely not recorded in any major publication.

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This latest ancient coin came by way of a coin exchange with Sulla80.  

India, Western Kshatrapas, Indo-Scythian kings, Rudrasena II, AR drachm, 256-278 AD.

2.29 grams 

D-CameraIndiaWesternKshatrapasIndo-ScythiankingsRudrasenaIIARdrachm256-278AD2.29grams10-13-24.jpg.20839ce7f34910d8c279043d8a6fc099.jpg

I sent two coins in the exchange, an Elymais, Orodes V AE drachm, and a bonus coin, a 2nd century BC Macedonian AE 20.  I love the portrait on the Rudrasena II drachm!

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When I saw this portrait, I couldn‘t resist.

Ex CGB MONNAIES 34, 2008

Titus, AE As, as Caesar under Vespasian. AD 77-78. Rome mint. 28mm, 11.07g

T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR, laureate head right.
PROVIDENT beneath garlanded altar with side panels

RIC (vesp) 1271; Cohen 176; BMCRE 867; Paris 878
Bold portrait of fine style, beautiful green patina.

Background Eraser.jpeg

 

IMG_7954.png

Edited by Mucius Scaevola
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44 minutes ago, Mucius Scaevola said:

When I saw this portrait, I couldn‘t resist.

Ex CGB MONNAIES 34, 2008

Titus, AE As, as Caesar under Vespasian. AD 77-78. Rome mint. 28mm, 11.07g

T CAES IMP AVG F TR P COS VI CENSOR, laureate head right.
PROVIDENT beneath garlanded altar with side panels

RIC (vesp) 1271; Cohen 176; BMCRE 867; Paris 878
Bold portrait of fine style, beautiful green patina.

Background Eraser.jpeg

 

IMG_7954.png

Wow, that is a truly outstanding portrait! Great score!

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Here's an Eastern Celtic imitation of a Macedonian Philip II tetradrachm.  This is a local coin shop purchase.

EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. Circa 175-125 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 12.00 g, 6h). Zopfreiter type. Struck in northwest Hungary-southwest Slovakia.

Stylized laureate head of Zeus left / Horseman riding left; Λ to left, Π below raised foreleg, triskeles below. OTA 436; Flesche 565; Lanz 728-31; CCCBM I 131; KMW 1358-66; Zürich 1231. 

 

D-CameraCeltsEasternARtetradrachmc.3rdcenturyBC12.00grams10-15-24.jpg.99bda2bc3d574cb134664ce268c2f7bf.jpg

Edited by robinjojo
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