FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Roman Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Diederik on October 27, 2019, 01:50:28 pm
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I have been very lucky of late finding rare Pius coins; here's my latest:
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP laureate head right /
S]EC[V]- RITAS around, COS II in ex. S - C in fields, Securitas seated on straight chair holding staff and propping left hand on head.
This coin is probably seen by Strack and catalogued as 770. It was unknown by any other source and BMC even suggests an alternative reading (p. 179, ยง).
My new coin was at one time crudely cleaned and repainted, which I hope to be able to restore. Strack 's only source was the French numismatist Feuardent. Where that coin has gone to.... This coin now seems to be the only specimen in existence, unless Curtis has one up his sleeve.
Frans
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nice find Frans, and goods as well
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Two further examples: in my collection and a German private collection, both published on Forvm in a thread started by Jochen on 29 Sept. 2007, with title "A new sestertius of Antoninus Pius?"
Perhaps someone who knows how can provide a link.
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https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=40455.0
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Thanks for the link which makes perfectly clear where we stand with this coin: utterly rare, but at least three specimens known. This means that it should, one day, be taken up in an extensive catalaogue of Pius coins. A sort of STrack+
Frans
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Here my new coin under the German collection one. They are different and show the two types of chairs: with and without an extra strut between the legs and no cloth hanging from the seat. The position of the arms also differs in details. Curtis' coin seems similar to mine.
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Also your coin omits the drapery end which on the German collection coin and mine falls from below Securitas' l. arm, to the right of the throne back.
It seems clear that the engravers had considerable freedom in adding or varying or leaving out small details of the type.
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That too, and we have now three coins and three reverse dies. This means we can expect more coins to surface.
Frans
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This sestertius surfaces on facebook.
Pekka K
edit: owner Agostino Agostini
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Hello everybody!!
Yes.. it's mine... and believe me I vwould have never ever imagined it was so rare and tricky to show itself off!
Glad to have contributed to this dicussion and thanks to Pekka.
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Wow! I knew there should be more! This is then probably the fourth and also the fourth die variation. The flower under the chair is usually connected to Spes, bur here we see it clearly on the strut between the legs of the chair.
Thanks Alberto and Pekka!
Frans
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Removed a lot of crud; damage was done two times: scratches on reverse probably many centuries ago. Traces of hacking on obverse: pretty recently. This is not an ideal photo, but shows you clearly the so far hidden details in thepersonification and in Antoninus ear, mouth and eye.
I changed the title to the present situation.
Frans