FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Ancient Coin Forum => Topic started by: ancientdave on September 16, 2010, 03:56:13 pm

Title: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on September 16, 2010, 03:56:13 pm

One of the things that always impresses me about the Forum community is the amazing and truly rare coins that we have in our collections. I thought I would make this thread a place where we can share with each other our rarest coins and discuss what we know about them, why they are so rare, how we aquired them, the number of other examples we have seen, etc.

My rarest coin has always been somewhat of a mystery to me, there does not seem to be much information as to why it is so rare. It belongs to a small issue of 4 types in two denominations for the emperor Hadrian, all in orichalcum. The two sizes are roughly semis size (19-22 mm), & a small module As size (23-25mm), and the types are Roma w/Victory, Lyre, Tyche of Antioch, & Griffin. They have been attributed to different mints throught the years, but the consensus now seems to be either minted in the east (most likely Antioch) or minted in Rome for use in the east, as they have an unmistakable classic Roman style, several with eastern leaning themes. Their find spots are typically in the east as well.

While all of these coins are rare, the Griffin reverse seems to be far more rare than the other three. The Lyre & Roma types seems to be the most prevalent, over the years I've seen probably 25 or so of each on the market. The Tyche seems to be scarcer, I have seen probably 10 or so on the market. The Griffin type though seems to be very, very rare. In more than 15 years of active collecting the only one I have ever seen come up for sale is mine. I have seen a pic of only one other example in a private collection, and two pictures of other examples in reference works. 

A few years ago, I took this coin to [Dealer Name removed by ADMIN] excellent Ancients show in San Francisco. Every dealer was impressed said that it was the first example they had ever seen, except for the great Frank Kovaks, and he has seen and forgotten more coins than any of  the rest of us could probably ever hope for. I think about this coin and it's associated types alot, and I feel that there are still answers to be had about their exact function and how they relate to the standard coinage for the reign. My pet theory of course is that they are somehow related to Hadrians' eastern travels, possibly given out as gifts to the populace when the emperor and his massive entourage rolled into town.

What truly rare coins do you have in your collection? What do you know about them? I would like to see what other mysterious gems we have hiding in our Forum collections.................

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: areich on September 16, 2010, 04:05:40 pm

In my field it's easy to find coins that are so rare you can't find them in the major publications or online so I'll choose one that is also very pretty.

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12477/pseudo-autonomous_Markianopolis_AE14_1_6g.jpg)

 Moesia, Markianopolis, ? / lion, AE14
14mm, 1.6g
obv: bust of ?, wearing Taenia right
rev: MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN; lion right

AMNG - ; Hristova/Jekov -; BMC -; Lindgren -; SNG Righetti -; Sear GICV -; Moushmov -
Not known to Ivan Varbanov and the Varna museum.
ex iNumis

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on September 16, 2010, 04:08:57 pm

That's a very neat coin areich, extra points for the small size. I've always been a sucker for the smaller denominations.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Randygeki(h2) on September 16, 2010, 04:37:08 pm

Heres an ugly one  :tongue:

Vespasian, first issue of 71 with full name VESPASIANVS

IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III, bust laureate r. resting on globe and with aegis on shoulder

FIDES EXERCITVVM S C, clasped hands before legionary eagle on prow.

"The obverse die is A23 in Colin Kraay's unpublished Oxford dissertation, the rev. die P75. Kraay didn't know this die combination, but it is recorded by RIC 70 from a single specimen in the Termopolio Hoard from Pompeii, published in 1997.

These are rare types: only one other obv. die of the issue shows this combination of aegis and globe for the bust, and this is the only rev. die of the FIDES EXERCITVVM type used in the issue, though a second such die was used later in the year with Vespasian's name abbreviated VESPASIAN (no -VS).

To see what your dies looked like before the corrosion, see RIC pl. 18, 117 and pl. 16, 71 for the obv. and rev. respectively! There are the same two dies on well preserved specimens in other die combinations."

Much thanks to Curtislclay for the info on this one.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Lloyd Taylor on September 16, 2010, 04:58:43 pm

Rare coins (which by my definition are those with less than ten known surviving examples) are in fact quite common. This is particularly the case when the type is defined as one with a specific monogram or mint control variant. That said I think this one that I picked from the Forvm catalog may be genuinely unique despite the overall Dionysos/Kantharos type being quite common in the Aegean and broader Greek world. The style poses a couple of pointers to its origin, but the anepigraphic issue makes a definitive attribution problematic, despite a lot of research. 

If someone has further info or ides on it then I'd be happy to hear of them.  It has me stumped.

Greece, Aegean Islands (?), most probably Islands off Thessaly, Peparethos, or possibly Thrace (?), 4th century BC, Æ 11
Obv:   Head of Dionysos wreathed with ivy left.
Rev:    Kantharos with crescent to lower right.
Ref:    Unrecorded emission of uncertain attribution; possibly a unique surviving example of a type struck from dies of considerable artistic merit. Most probably struck on Peparethos. (11 mm, 1.456 gms, 10h). Forvm Ancient Coins

The attribution of this coin by Forum Ancient Coins, Greece, Aegean Islands (?) c. 4th Century BC noted that the pair Dionysos-kantharos is a theme often used by the Greek cities. Our first guess was Naxos in the Cyclades but the style is slightly different and there is no trace of the ethnic present. After spending a fair amount of time researching and looking at plates, we decided to sell it unattributed. In any case it is quite a rare coin and struck with dies of very high artistic merit.

The depiction of Dionysos on the coin bears most similarity to that found on some issues of Peparethos (modern day Skopelos), an island off Thessaly, although left facing heads of this type are not recorded to date. The Kantharos is of the same style to that other bronze issues of Peparethos, attributed to the second half of the fourth century BC, although the the kantharos is usually associated with strands of grape vine accompanied by the abbreviated ethnic Π-E.

A Thracian attribution is a possibility based on the style of kantharos (distinctive unadorned body form with lower hooked handles) accompanied by a crescent moon, which is a distinguishing icon on the epigraphic Æ issues of Ketriporis. The style of the reverse with its the broad bodied, unornamented Kantharos bearing distinctive outer directed hooks on the lower third of the handles, plus the crescent moon are distinguishing characteristics of the Thracian emissions of Ketriporis (356-352 BC). However, documented Ketriporis’ coinage is epighraphic with a right facing head of Dionysos. There is no record of an anepigraphic, left facing head emission.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: wandigeaux (1940 - 2010) on September 16, 2010, 05:29:06 pm

Areich is right about the frequency of finding "unlisted" coins when collecting provincials (although the number of SNG's is increasing like rabbits).  Here is one that is listed in a  major publication, barely.  George S.

Caracalla, Thrace, Mesembria.  AE28,13.93g, dealer's only attribution "Moushmov -" (the dealer also attributed this to Elagabalus [!], but as a makeweight added a little potted essay on the Curetes!).

Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
AV K MAVP_ANTWNINOC

Two Curetes in short tunics, with swords and shields, obviously intended to be shown in motion and whirling about, one striking the shield of the other, high and low, in classic sword dance style (I have seen the male members of the Georgian State Ballet performing this at a furious pace, and very impressive it was; I am sure the dance depicted on the reverse here was equally dynamic).
MECAMB_P_IANWN

This coin is listed in Varbanov II, 4159: "Two Korybanti stg. facing each other, holding spears and shields. (PC, Unpublished) R9."  Well, the coin illustrated has a miserable reverse, but it is the same as mine if you know what to look for.  A variant of this type also exists for Gordian and Tranquillina from this mint, pretty common, with the dancers standing stiffly side by side, with all the dynamism of the chorus line in "Men in Tights."

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on September 16, 2010, 05:39:58 pm

All very interesting coins, thanks so much for sharing them!

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ecoli on September 16, 2010, 06:15:51 pm

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12015/normal_coins20.JPG)

 Nikopolis, Lower Moesia, Septimus Severus

"Presumably reflecting Septimius' capture of Ctesiphon in Jan. 198, since we know from IGBulg. II, 659 (Boteva pp. 166-7) that Tertullus was governor when news of that victory and the promotions of Caracalla to Augustus and Geta to Caesar reached Lower Moesia.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ecoli on September 16, 2010, 06:26:01 pm

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12015/60304LG.jpg)

and this one which is not really a coin but pretty neat.

Æ trial strike of denarius dies (23 mm, 7.42 g). Rome. [PL]OTINA AVG IMP TRAIANI, diademed and draped bust right, hair in queue down neck / CAES AVG GERMA [D]A[C] COS V[I P P], Vesta seated left, holding palladium in right hand, sceptre in left. Cf. RIC 730 (Trajan); cf. BMC 526 (Trajan); cf. RSC 3. VF, rough green patina. Very unusual and probably unique.

(http://www.vauctions.com/auctions/APUserImages/VA15864LG.jpg)

and this one I just won...

CONSTANTIUS II, as Caesar. 324-337 AD. Æ Follis (19mm - 3.21 g). Nicomedia mint. Struck 328-9 AD. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust left / PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS•, camp-gate with no doors and two turrets, star above; SMNB. RIC VII 158 note; LRBC -. Good VF, green patina with some spotty silvering. 

From the Zachary "Beast" Beasley Collection of Camp Gates

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Potator II on September 17, 2010, 02:17:16 am

Interesting post.

As a roman imperial coin I would choose this one as the rarest :

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0640-325np_noir.jpg)
Constantine the Great, Follis
Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina, c. AD 311
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right
VIRTVTIE-XERCITVS Mars/Virtus advancing right in military dress, holding transverse spear and shield ; trophy over shoulder. B in right field. SMN in exergue.
4.8 gr, 22 mm
RIC-, C-, Roman coins -
RIC lists this type only for Licinius and Maximinus . "Iovi Conservatori and Virtuti Exercitus both appear for Licinius and Maximinus, emissions for the former being the more scarce: coinage for Constantine is extremely rare. Date, c. 311". Coin should be listed after NICOMEDIA 70c.
Please see Victor Clarks website for further information at : http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/unlisted/

Potator

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Potator II on September 17, 2010, 02:25:09 am

But as it has been written above, some numismatics fields that have not been exhaustively explored yet, such as roman provincial or feudal coins,  can give the opportunity to find unlisted types or variants quite often.

Here are two coins from Dombes (see my blog here : http://monnaiesdeladombes.blogspot.com/ ) which are completely unlisted so far. A gold "pistole of an unlisted year, and a "silver "demi teston" of an unlisted year too :

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/D-021-024b.jpg)
Louis II de Montpensier (1560-1582), Pistole - 1579
Atelier de Trevoux
+ LVDO . P . DOMBARVM . D . MONTISP, Ecu de Bourbon couronné
+ DNS . ADIVTOR . ET . REDEM . MEVS . 1579, Croix feuillue
6.54 gr
Ref : Date inédite : Divo Dombes -, PA -, Mantellier -, Boudeau -, Sirand -, Friedberg -

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/D-023-094_5.jpg)
Henri II de Montpensier (1592-1608), Demi-teston - 1608
Atelier de Trevoux
+ HENRIC . P . DOMBAR . D . MONTISP . R, Buste cuirassé a gauche
+ DNS . ADIVTOR . ET . REDEM . MEVS . 1608 Ecu de Bourbon couronné, dans le champ deux H couronnés. Point dans le O, point dans l'ecu
4.42 gr
Ref : Date inedite, Divo Dombes -, PA -, Boudeau -, Mantellier -, Sirand -

Potator

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Randygeki(h2) on September 17, 2010, 04:12:31 am

Nice!

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Philoromaos on September 17, 2010, 05:19:56 am

These two are my "rarest" coins as they're both unlisted. In reality though they might not be that rare!

Kind regards Adrian


Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachos 305-281 BC. Tetradrachm, mint of CIUS? 
Diademed head of Alexander III ( The Great ) wearing horn of Amon.
Reverse.ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena enthroned left holding Nike in outstretched right hand, left elbow resting on shield, inner left field monogram above lion head, in exergue club and monogram.
Ref: Unpublished in Thompson and SNG Cop. ( 15.94g, 28mm, 3h )
Good very fine,irridesence in fields, slight corrosion reverse right edge, otherwise an attractive coin.

The mongrams on this coin are closer to those recorded by Thompson for the mint of Cius rather than the mint of Heraclea that employed the club symbol with the limited momogram HP 



Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C., Tyre, Phoenicia 
Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 626 var (no monogram) or Svoronos 644 var (D behind ear), VF, Phoenicia, Tyre mint, weight 14.076g, maximum diameter 27.4mm, die axis 0o, obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, Tyre monogram and club left; rare;

Ex Forvm

Svoronos' description for tetradrachm 626 is the "same as the gold pentadrachm." In the notes for the pentadrachm he notes the type sometimes has a Tyre monogram, but the notes for the tetradrachm 626 discuss only countermarks and not a monogram. The monogram is absent on the plate coin.

Svoronos 644 is be marked with a tiny D behind Ptolemy's ear. On this coin the mark appears to be absent.
 

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: maridvnvm on September 17, 2010, 08:32:05 am

Rare doesn't necessarily equate to valuable or desirable to the collecting community as a whole. If you focus a collection onto a specific area you will find that you can obtain rare variations of officina marks, bust types (a common bust type that isn't seen too often with a reverse or officina) etc., legend errors, and unlisted combinations that only those also interested in that area of collecting might find interesting.

I have many coins that are unpublished and picking out one that others might find vaguely interesting is relatively tricky.

The following coin is well outside my collecting focus but turned out to be an unpublished pair of symbols for the type.

 L Papius Denarius Serratus
Obv:– Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin. Behind head, Dolphin wrapped around anchor.
Rev:– Gryphon running right; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, Hippocamp
Minted in Rome from . B.C. 79.
Reference(s) – RSC Papia 1. RRC 384/1. RCTV 311.

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10618/Papia1b_img.jpg)

Martin

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on September 17, 2010, 06:18:31 pm

Very interesting coins, all. Maridvnvm, love that griffin reverse!  ;)

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: casata137ec on September 17, 2010, 07:28:14 pm

I have three fairly rare coins (and a bucketload of mintmark variations on lrbc's that are rated rare...). All of them have references.

The first is one I picked up recently unattributed...it turned out to be a decent find:

Cyclades, Syros mint, 3rd Century B.C. AE, 17mm 3.32g, SNG Copenhagen -; BMC Crete pg. 123, 1 var. (no
wreath); Laffaille 404 var. (same); Weber 4719 var. (same), (SG) Number sg3152
O: Horned and bearded head of Pan right
R: ΣVPI, bearded goat standing left; grain ear before, wreath(?) below

The second is from around the same general time period. I got this one unattributed as well and would have never figured it out without FORVM help:

Melita (Malta) mint, Autonomous issue, Last quarter 3rd century B.C. -225 -200 AE, 22mm 6.24g, SNG Vol: X 936 John Morcom Collection
O: Bearded male head, r.; to r., caduceus
R: Priest’s cap in wreath, below, mono

And the third is a tet from an uncleaned lot that turned out not only to be nice, but also to be super rare:

Judaea, Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem) mint, Diadumenian Tetradrachm, 217-218 A.D. AR 25mm 11.46g, Prieur 1645 per Michel Prieur (*second known example)
O: (…) ,bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right
R: DHMARX EX UPATOC (or similar),eagle standing, looking left, wreath in beak


Chris


 

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientone on September 21, 2010, 09:07:10 pm

Here are a few that are rare to me.

Peloponnesus. Pylus, Messenia. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Assarion 22mm. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Athena standing left, holding phiale and spear.


Caria, Ceramos. Antonininus Pius AE33 Zeus Chrysaoreus
Pius bust left. Draped statue of Zeus Chrysaoreus holding patera and sceptre. Eagle at feet. BMC Caria, Pl. XII
City; Province; Region Ceramus; Asia: Conventus of Alabanda; Caria
Date 138–161
Magistrate P. Ailios Themistokles Protoleontos, arxas (ex-archon?)
Obverse design laureate head of Antoninus Pius with traces of drapery, l.
Obverse inscription ΑΥΤΟΚ ΚΑΙΣ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟΝ ΣΕΒ ΕΥ (facing outward)
Reverse design Zeus (Chrysaoreus) standing, facing, head, l., holding patera over eagle and long sceptre
Reverse inscription ΑΙΛΙ ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟΚΛΗΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΛΕ ΑΡΞ ΚΕΡΑΜΙΗΤΩΝ



Thessalian league under Augustus. Pseudo-autonomous AE15. Strategos: Megalokles
Thessalian league under Augustus.Strategos: Megalokles.
Obv. Head of Zeus, THESSALO
Rev. Head of Apollo, MEGALOKLEKLEI
Burrer 109-111.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on September 22, 2010, 01:04:17 pm

Those are very interesting coins, ancientone! I really like the Antoninus Pius coin, thanks for sharing them.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientone on September 22, 2010, 09:11:34 pm

Thanks Dave,  here is info on Zeus Chrysaoreus:  CHRYSAOR (Chrusaôr). The god with the golden sword or arms. In this sense it is used as a surname or attribute of several divinities, such as Apollo (Hom. II. xv. 256), Artemis (Herod. viii. 77), and Demeter. (Hom. Hymn. in Cer. 4.) We find Chrysaoreus as a surname of Zeus with the same meaning, under which he had a temple in Caria, which was a national sanctuary, and the place of meeting for the national assembly of the Carians. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

P.S. Your Hadrian As with Griffin is very interesting.  About as close as you can get to an Imperial Provincial.

Regards,
Chip

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on September 25, 2010, 01:06:24 am

Quote from: ancientone on September 22, 2010, 09:11:34 pm

Thanks Dave,  here is info on Zeus Chrysaoreus:  CHRYSAOR (Chrusaôr). The god with the golden sword or arms. In this sense it is used as a surname or attribute of several divinities, such as Apollo (Hom. II. xv. 256), Artemis (Herod. viii. 77), and Demeter. (Hom. Hymn. in Cer. 4.) We find Chrysaoreus as a surname of Zeus with the same meaning, under which he had a temple in Caria, which was a national sanctuary, and the place of meeting for the national assembly of the Carians. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

P.S. Your Hadrian As with Griffin is very interesting.  About as close as you can get to an Imperial Provincial.

Regards,
Chip

Chip, thanks for the interesting information on Zeus Chrysaoreus, I only really dabble in provincials at this point. I am however extremely interested in coins that straddle this imperial/provincial line like my Hadrian coin does.

On the subject of Zeus, here is another very rare coin from my collection featuring Trajan W/ Zeus Ammon reverse that also rides the line between imperial and provincial in ways we don't yet fully understand. It has variously been attributed to Rome, Cyprus, Cyrene, Caesarea, & Bostra! Just like my Hadrian Griffin coin, I feel this coin holds some mystery.


Thanks again,

Dave

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientone on September 25, 2010, 11:00:22 pm

Dave,  Here is a description of a silver drachm from Wildwinds with similar inscription.

Kyrenaika, Kyrene. Trajan. 98-117 AD. AR Drachm (3.25 gm). AYT KAIS NEP TPAIAN SEBGERM, laureate head right / DHMAPX EX UPAT G, head of Zeus-Ammon right. Sydenham
  (Cappadocia)176/177; Metcalf pg. 155 note. Nice VF. Rare. Estimate $300.

 Metcalf, in The Silver Coinage of Cappadocia, Vespasian-Commodus, pg.155, indicates
  that due to recent hoard evidence this issue can no longer be attributed to Caesarea
  in Cappadocia and postulates its mint attribution should be to Kyrene.
 

Here is mine.  Yours is loads better!

Regards,
Chip

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: mauseus on November 08, 2010, 05:42:06 pm

Hi,

As a Carausius collector I have a number of "unpublished" coins but given the poor quality of RIC 5 that is not unusual. So, I want to post here a coin of Tacitus from my trays that is an abschlag, a coin in base metal struck from dies intended for gold coinage:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/Rjb_tac_abs_06_05.jpg)

Tacitus 275-6 AD
AE abschlag
Siscia Mint
IMP C M CLA TACITVS AVG
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
PM TRP COS PP
Emperor standing left holding branch
RIC -, C -
One other example recorded in Vienna (ex von Kolb collection, from the Nassenfuss hoard, Mokronog, Slovenia), published in NZ 12, 1880, pp 321-3

In 1999 Silviane Estiot published the other example of this base metal strike in Journal des Savants, "L'or romain entre crise et restitution, 270-276 apr. J.-C. II. Tacite et Florien", number 24a:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/normal_estiot_2.jpg)

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/estiot_1.jpg)

These coins share their obverse die with a known gold strike, coin number 38a in the listing by Estiot:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/normal_estiot_3.jpg)

The role of such off metal strike is uncertain and this is probably the closest I will get to a gold aureus of Tacitus.

Regards,

Mauseus

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: curtislclay on November 08, 2010, 06:23:33 pm

Nice acquisition! I hope you maybe heightened the coup by gettting it from a pick box for ten pounds?

Two points of detail: I'm surprised that Sylviane E. follows the traditional misidentification of that rev. type: it's not the emperor, but the Genius of the Senate. The hairdo is the giveaway, and the identical type is labeled GENIO SENATVS under Antoninus Pius, for example. Alföldi corrected the traditional error in his Insignien und Tracht/Monarchische Repräsentation of c. 1930, and R. Ziegler wrote an article on the subject in the 1990s, mentioning this very type of Tacitus if I'm not mistaken.

Second, "Abschlag" implies "test strike", and I think that is a mistake. I regard such coins as ceremonial denarii, intentionally produced along with the corresponding aurei for distribution on some festive occasion. When gold and silver quinarii in the earlier empire share the same dies, would anyone think of calling the silver ones "test strikes"?

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: mauseus on November 09, 2010, 07:24:52 am

Hi Curtis,

Thank you for your comments, I must try to dig out Ziegler's paper.

Quote from: curtislclay on November 08, 2010, 06:23:33 pm

Nice acquisition! I hope you maybe heightened the coup by gettting it from a pick box for ten pounds?

....a little more, £35 if my memory is correct.

Quote from: curtislclay on November 08, 2010, 06:23:33 pm

I regard such coins as ceremonial denarii, intentionally produced along with the corresponding aurei for distribution on some festive occasion.

I think I also concluded the same thing when discussing the Gallic Empire base laureates in relation to the gold coinage in my thesis and book - am glad that you agree.

Regarding the phrase abschlag, I took it to mean just an off metal strike, rather than something much more specific like a trial strike. I guess that is the danger of interpreting or subsuming a word froom a language that I'm not conversant in.

Regards,

Mauseus

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on November 10, 2010, 05:42:37 pm

I don't know whether this is strictly the rarest - there are endless variations of Hasmonean inscriptions, and I bet a lot of them are from a single die - but this is the most significant. Alexander Jannaeus, with a variant Aramaic inscription. THE KING [AND] PRIEST, or maybe THE PRIEST-KING, I should really ask an expert. Every other coin in the issue has YEHONATAN THE KING, and the significance is unknown.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Aarmale on November 10, 2010, 07:03:30 pm

This coin isn't mine, but Hendin is selling a המלך הכהן type, and I think the die may be different, but I didn't really look.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on November 11, 2010, 04:50:19 pm

If it is different - I'm not sure - then it proves the books wrong. Another die would be extremely interesting; it's a pity I don't have coin money at the moment.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Aarmale on November 11, 2010, 04:57:56 pm

Hendin writes about the coin "The legend on this coin type is "Ha'melek Ha'cohen" which means "The King and High Priest." This varies from the usual Jannaeus legend, and may have been a sly swipe at his political enemies."

Here is my drawing of the letters.

Does your coin share the TJC example die?

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on November 12, 2010, 03:13:11 pm

As far as I can see, but I'm never very sure of myself with die matches.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: David Atherton on November 30, 2010, 08:23:06 pm

Probably my rarest coin is this denarius of Vespasian minted in 71 AD to commemorate the joint triumph of Vespasian and Titus. The reverse depicts Vespasian in a triumphal quadriga.

This type for denarii is well known for Vespasian at Antioch, but apparently rare at Rome. The same type for Titus at Rome is surprisingly not as rare.

AR denarius
RIC 49 (R2), BMCRE p. 14 note, RSC 643v.
Rome mint, 71 AD
Obv - IMP CAES VESP AVG P M; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev - No legend. Vespasian laureate, standing in triumphal quadriga r., horses pacing, holding branch in r. hand and sceptre in l.
New RIC II plate coin.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Randygeki(h2) on November 30, 2010, 08:42:44 pm

very nice!

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: xintaris75 on November 30, 2010, 08:42:52 pm

My rarest coin is in my avatar, it's tetradrachm from Macedonian city Aineia.
This type is unpublished in standard references, and afaik these are only known type of tetradrachmes from Aineia.
CNG says what exists a 5 examples of them, but in acsearch i found only 4.
This is mine: http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=7601
MACEDON, Aineia.
Mid 4th century BC.
AR Tetradrachm (13.90 g, 10h).
Wreathed head of nymph right, wearing single-pendant earring / Bull standing right, head reverted.
CNG 76, 250; Triton VIII, 104; Giessener Münzhandlung 102, lot 133; CNG 67, lot 401 (all from the same dies).
VF, rough surfaces, some cleaning marks.
Extremely rare, the fifth known, all from a single pair of dies.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on November 30, 2010, 08:43:14 pm

That's a very cool coin David!  Off the top of my head I do not think that I have ever seen this reverse for Vespasian at Rome, while I know that I've seen it for Titus a ton of times. You've really got to stop tempting me with these wonderful denarii, I can't stay focused! ;D ;)

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: David Atherton on November 30, 2010, 08:54:24 pm

ancientdave, I've given in and will start adding AE coins to my collection after 6 or 7 years of focusing on denarii.

Give in to the temptation...it's bliss. ;)

xintaris75, that is truly a wonderful coin! I love the reverse.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jay GT4 on December 01, 2010, 10:43:43 pm

As always a great Flavian David!

I have a few rare coins but this one is my favorite:

Otho Tetradrachm 
AYTOKPATWP M OΘWN KAICAP CEBACTOC
Laureate head right
ETOYC A
Eagle, wings raised, standing left on two laurel branches, wreath in beak, palm branch in left field, crescent between eagle's legs

Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch ad Orontem

69 AD

14.44g

Prieur-101, RPC-4199, McAlee-316.
Rare
 

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: casata137ec on December 02, 2010, 01:08:55 am

Nice one. Jay!

Chris

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on December 02, 2010, 01:53:52 pm

Jay, that's a really nice coin! I've been casually looking for one of these myself, as well as the Antioch bronze for Otho. I'm a sucker for coins of Roman Syria with nice portraits. If you don't mind me asking, why is this coin rare? Is the whole issue rare, or is this coin rare for some variation? I know that I do not see these very often, so I'm curious.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jay GT4 on December 02, 2010, 03:57:08 pm

Thanks guys.  When I saw the black toning on this one I just had to go for it.  Not sure what makes it rare but I've only ever seen a handfull of Otho tet's and always for big bucks.  This one was just over my comfort price range but I am glad I got it. I'd imagine there are few of them considering the length of time Otho was in power and the turmoil of the times.  It seems all of Otho's coins are scarce/rare but I'm sure someone else will know more about this particular issue.  Every time I've seen one it's listed as rare.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: dougsmit on December 03, 2010, 12:01:18 am

A few general questions:  What is 'rare' when it comes to ancient coins?  How many coins exist in only one example?  Thousands?  If all the coins thought to exist as a single copy were published as a challenge, I wonder how many would turn up in another collection?  In most cases when I think I have something previously unknown, I come across another specimen (often posted by a couple of you who seem to be collecting the same oddities I do). 

I always enjoy this question when it comes up because it gives another opportunity to post a picture hoping (or in the fear) that one of you will post a picture of another and, once again, burst my bubble of thinking I had a 'one of one' coin.  My longest surviving example is this Septimius that I have been seeking a match for for 16 years now.  Please post a picture of yours (certainly, then, making mine the worst example known to me instead of the only one).  Failing the reverse type, is there enough here to show an obverse die match used with another reverse?  Perhaps the most rare coin is one that does not exist?

Septimius Severus, Alexandria mint (INVICTO) IMP (not the Emesa one)

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Billy Kingsley on December 06, 2010, 07:48:01 am

What an incredible thread! You all have some most incredible coins.

None of mine are particularly rare; every one I've got people were able to tell me more about. Maybe someday...

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Brian L on December 06, 2010, 08:24:51 am

I am hesitant about posting on this thread because I don't feel I am qualified to make a judgment of rarity on one of my coins, but I can paraphrase the comments of people who replied to my previous posts when I asked of this coin.

It is an Apollonia Pontica Medusa but the obverse is more similar to the style of Parion and the reverse obviously Apollonia. It doesn't appear in references and an experienced and knowledgeable person who replied said,
"I know of five coins with this type pattern."

Rare? I would appreciate to know if anybody has seen this before,
and Please reply privately as I didn't want to hijack this thread.
Thanks,
Brian
 

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: mwilson603 on December 08, 2010, 08:45:20 am

Also at the risk of my thoughts of uniqueness being trampled down, I respectfully submit my humble Constantine. 
When I first posted it looking for an attribution that was eluding me I was pleasantly surprised to be told that it seemed to be unlisted.  Since then, the same numismatists have informed me that it appears to be mentioned in RIC footnotes, citing a specimen seen by Maurice in Milan, however no specimen can now be found.
I therefore would like to establish if anyone has a similar coin, with the same combination of mint mark, field marks and legend.
regards
Mark

Obverse : CONSTANTINVS P F AVG laureate, cuirassed bust right
Reverse : CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE Sol standing left, chlamys over left shoulder, holding globe in left hand and raising right hand
Fields : S over star in left field; P in right field
Exergue : PLN

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Eduard on December 10, 2010, 04:57:20 am

I am not really sure this is my rarest roman coin, but it is certainly scarce judging by the number of examples recorded in acsearch.  At any rate, it is a very appealing coin, with a lovely portrait of the emperor.

Eduard

TRAJAN. 98-117 AD. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 22.78 gm). Struck circa 104-107 AD. Laureate bust right, wearing aegis / Triumphal arch of Trajan, consisting of a massive base, with gateposts and gateway under central arch, with elaborate superstructures; on the sides of the base, bas-reliefs from top to bottom on each side; panels either side of pediment; the pediment contains Jupiter and the panels each contain a quadriga racing inwards; the frieze on the roof is inscribed IOM, atop of which, is a six-horse chariot escorted front by two Victories; to either side trophies. RIC II 572; Cohen 547. Near VF, green patina. A masterful architectural rendition.


 

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on December 10, 2010, 07:53:56 pm

Very interesting coin!

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: *Alex on December 11, 2010, 12:22:43 pm

I think my rarest coin is probably this AUGUSTUS. AR Cistophorus (3 denarii) of Pergamum. Struck 19 - 18 B.C.
This is the rarest cistophorus struck during the reign of Augustus with the exception of the exceedingly rare issues featuring a sphinx.

The coin commemorates Augustus' triumphant agreement with the Parthians in 20 B.C. under which they returned the legionary standards captured from Crassus who was defeated and killed at Carrhae thirty-three years earlier (53 B.C.) Augustus installed these standards in the Temple of Mars Ultor.

Obverse: IMP IX TR PO V. Bare head of Augustus facing right.
Reverse: Triumphal arch surmounted by Augustus in facing triumphal quadriga; IMP IX TR POT V on architrave; S P R SIGNIS RECEPTIS in three lines within arch opening, standards at either side.
RIC I : 510 | BMC : 703 | RSC : 298.

Alex.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientone on December 14, 2010, 10:41:22 am

Lydia, Characa. Drusus AE18. amphora countermark
Obv. DPOVSOS KAISAP, Juvenile head of Drusus.
Rev. MENOFANTOY KAPAKI..., Caduceus.
18mm and 4.2gm.

"This coin, evidently of Asia Minor, but particularly of that part situated about the Maeander and Hermus, is probably of a place called Characa, mentioned by Strabo as situated on the road from Tralles to Nysa, and at equall distances. Stephanus speaks also of a city of Charax in Lydia, which he identifies with Tralles." J. Millingen, Sylloge of Ancient Unedited Coins of Greek Cities and Kings ... 1837, p. 79 (pl. 4, 56 (*).
Howgego 369, amphora countermark.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Diederik on December 14, 2010, 03:09:31 pm

As a zealous Pius collector , I have some strange coins in the drawer, but this one is indeed rare as it is unpublished:
IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS AVG  a text that occurs on a rare denarius of the third issue coupled with a Diana reverse (BMC 3).
PONT MAX TR . POT COS , which in itself is unique with the dot; Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae.

Nice thread!


Frans

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Minos on December 14, 2010, 03:26:14 pm

Rarity is not something that I usually look for in a coin but when it's combined with beauty, I just can't resist.

Probably my rarest coin, that I've already shown and will probably show again (and again  ;D ) in the future, my Alex III tet. from Babylon (unrecorded in Price).

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14972/alex30.jpg)

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: lionman2 on May 06, 2012, 09:16:04 am

Well I have a denarius of Brutus from 42BC with the same legend that features on the well known famous EID MAR coin L PLAET CEST. It has a veiled female bust on the front. I brought it some years ago form a dealer and took it to the BM and they dated it to Brutus. what is fun is this particular type seems to not show up much in Auctions at all only once have i seen a example and it was $9000.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: 4to2CentBCphilia on May 06, 2012, 11:30:37 am

Quote from: Minos on December 14, 2010, 03:26:14 pm

Rarity is not something that I usually look for in a coin but when it's combined with beauty, I just can't resist.

Probably my rarest coin, that I've already shown and will probably show again (and again  ;D ) in the future, my Alex III tet. from Babylon (unrecorded in Price).

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14972/alex30.jpg)

If you are going to own an ATG tet....that is certainly the one to have. Everything about it is great.

BTW that side view is great also. Never thought of this type of photo for a high relief portrait. Definitely adds another dimension to the coin (literally and figuratively.)


PS The more I look at your coin, the more amazed I am by the high relief. I just checked my Ptolemy ATG tet as a comparison and while it is a high relief, yours has at least double the thickness on the relief.....maybe thrice the relief.

BR

Mark

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: kokoshawnuff on May 07, 2012, 03:26:15 am

Crawford 480/5a
Reverse with Venus standing left, her staff not terminating in a star.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Andrew McCabe on May 07, 2012, 04:30:26 am

Quote from: kokoshawnuff on May 07, 2012, 03:26:15 am

Crawford 480/5a
Reverse with Venus standing left, her staff not terminating in a star.

Alfoldi shows 8 examples of this rare variety without star (not including yours) as against 171 examples of the variety with star. So it is very rare! Congratulations on such a great find. It is anyways a wonderful Caesar portrait if not for being a rare variety too.
Andrew

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: kokoshawnuff on May 07, 2012, 12:21:34 pm

Thank you Andrew. Rarity is interesting to me so this is quite a wonderful thread to look through and learn.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Andrew McCabe on May 07, 2012, 01:16:06 pm

Quote from: kokoshawnuff on May 07, 2012, 12:21:34 pm

Thank you Andrew. Rarity is interesting to me so this is quite a wonderful thread to look through and learn.

Yours is certainly the best known example of this rare Julius Caesar variety, much better than any of the eight Alfoldi specimens. It's a coin that I would love to own!

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: kokoshawnuff on May 07, 2012, 04:41:09 pm

Andrew thank you again, and speaking of rare Caesars have you (or anyone else reading this) seen a 443/1 without the serpent?

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Arminius on May 07, 2012, 05:47:50 pm

What is the rarest coin in a bunch of ca. 250 with this attribute so far?
So i show just the latest one:

(http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/coppermine1414/cpg1414/albums/userpics/10001/4598.jpg)

Anchialos in Thracia, Commodus, issued by Caecilius Servilianus, Legatus Augusti pro praetore provinciae Thraciae, struck ca. 191-192 AD.,
Æ 30 (30-32 mm / 12,91 g), yellow bronze, irregular alignment ↑<- (ca. 220°),
Obv.: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ Λ ΑΥΡ - ΚΟΜΟΔΟC , laureate-headed bust of Commodus wearing cuirass and paludamentum, facing right.
Rev.: ΗΓ ΚΑΙ CΕΡΟΥΙΛΙ - Α[ΝΟΥ] ΑΓΧΙΑΛΕΩΝ , (emperor as ?) Herakles standing frontal, head left, his r. hand leaning on club, left holding lion skin; die-break starting at 9-10.
unlisted ; RPC online - ; other online sources - .

By the way: I stopped reporting these new types or errors to the RPC online project as i can still see no effect on the database after more than two years.
What is your experience concerning RPC online updates?

 :(

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Andrew McCabe on May 07, 2012, 08:48:48 pm

Quote from: kokoshawnuff on May 07, 2012, 04:41:09 pm

Andrew thank you again, and speaking of rare Caesars have you (or anyone else reading this) seen a 443/1 without the serpent?

Yes I have, though I don't have a photo immediately to hand. There is at least one die lacking the serpent.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Mark Fox on May 07, 2012, 08:58:23 pm

Quote from: Arminius on May 07, 2012, 05:47:50 pm

By the way: I stopped reporting these new types or errors to the RPC online project as i can still see no effect on the database after more than two years.
What is your experience concerning RPC online updates?

 :(

Dear Arminius and Board,

You may want to try sending your coin submissions directly to Volker Heuchert, who the last I knew was waiting for me to send my batch of coins that I still haven't gotten around to yet!  I can send you his e-mail address if desired.


Best regards,

Mark Fox
Michigan 

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: okidoki on January 06, 2016, 04:26:38 am

Roman Empire, Hadrian, AS Roma 125-28 AD Salus leaning on Column

Reference.
cf. RIC 669 unlisted in RIC BMC OR Strack Hill

Obv. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS
Laureate, cuirassed bust right, seen from front

Rev. COS III in field S-C
Salus standing right "next to column", holding and feeding snake from patera in left.

10.19 gr
24x26 mm

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-116212

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: *Alex on January 06, 2016, 08:02:52 am

I think that possibly my rarest Roman coin is this one of Delmatius.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-126203

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10427/thumb_Delmatius_Rome.JPG)


My rarest British coin is probably this rather battered pattern farthing of Queen Anne

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-127421

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10427/thumb_1713_Farthing.JPG)

Alex.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: okidoki on January 06, 2016, 09:30:43 am

Today from FORVM  ;D

EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian Drachm 122-23 AD Nilus

Reference. very rare R5
Emmett 1015.7; RPC 3, 5392; Milne 1038; Dattari 1802 var (date above); Kampmann-Ganschow 32.228; Geissen -, BMC Alexandria -, SNG Cop -, SNG Hunterian -

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ - ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ СƐΒ
laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder.

Rev. in exergue LZ = year 7
Nilus reclining left, hippopotamus under left arm, long reed in right, cornucopia in left.

22 gr
33.6 mm
12h

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-126205
ex. FORVM

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jochen on January 06, 2016, 12:07:23 pm

I think this is the rarest coin of Nikopolis:

Macrinus, AD 217-218
AE 28, 11.12g, 27.8mm, 195°
struck under governor Marcus Claudius Agrippa
obv. AVT K OPPEL C - EVH MA[KRINOC]
        Bust, draped and cuirssed, seen from behind, laureate, r.
rev. VP AGRIP[PA NIKOP]OLITWN PROC I / CTRW
       Youth (mountain god Haimos), nude, except drapery over r. shoulder and hips, with boots, on 
        rocks std. r. and looking l., resting with r. arm - in which he holds a spear - on tree behind 
        and holding l. arm over his head
        in r. field AIMOC
ref. a) AMNG I/1, 1700, pl. III, 24 (1 ex., Bassarabescu)
       b) Moushmov 1295, pl. XI, 34 (spear disappeared!)
        c) not in Varbanov (engl.)
             cf.# 3390: different obv. legend, spear disappeared, pic on p. 385 called #3391 in     
             error. Rv. copied from Pick pl. III, 24, obv. from #3407 in error
        d) Hristova-Hoeft-Jekov (2015) No. 8.23.43.4 (this coin)
extremely rare (R10), F+, black green patina
Pedigree:
ex Diana Coins, E-Bay, 2009
ex coll. Steve Cady, Tantalus Coins, 2012

Note: Nicolae Bassarabescu was director of the journal "Poporul" in Bukarest, 1890. His coin vanished over the years. So I'm proud to present here a new specimen of this type. There was originally only 1 pic of it: #24 on pl. III in AMNG I/1. This pic was copied by Moushmov and Varbanov, whereby the spear has disappeared from the pic.

This is my most important coin from Nikopolis: An extremely rare type, which was lost over more than 100 years and now found again!

Best regards

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: jmuona on January 06, 2016, 06:18:04 pm

This is in my gallery, but I am putting it here as well. Out of the 1800 Otho denarii I have this far put in my database, eight belong to this type, all minted with the same dies. The only museums that have this are Paris, ANS and Copenhagen (found in Denmark!!).
This is one rare 1st Century coin.
RIC 2, IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P / CERES AVG.
I do have a few "unique" coins from little studied series, but this being a coin of one of the 12 Caesars makes it my rarest.
s.
Jyrki Muona

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: ancientdave on January 07, 2016, 01:34:44 am

Whoa, back from the dead!  :laugh: It's great to see all of these new rare and beautiful coins!

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Molinari on January 07, 2016, 07:24:40 am

This is my rarest coin, excluding a unique countermark I own.  It was issued by the Kersini and is one of four known:

SICILY: The Kersini, 357-344 BC, AE Tetras, 7.51g, 21mm, 4h. Bearded (?) head to right, dotted border/Forepart of Acheloios (Belici?) as a man-faced bull to right. Campana CNAI "Kersini" 1.

Ex. CNG eAuction 327, lot 329 (the Continental Collection) mis-described as a bronze hemilitra from Agyrion.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jochen on January 08, 2016, 12:41:41 pm

Another R10 (unique) coin from Nikopolis:

Caracalla as Caesar, AD 195-198
AE 17, 2.98g, 16.95mm, 15°
obv. M AV KAI - AN[TWNIN] (read from outwards)
       Bust, draped and cuirassed, bare-headed, r.
rev. NIKOPOLI PR[OC ICTRON]
       Peacock of Hera advancing r. (, before a snake erecting?)
ref. a) not in AMNG
      b) not in Varbanov (engl.)
      c) Hristova-Hoeft-Jekov (2015) 8.18.3.5 (this coin)
extremely rare (R10), F/F+, Grey grey Patina

Obv. from same die as HrHJ (2015) 8.18.52.8 (Basket). So I was able to restore the obv.

Best regards

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Tacitus on January 08, 2016, 05:52:56 pm

LV 2405
IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG
RDC - Bust Right

CONSERVATOR MILITVM
Emperor standing left holding scepter recieving globe from Mars standing right holding spear.

-/Epsilon/-/KA

Minted Nov 275 to Dec 275

(4 specimens including this one known)

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Sam on January 08, 2016, 08:03:41 pm

Regardless some unique coins in my collection from FORVM .
For a known issue type , I think this is my rarest :

KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.83 g, 1h). Alexandreia Troas mint. Struck circa 297/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background BAΣIΛEΩΣ , ΛYΣIMAXOY ; monogram to inner left, ligate ΘE on throne. Meadows, Earliest 22 (A13/R– [unlisted rev. die]); Thompson 161; Müller –; SNG Berry 438 (same obv. die). Good VF, toned, some porosity, a few minor marks under tone. Rare.


https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-99497

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: memmi on January 09, 2016, 01:47:36 pm

Hello everyone,

This is the rarest coins in my collection.
State: Roman Empire
Ruler: Trajan (AD 98-117), restoring the types of Republican moneyer C Memmius C.f. (c. 56 BC)
Best regards,
Mario

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: okidoki on January 09, 2016, 02:05:46 pm

Very nice Mario,

never seen it  +++

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jochen on January 09, 2016, 02:39:23 pm

Never seen before. Very interesting.

Jochen

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: memmi on January 10, 2016, 01:53:44 am

Hi Jochen, Hi Eric

Neither I would not know anything about this coin, but the Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear (A.C.C.S.) that I got October 11, 2013 says the following:

Obverse: laureate head od Quirinus right, with long hair and beard, C MEMMI C F before, QVIRIN[VS] behind,

Reverse: Ceres seated right, holding ears od corn and torch, serpent at feet, MEMMIVS AED CERIALIA PREIMVS FECIT around in inner circle, IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GER DAC P P REST around in outer circle.

MIR 14; RIC 799; BMCRE 687
Best Regards,
Mario (memmi)

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Pekka K on January 10, 2016, 03:28:40 am

Woytek (MIR 14) 831, 8 coins known.

Pekka K

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: memmi on January 10, 2016, 04:09:19 am

Exactly.
Thank you Pekka K.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: NORMAN K on January 17, 2016, 12:30:11 am

Some of you may have already seen this Probus coin I have had in other discussions.
I believe this is a rare coin because I know of only one example of RIC 809 Probus on the Probvs.net coin site.  ( http://probvs.net/probvs/R809/R809.120205.PG.JPG) My coin is an 809var.  and in addition it has two enemy solders.  I am posting it here because I would like to know if there are any other known examples.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jschulze on January 17, 2016, 12:42:42 am

That is a nice Probus coin Norman!  +++

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jschulze on January 17, 2016, 01:04:30 am

This coin isn't the prettiest and the photography is just from a camera phone... Also, i don't know if it's my "rarest" but I've been searching for another example. There are similar but... nothing matching that I've seen. I posted it before in this thread (link below) earlier and would welcome someone pointing out another example!

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=95856.0

IVLIA MAMAEA AVG
COL FL PAC DEVL (under wing) T
24mm

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jordan Montgomery on January 17, 2016, 01:43:33 am

My rarest was purchased here from FORVM, ex. Andrew McCabe collection and actually Andrew himself is the one who pointed out how rare this coin was and why I should buy it. This semis is from the Crawford 41 series of anonymous postsemilibral bronzes. This series includes both cast and struck semises but Crawford only knew of a single example of the struck semis. More are known now, but even so this coin remains extremely rare. This example is quite worn and underweight(likely due to being overstruck) but is a die match to one in Russo's paper in anonymous bronzes from Essays Hersh and even in the state it's in is one of my favorite bronzes in my collection.

Roman Republic Æ Semis(18.688g, 30mm). Anonymous post-semilibral series, 215-212 BC. Rome mint. Laureate head of Saturn right, S behind/Prow of galley right, S above, ROMA below. Russo p. 140, 2 and pl. 16, 10 (same dies); McCabe Anonymous A1.Sm.2; Crawford 41/6e. Ex. Andrew McCabe.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Jaimelai on January 21, 2016, 08:34:23 pm

One of three know from this Thraco-Macedonian tribe:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22729/normal_13774.JPG)
Moriaseis, Thrace
185-168 B.C
Bronze Æ 19
5.89 gm, 19 mm
Obv.: Laureate head of Zeus right
Rev.: Six-rayed star; M-OP-IA-ΣE-Ω-N between rays
Katalog Münzauktion Essen 64 (1992) no. 47;
P.R. Franke, MOPIAΣEΩN - Die erste Münze eines bislang unbekannten thrakisch-makedonischen Stammes, in: V. Spinoi - L. Munteanu, Miscellanea numismatica antiquitatis in honorem septagenarii magistri Virgilii Mihailescu, Bucarest 2008, p. 67-68.


Here it is with it's brothers:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22729/normal_Moriaseis.jpg)
The three known coins of the Thraco-Macedonian tribe known as the Moriaseis as spoken of by Pliny, "in the coastal region of Pontos live Moriseni and Siton, the ancestors of the singer Orpheus" (Nat. History 4, 41).

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Lee S on January 28, 2016, 03:55:53 pm

As many have said.... It's quite easy to obtain rare, but not valuable coins.. ( I wish I had some which were both... But that's unlikely to happen!)

  This is probably my rarest... The same type is recorded , but without the wheel... One has to wonder what the wheel signifies...


Ionia, Phocaea. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Between -30 and 276 AD.
Obv. ΦΩΚΕΑ, Turreted and draped bust of Tyche right
Rev. Griffin standing right, left forepaw on wheel

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Molinari on April 01, 2016, 09:59:26 am

My new rarest coin, which arrived yesterday.  It is the second known, and the only one in private hands.

SICILY: The Mamar, c. 409 to 403 BC (and therefore the earliest bronze man-faced bull coin). Unfortunately, there probably has been some restoration by a modern hand on the reverse portrait, though the G&M lightning exaggerates it.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: David Atherton on April 02, 2016, 04:50:12 pm

Quote from: Molinari on April 01, 2016, 09:59:26 am

My new rarest coin, which arrived yesterday.  It is the second known, and the only one in private hands.

SICILY: The Mamar, c. 409 to 403 BC (and therefore the earliest bronze man-faced bull coin). Unfortunately, there probably has been some restoration by a modern hand on the reverse portrait, though the G&M lightning exaggerates it.

It's always very satisfying to add such rarities! Congrats on your new acquisition.

BTW, I presume the other specimen is in a public collection?

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Molinari on April 02, 2016, 05:47:21 pm

Yes, but I don't have the museum name on hand at the moment.  Here is one equally as rare, the 2nd known, from Neapolis.  Taliercio was uncertain of the letters in exergue but this example reveals it is the pervasive IS. Normally I wouldn't have bid since the MFB face is worn flat, but the rarity changed my mind.

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Maciej D on April 17, 2016, 11:34:09 am

My two rare hybrids. 2x TRP XIX !!
1. denarius
      Lucius Verus / Marcus Aurelius
      RIC 515 / RIC 125
2. sestertius
      Lucius Verus / Marcus Aurelius
      RIC 1426 / RIC 908-910
not listed

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Oliver K on June 14, 2016, 12:44:18 pm

How can I load the pics here ?

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: okidoki on June 14, 2016, 01:18:44 pm

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?board=17.0

and here

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?board=27.0

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: okidoki on June 14, 2016, 01:46:46 pm

ROMAN EMPIRE, Sabina (Augusta, 128-136/7 AD) MYSIA, Cyzicus. Ae.18 Kyzicos standing.
0 views
Reference.
RPC III -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; apparently unpublished.

Obv. CABINA CЄBACTH.
Draped bust of Sabina, r., with hair coiled and piled on top of head above double stephane

Rev. K - Y / Z - I.
Hero Kyzicos naked but a chlamys on l. shoulder, standing l., resting on sceptre with his r. hand, l. hand on his hip

4.42 gr
18 mm

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-128774

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Joss on June 14, 2016, 07:44:57 pm

Quote from: ancientdave on September 16, 2010, 04:08:57 pm

That's a very neat coin areich, extra points for the small size. I've always been a sucker for the smaller denominations.

You should like this one then:

Nagidos
AR Hemitetartemorion
480-380 BC
O/ Head of Aphrodite l.
R/ Head of Dionysos l.
6mm; 0.1g!!!

Unpublished under this denomination (Nagidos minted obols with these portraits, cf. SNG BN 11). I have never found another example, probably because it is too small to notice in the ground.

(http://img.colleconline.com/artefactimg/46238e37d9954016bd4084186c7e5848/da0896d14f414040b9aad3f5eb02a5df.jpg)

Title: Re: Share your rarest coin
Post by: Tacitus on July 09, 2016, 11:03:12 am

I am not sure I have this attributed properly (well at least the MER-RIC number)...  If so, this is only one of 2 specimens known...

MER-RIC 3367
Mint: Ticinum Issue 1
Datation: November – December 275
Denomination: Aureliani
Titulature: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG
Bust: Bust right, radiate, cuirassed, with left sleeve raised
Legend: MARTI PACIF
Reverse: Mars in military dress walking l., holding olive branch in r. hand, transverse spear and long oval shield in l. hand.
Reverse Mark: –/–//S


The item that sets this apart apparently is his left sleeve is raised.