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Author Topic: New coins...  (Read 30742 times)

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Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #100 on: September 26, 2011, 03:26:50 pm »
while camping out in the Oregon wilderness this past weekend i received a new coin as a birthday present.
even though i don't actively collect Roman coins i have always wanted a nice portrait of Julian the Philosopher, as far as i am concerned one of the only interesting emperors after Marcus Aurelius. so my wife found this one for me, and i am very happy with it. it is a common type, but many of his portrayals look as if he's a mongoloid with a fake beard! i like this one a lot.

Julian II
AE3 (19.8mm, 3.1g)
360-363 AD
Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield.
DN FL CL JVLIANVS P F AVG
Rx/ VOT X MVLT X X within wreath.
NI[K?] below.

if i recall the original listing correctly this 20mm bronze was attributed to Antioch (although i don't remember very clearly), but it seems to me to be from Nicomedia. can anyone confirm this, or give me another attribution? the first letter of the mintmark looks like nothing other than an 'N', and the second appears to be an 'I', but after that it's hard to tell. any information will be appreciated.

the online image made me suspect some minor smoothing on the reverse, as well as an artificial patina, but i was willing to overlook that for the nice portrait. however in hand i'm not so sure. all i can really tell is that it has been waxed, and that might account for the altered appearance...


Offline Robert_Brenchley

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #101 on: September 26, 2011, 04:52:52 pm »
The fields are clearly smoothed. Look at the bottom of either face; that's what they originally looked like.
Robert Brenchley

My gallery: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=10405
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Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #102 on: September 26, 2011, 04:55:42 pm »
The fields are clearly smoothed. Look at the bottom of either face; that's what they originally looked like.

well that does explain the patina.
thank you for confirming that Robert.

~ Peter

Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #103 on: September 28, 2011, 04:28:23 pm »
well i have finally got this one cataloged and uploaded to my gallery...

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-72042

have a look and see what you think.

i don't speak the language of LRB's, so this was more difficult for me than it might be for others, and therefore i must give out a HUGE thank you to Scribonius Probus, Fufieno and rover.
thanks guys!   :)

~ Peter

Offline rover1.3

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #104 on: September 28, 2011, 04:49:50 pm »
It is a pleasant example Peter, and the fact it is a birthday gift makes it very special i think.
I know you wanted to have a coin of Julian II, enjoy it!

Best regards,

rover

Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #105 on: October 11, 2011, 05:31:02 pm »
thanks Nick!
i have wanted one for along time, and i'm happy with this one, problems and all. in fact it inspired me to buy another book on the man himself, Julian The Apostate by G.W Bowerstock (although i much prefer the title 'Philosopher').

anyway, back to real coins...  :evil:

today i managed to grab a new Taras diobol at auction dirt cheap. in fact i recently bought a load of soil for my wife's garden which cost more than this, so i guess i really did get a bargain!
yes, it has a problem obverse, but the reverse is crisp and well detailed, and the symbol (astragalos) is scarcer than most, so i am happy with it. and i absolutely love the Herakles/lion types. such a perfect composition for a round canvas.

~ Peter




Offline Steve E

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #106 on: October 12, 2011, 01:23:49 am »
today i managed to grab a new Taras diobol at auction dirt cheap. in fact i recently bought a load of soil for my wife's garden which cost more than this, so i guess i really did get a bargain!

So you actually buy your coins "cheaper than Dirt" ;)

Well done on your latest addition!

~Steve

Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #107 on: October 14, 2011, 04:07:16 pm »
thanks Steve. at less than a dollar a century i guess i did okay.   ;) 

i just added it to my gallery.
in hand i can see that the symbol behind Herakles is not an astragalos after all (as it was attributed by the dealer) but rather the more typical club device. i had thought i was getting a slightly scarcer type, but that's alright. even with the zombie Athena i still like the reverse.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-72425

~ Peter

Offline Robert_Brenchley

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #108 on: October 21, 2011, 04:54:12 pm »
Depends how much dirt you bought, and what you paid for it. I'm well aware that it can be pricy if you need a lot!
Robert Brenchley

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Offline casata137ec

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #109 on: October 21, 2011, 07:43:00 pm »
thanks Steve. at less than a dollar a century i guess i did okay.   ;) 

i just added it to my gallery.
in hand i can see that the symbol behind Herakles is not an astragalos after all (as it was attributed by the dealer) but rather the more typical club device. i had thought i was getting a slightly scarcer type, but that's alright. even with the zombie Athena i still like the reverse.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-72425

~ Peter

I was looking for the astragalos myself! Nifty coin none the less. :)

Chris
Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto - Missouri 1822

My gallery: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=19691

Offline Enodia

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Chubby Taras
« Reply #110 on: November 12, 2011, 04:26:31 am »
here's a new one that's a bit different. it's a didrachm for my Taras collection, but i don't have it in hand yet. still, i'm always excited to add a large Greek silver! 



 

Offline casata137ec

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #111 on: November 12, 2011, 10:21:37 am »
Fantastic! That is a truly good looking coin. :)

Chris
Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto - Missouri 1822

My gallery: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=19691

Offline Randygeki(h2)

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #112 on: November 12, 2011, 12:22:07 pm »
Another cool addition! Very nice.

Offline rover1.3

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #113 on: November 12, 2011, 05:59:02 pm »
I bet it will look even nicer in hand!

All the best,

Nikos



Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #114 on: November 12, 2011, 08:29:57 pm »
thanks guys.
i have it in hand now, and yes it does look much better!

this is an interesting didrachm, but i didn't realize it at first. i even thought the reverse represented an example of the deteriorated style of many 3rd century Tarentine coins. it's not a masterpiece to be sure, but with the substantially different rendition of the horseman, coupled with the religious element of the reverse, i was drawn in until i found it too fascinating to resist.

the dolphin rider here is of the "plump Dionysiac type", and is actually a figure of Iacchus, son of Dionysus and Persephone, who features in the Eleusinian Mysteries...

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-73280

~ Peter

Offline Enodia

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Some ugly dolphin, huh?
« Reply #115 on: December 08, 2011, 03:25:58 am »
i bought a new coin today, and should have it in hand soon.
this poor coin sat neglected for some time, so i finally had to rescue it. it's in pretty bad shape, but these Tarantine AE's seem to be somewhat market-scarce so i indulged myself.
it has a good home now.   8)

Taras AE 10
281-209 BC
Scallop shell.
Dolphin right.

~ Peter
(with apologies to Julia Louis Dreyfus)

Offline Randygeki(h2)

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #116 on: December 08, 2011, 04:33:33 am »
Nice addtion!

Offline casata137ec

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #117 on: December 08, 2011, 09:06:07 pm »
Nice addition, that would fit nicely in my collection of obscure bronze! lol

Chris
Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto - Missouri 1822

My gallery: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=19691

Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #118 on: December 09, 2011, 03:18:42 am »
thanks Randy, and yeah Chris, i had to grab it before you did!

i'm having a hard time attributing it though. it would be easier if i could see for sure whether there is one dolphin or two. hopefully i'll know better when i'm holding it.

Offline rover1.3

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #119 on: December 09, 2011, 04:27:42 am »
Two dolphins, TA below, i am 100% convinced.
There are clear traces of the upper dolphin visible, these traces can't be anything else but the upper dolphin.

All the best,

rover

Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #120 on: December 09, 2011, 04:35:45 am »
thanks Nick, i think so too.

the Ratto book you gave me lists it as Cote 441-42, and the dealer attribution is SNG Cop 1088, which i don't doubt. but i can't find a Vlasto reference in my files. i've got a lot of checking still to do, but that's half the fun!

~ Peter


Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #121 on: December 09, 2011, 04:42:26 am »
Vlasto 1842-46, right there on MG, same example you posted.

Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #122 on: December 15, 2011, 03:51:44 pm »
my new Taras AE is now in hand, and of course it looks better than the image... but not much!
these poor dolphins are lucky they didn't end up in a tuna can.

anyway i'm glad to have it. it was cheap and is relatively scarce, and there is no shortage of room in my gallery8)

have a look...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-74220

~ Peter

Offline Enodia

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #123 on: January 12, 2012, 11:37:18 pm »
i finally got a drachm!

this is not the prettiest coin in the world, but then it was very inexpensive. i have been wanting one of these for quite some time, but they are usually overpriced. i have also lost out on a couple at auction, but this one is now mine... mine mine mine!   8)

have a look, leave a comment, and enjoy...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-75311

~ Peter

Offline Randygeki(h2)

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Re: New coins...
« Reply #124 on: January 12, 2012, 11:58:03 pm »
i finally got a drachm!

this is not the prettiest coin in the world, but then it was very inexpensive. i have been wanting one of these for quite some time, but they are usually overpriced. i have also lost out on a couple at auction, but this one is now mine... mine mine mine!   8)

have a look, leave a comment, and enjoy...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-75311

~ Peter

Congrats  ;D   I like it.

 

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