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 IIAE3 (19.8mm, 3.1g)
360-363 AD
Diademed, helmeted and
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
shield.
DN FL CL JVLIANVS
P F AVGRx/ 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...