Classical Numismatics Discussion - Members' Coin Gallery
  Welcome Guest. Please login or register. Share Your Collection With Your Friends And With The World!!! A FREE Service Provided By Forum Ancient Coins No Limit To The Number Of Coins You Can Add - More Is Better!!! Is Your Coin The Best Of Type? Add It And Compete For The Title Have You Visited An Ancient Site - Please Share Your Photos!!! Use The Members' Coin Gallery As A Reference To Identify Your Coins Please Visit Our Shop And Find A Coin To Add To Your Gallery Today!!!

Member Collections | Members' Gallery Home | Login | Album list | Last uploads | Last comments | Most viewed | Top rated | My Favorites | Search
Image search results - "shape"
Album-2677.JPG
Georgia Georgia and Armenia as part of the Iranian state
Husayn, 1105-1135 H./1694-1722 AD Abbasi of oblong shape 1129 H., Tiflîs, mint and date in central cartouche. Album 2677
Quant.Geek
100_1889_crop.JPG
Here is an example of a cabinet showing three different available styles of trays for storage. At the top is a standard round recess type tray....very traditional.

In the middle is an open format tray for displaying items "free form", or for items of unusual sizes/shapes such as large medals, military decorations or pocket watches.

On the bottom is a new offering; a drawer for slabs. Each drawer can hold 30 slabs from any of the three major slabbing firms; PCGS, NCG, or ANACS. Other commercial, or "DIY" slabs should also fit, provided they are no larger than any from the "big three" firms.

www.CabinetsByCraig.net
cmcdon0923
Sear-522a.jpg
MAURICE TIBERIUS (582-602). Decanummium. Cyzicus. Obv: Crowned and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield decorated with horseman motif. Rev: Large I; cross above, star to left, A to right; KYZ. Sear 522a; MIBE 93C. Condition: Good very fine, struck on an oddly-shaped flan. Weight: 2.92 g. Diameter: 20 mm.
Quant.Geek
89020FC6-DA40-4C7B-B74A-07B71EA31A56.jpeg
Metapontum, Lucania, c. 340 - 330 B.C.
|Italy|, |Metapontum,| |Lucania,| |c.| |340| |-| |330| |B.C.|, NEWLeukippos (or Leucippus) was a son of king Oinomaos of Pisa. He fell in love with the nymph Daphne and disguised himself as a girl to join her company. When she discovered his true identity in the bath, he was slain by the nymphs. Based on this portrait, his plan was doomed from the start.

Another Leukippos, unrelated to the coin, was a philosopher in the first half of 5th century B.C. This Leukippos was the first Greek to develop the theory of atomism; the idea that everything is composed entirely of various imperishable, indivisible elements called atoms. His theory was elaborated in far greater detail by his pupil and successor, Democritus. Leukippos was born in Miletus or Abdera.
GS110591. Silver nomos, Johnson-Noe B3.15 (same dies); SNG Fitzwilliam 497 (same); Historia Numorum Italy 1576; SNG ANS 443, VF, fine style, toned, areas weakly struck, irregularly shaped flan, Metapontion (Metaponto, Italy) mint, weight 7.812g, maximum diameter 22.5mm, die axis 315o, c. 340 - 330 B.C.; obverse ΛEYKIΠΠOΣ (clockwise from above), head of Leucippus right, bearded, wearing Corinthian helmet with a plain bowl, dog (control symbol) seated left behind; reverse barley ear, stalk and leaf on right, bird with open wings on leaf, META upward on left, AMI below leaf; from the CEB Collection, Ex: Numismatic Fine Arts, Inc, Summer Bid Sale, June 27, 1986, lot 45.
paul1888
19854828129.jpg
PALEO-AKKADIAN CUNEIFORM TABLET RELATING TO BARLEY FROM LUGALNITAZI
CIRCA 2300 B.C.
1 3/8 in. (20.1 grams, 36 mm wide).

A broadly pillow-shaped clay tablet bearing cuneiform text to one face, a Paleo-Akkadian receipt (from Adab?): barley from Lugalnitazi received by the men of the kitchens.
Quant.Geek
197480.jpg
UR III CUNEIFORM TABLET FRAGMENT RELATING TO FOOD DISTRIBUTION
LATE 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.
2 5/8 in. (82 grams, 67 mm).

A fragment of a pillow-shaped ceramic tablet with neatly impressed columns of cuneiform text, accounting of Ur III food distribution,
representing wages.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Liverani, M., Antico Oriente, Storia, societa' ed economia, Roma, 1988, pp.608-609, fig.111, for type.
Quant.Geek
boudicca_iceni_AR_unit.JPG
1st Century CE, IRON AGE BRITAIN, Tribe: Iceni, AR Unit, Struck c.60 - 61 under Boudica (Boadicea)Obverse: No legend. Abstract Celtic style head with slit for eye and no ear facing right. Three pellets below head, branch emblem behind neck.
Reverse: No legend. Celtic style horse facing right, lozenge-shaped box with pellets on outer corners below horse. Section of large elaborate wheel-like object above horse, pellet below horse's tail.
Class: Icenian O
Diameter: 14mm | Weight: 0.9gms | Axis: 10
Spink: 434

The first known recorded example of this coin was made by William Stukely, an English antiquarian whose ideas influenced various antiquaries throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Stukeley published over twenty books on archaeology and other subjects during his lifetime and he is regarded as an important forerunner of archaeology for his emphasis on methodically measuring and documenting ancient sites. He died of a stroke in early 1765.
The theory that this coinage was connected with Boudica was originally reported in 1987 and this was endorsed by R D Van Arsdell, an authority on the Celtic coinage of Britain, as Boudican in the 1990's. At the time though this was disputed by many in the numismatic community, some of whom continued to rely on older studies that lumped all "Face-Horse" coins together in a group dating before 20 CE.
However, John Talbot of the University of Oxford carried out research on these issues and, as his die-link and hoard work gradually progressed through the 1990's into the early twenty-first century, these coins were confirmed to be the final coinage of the Iceni. As Talbot's findings were only gradually revealed over a period of time, the accepted dating used in some dealer catalogues did not always keep up with the latest information. During his studies, Talbot discovered that coins from several die sets are only found in the Boudican Rebellion hoards. He also confirmed that these coins were struck in abnormally great numbers for any Icenian issue. But, because he was not certain that this was enough evidence to date the coins to 61 CE. he suggested only that they could have been struck any time after the Claudian Invasion of 43 CE.
Considering though that some die sets are known only from the Boudican Rebellion hoards, that it is still the case that these coins appear in uncirculated condition in the hoards, and that to date none of these coins have been found from secure contexts earlier than the time of the Boudican rebellion, it would appear that the 1987 report was essentially correct and these coins must have been struck nearer to the date of the Boudican Rebellion than earlier, possibly in connection with the financing of that rebellion. The conclusion now is that these coins can, with some confidence, be attributed to Boudica.


THE ICENI
The Iceni were a tribe located in eastern Britain during the Iron Age and the early Roman era. Their territory was bordered by the Corieltauvi to the west, and the Catuvellauni and Trinovantes to the south. In the Roman period, their capital was Venta Icenorum at modern-day Caistor St Edmund.
Julius Caesar did not mention the Iceni in his account of his invasions of Britain in 55 and 54 BC, though they may have been related to the Cenimagni, whom Caesar notes as living north of the River Thames at that time. The Iceni were a significant power in eastern Britain during Claudius I's conquest of Britain in AD 43, in which they allied with Rome. Increasing Roman influence on their affairs led to a revolt in AD 47, though they remained nominally independent under king Prasutagus up until his death around AD 60. Roman encroachment after Prasutagus' death led his wife Boudica to launch a major revolt from 60–61. Boudica's uprising seriously endangered Roman rule in Britain and resulted in the burning of Londinium and other cities. The Romans finally crushed the rebellion, and the Iceni were eventually incorporated into the Roman province.
Archaeological evidence of the Iceni includes torcs, which are heavy rings of gold, silver or electrum worn around the neck and shoulders. The Iceni began producing coins around 10 BC. Their coins were a distinctive adaptation of the Gallo-Belgic "face/horse" design, and in some early issues, most numerous near Norwich, the horse was replaced with a boar. Some coins are inscribed ECENI, making them the only coin-producing group to use their tribal name on coins. The earliest personal name to appear on coins is Antedios (about 10 BC), and other abbreviated names like AESU and SAEMU followed. The name of Prasutagus also appears on some coins as PRASTO.

QUEEN BOUDICA
Queen Boudica was married to Prasutagus, ruler of the Iceni people of East Anglia. When the Romans conquered southern England in AD 43, they allowed Prasutagus to continue to rule. However, when Prasutagus died he left a will dividing his lands between the Roman emperor and his family. The Romans decided to rule the Iceni directly and confiscated all the king's property. When this was contested they are said to have stripped and flogged Boudica and raped her daughters. These actions exacerbated the widespread resentment at Roman rule.
In 60 or 61 AD, while the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paullinus was leading a campaign in North Wales, the Iceni rebelled, other tribes joined them, and Boudica led a major uprising against the occupying Roman forces.
Boudica's warriors defeated the Roman Ninth Legion and destroyed the then capital of Roman Britain, Camulodunum (Colchester). They then went on to destroy Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans) killing thousands in the process. Finally, Boudica was defeated by a Roman army led by Paulinus. A great number of her army were killed and, though Boudica's fate is unknown, she is alleged to have either died in battle or poisoned herself to avoid capture. The site of the battle which brought an end to her uprising is also unknown.
The photograph below is of the Victorian statue of Boudica (Boadicea) situated on the Thames embankment in London.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE THEM
3 comments*Alex
hsb2.jpg
CASTULO, HISPANIA ULTERIOR, C. 165 - 80 BCEHeart shaped Bronze SNG Spain II 427 ff.; SNG BM Spain 1314ff.; SNG Loruchs 374; Sng Cop 209, Burgos 545;f, Castulo mint.
Obverse: diademed male head right, crescent before.
Reverse: helmeted sphinx walking right,star before, KASTILO in Iberic script below ex. 29.75 mm., 16.0 g.
NORMAN K
vbc.jpg
Constantine I, RIC VII 90 HeracleaRIC VII 90 Constantine I AE3. 326-327 C.E.
Obverse - CONSTANTINVS AVG. diademed head right, ladder shaped diadem with two dots between segments.
Reverse - DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG around VOT dot XXX in wreath, dot SMHA in ex. Heraclea mint
17 mm diam., 3.6 g.
NORMAN K
crcg.jpg
Crispus RIC VII 69 Thessalonica, 319 CEObverse: IVL CRIS-PVS NOB C, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: VIRT EXERC, Sol raising right hand and holding globe in left, standing in center of plan of roman camp.
TS dot E dot in ex. Thessalonica mint
19.53mm., 2.2g. rare
The true meaning of this reverse type has never been fully deciphered. The latest theory being the X shaped pattern represents Constantine's vision before the battle of Milvainbridge. This does not seem likely since the type is known on coins of Licinius a pagan and Constantine's enemy
sold 4-2018

NORMAN K
P-shaped_fibula_Type_Trident_(drietand)_ref__D__Bondoc_3e-4e_eeuw_na_Chr__4.JPG
P-shaped_fibula_Type_Trident_(drietand)_ref__D__Bondoc_3e-4e_eeuw_na_Chr__4okidoki
171.jpg
Δ and KA (monogram of)CILICIA. Seleuceia ad Calycadnum. Severus Alexander. Æ 28. A.D. 222-235. Obv: AVâ–ªKâ–ªMâ–ªAVPâ–ªCEOVHPAΛEZA-NΔPO. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; 2 countermarks: (1) on chest, (2) partly under (1). Rev: CEΛE(-YKEΩN)KAΛY-KA-ΔNΩ. Tyche of Seleuceia seated left on rock in distyle shrine, holding grains; river-god Calycadnus swimming left below. Ref: BMC -; SNG Levante Supp. 196 (same obv. die, var. rev. leg.). Axis: 195°. Weight: 9.91 g. CM(1): Δ containing dot, in triangular punch, 6 x 5 mm. Howgego 670 (206 pcs). Note: Not likely to be a denominational countermark. CM(2): Monogram of K and A, in shaped punch, 4 x 5 mm. Howgego 618 (52 pcs). Note: The countermark likely refers to Calycadnum. Collection Automan.Automan
013n~0.jpg
Δ, six-pointed star, eagle and Nike (6 cmks!)CILICIA. Ninica-Claudiopolis. Maximinus I. Æ 27. A.D. 235-238. Obv: OIMPCSIVLVERMAXIMINVS. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; 6 countermarks: (1) to right, before bust, (2) on lower part of bust, (3) on neck, (4) behind and on back of head, (5) on upper part of head, (6) before head. Rev: NINIC-OL-CLA-UΔI, OPOLI in ex. Tetrastyle temple containing emperor, standing left, holding patera and spear. Ref: BMC 10; Sear GIC 3548 (same dies). Axis: 360°. Weight: 9.12 g. CM(1): Δ containing dot, all within circle; circular punch, 6 mm. Howgego 669 (49 pcs). Note: Not likely to be a denominational countermark. CM(2): Six-pointed star, incuse, 6 mm from point to point. Howgego 451 (45 pcs). CM(3): Eagle standing right with head left, in shaped punch, c. 4 x 7 mm. Howgego 338 (11 pcs). CM(4): Nike right, in oval punch, c. 5 x 8 mm. Howgego 262 (34 pcs). CM(5): Similar to CM(4). CM(6): Similar to CM(4). Note: The sequence of application appears to have been 669-451-262-338. Automan
00009x00~0.jpg
ROME
PB Tessera (23mm, 6.90 g, 12h
Rudder
Flaccid male genitals (or leaf?)
Rostovtsev –

The obverse type differs from the phallic imagery sometimes scene on Roman tesserae. This example depicts a flaccid, rather than engorged penis, often conservatively described in numismatics as a "pudenda virilia." The unusual shape of this piece, combined with the differing obverse type, makes me think this may be a fertility amulet.
Ardatirion
cross1.jpg
IONIA, Ephesos
PB Tessera (15mm, 2.66 g)
Deeply punched cross shape with two additional annular punches
Blank
Gülbay & Kireç 153 (lacking the two annular punches)
Ardatirion
00060x00.jpg
MEXICO, Aztec culture. Circa AD 1200/1300-1525
Æ “Hachuela” (143mm x 150mm, 55.70 g)
Mushroom-shaped bronze pseudo-axe-head with curved “blade” and flanged shank
Hosler, Lechtman, & Holm, Axe-monies and their Relatives, type 2a
1 commentsArdatirion
00030x00~0.jpg
Volusian. AD 251-253
Æ Antoninianus? (17mm, 1.83 g)
Copying an uncertain issue
Radiate, [draped, and cuirrassed] bust right
Blank

A most curious piece. The attribution to Volusian is suggested by the shape of the facial hair and the generally youthful portrait.
1 commentsArdatirion
gnostic_token.jpg
ROME
PB Gnostic amulet
3rd-5th century AD
Abraxas standing left, with head of a cock, body of a man, and legs of a serpent, holding spear and shield
Star over crescent; ABPA/ CAZ below
Cf. Rostowzew & Prou 820a (oval shape, letters IAω around deity)

Remnants of loupe for suspension at 12'

Not a tessera, but often erroneously included among them.
Ardatirion
w14412.jpg
"4 Zhu" Ban Liang of Emperor Wen Di (Western Han Dynasty)Emperor Wen Di (minted 175-119 BCE)

Two normal-sized Chinese characters – Ban Liang ("Half an ounce"), large characters (lower part of liang is M shaped), no rims or other marks / Blank, no rims.

24mm, 2.28 grams. BM Chinese coins (Poole) #256ff; Hartill #7.16.
Belisarius
lg004_quad_sm.jpg
"As de Nîmes" or "crocodile" Ӕ dupondius of Nemausus (9 - 3 BC), honoring Augustus and AgrippaIMP DIVI F , Heads of Agrippa (left) and Augustus (right) back to back, Agrippa wearing rostral crown and Augustus the oak-wreath / COL NEM, crocodile right chained to palm-shoot with short dense fronds and tip right; two short palm offshoots left and right below, above on left a wreath with two long ties streaming right.

Ó”, 24.5 x 3+ mm, 13.23g, die axis 3h; on both sides there are remains of what appears to be gold plating, perhaps it was a votive offering? Rough edges and slight scrapes on flan typical for this kind of coin, due to primitive technology (filing) of flan preparation.

IMPerator DIVI Filius. Mint of COLonia NEMausus (currently Nîmes, France). Known as "As de Nîmes", it is actually a dupontius (lit. "two-pounder") = 2 ases (sometimes cut in halves to get change). Dupondii were often made out of a golden-colored copper alloy (type of brass) "orichalcum" and this appears to be such case.

Key ID points: oak-wreath (microphotography shows that at least one leaf has a complicated shape, although distinguishing oak from laurel is very difficult) – earlier versions have Augustus bareheaded, no PP on obverse as in later versions, no NE ligature, palm with short fronds with tip right (later versions have tip left and sometimes long fronds). Not typical: no clear laurel wreath together with the rostral crown, gold (?) plating (!), both features really baffling.

But still clearly a "middle" kind of the croc dupondius, known as "type III": RIC I 158, RPC I 524, Sear 1730. It is often conservatively dated to 10 BC - 10 AD, but these days it is usually narrowed to 9/8 - 3 BC.

It is a commemorative issue, honoring the victory over Mark Antony and conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. The heads of Augustus and Agrippa were probably positioned to remind familiar obverses of Roman republican coins with two-faced Janus. Palm branch was a common symbol of victory, in this case grown into a tree, like the victories of Augustus and Agrippa grown into the empire. The two offshoots at the bottom may mean two sons of Agrippa, Gaius and Lucius, who were supposed to be Augustus' heirs and were patrons of the colony. Palm may also be a symbol of the local Nemausian deity, which was probably worshiped in a sacred grove. When these coins were minted, the colony was mostly populated by the settled veterans of Augustus' campaigns, hence the reminiscence of the most famous victory, but some of the original Celtic culture probably survived and was assimilated by Romans. The crocodile is not only the symbol of Egypt, like in the famous Octavian's coins AEGYPTO CAPTA. It is also a representation of Mark Antony, powerful and scary both in water and on land, but a bit slow and stupid. The shape of the crocodile with tail up was specifically chosen to remind of the shape of ship on very common "legionary" denarius series, which Mark Antony minted to pay his armies just before Actium. It is probably also related to the popular contemporary caricature of Cleopatra, riding on and simultaneously copulating with a crocodile, holding a palm branch in her hand as if in triumph. There the crocodile also symbolized Mark Antony.

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was born c. 64-62 BC somewhere in rural Italy. His family was of humble and plebeian origins, but rich, of equestrian rank. Agrippa was about the same age as Octavian, and the two were educated together and became close friends. He probably first served in Caesar's Spanish campaign of 46–45 BC. Caesar regarded him highly enough to send him with Octavius in 45 BC to train in Illyria. When Octavian returned to Rome after Caesar's assassination, Agrippa became his close lieutenant, performing many tasks. He probably started his political career in 43 BC as a tribune of the people and then a member of the Senate. Then he was one of the leading Octavian's generals, finally becoming THE leading general and admiral in the civil wars of the subsequent years.

In 38 as a governor of Transalpine Gaul Agrippa undertook an expedition to Germania, thus becoming the first Roman general since Julius Caesar to cross the Rhine. During this foray he helped the Germanic tribe of Ubii (who previously allied themselves with Caesar in 55 BC) to resettle on the west bank of the Rhine. A shrine was dedicated there, possibly to Divus Caesar whom Ubii fondly remembered, and the village became known as Ara Ubiorum, "Altar of Ubians". This quickly would become an important Roman settlement. Agrippina the Younger, Agrippa's granddaughter, wife of Emperor Claudius and mother of Emperor Nero, would be born there in 15 AD. In 50 AD she would sponsor this village to be upgraded to a colonia, and it would be renamed Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (colony of Claudius [at] the Altar of Agrippinians – Ubii renamed themselves as Agrippinians to honor the augusta!), abbreviated as CCAA, later to become the capital of new Roman province, Germania Inferior.

In 37 BC Octavian recalled Agrippa back to Rome and arranged for him to win the consular elections, he desperately needed help in naval warfare with Sextus Pompey, the youngest son of Pompey the Great, who styled himself as the last supporter of the republican cause, but in reality became a pirate king, an irony since his father was the one who virtually exterminated piracy in all the Roman waters. He forced humiliating armistice on the triumvirs in 39 BC and when Octavian renewed the hostilities a year later, defeated him in a decisive naval battle of Messina. New fleet had to be built and trained, and Agrippa was the man for the job. Agrippa's solution was creating a huge secret naval base he called Portus Iulius by connecting together lakes Avernus, Avernus and the natural inner and outer harbors behind Cape Misenum at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples. He also created a larger type of ship and developed a new naval weapon: harpax – a ballista-launched grapnel shot with mechanisms that allowed pulling enemy ships close for easy boarding. It replaced the previous boarding device that Romans used since the First Punic War, corvus – effective, but extremely cumbersome. A later defence against it were scythe blades on long poles for cutting ropes, but since this invention was developed in secret, the enemy had no chance to prepare anything like it. It all has proved extremely effective: in a series of naval engagements Agrippa annihilated the fleet of Sextus, forced him to abandon his bases and run away. For this Agrippa was awarded an unprecedented honour that no Roman before or after him received: a rostral crown, "corona rostrata", a wreath decorated in front by a prow and beak of a ship.

That's why Virgil (Aeneid VIII, 683-684), describing Agrippa at Actium, says: "…belli insigne superbum, tempora navali fulgent rostrata corona." "…the proud military decoration, gleams on his brow the naval rostral crown". Actium, the decisive battle between forces of Octavian and Mark Antony, may appear boring compared to the war with Sextus, but it probably turned out this way due to Agrippa's victories in preliminary naval engagements and taking over all the strategy from Octavian.

In between the wars Agrippa has shown an unusual talent in city planning, not only constructing many new public buildings etc., but also greatly improving Rome's sanitation by doing a complete overhaul of all the aqueducts and sewers. Typically, it was Augustus who later would boast that "he had found the city of brick but left it of marble", forgetting that, just like in his naval successes, it was Agrippa who did most of the work. Agrippa had building programs in other Roman cities as well, a magnificent temple (currently known as Maison Carrée) survives in Nîmes itself, which was probably built by Agrippa.

Later relationship between Augustus and Agrippa seemed colder for a while, Agrippa seemed to even go into "exile", but modern historians agree that it was just a ploy: Augustus wanted others to think that Agrippa was his "rival" while in truth he was keeping a significant army far away from Rome, ready to come to the rescue in case Augustus' political machinations fail. It is confirmed by the fact that later Agrippa was recalled and given authority almost equal to Augustus himself, not to mention that he married Augustus' only biological child. The last years of Agrippa's life were spent governing the eastern provinces, were he won respect even of the Jews. He also restored Crimea to Roman Empire. His last service was starting the conquest of the upper Danube, were later the province of Pannonia would be. He suddenly died of illness in 12 BC, aged ~51.

Agrippa had several children through his three marriages. Through some of his children, Agrippa would become ancestor to many subsequent members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He has numerous other legacies.
Yurii P
57638q00.jpg
*SOLD*Augustus Copper quadrans

Attribution: RIC I 453
Date: 5 BC
Obverse: MESSALLA APRONIVS III VIR, garlanded altar with bowl-shaped top
Reverse: GALVS SISINNA A A A F F, around large S C
Size: 15.6 mm
Weight: 2.51 grams
ex- Forvm
Noah
56471q00.jpg
*SOLD*Augustus Copper quadrans

Attrribution: RIC I 455a, Morrison BN 806
Date: 5 BC
Obverse: MESSALLA GALVS III VIR, garlanded altar with bowl-shaped top
Reverse: APRONIVS SISENNA AAAFF, around large S C
Size: 17 mm
Weight: 3.02 grams
ex-Forvm
Noah
Augustus_Quadrans_3_-_RIC_450.jpg
*SOLD*Augustus Copper quadrans

Attribution: RIC I 450 corr.
Date: 5 BC
Obverse: GALVS MESSALLA III VIR, altar with bowl-shaped top
Reverse: SISENNA APRONIVS AAAFF, around large S C
Size: 16.3 mm
Weight: 3.16 grams
ex-Forvm
Noah
Augustus_Quadrans_3_-_RIC_454.jpg
*SOLD*Augustus Copper quadrans

Attribution: RIC I 454
Date: 5 BC
Obverse: MESSALLA APRONIVS III VIR, altar with bowl-shaped top
Reverse: SISENNA GALVS AAAFF, around large S C
Size: 16.1 mm
Weight: 3.07 grams
ex-Forvm
Noah
830.jpg
0.30 AR Athenian Tetradrachm 454-415 BCEATTICA: Athens. Ca. 454(?)-415 BC. AR tetradrachm. Athena / Owl. Nice centering.

Silver tetradrachm, pl. XXII, 6´. Svoronos pl. 15, 30., 17.1gm, 24mm, gVF, 449-413 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right with almond shaped eye, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll, wire necklace, round earring,; reverse A?E right, owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, prong tail, to left olive twig and crescent, all within incuse square.
1 commentsEcgþeow
Larissa_Drachm_Larissa_L_Horse_Prance_R.jpg
00098 Larissa Profile Left, Horse Prancing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa

Obv: [ΛAPlΣA in small letters l. and up], head of Larissa facing l., hair bound at top of head, triple drop earring, pearl necklace. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Bridled horse with tail in an upright curl prancing r. on ground line, ΛAP above, I in front of horse’s head, ΣAI down and in front, ΩN up and behind.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 370 - 360 BC1; Weight: 5.78g; Diameter: 19mm: Die axis: 330º; References, for example: Hermann Group V, pl. IV, 16; Liampi 1992, 25; Lorber 2008, pl. 45, 100; BCD Thessaly I 1133; BCD Thessaly II 183; HGC 4, 448.

Notes:
1This date range fits within BCD Thessaly I and II, Lorber 2008, and HGC 4.

Despite the absence of ΛAPlΣA in tiny letters in front of Larissa’s head (with 25x magnification I can detect what are perhaps very, very faint indications of parts of the legend), the shape of the mouth, the chin, and the stray lock of hair in front of Larissa’s forehead lead me to determine that this is an example of BCD Thessaly I 1133 and II 183 and not 1134 and 184 respectively. Thus, this is an example of, per BCD Thessaly I and Lorber 2008, Larissa’s profile in the style of Euainetos at Syracuse.

Provenance: Ex. CNG Electronic Auction 505 December 1, 2021 Lot 124, from the Sigmund collection.

Photo Credits: CNG

CLICK FOR SOURCES




4 commentsTracy Aiello
Athenian_Tetradrachm.jpg
01 Attica, Athenian TetradrachmAthenian Old Style Tetradrachm

Obv: head of Athena facing r., crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves and floral scroll, hair across forehead in parallel curves, almond shaped eye, round earing, wire necklace.
Rev: owl standing r. with erect posture, tail feathers as a single prong, head facing forward, a crescent and then an olive sprig to the l., A☉E at 90º and downward to the r., all within incuse square.
Denomination: silver tetradrachm; Mint: Athens; Date: 454 - 404 BC;1 Weight: 17.2g; Diameter: 24mm; Die axis: 270º; References, for example: BMC vol. 11, 62; SNG Cop vol. 14, 31; Cf. Starr pl. XXIII; SGCV I 2526; Kroll 8; SNG München issue 14, 49; HGC 4, 1597.

Notes:
1This is the date range given in HGC 4. SGCV I gives 449 - 413 BC.

NGC rates this coin as About Uncirculated with a 5/5 strike and a 4/5 surface. I intend to someday free it from its encapsulation.

This coin is part of an enormous issue apparently begun in order to pay for work necessary to rebuild the city's temples. Subsequent decades saw huge quantities of tetradrachms minted in order to finance the building of the Parthenon and other such massive projects, and later decades saw such minting in order to pay for the Peloponnesian War. (SGCV I, p. 236).

Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coins January 12, 2018; Ex Heritage Auction 231723 June 8, 2017, lot 62016.

Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins

CLICK FOR SOURCES
2 commentsTracy Aiello
Athenian_Drachm_Athena_and_Owl_Collage.jpg
02 Attica, Athenian DrachmObv: head of Athena facing r., crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves and floral scroll, almond shaped eye.
Rev: owl standing r. with erect posture, tail feathers as a single prong, head facing forward, an olive sprig to the l., A☉E downward to the r., all within incuse square.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Athens; Date: 454 - 404 BC1; Weight: 4.22g; Diameter: 15mm; Die axis: 270º; References, for example: BMC Attica vol. 11, 74; SNG Lockett 1851; SNG Cop vol. 14, 43 var. mention of crescent; Svoronos Athens pls. 11.19 - 17.29 passim; SGCV I 2527; Kroll 10; SNG Sweden 1481; SNG München 61; HGC 4, 1631.

Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4 and SNG München.

Provenance: Ex. Kirk Davis March 12, 2024; Ex. Malter Galleries, with their tag indicating Ex. Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung, June 3, 1977.

CLICK FOR SOURCES
2 commentsTracy Aiello
Athenian_Athena_Owl_Obol.jpg
03 Attica, Athenian ObolAthenian Later Archaic/Rough Archaic Obol1

Obv: head of Athena facing r., crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves and spiral palmette on bowl of the helmet, hair across forehead in straight bands, almond shaped eye.
Rev: owl standing r. with erect posture, tail feathers as a single prong, head facing forward, a single leaf olive sprig and berry to the l., A☉E at 90º and downward to the r., all within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Athens; Date: c. 454 - 404 BC2; Weight: .67g; Diameter: 9mm; Die axis: 110º; References, for example: BMC vol. 11, 99; SNG Cop vol. 14, 53 to 56, var. no mention of berry; Starr p. XXIII, aa; Cf. Svoronos Athens pl. 8, 43 - 46 and pl. 9, 33 - 34, 37 - 46; SGCV I 2530; Kroll 13a ff var. no mention of berry; SNG München 77 to 82; HGC 4, 1665 var. no mention of berry.

Notes:
1This characterization is per BMC vol. 11, pp. xxiii and 8.
2This is the date range given in HGC 4.

Provenance: Ex. Harlan J Berk Ltd 215th Buy or Bid Sale, May 4, 2021; acquired from Harlan Berk in 2013.

Photo Credits: Harlan J Berk, Ltd

CLICK FOR SOURCES
5 commentsTracy Aiello
marianus.jpg
049a04. MacrianusBITHYNIA. Nicaea. AE 23mm, 6.82 g. Obv: TI ΦOVΛ IOV MAKPIANOC CEB. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: APICTΩΝ MEΓ NIKAIEΩN. View of city walls in shape of octagon, seen from aerial perspective; arched central gateways above and below. RG 868. RIC Volume: X №: — (unassigned; ID 74614). Numismatic Naumann Auc 136, lot 3331 commentslawrence c
ciibh1.jpg
05 Constantius IIBGN353 - Constantius II (A.D. 337-361), Pre-Magnentian Revolt, AE Centenionalis, 21mm, 5.14g., Arles mint, first officina, A.D. 348-350, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of the Emperor right, A behind head, rev., FEL TEMP REPARATIO, PARL in exergue, helmeted soldier spearing fallen horseman, A in field, (RIC 119/121-22; Bridgnorth Report #79), very fine. RIC Arles 118

Ex Bridgnorth Hoard, Shropshire, England, buried circa A.D. 355, discovered 2007.

"On October 10th, 2007 a metal detectorist discovered a large scattered hoard of late Roman coins that had been disturbed by deep plowing in a potato field near Bridgnorth, Shropshire. His subsequent actions are praised in the UK government 2007 Portable Antiquities and Treasure Annual Report, where local finds officer Peter Reavill states: “The finder is to be congratulated on the careful plotting and speedy reporting of this hoard as it enabled the excavation to take place and vital depositional information recorded. In turn, this minimised the impact to the landowner and his farming activity.” The majority of hoards that come to light are found outside of planned archaeological excavations, the original owner having selected a secluded spot to conceal his or her wealth away from human habitation, leading to loss of information on the archaeological context of the hoard. In this instance, swift action and close cooperation by the finder and the local Finds Liaison Officer led to an excavation of the findspot. The results of which showed that the hoard had been contained in a large pottery vessel (broken by the plow), most probably previously used as a cooking pot as evidenced by burns marks on the outer edges. The pot had been buried in a U-shaped gulley or ditch that formed part of an otherwise unknown late Roman site.

The hoard consisted of 2892 coins, ranging in date from a Reform Antoninianus of Probus to post Magnentian issues of Constantius II up to A.D. 355. The majority of the hoard was issues of Magnentius and Decentius (75%), followed by pre-Magnentian issues of Constantius II and Constans (18%) and closing with post Magnentian issues of Constantius II and Gallus (7%)."
Better Photo
1 commentsRandygeki(h2)
I__Lipot,_XVkr_,_Pozsony,_1676,_H-1441,_U-1068a,_HH-PRE,76_1_1-1_3_var__Q-001,_0h,_30,5-31mm,_5,86g-s.jpg
050 Leopoldus I., (Leopoldus I. of Habsburg), King of Hungary, (1657-1705 A.D.), H 1441, U-1068a, AR-XV Kreuzer, Pozsony, Madonna and the child in the Mandorla, 1676, #01050 Leopoldus I., (Leopoldus I. of Habsburg), King of Hungary, (1657-1705 A.D.), H 1441, U-1068a, AR-XV Kreuzer, Pozsony, Madonna and the child in the Mandorla, 1676, #01
avers: LEOPOLDVS•D(ei)•G(ratia)•R(omanorvm)•I(mperator)• [XV, as value sign] •S(emper)•A(vgvstvs)•G(ermaniae)•H(ungariae)•B(ohemiae)•REX, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, above "lying S-shaped" decoration, below in value sign: XV.
reverse: • 16-76 ♦PATRONA♦ [coat of arms] HVNGARIAE• (AE is ligated), Sitting the crowned Madonna with the child in her left arm, in the Mandorla and flame wreath. Below it is the crowned Hungarian coat of arms, the Bratislava coat of arms on the left side, and the right side is the coat of arms CG.
diameter: 30,5-31,0mm, weight: 5,86g, axis: 0h,
mint: Hungary, Pozsony, (today Slovakia: Bratislava/Pressburg),
mintmark: Crowned Hungarian coat of arms, the Bratislava coat of arms on the left side, and the right side is the coat of arms CG (mintmaster: Georg Cetto).
date: 1676 A.D.,
ref: Huszár 1441, Unger 1068a, Höllhuber PRE 76.1.var.
Q-001
quadrans
ImitationBlack.jpg
056/3 Ancient imitationAnonymous. Ae Semis imitation. Probably first century BC. Obv: Laureate head of Saturn r.; behind, S. Rev: Prow r.; above, S and below, ROMA.
Crawford 56/3

Style and shape is not the best on this coin. However, as an ancient imitation it does have historical value.
Paddy
GI_066o_img.JPG
066 - Caracalla - Tetradrachm - Laodicea-ad-MareObv:- • AVT • KAI • - • ANTΩNEINOC - • CE •. Laureate head to right
Rev:- • ΔHMAPX • EΞ • VΠATOC • TO • Γ •. Eagle seen from front, wings spread, head left, laurel wreath in beak, standing on ground line; between legs, star-shaped light
Minted in Laodicea ad Mare, A.D. 212-213
Reference:= Prieur 1176
maridvnvm
IMG_3676.jpg
08 Constantius IIConstantius II
AE 2
24.75 mm 5.14g
D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, helmeted soldier standing left, spearing fallen horseman who is wearing a bowl-shaped helmet, clutching the horse's neck. Star in left field. Mintmark SMHA.
Heraclea
RIC VIII 67

ex Steve
4 commentsRandygeki(h2)
Elagabalus-RIC-201var.jpg
090. Elagabalus / RIC 201 var.Denarius, 219-220 AD, Antioch mint.
Obv: IMP ANTONINVS AVG / Laureate bust of Elagabalus.
Rev: - TEMPORVM - FEL - / Felicitas standing, holding patera and caduceus.
3.08 gm. 18 mm.
RIC #201 var.

Note: This coin is not listed in RIC with this obverse legend. I have listed as a variety of RIC 201. Of interest are the wedge-shaped dashes in the reverse legend.
1 commentsCallimachus
Laszlo-I,_(1077-1095_AD),_CC_I__10_05_-f1_01_-19var_,_H-025,_C1-031,_U-020,_Q-001,_5h,_18,8-19,0mm,_0,57g-s.jpg
10.05. László I., "St. Ladislaus !", King of Hungary, (1077-1095 A.D.), AR-Denarius, CÁC I. 10.05./f1.01./19var., H-025, CNH I.-031, U-020, #0110.05. László I., "St. Ladislaus !", King of Hungary, (1077-1095 A.D.), AR-Denarius, CÁC I. 10.05./f1.01./19var., H-025, CNH I.-031, U-020, #01
avers: LAD IꙄL AVꙄ REX, Four crosses in each corner in a circle and in the ends, the circle of dots.
reverse: +LADISCLAVS RE, Cross with wedges in a circle, line border.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 18,8-19,0mm, weight: 0,57g, axis: 5h,
mint: Esztergom, date: A.D., ref: Huszár-025, CNH I.-031, Unger-020,
Tóth-Kiss-Fekete: CÁC I.(Catalog of Árpadian Coinage I./Opitz I.), Privy-Mark/Szigla: 10.05./f1.01./19var., (The ellipse-shaped pellet is horizontally below the letter "A" of the LAD..., not parallel to the "A" axis as usual!)
Q-001
1 commentsquadrans
AlexISear1909.jpg
1081-1118 AD - Alexius I Comnenus - Follis - Thessalonica mintEmperor: Alexius I Comnenus (r. 1081-1118 AD)
Date: 1081-1092 AD
Condition: aFair
Denomination: Follis

Obverse: No legend
Bust of the Virgin facing, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium; She holds before Her the infant Christ whose nimbate head facing is represented; to left, ; to right, ; on either side of Virgin's head, uncertain wedge-shaped object.

Reverse: - ]
Alexius standing facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding labarum and globus cruciger.

Thessalonica mint
Sear 1909
4.27g; 26.1mm; 165°
Pep
image2_(1).JPG
11 Constantius IIConstantius II
26 mm
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
laureate, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right, holding globe; A behind bust
RE-PARATIO
bowl-shaped helmet with bobble directly on top, kneeling on one knee, hand up
R Epsilon / * over A left
Rome 174
Scarce
1 commentsRandygeki(h2)
HENRY_II_Tealby_AR_Penny.JPG
1154 - 1189, HENRY II, AR 'Tealby' Penny, Struck 1158 - 1163 at Canterbury, EnglandObverse: HENRI • REX • A -. Crowned facing bust of Henry II, his head turned slightly to the left, holding sceptre tipped with a cross potent in his right hand. Crown has three vertical uprights each topped by a fleur-de-lis.
Reverse: + ROGIER : ON : CANT surrounding short cross potent within beaded circle, small cross potents in each quarter. Moneyer: Rogier, cognate with the modern English name of Roger. Mintmark: Cross potent.
Class A bust
Diameter: 20mm | Weight: 1.3gms | Die Axis: 4h
Flan chipped and cracked, legends largely illegible
SPINK: 1337

The attribution to mint and moneyer is not 100% certain, but is the best fit I have been able to make from the remaining visible letters in the inscription

For the first few years of Henry II's reign the coins of King Stephen continued to be produced, but in 1158, a new 'cross and crosslet' coinage was introduced in England. While this coinage was acceptable in terms of weight and silver quality, it is notorious for its ugly appearance, bad craftsmanship and careless execution. It is a fact that this coinage is among the worst struck of any issue of English regal coinage. The cross and crosslet type coinage of King Henry II is more often called 'Tealby' because of the enormous hoard of these coins which was found in late 1807 at Bayons Manor farm near Tealby in Lincolnshire. This hoard, which originally amounted to over 5,700 pieces, was first reported in the Stamford Mercury of the 6th November 1807, but unfortunately the majority of the coins, more than 5,000 of them, were sent to be melted down at the Tower of London and only some 600 pieces were saved for national and important private collections.

Henry II became King of England in 1154 and reigned until his death in 1189. He was the first king of the House of Plantagenet. Henry became Count of Anjou and Maine upon the death of his father, Count Geoffrey V, in 1151, his marriage in 1152 to Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose marriage to Louis VII had recently been annulled, made him Duke of Aquitaine. He became Count of Nantes by treaty in 1185.
By the age of 14, Henry became actively involved in the efforts of his mother Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England, to claim the English throne, then occupied by Stephen of Blois. Stephen agreed to a peace treaty after Henry's military expedition to England in 1153, and Henry inherited the kingdom on Stephen's death a year later. Henry was an energetic and sometimes ruthless ruler, driven by a desire to restore the lands and privileges of his grandfather Henry I. During the early years of his reign Henry re-established hegemony over Wales and gained full control over his lands in Anjou, Maine and Touraine. Henry's desire to reform the relationship with the Church led to conflict with his former friend Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. This culminated in the murder of Becket by the high altar in his own church in 1170. This horrified Christians and, although Beckett was apparently disliked by the monks in life, in death he became a martyr, was canonised, and a religious cult grew up around his sainthood.
Henry II soon came into conflict with Louis VII, and the two rulers fought what has been termed a "cold war" over several decades. Henry expanded his empire at Louis's expense, taking Brittany and pushing east into central France and south into Toulouse, but despite numerous conferences and treaties, no lasting peace agreement was reached.
Henry and Eleanor had eight children—three daughters and five sons. As the sons grew up, tensions over the future inheritance of the kingdom began to emerge, encouraged by Louis and his son King Philip II. In 1173 Henry's heir apparent, "Young Henry", rebelled in protest; he was joined by his brothers Richard (later king) and Geoffrey and by their mother, Eleanor. France, Scotland, Brittany, Flanders, and Boulogne all allied themselves with the rebels. This “Great Revolt” was only defeated by Henry's vigorous military action and talented local commanders. Young Henry and Geoffrey revolted again in 1183, resulting in Young Henry's death. Henry II's invasion of Ireland provided lands for his youngest son John, but Henry struggled to find ways to satisfy all his sons' desires for land and immediate power. By 1189, Young Henry and Geoffrey were dead, and Philip successfully played on Richard's fears that Henry II would make John king, which led to a final rebellion. Henry II was decisively defeated by Philip and Richard and, suffering from a bleeding ulcer, he retreated to Chinon Castle in Anjou. Henry died soon afterwards and was succeeded by his son Richard I (the lionheart).
Many of the changes Henry II introduced during his long reign had long-term consequences, his legal changes are generally considered to have laid the basis for the English Common Law, while his intervention in Brittany, Wales, and Scotland shaped the development of their societies and governmental systems.
1 comments*Alex
1180-1189_Henry_II_Penny_Short-cross.JPG
1154 - 1189, HENRY II, AR Short-cross Penny, Struck 1180 - 1189 at Winchester, EnglandObverse: HENRICVS • REX around central circle enclosing a crowned, draped and bearded facing bust of Henry II holding a sceptre tipped with a cross pommee in his right hand.
Reverse: + GOCELM • ON • WIN. Voided short cross dividing legend into quarters, crosslets in each quarter of inner circle. Cross pattée in legend. Moneyer: Gocelm, which is a name of Germanic Frankish origin.
Issue type Class 1b
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 1.3gms | Die Axis: 6h
SPINK: 1344

On the night of 14th/15th July 1180 the Winchester mint burnt down, and the fire spread to "the greater and better part" of the city. The production of the new Short Cross coinage had just started earlier in 1180, and Winchester evidently only had one centralized mint building from the beginning of the new coinage. At the time of the fire the mint appears to have had four moneyers (Clement, Gocelm, Henri, and Rodbert), and Short Cross Class Ia2 was in production. After the fire some of the mint's obverse dies of Classes Ia1 and Ia2 were used at the Wilton mint, apparently as an emergency measure. The coinage of the moneyer Henri ends abruptly at this time and he seems to have been replaced by Adam, whose known issues start in Class Ia2, and at Wilton in Class 1a2 it looks like Osbert replaced Iohan. Osbert continued to issue coins in Winchester after the fire, but he seems to have been regarded as a Wilton moneyer allowed to use the facilities of the Winchester mint. The Winchester coinage of Osbert and three other moneyers (Clement, Reinier, and Rodbert) whose issues end in Class Ib1 was probably restricted to the recoinage of 1180 to 1182. After that only two moneyers remained striking Class Ib2 at Winchester (Adam and Gocelm) and, from 1183 to 1184, it is recorded that these moneyers were responsible for a rent of 2 marks each per annum for the use of the mint building.

Henry II became King of England in 1154 and reigned until his death in 1189. He was the first king of the House of Plantagenet. Henry became Count of Anjou and Maine upon the death of his father, Count Geoffrey V, in 1151, his marriage in 1152 to Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose marriage to Louis VII had recently been annulled, made him Duke of Aquitaine. He became Count of Nantes by treaty in 1185.
By the age of 14, Henry became actively involved in the efforts of his mother Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England, to claim the English throne, then occupied by Stephen of Blois. Stephen agreed to a peace treaty after Henry's military expedition to England in 1153, and Henry inherited the kingdom on Stephen's death a year later. Henry was an energetic and sometimes ruthless ruler, driven by a desire to restore the lands and privileges of his grandfather Henry I. During the early years of his reign Henry re-established hegemony over Wales and gained full control over his lands in Anjou, Maine and Touraine. Henry's desire to reform the relationship with the Church led to conflict with his former friend Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. This culminated in the murder of Becket by the high altar in his own church in 1170. This horrified Christians and, although Beckett was apparently disliked by the monks in life, in death he became a martyr, was canonised, and a religious cult grew up around his sainthood.
Henry II soon came into conflict with Louis VII, and the two rulers fought what has been termed a "cold war" over several decades. Henry expanded his empire at Louis's expense, taking Brittany and pushing east into central France and south into Toulouse, but despite numerous conferences and treaties, no lasting peace agreement was reached.
Henry and Eleanor had eight children—three daughters and five sons. As the sons grew up, tensions over the future inheritance of the kingdom began to emerge, encouraged by Louis and his son King Philip II. In 1173 Henry's heir apparent, "Young Henry", rebelled in protest; he was joined by his brothers Richard (later king) and Geoffrey and by their mother, Eleanor. France, Scotland, Brittany, Flanders, and Boulogne all allied themselves with the rebels. This “Great Revolt” was only defeated by Henry's vigorous military action and talented local commanders. Young Henry and Geoffrey revolted again in 1183, resulting in Young Henry's death. Henry II's invasion of Ireland provided lands for his youngest son John, but Henry struggled to find ways to satisfy all his sons' desires for land and immediate power. By 1189, Young Henry and Geoffrey were dead, and Philip successfully played on Richard's fears that Henry II would make John king, which led to a final rebellion. Henry II was decisively defeated by Philip and Richard and, suffering from a bleeding ulcer, he retreated to Chinon Castle in Anjou. Henry died soon afterwards and was succeeded by his son Richard I (the lionheart).
Many of the changes Henry II introduced during his long reign had long-term consequences, his legal changes are generally considered to have laid the basis for the English Common Law, while his intervention in Brittany, Wales, and Scotland shaped the development of their societies and governmental systems.
1 comments*Alex
Galeria-Valeria_AE-26_GAL-VA-LERIA-AVG_VENERI-VICTRICI_crescent-Gamma_SIS_Siscia-309-310_RIC-211_C--_Q-001_26mm_4,98g-s.jpg
123 Galeria Valeria (?-315 A.D.), Siscia, RIC VI 211var. (this bust is not in RIC), AE-Follis, U/Γ//SIS, VENERI VICTRICI, Venus standing left, #1123 Galeria Valeria (?-315 A.D.), Siscia, RIC VI 211var. (this bust is not in RIC), AE-Follis, U/Γ//SIS, VENERI VICTRICI, Venus standing left, #1
Galeria Valeria, daughter of Diocletian and wife of Galerius.
avers: GAL VAL ERIA AVG, Diademed, decorated draped bust right. The robe around the neck of interesting shapes (some of Victoria or Erotes ??) can be seen.
reverse: VENERI VICTRICI, Venus standing left, holding the apple and raising skirt, crescent left, Γ right.
exergue: U/Γ//SIS, diameter: 26,0mm, weight: 4,98g, axis: 1h,
mint: Siscia, 3rd.off, date: 307-310 A.D.,
ref: RIC-211var. C-, this bust Not in RIC !!!
Q-001
quadrans
Galeria-Valeria_AE-26_GAL-VA-LERIA-AVG_VENERI-VICTRICI_crescent-Gamma_SIS_Siscia-309-310_RIC-211_C--_Q-001_26mm_4,98g-figures.jpg
123 Galeria Valeria (?-315 A.D.), Siscia, RIC VI 211var. (this bust is not in RIC), AE-Follis, U/Γ//SIS, VENERI VICTRICI, Venus standing left, The decoration on the dress the part of the neck.123 Galeria Valeria (?-315 A.D.), Siscia, RIC VI 211var. (this bust is not in RIC), AE-Follis, U/Γ//SIS, VENERI VICTRICI, Venus standing left, The decoration on the dress the part of the neck.
Galeria Valeria, daughter of Diocletian and wife of Galerius.
avers: GAL VAL ERIA AVG, Diademed, decorated draped bust right. The robe around the neck of interesting shapes (some of Victoria or Erotes ??) can be seen.
reverse: VENERI VICTRICI, Venus standing left, holding the apple and raising skirt, crescent left, Γ right.
exergue: U/Γ//SIS, diameter: 26,0mm, weight: 4,98g, axis: 1h,
mint: Siscia, 3rd.off, date: 307-310 A.D.,
ref: RIC VI 211var. C-, this bust Not in RIC !!!
Q-001
"I would concur that they are Erotes/Cupids. Which, of course, would fit with the reverse type, Erotes being associated with Venus."
quadrans
770Hadrian_RIC706~0.jpg
1285 Hadrian Sestertius Roma 129-30 AD Galley leftReference
RIC II, 706; Strack 837; C. 657; Banti 337; RIC 1285

Bust A1

Obv. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS
Laureate head

Rev. FELICITATI AVG COS III P P S C in field
Galley moving left with stearman and five rowers; vexillum on prow.

23.61 gr
31 mm
12h

Ex.
Stack's Bowers Galleries January 2013 N.Y.I.N.C. lot 5210

Note.
An acrostolium is an ornamental extension of the stem post on the prow of an ancient warship. Often used as a symbol of victory or of power at sea. (numiswiki)
1st-4th Century AD:
The Ship in Imperial Rome

Realizing its importance, Augustus established the Roman navy along lines similar to that of the legions. In addition to a number of key harbors, from which ships could be deployed, he stationed several fleets (Latin classes) in key areas throughout the empire. Among these, the classis Britannica patrolled the channel between Gaul and Britannia, protecting the shipping lanes. Its strategic regional importance is commemorated in the coinage of several of the period usurpers from the area. M. Aurelius Postumus was the first to do so (lots 676-679). His bronze ship issues carry the legend LAETITIA AVG, emphasizing the source of imperial well-being resides in a strong navy. The usurper M. Aurelius Carausius, commander of the classis Britannica under Diocletian, struck coins commemorating, in part, his control of that fleet and its abilities in keeping the sea lanes open (lot 680). His short-lived successor, Allectus, continued the type (lots 681-684).

One important function of the navy was the transportation of the imperial family on state visits. From the time of Augustus, vessels were dispatched to carry the emperor between the capital and the provinces. One such instance is commemorated in a rare bronze as, struck at Patrae in AD 66/7 (lot 609). The reverse depicts the quinquereme used to carry Nero on his infamous tour of Greece. Hadrian’s extensive travels were recorded with a wide variety of ship types struck at Rome (lots 610-622), and in the East (lot 623). An inscription from Ephesus (Syll. III 3241), records that a local captain, L. Erastus, used his ship to transport the emperor while he was in that area. A coin struck at Alexandria (lot 624) is of particular importance for, in the same year as the coin was struck Antinoüs drowned as the imperial party was sailing up the Nile. Hadrian’s successors continued to travel, now to shore up border conflicts or prepare for one of the periodic wars with Persia (lots 625-627; 631-675). By the middle of the third century AD local issues, rather than those minted at the imperial capital, recorded these events, a sign that the center of power was drifting away from Rome itself.

Warships were not the exclusive vessel of the Roman navy. Providing the empire with an uninterrupted supply of grain, as well as other necessary supplies, necessitated the construction of ship for such a purpose. Unlike the warship, which required speed and strength for ramming, the merchantman (Greek nau~ stroggulh; Latin navis oneraria) was of broader beam. Many of these vessels, like the ponto or more common actuaria resembled the shape of a trireme and could be powered by both oars and sails. Since ships of this type were used to transport vital commodities such as wine and grain, they, like the large ponto, are often those shown on coins from the Black Sea (lots 655 and 664-666). The great Roman merchantman, or corbita, often seen in part on imperial issues commemorating the annona, is more familiar (lots 607-608). Powered by two large sails, it featured a rear cabin in the shape of a swan and was the true workhorse of Roman merchant vessels; its type continued well into the Byzantine period.
3 commentsokidoki
Edward_2nd_poker_penny.JPG
1307 - 1327, EDWARD II, AR Penny, Struck 1311 - 1316 at Durham, EnglandObverse: + EDWAR ANGL DNS hYB. Crowned and draped bust of Edward II facing within circle of pellets. Cross pattee in legend.
Reverse: CIVITAS DVNELM. Long cross, the upper limb of which is in the form of a bishop's crozier, dividing legend into quarters, trefoil in each quarter of inner circle.
Diameter: 18mm | Weight: 1.2gms | Die Axis: 7h
Rare
SPINK: 1469

Undated Penny, Class 11a, struck under Bishop Kellawe. Bishop Kellawe was enthroned as Bishop of Durham in 1311 but he died in 1316 so this coin was struck during the five years between those two dates. These coins were sometimes called "poker pennies" because the shape of the crozier on the reverse is reminiscent of an old iron fireside poker. It's an unfortunate nickname considering the reputed manner of the King's death.

Edward II was born on 25 April 1284, the fourth son of Edward I of England and when Edward I died in July 1307 Edward II became king because his three elder brothers were already dead. Edward II was the first English prince to hold the title prince of Wales, which was bestowed on him by his father in 1301.
Unfortunately Edward II had few of the qualities that made a successful medieval king. He surrounded himself with favourites, the best known being Piers Gaveston who he recalled from exile, Edward I having banished him to France due to his bad influence on his son. Furthermore, Edward II gave Gaveston the earldom of Cornwall, a title which had previously only been conferred on royalty.
Opposition to the king and his favourite began almost immediately, and in 1311 the nobles issued the 'Ordinances', in an attempt to limit royal control of finance and appointments. Gaveston was twice exiled at the demand of the barons, only for him to return to England shortly afterwards. However, in 1312, he was captured by the barons and executed.
In 1314, Edward invaded Scotland where he was decisively defeated by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn. So bad was this for Edward's rule that by the following year parts of England had fallen into anarchy and power was in the hands of the barons headed by Edward's cousin Thomas of Lancaster, who had virtually made himself the real ruler of England.
By 1318, Edward and Lancaster had been partly reconciled, but the king now had two new favourites, Hugh le Despenser and his son. When Edward supported the two Despensers' ambitions in Wales the barons banished both father and son. This prompted Edward to fight back and he defeated Lancaster at Boroughbridge in March 1322, Lancaster was executed him and the Despensers were called back to Edward's court.
But now, Edward's wife, Isabella of France, emerged as a focus of opposition. In 1325, she was sent on a diplomatic mission to France where she met and became the mistress of Roger Mortimer, an exiled opponent of Edward. In September 1326, Isabella and Mortimer invaded England. There was virtually no resistance and the Despensers were captured and executed. Defeated, Edward was made to renounce the throne in favour of his son Edward who was crowned Edward III in January 1327.
Edward II was imprisoned at Berkeley Castle and later murdered there.
*Alex
RI 132uh img.jpg
132 - Probus - RIC 267 Bronze quinarius
Obv:– AVR PROBVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield
Rev:– ORIENS AVG, Sol, raising hand and holding whip, in galloping quadriga left
Minted in Rome (-) Emission 6. A.D. 281
Reference(s) – Cohen 391. RIC 267 (R2).
Ex-Forvm
Die match example sold by Jean Elsen from probvs.net.

OK it is in pretty poor shape but it is likely the only quinarius of Probus I am likely to get.
maridvnvm
Glass_miniature_juglet_roman.jpg
1355 Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, Glass Miniature Juglet, Mid 2nd - 4th Century A.D.Reference.
cf. Isings 88b,

Dimensions / quality
Choice, complete and intact, much weathering, some iridescence, glass miniature juglet,
8.5 cm (3 3/8") tall, 4.1 cm (1 5/8") diameter,
finely made, free blown thin near colorless glass, bell shaped body tapering to bottom, trail handle attached below the rim and on the shoulder, kicked bottom; from the collection of Alex G. Malloy,

Note.
Miniature pottery juglets, invariably decorated with scenes involving young children, have been found in graves of Hellenistic and Roman children. Perhaps they were also used as toys in life. The purpose of this beautiful tiny juglet is uncertain but it seems quite delicate for a child's toy.
1 commentsokidoki
Julian2VotXConstantinople.jpg
1409a, Julian II "the Philosopher," February 360 - 26 June 363 A.D.Julian II, A.D. 360-363; RIC 167; VF; 2.7g, 20mm; Constantinople mint; Obverse: DN FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, helmeted & cuirassed bust right, holding spear & shield; Reverse: VOT X MVLT XX in four lines within wreath; CONSPB in exergue; Attractive green patina. Ex Nemesis.


De Imperatoribus Romanis,
An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors


Julian the Apostate (360-363 A.D.)


Walter E. Roberts, Emory University
Michael DiMaio, Jr., Salve Regina University

Introduction

The emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus reigned from 360 to 26 June 363, when he was killed fighting against the Persians. Despite his short rule, his emperorship was pivotal in the development of the history of the later Roman empire. This essay is not meant to be a comprehensive look at the various issues central to the reign of Julian and the history of the later empire. Rather, this short work is meant to be a brief history and introduction for the general reader. Julian was the last direct descendent of the Constantinian line to ascend to the purple, and it is one of history's great ironies that he was the last non-Christian emperor. As such, he has been vilified by most Christian sources, beginning with John Chrysostom and Gregory Nazianzus in the later fourth century. This tradition was picked up by the fifth century Eusebian continuators Sozomen, Socrates Scholasticus, and Theodoret and passed on to scholars down through the 20th century. Most contemporary sources, however, paint a much more balanced picture of Julian and his reign. The adoption of Christianity by emperors and society, while still a vital concern, was but one of several issues that concerned Julian.

It is fortunate that extensive writings from Julian himself exist, which help interpret his reign in the light of contemporary evidence. Still extant are some letters, several panegyrics, and a few satires. Other contemporary sources include the soldier Ammianus Marcellinus' history, correspondence between Julian and Libanius of Antioch, several panegyrics, laws from the Theodosian Code, inscriptions, and coinage. These sources show Julian's emphasis on restoration. He saw himself as the restorer of the traditional values of Roman society. Of course much of this was rhetoric, meant to defend Julian against charges that he was a usurper. At the same time this theme of restoration was central to all emperors of the fourth century. Julian thought that he was the one emperor who could regain what was viewed as the lost glory of the Roman empire. To achieve this goal he courted select groups of social elites to get across his message of restoration. This was the way that emperors functioned in the fourth century. By choosing whom to include in the sharing of power, they sought to shape society.

Early Life

Julian was born at Constantinople in 331. His father was Julius Constantius, half-brother of the emperor Constantine through Constantius Chlorus, and his mother was Basilina, Julius' second wife. Julian had two half-brothers via Julius' first marriage. One of these was Gallus, who played a major role in Julian's life. Julian appeared destined for a bright future via his father's connection to the Constantinian house. After many years of tense relations with his three half-brothers, Constantine seemed to have welcomed them into the fold of the imperial family. From 333 to 335, Constantine conferred a series of honors upon his three half-siblings, including appointing Julius Constantius as one of the consuls for 335. Julian's mother was equally distinguished. Ammianus related that she was from a noble family. This is supported by Libanius, who claimed that she was the daughter of Julius Julianus, a Praetorian Prefect under Licinius, who was such a model of administrative virtue that he was pardoned and honored by Constantine.

Despite the fact that his mother died shortly after giving birth to him, Julian experienced an idyllic early childhood. This ended when Constantius II conducted a purge of many of his relatives shortly after Constantine's death in 337, particularly targeting the families of Constantine's half-brothers. ulian and Gallus were spared, probably due to their young age. Julian was put under the care of Mardonius, a Scythian eunuch who had tutored his mother, in 339, and was raised in the Greek philosophical tradition, and probably lived in Nicomedia. Ammianus also supplied the fact that while in Nicomedia, Julian was cared for by the local bishop Eusebius, of whom the future emperor was a distant relation. Julian was educated by some of the most famous names in grammar and rhetoric in the Greek world at that time, including Nicocles and Hecebolius. In 344 Constantius II sent Julian and Gallus to Macellum in Cappadocia, where they remained for six years. In 351, Gallus was made Caesar by Constantius II and Julian was allowed to return to Nicomedia, where he studied under Aedesius, Eusebius, and Chrysanthius, all famed philosophers, and was exposed to the Neo-Platonism that would become such a prominent part of his life. But Julian was most proud of the time he spent studying under Maximus of Ephesus, a noted Neo-Platonic philospher and theurgist. It was Maximus who completed Julian's full-scale conversion to Neo-Platonism. Later, when he was Caesar, Julian told of how he put letters from this philosopher under his pillows so that he would continue to absorb wisdom while he slept, and while campaigning on the Rhine, he sent his speeches to Maximus for approval before letting others hear them. When Gallus was executed in 354 for treason by Constantius II, Julian was summoned to Italy and essentially kept under house arrest at Comum, near Milan, for seven months before Constantius' wife Eusebia convinced the emperor that Julian posed no threat. This allowed Julian to return to Greece and continue his life as a scholar where he studied under the Neo-Platonist Priscus. Julian's life of scholarly pursuit, however, ended abruptly when he was summoned to the imperial court and made Caesar by Constantius II on 6 November 355.

Julian as Caesar

Constantius II realized an essential truth of the empire that had been evident since the time of the Tetrarchy--the empire was too big to be ruled effectively by one man. Julian was pressed into service as Caesar, or subordinate emperor, because an imperial presence was needed in the west, in particular in the Gallic provinces. Julian, due to the emperor's earlier purges, was the only viable candidate of the imperial family left who could act as Caesar. Constantius enjoined Julian with the task of restoring order along the Rhine frontier. A few days after he was made Caesar, Julian was married to Constantius' sister Helena in order to cement the alliance between the two men. On 1 December 355, Julian journeyed north, and in Augusta Taurinorum he learned that Alamannic raiders had destroyed Colonia Agrippina. He then proceeded to Vienne where he spent the winter. At Vienne, he learned that Augustudunum was also under siege, but was being held by a veteran garrison. He made this his first priority, and arrived there on 24 June 356. When he had assured himself that the city was in no immediate danger, he journeyed to Augusta Treverorum via Autessioduram, and from there to Durocortorum where he rendezvoused with his army. Julian had the army stage a series of punitive strikes around the Dieuse region, and then he moved them towards the Argentoratum/Mongontiacum region when word of barbarian incursions reached him.

From there, Julian moved on to Colonia Agrippina, and negotiated a peace with the local barbarian leaders who had assaulted the city. He then wintered at Senonae. He spent the early part of the campaigning season of 357 fighting off besiegers at Senonae, and then conducting operations around Lugdunum and Tres Tabernae. Later that summer, he encountered his watershed moment as a military general. Ammianus went into great detail about Julian's victory over seven rogue Alamannic chieftains near Argentoratum, and Julian himself bragged about it in his later writing. After this battle, the soldiers acclaimed Julian Augustus, but he rejected this title. After mounting a series of follow-up raids into Alamannic territory, he retired to winter quarters at Lutetia, and on the way defeated some Frankish raiders in the Mosa region. Julian considered this campaign one of the major events of his time as Caesar.

Julian began his 358 military campaigns early, hoping to catch the barbarians by surprise. His first target was the Franks in the northern Rhine region. He then proceeded to restore some forts in the Mosa region, but his soldiers threatened to mutiny because they were on short rations and had not been paid their donative since Julian had become Caesar. After he soothed his soldiers, Julian spent the rest of the summer negotiating a peace with various Alamannic leaders in the mid and lower Rhine areas, and retired to winter quarters at Lutetia. In 359, he prepared once again to carry out a series of punitive expeditions against the Alamanni in the Rhine region who were still hostile to the Roman presence. In preparation, the Caesar repopulated seven previously destroyed cities and set them up as supply bases and staging areas. This was done with the help of the people with whom Julian had negotiated a peace the year before. Julian then had a detachment of lightly armed soldiers cross the Rhine near Mogontiacum and conduct a guerilla strike against several chieftains. As a result of these campaigns, Julian was able to negotiate a peace with all but a handful of the Alamannic leaders, and he retired to winter quarters at Lutetia.

Of course, Julian did more than act as a general during his time as Caesar. According to Ammianus, Julian was an able administrator who took steps to correct the injustices of Constantius' appointees. Ammianus related the story of how Julian prevented Florentius, the Praetorian Prefect of Gaul, from raising taxes, and also how Julian actually took over as governor for the province of Belgica Secunda. Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, supported Ammianus' basic assessment of Julian in this regard when he reported that Julian was an able representative of the emperor to the Gallic provincials. There is also epigraphic evidence to support Julian's popularity amongst the provincial elites. An inscription found near Beneventum in Apulia reads:
"To Flavius Claudius Julianus, most noble and sanctified Caesar, from the caring Tocius Maximus, vir clarissimus, for the care of the res publica from Beneventum".

Tocius Maximus, as a vir clarissimus, was at the highest point in the social spectrum and was a leader in his local community. This inscription shows that Julian was successful in establishing a positive image amongst provincial elites while he was Caesar.

Julian Augustus

In early 360, Constantius, driven by jealousy of Julian's success, stripped Julian of many troops and officers, ostensibly because the emperor needed them for his upcoming campaign against the Persians. One of the legions ordered east, the Petulantes, did not want to leave Gaul because the majority of the soldiers in the unit were from this region. As a result they mutinied and hailed Julian as Augustus at Lutetia. Julian refused this acclamation as he had done at Argentoratum earlier, but the soldiers would have none of his denial. They raised him on a shield and adorned him with a neck chain, which had formerly been the possession of the standard-bearer of the Petulantes and symbolized a royal diadem. Julian appeared reluctantly to acquiesce to their wishes, and promised a generous donative. The exact date of his acclamation is unknown, but most scholars put it in February or March. Julian himself supported Ammianus' picture of a jealous Constantius. In his Letter to the Athenians, a document constructed to answer charges that he was a usurper, Julian stated that from the start he, as Caesar, had been meant as a figurehead to the soldiers and provincials. The real power he claimed lay with the generals and officials already present in Gaul. In fact, according to Julian, the generals were charged with watching him as much as the enemy. His account of the actual acclamation closely followed what Ammianus told us, but he stressed even more his reluctance to take power. Julian claimed that he did so only after praying to Zeus for guidance.

Fearing the reaction of Constantius, Julian sent a letter to his fellow emperor justifying the events at Lutetia and trying to arrange a peaceful solution. This letter berated Constantius for forcing the troops in Gaul into an untenable situation. Ammianus stated that Julian's letter blamed Constantius' decision to transfer Gallic legions east as the reason for the soldiers' rebellion. Julian once again asserted that he was an unwilling participant who was only following the desire of the soldiers. In both of these basic accounts Ammianus and Julian are playing upon the theme of restoration. Implicit in their version of Julian's acclamation is the argument that Constantius was unfit to rule. The soldiers were the vehicle of the gods' will. The Letter to the Athenians is full of references to the fact that Julian was assuming the mantle of Augustus at the instigation of the gods. Ammianus summed up this position nicely when he related the story of how, when Julian was agonizing over whether to accept the soldiers' acclamation, he had a dream in which he was visited by the Genius (guardian spirit) of the Roman state. The Genius told Julian that it had often tried to bestow high honors upon Julian but had been rebuffed. Now, the Genius went on to say, was Julian's final chance to take the power that was rightfully his. If the Caesar refused this chance, the Genius would depart forever, and both Julian and the state would rue Julian's rejection. Julian himself wrote a letter to his friend Maximus of Ephesus in November of 361 detailing his thoughts on his proclamation. In this letter, Julian stated that the soldiers proclaimed him Augustus against his will. Julian, however, defended his accession, saying that the gods willed it and that he had treated his enemies with clemency and justice. He went on to say that he led the troops in propitiating the traditional deities, because the gods commanded him to return to the traditional rites, and would reward him if he fulfilled this duty.

During 360 an uneasy peace simmered between the two emperors. Julian spent the 360 campaigning season continuing his efforts to restore order along the Rhine, while Constantius continued operations against the Persians. Julian wintered in Vienne, and celebrated his Quinquennalia. It was at this time that his wife Helena died, and he sent her remains to Rome for a proper burial at his family villa on the Via Nomentana where the body of her sister was entombed. The uneasy peace held through the summer of 361, but Julian concentrated his military operations around harassing the Alamannic chieftain Vadomarius and his allies, who had concluded a peace treaty with Constantius some years earlier. By the end of the summer, Julian decided to put an end to the waiting and gathered his army to march east against Constantius. The empire teetered on the brink of another civil war. Constantius had spent the summer negotiating with the Persians and making preparations for possible military action against his cousin. When he was assured that the Persians would not attack, he summoned his army and sallied forth to meet Julian. As the armies drew inexorably closer to one another, the empire was saved from another bloody civil war when Constantius died unexpectedly of natural causes on 3 November near the town of Mopsucrenae in Cilicia, naming Julian -- the sources say-- as his legitimate successor.

Julian was in Dacia when he learned of his cousin's death. He made his way through Thrace and came to Constantinople on 11 December 361 where Julian honored the emperor with the funeral rites appropriate for a man of his station. Julian immediately set about putting his supporters in positions of power and trimming the imperial bureaucracy, which had become extremely overstaffed during Constantius' reign. Cooks and barbers had increased during the late emperor's reign and Julian expelled them from his court. Ammianus gave a mixed assessment of how the new emperor handled the followers of Constantius. Traditionally, emperors were supposed to show clemency to the supporters of a defeated enemy. Julian, however, gave some men over to death to appease the army. Ammianus used the case of Ursulus, Constantius' comes sacrum largitionum, to illustrate his point. Ursulus had actually tried to acquire money for the Gallic troops when Julian had first been appointed Caesar, but he had also made a disparaging remark about the ineffectiveness of the army after the battle of Amida. The soldiers remembered this, and when Julian became sole Augustus, they demanded Ursulus' head. Julian obliged, much to the disapproval of Ammianus. This seems to be a case of Julian courting the favor of the military leadership, and is indicative of a pattern in which Julian courted the goodwill of various societal elites to legitimize his position as emperor.

Another case in point is the officials who made up the imperial bureaucracy. Many of them were subjected to trial and punishment. To achieve this goal, during the last weeks of December 361 Julian assembled a military tribunal at Chalcedon, empanelling six judges to try the cases. The president of the tribunal was Salutius, just promoted to the rank of Praetorian Prefect; the five other members were Mamertinus, the orator, and four general officers: Jovinus, Agilo, Nevitta, and Arbetio. Relative to the proceedings of the tribunal, Ammianus noted that the judges, " . . . oversaw the cases more vehemently than was right or fair, with the exception of a few . . .." Ammianus' account of Julian's attempt at reform of the imperial bureaucracy is supported by legal evidence from the Theodosian Code. A series of laws sent to Mamertinus, Julian's appointee as Praetorian Prefect in Italy, Illyricum, and Africa, illustrate this point nicely. On 6 June 362, Mamertinus received a law that prohibited provincial governors from bypassing the Vicars when giving their reports to the Prefect. Traditionally, Vicars were given civil authority over a group of provinces, and were in theory meant to serve as a middle step between governors and Prefects. This law suggests that the Vicars were being left out, at least in Illyricum. Julian issued another edict to Mamertinus on 22 February 362 to stop abuse of the public post by governors. According to this law, only Mamertinus could issue post warrants, but the Vicars were given twelve blank warrants to be used as they saw fit, and each governor was given two. Continuing the trend of bureaucratic reform, Julian also imposed penalties on governors who purposefully delayed appeals in court cases they had heard. The emperor also established a new official to weigh solidi used in official government transactions to combat coin clipping.

For Julian, reigning in the abuses of imperial bureaucrats was one step in restoring the prestige of the office of emperor. Because he could not affect all elements of society personally, Julian, like other Neo-Flavian emperors, decided to concentrate on select groups of societal elites as intercessors between himself and the general populace. One of these groups was the imperial bureaucracy. Julian made it very clear that imperial officials were intercessors in a very real sense in a letter to Alypius, Vicar of Britain. In this letter, sent from Gaul sometime before 361, the emperor praises Alypius for his use of "mildness and moderation with courage and force" in his rule of the provincials. Such virtues were characteristic of the emperors, and it was good that Alypius is representing Julian in this way. Julian courted the army because it put him in power. Another group he sought to include in his rule was the traditional Senatorial aristocracy. One of his first appointments as consul was Claudius Mamertinus, a Gallic Senator and rhetorician. Mamertinus' speech in praise of Julian delivered at Constantinople in January of 362 is preserved. In this speech, Claudius presented his consular selection as inaugurating a new golden age and Julian as the restorer of the empire founded by Augustus. The image Mamertinus gave of his own consulate inaugurating a new golden age is not merely formulaic. The comparison of Julian to Augustus has very real, if implicit, relevance to Claudius' situation. Claudius emphasized the imperial period as the true age of renewal. Augustus ushered in a new era with his formation of a partnership between the emperor and the Senate based upon a series of honors and offices bestowed upon the Senate in return for their role as intercessor between emperor and populace. It was this system that Julian was restoring, and the consulate was one concrete example of this bond. To be chosen as a consul by the emperor, who himself had been divinely mandated, was a divine honor. In addition to being named consul, Mamertinus went on to hold several offices under Julian, including the Prefecture of Italy, Illyricum, and Africa. Similarly, inscriptional evidence illustrates a link between municipal elites and Julian during his time as Caesar, something which continued after he became emperor. One concrete example comes from the municipal senate of Aceruntia in Apulia, which established a monument on which Julian is styled as "Repairer of the World."

Julian seems to have given up actual Christian belief before his acclamation as emperor and was a practitioner of more traditional Greco-Roman religious beliefs, in particular, a follower of certain late antique Platonist philosophers who were especially adept at theurgy as was noted earlier. In fact Julian himself spoke of his conversion to Neo-Platonism in a letter to the Alexandrians written in 363. He stated that he had abandoned Christianity when he was twenty years old and been an adherent of the traditional Greco-Roman deities for the twelve years prior to writing this letter.

(For the complete text of this article see: http://www.roman-emperors.org/julian.htm)

Julian’s Persian Campaign

The exact goals Julian had for his ill-fated Persian campaign were never clear. The Sassanid Persians, and before them the Parthians, had been a traditional enemy from the time of the Late Republic, and indeed Constantius had been conducting a war against them before Julian's accession forced the former to forge an uneasy peace. Julian, however, had no concrete reason to reopen hostilities in the east. Socrates Scholasticus attributed Julian's motives to imitation of Alexander the Great, but perhaps the real reason lay in his need to gather the support of the army. Despite his acclamation by the Gallic legions, relations between Julian and the top military officers was uneasy at best. A war against the Persians would have brought prestige and power both to Julian and the army.

Julian set out on his fateful campaign on 5 March 363. Using his trademark strategy of striking quickly and where least expected, he moved his army through Heirapolis and from there speedily across the Euphrates and into the province of Mesopotamia, where he stopped at the town of Batnae. His plan was to eventually return through Armenia and winter in Tarsus. Once in Mesopotamia, Julian was faced with the decision of whether to travel south through the province of Babylonia or cross the Tigris into Assyria, and he eventually decided to move south through Babylonia and turn west into Assyria at a later date. By 27 March, he had the bulk of his army across the Euphrates, and had also arranged a flotilla to guard his supply line along the mighty river. He then left his generals Procopius and Sebastianus to help Arsacius, the king of Armenia and a Roman client, to guard the northern Tigris line. It was also during this time that he received the surrender of many prominent local leaders who had nominally supported the Persians. These men supplied Julian with money and troops for further military action against their former masters. Julian decided to turn south into Babylonia and proceeded along the Euphrates, coming to the fortress of Cercusium at the junction of the Abora and Euphrates Rivers around the first of April, and from there he took his army west to a region called Zaitha near the abandoned town of Dura where they visited the tomb of the emperor Gordian which was in the area. On April 7 he set out from there into the heart of Babylonia and towards Assyria.

Ammianus then stated that Julian and his army crossed into Assyria, which on the face of things appears very confusing. Julian still seems to be operating within the province of Babylonia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The confusion is alleviated when one realizes that,for Ammianus, the region of Assyria encompassed the provinces of Babylonia and Assyria. On their march, Julian's forces took the fortress of Anatha, received the surrender and support of several more local princes, and ravaged the countryside of Assyria between the rivers. As the army continued south, they came across the fortresses Thilutha and Achaiachala, but these places were too well defended and Julian decided to leave them alone. Further south were the cities Diacira and Ozogardana, which the Roman forces sacked and burned. Soon, Julian came to Pirisabora and a brief siege ensued, but the city fell and was also looted and destroyed. It was also at this time that the Roman army met its first systematic resistance from the Persians. As the Romans penetrated further south and west, the local inhabitants began to flood their route. Nevertheless, the Roman forces pressed on and came to Maiozamalcha, a sizable city not far from Ctesiphon. After a short siege, this city too fell to Julian. Inexorably, Julian's forces zeroed in on Ctesiphon, but as they drew closer, the Persian resistance grew fiercer, with guerilla raids whittling at Julian's men and supplies. A sizable force of the army was lost and the emperor himself was almost killed taking a fort a few miles from the target city.
Finally, the army approached Ctesiphon following a canal that linked the Tigris and Euphrates. It soon became apparent after a few preliminary skirmishes that a protracted siege would be necessary to take this important city. Many of his generals, however, thought that pursuing this course of action would be foolish. Julian reluctantly agreed, but became enraged by this failure and ordered his fleet to be burned as he decided to march through the province of Assyria. Julian had planned for his army to live off the land, but the Persians employed a scorched-earth policy. When it became apparent that his army would perish (because his supplies were beginning to dwindle) from starvation and the heat if he continued his campaign, and also in the face of superior numbers of the enemy, Julian ordered a retreat on 16 June. As the Roman army retreated, they were constantly harassed by guerilla strikes. It was during one of these raids that Julian got caught up in the fighting and took a spear to his abdomen. Mortally wounded he was carried to his tent, where, after conferring with some of his officers, he died. The date was 26 June 363.

Conclusion

Thus an ignominious end for a man came about who had hoped to restore the glory of the Roman empire during his reign as emperor. Due to his intense hatred of Christianity, the opinion of posterity has not been kind to Julian. The contemporary opinion, however, was overall positive. The evidence shows that Julian was a complex ruler with a definite agenda to use traditional social institutions in order to revive what he saw as a collapsing empire. In the final assessment, he was not so different from any of the other emperors of the fourth century. He was a man grasping desperately to hang on to a Greco-Roman conception of leadership that was undergoing a subtle yet profound change.
Copyright (C) 2002, Walter E. Roberts and Michael DiMaio, Jr. Used by permission.

In reality, Julian worked to promote culture and philosophy in any manifestation. He tried to reduce taxes and the public debts of municipalities; he augmented administrative decentralisation; he promoted a campaign of austerity to reduce public expenditure (setting himself as the example). He reformed the postal service and eliminated the powerful secret police.
by Federico Morando; JULIAN II, The Apostate, See the Julian II Page on NumisWiki

Flavius Claudius Iulianus was born in 331 or maybe 332 A.D. in Constantinople. He ruled the Western Empire as Caesar from 355 to 360 and was hailed Augustus by his legions in Lutetia (Paris) in 360. Julian was a gifted administrator and military strategist. Famed as the last pagan emperor, his reinstatement of the pagan religion earned him the moniker "the Apostate." As evidenced by his brilliant writing, some of which has survived to the present day, the title "the Philosopher" may have been more appropriate. He died from wounds suffered during the Persian campaign of 363 A.D. Joseph Sermarini, FORVM.

Edited by J. P. Fitzgerald, Jr.




2 commentsCleisthenes
1452_Athens_drachm.jpg
1452 Athens - AR drachm431-393 BC
head of Athena right - almond shaped eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and floral scroll
owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent left
AΘE
SNG Cop 41; Kroll 10; Dewing 1601; Svoronos pl. 11, 20; HGC 4 1631
3,9g 14,5mm
ex Künker
J. B.
16_17_-2816_16_95_av_29__Bela_III_2C_King_of_Hungary2C_281172-1196_A_D_292C_Cu-232C_CAC_I__16_17_-2816_16_95_av_29_2C_H-2C_CNH_I_-2C_U-2C_IoI2C_Q-0012C_0h2C_222C2-222C8mm2C_12C82g-sx~0.jpg
16.17.-./(16.16.95.). Béla III., King of Hungary, (1172-1196 A.D.), Cu-23, CÁC I. 16.17.-. The new type of sigla same as the 16.16.95. but the reverse includes the IOI instead of JOJ, H-, CNH I.-, U-, #0116.17.-./(16.16.95.). Béla III., King of Hungary, (1172-1196 A.D.), Cu-23, CÁC I. 16.17.-. The new type of sigla same as the 16.16.95. but the reverse includes the IOI instead of JOJ, H-, CNH I.-, U-, #01
avers: Illegible Kufic legend-imitation, a similar legend in lines in a circle of dots, a border of dots.
reverse: Illegible Kufic legend-imitation, a similar legend in lines in a circle of dots, a border of dots. (with IOI).
exergue: -/-//IOI, diameter: 22,5-23,0 mm, weight: 1,83g, axis: 11h,
mint: Esztergom, date: A.D., ref: Huszár-, CNH I.-, Unger-, Tóth-Kiss-Fekete: CÁC I.(Catalog of Árpadian Coinage I./Opitz I.), Privy-Mark/Sigla: 16.17.-. The new type of sigla same as the 16.16.95. but the reverse includes the IOI instead of JOJ,(inside the black circle shows the type and shape of this sigla).
Q-001
quadrans
16_17_32v__Bela_III_2C_King_of_Hungary2C_281172-1196_A_D_292C_Cu-232C_CAC_I__16_17_32v_2C_H-2C_CNH_I_-2C_U-2C_IoI2C_Q-0012C_11h2C_222C5-23mm2C_12C83g-sa.jpg
16.17.032v. Béla III., King of Hungary, (1172-1196 A.D.), Cu-23, CÁC I. 16.17.32v., H-, CNH I.-, U-, #0116.17.032v. Béla III., King of Hungary, (1172-1196 A.D.), Cu-23, CÁC I. 16.17.032v., H-, CNH I.-, U-, #01
avers: Illegible Kufic legend-imitation, a similar legend in lines in a circle of dots, a border of dots.
reverse: Illegible Kufic legend-imitation, a similar legend in lines in a circle of dots, a border of dots. (with IOI).
exergue: -/-//IOI, diameter: 22,5-23,0 mm, weight: 1,83g, axis: 11h,
mint: Esztergom, date: A.D., ref: Huszár-, CNH I.-, Unger-, Tóth-Kiss-Fekete: CÁC I.(Catalog of Árpadian Coinage I./Opitz I.), Privy-Mark/Sigla: 16.17.32v.,(black circle shows the type and shape of this sigla).
Q-001
quadrans
16_22__Bela_III_2C_King_of_Hungary2C_281172-1196_A_D_292C_Cu-232C_CAC_I__16_22_-a2_02_-09_2C_H-073A2C_CNH_I_-2C_CP-162C_U-2C_Rare212C_Q-0012C_9h2C_23-232C3mm2C_12C68g-sa.jpg
16.22. Béla III., King of Hungary, (1172-1196 A.D.), Cu-23, CÁC I. 16.22./a2.02./09., H-073A, CNH I.-, CP-16, U-, Rare!, #0116.22. Béla III., King of Hungary, (1172-1196 A.D.), Cu-23, CÁC I. 16.22./a2.02./09., H-073A, CNH I.-, CP-16, U-, Rare!, #01
avers: Illegible Kufic legend-imitation, a similar legend in lines in a circle of dots, a border of dots. (Avers "legends" are C1-103, but the semi cufic legends in middle like C1-101)
reverse: Illegible Kufic legend-imitation, a similar legend in lines in a circle of dots, a border of dots. (with JOJ).(Revers are like C1-101)
exergue: -/-//JOJ, diameter: 23,0-23,3 mm, weight: 1,68g, axis: 9h,
mint: Esztergom, date: A.D., ref: Huszár-073A, CNH I.-, CP-16, Unger-, Tóth-Kiss-Fekete: CÁC I.(Catalog of Árpadian Coinage I./Opitz I.), Privy-Mark/Szigla: 16.22./a2.02./09., (sigla: two dots (a2) at 9 o'clock very close to the 9 shape form, the arows shows). Rare!
Q-001
quadrans
M.Aurelius RIC662(commodus).jpg
161-180 AD - MARCUS AURELIUS AE sestertius - struck 180 ADobv: DIVVS M ANTONINVS PIVS (Marcus Aurelius bare head right)
rev: CONSECRATIO (garlanded funeral pyre of four tiers surmounted by statue of Aurelius in facing quadriga), S-C in field
ref: RIC III 662 [Commodus], Cohen 98 (20frcs), BMC 399
21.14gms, 29mm
Rare

The Rogus, or Funeral Pile, as a mass of quadrangular shape, filled at the bottom with combustibles, on which again a second tier was placed of similar form and appearance, but narrower and furnished with openings; to this a third and a fourth were added, each gradually diminishing in size, till the whole resembled a watch-tower.
berserker
640-1804.jpg
1804 - 640 reis B KM# 231

Country Brazil
Years 1799-1805
Value 640 Réis (640)
Metal Silver (.917)
Weight 17.76 g
Shape Round
xokleng
960-1810.jpg
1810 - 960 reis R KM# 307
Features
Country Brazil
Years 1810-1818
Value 960 Réis (960)
Metal Silver (.896)
Weight 26.89 g
Diameter 40.6 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape Round
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
xokleng
960-1816.jpg
1816 - 960 reis R KM# 307
Features
Country Brazil
Years 1810-1818
Value 960 Réis (960)
Metal Silver (.896)
Weight 26.89 g
Diameter 40.6 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape Round
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
xokleng
320reis1820r.jpg
1820 - 320 reis RFeatures KM # 324.2
Country Brazil
Years 1818-1821
Value 320 Réis (320)
Metal Silver (.917)
Weight 8.96 g
Shape Round
xokleng
20_-1820.jpg
1820 - xx reis R KM# 316
Features
Country Brazil
Years 1818-1822
Value 20 Réis (20)
Metal Copper
Diameter 30 mm
Shape Round
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
xokleng
20-_1830.jpg
1830 - 20 reis R KM# 360
Features
Country Brazil
Years 1823-1830
Value 20 Réis (20)
Metal Copper
Weight 7.17 g
Diameter 30 mm
Thickness 0.6 mm
Shape Round
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
xokleng
36C94F8A-C20F-40E8-A1C9-31979B551E9E.jpeg
1868-9 Japanese Electrum 2 BuJapan, Meiji (1867-1912), Electrum 2 Bu, Meiji ND (1868-9), Hartill EJC 8.32a, SCWC KM C21d, JNDA 09-29, JC 03-32, EF, cast in 22.3% gold and 77.7% silver, engraved by Mint Official, Gotō Shōzaburō Mitsutsugu, rectangular, plain edge, weight 3.0g (AGW 0.0215oz, ASW 0.0749oz), composition Electrum (0.223 Au, 0.777 Ag), diameter 19.0×11.0mm, thickness 1.2mm, die axis 0°, Kinza (Edo) mint, 1868-9; obverse Kiri crests top and bottom with upper inside fan-shaped hexagonal frame, 分-二 (2 Bu) across fields (read right to left), top right stroke of 分 straight, pearled border surrounding; reverse signature (kaō) 光次 (Mitsutsugu) downward for Mint Official, Gotō Shōzaburō Mitsutsugu, pearled border surrounding; from the Roger Belmar Collection; ex Coincraft (4 Jul 2021); £115.00.Serendipity
IMG_2455.JPG
19 Constantius IIConstantius II
AE 2
23mm 4.51g
D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, helmeted soldier standing left, spearing fallen horseman who is wearing a bowl-shaped helmet, clutching the horse's neck. Star in left field. Mintmark SMHA.
Heraclea
RIC VIII 67
3 commentsRandygeki(h2)
s-1933-2d.jpg
1933B ALEXIUS TETARTERON S-1933 DOC43 CLBC 2.4.9 OBV Full Length figure of Christ bearded and nimbate wearing tunic and kolobion; holds Gospels in l. hand.

REV Full length figure of Emperor wearing stemma, divitision, and wearing jeweled loros of simplified type; holds in r hand labarum on long shaft and in l. gl.cr.

Size 23/16mm

Weight 3.1gm

This coin and S-1934 I believe were minted in Cyprus, these coins were once very rare but recently they have been hitting the market much more frequently. Most of these offerings are coming from Cyprus dealers.

Triangle shaped flan.

DOC Lists 1 example not in their collection. Weight 2.44gm and size 18mm
Simon
s-1933-4c.jpg
1933E ALEXIUS TETARTERON S-1933 DOC43 CLBC 2.4.9 OBV Full Length figure of Christ bearded and nimbate wearing tunic and kolobion; holds Gospels in l. hand.

REV Full length figure of Emperor wearing stemma, divitision, and wearing jeweled loros of simplified type; holds in r hand labarum on long shaft and in l. gl.cr.

Size 23mm

Weight 5.44gm

This coin and S-1934 I believe were minted in Cyprus, these coins were once very rare but recently they have been hitting the market much more frequently. Most of these offerings are coming from Cyprus dealers.

Triangle shaped flan.

DOC Lists 1 example not in their collection. Weight 2.44gm and size 18mm
Simon
DSC01613.JPG
1st-2nd Century C.E. Heart-Shaped Harness PendantA larger harness pendant made from sheet bronze. 75mm x 64mm.
DSC05480.JPG
1st-4th Century C.E. Furniture/ Casket MountMount of unknown purpose. This item has a central raised boss which is penetrated by a square-shaped hole. This hole tapers and was probably affixed with a nail of corresponding shape. My guess is that this is mount for a casket drop handle. 26mm, 5mm nail hole.
h3~0.jpg
2016 ALEXIUS III ANGELUS-COMNENUS AE HALF TETARTERON S-2016 DOC 7 CLBC 8.4.4 OBV Bust of St. George , beardless and nimbate , wearing tunic, breastplate wearing tunic, breastplate, and sagion; holds spear in r. hand resting on l. shoulder and in l. hand. Scroll or hilt of sword

REV Full length figure of emperor wearing stemma, divitision, and chlamys; holds in r. hand labarum on long shaft and in l. Globus cruciger cr. Manus Dei ( Hands of God) in upper right field.

This is a Thessalonica minted coin, it contains no silver. It is believed to be valued at 1/864 Hyperpyron and the Metropolitan (Constantinople) issues at 1/288 Hyperpyron

Size 19x14mm

Weight 1.9gm

DOC lists 6 examples with weights from 1.2 to 1.9 gm and sizes 15x11 to 17mm

Not a great example but the only one I have seen outside the books. Both of my Alexius III half tetartera are very odd shaped flans.
Simon
Alexunlistedsep.jpg
2016AV ALEXIUS III ANGELUS-COMNENUS AE HALF TETARTERON S-2016 DOC 7 CLBC 8.4.4 Unlisted VariationOBV Bust of St. George , beardless and nimbate , wearing tunic, breastplate wearing tunic, breastplate, and sagion; holds spear in r. hand resting on RIGHT shoulder and in l. hand. Scroll or hilt of sword ( This one with such an exceptional Obv makes it clear it is a hilt of sword, also no others mention spear resting on right shoulder.))

REV Full length figure of emperor wearing stemma, divitision, and chlamys; holds in r. hand labarum on long shaft and in l. Globus cruciger cr. Manus Dei ( Hands of God) in upper right field.

This is a Thessalonica minted coin, it contains no silver. It is believed to be valued at 1/864 Hyperpyron and the Metropolitan (Constantinople) issues at 1/288 Hyperpyron

Size 16/14mm

Weight 2.3gm

DOC lists 6 examples with weights from 1.2 to 1.9 gm and sizes 15x11 to 17mm

Half tetartera are rare for Alexius III, this example has and excellent obv and the reverse is attributable in hand but does not photograph well.

Both of my Alexius III half tetartera are very odd shaped flans.
Simon
IMG_3543~30.jpeg
2024-P Australian 2oz Gold Lunar DragonAustralia, Elizabeth II (1952-2022), 2oz Gold Dragon, 200 Dollars, 2024-P, Lunar Series III: Year of the Dragon commemorative, UNC, edge milled, weight 62.42g (AGW 2oz), composition 0.9999 Ag, diameter 40.9mm, thickness 3.8mm, die axis 0°, Perth mint, 2024; obverse ELIZABETH II 1952-2022 • AUSTRALIA arcing above and • 2oz 9999 Au 200 DOLLARS • arcing below around inner linear circle, sixth crowned, draped and uncouped bust right, JC raised on shoulder to left for engraver Jody Clark, two-tone matt background and polished relief, raised border surrounding; reverse 龍 (Dragon)/DRAGON/2024 in three lines above right, S-shaped five-clawed Imperial serpentine dragon flying right, tail upturned to left, with stylised waves below and swirling fog in background, P (micro-engraved security mark) on dragon's ear, P125 (anniversary mint mark) to left behind dragon, IJ (Ing Ing Jong) monogram on wave below dragon's lower right talon, two-tone matt background and polished relief, raised border surrounding; from the Roger Belmar Collection; ex Chards (30 Jan 2024); £3,416.05.Serendipity
septimus severus.jpg
21 Septimius SeverusDenarius. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / FVNDATOR PACIS, Septimius, togate and veiled, standing left holding olive branch. RIC 265, RSC 205, BMC 330.

Odd shaped coin but the reverse figure actually looks like Septimius!
1 commentsmix_val
1c~1.jpg
2117 JOHN III DUCAS AE Tetarteron S- 2117 DOC 59
OBV Cross within crescent-shapeped ornament decorated with pellets.

REV Half length figure of emperor wearing stemma, divitision , collar-piece and paneled loros of a simplified type, holds in r. hand labarum headed scepter, and in l. a globus surmounted by patriarchal cross

Size 19mm/16mm

Weight 1.8 gm

DOC lists 5 examples with weights from 1.55 gm to 2.54 and sizes 15mm to 20mm All odd shaped in size.

Very Nice example with a nice lights sand filled patina, I would best describe this as a cross in a horseshoe.
Simon
Bracteata,_H-195,_C1-275,_U-121,_Q-001,_0h,_12,5-14,0mm,_0,29g-s.jpg
22.06. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), Bracteata, (uncertain), CÁC III. 22.06.1.1./b01.06./18., H-195, CNH I.-275, U-121, AR-Bracteata, #0122.06. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), Bracteata, (uncertain), CÁC III. 22.06.1.1./b01.06./18., H-195, CNH I.-275, U-121, AR-Bracteata, #01
avers: King riding horse to the right, falcon on his wrist.
reverse: Negative pictures.
exergue/mintmark: -/-//--, diameter: 12,5-14,0mm, weight: 0,29g, axis:0h,
mint: Esztergom , date: A.D., ref: Huszár-195, CNH I.-275, Unger-121,
Kiss-Toth: CÁC III. 22.06.1.1./b01.06./18., Sigla, wedge-shaped sigla under the horse's belly.
Q-001
3 commentsquadrans
Bracteata,_star,_H-195,_C1-275,_U-121,_Q-006,_0h,_12,9-13,3mm,_0,28g-s.jpg
22.06. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), Bracteata, (uncertain), CÁC III. 22.06.1.1./g01.04./32., H-195, CNH I.-275, U-121, AR-Bracteata, #0122.06. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), Bracteata, (uncertain), CÁC III. 22.06.1.1./g01.04./32., H-195, CNH I.-275, U-121, AR-Bracteata, #01
avers: King riding horse to the right, falcon on his wrist.
reverse: Negative pictures.
exergue/mintmark: -/-//--, diameter: 12,9-13,3mm, weight: 0,28g, axis:0h,
mint: Esztergom , date: A.D., ref: Huszár-195, CNH I.-275, Unger-121,
Kiss-Toth: CÁC III. 22.06.1.1./g01.04./32., Sigla, star-shaped sigla under the horse's belly.
Q-001
quadrans
Bracteata_U-116_C1-279_H-199_Q-001_h_mm_g-s.jpg
22.07. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), Bracteata, (uncertain), CÁC III. 22.07.2.1./a06.01./03., New Sigla !, H-199, CNH I.-279, U-116, AR-Bracteata, #0122.07. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), Bracteata, (uncertain), CÁC III. 22.07.2.1./a06.01./03., New Sigla !, H-199, CNH I.-279, U-116, AR-Bracteata, #01
avers: T-shape with a patriarchal cross above, pellets within and above, rosettes below.
reverse: Negative pictures.
exergue/mintmark: -/-//--, diameter: 13,0-14,5mm, weight: 0,18g, axis:0h,
mint: Esztergom , date: A.D., ref: Huszár-199, CNH I.-279, Unger-116,
Kiss-Toth: CÁC III. 22.07.2.1./a06.01./03., New Sigla !,
Q-001
2 commentsquadrans
Wiener-Pfennig2C_Ottokar_II__von_Bhmen_as_King_281251-1276_AD292C_mint_Wien2C_CNA_I__B-1722C_L_852C_u-2742C_Q-0012C_8h2C_122C5-132C0mm2C_02C66g-s~0.jpg
22A.76. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), CÁC III. 22A.76.01.1., H-400-401, CNH I.-348, U-274(?), AR-Denar (Wiener Pfennig?), #0122A.76. Béla IV., King of Hungary, (1235-1270 A.D.), CÁC III. 22A.76.01.1., H-400-401, CNH I.-348, U-274(?), AR-Denar (Wiener Pfennig?), #01
avers: Agnus Dei (Lamb) with the crowned human head facing, and advancing left, holding a cross with flag.
reverse: Hebrew letter "pe" "פ" in floral ornament (surrounded by a crown), a circle of stars around.
diameter: 12,5-13,0mm, weight: 0,66g, axis: 8h,
mint: Vienna, mint mark: -/-,
date: 1251-1276 A.D.,
ref: CÁC III. 22A.76.1.1., H 400-401, CNH I. 348., U 274(?), CNA I. B-172, L 85,
Q-001

This coin is a member of the so-called "Wiener-Pfennig" group, which are minted for use in the Hungarian circulation at that time (Béla IV. 1235-1270 AD), in a lighter weight, and smaller diameter, and round shape, in line with the Hungarian currency at that time.
This coin also mentioned by the Austrian Corpus, CNA I. B-172, connected to Ottokar II. of Bohemia (1251-1276 A.D.), King, as Vienna mint, AR-Pfennig, (Wiener Pfennig) in greater weight, and larger size and not round shape!.
quadrans
345-magnia urbica-.jpg
283-285 AD - MAGNIA URBICA antoninianus obv: M[AGN.VRB]ICA.AVG (diademed & draped bust right)
rev: [VEN]VS.VICTRIX (Venus standing left, leaning against shield, & holding helmet in right hand, scepter in left)
ref: RIC343 v. RIC347, C.17 v.C.15
mint: Rome or Ticinum, struck 284-285 AD
1.98gms, 21mm
Scarce
She was the wife of Carinus. The coin broken, added shape.
1 commentsberserker
DSC05421.JPG
2nd Century C.E. Celtic Style Belt MountsCeltic style belt mounts in "trumpet" shapes 42mm length for the two complete mounts. The two complete mounts had one stud integrally cast in bronze. On the opposite ends a iron rivet was used to secure the fitting to the belt. The fragment piece has a very pronounced relief compared to the two fittings that are complete. This may also be a fragment of a belt plate.
DSC05455.JPG
2nd- 3rd Century C.E. "Vulva" MountThis small hexagonal-shaped mount with raised, incised boss is thought to represent a "vulva." Other specimens feature a suspension loop below the boss and suggests that the mount was placed on the harness strap as shown. 25mm x 16mm.
DSC05414.JPG
2nd- 3rd Century C.E. Beneficiarius Belt TerminalA scarce belt terminal in the shape of a beneficiarius' spear. Made from a gray metal which is silvered. 11mm x 61mm.
DSC05484.JPG
2nd- 3rd Century C.E. Heart-Shaped MountHear-shaped mount used on either sword belts or cavalry harnesses. Pendant versions of theses had a ring at the top. This piece has three studs on the back. 30mm x 36mm.
DSC05442.JPG
2nd- 3rd Century Pelta Harness MountThis large pelta-shaped mount was probably worn on the horse's headstall. Two mushroom-footed studs on the back secured this item to the headstall. 47mm x 47mm
IMG_2360.JPG
3 Constantius IIConstantius II
AE2, Trier
3.58 g / 22 mm

DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust left, holding globe
R/ FEL TEMP REPARATIO
helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head turned to left. The spear points downwards between the soldier's legs. With his right hand he is leading a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree with bunches of three circular flowers forming a trefoil shape at the end of the branches
TRS in ex

RIC VIII Trier 222
Randygeki(h2)
SevAlex-RIC-302-1.jpg
395. Severus Alexander / RIC 302.Denarius, ca 222-223 AD, Antioch mint.
Obv: IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG / Laureate bust of Severus Alexander.
Rev: VICTORIA - AVG / Victoria running, holding wreath and palm.
3.45 gm., 18 mm.
RIC #302.

The obverse legend is the shortened legend that was occasionally used in Antioch. However, the style of the portrait and lettering is very "Roman." The obverse legend is enough, though, to attribute this coin to Antioch. Also, the wedge-shaped dash between the words on the reverse legend never happens at Rome.
Callimachus
DSC05416.JPG
3rd Century C.E. Baldric FittingPelta shaped baldric fitting, possibly a terminal. Remnant of one stud on the back. 42mm x 42mm.
DSC05435.JPG
3rd Century C.E. Fungiform Belt StudsMushroon-shaped belts studs that were used with the 3rd Century ring buckles. These may have had other uses to connect straps. Also these may date to the Medieval period.
athens-counter.jpeg
4 countermarks on Athens Tetradrachm449-413 B.C. Attica Old style Tetradrachm

Obverse: Head of Athena right, almond shaped eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and floral scroll, hair in parallel curves. 4 countermarks across cheek.

Reverse: AOE Right, owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, olive sprig and crescent left, all within incuse square. Test cut and counter punch, and countermark.

1 commentsDk0311USMC
DSC05415.JPG
4th Century C.E. Amphora-Shaped Belt TerminalHinged belt terminal in an amphora or phallic shape with ring dot decoration. 23mm x 46mm.
DSC05413.JPG
4th Century C.E. Heart-shaped belt terminalHeart-shaped belt terminal with split end which was riveted to the belt. 34mm x 35mm
DSC05485.JPG
4th Century C.E. Propellor Belt StiffenersTypical 4th Century C.E. belt stiffeners in "propellor" shape. 13mm x 38mm measurement for the larger belt stiffener.
089n.jpg
5-pointed star in shaped punchSYRIA: COMMAGENE. Zeugma. Antoninus Pius. Æ 20. A.D. 138-161. Obv: (AYTOKAITIAAΔ)PIA.-AN(TWNINOCCEB...) or similar. Laureate head right; countermark on neck. Rev: ZEY-ΓMA-TEWN, A above to left. Tetrastyle temple, with periobolos containing grove, and having on right and left a colonnade and in front a portico or panelled wall of two stories. Ref: BMC 1 (obv)/2 (rev). Axis: 360°. Weight: 8.37 g. Note: The meaning of the numerals on the reverse is not known, but may indicate issue. CM: 5-pointed star in shaped punch, 5 mm from point to point. Howgego 453 (32 pcs). Collection Automan.Automan
licinius_tf_genio.png
6.02.004 LiciniusLicinius
Obv IMP LICINIVS P F AVG
(R. laur. cuir)
Rev GENIO POP ROM
(Genius stg l holding patera and cornucopiae)
T | F
PLN in ex
London
RIC VI 117b LMCC 6.02.004 (R)
4.8g, 22.2 mm x 22.7 mm
(Bourton on the Water Hoard)
(ex Den of Antiquity)
(The Bourton on the Water hoard was found in March 1970, in a field adjoining the Fosse Way roman road. The main part of the hoard consisted of 2707 coins from the Constantinian period. It was concealed beneath flat stones and its shape suggested it was buried in a bag.)
Noviomagus
813 files on 10 page(s) 1

All coins are guaranteed for eternity
Forum Ancient Coins
PO BOX 1316
MOREHEAD CITY NC 28557


252-497-2724
customerservice@forumancientcoins.com
Facebook   Instagram   Pintrest   Twitter