I
had "
Flavian Favorites" and "
12 Caesars in Silver" which are my primary collecting areas. Of course, the Flavians are
part of the
12 Caesars. I also have the odd
Greek coins like the
Van Alfen owls I'm so fond of, and a number of
denarii of the Republic. So with a new acquisition for 2012, I decided to start one
thread for new "Harsh" acquisitions for the year.
First up, and first coin of 2012:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-77662A worn
Vespasian, but I like it as it's my first
mint mark ɸ. My photography does not do a
good job of showing it, but it is clearly there. Was sold as
Philippi, but this series is now attributed to
Ephesus. It was fun researching the source of this discrepancy.
RIC II says the unusual issue marks, like the sideways ɸ, caused
BMCRE to attribute these to different mints, including
Philippi. It goes on to say that die links and stylistic links put the whole group of coins in
Ephesus.
RIC II, page 42.
Mattingly actually references a "
Hill" in attributing the sideways ɸ to
Philippi, but states "the most probable conclusion seems to be the coinage is essentially one throughout" which I take to mean all in one
mint, as there is "no marked distinction of
style" between the coins in this series.
BMCRE II, page lxiv.
RPC,
Vol. II,
part 1 again notes die and stylistic links attributing all of the coins in this series to one source. It
still questions the meaning of the sideways ɸ, but places the coins with this mark in
Ephesus. "A
mint at
Ephesus for the whole group seems the most likely interpretation at the moment, thought the explanation of the other marks remains perplexing."
RPC II, page 126.
