Author Topic: Virgil H Gallery (Read 6473 times)

Mark Fox · « **Reply #150 on:** July 10, 2023, 11:37:29 pm »

Dear Virgil and Board,

For Aezani's pre-Roman coinage, a lot of numismatic scholars feel the 2nd century BC bronzes issued by the northern Phrygian district of Epictetus (Epikteteis) were Aezani products. For a little background on this attribution, see the beginning of the following Epigraphica Anatolica paper by Marijana Ricl

https://www.academia.edu/34086117/Cults_of_Phrygia_Epiktetos_in_the_Roman_Imperial_Period_Epigraphica_Anatolica_50_2017_133_148

And, for the coins themselves, Wildwinds and the BnF are good starts to get a feel for the types:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/phrygia/epikteteis/t.html

https://catalogue.bnf.fr/rechercher.do?motRecherche=Epic*+bronze+monnaie&critereRecherche=0&depart=0&facetteModifiee=ok

That said, please disregard the BnF's "Roman provincial" issues of Epictetus, which are really bronzes of Thessalonica.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Mark Fox
Michigan

Virgil H · « **Reply #151 on:** July 11, 2023, 07:44:25 pm »

Dear Mark and Others,
Thank you so much for those links. Given the history I saw in the very well preserved ruins, I was also wondering about it as a Greek city before it was Roman, I am going to print out that article to read and the other links are very appreciated. As for the history, there is a very old temple to Cybele up on a hill nearby that is even to this recognized as a sacred place. I was told of imans leading their Muslim flocks up the hill to the old temple in the 1960s to help alleviate a severe drought. They were desperate, of course, but figured it was worth a try. There is now a dam on the river with a small reservoir one can see below the temple and that serves irrigation needs today. There was also a Temple of Artemis (not well preserved) and the very well preserved Temple of Zeus. I have a few other Roman coins of Aezani and it is these coins that first got me interested in adding Roman coins to my collection.

Again, many thanks,
Virgil

Virgil H · « **Reply #152 on:** July 30, 2023, 12:52:03 am »

Finally got the last of that small lot of Elymais coins done. Here they are. I was quite happy overall with this lot, some interesting and nice coins.

Orodes II: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183445

This next one is interesting, it isn't in the best shape and I am not even sure I have it identified properly. But, I think so and it is my first Prince B coin.
Prince B: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183446

Uncertain Early Arsacid Kings: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183447

I have filled in all the coins I am likely to in this series as far as Kings are concerned. What I don't have are expensive and rare. But, I have gotten to like the variations within the Kings, so this will probably not be the last of these you see from me.

Virgil.

Kamnaskires · « **Reply #153 on:** July 30, 2023, 09:23:53 am »

Enjoyed the latest group of Elymaeans, Virgil. Nice! Congrats on the Prince B - good call on the ID there. Nice little Orodes II also. I just uploaded my latest tet from that guy a few days back.

I agree with you and like exploring varieties too. With the Elymais Arsacid Dynasty (and, really, within each of the three historical divisions in Elymais), there are only so many kings. So, once that collecting goal - filling in the kings - is accomplished, focusing on varieties is an option - and a lot of potential fun. Good hunting!

Virgil H · « **Reply #154 on:** July 30, 2023, 11:17:29 am »

Thanks for your comments. I agree on that Orodes II, the obverse is super nice and it is very nice in-hand. Thanks for confirming that Prince B coin, I am very happy to have one. This lot had a lot of variety in the 10 coins. And, I am sure I will be diving deeper into these. I am hooked, plus I probably know more about these coins now than any other series of coins.

Virgil

Virgil H · « **Reply #155 on:** August 02, 2023, 12:27:14 am »

Three more diverse coins added to my gallery, one recent, two from last year I have just got around to photographing (I have a ton that need to be photographed).

This was an impulse buy as I was looking at an auction waiting for a lot to come up. I am always on the lookout for coins minted in or near Afghanistan. This collection is very broad and is really looking for a coin from every kingdom and also perhaps multiples from rulers than interest me the most. The price was literally way less than the buyer's fee, so I put in a bid and won it. I didn't have any from this kingdom, so am happy to have it. It is a nice little coin, I assume they must be common as hell based on the price. Plus it was in ANACS encapsulation. I have no idea what VF 30 means, but it is a nice coin, definitely VF.
Kushano-Sasanian. Peroz II: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183619

I came close to shooting myself trying to get a decent photo of the obverse of this one, I finally had to give up and take my best one. I can actually see the Zeus head on the coin in hand. This is an ex-BCD collection coin with his tag and goes back to his purchase from Pegasi in 1998. Plus a post-BCD collector's tag and the Pegasi tag.
Peloponnesus, Messene: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183623

Nice Macedon coin from a Forum lot. I love the goats.
Macedon, Amphipolis: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183622

Virgil

Jay GT4 · « **Reply #156 on:** August 02, 2023, 08:06:08 am »

Always frustrating when coins won't cooperate to be photographed.

Virgil H · « **Reply #157 on:** August 03, 2023, 07:21:36 pm »

Just added this one that I received today in-hand. This is one of my holy grail coins. I have been looking for one of adequate quality and a price I could afford for a few years and finally found it and won the auction. It is absolutely beautiful. My favorite book is The Odyssey and the story of Odysseus and his dog Argos is the saddest part of the book for me. It is depicted a bit differently on the coin, but no matter. I appreciate that the story was depicted on a Republican coin, as the moneyer claimed descent from Telegonus, the son of Odysseus and Circe. If I never get another coin, I am satisfied.

C. Mamilius Limetanus: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183681

Virgil

Virgil H · « **Reply #158 on:** August 06, 2023, 10:29:38 pm »

I am trying to get to my backlog now, most of which require me photographing them. This is an older purchase from Forum where I could grab the photo. This may have been my first Phillip II coin.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II, AR tetrobol: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183701

Virgil

Virgil H · « **Reply #159 on:** August 16, 2023, 09:28:31 pm »

I just added two new coins, both very attractive to me.

First one is from my favorite city. It is what JayGT4 would call an honest coin. It is and it looks nice in hand.
Paphlagonia, Sinope: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183815

This next one is in my Afghanistan collection, perhaps my first Islamic coin, minted Neal Kabul. I love the "Indian" bull and horsemen jitals and this is one. I am not sure how far into the medieval era I will go with this series of my collection. Probably at least to 1300 AD. This one looks and feels very good, plus these are inexpensive. As the dealer note says, it is good metal, even if debased.
AR jital of Mohamed Bin Sam , Bamiyan?, Ghorids of Ghazna: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183816

Virgil

Curtis JJ · « **Reply #160 on:** August 17, 2023, 01:25:36 pm »

Nice additions! I'm not at all familiar with Indian coins from that period. Is the inscription Hindi / Brahmi? (Don't know much about the Indian languages & script either.)

Looks like especially abstract horseman and bull on this type! Are they just abstract figures or are they actually part of the calligraphy/incorporating letters or tamghas or something?

Virgil H · « **Reply #161 on:** August 17, 2023, 01:52:30 pm »

Hi Curtis, thanks. I also am not well versed in Indian coins, but I collect coins minted in Afghanistan under different rulers. As I said these bull and horseman coins are widespread geographically and over time and they seem to get more abstract over time. They are attractive coins. On this one, it is Nagari script which is a descendant of Brahmi script. Unfortunately, I don't have any books, but Tye did publish for free his Type catalog. I was able to confirm the Tye number, but the catalog of line drawings that are super helpful has no explanatory text. The full book is very expensive. There are a couple of people here, like Jan P and Kamaskires, who know far more than I do, perhaps they will weigh in. I do not think they are part of the calligraphy, mainly because the earlier coins (such as my Kabul Shahis coins) are less abstract and the legends are more separated.

Virgil

Virgil H · « **Reply #162 on:** August 23, 2023, 01:12:18 am »

Two new coins added from a Forum lot I bought last year. Photos don't do them justice, but both nice coins.

Pisidia, Termessos Major: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183953

Aeolis, Myrina: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183954

Virgil

Virgil H · « **Reply #163 on:** September 12, 2023, 06:52:33 pm »

I am starting to photograph and post coins I have had for a while. Here are new Troas coins. All nice little coins, I love the fir trees of Skepsis.

Assos, Troas, https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184253

Kolone, Troas: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184257

Skepsis, Troas: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184258

Skepsis, Troas: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184262

Cheers,
Virgil

Tracy Aiello · « **Reply #164 on:** September 13, 2023, 08:37:18 am »

Nice acquisitions, Virgil. You have a very impressive gallery. Congrats.

Tracy

Virgil H · « **Reply #165 on:** September 13, 2023, 09:23:05 pm »

Thanks, Tracey,

Here are two more I just put in gallery:

Nice little coin from Forum:
Greek, Rhodos, Carian Islands: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184263

One of the two coins I got from the Robert W. Bartlett bequest sold on behalf of the ANS, originally purchased from Olympic Coins, Lincoln, NE, November 1983. This one was freed from its NGC encapsulation.
Greek, Mysia, Pergamon: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184264

Virgil

Curtis JJ · « **Reply #166 on:** September 13, 2023, 09:41:52 pm »

Great additions! Those little Carian bronzes are really cool coins. As it happens, I've got one or two from both of those former collections too (Errett Bishop & Andrew Bartlett/ANS).

I find Bishop most interesting for his career as an academic mathematician. One reason the Bartlett Collection was especially interesting is because it gave a great snapshot of American ancient coin dealers active in the early 1980s, when he was collecting. Although he did frequent the big ones like Superior in Los Angeles and Waddell in Washington DC and Berk in Chicago (probably Joliet, then), he also bought from numerous smaller dealers who produced Fixed Price Lists by mail -- like your coin from Olympic in Lincoln, Nebraska, or from George Beach in Owosso, Michigan, Karl Stephens in Temple City, California....and many others!

Virgil H · « **Reply #167 on:** September 14, 2023, 11:24:36 pm »

Thanks Curtis.

And a couple more, this time Pamphylia.

I realize that I am always inconsistent with where I place Roman Provincials or Pseudo Autonomous coins of Greek cities. I know I have asked this and it has been answered, but my brain cannot even figure out the difference between those two. I am not asking for an answer and I am not complaining, LOL. If I can, I will be moving the coins from my current Provincial folder (only 3 coins there I think) into their respective Greek folders. Going forward, I will have folders for Roman Imperials and all others will go into their "country," "province," or "city" folder. The reason is that I am interested in cities and countries over their ancient history and see no reason to separate them according to Roman/Greek. I look at it like I do my Afghanistan folder, all rulers across my years of interest apply, while also respecting that Roman Imperial (and such empires as Parthian if I collected them) should be separate. I am very much a place collector versus a person collector.

I love the obverse of this one, Artemis in her temple:
Greek, Pamphylia, Perge: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184279

This one would have gone in a Roman Provincial folder in the past:
Greek, Pamphylia, Side: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184278

Virgil

Virgil H · « **Reply #168 on:** May 04, 2024, 12:29:09 am »

I did not realize I haven't posted a new coin in months. Part of it is my lower quality coins I get in lots I have to photograph myself, LOL. And I took a break for a while on buying anything other than these. I will be adding a few new coins over the next day or two. Here is the first one.

Part of my Republican collection, as well as my "dog coin" collection, I have been looking for one of these at a reasonable price for some time.

C. Hosidius Geta, 68 BC, Diana / Calydonian boar speared with dog attacking.

Hosidia 1. I would like an Hosidia 2, as well, the dog is more pronounced in Hosidia 2, as well as a slightly different obverse.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=187620

Thanks,
Virgil

Tracy Aiello · « **Reply #169 on:** May 04, 2024, 09:46:07 am »

Great addition, Virgil. Nice to see you adding coins again.

Tracy

Virgil H · « **Reply #170 on:** May 15, 2024, 12:10:49 am »

Virgil H · « **Reply #171 on:** May 17, 2024, 06:45:03 pm »

I just added a couple nice coins from Forum, one being a "dog" coin, although this Artemis with dog type reverse is not uncommon. Sicily has some of he best coins with dogs, particularly Eryx. The Aezanis coin is a nice example of a coin from a place I have visited and love, no tourists because it is too far away from the cruise ship ports. To get there, you have to drive. That is a place I could live.

Greek, Sicily, Messana, The Mamertini, 220 - 200 BC: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=187825

Roman Provincial, Aezanis, Phrygia, Claudius, 41 - 54 AD: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=187826

Cheers,
Virgil

Ron C2 · « **Reply #172 on:** May 20, 2024, 03:41:32 pm »

That Messana reverse is really cool. Nice coin.

quadrans · « **Reply #173 on:** May 22, 2024, 09:58:51 am »

Hi Virgil,
You post so many nice coins lately …
Congrats 😉🤗👍

Joe

Virgil H · « **Reply #174 on:** May 23, 2024, 12:23:27 am »

Thanks Ron and Joe.

Virgil

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Author Topic: Virgil H Gallery (Read 6473 times)