FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Ancient Coin Forum => Topic started by: Mark Fox on December 24, 2013, 09:33:46 pm

Title: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Mark Fox on December 24, 2013, 09:33:46 pm
Dear Board,

Being so wintery here, I thought it might be worthwhile to share a bit of it on Forvm in time for Christmas.   Compare the attached snapshots I took today (Dec. 24) around our home with the ones from 2011:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=76901.0

Notice the lake was still not quite frozen over!  What a difference this year, both in temperature and snow accumulation.

On the numismatic side, I have seen a fair amount of coin accumulation this winter as well.  If I have time tomorrow, I will show you a few examples of what I mean, with a Christmas connection.

   
Merry Christmas!

Mark Fox
Michigan   
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Mark Fox on December 24, 2013, 09:37:48 pm
Dear Board,

Three more...  Enjoy!


Best regards,

Mark Fox
Michigan
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Carausius on December 24, 2013, 10:35:44 pm
Looks lovely.  We had similar views in our neighborhood a week ago; but some freak warm weather (near 60 degrees F.) melted all the snow in 3 days.  It's a green Christmas for me.  :(
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: David Atherton on December 24, 2013, 11:04:11 pm
Looks lovely.  We had similar views in our neighborhood a week ago; but some freak warm weather (near 60 degrees F.) melted all the snow in 3 days.  It's a green Christmas for me.  :(

Same thing happened here too. However, we did get snow last night, almost an inch - perhaps an off-white Christmas?

Bitterly cold outside too.
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Tom Mullally on December 25, 2013, 12:04:37 am
Boy do I miss winters like that.  I grew up in SE Iowa so images like this were commonplace in January and February.  But now I've lived in Atlanta for 20 years, and all we get is gray yuk.  I so miss real winters.

Tom

PS, If you fly me up, I'll shovel your driveway!
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Mark Fox on December 25, 2013, 12:24:31 am
Dear Tom & Board,

And don't forget around the mailboxes too, LOL!  We actually have a very long driveway, shared by several neighbors now.  Oftentimes we subconsciously wait for one of them to act first which someone did this year by hiring a truck plow. 

It is nice to hear of so many people who like a good ol' fashion winter, although I must say it is currently ~15.4°F (~-26.3°C) here as I write this.  Does this count for bitterly cold?!   


Best regards,

Mark Fox
Michigan
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Tom Mullally on December 25, 2013, 12:56:55 am
I've been camping (in a tent) at 20 below 0.  That's not cold yet!

Tom
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Mark Fox on December 25, 2013, 05:35:00 pm
Dear Board,

Hear are the coins I alluded to earlier—my "three kings of Orient are"!  


1.  Phraates (early-mid 2nd century AD), Æ drachm, 15.74mm, 3.78 g, 12h.
van’t Haaff Type 14.1, Subtype 1-2A(?) (one crossbar on anchor; BΑCΛΙЄΑC (sic) ΦΡΑΑTHC, reverse legend partially retrograde).

2.  Phraates (early-mid 2nd century AD), Æ drachm, 15.58mm, 3.25 g.  
van’t Haaff Type 14.7, Subtype 2-A (small narrow bust, one crossbar on anchor, pellet in crescent).  

3.  Kamnaskires-Orodes (early-mid 2nd century AD), Æ drachm, 16.05mm,  4.01 g.
van’t Haaff Type 12.3, Subtype 1-2A2  (bust with top hair & with upward side tufts).

They are less bluer in hand and were recently obtained from a large hoard that a US dealer has been slowly selling off for years.  The photos were kindly taken for me by Joe Tooma.

Although Elymais is a reasonable candidate for the homeland of at least one of the Three Wise Men, I suspect South Arabia could be just as, if not more, likely for all three.


Merry Christmas!

Mark Fox
Michigan    
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: SC on December 26, 2013, 05:13:38 am
I'll help with the shovelling too!

Christmas in Vienna got up to over 12 degrees C.  Won't be under 5 degrees till after new year.  No snow at all.  Very sad for a Canadian.

When I spoke to my relatives in Ottawa yesterday it was -18 C at noon and about -31 C with the windchill.

So, as in everything else in life, I would love to find some moderation.  How about a place with lots of snow but only say -5 C???

Shawn
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on December 26, 2013, 04:30:58 pm
You'd get a lot of nasty wet slush, and some very treacherous driving conditions when it froze over.
Title: Re: A White Numismatic Christmas (Returns)
Post by: cliff_marsland on December 31, 2013, 09:49:20 pm
A Ptolemaic Tetradrachm
a Cappadocian Drachm
Typos II book on Cappadocian coins
Aorta reference book (it had some pretty cool wrapping paper - a cut-down poster of coins of the Roman emperors.)


I found Aorta to be handy as a quick reference.  The only downside is I have to use a magnifier to read it, and it doesn't seem to have the 5th century Eastern emperors?  Is it a smaller version of ERIC?  I like books.  Sear's my favorite quick reference, but this one's a welcome addition to the library.