Welcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!!All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!!Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 or 252-497-2724Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality RaritiesWelcome To Forum Ancient Coins!!!All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!!Internet Challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!!
Otacilia Severa, Augusta, February or March 244 - September or October 249 A.D., Nisibis, Mesopotamia
NEW Nisibis is the city of Netzivin in the Talmud. The Jews of Nisibis resisted the Roman conqueror, Trajan, to maintain Parthian rule. The city was taken only after a lengthy siege. After the it fell, Nisibis was laid waste and the massacre was so great that the houses, streets, and roads were strewn with corpses.RP111194. Bronze AE 26, RPC Online VIII U2575 (12 spec.); BMC Mesopotamia p. 123, 27; SNG Cop 244; SNG Hunterian 2447, VF, broad flan, porosity, light corrosion, weight 8.049 g, maximum diameter 25.5 mm, die axis 0o, Nisibis (Nusaybin, Turkey) mint, 247 - 249 A.D.; obverse MAP ΩTAKIΛ CEOYHPAN CEB (Marcia Otacilia Severa Augusta), diademed and draped bust of Otacilia Severa right, crescent behind shoulders; reverse IOY CEΠ KOΛΩ NECIBI MHT, temple with arched pediment and four twisted columns enclosing draped, veiled and turreted Tyche seated facing, wearing veil, chiton and mantle, ram leaping right above her, half figure of river god swimming right below; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $9999.00 (€10098.99)
Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D., Lampsacus, Mysia
NEW Lampsacus (or Lampsakos) was an ancient Greek city strategically located on the eastern side of the Hellespont in the northern Troad. An inhabitant of Lampsacus was called a Lampsacene. The name has been transmitted in the nearby modern town of Lapseki.RP111202. Bronze AE 16, RPC Online I 2279 (14 spec.), SNG Cop 233, Waddington 892, Lindgren 263, VF, brown tone, tight flan, weight 4.870 g, maximum diameter 16.3 mm, die axis 225o, Lampsakos (Lapseki, Turkey) mint, obverse CEBAC, laureate head of Tiberius right; reverse ΛAMΨAKH, winged hippocamp right, uncertain object below; from the Michael Arslan Collection; rare; $160.00 (€161.60)
Leo I, 7 February 457 - 18 January 474 A.D.
NEW Leo came to the throne at a time when the Eastern Roman army was made up almost entirely by Germans, but through his efforts the influence of the powerful German military factions was ended.RL111190. Bronze half centenionalis, RIC X 687 (S), DOCLR 563, LRBC II 2263, SRCV V 21443, Hunter V 13, Nice gVF, well centered on an irregularly shaped flan, highlighting earthen deposits, weight 0.934 g, maximum diameter 9.9 mm, die axis 0o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 462 - 472 A.D.; obverse D N LEONS P F AVG (or similar), pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse Leo's Latin monogram (LEONS) within wreath, CON (Constantinople) in exergue; from the Michael Arslan Collection; scarce; $140.00 (€141.40)
Maxentius, February 307 - 28 October 312 A.D.
NEW This interesting reverse includes two sets of twin brothers; Romulus and Remus suckling the she-wolf are flanked by the Dioscuri twins Castor and Pollux, with their horses.RT111191. Billon follis, Hunter V 26 (also 4th officina), RIC VI Ostia 16, Cohen VII 10, SRCV IV 14976, EF, tight flan, weight 6.235 g, maximum diameter 25.4 mm, die axis 180o, 4th officina, Ostia (port of Rome) mint, 308 - 310 A.D.; obverse IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right, bare right shoulder from behind; reverse AETERNITAS AVG N, Castor and Pollux, each with star above cap, naked except chlamys over shoulder, leaning on scepter with outer arm, holding bridled horse with inner hand, she-wolf suckling twins in center, MOST∆ in exergue; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $130.00 (€131.30)
Trapezopolis, Caria, c. 150 - 200 A.D.
In ancient Greece the chief magistrate in various Greek city states was called eponymous archon. Archon means "ruler" or "lord," frequently used as the title of a specific public office, while "eponymous" means that he gave his name to the year in which he held office, much like the Roman dating by consular years.RP99558. Bronze AE 23, RPC Online IV.2 T2743.4 (this coin, 4 spec.); Kurth Demos 840; Weber 6596; Imhoof-Blumer GRMK p. 98, 1, Choice aF, nice green patina with light highlighting earthen deposits, scratches, weight 5.102 g, maximum diameter 23.1 mm, die axis 180o, Trapezopolis (near Boli, Turkey) mint, pseudo-autonomous, c. 150 - 200 A.D.; obverse ∆HMOC TPAΠEZOΠO (Z retrograde), laureate youthful head of the Demos right; reverse EΠI AP AI AΠOΛΛΩN (eponymous archon Ai. Apollonios), Cybele standing, facing, head, left, wearing kalathos, flanked on each side by a seated lion; from the M. Arslan Collection, one of four specimens in RPC Online, the first of the type handled by FORVM; very rare; $120.00 (€121.20)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Bostra, Arabia
NEW Bostra was the northern Nabataean capital, until Trajan annexed the kingdom. It was then capital of Provincia Arabia, where the Third Legio Cyrenaica was garrisoned. The emperor Philip was born in Bostra and designated it a metropolis. This type was almost certainly struck with silver from the Nabatean treasury. Some specimens appear to have been overstruck on Nabatean drachms.RS111192. Silver drachm, cf. Metcalf Tell Kalak 15 - 17; Sydenham Cappadocia 184, 185, 189 (Caesarea); BMC Galatia p. 54, 62 var. (Caesarea, no drapery), aVF, dark tone, tight flan, a few small scratches, weight 2.912 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, die axis 180o, Bostra (Bosra, Syria) mint, Jan 112 - Aug 114 A.D.; obverse AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIAN CEB ΓEPM ∆AK, laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse ∆HMAPX EΞ Iς (or Z, or H) YΠAT ς (holder of Tribunitian power for 16 (or 17, or 18) years, consul for the 6th time), Arabia standing facing, head left, branch in right, bundle of cinnamon sticks in left, camel left in background on left; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $120.00 (€121.20)
Philip I the Arab, February 244 - End of September 249 A.D., Nisibis, Mesopotamia
NEW Nisibis is the city of Netzivin in the Talmud. The Jews of Nisibis resisted the Roman conqueror, Trajan, to maintain Parthian rule. The city was taken only after a lengthy siege. After the it fell, Nisibis was laid waste and the massacre was so great that the houses, streets, and roads were strewn with corpses.RP111193. Bronze AE 26, RPC Online VIII U2879 (12 spec.); BMC Mesopotamia p. 123, 21; SNG Cop 240; SNG Hunterian -, VF, attractive, broad flan, porous, minor flan flaws, weight 14.559 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 0o, Nisibis (Nusaybin, Turkey) mint, 247 - 249 A.D.; obverse AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, radiate and cuirassed bust of Philip I left, seen from front, wearing balteus; reverse IOY CEΠ KOΛΩ NECIBI MHT (MH ligate), temple with arched pediment and four twisted columns enclosing draped, veiled and turreted Tyche seated facing, wearing veil, chiton and mantle, ram leaping right above her, half figure of river god swimming right below; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $120.00 (€121.20)
Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D.
NEW In 128, Hadrian's Wall was completed. Built mostly of stone in the east and with a wooden palisade in the west, it included at least 16 forts. About 15,000 legionaries constructed the wall; digging ditches, quarrying rock and cutting stone, preventing idleness which led to unrest and rebellions in the ranks.RS111203. Silver denarius, RIC II 182, RSC II 358(b), BMCRE III 422, SRCV II 3480, aVF/F, superb portrait, light tone, flow lines, porous, ragged edge with flan splits and cracks, weight 2.850 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 225o, Rome mint, 125 - 128 A.D.; obverse HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right; reverse COS III, Victory standing half right, naked to the waist, right hand on head, long grounded palm frond vertical in left; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $110.00 (€111.10)
Judean Kingdom, John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan), 134 - 104 B.C.
John Hyrcanus was the son of Simon the Maccabee and nephew of the folk hero Judah Maccabee, the hero of the Hanukkah story. Soon after Hyrcanus assumed power, the Seleukid kingdom marched on Jerusalem. Antiochus VII and Hyrcanus I negotiated a treaty that left Hyrcanus a vassal to the Syrian king. John Hyrcanus was the first Jewish ruler to issue coins in his own name.JD99860. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6172, Meshorer TJC B, Meshorer AJC N, Sofaer 30 ff., HGC 10 626, gF, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, obverse edge beveled, reverse off center, weight 2.662 g, maximum diameter 14.0 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 134 - 104 B.C.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew inscription: Yehonanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews, surrounded by wreath; reverse two cornucopias splayed outward, adorned with ribbons, pomegranate or poppy between the horns; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $100.00 (€101.00)
Judaea, Lot of 5 Prutot, Marcus Ambibulus or Coponius, Roman Prefects under Augustus, 6 - 12 A.D.
In 6 AD., Herod Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, was deposed and banished to Gaul by Augustus. Archelaus' part of his father's kingdom (including Judea, Samaria, and Idumea) was organized as a Roman Procuratorial Province under Coponius. Marcus Ambibulus was Roman Prefect of the province of Judea and Samaria under Augustus. Originally a cavalry officer, he succeeded Coponius in 9 A.D. and ruled the area until 12 or 13 A.D. when he was succeeded by Annius Rufus. Josephus noted his tenure in Jewish Antiquities 18.31.LT110507. Bronze Lot, Lot of 5 prutot, from the Michael Arslan Collection; unattributed, no tags or flips, the actual coins in the photographs, 5 prutot; $100.00 (€101.00)