Friday, March 16, 2007
Æ25, Anazarbus in Cilicia, Valerian, SNG Copenhagen 58
AVT K [..] VAΛEPIANOC CE, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | ANAZAPB[...]OΔ, Prize crown with palm, on table. Γ A in left field, Γ T in right field, H K between table legs, ET B OC in exergue.
Unusually, I'm justified, for once, in buying this inferior example of a coin after I purchased a superior one. This was part of a lot of coins from Anazarbus, the only such duplicate in that lot. It might make more sense for me to put this up for sale on eBay, but I've never done so and I'm not really eager to start.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Æ antoninianus, Gallienus, Antioch, Göbl 1574d
IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | VICTORIA AVGG, Victory standing left, presenting wreath left and holding palm right.
This coin has a very degraded surface. The Göbl shows only three examples, which, even though not a true count of how many there are, is an indication that this isn't common, so I feel justified, as a collector in buying it. If I were an investorm I'd worry about knowing whether or not I could find a buyer willing so pay more.
Buying accurately described and photographed items of eBay largely guarantees that there are few buyers who'd pay more.
Happy Ides of March and don't forget to celebrate Fifth annual International EATAPETA day!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
AR denarius, Julia Mamaea, Rome, RIC 338
IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, Diademed draped bust right | FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas seated left, holding caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left.
Julia Avita Mamaea was the niece of Septimius Severus, daughter of Julia Maesa, and mother of Severus Alexander. What little is known of her is positive, with no reputable stories of scandal. She was assassinated by the army, along with her son, while travelling with him in Germany in 235.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Æ29, Tyre in Phoenicia, Gallienus, unknown
IMP C[ P LIC GALLIENVS AVG?], Laureate draped bust right | COL[ TVRO M]ETR, Dido standing right worshipping before shrine, altar below, murex shell at right.
The obverse of this coin is so poorly centered that it's only a guess whether it names Valerian or his son Gallienus, but I think the portrait is more youthful than thaat seen on the Valerian coins, and my best guess is Gallienus.
The reverse is from mythology, when the Tyrian queen Dido flees her city and founds Carthage.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Æ antoninianus, Salonina, Rome, Göbl 580aa
SALONINA AVG, Diademed draped bust right on crescent | FECVNDITAS AVG, Fecunditas standing left, reaching right hand down to child at feet left, holding cornucopia in left. Δ in right field.
Once again, an inferior example purchased later than a better one. Both examples, and every example of 580aa I've encountered shows the very acutely-angled crescent. If they were all engraved by those who engraved the dies for other coins of the time I think some of them would have a obtuse angle to the crescent. Rank speculation: perhaps this was a hurry-up job to celebrate the Empress giving birth, to the child represented on the reverse. On the other hand, I know of no good reason that would have needed a distinctive obverse that's unremarkable.
More.
