tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60190062011-12-20T20:03:54.108-05:00Casually documenting a collection<br> (where nothing's for sale)Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comBlogger12651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-61592613728371456442011-08-24T13:31:00.001-04:002011-08-24T13:33:06.772-04:00

Don’t Nationalize the Past.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-21842373242856086152009-07-03T20:31:00.001-04:002009-07-03T20:31:00.975-04:00

After another year, I'm the last to know as I admit an unwelcome truth: there'll be no more posts.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-84689802469776995882008-07-03T05:00:00.001-04:002008-07-03T05:00:00.272-04:00

Huh, look at that: a year without posts. More to follow, I hope in less than a year.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-29383630660306452252007-07-03T05:10:00.000-04:002007-07-03T05:00:34.517-04:00

Last week I completed another pass through the collection, looking for unposted provincials. Contemplating how few unposted still remain to find and the ever-decreasing value of new posts, I'm going to stop regular posting. I'll leave the existing posts in place, I don't rule out (though I don't foresee) occasional future posts, but since my stroke last year this has become a chore, and I'm

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-45645405686480793412007-07-02T05:04:00.000-04:002007-07-02T04:59:46.084-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust left | PAX FVNDATA, Two Parthian captives seated at the foot of a trophy, their arms tied behind their backs. Branch in exergue.Another in a endless-seeming series of coins obscured by discoloration.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-58641124561193129582007-06-29T05:03:00.000-04:002007-06-29T04:18:01.741-04:00

A K Π ΛI OVAΛEPIANOC EVEVC, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | LA, Eagle standing left, head right, wreath in beak. Regnal year across fields.This coin from Roman Egypt is from 253 or 254, known because coins from Alexandria were dated with the year of the emperor's relative reign.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-64791349963986538342007-06-28T05:05:00.000-04:002007-06-28T05:02:56.405-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head left | AETERNITAS AVG, She-wolf standing right, suckling twins.The scene on the reverse here is Romulus and Remus, one of the Roman foundation myths.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-27530126296022548992007-06-27T05:03:00.000-04:002007-06-27T04:59:36.668-04:00

D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG, Bare-headed (if pompadoured) draped cuirassed bust right, A in left field | VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAES, Two victories holding wreath inscribed VOT V MVLT X, AQP in exergue.Magnentius (full name uncertain) was a military leader for the sons of Constantius who rebelled and established himself as emperor in the West around 350 CE. After losses in 353, his troops deserted

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-43154966952320926462007-06-26T05:02:00.000-04:002007-06-26T05:04:13.173-04:00

IMP CAES P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Laureate cuirassed bust right | COL IVL AVG FEL, Two palms protruding from prize crown. CERT SAC above, CAP OEC ISE · HEL in exergue.I think this has a repaired hole (the white-looking material near the center). It's better than a disguised repair.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-20206027764855512582007-06-25T05:02:00.000-04:002007-06-25T05:02:10.804-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right, no pellets beneath | AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding cornucopia right and scales left. SPQR in exergue.Of all the imperial coins of Gallienus in his sole reign, the mint of Cyzikus are among those that I find most interesting. A fairly restricted series of issues over a short time, Cyzikus seems like a collection that could be

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-44116100713132375012007-06-22T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-22T05:03:35.274-04:00

IMP VALERIANVS P AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | P M S C_OL VIM, Moesia standing, head left, with bull right in left field and lion left in right field. AN [XVI?] in exergue.Like Tuesday, another coin from the colony city of Viminacium.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-16231046124780874052007-06-21T05:02:00.000-04:002007-06-21T08:13:29.205-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | IOVI PROPVGNAT, Jove standing right, brandishing thunderbolt in right hand, cloak flying from left arm.I think this is an ancient counterfeit, probably a cast. Not only does it look “wrong,” the casting process would explain why there is no officina  mark, which the Göbl catalog always shows as present on coins with this reverse and this bust.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-58624525893270469892007-06-20T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-20T05:02:35.743-04:00

LICINIVS IVN NOB CAES, Laureate mantled bust left with scepter, globe & mappa | VIRTVS EXERCIT, Two captives seated at foot of Vexillum inscribed VOT X, S I F HL in fields, ΔSIS' in exergue.The son of the elder Licinius, details of his fate after his father's defeat and death aren't recorded.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-61383065657061164022007-06-19T05:01:00.000-04:002007-06-19T05:00:35.794-04:00

IMP C GALLIENVS AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | P M S C_OL VIM, Moesia standing, head left, with bull right in left field and lion left in right field. AN XVI in exergue.I admit, the wear on the obverse makes me suspect it's a coin of Salonina, but the legend makes it clear that it's of her husband.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-81337415959535119872007-06-18T05:03:00.000-04:002007-06-18T05:05:05.885-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | FELICI AVG, Felicitas standing left, holding cornucopia right and caduceus left.I've mentioned before (and may well again) but the caduceus is a symbol Mercury as the representative of travelers and of merchants. Only in modern times does it replace the staff of Asclepius as a symbol of medicine.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-20486496105381876802007-06-15T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-15T04:59:42.250-04:00

AVT KAI ΓAΛΛIH[..]CC[..], Laureate draped bust right, over eagle with wings spread, IA before | CIΔHTΩN NEΩKOPΩN, Nude male figure standing right, holding globe in right hand and bridled horse with left.A very worn coin and one that suffers from staining that obscures detail that's visible to the naked eye but very much hidden from the camera. It's bad enough that I've previously refrained from

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-31777549614195132282007-06-14T05:03:00.000-04:002007-06-14T04:57:41.911-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head left | DIANA FELIX, Diana standing right, holding scepter left and bow right. Hound at feet leaping right.A coin issued prior to Valerian's capture, of metal containing an amount of silver adequate for a silver appearance even as the coin wears, unlike the later silvered Æ coins, where the silvered surface quickly wore bare.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-2116566730181536852007-06-13T04:59:00.000-04:002007-06-13T04:59:33.276-04:00

IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, Laureate head right | CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated left within hexastyle temple, holding spear in left and globe in right, sheild to right. H in left field. REP in exergue.When I built the post of Romulus last week I was surprised to find that I'd omitted his father, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentiusm who ruled 306 - 312. Maxentius spent much of his time as emperor

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-4363261348135953542007-06-12T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-12T04:58:05.707-04:00

ΠOV ΛIK KOP OVAΛEPIANON, Laureate draped bust right, over eagle with wings spread, I before | CIΛΛ_VEΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder with right hand, cornucopia with left.Looks almost melted, no?

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-62212804153017967382007-06-11T05:06:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:34:25.061-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | FIDES EXERC VIII, Fides standing left, holding upright standard with right hand and transverse standard with left.One of the reasons that my collection will never have much value is that I pay insuffient attention to condition when faced with an example of a coin I don't have yet, so that many of my coins are of inferior quality, even when they're not

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-38395080556893395432007-06-08T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-08T05:02:54.132-04:00

AK ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | KV_MA_IΩ_N, Nude male figure standing right, holding globe in right hand and bridled horse with left.The horse was a common emblem on coins of Cyme. I don't know if it symbolized a mounted person or god important to that city or if Cyme was noted for raising horses.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-86452923300162755522007-06-07T05:02:00.000-04:002007-06-07T05:00:27.030-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | ABVNDANTIA AVG, Abundantia standing right, emptying cornucopia right. B in left field.Portrait of the Emperor as a young man.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-56126507268929235822007-06-06T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-06T05:01:53.011-04:00

DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS, Bare head right, wearing necklace | AETERNAE MEMORIAE, Eagle standing right with wings spread on domed shrine, no columns, right door ajar. MOSTS in exergue.Valerius Romulus was the son of Maxentius and is remembered more for his domed tomb (seen on the reverse of this coin) than for any occurence in his short life.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-72222298823419350472007-06-05T05:01:00.000-04:002007-06-05T05:00:34.174-04:00

AYT K ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC, Laureate draped bust right | EΦEC_I_ΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder with right hand and cornucopia with left. Star in lower right field.Another example from Ephesus which often used Tyche reverses and often used Artemis.)

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-84544080508465123592007-06-04T05:03:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:34:58.480-04:00

SALONINA AVG, Diademed draped bust right on crescent | VESTA, Vesta standing left, holding patera straight out in right hand and transverse scepter in left.I don't, of course, know if this portrait is a particularly accurate picture of Salonina, but it does seem a more plausible picture of someone than the great majority of the coins of Salonina.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-30951989335045398332007-05-27T09:37:00.000-04:002007-05-27T09:38:51.427-04:00

I've recovered the files I needed and should resume posting after next week. Quality isn't, however, expected to improve.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-10111733162915239702007-05-22T19:37:00.000-04:002007-05-22T19:57:27.674-04:00

I still intend to resume posting to this blog, but I'm waiting for some additional hardware. Once I've moved the old data, this pair of USB disk will be of further use in backup and in facilitating “offsite storage” so they're a sensible buy for avoiding any repeat of this unpleasantness.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-91500243379738371312007-05-20T05:53:00.000-04:002007-05-22T21:33:57.460-04:00

I need another week to transfer files from the old system to the new.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-10361457416537489432007-05-13T06:35:00.000-04:002007-05-13T06:38:56.248-04:00

In a bit of a hurry, I've replaced my PC and will be taking a week off to get details on the new one arranged.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-18641571864231187082007-05-11T05:01:00.000-04:002007-05-11T05:02:07.733-04:00

obscure, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | ΠEPΓ_AIΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopia in left.Most of my coins of Perga are larger than this, about 30mm or larger, but this isn't the only one of about 23mm. This probably represents two or three denominations, a more complicated economy than other provincial cities prove.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-81143962499030408342007-05-10T05:03:00.000-04:002007-05-10T05:01:35.736-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder on globe in right hand and cornucopia in left.This is unusual-looking, but not quite enough to make me beleive that it's a counterfeit. Perhaps inexpert cleaning is at fault or perhaps I'm just not seeing what's obvious to everyone else. I greatly distrust the Emperor's face but am reassured by the letter

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-25876731840986474532007-05-09T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:35:48.590-04:00

MAX THEODORAE AVG, Draped bust right, wearing necklace | PIETAS ROMANA, Pietas standing right, a child in each arm.Flavia Maximiana Theodora was the daughter of Maximinan and wife of Constantius I (Chlorus). There's no record of her after his death in Britain in 306.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-25436417983257335642007-05-08T04:59:00.000-04:002007-05-08T08:09:20.602-04:00

AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC, Laureate draped bust right | CMYPNAIΩN NEΩ, Kybele, turreted, seated left on throne, holding patera in right hand, left elbow resting on tympanum. Lion at feet left.As always, posting coins from Smyrna gives me another chance to add a link to the history of how that city suffered when the Turks slaughtered the Armenians and Greeks.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-59438606742482690072007-05-07T05:01:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:36:21.177-04:00

IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right, both ribbons behind | VIRTVS AVGG, Mars standing left, holding reversed spear in right hand, resting left hand on shield at feet.Like the majority of recent posts, this is a coin not posted before since I did post a superior example of this.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-4705603482109731862007-05-04T05:01:00.000-04:002007-05-04T05:05:19.994-04:00

KOPNHΛIA CALωNEINA CEB, Diademed draped bust right | LIE, Eagle standing left, holding wreath. Transverse palm branch behind. Regnal year across fields.Both provincials this week are from Alexandria, the capitol of Egypt from the time it was founded by Alexander and until c. 640 when Egypt was captured by Arab armies.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-88986163831693548482007-05-03T05:03:00.000-04:002007-05-03T05:01:28.159-04:00

SALONINA AVG, Draped diademed bust right on crescent | PVDICITIA AVG, Pudicitia standing left, one hand towards face, holding transverse scepter.Pudicitia was the personification of female modesty and chastity. Imagine pairing the modern equivalent with a current woman of note. The mind boggles.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-91591946621673595672007-05-02T05:00:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:37:30.896-04:00

GAL VALERIA AVG, Draped bust right | VENERI VICTRICI, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple in right hand and raising drapery off shoulder with left. * in left field G in right field, .SM.SD. in exergue.Galeria Valeria was the daughter of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and wife of Galerius. After his death, she refused to marry Maximinus II and was subsequently executed by a mob acting

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-80535134349933624302007-05-01T05:07:00.000-04:002007-05-01T04:59:45.586-04:00

AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate draped bust right | LIΓ, Eagle standing right, wreath in beak, transverse palm behind. Regnal year across fields.As they usually do, this coin of Roman Egypt is marked with the year minted, expressed as the count of the emperor's years in office. In this case, IΓ, or 13. This was minted in 266-267.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-92164461334503982442007-04-30T05:05:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:38:38.723-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | PAX AVG, Pax standing left, raising branch in right hand and holding long transverse scepter in left. T in left field.Not very different from this post of a week ago, which had the reverse marked "V" to indicate manufacture in the fifth officina&nbsp(workshop), today we see a "T" mintmark to indicate the third officina. Presumably this mattered so that

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-83233606599279261792007-04-27T05:00:00.000-04:002007-04-27T05:02:05.865-04:00

KOPNHΛIA CAΛΩNINA [CEB], Diademed draped bust right, IA before | CYE_ΔPE_ΩN, Water basin, three one-handled vases above, palms to either side. ΓYMNACIA / PXIA in two lines in exergue.The Gymasiarchia noted on the reverse was the winner of some sort of athletic competition whose prize is shown.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-40133424858415144092007-04-26T05:01:00.000-04:002007-04-26T05:00:29.388-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | SECVRIT AVG, Securitas standing left, leaning on column right, right hand raised over head.Securitas is often seen in this pose which presumably acts as an identification for the illiterate. Often Roman coins show a deity or personification in a distinctive posture, or with a distinctive attribute which serves to identify them.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-23743475633520091262007-04-25T05:01:00.000-04:002007-04-25T05:01:24.042-04:00

C VAL HOST M QVINTVS CAE, Bare-headed cuirassed bust right | PMS C_OL VIM, Tyche standing, head left, with bull right in left field and lion left in right field. AN XII in exergue.Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus was son of Trajan Decius and Herennia Etruscilla and the brother of Herennius Etruscillus. In 251, when his father and brother went to make war on the Goths, Hostilian was

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-18881279611898605032007-04-24T05:00:00.000-04:002007-04-24T05:01:14.992-04:00

IMP CAES P LIC GALLIOII AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | ANTIO_CH CICL, Vexillum with eagle on top between two standards. SR in exergue.Antioch was a colony city with, a place for legionaries to retire to, Latin was used on coins, although here the engraver clearly was illiterate. Various misspelled legends from this city are readily available. I don't know how common illiteracy was among

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-61327823973465287012007-04-23T05:02:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:38:01.554-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | PAX AVG, Pax standing left, raising branch in right hand and holding long transverse scepter in left. V in left field.A poorly struck PAX that show some damage from, perhaps, mechanical cleaning. The bust style looks a bit unusual, particularly the neck truncation and the contours of the face. Speculating for no purpose, perhaps sometimes an engraver who

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-37227934099790574442007-04-20T05:02:00.000-04:002007-04-20T05:03:52.077-04:00

AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNON CEB, Radiate draped bust right, I before | ΠEP_ΓAIΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder left and cornucopia right.I should be able to muster more excitement about this: it's a big coin, about over 1,600 years old, from an interesing city today an attractive heap of ruins. The coin is a rough mix of colors, though, and the reverse is unexciting. I am, it seems, jaded.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-37177919007885098562007-04-19T05:05:00.000-04:002007-04-19T05:02:31.592-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | VENER VICTRICI, Venus standing left, leaning on sheld right, holding long scepter diagonally and helmet left.Stained and worn, this shows Venus as a victorious martial goddess. While warrior isn't the most common thought of Venus, it wasn't an aspect unheard of in antiquity, when Venus was used for more than Valentine's Day imagery.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-37932018101316458402007-04-18T05:00:00.000-04:002007-04-18T05:04:24.740-04:00

Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, Radiate draped bust right | PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Herennius standing left, holding wand in right and transverse spear in left.Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius was the son of Trajan Decius and Herennia Etruscilla.He was raised to the office of emperor by his father in early 251 and served with him until they were killed by Gothic tribesmen in June of that year.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-84966455814934409942007-04-17T05:01:00.000-04:002007-04-17T04:59:05.452-04:00

AYT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate draped bust right | LIΓ, Homonia standing left, holding double cornucopias right, raised hand left. Palm in lower right field, regnal year in lower left.While coins of Alexandria are generally grouped with Provincials, the details of Roman Egypt include a closed economy using local coins only, with base-metal coins substituting for precious metal. The other

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-11383185601651288282007-04-16T05:01:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:39:08.680-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right, no pellets beneath | SALVS AVG,Salus standing right, holding snake in right arm, feeding it from small patera held in left hand. SPQR in exergue.Uncertainly that's very unlikely to resolve is very frustrating. While I'm ca;;omg this 1547Ac, which with two pellets beneath the bust and is attested by Göbl in two examples, the pellets can't be

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-23307349733818990082007-04-13T05:01:00.000-04:002007-04-13T05:00:04.584-04:00

AYT KAI ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CE_B, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right, IA before | CE / MNHC / ENΔOΞO / TEPAC / CVEΔP / EΩN, Legend in six lines, within wreath.While I can't read Greek I had memorized the meaning of many of these reverses, often the names of civic officials or boasts about the city, and I'm dismayed to find that's all flown from my head. (Sigh)

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-61948856398764871232007-04-12T05:03:00.000-04:002007-04-12T05:00:44.380-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right, slight drapery on both shoulders | LAETITIA AVG, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath in right hand, resting left hand on anchor at feet. P in exergue.The reverse is better-looking but the obverse is far worse-looking than on the similar coin that I posted in December.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-41885743000897203352007-04-11T05:01:00.000-04:002007-04-11T05:03:30.036-04:00

HER ETRVSCILLA AVG, Tiaraed, draped bust right, on crescent. | FECVNDITAS AVG, Fecunditas standing left, holding cornucopia right, hand over child left.Annia Cupressenia Herennia Etruscilla was the wife of Trajan Decius. She's known for little but that her sons Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian were emperor.On the reverse, Fecunditas, the goddess of fertility, is seen with a child, hinting that

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-22871385423932807382007-04-10T05:02:00.000-04:002007-04-10T05:01:34.759-04:00

KOPNHΛ CAΛΩNINA, Diademed draped bust right on crescent | ΘECC / AΛONI / KH KON / B NE, Legend in four lines in wreath.Not much a message here, just a declaration of the city of origin and the civic date, 285 years since Octavian's great victory at Actium, the founding of the Roman empire, corresponding to 254/255 CE.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-16836174903098883102007-04-09T05:06:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:39:40.728-04:00

GALLIENVS P F AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | RESTIT GALLIAR, Gallienus in military garb, right, raising kneeling Gallia, spear in his left hand.Gallia is a personification of Gaul. She kneels and is raised by the emperor as she is restored to civilization from domination by barbarism by Rome.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-59330677909846581052007-04-06T05:05:00.000-04:002007-04-06T05:09:15.875-04:00

KOPNHΛIA CAΛωNEINA CEB, Diademed draped bust right | LIΓ, Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath. Palm branch left, regnal year right.Unlike Imperial coins, it's quite common for provincials to use the same design for obverse and reverse, and so this eagle is seen, at this time, paired with both Salonina and with Gallienus, her husband.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-47687728639203555762007-04-05T05:02:00.000-04:002007-04-05T05:04:53.765-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | VIRTVS AVG, Mars standing left, resting right hand on shield at feet left and holding in left hand. VI in right field.I admit to be able to think of nothing of VIRTVS coins, or of Virtus, that I haven't already said. What's more disappointing than wasting time posting that?

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-46489455843738368482007-04-04T05:02:00.000-04:002007-04-04T05:02:24.885-04:00

M OTACIL SEVERA AVG, Tiaraed, draped bust right, on crescent. | CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera in right arm and double cornucopia in left.Marcia Otacilia Severa was the wife of the emperor Philip “the arab” and was little remarked for anything else. She presumably was killed in 249, along with her husband or soon after his murder.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-26902997572715625792007-04-03T05:00:00.000-04:002007-04-03T05:01:48.262-04:00

[...]ΛI ΓAΛΛI[...], Laureate draped bust right, I before | [...]ΔIΩN, Tyche standing left, holding cornucopia right.Even as degraded as this coin is, just enough of the legends are legible to clearly identify the emperor and issuing city. I'm not clear how much of the damage is from wear when it was circulating and how much is from reactions to chemicals in the environment in the years since it

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-20147599513757223882007-04-02T05:03:00.000-04:002007-06-18T08:40:11.818-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | ABVNDANTIA AVG, Abundantia standing right, emptying cornucopiae right.The cornucopiae, then as now a symbol of plenty, is seen overflowing with the harvested goods. The Emperor here takes credit for all good things of the earth, as he takes credit for all victories on reverses showing soldiers.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-66641406488982986542007-03-30T05:03:00.000-04:002007-03-30T05:03:12.240-04:00

AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate cuirassed bust right | LIE, Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath. Palm branch right, regnal year left.A poor-quality example of the eagle that was used at Alexandria even before the Romans ruled Egypt.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-47604659900108741542007-03-29T05:01:00.000-04:002007-03-29T05:03:13.379-04:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right, slight drapery on both shoulders | VIRTVS AVG, Mars standing left, holding reversed spear right and shield left.There's plenty of detail visible here, but clearly quite a lot of discoloring minerals are deposited on the coin. Virtus here shows, not the appearance of a then-current Roman soldier but how the Romans saw the soldier of antiquity.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-42722319649184191362007-03-28T04:59:00.000-04:002007-03-28T18:25:37.735-04:00

CAB TΡANKVIΛΛEINA C, Diademed and draped bust right | COΛ ΦΛ PAC ΔEVΛT, Homonia standing left. Holding patera and cornucopiae.Sabina Tranquillina was the wife of Gordian III and, living without scandal, is followed by no fame. She survived her husband and continued without scandal.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-75731193200318747782007-03-27T05:01:00.000-04:002007-03-27T04:59:29.055-04:00

AYT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, Laureate draped bust right | LIΓ, Eirene standing left, holding branch left and transverse scepter. Palm in right field. Regnal year in left field.Eirene was the Greek equivalent of the Roman Pax, the goddess of peace and prosperity.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-31734114496420714612007-03-26T05:05:00.000-04:002007-06-18T22:38:56.647-04:00

DIVAE MARINIANAE, Veiled draped bust right on crescent | CONSECRATIO, Mariniana on peacock flying right.Telling the difference between similar Mariniana coins issued from Rome and those from Viminacium is challenging but such topics fascinate the dedicated collector.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-21296117823849536762007-03-19T05:08:00.000-04:002007-03-19T05:02:06.565-04:00

I'll resume posting next week, but I'm taking a week off.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-17158207877857971732007-03-16T05:01:00.000-04:002007-03-16T04:59:43.665-04:00

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

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-50537740135159733662007-03-15T05:05:00.000-04:002007-03-15T05:06:05.881-04:00

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

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-10708337511193572602007-03-14T05:03:00.000-04:002007-03-14T04:59:47.536-04:00

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

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-2103344737338094082007-03-13T05:03:00.000-04:002007-03-13T05:03:30.318-04:00

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

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-59634552714941190752007-03-12T05:04:00.000-04:002007-06-18T22:42:18.804-04:00

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

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-18818963649859267782007-03-09T04:53:00.000-05:002007-03-09T05:03:33.019-05:00

AV K ΠO ΛIX OVAΛEPIANOC, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | KOI ΠONT [MH]T NEOKAICA / AXTIA / ET PQB, Prize crown, wreathed, on altar.Quite worn with rough surfaces, this coin from Neocaesarea, like Tuesday's post is precisely dated though not in a system we'd immediately recognize. The PQB represents 192, the number of years since the foundation of the city in 64 CE, so the coin is dated

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-48015671315583737002007-03-08T05:04:00.000-05:002007-03-08T04:52:56.656-05:00

IMP GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | DIANAE CONS AVG, Doe standing right, head turned left over shoulder. E in exergue.Like last week's “stag” post, this is from the “Zoo series,” a group of coins issued at roughly the same time with real and mythological animals representing dieties protecting the Emperor and Empress. Many of the designs are quite common and a bit different from coins minted

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-2037807614968605452007-03-07T05:02:00.000-05:002007-03-07T05:02:43.241-05:00

SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, Draped bust right, wearing tiara | CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, wearing stephanos, holding patera in right hand and double cornucopiae with leftSallustia Barbia Orbiana Augusta was briefly the wife of Severus Alexander but was divorced from him and exiled in 227 CE, a year or two after her marriage, when her father fell into disfavor as a threat to Severan women.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-20046932532227983072007-03-06T05:03:00.000-05:002007-03-06T05:02:04.130-05:00

KOPNHΛIA CAΛωNEINA CEB, Diademed draped bust right | LIB,Elpis standing left, holding flower left, hitching skirt right. Palm in left field, regnal year in right. The reverse is dated the 12th year of Gallienus's reign, which began in 265 CE, so we know, as we usually do with coins from Alexandria (and from other provincial cities,) the year of minting as precisely as we know modern American

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-66735435308645458622007-03-05T05:06:00.000-05:002007-03-05T05:00:11.474-05:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | VIRTVS AVGVSTI,Mars standing left holding olive branch in right hand and spear in left.The image on the reverse is flatly-struck, maybe because the blank wasn't all of the same thickness across its width. I have other similar examples that are more evenly-struck.I've skipped posting this in the past because, probably, it's a bit ugly and because I should've

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-63976536553454095102007-03-02T05:08:00.000-05:002007-03-02T05:14:46.333-05:00

ΠO ΛI EΓ ΓAΛΛIHNO CEB, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | NIKAI_EΩN, Dionysus, holding kantharos and thyrsus, seated left in quadriga of elephants left.For the second week in a row I post a poorly-preserved coin of Nicaea, which is representative of the state of my coins of that city. The reverse image is a bit unexpected though, as the elephant was an exotic animal and had no commonly-known

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-64995821269557558922007-03-01T05:01:00.000-05:002007-03-01T05:07:33.302-05:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | DIANAE [CONS AVG], Stag walking left. Exergue apparently empty.This apparent counterfeit was skipped over when I previously swept the collection looking for posts. It differs from a more obviously authentic coin in the overall shape of the legends on both sides, in the face of the emperor, and in the legs of the stag, which look wrong with very straight

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-28930016013450894912007-02-28T05:02:00.000-05:002007-02-28T05:00:45.013-05:00

IVLIA MAESA AVG, Draped bust right | PIETAS AVG, Pietas standing left, holding hand over lit altar left, holding incense box in right hand.Julia Maesa was the drandmother of Elagabalus and a matriarch of the Severan family. After Elagabalus had infuriated the Roman people with his excesses, Maesa was instrumental in promoting Severus Alexander, another grandson, as a successor to the emperor. (

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-51708406013764407822007-02-27T05:06:00.000-05:002007-02-27T05:01:52.995-05:00

AVT K Π ΛI VAΛE[...]AN[...], Radiate cuirassed bust right | IPHNIOΠ_O_ΛITΩN ΔC, Hygieia, left, standing facing Aesculapius who holds a snake-entwined staff, uncertain countermark.A surprisingly common coin, I have a mini-collection showing various countermarks. As with Friday, the reasons for the countermark are unclear, as is whether or not the coin circulated for a time before being

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-16364204956816677872007-02-26T05:03:00.000-05:002007-02-26T05:05:26.907-05:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate head right | VICTORIA AET, Victory standing left raising wreath in right hand and holding palm in left. S in left field, P in right field.There's always a degree of Ozymandias in coins with a reverse legend like this, which promises eternal victory. That proved an innacurate prediction for the empire and for the emperor. As, soon enough, bad things were due to turn worse.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-91366463488687709912007-02-23T05:03:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:40:43.711-05:00

[...]VAΛEPI[...], Radiate draped cuirassed bust right. Male head countermark | OVAΛ / ΓAΛ.CEOV / AVΓOV / NIKAIEUN, Three prize crowns with palms.This has been a week with few examples of beauty, and it ends that way as well. What's most interesting about this is the countermark, applied, of course, after the coin was struck. Only a few provincial cities struck coins after the time of Valerian

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-66687202567550223692007-02-22T05:02:00.000-05:002007-02-22T05:03:22.198-05:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | ANNONA AVG, Annona standing left, holding ears of grain in right hand over modius at feet left and holding anchor right. Q in right field.As on Monday, this was an acceptable purhcase for me because I already have superior examples of similar coins, so this need only show off what makes it different. In its defense, adhering minerals are some of the

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-67895632001557940242007-02-21T05:03:00.000-05:002007-02-21T05:02:17.104-05:00

IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG, Draped bust right | VENVS CAELESTIS, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple in right hand and scepter with left. * in left field.Julia Soaemias was the mother of Elagabalus and ruled the empire when her son was too young to do so. After he reached his majority his actions so outraged the Romans that Elagabalus and his mother were killed by the praetorians in 322.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-18890693541458100742007-02-20T05:00:00.000-05:002007-02-20T05:02:45.743-05:00

AVT ΓAΛ_ΛIHNOC, Radiate cuirassed bust, with spear and shield, left | [OVΛΠIAC] CEPΔIKHC, Dionysus standing left, holding cantharus left and thyrsus right, panther at feet left.After feeling sorry for myself yesterday, today I'll try to justify buying a coin in poor condition, which doesn't invalidate what I said yesterday. This is a cimple variation on a coin previously posted. I find much

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-60909665333286979192007-02-19T07:11:00.000-05:002007-02-19T04:59:37.915-05:00

SALONINA AVG, Diademed draped bust right on crescent | AVGVSTA IN PACE, Salonina seated left holding olive branch left and long transverse scepter. P in left field.Sometimes, looking back at a purchase, it can be seen as a mistake. While it's desirable for its unusual reverse legend, it's in a poor state of preservation that makes it largely illegible, with the legends that can be deciphered

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-10216161182858050082007-02-16T05:03:00.000-05:002007-02-17T07:12:58.762-05:00

(rev legend)IMP P LIC VALERIANO AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | P M S C_OL VII, Moesia standing, head left, with bull right in left field and lion left in right field. AN XIV in exergue.Better known, perhaps, for imperial issues early in the joint reign, Vimacium was a Colony city issuing from the time of Gordian III and ending with Valerian & family. This bull & lion reverse was

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-49186869408176118292007-02-15T05:01:00.000-05:002007-02-15T05:01:49.665-05:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | VBERITAS AVG, Uberitas standing left holding marsupium in right hand and cornucopia in left.Uberitas was a personification of success and fruitfulness her marsupium a pouch or purse, the cornicopia repeating the idea of a richness of plenty. It resembles, perhaps, retirement planning that depends on a lottery drawing.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-5916833443112604372007-02-14T05:01:00.000-05:002007-02-14T17:58:53.075-05:00

IVLIA AQVILLA SEVERA AVG, Draped bust right | CONCORDIA, Concordia standing standing left, holding double cornucopia with left arm, sacrificing from right hand over patera. * in left field.Julia Aquilia Severa was the second wife of Elagabalus, and was a Vestal Virgin and thus quite spectacularly ineligible to marry. Elagabalus was impatient with such customs. Popular opinion was so outraged

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-86412998579901862212007-02-13T10:32:00.000-05:002007-02-14T17:59:23.128-05:00

CAΛΩN XPV COPNH CEBA, Diademed draped bust right on crescent | EΠ CT OVA NEIKIA MHTPOΠOΛEITΩN, Cybele seated on throne left, drum under left elbow.Another new purchase, this is a provincial issue for Salonina from Metropolis, a city that's very hard to look up, its name having become a synonym for city. I've been unable to find an unambiguous reference to the site of this city, but this my third

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-56633143742937000092007-02-12T05:08:00.000-05:002007-02-09T05:47:57.321-05:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right | SOLI INVICTO, Radiate draped Sol standing left, holding globe right and raising hand left. PXV in exergue.Looking closely at this example reveals little wear from circulation. but significant deterioration of the surfaces which presumably occurred after the coin went into the ground where water and natually-occuring chemicals in the ground in time

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170928918010543222007-02-09T05:00:00.000-05:002007-02-09T05:43:01.088-05:00

AK Π ΛI OVAΛEPIANOC CEVEVC, Laureate cuirassed bust right | LΔ, Homonia standing left, raising right hand, holding double cornucopias in left. Regnal year across fields.It seems I always wind up at Alexandria on a Friday when I can think of nothing to say. And today's no different. Earlier this week benefited from my return to buying, and I await the arrival of my next purchase. After the

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170842778364790442007-02-08T05:04:00.000-05:002007-02-08T05:00:27.676-05:00

IMP GALLIENVS P F AVG G M, Radiate cuirassed bust right, both ribbons behind | PAX AVGG, Pax standing left, raising branch in right hand and holding diagonal scepter in left. V in left field.The conclusion of the obverse legend, G M, is an abbreviation for Germanicus Maximus, perhaps emphasizing the emperor's 255 victory over German tribes (followed and celebrated by more of the same though 258).

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170756643629920752007-02-07T05:02:00.000-05:002007-02-07T05:04:02.110-05:00

IOVΛ KOPNΛIA ΠAVΛACE, Draped bust right | NIKAI_EΩN, Tyche standing facing, wearing modius, holding rudder with right arm and cornucopia with left.Julia Paula was the first wife of Elagabalus, and not particularly for anything, she was dead within about a year of her marriage in 219, perhaps executed by him.Short-lived, she had little time to appear on provincial coins like this, of which Curtis

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170669912005635932007-02-06T05:04:00.000-05:002007-02-06T05:03:10.033-05:00

ΓAΛΛIH_NOC AVΓ, Radiate head right | OVCT_HC TPAIA, Hera standing left, holding patera in right hand and long scepter with right. Peacock? at feet in left field.This is the first coin I've purchased since my stroke in October, so I'm feeling pretty good about that. While I don't foresee buying at the same rate as I once did, or at a rate that doesn't require me to use some older items from my

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170592253621652462007-02-05T05:05:00.000-05:002007-02-06T05:05:54.566-05:00

GALLIENVS AVG, Narrow radiate head right, one ribbon behind, one forward across shoulder | DIANA FELIX, Diana standing right, holding scepter with right hand and bow with left. Leaping hound at left foot.There are two different portrait styles from Mediolanum on coins otherwise the same. A broad head and this narrower head. Since they are otherwise the same and since there's no other apparent

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170324344251748052007-02-02T05:04:00.000-05:002007-02-02T05:02:42.090-05:00

AYT K ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC, Laureate draped cuirassed bust left | CAM_IΩN, Nemesis, wearing long chiton and himation, standing facing, wheel at feet left.Significantly inferior to the coin in this post from almost two years ago, (itself no fleur de coin,) nothing justifies the inclusion of this coin, or in fact its purchase months after that that of the earlier-shown example, but confusion about

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170237828442296502007-02-01T05:02:00.000-05:002007-02-01T05:03:54.666-05:00

SALONINA AVG, Diademed draped bust right on crescent | ROMAE AETERNAE, To right, Roma seated left on shield, with spear in left hand, with right hand presenting Victory to emperor, who stands to her right. Star above.With a reverse almost identical to that on the coin I posted Monday, sharing reverses between husband and wife was very rare in the time of Gallienus. Off-hand, I can't remember

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170152156820437372007-01-31T05:03:00.000-05:002007-01-31T05:04:12.030-05:00

PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, Plaited-haired bust right | CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia standing facing, head left, holding patera in right hand and scepter in left.Fulvia Plautilla was the wife of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (also known as Caracalla.) Arranged by the fathers, the marriage was not popular with either principal and, in 211, after the deaths of those fathers, Caracalla (who by now had killed his

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1170078941101954212007-01-30T05:01:00.000-05:002007-01-30T05:14:16.793-05:00

(obv legend, year)IMP VALERIANVS P AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right | P M S C_OL VIM, Moesia standing, head left, with bull right in left field and lion left in right field. AN XVI in exergue.While the coins of Viminacium all feature near-identical reverses, and they resemble those of nearby Dacia the differing details are indicative of differing details of history and of the legions in

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019006.post-1169925167152296502007-01-29T05:05:00.000-05:002007-01-29T01:37:23.860-05:00

IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right | ROMAE AETERNAE, To right, Roma seated left on shield, with spear in left hand, with right hand presenting Victory to emperor, who stands to her right.I can't clearly describe all that was different between coins of the joint reign, with Valerian senior emperor, and those of the sole reign, with Gallienus alone ruling after the

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127439381646667165noreply@blogger.com