Another Nice Backlog Surprise - Leo I Monogram

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,556
Finn235 Pillar of the Community United States 6130 Posts	Posted 06/09/2017 12:23 am About a year ago, I bought a bunch of lots from one ebay seller because they had some great cross AE4 types, all with the same blue/gray patina that I assume were either a hoard or even a spilled coin purse. I had always assumed this was one of the barbarous coins (there are at least two other barbarous strikes from the lots). Not sure what made the light bulb go off, but I saw the L-E-O-N-S monogram: What threw me off was the obverse. I have only ever seen a few (AE) Leo with such a clear portrait, nor have I seen one with such fine and delicate lettering. I'm debating if I want to risk the awesome patina to try to get the reverse encrustation off, but as it is, I imagine I got several times the $15ish I paid for the whole lot. A very welcome upgrade for my portrait collection! Report this Post to the Staff

echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 06/09/2017 08:58 am Nice one. I don't have any of his coins. Report this Post to the Staff
january1may Pillar of the Community Russian Federation 5174 Posts	Posted 06/09/2017 09:19 am I have at least half a dozen assorted Leo I coins (including one with a full obverse legend... which just says DNL-EO), but only one monogram, and it's ugly. Report this Post to the Staff
tenbobbit Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 701 Posts	Posted 06/09/2017 10:06 am Bonus I am still doing the same as you Finn, I purchased a couple of Provincial lots some time ago and I find something new and interesting every time when I drag them out. The TEOS mint coin I posted the other day being a good example. Report this Post to the Staff
lrbguy Pillar of the Community United States 949 Posts	Posted 06/09/2017 12:00 pm Hmmmm. You might want to check your coin, Steve. (Finn235) Here's a Leo I bought a few weeks ago, that has a rather clear and complete obverse. You might want to compare the shapes and locations of the letters (DNL on left; E O on right) The reverse is the Verina type, not your monogram. Here's another example showing the Leo monogram #2 per RIC X (angled crossbar on L): RIC shows 8 examples in six types. Since some of the main details of the monogram are hidden on your coin by the brown encrustation, I would try to remove the stuff that is piled up, but not the part that is almost flush with the surface. edit: Sorry for the confusion. I was referring entirely to the OP coin. J1M, I see your coin as you do, right down to the monogram type. Edited by lrbguy 06/09/2017 1:14 pm Report this Post to the Staff
january1may Pillar of the Community Russian Federation 5174 Posts	Posted 06/09/2017 12:52 pm Quote: Hmmmm. You might want to check your coin. Here's a Leo I bought a few weeks ago, that has a rather clear and complete obverse. You might want to compare the shapes and locations of the letters (DNL on left; E O on right) The reverse is the Verina type, not your monogram. Um, are you referring to my coin, or the coin in the OP? The coin I posted the pictures of clearly originally had a longer obverse legend (though only DN LEO is visible, on the left of the portrait). And yes, I'm about 99% sure it's a monogram. Almost just like in your picture (not sure of some minor details). The coin I referred to with the full DNL-EO legend is neither a monogram nor a Verina, but a Tesorillo 164 (emperor with cross and captive). Sadly there's a weird incrustation straight through the portrait (almost as if an ancient hole had entirely patinated over). And it's definitely not your obverse die (the O is too far up). [EDIT: I wondered if the incrustation might have been a piece of an ancient nail, so I decided to check, and sure enough, a small neodymium magnet did successfully stick to the coin. Is that conclusive, or is there another explanation?] I do have a Verina with DNL-EO obverse, but very little of the legend is visible on it (pretty much just the L and the bottom of the N). I don't think it's your die either, the bottom of the L looks like it's pointing the wrong way. But it's definitely a lot more similar. As for the OP's coin, again, it appears to have a longer legend (the visible letters on the obverse look like PF). And I do see where it could be a monogram (though I'm much less sure than with my coin). Report this Post to the Staff
Finn235 Pillar of the Community United States 6130 Posts	Posted 06/12/2017 2:27 pm Sorry for going AWOL for a few days I am confident that the coin is indeed a monogram; I guess it's a little harder to see here than in person, but it is a generally N shape with an S above and a slanted L at lower left. I don't see the O which I guess could be problematic to my attribution to Leo I... but I don't know who else it could be? Report this Post to the Staff
january1may Pillar of the Community Russian Federation 5174 Posts	Posted 06/12/2017 5:43 pm Quote: I am confident that the coin is indeed a monogram; I guess it's a little harder to see here than in person, but it is a generally N shape with an S above and a slanted L at lower left. I don't see the O which I guess could be problematic to my attribution to Leo I... but I don't know who else it could be? If it's where I think it is, the O would have been waaay up at 10 hours - either off flan or very close to it. I can't find any monogram of Leo, or indeed anyone else, with that half-height diagonal bar though (there's some Zeno monograms that come close, but other details don't match). I wonder if the mintmark might be readable... there are definitely some letters in the exergue, I just can't say which ones specifically. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,556

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