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 Replies: 25 / Views: 4,173 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Just got the notification that this should be arriving sometime this week, and had to share: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-OF-97-U...151923350333I normally scroll right past lots with a starting bid of $100, especially from sellers with so little feedback. But, something possessed me to click on this one. Unlike 99% of the ebay lots, this is definitely not all LRBs with a cull as or sestertius to generate interest. So, for a little under $1.30 each (I calculate about $2.50-3 after removing the culls), I figured I would be reasonably safe with this one. I'll post pictures here as I wade through, making identifications or asking for help as I get stumped. From the seller pics, I see: - At least 2 or 3 Ptolemy bronzes - At least one post-Constantine silver (or silvered bronze) - Plenty of LRBs that should be identifiable - Several thick bronzes sporting animals on the front - A few small silvers, maybe medieval Wish me luck and stay posted!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
I think you can not be doing wrong buying such a lot.If you have 10 good coins , you have your money back and the fun you have is free , so congrats . albert
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
629 Posts |
I´m agree, good purchase!
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
Looks like a promising lot, and should be fun. Look forward to seeing what you find.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Looks like you will have some interesting and decent coins in the lot.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Looks like a fair bet, I look forwards to seeing your write up...
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6130 Posts |
Package just arrived today! Unfortunately I will not be able to sit down and drill through the lot for a couple days, but here is a sneak peek of what is in the lot:  Looking promising so far! Edited by Finn235
01/15/2016 5:34 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I see several interesting looking ones there.
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
629 Posts |
The "falling horseman" is very rare...
it has an inscription "LXXII" ("72")
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
First round is in: 1/97: Alexander the Great AE 17 4.99g Obv: Bust of Alexander as Hercules  Rev: Club and quiver of arrows, legend "ALEXANDROU"  The bust sadly is ruined by environmental damage, but the reverse is well preserved; albeit off center. A very worthy coin for an uncleaned lot. Coin 2/97: Not 100% sure, but I believe this one to be from Syracuse. AE 18mm 8.90g Obv: Laureate head of Heracles(?) right  Rev: Eagle perched atop thunderbolt; wings spread  Opinions welcome on this one. I initially thought this to be from Ptolemaic Egypt, but another member had posted a coin with a very similar eagle, which is of a different style from what was used in Egypt. Coin 3/97: Need some help with this one. Initially thought it to be an AE4 from very late Rome, but it's neither CONCORDIA AVG, nor SALVS REIPVLICE. I have seen this bust before, but cannot place it. AE 8mm 0.65g Obv: Diademed bust of ?  Rev: Cross, legend "-VO(T/X)"  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Finn, 2/97 does not appear to be a laureate obverse but rather an elephant or lion skin (I think more likely elephant). I think your first inclination - Ptolemaic - is correct. It may be a smaller obol of Ptolemy I or II, imagery similar to this: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ca...sp?zpg=11701Edited by Kamnaskires
01/20/2016 08:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I suppose you are probably right about that one. The posture of the eagle is unusual for the type however--the head is not drawn back, and the breast is not pushed out as far as is normal for the Ptolemaic eagle. How much variation did these coins have from one another? Possibly just an engraver deviating from the standard a bit? I did find a close match on vcoins: https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/fo...Default.aspxAlso, aren't the bronzes of Ptolemy II supposed to have the central dimple? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Not all Ptolemaic bronzes had centration dimples, Finn. If you scan through the coins pictured at Ptolemybronze.com, you'll see some of the earlier ones, near the top of the page, without them. These include a couple of the elephant scalp types. http://ptolemybronze.com/ptolemy_series.htmlYou'll also see some eagles that come close to matching yours. It seems to me that the eagle on the coin you linked to looks a lot like yours too...and that one has no dimple either. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Forgot to upload this one earlier: 4/97: AE 9mm 0.59g Another tiny coin with a cross; again doesn't match the typical late Roman designs.   I managed to identify a few more and sort the rest out into groups by origin. I'll post those as soon as I get them imaged. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Replies: 25 / Views: 4,173 |
Posted 01/13/2016 11:52 am
