lrbguy's Last 20 Posts
| Rome City Commemorative
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
 Posted 02/21/2022 2:44 pm
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You can do a lot to liberate this coin from unwanted encrustation if you know how to use a needle on the surfaces while viewing it with a microscope under 10-30x magnification and lots of light.
[OMG- My first post since late 2019.] |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Year 3 Shekel (Real Or Fake)
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 04/06/2019 7:10 pm
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| The flattening and spread of the lettering on this coin is very much like an example in my collection, which is made from lead. I have similar doubts about the Timeline example, especially when you compare it to the three examples of Hendin 655 or 662 (Year 3) at Wildwinds. Caution here is well advised, and the weight info is all the more important. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Roman Denarius Double Struck? Or Over Struck?
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 04/06/2019 6:20 pm
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I think you know the answer to that already, Albert, although that might be an argument to suggest the planchet was not reheated between strikes, but it was merely struck again in a slightly shifted position.
The obverse die was the anvil and the reverse die the hammer. The force of the hammer on the surface was direct, and the second strike obliterated the first strike. However, the transmitted force on the obverse (under)side did not mash the surface into the anvil with quite the same force, and so a residual of the first strike was left.
Observe too that the smashed details occur in the unengraved parts of the obverse design. They weakened the first impression.
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| A Peculiar Constantine I Follis - What Mint?
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 04/06/2019 6:05 pm
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Finn235 said:
Quote:
The mintmark is R (wreath) Q, Rome mint.
Sorry to be so late to the party, but I was passing through and this one caught my attention. Interesting coin, I hope you are willing to visit it again.
I don't think the proposed reading of the mint mark is entirely correct.
It seems to me the final element is not a "Q" but an "S." That is consistent with what Bruun gives for the second series two-turret gate type from Rome from 326 A.D. For the official mint product this series was only produced at two officinae, P and S. Bruun lists the official mint product as RIC 287, but the shapes and relative sizes of these elements are very unlike the normal features of a 287.
Here is an example of #287 from my collection, which is of typical style based on the 4 examples I have:
For starters, the relative sizes and positions of the mint mark elements on the OP coin do not align with the normal 287. In particular, the wreath is normally much larger than the mark letters. Here they are pretty much on par.
Bruun makes the note that 287 has stone layers in the gate which number from 6 to 11. The example I show has 6, but the OP coin has 5. My example has a base to the gate which is not typical either, so is not a factor in differentiating the OP coin from normal mint product.
The lettering of PROVID[EN] on the reverse right is incomplete, even if we allow for the edge mark above the left "turret." Apart from a bit of crudeness, the obverse inscription is correct, but the size of the bust is entirely wrong for the real deal, and its engraving is not a match for style.
What intrigues me about the OP coin is that it is quite good at reproducing the primary structural features of the original, but with significant deviations that would not allow it to be attributed to the official mint. Nonetheless, I do believe it was intended to emulate the AE3 from 326 A.D. though it most likely was made a bit later. How much later would depend on the size and weight which I do not know.
I know you already have identified it as an "unofficial" emulation, but I thought a side by side might be interesting. I agree with Kushanshah except for officina. I don't see an unlisted officina mark there, but a rather oddly shaped "S".
Nice little coin there. Thanks for sharing it.
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Roman Denarius Double Struck? Or Over Struck?
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 04/06/2019 11:54 am
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| I agree with the Antoninus Pius ID, and that it is double struck, not overstruck. However, my take on what happened is different than Ron's suggestion. The problem with the first strike is that it is shallow, that is, it did not make a strong impression on the coin. The most likely cause of that is that the planchet was not heated to the normal "softness" for normal striking. The solution was to heat it up some more and whack it again, which they did. If my scenario is correct, then the lighter secondary image was not the result of metal "flowing" to the fringes. It wasn't hot enough. One indication in support of this is that there is a weak strike of the surrounding obverse inscription positioned in the same relation to the head in both strikes. You can see it just behind (and touching) the head of the stronger strike. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Trying To Identify Ancient Roman Coin
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 08/01/2018 5:58 pm
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The golden look of your coin gives it away. It is a dupondius made of orichalcum, a form of bronze with a higher zinc content than most other bronze alloys used in coinage - also called brass. Your metal analysis should bear this out.
This alloy is most commonly associated with the dupondius. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Ancient Coins As Teaching Tools
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 08/01/2018 3:56 pm
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I have taught Freshman intro to church history. Five points of historical interest for intro Freshman history:
1. Early pre-hellenistic Greece: you will invariably talk about Athens, Pericles, and the Athenian experiment with democracy. An Athenian tetradrachm will capture attention, either as a pic, or if you can afford it as an actual coin. Readily available though not cheap.
Here is an example from 449BC (during the time of Pericles) available online for $330:
2. Beginning of Hellenistic period: (Tetra)drachm of Alexander the Great.
Here is a drachm from 336 BC during his life; available online for $193:
3. Roman Republic - origins of Rome, introduction of the denarius in 211 BC (conflict with Carthaginians): show one of the earliest denarii
Here is a nice example at $100:
4. Transition to Roman empire: Show a coin of Julius Caesar with his portrait, expensive to buy but use a pic if you must
or
show a denarius of Octavian/Augustus Caesar, the first authorized Roman emperor: readily available at reasonable cost
Here is an example of a commonly seen type for Augustus, available online for $175:
5. 4th century Rome: Dawn of the age of Christianity: Use a coin of Constantine with his portrait: plentiful and very inexpensive. Could give one to each class member.
Nice examples cost $20 and up, but here is an example from about 330 AD at $8.50. They come much cheaper and in quantity (search on eBay):
6. Introduction of the Byzantine empire: Could use a large follis of Anastasius, but for name recognition you might go for a follis of Justinian
Here is a follis of Justinian from Nicomedia from 555 AD available online at $58
Pictures of really nice clear examples of all of these are available online.
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| How Do You Like Having The Directory On Each Thread Page?
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 07/28/2018 1:00 pm
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I know that the list has always had the CCF search directory on the main pages for a forum, and that woked fine because the pages were formatted to allow for it. You never had to scroll to read the title entries.
But now I'm seeing it on every page of a thread, and find that for longer messages I have to scroll back and forth to read everything on my laptop (which is a 17" extra wide). I would prefer that the directory be confined to the pages which have been formatted to allow for it.
I have no idea how this arrangement works with mobile devices or whether there was a call for more access to the site directory.
So what do you think about it?
*** Moved by Staff moved to a more appropriate forum. ***
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| | Forum: Coin Community Support, Suggestions, and Feedback |
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| This Guy Has No Idea
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 07/28/2018 12:43 pm
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The $1000 is the buy it now price, but he's starting it at $100. So for a buy or bid, if no one tops your $100 bid, you get it for that. So here's the question, is a PRINC PERP of Constantine from Ticinum with a cross motif on the altar worth $100 or more?
Well, let's see: It is RIC VII #83 for Ticinum, third officina, which rated an R3 for the frequency in the original study population. The coin appears to be in pretty good shape, with all lettering and images intact, and fully attributable. I don't know how often it comes along in today's marketplace, but for someone with a passion for the PRINC PERP (VLPP) type, it might well be worth $100.
Not all that ridiculous really. Or did I miss something?
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Women Of Rome: Didia Clara, Daughter Of Didius Julianus
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 07/27/2018 11:58 pm
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Great thread, Steve. Thanks for waking us up to this series again. I like the writeup.
In some respects I guess we would have to say with the denarii of Didia Clara, "When you've seen one you've seen 'em all." But seriously, I'd like to compare the portraits to see how close or far apart they are. Here's my example:
Are they close enough to be sisters? |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Galla Placidia
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 05/12/2018 09:19 am
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Quote:
Sadly the images are non-recoverable.
I don't wish to be indelicate, but I do wish to be clear. Is the reason for your remark that VisigothKing no longer participates in this Board. Can he be reached by direct email through the Board? |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Galla Placidia
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 05/10/2018 4:50 pm
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Sorry to dig back, but there is a need to recover some lost images here.
VisigothKing
Your earlier picture posts based in Photobucket will no longer display (PB is looking for money). Would you be willing to post those pics, or replacements, directly to the list so we can study your GP coin? And while you're at it, maybe say a word or two on what it would take for any of us to get an example of one of her bronzes? Where to look, what to look for, who to buy from (or not), what to expect to pay, that sort of thing? |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Not Purchased But Found Metal Detecting In The UK
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 05/02/2018 7:31 pm
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| I don't collect or study Celtic, but I do know a stunning coin when I see one. Congratulations on the find! Your comment about the valuation headache and the notes you gave about rarity and significance, reminded me of a question: when the find is a single coin like this one, how does the Treasure Trove law come into play? Do you surrender the coin to the local coroner, some other authority, or is there a minimum find size before Treasure Trove kicks in? We have nothing in the States to compare with TT, which I consider an enlightened approach to balancing the rights of individuals and the protection of State interest. But I have no idea how it really works on small things day to day. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Another One I Didn't Have Yet: Salonina
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 04/23/2018 12:52 pm
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Very nice. I wish I could find coins like that. Your coin was produced at only one imperial mint, and that was the mint at Samosata. The reverse type and inscription was not used on any other coins for Salonina, but the figure of Vesta standing holding the Palladium (statue of Pallas Athena in armor) was used on coins of some of the empresses going back to a posthumous issue for Faustina I, wife of Antoninus Pius. The only other coin for Salonina featuring Vesta holding the Palladium is an antoninianus minted in Cologne in which the goddess is seated; a type introduced under Faustina II. Several other coins for Salonina featuring Vesta show her standing holding a patera; a type that originates with the Severan dynasty.
So you see, your coin really is special. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| On Ebay's Imperial Roman Coin Market And History
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lrbguy
Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Posted 04/18/2018 1:03 pm
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Quote:
What sort of breakdown by locale would you find more interesting? I am trying to collect more ideas for the future of the research.
I. currencies
Thank you for asking. First a couple of observations. One of the sellers I have worked with several times, frequently offers the same material simultaneously as separate lots based on the currency for payment. I have seen simultaneous listings of a coin in dollars, euros, Canadian dollars, and British Pounds. In more than a few cases, the cost of the coin after conversion to dollars can be cheaper than it is if bought with dollars outright. So it pays to shop around between the currencies.
II. specialties
when I am looking for coins of a particular figure, such as Julia Domna, I do various kinds of searches in eBay.com for her material. However, I am ignorant of what might be offered from the international vendors who do not sell through eBay.com. Nor am I inclined to search each international "version" of eBay for listings, unless there is a high probability o finding something the .com venue is not listing. I don't know how to sort all that out, but it may be there is an algorithm that will group offerings from ALL eBay sites and give me the option to search as many as have relevant new offerings day by day.
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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What he said!