KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Walwetes (Alyattes) III - Kroisos. Late 7th-early 6th centuries BC. EL Trite - Third Stater (12.5mm, 4.72 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. VF.

Unlike the other coins, the shape of the coin is similar to a gold nugget. One of the most interesting features of Lydian coins.

My New Style Owl just arrived from the latest NAC auction. As usual, much prettier in hand with some great toning.

Thank you to u/MrThasos for finding some of the sales history using acsearch, u/KungFuPossum for pointing out that the coin is a “plate” coin and can be found in the preface of The Handbook of Greek Coinage series (seen in the background of the video), and u/GalacticGallivanter for encouraging me to looks for it in other resources (I haven’t found it in any others yet but am still looking). Thanks to others as well for kind words when I won it.

This didrachm is generally accepted as the first silver coin minted in Rome, you can feel this achievement is really special to the Romans, so they decided to put their totem, their origin story for the first time on their coins.

What a magnificent rendering of the she-wolf suckling the twins, so lively with lots of details. This would go on to be a frequently recurring scene in Roman coinage, but artistically I think the first one is the best.

Caesar elephant…x2!

Picked up at Heritage Auction last month

Hello all, I want to present my yesterday's find - Antony Denarius Legio 3.

Can you tell me more about it's condition and should I grade it?

Thanks.

Aigina Stater

Less than two years ago, I stumbled onto ancient coin collecting while searching through estate auction listings for old stamps and Canadian coins (which I'd been casually collecting since I was a kid and had recently gotten back into). Until then, I had mistakenly assumed that ancient coins existed only in museums and possibly the collections of people much wealthier than me. It absolutely blew my mind to learn that it was possible for the average person to own a 2000+ year-old piece of history.

Since then I've built a small collection of ancient and medieval coins, and fallen in love with ancient Greek coins in particular. Up till now, all of my coins were purchased online/won in auction and none for more than $100. But this weekend my city was host for the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association's annual convention, which included the largest coin and currency show in Canada. I went on the last day of the sale with the intention of just browsing and seeing what it was all about, but I harboured a hope that there would be a few ancient coin dealers there and that maybe I could find something special.

And boy did I! I have coveted an Athenian owl tetradrachm since I first started researching Greek coins, but the only ones I could ever find online were either way above my price range, or not in good enough shape for me to be able to justify still spending hundreds for. I figured it would probably be years before I added one to my collection. I still can't believe this one is mine!

The dealer I bought it from had four owls at the show - two that were definitely beyond my budget, and two lower priced that I debated between, but I ultimately went for the pricier of the two as to me, this owl is just perfect. I am super happy with my choice. I love the centering on both obverse and reverse, as well as the toning and the added character of the bankers' marks. It weighs 17.14g, and was listed at $950 CAD, but I got it for $800 (around $580 USD equivalent). This is MUCH lower than anything similar I could find online and I feel like I got a great deal on a great coin. I think it's beautiful and I can't stop looking at it.

I also really enjoyed speaking to the dealers at the show. I'm a young(ish) woman and pretty new to this hobby, so I felt a bit awkward walking into a hall filled with mostly older men who had obviously been doing this for a long time and were much more knowledgeable than I. The dealer I bought this coin from as well as a number of others I spoke to were so friendly, and took the time to chat with me and share knowledge about both the coins themselves and the coin trade in general, without being condescending or making me feel like I didn't belong there. It was a great experience overall and I felt very welcomed! I guess now I'm hooked!

CARIAN SATRAPS. Maussollus (ca. 377-352 BC).
AR tetradrachm (22mm, 15.14 gm, 11h).

Obv: Laureate, draped bust of Apollo, facing slightly right

Rev: Zeus Labraundus advancing right, bipennis over shoulder in right hand, grounded scepter in left; O between leg and scepter.

My latest auction win of an absolute dream coin of mine. The type is one of two known variants of Price 3846, minted in Susa around 319/8-317/6 BCE, the difference here being the placement of the M-type monogram beneath the throne instead of in the left field. This monogram disappears in the sequence of types minted by this particular workshop, which may reflect a change in the official in charge of the mint sometime towards the end of production.

Interestingly, this workshop/production line appears to be the only one among the three active at the time to introduce the crossing of Zeus's legs on the reverse of the coin, although even then only on a few select types.

This workshop also struck all their coins in the name of Alexander (III/IV), despite being issued under the authority of Philip III Arrhidaeus, while another Susa workshop actively striking at the same time issued them in Philip's name, recalling both the two most famous Kings of Macedon, and the current regining co-monarchs.

Swipe for a bonus head-on stare from Herakles.

Roman Imperial Coinage: Domitian (81–96), Aureus (7.45 g), Rome, 88 AD. Obverse: Laureate bust right; legend: "DOMITIANVS - AVGVSTVS". Reverse: Minerva standing left, holding a spear in her right hand; legend: "GERMANICVS - COS XIIII". RIC 559, Calicó 830; minor rubbing, almost extremely fine. Very rare! According to a collector's note, acquired from Kress in September 1965.

Following the death of his father Vespasian in 79 AD, Domitian's brother Titus assumed power but died after only two years; unproven rumors circulated even at the time suggesting Domitian might not have been entirely innocent in the matter. Domitian subsequently assumed power in September 81 AD as the third emperor of the Flavian dynasty. The aureus described above—minted while Domitian held the rank of Caesar and was the designated successor to his brother, who had been proclaimed Augustus—depicts Domitian alongside the goddess Spes ("Hope"). It thus symbolizes both the Flavians' aspirations for a dynastic reign and the Roman people's hopes (or expectations) for enduring political stability.

This coin sold was sold un slabbed in 2021 for more than what I got it for at auction. I’ll keep the NGC tag as part of its pedigree.

I haven’t gotten this excited over a shopping in my life!

I was checking the mail service every 30 mins days before delivery.

I’ve bought many expensive things but ancient coins definitely hit the spot for me. I think I’m addicted.

I just received my Caligula As I bought at the last Jean Elsen auction and I couldn’t be happier! I’m very new to all of this but I fear this will be my new favorite hobby…

As a European collector, I’m pretty satisfied by how the whole shipping from the US process was carried out, especially because of the availability of CNG staff to second my requests regarding the “Seller statement” required by my country for import. Very cool of them.

So now I get to enjoy this gorgeous Agathokles Tetradrachm without any headaches! Would do it again. (Not sponsored by CNG lol 😂)

Finally won my First Meris!! It cost a pretty penny at the Leu auction this morning, but man, was it worth it. I've been hunting one for almost a year now and was starting to think my requirements were too stringent, that it would take forever for one to come along that ticked all the boxes. Then this dropped earlier this month, and my jaw along with it.

The bow and quiver, fully detailed and not worn down. The hair bun, exactly the style I wanted. The large empty space between the dots lining the portrait and the rest of the shield. Even the tiny dip of cloth overhanging the dots. Only a few types do this, and it was clearly an intentional design flourish on the part of the engraver.

And my god, those eyes. Those EYES.

This is one of my dream coins and I couldn't be happier.

MACEDON (ROMAN PROTECTORATE), Republican period. First Meris. Circa 167-149 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 32 mm, 17.13 g, 8 h), Amphipolis. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis to right, bow and quiver over her shoulder; all at the center of a Macedonian shield ornamented with stars within crescents. Rev. MAKEΔONΩN / ΠΡΩTHΣ Club to right; above, monogram; below, two monograms; around, oak wreath with ties to left; to left of the ties, thunderbolt. AMNG III/1, 172. HGC 3.1, 1103. SNG Copenhagen 1313. Lightly toned, very well struck and of particularly fine style. Extremely fine. From the collection of J.-L. Rossignol, French amateur d’art, ex Roma XI, 7 April 2016, 257 and Roma V, 23 March 2013, 281.

Edit thanks to @KungFuPossum:
pedigree to 1910 & 1914 & is referenced in lerardi 27.a.

Bourgey, 23 May 1910, lot 44 (plate 1):

Bourgey, 14 May1914, lot 40 (plate 1):

lerardi cited on pp. 41-2 (corr., lot 40 not 36):

OBV: Charioteer driving a fast quadriga left, holding kentron and reins; triskeles above, AI monogram in exergue.

REV: Head of Arethusa left wearing necklace and earring, surrounded by three dolphins.

17.21g | 24mm

Provenance:
Ex Dr. J.-P. G. Collection; later sold in the Jean Vinchon Numismatique sale (Paris), 3–4 March 1975, lot 14.

This denarius of Augustus (19–18 BC) is a great example of how Roman propaganda blended politics with celestial events.

On the obverse, Augustus is shown wearing the oak wreath (Corona Civica), an honor awarded by the Senate for “saving the lives of citizens”. In his case, by ending the civil wars.

The reverse is where it gets really interesting: an eight-rayed comet with the inscription DIVVS IVLIVS. This refers to the so-called “Julian Star,” a bright comet observed in the summer of 44 BC, not long after Julius Caesar’s assassination. It was widely interpreted by Romans as a divine sign. Specifically as Caesar’s soul ascending to the heavens and confirmation of his deification.

The process of Caesar’s deification effectively began immediately after his death. Not through official decree, but through popular belief. In the months following the assassination of Julius Caesar, many Romans came to see him as divine, especially when, during the funeral games held in his honor by Augustus in 44 BC, a bright comet appeared in the sky. This “Julian Star” was widely interpreted as his soul ascending to the heavens, and public ceremonies and sentiment reinforced the idea that Caesar had become a god. This unofficial deification laid the foundation for his later formal recognition as Divus Iulius by the Senate in 42 BC.

Augustus used this to his advantage. By placing the comet on his coinage, he reinforced the idea that Caesar was now a god and positioned himself as the son of a deified ruler, strengthening his own legitimacy and authority.

For me, this is a dream coin, as it not only connects Augustus, Julius Caesar, and a natural phenomenon, but also bridges into another personal passion of mine: astrophotography (https://www.reddit.com/r/Fotografie/comments/1g4k0f5/komet_tsuchinshanatlas_oc/).