Ancient Coins

https://ehistory.kz/kz/news/show/339320

Does it work?

This particular coin - a follis - was struck in early 312 AD in Nicomedia

Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG, laureate head right

Reverse: GENIO A-VGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked, except for chlamys over left shoulder (falls low), holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae. Right field: Γ. Mintmark SMN.

SMN stands for 'Sacra Moneta Nicomedia' - the mint in the city of Nicomedia where this coin was struck.

The Γ in the right field is a gamma - the third letter in the Greek alphabet - and signifies that this coin was struck in the 3rd workshop in the Nicomedia mint.

I like this coin a lot because it's in such excellent shape :) Pretty much as struck, except for the silvering which is gone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AgathoklesCoinage.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VespasianDupondius.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BilingualCoinOfEucratides.jpg

https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=en&id=18201479&view=rs

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464811

Obverse: Facing scalp of lion

Reverse: Triskeles within incuse square

Mithrapāta (c. 390–370 BC) was dynast of Lycia in the early 4th century BC, at a time when this part of Anatolia was subject to the Persian, or Achaemenid, Empire.

Mithrapata was the last ruler of Lycia to issue coins. After about 360 BC, the region of Lycia was taken over by the Carian dynast Mausolus.

Lycia was a region in Anatolia, modern day Turkey:

https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=309206

Roman Imperial

10-35 USD

• A lovely little Constanius II follis
• A silver antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus in a recognizable Antioch-style
• A pretty Constans follis with sandy patina

35-60 USD

• A nice clean Crispus with a camp gate reverse
• A neat Licinius I follis with traces of the original silvering still present
• A chunky Constantius I Chlorus follis

60-100 USD

• An expressive portrait of Maximinus Thrax
• A shiny EF coin of Caracalla, one of the most infamous Roman emperors

About a year ago I would occasionally post lists of good deals to be found on coin vendor sites. Never got much of a response, but I'd be happy to do one if there's interest.

You know, great deals under 10 dollars kinda thing.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/31108001

Coins of the period often imitated what was seen as 'prestigious' or high-quality coinage, and in this period, coinage of the Abbasid Caliphate was seen as very prestigious. Still, for a Christian kingdom at the far end of Europe to make a coin in imitation of a primarily Middle-Eastern Muslim polity is unusual. It's a fascinating little thing.

The Ayyubid Dynasty was founded by Saladin, one of the most famous islamic war warriors of all time. Personally, this is one of my favorite historical coins, and he interests me the most out of all islamic figures. Of course, besides Khalid ibn Walid.

https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=96939

D E M O C R A C Y

https://numismatics.org/exhibits/ancient-greece-and-the-mediterranean-world/