A coin with sentimental value - Ancients.info - The Online Resource for Ancient Coins & Antiquities

maridvnvm · Mar 12, 2008, 11:01 AM

I have been (and always seem to be) trying to improve my coin photography and have just updated my image of the following coin. It is one that I am attached to in that it was the first ancient coin I bought and it has a lot to answer for. I had previously been collecting English hammered coins with a focus on late Saxon pennies. I had never considered ancients and stumbled across this coin which I couldn't resist. It has a slate grey toning, which was described as "old cabinet toning" by the dealer. I know it isn't rare but it is one I will never part with.

Severus Alexander denarius
Obv:– IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding a spear and shield
Minted in Rome, A.D. 232
References:– RIC 246, RSC 161

Regards,
Martin

Pscipio · Mar 12, 2008, 11:07 AM

That's an awesome "first ancient"!

Lars

curtislclay · Mar 12, 2008, 11:39 AM

Correct date of this Mars Running type: 232-5.

My own first ancient, acquired because I had begun learning Latin in ninth grade, was an antoninianus of Postumus, which I too still retain for sentimental reasons.

leetoone · Mar 12, 2008, 01:20 PM

Martin

I am envious! I wish I still had my first ancient. In the early 1980s I was helping my father run a collectors' shop (mainly stamps) in Northampton (UK) when we bought in a group of coins including two Roman. I eventually managed to identify these using Matttingly and Reece (ordered especially from my local library). They are now long gone but the bug stuck and I think frequently of those first two coins. One was Antoninus Pius and the other Severus Alexander, I think.

Lee

Mauseus · Mar 12, 2008, 02:08 PM

Hi,

Nice coin Martin. My first ancient(s) were two Tetricus I antoniniani, a VICTORIA AVG and a PAX AVG, both of which are still in my Gallic trays, even though they were just cheapies at 50p each in 1977. Mind you, I find it so very hard to part with any coin.

Lee, my friend, we both know you are the opposite of me

. I've seen so many things come and go (two goes at collecting wolf and twins, Gordianic denarii, classic Greek, Aurelian.....) but you've always had good taste.

Regards,

Mauseus

leetoone · Mar 12, 2008, 02:19 PM

Mauseus

I think you are right. You got the collector gene, I got the dealer gene. you can't let go of anything, but me .................... if the price is right .................. !!! Having said that, I often have regrets

Lee

Mar 12, 2008, 11:01 AM	#1
maridvnvm Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wales, United Kningdom Posts: 503	A coin with sentimental value I have been (and always seem to be) trying to improve my coin photography and have just updated my image of the following coin. It is one that I am attached to in that it was the first ancient coin I bought and it has a lot to answer for. I had previously been collecting English hammered coins with a focus on late Saxon pennies. I had never considered ancients and stumbled across this coin which I couldn't resist. It has a slate grey toning, which was described as "old cabinet toning" by the dealer. I know it isn't rare but it is one I will never part with. Severus Alexander denarius Obv:– IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate head right Rev:– MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding a spear and shield Minted in Rome, A.D. 232 References:– RIC 246, RSC 161 Regards, Martin __________________ Martin Griffiths

Mar 12, 2008, 11:07 AM	#2
Pscipio Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Worblaufen, CH Posts: 324	That's an awesome "first ancient"! Lars __________________ VCoins Ancients Store: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/ruttenwieland Ancient coin database: www.acsearch.info

Mar 12, 2008, 02:08 PM	#5
Mauseus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 101	Hi, Nice coin Martin. My first ancient(s) were two Tetricus I antoniniani, a VICTORIA AVG and a PAX AVG, both of which are still in my Gallic trays, even though they were just cheapies at 50p each in 1977. Mind you, I find it so very hard to part with any coin. Lee, my friend, we both know you are the opposite of me . I've seen so many things come and go (two goes at collecting wolf and twins, Gordianic denarii, classic Greek, Aurelian.....) but you've always had good taste. Regards, Mauseus __________________ CARAUSIUS a site for people who like third century numismatics, in particular coins of Carausius. My coin sale list also available there.

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Mar 12, 2008, 11:39 AM	#3
curtislclay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 316	Correct date of this Mars Running type: 232-5. My own first ancient, acquired because I had begun learning Latin in ninth grade, was an antoninianus of Postumus, which I too still retain for sentimental reasons.

Mar 12, 2008, 01:20 PM	#4
leetoone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 175	Martin I am envious! I wish I still had my first ancient. In the early 1980s I was helping my father run a collectors' shop (mainly stamps) in Northampton (UK) when we bought in a group of coins including two Roman. I eventually managed to identify these using Matttingly and Reece (ordered especially from my local library). They are now long gone but the bug stuck and I think frequently of those first two coins. One was Antoninus Pius and the other Severus Alexander, I think. Lee

Mar 12, 2008, 02:19 PM	#6
leetoone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 175	Mauseus I think you are right. You got the collector gene, I got the dealer gene. you can't let go of anything, but me .................... if the price is right .................. !!! Having said that, I often have regrets Lee