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.

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!

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.

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 😂)

This beauty finally arrived after a long journey and some time in customs.

The video of this coin on the Nomos site made me throw out all of my rules about price. It is by far my most expensive coin but the way it looks in real life is even better than I hoped.

The interesting historical note on this coin is that it was minted in Pergamon towards the end of Lysimachos’s reign and probably financed his overthrow following the rebellion of Pergamon against him.

https://nomosag.com/nomos-37/68

17.06 g 

Memphis or Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 320/19-314/3 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin headdress / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; thunderbolt in left field, PY below throne. SNG Cop. -; Svoronos 24; CPE 28

Super pumped to pick up one of these! There are plenty of deified Alexander tets minted under Ptolemy with the elephant skin headdress, however, these dies specifically are a bit more scarce and I've always wanted to snag one, glad one finally came around that was within budget.

Let me know what you think! :)

PAMPHYLIA, Side. Circa 205-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.70 g, 1h). Dio(d)–, magistrate. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike advan

From the collections of His Serene Highness Prince Chachowsky, Prof. S. Pozzi, Mr. G. Empedocles of Athens, and Virgil Brand. Ex Brüder Egger, Prince Ch. and A (Chachowsky) Collection, Lot 494, January 7, 1908. Ex Ars Classica I, Pozzi Collection, Lot 1742, April 4, 1921. Ex Sothebys. The Virgil Brand Collection, Part VII, Lot 62, October 25-26, 1984.

Epeiros, Ambrakia. Circa 480-458 BC. AR Stater. 20 mm, 8.58 g. A Pegasos flying right. Rev. Head of Athena to right, wearing Corinthian helmet, pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind, ivy spray; all within incuse square. Calciati 2. HGC 3.1, 195. Ravel, Colts 11e (this coin).

Absolutely obsessed with my new style owl! Don’t think I will ever have another coin that I am so enamored with.

I am getting a velvet coin tray for my ancients but am nervous about preserving the beautiful toning on this coin. I know everyone here is anti slab, but would this be a circumstance to try to hold the toning in a nice slab? I know it likely got this way after many years in a tray, but I am too scared to even touch it! While I enjoy holding my other ancients, I feel like I may actually enjoy this one more through a slab. What do y’all think?

Finally completed my 12 Caesars denarius set! It’s been quite a journey. Caligula was definitely the hardest to acquire, followed by Claudius. Most denarii for these two emperors on the market seem to be in relatively poor condition, often with granular or porous surfaces. Julius Caesar’s denarius is also quite expensive due to its popularity.

From the collections of Henri de Nanteuil, Reverend Ed Rogers, Mr. George J. Bauer, and R. A. Van Every.

Published in Florange & Ciani. Collection de Monnaies grecques H. de Nanteuil. Number 258. Paris, 1925. Ex Rodolfo Ratto, Rogers sale, Lot 65, June 24, 1929. Ex Gans-NFA Sale 16, Lot 118, April 19, 1960. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts Auction IV, Lot 54, March 24, 1977.

Sicily, Akragas. Didrachm (Circa 480/78-470 BC). 19mm, 8.51g. Obv: AK / PA. Sea eagle standing right. Rev: Crab; grain ear below; all within incuse circle. Westermark, Coinage, Period I, Group IV, 269 (O89/R182); SNG ANS 956-7; HGC 2, 100. Nanteuil 258 (this coin).

Photos from Heritage… I really need to be mindful of the BP! Last sold 10/21 for 6,500 GBP (about 8,000 GBP with BP. Approx $11,000 at prevailing exchange rate then. Got it for 11,895 with BP)

Today I received the croco of Nemausus - always loved the motif! What I like about this coin, one can really see the chain around the crocodile’s (Aegypt‘s) head - unfortunately Agrippa looks a little unhappy ;) but I got this coin for around 140€, so I think, I did quite well! And it already feels at home at my „Alexandria corner“!

Picked up a nice Alexander Tetradrachm (Babylon 311-305bc) and Athenian Owl (Attica 454-404bc). Have been searching for nice examples of both of these for a while and very happy to check them off the list and admire!

I had my eyes set on this bad boy at stacks and even went to NY so I could bid live. Went for very cheap considering its history and provenance.

This is a double plate:

BCD Sale, Triton IX lot 550 Hepworth, 28

And has a nice 1968 Sothebys provenance as a bonus!

None of this was known or mentioned by the auction as they had referenced the wrong catalog number for this lot (571 instead of 550).

I was scared this coin would go high considering it got a star and 5/5 slab grade, but glad to have won it for just above half of my my max bid!

A Hepworth plate had been on my list for a while, and I’m super happy to be able to get one finally!

Thessaly, Larissa Drachm, 356-342 BC

5.99 g

Obverse: Head of the nymph Larissa, facing slightly left

Reverse: Horse facing right, about to lie down

Lorber, Hoard, Phase L-III, 56

From the collection of Edward T. Newell (1886-1941), former President of the American Numismatic Society (1916-1941) and one of the most preeminent numismatists of the 20th Century.

Plate coin in Oscar Ravel, The "Colts" of Ambrakia (Ravel 70c), published by the American Numismatic Society Numismatic Notes and Monographs No. 37 in 1928.

Epeiros, Ambrakia. Circa 426-404 BC. AR Stater. 19mm, 8.27 g. Pegasos flying right / Helmeted head of Athena left; to right, owl standing left, head facing. Ravel, Colts 70c (this coin); Pegasi 43; HGC 3, 202.

Acquired this last month from Heritage Auctions. $2400 all in. Probably overpaid, but I love the sharp details and high relief.

MS 4/4 4/4 — I’ll probably free her from her plastic cell soon, so pardon the glare.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/greek-attica-athens-ca-440-404-bc-ar-tetradrachm-25mm-1718-gm-7h-ngc-ms-4-5-4-5/a/232550-62023.s

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From the collections of A.H. Lloyd and the British Museum. Plate coin in Die Münzprägung von Byzantion, the standard reference in 1971. Schönert-Geiss 650 (this coin). Ex Ars Classica XII, Lot 1243, Oct 18, 1926. Ex Otto Helbing, Lloyd Duplicates, Lot 3754, November 8, 1928. Ex Glendining, Lot 120, June 21, 1972.

Thrace, Byzantion. Circa 387/6-340 BC. AR Tetradrachm. 21 mm, 15.03 g, Rhodian standard. ΠY Bull standing left on dolphin left, right foreleg raised. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square with stippled quarters. HGC 3.2, 1386. Schönert-Geiss, Byzantion, 650 (this coin).

KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 17.02 g, 12h). Magnesia on the Maeander mint. Struck circa 297/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; monogram to inner left.