Published June 25th, 2008
in Coins.
Germanicus was the father of Caligula and brother of Claudius. He was due to succeed Tiberius, but he died under mysterious circumstances.
This coin has nice detail but some crud in the legends and only a partial patina. I am going to try to gently clean it and maybe repatinate it. I’ll post my progress here.
Germanicus AE as. Struck under Caligula. Legend around SC, final issue 40-41 AD. Scarce.
Obverse: GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVGVST F DIVI AVG N, bare head left.
Reverse: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG P M TR POT IIII P P around large SC.
29mm, 8.2g.
This issue, struck during the final year of Caligula’s reign (40-41 AD), is noticeably more scarce than the earlier types.
Published June 19th, 2008
in Coins.
Spain, Castulo. Ca. early 1st Century BC.
Obverse: Diademed male head right.
Reverse: Bull standing right; L and crescent above.
20mm, 5.3 grams, Burgos 561.
What a schnoz that guy has on the obverse profile! Anyway, this coin was minted in the first century B.C. in Castulo Spain.
Published June 14th, 2008
in Coins.
This is the first Byzantine coin I have gotten my hands on. It is a coin of Basil II (976-1025 AD). I won’t have it long though because it is a gift for a friend.
BASIL II Bulgaroktonos, Anonymous Follis.
Obverse- Bust of Jesus Christ with 2 pellets in the limbs of the nimbus cross and one pellet on the book of Gospels.
Reverse- IhSUS / XRISTUS / BASILEU / BASILE ( JESUS CHRIST KING OF KINGS ) in 4 lines - no ornaments above and one pellet below.
14.43 gm, 31 mm. Sear 1813, DOC Class A2.3
Published June 4th, 2008
in Coins.
I got a new pocket coin today. It is a sestertius of Antoninus Pius. I will now retire and possibly give away this one.
Antoninus Pius sestertius, struck 141 /143 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse- ANTONINVS AVG PI-VS P P TR P COS III Laureate head right.
Reverse- PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM / SC, winged Thunderbolt.
RIC 110, 23.12 g, 31 mm.
Published May 28th, 2008
in General.
I apologize for the lack of posting lately. I haven’t been purchasing many coins lately. On the contrary, I have been consigning some on Forvm. Now go there and buy some now! 
I joined the ACCG (Ancient Coin Collectors Guild) a few weeks ago after some time procrastinating. If you have a few spare bucks and would like to help protect our right to collect, I recommend that you join. It seems like threats to our hobby keep popping up lately. I have also been busy doing some landscaping and gardening now that it has finally warmed up here in northern New England. I have been digging many holes but still haven’t found any coins. 
I have started a long term translation (Latin to English) project. I won’t say what it is right now because it is long, and I may not finish it. Posting should be slow for a while but steady. I hope everyone has a great spring.
Published May 15th, 2008
in General.
The bust was found near Arles. >>Link
Published April 24th, 2008
in Coins.
I just added this nicely toned republican denarius (Lucius Caesius, 112-111 BC.) to the gallery. 112 was the year the war with Jugurtha started. Click on the thumbnail to check it out.
Published April 23rd, 2008
in General.
An ancient Greek tomb thought to have held the body of Alexander the Great’s father is actually that of Alexander’s half brother, researchers say. This may mean that some of the artifacts found in the tomb—including a helmet, shield, and silver “crown”—originally belonged to Alexander the Great himself. Alexander’s half brother is thought to have claimed these royal trappings after Alexander’s death.
>>Link
Published April 16th, 2008
in General.
A rare bust of Lucius Verus, co-emperor of Marcus Aurelius, has been recovered by Italian police. >>Link
Published April 10th, 2008
in Latin.
Here is the translation from Latin to English of Cornelii Nepotis Timoleon that I promised the other day.
