Kohaku

rmw: Thanks again for your kind comments!

On 10/16/2017 at 10:08 AM, Chris B said:

An impressive collection. Thanks for sharing the knowledge and photos.

Chris,

I appreciate your post, it is my pleasure to share!

On 10/16/2017 at 8:22 AM, rmw said:

Another instalment on a well researched and thought out collection.

thanks for sharing. Quite an acheivement!

rmw,

Thanks again!  I sometimes have to fight my urge to keep the interest in terms of maximum breadth vs. maintaining the highest possible level of average condition and limiting the scope.  I tend to decide on the side of obtaining an interesting coin (even if I have to settle for condition less than I would like)...seeing comments like yours gives me affirmation that this is a good strategy!

Thanks again.  It's going to take me while to sort through this whole history/collection, and I appreciate the encouragement!

An update on this page...I procured a coin representing Herod III antics, its not particularly "pretty" but neither is the related history.

Coin Details: JUDAEA, Herodians, Herod III Antipas, 4 BCE-39 CE, Æ Half Unit (17.5mm, 3.93 g, 12h), Tiberias mint, Dated RY 37 (33/4 CE), NGC Grade: Pending, Strike: Pending, Surface: Pending, Obverse: Mint in two lines within wreath , Reverse: Palm branch, L-ΛZ (date) across field, References: Meshorer 88; Hendin 1212; RPC I 4931; cf. CNG E-389, lot 363. 

My Owner's Comments on this one are pending my ongoing research.

Now I only need Tiberius and Nero Claudius Drusus to complete this Page!

K.D.,

Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it.

Yes, I find myself conducting a lot of research, at this point I find it rather addicting to learn more about how each coin fits in with history of the Roman Empire.  

The Claudius coin is noteworthy as one of few in my collection that earned a "Fine Style" designation.  I suppose the Romans were more focused on messaging, quantity and consistency of their coinage, and not necessarily going for style points.  So, to me, the Claudius As on this Page really stands out for a finely engraved obverse portrait of the Emperor and the reverse depiction of goddess Liberatas.  Along with the reverse inscription, LIBERTAS AVGVSTA, and S C (senatus consulto or "by the decree of the Senate”), the message herein is that the new Emperor intends to restore liberty to the Roman people after tyranny and oppression under Caligula. This powerful imagery reverberated in ancient Rome, and Libertas still inspires coinage produced throughout our modern world. 

OK, another update on this Page...I just posted my Owner's comments on the Coin featuring Agrippina Jr/Nero and Nemesis.  It took me while to finish, but it all came together quite nicely I think.

To finish this page "all" I have left is to complete comments on the Caligula coin, and comments of the Drusilla coin (the Caligula sisters sestertius).  Given the historical interest of those two, I might take a while, please stay tuned!

Nasty history indeed, it gets even juicier on the next Page = DECADENCE!

Thanks for your thoughts, and I certainly appreciate your comments about letting the coin speak for itself.

RMW, very nice coin.  

I was wondering: do you prefer to buy coins already graded like this one, or do you prefer to buy "raw" coins and have them graded later (with of course, the commensurate risk and reward associated with that)?

rmw,

Thanks for the feedback!  

You can search the NGC price guide...

https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/united-states/

One other point I wanted to emphasize...

Although I do my best to ensure historical and grammatical accuracy in my Owner's Comments, the reality remains that - in the words of Alexander Pope - to err is human.

So, if anyone finds any inaccuracies, feel free to let me know, either by commenting here, or sending me a message via NGC.

rmw,

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it!

-Rick

Mohawk,

Thank you for your kind comments.  As you can tell, this collection has grown into an obsession for me, and it is satisfying  to conduct research on each coin in the collection (and I am often quite astonished at what is uncovered!).  Some of my Owner's Comments are admittedly a bit "out there," especially when they cross over into my own personal interests.

It takes time and effort to write out my Owner's Comments, so, I really appreciate your response on the collection, it encourages me to keep adding to the collection...

The project is indeed ambitious, we will see how far I get...for the moment, well, at least I finished the first Page!

-Rick

Beautiful coin...and seeing George donning his helmet reminds of his personal story as a Roman soldier, and his demise at the hands of Emperor Diocletian!

5 hours ago, rmw said:

Thanks Kohaku. I am still adding to my collection, in fact I got a Napoleonic Wars era Bank Token (1812) in MS 66 just yesterday, and started a new competitive set with it and a matching 1811 in Ms 65. Many more will be added to registry sets in the coming weeks as I have over 30 pieces in for grading right now, including the 1665 pattern farthing I recently posted on these pages. 

Are you planning on getting a piece for each emperor, usurper, wife if applicable, etc? That would be quite a collection. Byzantines as well?

I would love to include every Roman Emperor and every Byzantine Emperor, but that would be beyond my reach.  I plan on including as many Roman Emperors, Empresses, usurpers, etc.  as I can, we will see how far I get!  In particular, it is going to get very expensive for the late Western Emperors.  Currently, the latest Western Roman Emperor in my set is Libius Severus and I use as an example of one the "shadow Emperors" at the fall of the Western Roman Empire...

https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/coinview.aspx?sc=392399

I managed to obtain a coin of Anthemius', and that coin is grading right now.  That will probably be the last, since getting the subsequent rulers up to Romulus Augustulus are extremely rare and expensive.

I will include some Byzantine Emperors, but I can't realistically by comprehensive in that.  My goal is to have at least enough Byzantine coins to tell the story of the continuation of the Eastern Empire into Byzantine and its fall.  We shall see how far I get on that part of my collection!

Gary: Thanks for the comments.

Of course, I have seen and admired your set before, and your comments reminded me to take another, closer look.  As you note, it is very interesting to see how the links between ancient coins and their modern counterparts. While I am commenting on your set, I wanted to especially note that you have a extremely sophisticated writing style.  I can appreciate the effort you clearly go through when you write your Owners's Comment.   While I'm sure everyone mostly focuses on the coins themselves, and yours are fantastic to pursue, I also wanted to comments that I admire your writing style as well.

I am still defining my collection. I was thinking about having a Page at the end i was going to entitled "Epilogue" or maybe "Afterword".  On that Page I was thinking about  featuring 15 coins that would span from the conquest of Constantinople at the end of the 15th century to today.  And for that Page I was going to feature coins that echo Roman sensibilities, and obviously seated imagery would part of that.  While I have not yet got around to defining and posting that final Page of my collection, I can give you a preview of one coin I am thinking including...

https://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/2790995-002/62/

This is a M62 1913 Italy 20 centisimi, and one of the most beautiful coins I have every seen, and it is special to me since it one of the foreign coins I have retained from my childhood, and has been in my family for some time.

Also, thanks for the website link, and I can also seen that site and used before for background research. I don't think  I have ever specifically quoted it.  So, you have reminded me that I am probably remiss in not providing more references when I write my own Owner's Comments. I will sometimes add an "Additional Reading" - reference(s) that I particular used/enjoyed reading/found particularly interesting and wanted to pass along.  Perhaps in the future on this journal I can make a listing of some of the important references that I want used most frequently.    

Thinking back again regarding you fabulous seated imagery set, I wanted to point out (maybe you already have seen) this coin...

https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/coinview.aspx?sc=355262

It isa Gem MS denarius featuring Roma sitting her throne!  It was struck my Philip I to in celebration of Rome's 1000th anniversary.  I had it as my profile picture for a while.

-Rick

rmw: I appreciate your comment, especially coming from such an accomplished collector as yourself!  I perused some of your collections, extremely impressive, including the Custom Sets, for example, I love your "Hammered" coins.