Crispus Caesar CE 316-326

AE 3, 19 mm, 3.2 g, Siscia mint, CE 324-326
CHK 725, RIC VII Siscia 201 R1
O: laur bust r, IVL CRIS-PVS NOBC
R: Campgate, PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS/dot ΔSIS dot

Ex: CP

Acquisition: 2007

Constantius II, as Caesar CE 324-337

AE 3, 18 mm, 3.03 g, Siscia mint, CE 324-330
CHK 739, RIC VII Siscia 217 C3
O: laur cuir dr bust left, FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOBC
R: Campgate, PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS /ΔSIS crescents

Ex: CP

Acquisition: 2007

Greece/Seleucid/ Antiochus VI Dionysus BCE 145-142

AE Serrated 22 mm, 6.53 g, Antioch mint, c. BCE 143-142
SGCV 708, CSE 248
O: radiate hd of Antiochus as Dionysus r obs o/c to lower r
R: elephant adv l holding torch in trunk, in field to r ΣTA and cornucopia, above BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ/ ANTIOXOY below EΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ/[ΔIONYΣOY]

Ex: CP

Acquisition: 2007

Greece/Cilicia; Soloi-Pompeiopolis, Pompey the Great after BCE 66-1st Cent. CE

AE 22, 11.21 g
SGCV 5628 v
O: Hd of Pompey r (star below chin is not visible)
R: Athena stg l holding nike, shield adjacent to r. (no inscription visible though should read ΠΟΝΠΗΙΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ETOYC----)

Ex: CP

sold: 2007

Greece/ Euboia; Histiaea, 3/2 centuries BCE

AR Tetrobol, 3/2 centuries BCE, 2.33 g, 16 mm.

S.2496 v, BMC 64 v., BCD Euboia 392 v., CH VIII (1994), plate XXXIII, 12 (this coin)


O: Nymph hd r (not one of the more pleasing portraits from this series)
R: nymph std on galley, I]Σ T[I]/AIEΩИ (retrograde "N") bipennis under galley with sigma before it.

Dealers auction note: "VF, minimally off-ctr on a good sized flan, tiny edge split, nice metal with lt tone, decent, Ex-BCD with his tag."

Ex: F. Robinson MBS 70, 6 November 2007, 31

Ex: BCD (not in Lanz Catalogue)

According to BCD's tag, "Ex: Aug 85/North of Lari. hd/Cost: 5000 drs"
at that time the drachm exchange would indicate a USD cost of between $43-$50 or thereabouts. (according to my wife who was in Greece in 1985 the drachm was exchanging at 100-115 to 1 USD)


According to Coin Hoards VIII (1994) the hoard in question is #517, North of Larissa, Greece 1985 (or per BCD August 1985).

The hoard was deposited circa BCE 75 and it's contents consisted of 1,260+ silver pieces of which more than 60% were either late Tetrobols of Histiaia or Hellenistic Triobols of Sikyon. The disposition of the hoard is noted as "in trade".


As noted above a number of pieces from the hoard are plated in CH VIII and this particular coin is one of them. (thanks to Sveto K. for the info from CH VIII***)


Photo of CH VIII, plate XXXIII, #12 (as noted above).

Acquisition: 2007

Tantalus ID#35548

Another source regarding this hoard is found in a footnote appearing on p. 200 of John D. Grainger's book The League of the Aitolians (Brill, 1999), footnote #52 reads "The latest hoard to contain an Aitolian coin is dated from c. 75 BC (Coin Hoards VIII, 517, from North of Larisa in Thessaly)." According to CH VIII, 517; only one coin from the hoard was of the Aitolian League and that was a quarter stater.

Greece/Seleucid; Seleucus III BCE 226-223

AE 16 mm, 4.7 g, Antioch on the Orontes mint

Houghton 922.1 v, CSE 61-62 v

O: draped bust of Artemis r, quiver at shoulder, dotted border

R: Apollo std l on omphalos, testing arrow and resting l hand on grounded bow. BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ on r. ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ on left.

ex: Time Machine (NY)

Acquisition: 2007

Greece/ Boiotia; Tanagra c. BCE 387-374

AR Obol, 11 mm, 0.70 g, (also early to mid 4th century BCE)

GCV 2451, BCD Boiotia 276b-277 var. For type.

O: Boiotian shield
R: forepart of horse r. T above, A before both turned slightly clockwise, all within incuse concave circle with curved edge.

Ex: Ancient Byways/Copper Penny
Ex: Tamco Numismatics (Sweden)

Acquisition: 2007

Map of Boiotia, showing Tanagra's location highlighted in red about 25 km east of Thebes.

map adapted from the BCD Boiotia catalogue

Greece/ Argolis; Argos, c. 260s-250s BCE

AR Triobol (16 mm, 2.43 gm) dealer stating "Good VF, Scarce."

Obv: Forepart of wolf at bay to left; O with dot inside it above

Rev: Large A; Δ-Ε above on either side; eagle stg right on harpa below; all within shallow incuse square.

BMC Peloponnesus 61; BCD Peloponnesos 1109-1110 v., Mycenae pl. 9, 24-25, SNG Cop. 31, Grose 6836-6839.

Acquisition: 2007

Ex: ANE (Canada)

Ex: BCD Collection

Ex: Bank Leu (January, 1974)

Ex: Jacob Hirsch (1874-1955) stock with original coin ticket.

Probably passed via inheritance to Leo Mildenberg who sold “all those of BCD’s area to him in the late 1970’s” [BCD Peloponnesos p. 4).

Ex: Prof. Athanasios Rhousopoulos (1823-1898) collection sold 1905 by Jacob Hirsch.

Green card is Hirsch's denoting R/G meaning “Rhousopoulos Greichen” originating in the Rhousopoulos collection, white card is BCD's.

According to BCD Peloponnesos catalogue, “The O / ΔΕ…issues are among the last silver issues of the 3rd century, and were almost certainly struck just prior to the weight reduction in c. 250/240….” (p.270 note after lot #1105)

Antoninus Pius CE 138-161, as Caesar under Hadrian

AE As, 10.32 g, c. 25 February-10 July CE 138
RCV 4332, C. 1066, RIC II 1088a (Hadrian), BMCRE 1948 (Hadrian)

considered Rare, though CNG sold a reasonably nice example from the Weller collection for only $120 off a $200 estimate.

O: bare hd bust r., IMP T AELIVS CAESAR ANTONINVS
R: joined hands and caduceus, TRIB POT COS SC

Ex: Silenos

Acquisition: 2005

Procurators of Judea; Pontius Pilate CE 26-36

AE Prutah, 16 mm, 2.15 g, c. CE 30
H. 649

O: Lituus, TIBEPIOY KAICAP
R: L IZ in wreath

Ex: Ancient Byways/Copper Penny

Acquisition: 2006

Gordian III CE 238-244

AR Antoninianus, 5.64 g, Rome mint, CE 238-239

RSC 105, RCV 8614

O: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, rad cuir bust r.
R: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jove stg l with small Gordian stg to left

Ex: Ancient Byways/Copper Penny

Acquisition: 2005

Constantine I CE 307-337

AE 3, 19 mm, 2.35 g c. CE 323-324 Trier mint

O: laur hd r CONSTAN-TINVS AVG
R: Victory adv rt with captive below r, SARMATIA-DEVIC[TA]/PT[-]

Ex: Silenos

Acquisition: 2004

Domitian CE 81-96 Roman Provincial Judea

AE 23 mm, 10.85 g, after CE 83, minted Caesarea Maritima

H. 749

O: hd of Domitian left, [DOMITIANV]S CAES AV[G GERMANICVS]
R: Minerva adv. l with trophy shield and spear

“Judea Capta” issue

Ex: Zurqieh (Dubai)

Acquisition: 2004

Greece/Sikyonia, Sikyon, Circa 330/20-280 BCE

AR Triobol (14 mm, 2.77 gm.).

Warren, Silver 21-3; BCD Peloponnesos 292 v reverse, BCD Peloponnesos 293.1 v. obverse; SNG Copenhagen 64-5. VF, struck on short and thick flan.

Obv: retrograde ΣΙ, Chimaera standing left.

Rev: Dove flying left; Dove flying left; pellet above tail.

Ex: ANE/Svetolik Kovačević (Canada)

Ex. BCD collection.

Ex: "Near Itea hoard" as per coin ticket. According to Andrew Meadows at the ANS (who I thank for the information), the Itea hoard is listed in Coin Hoards VIII as hoard #254. It was found in several lots around 1983 and consisted of 1,500+ coins, of which 640 reside in the Numismatic Museum in Athens, Greece and the remaining 900 are in commerce.

The hoard has a date of deposit approximately of between BCE 290-270.

Here is the information as it appears (somewhat redacted) in CH VIII, courtesy of Sveto K.:

From COIN HOARDS VIII; 254 (published 1994)

254 Near Itea, Greece, 1983?
Burial: c. 290-270 BC
Contents: 1500+ AR
Recorded in several lots:
A: 321 AR + 321 AR
B: 900+ AR

Disposition: A: In Athens Museum, Protonotarios donation (as noted in BCH 114-JG)
B: in trade.

Sources: BCH 114 (1990), p. 704; AΔ 37 (1982), 1989, p. 1; AΔ 38 (1983), 1989, p. 1

Lot A to be fully published by M. Oeconomidou; lot B to be published by U. Wartenberg.

From source BCH 114 (1990) p. 704, Chronique des Fouilles en 1989; Athènes, musées et collections:

Musée numismatique:

Les collections du musée se sont, comme chaque année, enrichies de monnaies provenant de fouilles…et des donations (trésor d’hémidrachmes en argent du IV e s.av. J-C, trouvé en mer dans une amphore, près des côtes de Locride ou d’Eubée, et offert par P. Protonotariou).

[Translation from French by JG-"Chronicle of the Excavations in 1989; Athens, museums and collections: Numismatic museum:

As each year goes by, the collections of the museum grow richer from the coins originating from excavations…and donations (a find of silver hemidrachms from the 4th century BCE found at sea in an amphora near the coast of Locris or Euboia and offered by P. Protonotariou)."]

Kushans/Vima Takto (Soter Megas) c.90-113 CE

AE Tetradrachm, 9.2 g, 19mm
MA 2928+
O: king's bust r, five rays, tamgha
R: king on horseback r, [BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN] CWTHP MEΓAC

Ex: F. S. Robinson

Acquisition: 2004

Greece/LYDIA; THE KAŸSTRIANOI 2nd-1st Centuries BCE

AE 15 mm, 3.47 g
Lindgren III, 454; GCV 4697 v

O: hd of Dionysus wreathed with ivy
R: [KAYC]TPIANΩN, lyre formed from bucranium, monogram

Ex: Copper Penny/Ancient Byways

Acquisition: 2006

(Sear notes that these coins were “issued in the name of the inhabitants of the plain of the lower Kayster [p. 428 GCV], it should be noted that Ephesus was on the Kayster further to the west.)

Victorinus CE 269-271

AE Antoninianus (17mm, 2.62g), Treveri (Trier) mint. 5th emission. RIC V 71; Braithwell 159 (41 examples), c. CE 271. [Sear notes in Vol. 3 of RCV that this issue was minted in Cologne between 270-271], C. 118, Hunter 14, RCV 11181.

O: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right IMP C VICTORINVS PF AVG
R: Salus standing left, holding scepter, feeding from patera a snake rising from altar to left. SALVS AVG

Ex-Braithwell Hoard The Braithwell Hoard was discovered in 2002 in South Yorkshire UK by a Metal Detectorist. It contained 1331 antoniniani, the vast majority of which were of the Romano-Gallic empire. Richard Abdy and J.D. Hill have recorded the hoard, and will be publishing the full details in the near future. This coin is from that hoard and has been assigned a "Braithwell" number per the preliminary hoard report.

This coin as with many others from this hoard is likely ex-CNG since CNG had 1,161 of the 1,331 coins being sold through their "coin shop" on-line. There were 11 lots of 100 coins each being sold by CNG as well, this coin may originate with one of those lots.

Ex: Braithwell Hoard, Yorkshire, UK, 2002
Ex: Imperial Coins (NY)
Acquisition: 2007

Info from the PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME http://www.finds.org.uk/treasure/record.php?recordID=510

Treasure record - 2002 T221

Treasure ID: 2002 T221 Report year: 2002 Page #: 201

Object type: Coin

Period: ROMAN

Dates: Deposited: -

Description: The 1,331 coins are all ranging in issue dates from AD 253-274, the group is very typical in composition of the many Romano-British coin hoards buried between the fall of the breakaway Gallic Empire in AD 274 and the establishment of the British Empire of Carausius in AD 286.Central Empire:

Valerian and Gallienus (AD 253-60), 2 (Rome)
Gallienus and Salonina (AD 260-8), 101 (Rome, Milan, Siscia Viminacium)
Claudius II (AD 268-70), 85 (Rome, Milan, Siscia Viminacium, Eastern)
Divus Claudius, 10 (Rome, uncertain)
Quintillus (AD 270), 6 (Rome, Milan)
Aurelian (AD 270-5), 1 (Milan)
Probus (AD 276-82), 6 (Rome, Gaul).
Total: 211
Gallic Empire:
Postumus (AD 260-9), 14 (Mint I, Milan)
Laelian (AD 269), 1 (Mint II)
Victorinus (AD 269-71), 282 (Mint I, Mint II, uncertain)
Divus Victorinus, 1 (uncertain)
Tetricus I and II (AD 271-4), 725 (Mint I, Mint II, uncertain)
Total: 1,023
Irregular, 54
Uncertain, 43

Grand Total: 1,331

Note: Thirteen medium to large sherds from a single reduced grey ware jar were recovered with the hoard. These sherds came from the same vessel that appears to have been only recently broken. The sherds include more than half of the rim of the vessel and part of the upper vessel wall. This is unusual, as in most coin hoard cases only parts from the base and lower vessel wall are recovered. No base sherds were recovered with this hoard. Weighing 632 grams (mean sherd weight 48.6g), these sherds come from a jar with a rim diameter of about 8cms and a maximum girth of about 16-18 cms. The inside of the pot is stained green with a bronze patina due to contact with the coins. This shows that the coins were originally contained inside the jar. Grey ware vessels were a common coarse ware made throughout Roman Britain.

Report author: R ABDY AND J D HILL

Valuation applied: £200 [note: with the bulk of the hoard being sold by CNG, the total retail has exceeded $17,000 US]

Disposition: Four coins acquired by the British Museum and one by Doncaster Museum; the remainder returned to the finder.

Dimensions: n/a

Weight: n/a

Discovery date: Sunday 1st September 2002

County: SouthYorkshire Parish: Braithwell

Finder: Mr P Leech

Method of discovery: Whilst searching with a metal detector.

Google Earth Map showing location of Braithwell highlighted in yellow.

Aurelian CE 270-275 Provincial Egypt

Potin Tetradrachm, 20 mm, 8.15 g, Yr. 6/CE 274-275
Emmett 3927 (1)

O: A K Λ ΔOM AVPHΛIANOC CEB, laur cuir bust r.

R: Eagle stg r palm on wing, wreath in beak, ETOYC S

Ex: Y. Mishriki/Sphinx Numismatics (Canada)

Acquisition: 2007