guy

Can't help you with the picture, but the book sounds interesting. Let us know when it's out and more details about the book. guy also known as gaius

Update: The coin sold for $546,250 on September 7, 2011 at the 2011 September Long Beach Signature World & Ancient Coins Auction #3015 There were four bidders: guy also known as gaius

As mentioned in Part I, Carausius (AD 286-293) was one of the many usurpers who threatened the stability of the Roman Empire during the turbulent third century. In AD 286, Carausius was a fleet commander under the Caesar of the West, Maximian. He had been put in charge of clearing the Saxon and Frankish raiders who threatened Roman rule, commerce, and property in the English Channel and North Sea. Maximian, however, came to believe that Carausius was stealing bounty for himself. It seems that Maximian believed Carausius attacked the raiders only after the raiders had completed their raids, allowing Carausius to more easily enrich himself on the plunder without returning the stolen goods. Maximian condemned Carausius to death. Having been forewarned of his death sentence, Carausius decided to form a breakaway republic of Britain and Northern Gaul. After Maximian's initial failures by against Carausius, the legitimate rulers Diocletian and Maximian were forced to ignore Carausius as they struggled to stabilize other borders throughout the empire. Carausius made a gesture of his loyalty with this coin. CARAUSIUS, DIOCLETIAN and MAXIMIANUS. 287-293 AD. Antoninianus (4.16 gm). Camulodunum mint, struck circa 292-293 AD. CARAVSIVS ET FRATRES SVI, jugate radiate and cuirassed busts of Maximianus, Diocletian and Carausius left / PAX AVGGG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and vertical sceptre. Note the inscription "CARAVSIVS ET FRATES SVI" meaning "Carausius and his brothers (Diocletian and Maximian)." As numismatic expert and writer Doug Smith reminds me, some of Carausius's coins have no obvious mention of Carausius at all. Instead, they bear the name of either Diocletion or Maximian. On the reverse, however, the inscriptions end in AVGGG. The triple "GGG" signifies Carausius's hope for recognition as one of the three Augusti (Maximian, Diocletian, and Carausius) http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=197549 By AD 293, however, Diocletian had formed the tetrarchy. He had earlier made Maximian his co-Augustus. Each Augustus then took on a Caesar who served as his adoptive son and heir. Constantius was assigned to the Western Roman Empire as Maximian's Caesar and was instructed to regain the territory lost to Carausius. As Constantius relentlessly regained control of the breakaway territories for the Roman Empire, Carausius was assassinated by his own minister, Allectus. Allectus survived for only three years till AD 296, when he was killed by the forces of Constantius. This is how the reign of Carausius ended along with his short-lived independent empire. Numismatics give insight into the futile attempts of the usurper Carausius to curry favor from the legitimate powers of Rome. They also shed light on poorly documented chapters of Roman history. guy also known as gaius

I recently have been given the privilege of reviewing the book, The Frome Hoard. This giant hoard of 52,503 coins (coins collected weighed 160 kg or 350 lbs) was found in April 2010 near Frome in Somerset, England. (Source: Wikipedia) This coin hoard was notable for the many high quality coins of the usurper Carausius who ruled an independent Britain and Northern Gaul in AD 286. Carausius was only one of the many usurpers who threatened the stability of Rome during the third century of crisis. Before reviewing the book, I wanted to learn more about this poorly documented usurper and the numismatic evidence surrounding his reign. In AD 286, Caesar Maximian under the Augustus Diocletian, was placed in charge of stabilizing and securing the western frontiers of the Roman Empire. Carausius, a man of humble origins, had distinguished himself fighting for Maximian against the Bagaudae rebels in Northern Gaul. (The Bagaudae rebels have been described as

I'm sorry that I don't know the coin dealer. He does have a presence on Vcoins, a very reputable site for buying coins, however. A good site to discuss basics of coin buying is cointalk.com I really don't buy coins, but I like this site to purchase coins: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ It is a great site with well-attributed and authenticated coins. It has many great coins ranging from $10 to $10,000. I recommend that site highly. As I mentioned above, a site with many dealers who are held to ethical standards is: http://www.vcoins.com/ I hope I was of some help. guy also known as gaius Warning: Collecting Ancient coins can be an enjoyable, but also an expensive and addicting pastime.

Maty: As I wait with great anticipation Ian Hughes's book Aetius, I see there might be another book on my "must read" list. Tell us more. guy also known as gaius

This is the only coin minted in Rome to bear the true year date. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=1032 -. Aureus (Gold, 7.33 g 6), Rome, April, 121. IMP CAES HADRIANVS AVG COS III Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right. Rev. ANN.DCCC.LXXIIII NAT VRB.P.CIR CON. The Genius of the Circus reclining left, nude to the waist and with his head turned back to right, holding chariot wheel on his right knee with his right hand and with his left arm wrapped around three obelisks on a low base (the Spina of the Circus Maximus guy also known as gaius

Emperor Phillip the Arab faced several usurpers. There is numismatic evidence of three unsuccessful usurpers, one possible fictional usurper, and one triumphant usurper who became Emperor. As we have discussed before, the third century of the Roman Empire is poorly documented. The century

Here are my dissenting views: The average size of Ancient men based on skeletal studies compared to the size of men in modern Naples: Ancient Heraculum 169 cm (5' 6.5") Ancient Pompeii 166 cm (5' 5.4") Modern Naples 164 cm (5' 4.6") None of these people are giants...which leads me to my next point: It is unlikely that Maximinus Thrax was over 7 feet tall (or over the purported eight feet). The source for this is the Historia Augusta, hardly a reliable source. His size could have been exaggerated to emphasize his barbarian background. Maximinus lived to 65, highly unlikely for someone having gigantism or acromegaly in the Ancient world. (Think about the premature death of Andre the Giant in the wrestling world.) Maximinus was the first emperor never to set foot in Rome, so it would be easier to create a mythology about his height. I plan on writing about this further some day. guy also known as gaius

Only a 5.8? Pleeeeease. Living in Southern California, we routinely have those for lunch. Now, a hurricane...that would be different. guy also known as gaius

I preferred the Germanic Tribes, too. guy also known as gaius

As much as I'm looking forward to the upcoming HBO remake of the series I, Claudius, I doubt they will show the same reserve and tactful constraint with this scene from the original series of Messalina's notorious competition: guy also known as gaius

Is there anyway to have a short movie clip as our avatar? I know of a few sites that do. It is really cool. guy also known as gaius

Wow, The "Crosby Garrett Calvary Helmet." Made me do a Wikipedia search: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosby_Garrett_Helmet I love the Griffin on top of the hat, but for some reason, it just doesn't seem macho enough for a Roman calvary officer. guy also known as gaius

The Immortal Ides of March Denarius Here's the listing in the upcoming Heritage auction: Marcus Junius Brutus, Assassin of Caesar and Imperator (44-42 BC). AR denarius (3.72 gm). Mint moving with Brutus in northern Greece, L. Plaetorius Cestianus, magistrate, late summer-autumn 42 BC. BRVT IMP L. PLAET. CEST., bare head of Brutus right, wearing slight beard / EID MAR, pileus (cap of liberty) between two daggers. Crawford 508/3. Cahn 10b (this coin cited, four pieces known from this die pairing). CRI 216. RSC 15. RCV 1439 (this coin illustrated). Struck in exceptionally sound metal and beautifully toned. Superb portrait of the famed tyrannicide and among the finest specimens known. Nearly extremely fine / Extremely fine. From the Rubicon Collection. Ex NAC 29 (11 May 2005). Ex Peter Weller Collection (Antiqua Fixed Price List VIII, Summer 2000). Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection Part I (Sotheby's, June 1990), acquired by private treaty from the Sy Weintraub Collection. Ex Hall Park McCollough Collection (Stack's November 1967). Ex Woodward Collection (Naville-Ars Classica XV, 1930). The EID MAR denarius, undoubtedly the most historically important of all ancient coins, is the only Roman coin to mention a specific date, the only Roman coin to openly celebrate an act of murder, and one of the very few specific coins mentioned by a classical author. In his account of the Roman civil wars of 49-31 BC, the Roman historian Dio Cassius writes: "Brutus stamped upon the coins which were being minted his own likeness and a cap and two daggers, indicating by this and by the inscription that he and Cassius had liberated the fatherland." Although the EID MAR type is justifiably famous (it was selected in a 2008 vote by top numismatists as Number 1 of the "100 Greatest Ancient Coins"), the EID MAR offered here has perhaps the most distinguished pedigree of all among the 75 or so surviving specimens, with auction records dating back to 1930. It has resided in the collections of Hall Park McCollough, Sy Weintraub, Nelson Bunker Hunt and actor-turned-history-professor Peter Weller. Numerous books, articles and TV productions have used this specimen to illustrate the type, including the most widely used handbook of Roman coins, David R. Sear's "Roman Coins and Their Values Vol. I" (no. 1439). Also, of all the known EID MAR denarii, this example inarguably has the best metal quality-important since most EID MARs were apparently struck in slightly base silver and survive in a highly porous state that is subject to further deterioration, cracking and / or delamination. The event so celebrated, of course, is the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 BC. The man depicted on the obverse, Marcus Junius Brutus, was one of the ringleaders of the assassination plot, despite being the son of Caesar's longtime mistress, Servilia. In the centuries since, he has been both hailed as a champion of liberty and damned as the vilest of traitors. Brutus was born in about 85 BC, the product of two of Rome's most distinguished families, the Junii, represented by his father M. Junius Brutus the elder, and the Servili, exemplified by his mother Servilia. The themes of Republican liberty and the defeat of tyrants ran strong in Brutus' bloodlines. One of his distant ancestors, L. Junius Brutus, expelled the last Tarquin king of Rome and went on to become the Republic's first chief magistrate, or Consul; another ancestor, Servius Ahala, murdered the tyrant Spurius Maelius, who had threatened to overthrow the Republic and install himself as king. His father had resisted the tyranny of the Dictator Sulla and was murdered on the orders of his henchman, Pompey the Great, during the bloody Proscriptions of 78-77 BC. After entering public life in 58 BC, Brutus became a prot

I will try to relate the current upheaval in England to the lessons from the outcomes of opposite models for immigration and assimilation in two very different ancient societies. The outcome of the Roman Empire is contrasted with the outcome of the Greek city states and the later Hellenistic empires. First of all, most of the looters and rioters are not white English boys (although I am sure many of them were since hooligans of all types will take advantage of any opportunity). Most the rioters are poor immigrants or children of immigrants who have not assimilated into the larger society. Many of these people feel that they do not even have a vested interest in their local communities. I

Wow, Maty, thank you for your response. I think you are spot on with your insight. First, I do think that at least two of these similar coins are authentic. They sold at a reputable auction site for big $$$$ (40,000 and 59,000). http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=124556 http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=8103 Second, it makes perfect sense that a Hellenized population would make mistakes in their Latin inscriptions, especially in the unstable political environment in which these coins were minted. I am surprised that the cataloger didn't make mention of this anomaly. (A possible well-known analogy is the evolution of Parthian coinage. Early on, they were written with legible Greek inscriptions, Later on, they maintained some semblance of Greek but were inscribed with increasingly illegible and "nonsense" Greek.) Thank you, again, Maty, guy also known as gaius

I know only a little about numismatics. I know even less about Latin. I have written before about the many aspects of the goddess Fortvna: http://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/11786-learning-mythology-thru-numismatics/ What did the goddess Fortvna Pedvix represent? Thanks ahead of time. guy also known as gaius

Many of us non-coin collectors can learn from numismatic evidence. While reading Michael Grant's Roman History from Coins, I am reminded of the importance that coins played in our knowledge of the obscure and potential usurper Lucius Julius Aurelius Sulpicius Uranius Antoninus, who, according to numismatic evidence, ruled in some capacity in Syria, in AD 253-254. Aureus, Emesa 253-254, AV 5.90 g. L IVL AVR SVLP VRA ANTONINVS Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTO RIA AVG Victory advancing l., holding wreath and palm http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=7921 Uranius Antoninus, also named Sampsigeramus, was originally a Priest in the temple of the Romano-Syrian sun god Elagabal in Emesa, Syria. Hexastyle temple containing the conical stone of Elagabal (ornamented with a facing eagle) During the instability of the AD 250s, the Sassanian King, Shapur I, attacked the Roman province of Syria, sacking the city of Antioch. It was during this time that Uranius Antoninus rose to prominence in leading a successful defense of the Syrian city of Emesa. Unfortunately, much of the literary evidence for the history of Rome during the Third Century Crisis is scant or incomplete. The literary evidence for Uranius Antoninus is non-existent. There is, however, numismatic evidence. Coins of Uranius Antonius are such an example. Although there is no literary evidence of Uranius Antoninus, the numismatic evidence suggests that he not only rose to prominence after his successful defense of Emesa in AD 253-254, but he seems to have exerted his authority into the surrounding region, locally driving out the Sassanians. Bronze, Emesa 253-254, 23.38 g. The Temple of Sol at Emesa; in exergue, EΞΦ Note in the exergue the symbols EΞΦ. These symbols on the coin's exergue are for the year of 565 of the Seleukid Era or AD 253/254. (For us non-coin collectors, the exergue is the space on the reverse of a coin sometimes with an inscription below the central design that often gives the date or the place of mintage.) This helps distinguish this Uranius Antonius from the two usurpers mentioned by Zosimus (writing in AD 500) against the earlier emperor Severus Alexander (AD 223-235). Confusingly, one of these earlier usurpers was named Uranius and the other Antoninus. Uranius Antoninus' fate is uncertain after the Emperor Valerian returned to the East to face the Sassanians. It is unclear whether he was murdered after being deposed or he resigned peacefully. His name and memory have disappeared into the mists of history. Coins struck with his portrait, however, shed light and give lasting evidence about this otherwise forgotten figure in Ancient Roman history. guy also known as gaius

HBO's series "Rome." Here's a great clip from the movie "Julius Caesar"

I like the description of the coin from a previous auction: http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=63695

This link was also introduced on cointalk.com (by Matt), creating an interesting discussion there. As a non-coin collector, I found the discussion fascinating. http://www.cointalk.com/t186371/ Among the coins of the hoard, one can see a coin of Hadrian (117-138), two of Nerva (96-97), four of Marcus Aurelius (161-180), two of Antonius Pius (138-161), and one of Vespasian (69-79). In the top row is a (Diva) Faustina I, wife of Antonius Pius (died 141). It is interesting that the article states they were found under the floor of an apartment dated AD 180-200. If this is correct, some of the coins could have been in circulation for more than 100 years. (Vespasian ruled AD 69-79.) This is consistent with the thought that many silver coins frequently circulated many decades before they were hoarded and removed from circulation during the later silver debasement.** I assume that by AD 200 the debasement of the coinage was noticeable. The more recent and debased coinage would have been used for daily spending first since they were officially the same value as the more intrinsically valuable purer older silver coinage. (See Gresham's law.) The older, more valuable coinage would have been "hoarded.

Here is a much nicer example that sold for $319 in March 2007: http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=1034 So here is my non-numismatist's opinion: Your coin listed appears to have damaged edges. The seller is unknown to me and of uncertain reputation. (I wouldn't even try to vouch for its authenticity.) Finally, there is at least one example of a nicer coin that went for a lot less. Here are other examples of similar coins: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s2055.html#RIC_0619 Ref Nero & Divus Claudius AR Didrachm of Cappadocia, RIC 619, RSC 1, RPC 3647 Nero & Claudius AR Didrachm of Caesarea Cappadocia. c63-64 AD. NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERM, laureate head of Nero right / DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG, laureate head of Claudius right. Although this example is off center, it is a much sharper strike with sharper legends. Now compare the above examples with your coin example: guy also known as gaius

If I can't mention the God of the Jesus movement, I would give my vote to this "pre-ED drug" god: http://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/11746-priapus-a-shocking-look-at-the-past/ Sorry, but I'm half-Italian. guy also known as gaius