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Capitolia Heliopolitana
The Capitolia were games (held every 4 years) established by Domitian in 86 AD in Rome. "In 86 AD, emperor Domitian organized the first...

sulla80
Feb 17, 20244 min read
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CABЄINA CЄBASTH
Today's coin of interest comes from the reign of Hadrian (CE 117 to 138). This coin is issued in the name of his wife Sabina, from...

sulla80
Jan 6, 20244 min read
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Selene, Moon Goddess
The ancient Romans, celebrated a feast on March 31st, in the Temple of Luna on the Aventine Hill to honor the Moon Goddess, a cult...

sulla80
Dec 26, 20238 min read
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Soul of an Ancient Collector
Perfectly centered and well preserved coins, are certainly worthy of admiration. However, as a collector of ancients, I find beauty...

sulla80
Dec 19, 20235 min read
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Joyful Arrival of the Emperor
The Emperor Commodus was murdered on December 31, 192, and the Empire faced another period of a civil war. His murderers put foward...

sulla80
Dec 2, 20237 min read
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Sanctuary of Zeus Stratios
Amasia (variants: Amasea, Amasya, Amaseia) sits on a narrow pass or gorge between two large hills. Cut into the rock faces above the river..

sulla80
Nov 16, 20238 min read
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City of the Sun
Veterans Day honors active and former US service members and is celebrated, in the US, today, November 11th. My coin today comes from a...

sulla80
Nov 11, 20234 min read
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Soldier Emperor
Today's coins of interest are from Probus, a soldier emperor, who rose up from the ranks and served four emperors before being proclaimed...

sulla80
Oct 15, 20237 min read
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Hadrian's Stable Earth
It seems that the uptick in interest in Rome is having an effect on the popularity of my musings on what has, up until now, felt like an...

sulla80
Sep 28, 202310 min read
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Nakrasa, Lydia
An usual location for a Roman Provincial coin of Hadrian is as good a reason as any to add it to a collection. I didn't recognize...

sulla80
Sep 21, 20233 min read
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The Emperor's Jealousy
Germanicus had a complicated royal family tree: he was the son of general Nero Claudius Drusus who was the son of Livia Drusilla and...

sulla80
Sep 3, 20237 min read
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A Father's Day Coin
​In the US, the third Sunday in June is reserved to celebrate fathers. While several internet sites mention the necktie as tie most...

sulla80
Jun 17, 20235 min read
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The Battle of Milvian Bridge
This coin is properly attributed as RIC VI Heraclea 75. It comes from a time period close to the Battle of Milvian Bridge before which...

sulla80
May 19, 20234 min read
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Head in Hand
Maximinus II is known in coin auctions as Daia, this name perhaps a misspelling from the writing of Lacantius, that is challenged by...

sulla80
May 6, 202310 min read
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Hadrian, Big & Small
A brief note today on a small coin from Hadrian, contrasted here with a large sestertius from Rome. The smaller coin is an uncertain...

sulla80
Apr 2, 20232 min read
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Just Make it Fit!
Ruins of Nicopolis ad Istrum - public domain image via wikimedia commons. Novius Rufus was a legate (hypateon) or praeses (hegemon) of...

sulla80
Dec 31, 20223 min read
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Commodus, the Best of Men
The arrival of an Alexandrian Tetradrachm of Commodus led to a deep dive into the life of Commodus and his coins. Commodus was the son of...

sulla80
Oct 17, 20227 min read
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Faustina the Younger
I was immediately taken with this early portrait of Faustina II on my latest coin of interest. The details of both jeweled hair on the ...

sulla80
Aug 14, 20224 min read
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Reading the Ancient Stars
August Signs I picked up this little coin mostly for the well executed scorpion. It is a little bronze weighing, 2.88mg and 13mm in...

sulla80
Jul 1, 20224 min read
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The Mystery Emperor
I am not expecting that most collectors look at this coin and say "Wow, that's a beautiful coin", I myself didn't have that reaction. I...

sulla80
Jun 26, 20225 min read
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