A hoard of Roman Nails was discovered during the 1960s. They are documented from the 1st century at the time of the Crucifixion. While most of the nails were retained by the museums after the discovery, a small portion was allowed to be sold privately. This hoard was buried to prevent others from finding them. Barbarian tribes would have melted them down to make weapons and shields. Iron was a valuable metal to many of the barbarian tribes. Hence, this hoard was a remarkable find from the 1960s. They finally allowed some to be sold only in 1999.

We only have a small handful of these Roman Nails from the 1st Century AD. However, they are certainly interesting Roman artifacts with a tinge of history. They are presented in a shadow box.

1st Century Roman Nail in Shadow-Box ………………. $35

We Will Put These in the STORE on Wednesday, December 11th at 12 noon

4th century bronze numis of the Constantine era and later.

For this hoard, we will put in packets of 5 unattributed coins for $62.50 that, if you would like to give to a child or grandchild, they can investigate to see who issued each coin themselves. It would be a bit of a game for them if they knew how to use the Internet. These are reasonably priced for fun and to open the youth’s minds to the idea that you can actually hold an ancient Roman coin.

Domestic Shipping $72.50

International Shipping $82.50

We Will Put These in the STORE on Wednesday, December 11th at 12 noon

Marcus Aurelius Carinus (283-285AD) was the elder son of the Emperor Carus born about 249 – 250 AD. During the spring of 283AD, Carinus was given the rank of Caesar shortly after his father’s accession to the throne. Carinus remained behind in Rome in the West when his father and younger brother, Numerian set out for the Eastern frontier. Carinus was then left in charge of the administration of the Western provinces. Meanwhile, his father had been successful in driving back the Persian threat in the East. However, before he could expand on his victory, Carus was struck dead by lightning. Carinus and his brother were raised to the rank of Augustus during the late summer of 283 AD.

His brother Numerian was slowly making his way back to Rome with his legions. In November 284 AD, he was discovered murdered in his litter. This then left Carinus as sole emperor of Rome.

The death of Carus and Numerian prompted the attempted rebellion in the Balkans by late 284 AD. A usurper appeared, Marcus Aurelius Julianus, who was proclaimed emperor in Pannonia. Carinus set out in early 285AD to meet the challenge of this new threat that was now advancing upon Italy. Carinus confronted Julianus near Verona and soundly defeated this usurper. However, a more serious threat was now coming from his brother’s army. Diocletian, who was commander at the time, was proclaimed emperor. He had been the former governor of Moesia and commander of the Praetorian bodyguard. Carinus move to meet this new threat from Diocletian and the Eastern legions. Carinus‘ forces outnumbered those of Diocletian, and at the moment when victory was near, Carinus was murdered by one of his own officers.

According to Historiae Augusta, Carinus was a bisexual corrupter of youth, had nine wives, and forced himself upon the wives of others. This is most likely propaganda put forth by Diocletian. Nonetheless, there is perhaps some truth to this story. Carinus was murdered for his seduction of the wives of some of his soldiers. The account of his having nine wives is most likely untrue since Magnia Urbica was the only wife for which coinage was struck. No doubt, he was not a well-liked man. Eutropius Breviarium (IX.19) also states that he was the seducer of the wives of nobles and that he was a cruel and vindictive person.

Carus, Carinus, Numerian and Magnia Urbica were officially condemned after their deaths. Their inscriptions were also erased from Rome. Thus, with the death of Carinus, the empire fell into the hands of Diocletian who would make the most bold reforms ever in hopes of bringing to an end, the past 50 years of crisis and turmoil within the empire.

In Carinus’s coinage, we still see the Aurelian standard reformed coinage, 1/20th part silver with silver plating. This group of coinage is rather exceptional, for most of the silver plating is still intact, which is difficult to find.

AE Antoninianus with Silver Plating …………….  $200

We Will Put These in the STORE on Wednesday, December 11th at 12 noon

Poland. AR 3 Polker

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was issued during the 17th century between 1614 – 1627AD. These late medieval three poker coins were issued during the reign of Sigismund III Vasa, who ruled as the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632. They were struck to address the financial crisis and rising inflation due to the 30 Years War. Three polker coins were minted with a relatively high silver content and purity in the early years of about 80%. The higher silver content resulted in these coins being hoarded in neighboring countries.

By the 1620s, the coins were widely distributed throughout Transylvania. They were very popular and existed alongside the depreciated local currency that was common due to the inflation that unfolded again thanks to the 30 Years War. The high silver purity of the coins also began to decline as inflation continued. This was reflected in exchange rates established by the Transylvanian Diet, a judicial and legislative body of the Transylvanian Principality under Prince Gabriel Bethlen.

This coinage was also sharply debased. This group is from a hoard of the early period with higher silver content. By 1626, Prince Gabriel Bethlen implemented a monetary reform, as we see so often throughout the monetary history following any war. He collected these coins, melted them down, and then forged three polker coins with the lower silver content. We see that the Roman Emperor Trajan did the same, melting down the old coinage and issuing debased denarii. Thus, history repeats because human nature never changes.

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Three polker ………………….      $35.00 each

We Will Put These in the STORE on Wednesday, December 11th at 12 noon

The Black Sea Region began with copper arrowheads that were used as money. This lot of Æ Arrowhead Proto-Money is triangular cast ‘arrowheads’ of varying length. In the 7th century BC, the Greeks also entered Ukraine and established the Milesian colonies of Olbia, Borysthenes, Istros, Odessos, and Apollonia on the western Black Sea coast. These ports were once the central points of exchange and trade between the Greeks and local Scythian and Thracian populations.

This exchange prompted the introduction of pre-monetary items which were shaped into the ubiquitous more common ‘dolphins’ coins and the scarcer ‘arrowheads’ and ‘wheel-coins’ which were all cast in copper. These pieces remained in circulation in the west Pontic area for about two centuries, until being finally replaced by struck coinage.

Recent publications of findings from South Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania limited the circulation area of these proto-monies to the narrow coastal strip along the western/north-western shores of the Black Sea. Some scholars suggested the ‘arrowheads’ were produced there since Apollo, with his bow and arrows, was the main deity who supervised the colonies of Miletus. As a god of archery, Apollo was well known with epithets such as Aphetoros (“god of the bow”) and Argurotoxos (“with the silver bow”).

The cast bronzes of Olbia not only served as a medium of exchange but also reflected the unique economic and cultural interactions in the region. Olbia’s prosperity was intricately tied to its role as a trading hub, facilitating exchanges between the Scythian nomads and Greek settlers.

Olbia eventually began to adopt cast large bronze coinage of 70mm in diameter and 33mm, which reflected prosperity in trade, for they were like $1,000 bills. The artistic elements on the coins, such as the gorgon’s head and sea eagle, conveyed a fusion of Greek mythological symbolism with local Scythian influences. These Olbian coins were distinctive for their sheer size and weight, indicating a reliance on intrinsic metal value for trade. The economic system of Olbia, reminiscent of early Roman practices, emphasized the tangible value of the metal itself. This stands in contrast to later coinage systems, where coins’ face value became more symbolic than their actual metal content.

The dolphin-shaped smaller denominations and the elaborate imagery on the larger coins suggest a sophisticated approach to coin design. The Olbians engaged in practical trade and expressed cultural and artistic elements through their coinage, showcasing a dynamic blend of Greek and Scythian influences in this remote region of the Black Sea. These and the arrowheads reflected the day-to-day transactions in commerce.

The intermediate Leaf-shaped, trefoil, and triangular cast ‘arrowheads’ are the next size up from the small arrowheads. These tend to be harder to find.

Three-pointed or two-pointed arrowheads are available.

$25.00 each

We Will Put These in the STORE on Wednesday, December 11th at 12 noon

The Gallic Empire (Latin: Imperium Galliarum) was a breakaway realm of the Roman Empire led by Postumus (260-268AD) that existed from 260 to 274AD in the aftermath of the Persian capture of the Roman Emperor Valerian I (253-260AD) in 260AD. That set off a Financial Crisis in 260AD, where some even questioned if Roman coins were still valid. This Monetary Crisis of the Third Century AD saw the separation of the Roman Empire into three empires.

The Gallic Empire split from Rome and incorporated Britain, France, and parts of Spain. Postumus founded it in 260 AD. Valerian I was captured for once, and Germanic barbarians also began to invade, assuming that Rome was then vulnerable. The crisis led to people hoarding their money, and a great recession unfolded. The coinage began to be debased as silver was in short supply. This was the start of the collapse of Rome’s monetary system.

At its height, the Gallic Empire included the territories of even parts of Germania (Germany) along with Gaul (France), Britannia (England), and (briefly) Hispania (Spain). Postumus was assassinated in 268 AD, resulting in the Gallic Empire losing much of its territory. Roman Emperor Aurelian retook it after the Battle of Châlons in 274 AD.

Third Century Debasement

Set of two – One in Silver & One in Bronze

Most Postumus coins are later debased issues in bronze with even a reduced planchet.

Here, we have an early issue in silver, which is much rarer than the later bronze-debased issues.

Pair of Postumus Antoniniani = $375

We Will Put These in the STORE on Wednesday, December 11th at 12 noon

Marcus Victorinus (268-270AD), Emperor of the Gallic (French) Empire

A lot of people have asked if I still have any Commodus denarii left. I have a few.  They are generally VF, as you can see. This is the Emperor pictured in the movie, The Gladiator. He was the son of Marcus Aurelius and it is with him that they draw the line for the beginning of the decline and fall of Rome. Not shown in the movie was his wife, Crispina, whom he banished to the Isle of Capri and then had her executed.

His sister, Lucilla, also shown in the movie, was terrified of her brother. She did plot to kill her brother. That is true. She was also banished to Capri and then executed. The full version of the 1964 film The Decline and Fall is free on YouTube.

When Commodus was assassinated, the full corruption of the Roman Deep State, the Praetorian Guard, sprung forward. They actually auctioned off the throne to the highest bidder. That was  Didius Julianus (193AD) who offered them 25,000 Sestertii per man.  He lasted just 66 days on the throne. The Praetorians then abandoned him and he was beheaded.

Edward Gibbon wrote of Commodus in his monumental Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:

“Suspicious princes often promote the last of mankind, from a vain persuasion, that those who have no dependence, except on their favor, will have no attachment, except to the person of their benefactor.”

Edward Gibbon wrote of Commodus: Each

“distinction of every kind soon became criminal. The possession of wealth stimulated the diligence of the informers; rigid virtue implied a tacit censure of the irregularities of Commodus; important services implied a dangerous superiority of merit; and the friendship of the father always insured the aversion of the son. Suspicion was equivalent to proof; trial to condemnation. The execution of a considerable senator was attended with the death of all who might lament or revenge his fate; and when Commodus had once tasted human blood, he became incapable of pity or remorse”

(Book 1, Chapter 4).

We only have less than 40 left

Price … $275

We Will Put These in the STORE on Wednesday, December 11th at 12 noon

There is new turmoil during the final month of the Political Year from Hell emerging in Romania after the constitutional court annulled the presidential election. Calin Georgescu, who the media declared as a far-right extremist, won the election. The establishment cried “RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE!” and has refused to acknowledge the results.

Georgescu is a critic of NATO and the neocons. He does not support the ongoing war nor does he adhere to the Build Back Better agenda of the New World Order. President Klaus Iohannis released declassified documents ahead of the election that claim Russia interfered in the election by promoting the candidate on social media, TikTok in particular. The establishment also claimed Russia launched 85,000 cyber attacks that primarily targeted social media platforms.

How many nations have blamed Russia for interfering in their elections in recent years? More so, why do we allow them to continue perpetuating this lie when no concrete evidence has been found?

The press release called into question Article 146(f) of the Constitution states that elections must be legal. The courts had already demanded a recount of first votes, and now, the secondary election against Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union Party has been permanently canceled. The election cycle must now restart and the people’s wishes must be silenced.

Georgescu ran on a platform of ending Romania’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war and vowed to end all funding to Ukraine. He does not believe in climate change and does not want to decimate Romania’s energy industry to accommodate net zero emission goals. Georgescu also questioned the COVID narrative. All of his leading speaking points were anti-establishment, thus, the establishment ensured he could not take office.