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CPK

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4 hours ago, CPK said:

Fantastic coin @ela126! But...

giphy(3)d.gif.312f8822acfcb0eaaaf4c04515f22558.gif

Hah I just don’t find it challenging, outside of having the capital available to purchase it. I collected American for a long time and assembled the American gold typeset, but the effort only came from deciding how much you wanted to spend for your mint state quality coin. 
 

a bit more skill is involved with ancients, but they still seem to be relatively common treasury coins. I much rather chase a rare and higher grade copper or silver example. The shopping/treasure hunting part is the fun part!

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I love gold. Except for my shamefully bad Claudius Aureus I get a lot of joy from my gold issues, even the recent budget ones.

Ah, the  'Jerusalem' mint.  I picked up one at a 2009 or 2010 coin show from Jon Kern, flipped from Pegasi.  There was a small finder's gash, luckily just obscuring the first couple of letters, which knocked down the  price.

Well done!

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5 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

I love gold. Except for my shamefully bad Claudius Aureus I get a lot of joy from my gold issues, even the recent budget ones.

Ah, the  'Jerusalem' mint.  I picked up one at a 2009 or 2010 coin show from Jon Kern, flipped from Pegasi.  There was a small finder's gash, luckily just obscuring the first couple of letters, which knocked down the  price.

Well done!

I still want to see that aureus! 😉

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Posted (edited)

I'm thrilled with my recent acquisition of a denarius showcasing Julia Maesa. At the time this coin was minted, she was approximately 60 years old—an advanced age in ancient Rome. Isn't it intriguing to consider a society predominantly comprised of teenagers and young adults...

Quote

In ancient Rome, for the two-thirds to three-quarters of the population surviving the first year of life, life expectancy at age 1 is estimated at around 34–41 remaining years (i.e. expected to live to age 35–42), while for the 55–65% surviving to age 5, life expectancy was around 40–45. The ~50% that reached age 10 could expect to reach ~45–50, and the 46–49% surviving to their mid-teens could on average expect to reach around 48–54.

(Wikipedia: Demography of the Roman Empire)

I particularly appreciate this portrait because she looks like an elderly woman - and with 60 years, that's exactly what she was in ancient Rome. I find this portrait to be exceptionally well-crafted.

 

image.jpeg.747cbe4f24737fd2cc3c1ea1d4d82e06.jpeg

Julia Maesa, AD 218-224/5. Denarius (20mm, 3.11g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Elagabalus, AD 218-220.
Rev: Pudicitia seated left, about to draw veil and holding scepter.
RIC IV 268 (Elagabalus); Thirion 412; RSC 36.
Ex Gorny & Mosch, Auction 216, October 2013 and E-Auction 304, April 2024.

Edited by Salomons Cat
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1 hour ago, Salomons Cat said:

I'm thrilled with my recent acquisition of a denarius showcasing Julia Maesa. At the time this coin was minted, she was approximately 60 years old—an advanced age in ancient Rome. Isn't it intriguing to consider a society predominantly comprised of teenagers and young adults...

(Wikipedia: Demography of the Roman Empire)

I particularly appreciate this portrait because she looks like an elderly woman - and with 60 years, that's exactly what she was in ancient Rome. I find this portrait to be exceptionally well-crafted.

 

image.jpeg.747cbe4f24737fd2cc3c1ea1d4d82e06.jpeg

Julia Maesa, AD 218-224/5. Denarius (20mm, 3.11g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Elagabalus, AD 218-220.
Rev: Pudicitia seated left, about to draw veil and holding scepter.
RIC IV 268 (Elagabalus); Thirion 412; RSC 36.
Ex Gorny & Mosch, Auction 216, October 2013 and E-Auction 304, April 2024.

That is indeed a remarkable portrait! You have an excellent eye for artistic quality.

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Once again, I pressed "buy" on an online coin, so another one is in the mail and on the way. I keep telling myself I'm not going to do that anymore, but to no avail. So, until that new one arrives, this Tiberius III Apsimar from the murky late 7th century (when both the empire and the coins were not in the greatest shape) remains my latest ancient.

698_to_705_TiberiusIII_AE_Follis_01.png.18aecc834519d08abec062726d1253e6.png698_to_705_TiberiusIII_AE_Follis_02.png.081ce0421b57af867b20433fa84f519e.png
Tiberius III Apsimar (698-705, struck 698-702), Æ Follis, Syracuse, Obv: no legend, crowned and cuirassed facing bust, holding spear and shield; star to left; Rev: Large M, monogram above (Sear Monogram #42), palm fronds flanking, SCL in exergue; 15-19mm, 2.4g; DOC 32, MIB 79, Anastasi 337, Sear 1395

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Mallus, mid 3rd century (c. 250) pseudo-autonomous colonial coinage:

5096370_1706887515.jpg.6a4a38d064eb5fd19cf64cadff8d3daf.jpg

AE32mm 19.75g copper alloy multiple, minted at Mallus ca. 250
SACRA SINATVS; veiled and draped bust of the Senate (as a female), right
MALLO COLONIA; turreted and veiled Fortuna seated on rocks, left, holding ear of corn; on each side, Roman vexillum inscribed S and C; at her feet, two river gods (Pyramos) swimming in different directions
RPC IX 1437

21 specs in RPC but conspicuously missing from regular auction offerings.

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Posted (edited)

I won three Republican denarii at a Biddr auction, including one with a portrait of Pompey the Great:

IMG_4758.jpeg.25443b8b91453fd7686237a196b5f056.jpeg

L Procilius Denarius, 80 BC. AR Denarius (17,3 mm. 3,8 g.). Rome. S C behind laureate head of Jupiter right. Rev. L PROCILI F, Juno Sospita walking right, wielding spear, shield on left arm, coiled serpent at foot right. Crawford 379/1; Sydenham 771; Procilia 1; Sear 306.

IMG_4772.jpeg.7ecd82998f1747c7797509258a1e3932.jpeg

L Rustius, 74 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm. 3,7 g.). Rome. Helmeted head of Mars right. SC behind head, X beneath chin. Rev. Ram standing right, L RVSTI in exergue. Crawford 389/1; Sydenham 782; Rustia 1; Sear 320. 

877CE1EC-C41F-4D7A-9E23-5EAB6AFB996B.jpeg.6c5a94bc73cc743b1728903ba8aa9cce.jpeg

Sextus Pompey, 42-40 BC. AR denarius (17 mm. 3,3 g.). Uncertain mint in Italy. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, bare head of Pompey Magnus right, capis behind head, lituus before. Banker's countermark IV. Rev. Neptune standing left, foot on prow, holding aplustre, between the Catanaean brothers Anapias and Amphinomus walking in opposite directions and carrying their parents on their shoulders. PRAEF (partly ligate) above, CLAS ET ORAE MARIT EX S C (partly ligate) in two lines in exergue. Crawford 511/3a; CRI 334; BMCRR Sicily 7-10; RBW 1785.

Edited by MrMonkeySwag96
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My last venture into owning a Julius Caesar ended badly last year as I had to return the coin as  being fake but with superlatives such as made from "high quality bronze metal" , "exceptional craftsmanship", "must have" and an explanation that Julius Caesar played a significant role in Roman history, I bit the bullet and parted with $85 for this Ebay purchase on Friday. 

It is accompanied by a COA and in a velvet lined case. Normally these type of presentation boxed coins, when originally sold, are priced way above their value, a little like the limited edition "one of only 10,000 that will ever be made" type items sold in tabloid newspapers but  in this instance I guess the description limited bids. I looked up Westminster coins and they are still in business and make and sell commemoratives such as this.

roman-britain-coin-and-commemorative-pair-lifestyle-01.jpg?height=450&bgcolor=fff

They have no ancient coins on their website so I guess my purchase was something they ventured into in the past.

This is the coin I bought together with the COA and I hope the images reflect the actual coin which should arrive in the next day or so.

JuliusCaesarA.jpg.c4161bc942e3463b8ad39b8e14cc21f9.jpgJCB.jpg.e514f31ee8d024f033cc02bd1336934d.jpgJCCOA.webp.53d2417db488569a374ae1d9fecfdfeb.webp

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Won at Naville this morning. The quartuncia(quarter uncia) is a new denomination for me

5497378_1714395206.l.jpg.65187239ff266cfaa112625f78220d92.jpg

Roman Republic Æ Quartuncia(2.69g, 15mm), anonymous semilibral series. 217-215 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing attic helmet / Prow right; above, ROMA. McCabe Group AA; Crawford 38/8

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Posted (edited)

This is a relatively inexpensive follis of Constantine I, that arrived today.  I've been avoiding LRBs over the years, but I have picked up a few recently.  I've decided to buy some type coins before the prices get any more ridiculous.

This is basically an "as found" example, with most of the find surface still intact.  It will remain so, since it is partially masking some apparently ancient scratches on the reverse, to the right.  Also, I like the "ancient" appearance of the coin, so why try to make it look like so  many other processed (cleaned) coins?

As it turns out this coin has a scarcer eagle type on the reverse, a facing eagle.  I wasn't aware of that aspect when I purchased it for $35 online, so that is a nice little bonus.

Constantine I, AE follis, Rome (RS), 312-13 AD.  Facing eagle variety.

22mm, 4.68 grams

D-CameraConstantineIAEfollisRomeRS313-312AD.Facingeaglevariety_22mm.4.68grams5-13-24.jpg.ea8b0d7ec87c7d064bbbf045b395ebd6.jpg

Edited by robinjojo
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Posted · Benefactor
2 minutes ago, robinjojo said:

I've decided to buy some type coins before the prices get any more ridiculous for these coins.

I'm curious, because I haven't bought any new LRBs in quite some time, and if prices for them have been getting ridiculous I'm not aware of it. So I'll ask if you could please provide some examples of the sort of prices you've seen that you view as as ridiculous. 

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I guess, things being relative, I remember when these coins were available in bulk lots.  I suppose they still are, in the form of "as found" lots.  

Here are a few listings that I think are priced on the high side, but this is my perspective of course; they might reflect current trends.

https://www.vcoins.com/fr/stores/romae_aeternae_numismatics/136/product/constantine_i_the_great_spqr_optimo_principi_aquila_standards_ric_351_rome/658930/Default.aspx

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395387664541?itmmeta=01HXT01KAT46CM0JFAWP7X596C&hash=item5c0ef0f89d:g:AQ4AAOSwg1FlwC7i&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HsHiKh%2BFPN1o9owweFGDvlg99i%2BASMjBc9ZDB%2BGJu%2Bljd5skk4AQUyyV5mjuWHNZZUFagLWP1a641p6kgK0ni2HXtdRbhMQ%2Fiq3J9FJw0i1KKhAdCPhOP6HvafeCRimk%2BPqIAm%2B%2Biqwal1Zf2sX6JYJfWF2slbomaNL7nCu3UKuj95fWvrDMAwAy1d20a6kENZXiFsUzk%2BG5R3gwTHe5c7Rlc61G1G1P%2BftDYIJ2R0SZC5NF4b%2FAZmrCkpF4JkFcRbKTsd1S0ckaf9lBqUlGAA%3D|tkp%3ABFBMvLWGwO5j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395315654255?itmmeta=01HXT04SRQAX3S0SP0MX2201QE&hash=item5c0aa62e6f:g:GhcAAOSwf6BlB4jB&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HNwp89fdhUST76b0ELBRvIFHYzH1fa2xWtfNfAaxVOgwE2aVcOiZlxlpj2Luk1AScAgNSK%2BRZFw1e6qGuXBrEKdNuL59vtgkVAKV83GIpNjXbRINSCwXnBGXKJiaecSP0u9atkt%2FZQKxeO3UcWP%2F3%2FogWCXZMAf9mhuyQiYBOJ1Tq1kBDpoeMaOLukkVHGn8agLpfzcgakbfES5hbrNI9hD%2B0levLdkE2Fu%2BRYaDPrhlu%2BQlkYDFQWfqAOsxK7MT6WpVz5zGnOKlPCDqs0hLHY%3D|tkp%3ABFBMupyTwO5j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395356948628?itmmeta=01HXT082ZKANK9VKQ5C7AP7WBH&hash=item5c0d1c4894:g:m-gAAOSwru5l3obs&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0LSfVrY46%2BC3n%2BbePgu1vvfGCHj4OlXqtEYaoRdLHwzjQGgKZ%2FzWfi7Igu7K9QV8JT1mMN1LflhenjlJ1n1ahk3ucQ%2BNU1Nq8Q8H%2FXw%2FpO7Ms%2Bh4EPxBiSwC0%2BYsphd0FjGuz7PUZvK%2FKKjRG%2Bh9NfKHSkkw%2BcCt8ahPHwipNh2nLLsed2iSeP4qwSANuR7hQSinCrzphsjYAUmZLlTjXAwYps%2BlZXIwU9awcZF41r4F%2FcDqNmoDzNrJ1OE8juknWpgfzySvNfOJMWC%2BoDwrfUc%3D|tkp%3ABFBM8q-gwO5j

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2 hours ago, robinjojo said:

Members might like to know how to provide short URLs. The item is found using just the first part:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/395387664541

ending with the item number. All the rest is particular to the individual being tracked by eBay. 

To post such a URL you may go up to the URL line, put your cursor just in front of the question mark at the end of the item number, and pull to the right to block and then delete all the rest of the line. Then hit "return" and it will go to (stay at) the same item, but with the much shorter URL.

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Posted · Benefactor
4 hours ago, robinjojo said:

I guess, things being relative, I remember when these coins were available in bulk lots.  I suppose they still are, in the form of "as found" lots.  

Here are a few listings that I think are priced on the high side, but this is my perspective of course; they might reflect current trends.

https://www.vcoins.com/fr/stores/romae_aeternae_numismatics/136/product/constantine_i_the_great_spqr_optimo_principi_aquila_standards_ric_351_rome/658930/Default.aspx

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395387664541?itmmeta=01HXT01KAT46CM0JFAWP7X596C&hash=item5c0ef0f89d:g:AQ4AAOSwg1FlwC7i&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HsHiKh%2BFPN1o9owweFGDvlg99i%2BASMjBc9ZDB%2BGJu%2Bljd5skk4AQUyyV5mjuWHNZZUFagLWP1a641p6kgK0ni2HXtdRbhMQ%2Fiq3J9FJw0i1KKhAdCPhOP6HvafeCRimk%2BPqIAm%2B%2Biqwal1Zf2sX6JYJfWF2slbomaNL7nCu3UKuj95fWvrDMAwAy1d20a6kENZXiFsUzk%2BG5R3gwTHe5c7Rlc61G1G1P%2BftDYIJ2R0SZC5NF4b%2FAZmrCkpF4JkFcRbKTsd1S0ckaf9lBqUlGAA%3D|tkp%3ABFBMvLWGwO5j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395315654255?itmmeta=01HXT04SRQAX3S0SP0MX2201QE&hash=item5c0aa62e6f:g:GhcAAOSwf6BlB4jB&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HNwp89fdhUST76b0ELBRvIFHYzH1fa2xWtfNfAaxVOgwE2aVcOiZlxlpj2Luk1AScAgNSK%2BRZFw1e6qGuXBrEKdNuL59vtgkVAKV83GIpNjXbRINSCwXnBGXKJiaecSP0u9atkt%2FZQKxeO3UcWP%2F3%2FogWCXZMAf9mhuyQiYBOJ1Tq1kBDpoeMaOLukkVHGn8agLpfzcgakbfES5hbrNI9hD%2B0levLdkE2Fu%2BRYaDPrhlu%2BQlkYDFQWfqAOsxK7MT6WpVz5zGnOKlPCDqs0hLHY%3D|tkp%3ABFBMupyTwO5j

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395356948628?itmmeta=01HXT082ZKANK9VKQ5C7AP7WBH&hash=item5c0d1c4894:g:m-gAAOSwru5l3obs&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0LSfVrY46%2BC3n%2BbePgu1vvfGCHj4OlXqtEYaoRdLHwzjQGgKZ%2FzWfi7Igu7K9QV8JT1mMN1LflhenjlJ1n1ahk3ucQ%2BNU1Nq8Q8H%2FXw%2FpO7Ms%2Bh4EPxBiSwC0%2BYsphd0FjGuz7PUZvK%2FKKjRG%2Bh9NfKHSkkw%2BcCt8ahPHwipNh2nLLsed2iSeP4qwSANuR7hQSinCrzphsjYAUmZLlTjXAwYps%2BlZXIwU9awcZF41r4F%2FcDqNmoDzNrJ1OE8juknWpgfzySvNfOJMWC%2BoDwrfUc%3D|tkp%3ABFBM8q-gwO5j

Thanks. The first one definitely seems quite high to me given the condition. I can't comment on the others.

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Picked this one up pretty cheap recently

ElagabalusSACERDEISOLIELAGAB.jpg.b8558645f5bfea170ffd5ac6d289682e.jpg

I'm too poor to afford a nice Elagabalus Baetl-on-quadriga type, but this one I believe is the only other type to name his God instead of making vague references to "dei soli"

Since I was already on the hook to pay $20 for shipping, I added on a couple job lots, which coughed up this fun barbarous Marcus Aurelius, imitating Antioch - the engraver goofed and forgot to mirror the reverse die

ZomboDroid_13052024112226.jpg.fd1c1823c372df2d5b4688be3495526a.jpg

And a new Roman "key ring" which would have been used to unlock a small chest like a jewelry box

20240513_111545.jpg.f9f5a8f3241975ee2f5d54873979a4c8.jpg

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My latest, an extremely rare Crawford 45/3 Sestertius. This is the sibling issue to the extremely rare Crawford 45/1 denarius with fully incuse ROMA, thought by some scholars to be the first denarius, a type I am still missing and may never acquire. It also has a quinarius sibling which I will share below. This denomination is tough because there are a handful of these Roma/Dioscuri sestertii but aside from the common Crawford 44/7, all are very rare to unique, so it is always a good day when I can add a new one:

FB_IMG_1714327304388.jpg.97315c0502ee5ec252407e94e962ab0c.jpg

Roman Republic AR Sestertius(12mm, 1.08 g). Anonymous. After 211 B.C. Uncertain mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head and three-piece visor, earring an necklace; behind, IIS. Border of dots / Dioscuri on horseback riding right, each holding couched spear and wearing chlamys, cuirass and pileus surmounted by star; in relief in linear frame, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 45/3; Russo RBW -

Privately purchased from Jason Irving, 28 April 2024, ex Artemide 60E, 3 September 2022, lot 219

 

Its sibling quinarius, a type I acquired in 2019 which is at best scarce and the most common denomination of the series with more examples and dies known than the denarii and sestertii combined. Note in particular how similar the reverse is. Some sestertius dies have a much closer obverse as well:

20190119220725-08f548fb-sm.jpg.5161a3a0abe514499146bf11673ea4c4.jpg

Roman Republic AR Quinarius(16mm, 2.28 g, 12h). Anonymous. After 211 B.C. Uncertain(perhaps Apulian?) mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head and three-piece visor, earring an necklace; behind, V. Border of dots / Dioscuri on horseback riding right, each holding couched spear and wearing chlamys, cuirass and pileus surmounted by star; in relief in linear frame, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 45/2; Russo RBW 180; Sydenham 169.

Ex CNG Triton XXII, 1/9/2019, lot 787, ex Alan J Harlan collection, ex Spink Numismatic Circular April 1997, 1404

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6 hours ago, red_spork said:

My latest, an extremely rare Crawford 45/3 Sestertius. This is the sibling issue to the extremely rare Crawford 45/1 denarius with fully incuse ROMA, thought by some scholars to be the first denarius, a type I am still missing and may never acquire. It also has a quinarius sibling which I will share below. This denomination is tough because there are a handful of these Roma/Dioscuri sestertii but aside from the common Crawford 44/7, all are very rare to unique, so it is always a good day when I can add a new one:

FB_IMG_1714327304388.jpg.97315c0502ee5ec252407e94e962ab0c.jpg

Roman Republic AR Sestertius(12mm, 1.08 g). Anonymous. After 211 B.C. Uncertain mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head and three-piece visor, earring an necklace; behind, IIS. Border of dots / Dioscuri on horseback riding right, each holding couched spear and wearing chlamys, cuirass and pileus surmounted by star; in relief in linear frame, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 45/3; Russo RBW -

Privately purchased from Jason Irving, 28 April 2024, ex Artemide 60E, 3 September 2022, lot 219

 

Its sibling quinarius, a type I acquired in 2019 which is at best scarce and the most common denomination of the series with more examples and dies known than the denarii and sestertii combined. Note in particular how similar the reverse is. Some sestertius dies have a much closer obverse as well:

20190119220725-08f548fb-sm.jpg.5161a3a0abe514499146bf11673ea4c4.jpg

Roman Republic AR Quinarius(16mm, 2.28 g, 12h). Anonymous. After 211 B.C. Uncertain(perhaps Apulian?) mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head and three-piece visor, earring an necklace; behind, V. Border of dots / Dioscuri on horseback riding right, each holding couched spear and wearing chlamys, cuirass and pileus surmounted by star; in relief in linear frame, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 45/2; Russo RBW 180; Sydenham 169.

Ex CNG Triton XXII, 1/9/2019, lot 787, ex Alan J Harlan collection, ex Spink Numismatic Circular April 1997, 1404

Sweet coins! Is the thought these silver sestertii were struck for a very limited time before mass minting denarii/victoriatii. Very interesting if that's the case. 

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Quite an interesting denarius to fill the Galba hole until a nice one of Narbo pops up. The die engraver messed up the central placing of the bust making his backside almost touch the legend while the front has quite large fields. Another propaganda coin of Galba featuring Virtus portraying himself as strong and capable of holding the empire together.

GALBA, A.D. 68-69. AR Denarius
(3.38 gms), 
Rome Mint, ca. A.D. July 68-January 69.. 
Obv: "IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG PM" Laureate bust of Galba facing right; 
Rev:: Virtus standing facing, holding parazonium upwards and leaning on vertical spear.
 

galba.jpg

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