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Lord Marcovan Roman Imperial coin collection
lordmarcovan
Posts: 43,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
UPDATE, 8/20/08- the sale list is live on BST now
The info has been greatly expanded from this initial list, to include attribution and provenance, as well as my costs.
The collection will be broken up- no more talk of selling the whole thing as one lot, now.
UPDATE, 8/18/08: I have decided to sell this collection, because a recent layoff has forced me (not so reluctantly) into becoming a full time coin dealer, at least for the time being. This means that this collection must be sold to transform it back into working capital. I built it with the proceeds from my small antique mall booth, and if I am to be a "real" coin dealer, those funds need to go back where they came from. I simply cannot afford to pursue this collection any further. I have, however, had a lot of fun with it, and learned a lot, which was the whole idea of starting it in the first place. In 1-1/2 years as a collector of Roman coins, I think I made very good headway.
I have nearly $7,000 invested in this set. If anyone is interested in possibly purchasing it as a single lot, please let me know. ($350-ish of that $7K investment was in the gold solidus at the end of the set, which I plan to keep, so the total price would be adjusted downwards, accordingly).
If I have no interested parties in the set as a whole, I will be breaking it up fairly soon, and probably be putting the better pieces on eBay or the BST Forum.
Regrets? Seller's remorse? Well, yes, I'll have a little, but not too much. I will miss some of these coins. But I am keeping the knowledge and experience gained in collecting them, so in the long run, I'm not too heavyhearted about their upcoming sale, if it helps me pursue the goal of becoming a full time professional dealer instead of the part-time hobbyist I've been.
This set was probably the most fun collection I have built in the last 18 years. As a dealer, I may continue to buy and sell the odd Roman coin or two, in fact.
Until I have time to add my suggested mininum prices to each lot (which will be my at-cost prices), just PM with any questions.
The Galba sestertius (#012) and the Vitellius denarius (#014) are spoken for, IF the set is broken up for individual sale. They will be included, however, if anyone chooses to make an offer on the entire collection. As mentioned, I will be keeping the Zeno solidus (#130).
Many of the pieces are fully attributed by Sear and/or RIC number, as I received them that way from the dealers. I just never got around to listing the full attributions here. A few are still as-yet unattributed but I have been working on those.
NOTE: there have been a couple of small upgrades and one addition (a low-end, hole-filler Livia for #002) since I last updated this list. As of this post, the new upgrades and the Livia are not yet shown.
(List last Updated 7/24/08)
Using this list, you can see what I've got, and what I want. Having begun this rather ambitious collection in the spring of 2007, I've come a long way fast, but I have a very long way to go, too.
For now, I just need one coin per emperor, bronze or silver (or gold, in the rare cases where it's affordable). If it is a particularly scarce ruler, I will consider provincial coinage with his portrait. For the toughest pieces, my budgetary ceiling is around $500-600 per coin, and obviously those won't be regular monthly purchases for me.
Numbers in parentheses at the end are AE (bronze) rarity and AR (silver) rarity, respectively, according to the Dirty Old Coins database. I imagine these ratings apply only to homeland coinage and not to provincial issues. Therefore, for the scarcer rulers, I might consider a provincial issue if the homeland issues of that ruler are exceedingly expensive. I have marked provincial coins currently in my collection with an asterisk (*). As of now, I am not attempting any of the prohibitively rare rulers whose coins are all rated 8 or 9 on the database, or those who issued only gold coins. I'm also only including the Eastern emperors who reigned prior to 476 AD (the fall of the West). To have a complete "Twelve Caesars" set, I really should have started with Julius Caesar, who's not really part of the "Imperial" period, but for now I'll just start with Augustus, as many Imperial collections do. Besides, starting with Augustus and ending with Zeno gives my set an "A to Z" aspect to it!
While a coin struck during a particular emperor's reign as Augustus is preferable to "as Caesar" issues struck before he became full emperor, anything goes at this point. "As Caesar" or posthumous issues are acceptable to me, since this is primarily a portrait set.
My first criterion is a nice portrait, the second is a clear obverse legend with as much of the emperor's name readable as possible. (You'll notice that a few of the coins pictured below fall a bit short on the latter criterion). Unusual or interesting reverse designs are nice and if they appeal to me, I will pay a small premium for them, but this is mostly a portrait type set so those first two criteria are the only big ones.
LORD MARCOVAN ROMAN IMPERIAL COLLECTION: a portrait set of Roman coins from Augustus to Zeno
001-Augustus, 27 BC �������� 14 AD (4/6): AE as
002-Livia (wife of Augustus) (6/-)
003-Agrippa (intended heir of Augustus) (5/-): AE as
004-Tiberius, 14-37 AD (6/6): AR denarius
005-Antonia (niece of Augustus, mother of Claudius) (5/8) 006-Drusus (son of Tiberius) (4/-)
007-Germanicus (nephew of Tiberius) (4/-): AE as
008-Nero and Drusus (sons of Germanicus) (6/-)
009- Caligula, 37-41 AD (5/8): AE as
010- Claudius, 41-54 AD (3/8): AE as
011-Nero, 54-68 AD (5/6): AR denarius
012-Galba, 68-69 AD (6/6): AE sestertius
013-Otho, 69 AD (-/6): AR denarius
014-Vitellius, 69 AD (7/5): AR denarius
015-Vespasian, 69-79 AD (5/4): AR denarius
016-Titus, 79-81 AD (6/5): AR denarius
017-Domitian, 81-96 AD (4/3): AR denarius
018-Nerva, 96-98 AD (4/3): AE as
019-Trajan, 98-117 AD (3/3): AR denarius
020-Hadrian, 117-138 AD (3/3): AR denarius
021-Sabina (wife of Hadrian) (7/5): AR denarius
022-Aelius, 136-138 (intended heir of Hadrian, father of Lucius Verus) (6/6): AE sestertius
023-Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD (3/3): AR denarius
024-Faustina Senior (wife of Antoninus Pius) (4/3): AE sestertius
025-Marcus Aurelius, 161-180 AD (3/3): AR denarius
026-Faustina Junior (wife of Marcus Aurelius) (4/3): AR denarius (upgrade candidate)
027-Lucius Verus, 161-169 AD (5/4): AE sestertius
028-Lucilla (wife of Lucius Verus) (5/5): AR denarius (ex-ICG VF30)
029-Commodus, 177-192 AD (4/3): AR denarius
030-Crispina (wife of Commodus) (7/5): AE sestertius
031-Clodius Albinus, 195-197 AD (unlisted in DOC database- R5-ish?): AR denarius
032-Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD (6/3): AR denarius
033-Julia Domna (wife of Septimius Severus) (6/3): AR denarius (upgrade candidate)
034-Caracalla, 198-217 AD (6/3): AR denarius
035-Plautilla (wife of Caracalla) (7/4): AR denarius
036-Geta, 209-212 (7/3): AR denarius
037-Macrinus, 217-218 AD (7*/5): AE25, provincial 
038-Diadumenian, 218 AD (7/6): AE sestertius
039-Elagabalus, 218-222 AD (6/3): AR denarius
040-Julia Paula (1st wife of Elagabalus) (7/4) 041-Aquilia Severa (2nd wife of Elagabalus) (8/5)
042-Julia Soaemias (mother of Elagabalus) (6/4): AR denarius
043-Julia Maesa (grandmother of Elagabalus & Severus Alexander) (6/4): AR denarius
044-Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD (5/3): AR denarius (upgrade candidate)
045-Orbiana (wife of Severus Alexander) (8/6)
046-Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander) (6/4): AR denarius
047-Maximinus, 235-238 AD (4/4): AR denarius
048-Maximus, 235-238 AD (5/6) 049-Balbinus, 238 AD (6/6)
050-Pupienus, 238 AD (6/6): AE sestertius, Wildwinds plate coin, Example #1
051-Gordian III, 238-244 AD (4/2): AR antoninianus
052-Philip I, 244-249 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus 
053-Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) (4/3): AE sestertius
054-Philip II, 247-249 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
055-Trajan Decius, 249-251 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
056-Herennia Etruscilla (wife of Trajan Decius) (4/3): AR antoninianus
057-Herennius Etruscus, 251 AD (4/4): AR antoninianus
058-Hostilian, 251 AD (7*/6): AE27, provincial
059-Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
060-Volusian, 251-253 AD (4/4): AR antoninianus
061-Aemilian, 253 AD (8/6)
062-Valerian I, 253-260 AD (4/3): AR billon antoninianus
063-Valerian II, 256-258 AD (5/4): AR antoninianus
064-Gallienus, 260-268 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
065-Salonina (wife of Gallenius) (3/-): AE antoninianus
066-Saloninus, 260 (5/5)
067-Postumus (c.260-269 AD, usurper) (4/3): AR antoninianus
068-Macrianus (c.260-261 AD, usurper) (5/-) 069-Quietus (c.260-261 AD, usurper) (5/-)
070-Claudius II, 268-270 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
071-Marius (c.269 AD, usurper) (6/-)
072-Victorinus (c.269-271 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
073-Quintillus, 270 AD (4/-): AE antoninianus
074-Aurelian, 270-275 AD (2/-): AE antoninianus
075-Vabalathus (c.271-272 AD, usurper) (5/-): AE antoninianus
076-Tetricus I (271-274 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
077-Tetricus II (c.273-274 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
078-Tacitus, 275-276 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
079-Florian, 276 AD (4/-): AE antoninianus 
080-Probus, 276-282 AD (2/-): AE antoninianus 
081-Carus, 282-283 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
082-Numerian, 283-284 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
083-Carinus, 283-285 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
084-Diocletian, 284-305 AD (2/6): AE antoninianus
085-Maximianus, 286-305, 306-308 & 310 AD (3/6): AE antoninianus
086-Carausius (287-293 AD, usurper) (4/7): AE antoninianus
087-Allectus (293-296 AD, usurper) (5/-)
088-Constantius I, 305-306 AD (3/6): AE post-reform radiate fraction
089-Helena (1st wife of Constantius I) (3/-) AE3 
090-Theodora (2nd wife of Constantius I) (5/-) AE4
091-Galerius, 305-311 AD (3/6): AE follis
092-Galeria Valeria (wife of Galerius) (4/-): AE follis
093-Severus II, 306-307 AD (5/8): AE 1/4 follis
094-Maximinus II, 309-313 AD (3/6): AE follis
095-Maxentius, 306-312 AD (3/6): AE follis
096-Romulus (son of Maxentius) (5/-)
097-Constantine I, 307-337 AD (1/7): AE3 (upgrade candidate, though I like the patina)
098-Fausta (wife of Constantine I) (3/8): AE3 
099-Licinius I, 308-324 AD (1/8): AE follis
100-Crispus, 316-324 AD (1/8): AE follis
101-Licinius II, 317-324 AD (1/-): AE3
102-Delmatius, 335-337 AD (4/8): AE follis
103-Constantine II, 337-340 AD (1/7): AE3
104-Constans I, 337-350 AD (1/6): AE4
105-Constantius II, 337-361 AD (1/6): AE3
106-Magnentius, 350-353 AD (3/6): AE centenionalis
107-Decentius, 351-353 AD (3/6)
108-Constantius Gallus, 351-354 AD (1/6): AE3
109-Julian II, 360-363 AD (2/6): AE3 (upgrade candidate)
110-Jovian, 363-364 AD (2/6): AE3
111-Valentinian I, 364-375 AD (1/6): AE3
112-Valens, 364-378 AD (1/6): AE3
113-Procopius (365-366 AD, usurper) (4/7): AE3 
114-Gratian, 367-383 AD (1/6): AE3
115-Valentinian II, 375-392 AD (1/6): AE2
116-Theodosius I, 379-395 AD (1/6): AE4
117-Aelia Flaccilla (wife of Theodosius I) (3/8): AE4
118-Magnus Maximus (383-388 AD, usurper) (4/6): AE2
119-Flavius Victor (387-388 AD, usurper) (6/8)
120 Arcadius, 383-407 AD (East) (1/6): AE3
121-Eudoxia (wife of Arcadius) (3/8): AE3 
122-Eugenius, 392-394 AD (6/7)
123-Honorius, 394-423 AD (1/6): AE3 (upgrade candidate)
124-Theodosius II, 402-450 AD (East) (3/6): AE4 
125-Johannes, 423-425 AD (6/8) 126-Valentinian III, 425-455 AD (5/8)
127-Marcian, 450-457 AD (East) (5/8): AE4
128-Leo I, 457-474 AD (East) (5/8) 129-Verina (wife of Leo I) (6/-)
130-Zeno, 474-491 AD (East) (5/7): AV solidus, ex-Eliasberg
MY OTHER COLLECTIONS:
Lord Marcovan Love Tokens. Begun January, 2008. A date set of holed US Seated Liberty dimes with love token engraving on the reverses.
The Victoria Hope Collection. Begun September, 2001. A type set of 1901 British Empire coins with Queen Victoria's portrait. (Still adding pictures).
The Holey Coin Vest & Holey Gold Hat. Begun Fall, 2000. Holed world and US coins from ancient times to 1900. (No page yet- need pictures for the coins).
Digger's Diary: The "Keeper" Coins Album. Begun Fall, 1992. All of my noteworthy coins found with a metal detector. (Under construction- a long project).
0
Comments
Here's to hoping you get to do it again.
Good Luck Rob.
Best of luck on your collections, I am going to be sticking to the German stuff that I have a clue about...
Rick
1836 Capped Liberty
dime. My oldest US
detecting find so far.
I dig almost every
signal I get for the most
part. Go figure...
<< <i>OK, I give up... I thought I wanted to do this and have now decided after 2 weeks of searching, that I am out of my league... I need a Roman portraits for dummies to have a chance. I gave away a couple of Roman coins to a YN at the Mountain Home collectors meeting today. This stuff is way over my head as far as learning who/what is on any particular coin. I may try and be back again, but for now I am outta here!
Best of luck on your collections, I am going to be sticking to the German stuff that I have a clue about...
Rick >>
Rick, I know exactly how you feel. It is a common reaction, because the Roman Area (and Ancients in general) can be overwhelming
at times.
Inscriptions and reverse types are far more important than portraits, for someone starting out, IMHO!
The key is good reference materials. Whether that is RIC, ERIC, Online, or whatever. And, finding good dealers.
Being able to attribute roman coins is not rocket science, but, sometimes even the pros get something wrong. What I did, when I
first started, was buy attributed roman imperial coins - the higher quality the better. But, after awhile, that wasn't enough. I wanted
to learn everything there was to learn about the coins in my collection, so I set about learning how to use RIC properly to attribute
coins. I then re-attributed everything that I had purchased, and discovered mistakes - misattibutions. When you get to the point
where you attribute something better than a professional dealer, well, you know that you are making some progress.
The easiest method of attribution for me is a process of elimination. If I know the reverse type, I search for that. If I can read the
whole inscription, I can narrow it down to ruler and time period easily. After that, it is simply a matter of getting the mint location
nailed, and there you go. The references tell you the size in diameter, the metal, and often the weight.
There are multitudes of free resources online to get you started without a lot of investment in reference materials.
There are forums where you can ask your attribution questions and get expert opinions on pieces you are not sure about.
I also hope that you hang in there, and am willing to help you.
John
SFC, US Army (Ret.) 1974-1994
Probably because the coins are uneven and reflect light in different ways from modern round coins.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
<< <i>Being able to attribute roman coins is not rocket science, but, sometimes even the pros get something wrong. What I did, when I
first started, was buy attributed roman imperial coins - the higher quality the better. But, after awhile, that wasn't enough. I wanted
to learn everything there was to learn about the coins in my collection, so I set about learning how to use RIC properly to attribute
coins. I then re-attributed everything that I had purchased, and discovered mistakes - misattibutions. When you get to the point
where you attribute something better than a professional dealer, well, you know that you are making some progress >>
This has already happened to me once, now! L'il ol' newbie me spotted a mistake in the dealer's stated date of issue for a coin I bought. It could've been a mere typo on his part, though.
Also rec'd this Licinius II from the same Canadian seller.
That is a nice Junior you've got there! Love that patina...
John
SFC, US Army (Ret.) 1974-1994
Antioch RIC 36 (Roman Imperial Coins catalog)
Licinius II AE3 321-322 AD.
DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C
Helmeted, cuirassed bust left with spear and shield
IOVI CONSERVATORI
Jupiter standing left with Victory, eagle before, captive behind, XIIS (12.5) to right
SMANTA in exergue
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/licinius_II/t.html
Trying to identify these guys is like solving a puzzle.
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Coins in Movies
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You'll note I've added thumbnails above, and everything now has a picture.
The Otho denarius, from Harlan J. Berk (already discussed here previously).
The newp Diadumenian sestertius; a dead emperor from Ye Olde Dead King.
I have gotten farther with this project than I dared believe I would. And it still holds my interest, as I have much learning left to do.
What is amazing to me is how quickly I have gotten this far, in only about eight months. Granted, I still have a long way to go, but at risk of tooting my own horn, I think I've managed to assemble a pretty impressive collection in such a short time.
Oh, and here's a curious, random observation: I have yet to purchase a single one of these from eBay. The vast majority have been from dealers on VCoins. As a novice collector of ancient coins, I imagine I'm better off for having had less shark-infested waters to fish in.
It's a must have 2-vol set LOADED with history of each Emperor.
Makes for quite interesting reading.
I just received this nice Maximinus provincial coin:
(Edited 24Nov07 to add more details about Deultum and the coin)
Maximinus Thrax AE24 - Deultum, Thrace
Obverse: Laureate draped bust right IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG
Reverse: Concordia standing, holding cornucopiae LT COLF LPAC DEV (COL FL PAC DEVLT)
Catalog: Provincial Deultum Thrace
Notes: Deultum was a Roman Colony founded by Emperor Vespasian in AD 70 as a home for retired soldiers
"COL FL PAC DEVLT" is Colonia Flavia Pacensis Deultum or
"Peaceful Flavian Colony of Deultum"
Flavia was the family name of Vespasian
Deultum is now Debelt, Bulgaria
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
<< <i>Do you have David Vagi's Coinage and History of the Roman Empire? >>
JZ- nope, I sure don't. But I have Scarre's Chronicle Of The Roman Emperors, which is quite good, with a reign-by-reign collection of facts and information.
WB2- nice MaxThrax!
<< <i>CRISPINA AE sestertius. Salus seated, feeding serpent. SCARCE legend with IMP COMMODI AVG, unusual long-necked portrait.
CRISPINA AE sestertius. Struck at Rome, 180-183 AD. CRISPINA AVG IMP COMMODI AVG, draped bust right. Reverse - SALVS S-C, Salus seated left, feeding serpent coiled around altar from patera held in right hand. RIC (Commodus) 672b, RCV 6009, valued at $325 in VF. Rare obverse legend type. An interesting, extraordinarily long-necked bust of Crispina.
This is the only Crispina type available on VCoins with the extended legend using Commodus' name as well. >>
Bought from Steve McBride, Incitatus Coins, with whom I've done a lot of business. He had this priced at $110 but allowed me a $58 credit for a trade-in (a Domitian as I'd bought from him back in the spring, which ended up as an extra). So it cost me $52 plus a trade-in. He had a lot of less-expensive coins I could've filled holes in the set with, and this was the most expensive coin of his I had on my VCoins wishlist, but I didn't want it to get away. The others will have to wait until I've got more funds.
Was Emperor Zeno the genesis of this wonderful set?
While I am not doing a set like yours, I have been fascinated with the late Western Roman Empire's reliance on the provinces to issue its coins. I am amazed that the Rome Mint ceased to exist in Rome or even in Ravenna.
'Tis good to see you. The Zeno which you so generously won on my behalf was sort of the genesis of this set, but I had the interest even before that. I meant to learn more about ancients for years, but was intimidated by how much there was to learn. One day this spring I took a nap, had a dream about ancient coins, and literally woke up a collector of Roman coins, just like that. I knew it was time to embark on my education, which is ever evolving to this day.
Until this month, the Zeno was supreme ruler in this collection, but the Otho denarius (#013) I recently bought for just shy of $600 has dethroned it, at least in terms of monetary value. The Galba sestertius (#012), at a tad over $300, was running a close second to the Zeno, and is now the #3 coin in the Roman set.
Zeno still reigns supreme in my Holey coin collection, though. It will do double duty: when I go to coin shows, it will be the centerpiece of the Holey Gold Hat, and at all other times, it will reside in the Roman set album. It is also my first and only Eliasberg piece.
Of all the coins in this collection, it is the one I have owned the longest, so in many ways, yeah, I guess it IS the genesis of this collection. Certainly it is one of my most cherished pieces, sentimentally.
Funny I should encounter you here just now. I was just discussing you, as a matter of fact. You see, I was just about to show off the Zeno on this thread about coins with provenance, and I came here to retrieve the picture, when I noticed you had posted.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
nice serendipity! Very heartwarming story of the provenance of Zeno, too.
I guess he was struck dumb.
Or maybe he was dumb to begin with.
(I'd better stop, or he'll quit courtesy-bidding my eBay auctions.)
I see Stacks has an auction coming up real soon on Roman coins.
Also, are you going to NYINC or to FUN? Both are on the same EXACT days!!
I decided to go to NYINC this year again which will probably have some Heritage Auctions on more Roman coins.
I just picked up a few that would fill some of your blank spaces, but I don't think I'm going to be able to get them on the website this time around. Maybe next month.
https://www.civitasgalleries.com
New coins listed monthly!
Josh Moran
CIVITAS Galleries, Ltd.
<< <i>Lord: Howdy once again.
I see Stacks has an auction coming up real soon on Roman coins.
Also, are you going to NYINC or to FUN? Both are on the same EXACT days!! >>
Though FUN is usually a possibility for me, as I stick to the Southeast, I fear I will have a bit too much going on then to attend this year. Perhaps if there is a show in Charlotte or Atlanta or something later on in '08, I will take the Holey Coin Vest out of mothballs and attend.
I'll be getting this in a trade. It's not quite of the quality I'd normally have striven for in a more common empress like this, but it'll do, and thanks to the swap, it was cheap.
(Update- looks a bit better in hand, too.)
Sabina, wife of Hadrian.
<< <i>SABINA AR silver denarius. Concordia seated, holding patera & scepter. Nicely toned.
SABINA AR silver denarius. SABINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right. Reverse - CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left holding patera & scepter, cornucopia beneath the throne. RSC 24, RIC 391. 18mm, 3.2g. >>
From Steve McBride/Incitatus Coins, as many of mine are.
Funny how the "look" of this one resembles my Vitellius denarius from the same seller. I wonder if the two came from the same collection?
Galeria Valeria, wife of Galerius.
<< <i>gF/gF Galeria Valeria AE Follis / Venus
Attribution: RIC 107
Date: 309 AD
Obverse: GAL VAL-ERIA AVG, Draped bust right
Reverse: VENERI V-ICTRICI, Venus standing left, holding apple over altar
Size: 23.27 mm
Weight: 4.9 grams
Description: Ex Colosseum Coin 1992 >>
Severus II.
@Failmezger Collection@@ Severus II as Caesar AE 1/4 Follis / Genius
Attribution: RIC VI 170a Siscia , Failmezger 59 S
Date: 305-306 AD
Obverse: FL VAL SEVERVS NOB C, Laureate bust right
Reverse: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia, SIS in ex.
Size: 18.31 mm
Weight: 2.3 grams
Description: Ex Guy Clark 1996 >>
Both from Marc Breitsprecher at Ancient Imports, from whom I've bought many coins.
RS031: Clodius Albinus.
A somewhat scarcer usurper, from what I've seen. Purchased from Mike R. Vosper Coins in the UK for £125.00 (US $247.95).
Josh @ Civitas and other experts, I'd appreciate your input on how I did with this one, particularly as its rarity rating is unlisted in the DOC database. I saw another on VCoins that didn't look much better for $800, but that has to be craziness. This one seemed realistically priced. I remember y'all having one on Civitas a little while back that was about in the same pricerange as what I just paid for this one(?), but I missed the boat. I think I will be happy with this one. A lot of them seem to have weird strikes from really eroded dies, but this one looked OK to me and I liked the portrait on it.
<< <i>CLODIUS ALBINUS AR Denarius, c194, c18mm max, c3.1g.
CLODIUS ALBINUS
AR Denarius, c194, c18mm max, c3.1g.
D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES - Bare hd. r./MINER PACIF COS II - Minerva stg. fr., hd. l., hldg. branch of olive & shield on ground, spear rests against l. arm.
RIC7(R), RSC48, RCV6144
RARE >>
RS086: Carausius.
<< <i>Carausius error antoninianus.
Offcenter strike. Nice brown surfaces.
18x22 mm, 4.3 g.
Carausius right / Pax left. >>
This one was billed as an "error" coin due to its off-center strike. I realize, however, that while a strike this far off would fetch a premium with more modern coins, it's perhaps more of a minor detraction on an ancient, being considered "poor centering"? Nevertheless, it seemed inexpensive (for a Carausius), and it had a reasonably decent portrait and a clear (partial) name on it, so I decided it was good enough for me. In fact, I kind of think it has character and think I'll be pleased with it for the price. Nevertheless, I welcome the opinions of those "in the know". I got this one from Roman Lode Ancient Coins for $68 after shipping.
Both were purchased through the VCoins mall, and both are dealers with whom I have no previous transactions.
What do y'all think?
<< <i>Clodius Albinus.... for £125.00 (US $247.95). Josh @ Civitas and other experts, I'd appreciate your input on how I did with this one, particularly as its rarity rating is unlisted in the DOC database. >>
Looks good to me. Sear#6144 is the cheapest/commonest type of this not-so-common ruler. According to Sear, your price was spot-on for a gVF example.
<< <i>Carausius. This one was billed as an "error" coin due to its off-center strike. I realize, however, that while a strike this far off would fetch a premium with more modern coins, it's perhaps more of a minor detraction on an ancient, being considered "poor centering"? >>
Yep, for ancients, off-centre coins are still considered "defective" and therefore worth less than fully centred specimens. This one would be deducted because there's not enough left of the emperor's name to be unambiguous - "IMP CAR..." could be Carinus, or Carus, or even "IMP C ANT..." somebody, although in this case the portrait, with the beefy jowls of Carausius, is the best confirmation of identity.
The new Sear books cut out just before Carausius' revolt. This coin is listed in my old Sear (3rd ed. 1980) as #3463 - I think I can see a trace of a mintmark, "F-O" to either side of the standing figure, so we'll assume it's the London mintmarked version. CV back then was £60 for "average condition". I have one of these which I happily paid AU$100 for in 2002:
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded one DPOTD.
Do you think there is a possibility my Carausius is a barbarous imitation?
<< <i>Do you think there is a possibility my Carausius is a barbarous imitation? >>
It's always a possibility for this time period, but if this is a barb, it's a very good one. To me, it doesn't look "wrong enough" to be a barb.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded one DPOTD.
Back when you started this colection I printed out your list for reference for myself. Total number of coins added to date = 0
My coin purchases (and metal detecting and a host of other "hobbies" ) came to a screeching halt when my wife was diagnosed with cancer last year. Good news is she is doing well and this year is looking to be much better!
Keep up the good work Rob!
Hopefully there's still opportunity for you to go out and dig some cool stuff outta the dirt. Not ancient coins, on this side of the pond, but here's hopin' you can get the coil to the soil and find some stateside goodies!
Pupienus.
You Roman coin folks know that Pupienus is a rare bird, like his equally ill-fated imperial colleague Balbinus (whose coin I still lack, as of this posting). Both ruled jointly for a very short time, from April 22 to July 29, in the "Year Of Six Emperors" (238 AD).
This particular Pupienus sestertius is not the best of them out there, but it is quite adequate.
It also happens to be a Wildwinds plate coin, and Example #1 on the Wildwinds page for that type.
The flan cracks probably detract from the value somewhat but at the risk of using what's becoming a cliché of mine, I find that they give the coin "character". With a clear name and a pretty nice portrait, the coin meets my standards just fine.
At $330-ish, this will be the third most expensive coin in my set, behind the Otho denarius (which cost me not quite $600) and the ex-Eliasberg Zeno solidus (which cost me $350-ish). The Galba sestertius is now at fourth place (just a tad over $300). Rather crass of me to discuss how much they cost, but that was always my question for Michael (Aethelred) when he showed me his Roman coins and I was unschooled in them. The first thing I always asked him was, "So how much did that set you back? How 'bout this one? " It was a common question, mostly because I was trying to learn which emperors were scarcer than others. The DOC database I've been using (and the one Civitas posted here on the forum a while back in response to my questioning) are probably a more useful indicator of rarity than price alone, but the database rarity rating and price together give a more complete picture.
Plautilla.
<< <i>Plautilla wife of Caracalla Silver Denarius aXF Obv: PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA. dr bust. rt., Rev: VENVS VICTRIX., Venus std. l., holding apple and palm, and leaning on shield. S2003 >>
The picture is fairly small, but one can tell it is a pretty sharp and lustrous coin. It looked better than the other Plautillas I saw on VCoins, some of which were more expensive.
This one cost me fifteen dollars.
(Fifteen dollars in addition to the full balance of my VCoins gift card, that is! Thanks, Mom!)
I would suggest that you add Nero's mother Agrippina in the list, if only because of her impact in Rome's history by her acts and by imposing her son Nero instead of Tiberius' biological son Drusus to the throne.
And a question: Septimus Severus had two sons, and his wish was that both would inherit equal parts of the empire. Nevertheless, Caracalla killed his brother (whose name escapes me now) as soon as their father died and in front of their mother's eyes. Were there any coins minted with him? If there are, they would be the only remaining objects with his portrait and name, as his tyrrant brother made sure to erase any representation of him in frescos ,paintings, etc.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
<< <i>I would suggest that you add Nero's mother Agrippina in the list, if only because of her impact in Rome's history by her acts and by imposing her son Nero instead of Tiberius' biological son Drusus to the throne. >>
I probably should. The list is by no means complete. Pretty much anybody who didn't offer any possibilities below R8 on the Dirty Old Coins database rarity scale was excluded (in other words, those who issued only gold or who only offer R8 or R9 possibilities in bronze or silver). Agrippina is R7 in bronze (meaning pretty darn tough), and apparently unobtainable or nonexistent in silver.
I do have two R7 coins in the set already, though. (Interestingly, my most expensive, the Otho denarius, is only an R6). I'm not sure why I skipped over Agrippina. There are others, like Clodius Albinus (who I have) and Severina (who I don't), and probably more, that got excluded from the DOC list for some reason. I tried to map out a set I could conceivably accomplish without spending over $500 a coin (with a few exceptions like the Otho). But I'm sure there are still gaps, even if I still exclude the "untouchable" rare stuff. I will probably expand the list a little bit, by say another ten or twenty pieces, and when I do, I will likely add some pre-"Imperial" stuff- at least Julius Caesar, so I can claim a complete "Twelve Caesars" set. (Not that a portrait coin of Julius Caesar is likely to be within my budget for quite some time!)
<< <i>And a question: Septimus Severus had two sons, and his wish was that both would inherit equal parts of the empire. Nevertheless, Caracalla killed his brother (whose name escapes me now) as soon as their father died and in front of their mother's eyes. Were there any coins minted with him? If there are, they would be the only remaining objects with his portrait and name, as his tyrrant brother made sure to erase any representation of him in frescos, paintings, etc. >>
The ill-fated brother of whom you speak was Geta. And I have him. In fact, I used to have two very similar silver denarii with his portrait, and posted a thread a while back to help me decide which one to keep. (I ended up keeping the ex-Greener Collection example I'd bought from ajaan). One would think his coins would be scarcer, but they apparently aren't tremendously rare. A little tiny bit scarcer than the norm, perhaps, but not unobtainable. Geta is R7 in bronze on the DOC list, but only R3 in silver. This is no doubt because plenty of coins were struck with his portrait while he was Caesar (joint heir apparent), before their father died and the trouble began.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
https://www.civitasgalleries.com
New coins listed monthly!
Josh Moran
CIVITAS Galleries, Ltd.
Plautilla is in hand now, and she IS nice!
I thought the price was nice, too. It wasn't the "steal" you might think- it cost me fifteen bucks, all right, but the price was a HUNDRED and fifteen dollars, actually. I had a $100 VCoins giftcard, so the coin only cost me fifteen dollars after that, see.
Speaking of VCoins cards, I just got another, from my sister. Dunno the balance on it, but I'll be having a look at some of your less-expensive stuff. That's likely to be the only coin spending money I'm to have for the next month or two, unless I sell some stuff. I'm still flat, stinkin' broke- woe is me (and my wallet).
(See, Josh? Even when I'm the most cash-poor as I've been in a good long while, a belated-birthday VCoins giftcard from my sister came in handy!)
#117: Aelia Flaccilla.
<< <i>Aelia Flaccilla, wife of Theodosius I 379-386 A.D. AE4 Constantinople Mint Fine
Æ AE4 1.39g. 15mm. Constantinople Mint
Draped bust r., wearing elaborate head dress, necklace and mantle.
AEL FLAC-CILLA AVG
Victory seated r. on throne, holding shield inscribed with Chi-Rho on column; In ex.: CONE
[SALVS R]EI-PVBLICAE
RIC IX 61
Light brown patina with some dark green in fields. >>
Aurelian, 270-275 AD.
I went from this one:
To this one.
I found the new Aurelian antoninianus at the Macon, GA show on January 26th. It was a smaller show and I frankly didn't expect much in ancients, but I did manage to find one upgrade. (Actually, there may yet be another upgrade found in some of the smaller late Roman bronzes I bought, which I still need to attribute.)
#089: Helena, first wife of Constantius I and mother of Constantine the Great. Later became "Saint Helena" to the Christians.
<< <i>Helena AE3 Securitas standing left, holding branch and raising robe. >>
#090: Theodora.
<< <i>Theodora, second wife on Constantius I, AE4 Trier struck after her death AD 337-340
FL MAX THEODORAE AVG; Diad. and dr. bust r.
PIETAS ROMANA; In ex: TRS; Pietas stg.r. holding child in arms
RIC 79; 1.43g; 15.4mm; VF >>
Bob
Lordmarcovan, WTCG, YogiBerraFan, Phoenin21, LindeDad, Coll3ctor, blue594, robkoll, Mike Dixon, BloodMan, Flakthat and others.
OK, this is the first time I have logged on since I last posted to this thread on Monday morning.
Wanna hear something shocking? That Theodora piece above, that I mentioned then?
It arrived today.
That's FOUR DAYS, from Gert Boersema... in THE NETHERLANDS.
Wow. That has to be the fastest overseas shipment I have ever received. It beat the other one here (which I ordered from a US dealer).
Had the itch, and needed my Roman coin fix, so I just injected these into my collection! Caught a sale at Incitatus Coins on VCoins. Just 10% off, but every little bit helps, and Steve's prices already seem to be some of the most reasonable I've found out there, I think.
If you look at the collection above, and note how many red-background pictures there are in the thumbnails, you'll see how much I've bought from him in the past. I think he's probably my #1 source so far. I know he bought some Greener Collection consignments from Don (ajaan) in the past, too, so there's two CU forum members he's dealt with, and maybe more. Has anybody else done business with Incitatus over on the VCoins site (or elsewhere)? Got any other favorite ancient coin dealers you'd care to mention? (Josh @ Civitas goes without saying).
#063: Valerian II. R4.
<< <i>DIVUS VALERIAN II AR silver antoninianus. DIVO VALERIANO CAES, radiate and draped bust right. Reverse - CONSACRATIO, Valerian riding on eagle flying right. RIC 9, RCV 10606. Scarce. 22mm, 3.3g. >>
#118: Magnus Maximus. R4.
<< <i>MAGNUS MAXIMUS AE2. Reparatio Reipub, Emperor standing. Constantina (Arles) mint, found in Spain
MAGNUS MAXIMUS AE2. D N MAG MAXIMVS P F AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right. Reverse - REPARATIO REIPVB, emperor standing left, raising kneeling female; SCON in exergue. RIC 26a of Arles (Constantina). 21mm, 2.4g. A spanish find, nice patina. >>