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Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on the last coin I needed for my Roman 12 Caesars set.
lordmarcovan
Posts: 43,221 ✭✭✭✭✭
The first time I did the Roman set, I had 11 of the 12 Caesars- everybody but Julius Caesar, since I was focusing on the Imperial period alone then (Augustus to Zeno "A to Z"). I read at the time that one could expect Caligula to be the most challenging, but I found that to be untrue. There are Caligula VESTA AEs everywhere. Otho was the hardest for me then. I bought a decent Caligula VESTA. I later sold it when I had to break up that collection, and the person I sold it to declined my recent buyback offer- he's keeping it and I can't blame him.
THIS time around, with Julius Caesar and all the rest in hand, I found that indeed Caligula was the toughest slot to fill. Simply because I was not going to buy another VESTA unless I could get one nicer than my old one, and these days I can't afford one better than that, particularly with my self-imposed $500-per-coin budgetary ceiling.
So I got to thinking about provincials. I like the design variety on provincials (and the usually-friendlier pricing), but tend to prefer Latin legends to Greek, for the purposes of this collection. I noticed some Spanish mint pieces I liked and had my eye on one. It was kinda flat. I thought it was acceptable, but didn't love it. Then this one came along, offered by a small, perhaps newer VCoins seller. Same design, but with lots more "meat". Yes, it has some marks or old scratches, but I can live with those. (I don't think it's a damnatio like the seller was wondering. The marks would have been much more vicious and deliberate.)
Caligula provincial
<< <i>Caligula. Spain, Caesaraugusta, Æ As. 11.12g. 26mm. VF.
Spain, Caesaraugusta. Caligula Æ As. 11.12g. 26mm. black/brown patina, aVF.
Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS IMP.
Laureate head of Caligula left.
Reverse: C C A LICINIANO ET GERMANICO, II VIR in exergue.
Two bulls, led by man behind.
Heiss 206, 60; Cohen 242,43.
It is difficult to conclude for certain whether this is a "damnatio memorium" piece or not. Caligula's face has what appears to be a purposeful hack in it, but this may just be something that occured by accident. The patina in the fields is black, with the highlights being brown. >>
A nod to bronzemat, who helped advise me and help me choose whether to take the plunge or not. When he basically hinted, "if you don't buy it, I will", that clinched it for me.
My Galba bronze is also Spanish, from Tarraco, I believe.
THIS time around, with Julius Caesar and all the rest in hand, I found that indeed Caligula was the toughest slot to fill. Simply because I was not going to buy another VESTA unless I could get one nicer than my old one, and these days I can't afford one better than that, particularly with my self-imposed $500-per-coin budgetary ceiling.
So I got to thinking about provincials. I like the design variety on provincials (and the usually-friendlier pricing), but tend to prefer Latin legends to Greek, for the purposes of this collection. I noticed some Spanish mint pieces I liked and had my eye on one. It was kinda flat. I thought it was acceptable, but didn't love it. Then this one came along, offered by a small, perhaps newer VCoins seller. Same design, but with lots more "meat". Yes, it has some marks or old scratches, but I can live with those. (I don't think it's a damnatio like the seller was wondering. The marks would have been much more vicious and deliberate.)
Caligula provincial
<< <i>Caligula. Spain, Caesaraugusta, Æ As. 11.12g. 26mm. VF.
Spain, Caesaraugusta. Caligula Æ As. 11.12g. 26mm. black/brown patina, aVF.
Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS IMP.
Laureate head of Caligula left.
Reverse: C C A LICINIANO ET GERMANICO, II VIR in exergue.
Two bulls, led by man behind.
Heiss 206, 60; Cohen 242,43.
It is difficult to conclude for certain whether this is a "damnatio memorium" piece or not. Caligula's face has what appears to be a purposeful hack in it, but this may just be something that occured by accident. The patina in the fields is black, with the highlights being brown. >>
A nod to bronzemat, who helped advise me and help me choose whether to take the plunge or not. When he basically hinted, "if you don't buy it, I will", that clinched it for me.
My Galba bronze is also Spanish, from Tarraco, I believe.
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Comments
8 Reales Madness Collection
I might have to chase that set one day.
Richard
my car art & My Ebay stuff
Best of all the price was right for alot of meat on the bone. The flat one you mentioned I think you would have regretted. Sometimes going too cheap bites you in the rear later on...I should know.
Cant wait to see them presented in their box, even if they are in plastic coffins. Completing a 12 caesars is a bit accomplishment.
I look forward to your "all 12 Caesars" thread.
<< <i>I look forward to your "all 12 Caesars" thread. >>
That'll probably have to be when I've got better pictures.
In the meantime, here's the quick-n-dirty rundown.
Julius Caesar
Augustus
Tiberius
Caligula
Claudius
Nero
Galba
Otho
Vitellius
Vespasian
Titus
Domitian
World Collection
British Collection
German States Collection
Still want a tribute penny myself but dang I just can find one under $200 unless its seen alot of action or been run over on train tracks.
Maybe run over by a chariot during a race.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
WNC Coins, LLC
1987-C Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
wnccoins.com
What a huge amount of history in such small coins!
I am tempted to do something like that but may end up having problems if I will ever go back for good to Italy.
It seems that they are stricter than here with old coins.
Congratulations.
John
SFC, US Army (Ret.) 1974-1994
myEbay
DPOTD 3
I have put some galleries together over on the FORVM site.
love 'm all, except perhaps the Julius coin, in for an upgrade ?
Are Julius Caesar coins so difficult / expensive to buy ?
regards, Andre
WNC Coins, LLC
1987-C Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
wnccoins.com
<< <i>Great set, Rob
love 'm all, except perhaps the Julius coin, in for an upgrade ?
Are Julius Caesar coins so difficult / expensive to buy ?
regards, Andre >>
Andre- yes, the Julius Caesar is an ugly duckling. But it is a lifetime portrait issue, struck in February or March of 44 BC. In other words, right around the time of Caesar's assassination on the infamous Ides of March. In this case I chose history over eye appeal, though I could have had a better looking non-Caesar-portrait type for less. That's a pretty tough coin, and it just barely came in under my $500/coin budgetary ceiling. It's got a clear portrait and most of the name is there. Good enough for me, until I can afford a better one. (That won't be anytime soon.)
I'm shure you will find one in the long run,
good luck hunting,
Andre
Coinfame,Kaelasdad,Type2,UNLVino,MICHAELDIXON
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