Two ancients--I couldn't resist

RedTiger · October 29, 2005 9:02AM

I bought two ancients today. I don't usually buy ancients, but these look incredible to me, and cost less than a MS65 Morgan USD. In the news department, ANACS is grading ancients. This is not surprising since the ICG chief is bringing to ANACS many ICG ideas.

SYRACUSIAN · October 29, 2005 9:05AM

Nice coins, cheaper than an MS65 Morgan hey? Heh heh.

Anacs is now grading ancients, this will be a severe blow to ICG. I feel for Cameron.

ajaan · October 29, 2005 9:07AM

Nice coins. And I agree, this will be a blow to ICG. I think NGC may start soon.

coinmickey · October 29, 2005 9:22AM

This is interesting. Who knew ANACS was grading ancients? I collect ancients but never really cared about numeric grading. I do care about authentication. I assume they are doing this? I must check this out...

lordmarcovan · October 29, 2005 11:30AM

<< Who knew ANACS was grading ancients? >>

I did, but they don't do it anymore.

RedTiger · October 29, 2005 12:05PM

<< 

<< Who knew ANACS was grading ancients? >>

I did, but they don't do it anymore. >>

It is true, ANACS is not grading ancients as of this writing. I wonder why? I wonder how long a time they did do it. I can't remember seeing other ANACS ancients so it must have been a short time. I wonder if they will again with the James Taylor (aka ICG guy) influence.

>>>
http://www.anacs.com/faq.html
Q. Are there any types of coins that ANACS does not grade and encapsulate?

A. ANACS does not grade and encapsulate the Panama-Pacific $50 commemorative due to insert aperture limitations. Any coin larger than 40.6 mm or thicker than 3.8 mm cannot be encapsulated. ANACS does not grade cob coins, counterstamped issues, certain emergency issues, some Mexican Revolutionary issues, colonials (with the exception of the Fugio Cent), California fractionals, ancients, blank planchets, paper money. ANACS also does not grade or encapsulate non-genuine pieces or coins with active PVC.

* Edited to add: Now I am not so sure, because the FAQ still has the old information about net grades for problem coins, so it is not current. I sent ANACS an email and will update here when I get a response.

Sylvestius · October 29, 2005 9:28PM

Gorgeous!

Pity they're slabbed. I love the edges of Roman coins.

oldshep · October 29, 2005 11:00PM

Just imagine the history those coins have been through!!!
Shep

1jester · October 29, 2005 11:08PM

Sweet pieces!!!

Sylvestius · October 29, 2005 11:44PM

<< Just imagine the history those coins have been through!!!
Shep >>

Just imagine being able to hold them in your hands properly (without the plastic in the way), they might have been in the hands of important generals, key senetors, future emperors etc.

Lets face it there was plenty of future emperors around in 235... most of them emperor in 238.

RedTiger · October 30, 2005 1:19AM

<< Just imagine the history those coins have been through!!!
Shep >>

Because of their pristine condition, I'm thinking they went straight from the anvil into a jar and then buried. It was common practice to bury coins, especially in war zones. Perhaps dug up in the early 1900s then saved by a collector who knew what he had. I don't think these particular pieces were held in many hands.

1960NYGiants · October 30, 2005 1:55AM

Here are two more on Yahoo auctions.

Here are some on the Bay.

Gene

Aethelred · October 30, 2005 2:33AM

Both quite nice!

Sylvestius · October 30, 2005 4:27AM

Is that Mars on the reverse of the Severus Alexander?

That's another god i require for my gods collection.

BS · October 30, 2005 5:18AM

Very nice coins.

RedTiger · October 30, 2005 5:25AM

<< Is that Mars on the reverse of the Severus Alexander?

That's another god i require for my gods collection. >>

Yes it is Mars, from the listing:
Rev. PM TR P VIII COS III PP, Mars, walking right, holding a spear and a trophy. Provenance: CNG.

The other reverse is:
Decius on horseback

Cool idea doing a gods set.

CIVITAS · October 30, 2005 7:15AM

ANACS used to grade ancients, but has since stopped. Jonathan Kern used to offer a number of them back in the day in his ads in the US coin mags. Now he's mostly ICG marketing to the same collector base.

Those are two very choice coins. The Severus Alexander was probably part of a hoard of very high grade Sev. Alex. denarii that CNG got a hold of some years ago. An incredible strike on the reverse of that one. They were getting $200.00+ for those when they first started dispersing them. The Decius is also quite nice. Some excellent purchases.

Sylvestius · October 31, 2005 4:49AM

<< 

<< Is that Mars on the reverse of the Severus Alexander?

That's another god i require for my gods collection. >>

Yes it is Mars, from the listing:
Rev. PM TR P VIII COS III PP, Mars, walking right, holding a spear and a trophy. Provenance: CNG.

The other reverse is:
Decius on horseback

Cool idea doing a gods set. >>

I am slowly working on it, currently i have only Jupiter and Minerva so far.

Mercury and Neptune seem not to turn up much from initial observations. I can't imagine Vulcanus being
being ubiquitous either.

Two ancients--I couldn't resist

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