Q: Ancient Roman Coins

adamlaneus

Here is a wikipedia article about a person called Lucius Aelius Seianus. Two coins appear on this page.

Sejanus

I am curious about these coins. These two in particular, actually.

The website says these coins are 'rare'. That tells me nothing; 'rare' could be anything.

What is 'rare' in this case. Do I stand a chance of ever seeing one of THESE for real?

What is a good starting point for someone who might enter the Dark Side and is interested in this century of Rome's history?

Sapyx

Those coins on the Wikipedia article are Roman Provincial, from Bilbilis, a Roman colony in Spain. They are both the same type of coin; one has had Sejanus' name obliterated, the other has not.

Roman provincials typically aren't very valuable, unless there are good reasons otherwise (eg. if the city was mentioned in the Bible). This coin isn't listed in Sear's catalogue of "Greek Imperial" (which isn't surprising; this catalogue is nowhere near complete and comprehensive) but similar bronze coins from this and other Spanish cities are listed at 20 to 30 British pounds.

But apparently, having Sejanus named on the coin qualifies as a good reason. The two coins illustrated in that Wikipedia article are both listed on CoinArchives (which is probably where Wikipedia snitched the pics from). That particular damnatio one with his name obliterated has sold a couple of times in recent years, most recently by CNG (Jan 2007) for US$2000. Prior sales were $1250 (Sept 2005) and it was also sold through FORVM at one stage.

The worn but un-obliterated one sold at CNG in 2002 for US$425.

A third specimen is also on CoinArchives, less worn but more pitted, which sold at a German auction house for 3000 deutschmarks back in 1999.

By comparison, this otherwise identical coin from the same Roman colony went unsold at 150 euro estimate. The difference? This coin is older, from the reign of Augustus, and someone other than Sejanus is the personage named on it.

So yes, if you've got the dough, you can get yourself a Sejanus bronze coin. But for the beginner entering into ancient coins, this time period in the Roman series is probably one of the hardest; high demand from "12 Caesars" collectors and "Biblical coin" collectors coupled with relatively low supply means prices are much higher than for, say, Golden Age coins (Trajan, Hadrian etc).

adamlaneus

That is exactly the sort of information I was looking for. Thanks!!!