NEWP - Helena

For my Constantine family tree. So tell me honestly what you think: does the porosity of this coin bother you?

This wasn't an impulse buy - I considered the piece for a few days, and decided the positive aspects outweighed the porosity. I liked the color very much, and the coin has very nice, well-struck, only slightly-circulated details. Plus these are not the most common of LRBs, and run a pretty penny in higher grades. If the surface was smooth, it would be a $100 coin, or more.

So when the seller accepted a $20 offer, I figured I wouldn't suffer too much buyer's remorse if it didn't pan out in hand.

You don't have to like it just because I do. I'm curious how y'all would calculate the pros and cons...

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I think this coin is perfectly suited to your collection. But I do find the porosity to be unforgivable - most general types of Coinstantinian bronze are common enough that, with a little patience, you should be able into find a problem free coin at the right price. Once you become more acquainted with what is available and where to get it, I think you'll realize this took, but in the meantime, you needed this one to fuel the fires and keep the interest alive.

No disrespect intended - I was a junkbox collector myself for sometime. There are definite advantages to it!

 

I appreciate your honesty, Bill, and that's more-or-less the kind of advice I expected. Part of my issue is inexperience - I just don't know what such a coin looks like in hand, and as I said, for $20 the buyer's remorse shouldn't be too painful if I also find the porosity unforgivable. I can always return it though.

 

I like it ! It has all the details, nice color also.

 

We each have our 'things'. I also find porosity harder to bear than honest wear or weak striking but that is a minority opinion. The coin has plenty of good points and is worth the price to most people. I would, however, prefer the same coin with an additional $20 worth of smooth surfaces. I have Helena from several mints but not from Trier. Would I have bought this one for $20 if I had found it instead of you? Probably, but that is a close call. It would be far from my worst coin of hers!

 

I suppose I should say that any purchase of mine needs to be evaluated along the lines of...was it a good junk bin deal? My discretionary income is extremely limited on account of having four kids to feed, clothe, shelter, and educate. That's not a complaint - they're my pride and joy, and always my first priority.

I've gone over my collecting budget a couple of times and it did not sit well with my conscience. Anyone with kids knows that family life is one endless stream of exigencies that have to be dealt with immediately, and it doesn't do to be broke when dealing with exigencies.

Also, I've discovered another factor in my collecting, and that is that I'm actually less of a coin collector than an aficionado of history and philosophy. The coins themselves, as much as I enjoy them, are catalysts for reading more than anything else. I'm a collector of ideas primarily, and ideas come much cheaper than coins.

 

JA: I think the detail outweighs the porosity. For that price or even higher, I would buy it.

 

I would purchase that coin as well. It's nicely detailed.

 

Nice addition. More empress posts I see the better >D

Mines was a $35 BIN on ebay last year.


O: FL HELENA AVGVSTA - Draped bust right.
R: SECVRITAS-REIPVBLICE - Securitas standing left.
Siscia
19mm
2.8g
RIC 218

 

Mat= That is a small coin with great details. Here is my only Helena:

AE4
OBV: FL IVL HE-LENAE AVG, draped bust right wearing ornamental mantle, necklace and broad hairband
REV: PA-X PV-BLICA, Pax standing left holding branch and transverse sceptre
Struck at Trier, 337-40 AD
1.36g, 13.91mm,
RIC 90

 

The ones featuring the headbands are a bit rarer.

 

Perhaps a bit, but they can't be too rare. I only paid $12 shipped.

 

Nice portrait, great hearstyle, necklace... Lovely !

 

Lol, didnt realize the MM typo. Fixed.

 

Thanks Rudi

 

12$ ? A steal ! you're a real bargainhunter !

 

That seems more like it. :yes:

 

I try to be, but, like most of us, I too can get carried away and spend way too much.

 

Here is my " crusty rusty" of the old hag. :devil:

 

Just thinking out loud here Rip, but because of the reddish color in the coin perhaps a different color background might show it off better. It looks like it has pretty decent detail.