...and #4 of 4 just came I've been wanting a nice one from Syracuse since I've been collecting. This one has a partial flat strike but I really like it. I think get a nicer one someday though. Syracuse, Sicily, Hiketas, 288 - 279 B Bronze AE 23, Calciati II p. 312 ff., 168 (various obv symbols), EF, partial flat strike, 7.564g, 22.8mm, 180o, Syracuse mint, obverse DIOS ELLANIOU, laureate head of young Zeus Hellanios right, uncertain symbol behind head; reverse SURAKOSIWN, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, star left "Hicetas was tyrant of Syracuse for about nine years. The only recorded events during his rule are his victory over Phintias, tyrant of Agrigentum, and his defeat to the Carthaginians at the river Terias. He was expelled from Syracuse by Thynion shortly before Pyrrhus arrived in Sicily."
These 2 were so cheap I couldn't pass 'em up. Old habita eh? Commodus AE Sestertius. 179-180 AD. L AVREL COMMODVS AVG TR P V, laureate draped bust right / IOVI VICTORI IMP III COS II P P S-C, Jupiter seated left, holding Victory & sceptre. RIC 291 sear5 #5760 Macedon, Philippi, AE 19mm (Semis). VIC AVG, Nike standing left on globe, holding wreath and palm / COHOR PRAE PHIL, three military standards. SNG ANS 677; SNG Copenhagen 305, BMC 23, SGI 32. RPC 1651
Absolutely stunning devices and color, the bust, the eagle: just perfect eye candy. Is that lower pic from FORVMANCIENTCOINS?
Ty guys! Yeah the white background is Forvms pic. I just wanted to show it for comparison and to give a better idea what it looks like in hand, though it looks way better than either pic in hand. I'm really happy with it.
I thought so. It's a characteristically crappy forvm pic. You would think they would take the time to learn how to photograph a coin for God's sake.
They have better pics than many dealers, but yeah, I'm always impressed with a better looking coin than what I bought. Not that I'm any better though. Allot of my pics arent even worth posting edit: Like this one. It's 100x better in hand
Randy, i love the first two.. great color, nicely centered, with just a bit of a rub... very nice..:thumb:
From a dealer's standpoint it is better to have photos that don't look better than the coin in hand. You get fewer returns with nasty notes accusing you of cheating. Most coins look better in hand simply because you wiggle them or move your head to see the coin to a better effect. Way too many photographers just flop the thing down and shoot without adjusting lights or angles but most people wiggle coins in the hand without thinking about it. Most of my coins look better in hand because photos tend to be so large that any minor scratch becomes a gouge and a tiny reflection destroys detail which we all know is really there. I agree most dealers are terrible photographers but I prefer it that was as long as I can diagnose their photos and guess what the coin will look like in hand. If all photos were beautiful, someone else would buy the coins before I saw them.
I hadn't thought of the seller's perspective: throw up a bad pic and when the buyer gets it, he's thrilled at having a coin that's so much better in hand. Maybe I'll try that on eBay.
