Ancients - Ugly but Cute

Another of my budget purchases in February arrived the other day. It's a little ugly coin, but so ugly it's kinda cute. It only set me back $11.70 shipped so I'm well within my wife imposed budget.

ANONYMOUS Æ Quadrans OBVERSE: Winged petasus
REVERSE: S-C, winged caduceus
Struck at Rome, Late 1st-mid 2nd century AD
15mm, 2.36g
RIC II 32

Just in case you can't make out the obverse, here is a slightly better version (not mine):

 

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Uglies deserve homes too. I know I have several.

It has a nice patina.

Shame the obverse isnt better, I think its interesting.

 

The reverse does look a lot nicer on yours. Your obverse isn't terrible, either. Photos are on the tiny side.

 

Well, let me see if I can better

 

I love it, Bing! Good choice! These little "quadrantes", as RIC calls them are very interesting to me. RIC also notes that their composition is uncertain and that they may be related to the Roman tesserae. I'm sure there's more recent scholarship on the matter - maybe Ardatirion will chime in on it.

I recently bought one myself for a very low price, though not as low as yours. Why? Because some bonehead decided to counterstamp it! Are these the collector's initials, or was he grading his coins with a chisel and hammer?? Gawd people are idiots.

At any rate, I decided I could live with it since the grade of the coin is so high otherwise, and these little tidbits get very pricey in higher grades. I can live with holed coins if the coins have good detail, so I can live with this...

Anonymous. Domitian to Antoninus Pius, A.D. 81-161. Æ quadrans (3.25 g). Rome. Diademed and draped bust of Venus right / Dove standing right. RIC 24.

 

Thats nice one JA.

 

The coin looks ancient enough to me, but that stamp kind of bugs me a bit. It is definitely a nice coin, otherwise.

That's a nice budget Quadrans coin there JW. Right up my alley price wise.

 

Nice JA. I haven't heard that about these possibly being related to the tesserae. Interesting. I hope Ardatirion will comment.

 

You know, it says AU on it, About Uncirculated. Maybe the romans were grading coins long before PCGS came along. Though I would send it in for re-grading

 

Yeah, except the Romans would have stamped it HV.

 

True....

 

I didn't know the Romans played Super Mario...

 

Lol, throw spikes on it and it would be the shell from the Mario Kart games.

 

Great, now I want one.

I know what you mean by ugly but cute Bing, most of you remember this fine specimen:

 

I don't remember it because I doubt I was here at the time. I have noticed it for your avatar photo.

 

Ah, you missed it! I think I posted it while you were on break.

 

Great new addition, my ol' friend ... ugly, but cute (I like it)

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that's how my wife refers to me?!!



I have a sweet lil' quadrans that kinda fits the thread-theme ...

Augustus Æ quadrans
Moneeyers Lamia, Silia and Annius
Date: 9 B.C.
Diameter: 17 mm
Weight: 2.79 grams
Obverse: LAMIA SILIVS ANNIVS around Simpulum and lituus
Reverse: IIIVIR AAAFF around S.C.
Reference: RIC 74, 421. Cohen 339. BN I, 117, 580
General Comments: Quite Scarce, Nice tone, Better in hand!!




... it's kinda scruffy and a bit ugly, but it's also kinda cute

 

That's what made me think of the title for this thread little brother.

 

The AU might bother you a lot less if you knew which University previously owned the coin. Public collections have a problem with coins being pilfered from their trays and marking them would be seen as a safety measure. Of course if you later decided to sell them off and buy comic books, the proceeds might be less and the guy who thought up the idea would have already retired.

 

I think they're interesting, a tangible link to those who didn't know better!