Nemausus dupondius opinions sought

Just an aside, but I know where a pretty nice VF of Nemausus is being sold right now for $185. Nice coin though, full heads, full alligator, nice chain, only thing missing is top of tree.

Just thought I would mention it since its not on Vcoins or numismall, just in case anyone is looking for one of these.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I know that this is an old thread bit I thought that I could resurrect it given that I have finally taken the plunge and bought a whole example rather than the broken halves I have bought thusa far. The coin is far from perfect and suffers primarily from an uneven strike but was pleasing enough to my eye and was within but limited budget.

Obv:– Heads of Agrippa, wearing rostral wreath, and Augustus, wearing laurel wreath, back to back, P-[P], IMP DIVI [F].
Rev:– [COL] NEM, Crocodile chained to palm branch
Minted in Nemausus Mint, Gaul, struck after 10 AD.



Martin

 

No need to apologise, it's a good thread (especially for those who haven’t seen it before).

Hmm, your croc has some detailed teeth. Brrrr!

 

Quoting from my website page on these coins while discussing my favorite one:

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/impossible.html
"Coin three would be a rather nice specimen but it shows many scratches (-5) remaining from the flan being filed before striking. These marks are common on these coins and were part of the minting process so some collectors claim they are not faults. The fact remains that a coin with so many of these non-faults still sells for less than a coin that was struck hard enough to erase the 'problem'."

There are many ancients known for being struck on file flattened flans. Collectors who don't like them don't often find a coin for their collections. US 1794-5 silver dollars fit in this category.
http://stacksbowers.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html
1/3 of the way down the page
The above coin graded PCGS 66 has pre striking scratches at the bottom of the reverse, across the face and at the right edge in front of the face. It sold a year ago for $10,016,875 so at least two bidders were able to accept the scratches. I did not bid but if someone were to give me the coin, I, too, could overlook the scratches.

 

Note no one mentions the faults. You also ned to understand that the final bid 'hammer price' did not reach $10 million but that number allowed for the buyer's premium.

 

Wow Martin => that is a very slick lookin' coin, my friend => total "congrats"!!

It has super eye-appeal (a nice rich toned look, plus it has a full croc, great NEM and great portraits => I really like it!!)

 

I have only just seen this resurrected thread......
I have not looked at anyone elses replies, not that it would sway me in any direction.
I do not know enough about grading / letters etc, but my assessment is this....1-4 from most desirable to least, plus positives/negatives for each.
1. Coin 3 - nice detail/centering vs stripped / scratched patina
2. Coin 2 - beautiful patina (best obverse of the lot) vs poor reverse
3. Coin 1/4 - cannot split the two for last position...I do not find the patina of coin 4 whether genuine or not, attractive, but the detail is good albeit blunt.

 

I have found these flan scratches on Postumus sestertius and they have clearly been made prior to striking too

 

Having no bearing on anything, coin 4 is ex ANS (Lhotka)

 

ANS? I am not aware of the acronym.

 

American Numismatic Society

 

Augustus & Agrippa AE Dupondius. Nemausus Mint, 20-10 BC. 11.2g, 26mm

OBV: IMP DIVI F, Back-to-back heads of Agrippa, wearing rostral crown, & Augustus, laureate.

REV: COL-NEM, crocodile chained to palm, wreath with long ties trailing above.

REF: RIC 155, Cohen 7, RPC 523, Sear (RCV 2000) 1730, aorta 580

 

Be interesting to see their take on the patina?