I haven't been around for a while. That doesn't necessarily mean I'm keeping my wagon composure. If anything, over the summer, I have fallen off the wagon only to have it back over me a few times with my wife at the helm. I'll post a few more of my acquisitions when I get time to properly photograph them. Until then, here's a newp. I only own 6 slabs. I know the general consensus among my fellow cointalkites is a negative stance. I tend to agree, but I'm not sure If I can bring myself to crack the plastic. Regardless of my view on encasing a piece of uniquely shaped history in a polymer case, I still couldn't pass up this deal. Faustina Jr Denarius. DIVAE FAVSTINAE PIAE, draped bust right / MATRI CASTRORVM, Faustina seated left on low seat, holding scepter & globe surmounted by phoenix with radiate nimbus, 2 legionary eagles set on low base before - RIC 753 Sear #5220 Before making the purchase, I had attempted to do my quick wildwinds/coinarchives ceremonial research. It usually takes me about 5-10 minutes to get an estimate of what I would be willing to pay based off of previous auctions, but I couldn't find many references to this coin. Wildwinds shows one example, in which I thought the description may had been exaggerated a wee bit i.e. "This is one of the top 2 rarest denarii of Faustina Jr., and seldom offered. Ref. RSC 161 very rare" and "Faustina Jr. denarius -exceedingly rare $510.00." I found 1 other price reference in which a lower quality coin went at auction for $343.00 in 2013 at a fairly prominent auction house. The only other site I found that referenced the rarity was a french ancient coin forum (thank you, Google Chrome Translate.) An individual on that site referred to this coin as the rarest issue of Faustina II. After these three references combined with the lack of quick web information concerning the issue, I concurred with the rarity and made my offer to the seller; the seller accepted and I'm the proud owner of my first 5/5 5/5 NGC Slab (if that means anything) If anyone happens to have more info on the issue, let me know. As usual, if you got 'em, post 'em. -Mike
I contemplated getting that coin myself when I saw it the first time but I still couldnt justify it even for its rarity. Its a lovely coin though.
However weird this may sound, I thought of you when thinking about submitting my offer. I figured you had already looked at it with it being up for a few days. You and your coin ladies.
Congrats on your new addition. It looks like a wonderful coin and rare on top of it. How can you go wrong? (except break it out of prison is my sentiment).
Sweeeeet!! => that's a very pretty denarius (congrats) ... Sadly, I only have one Faustina II example to add-in ... and it's a bit of an old comfy AE baby (oh well, go play with iamtiberius' coin) ... Faustina II AE Sestertius Rome Mint 128-175 AD Diameter: 31 mm Weight: 23.72 grams Obverse: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right wearing circlet of pearls Reverse: Reverse: IVNONI REGINAE S-C, Juno, veiled, standing left, holding patera & scepter; peacock standing left at feet, head reverted Reference: RIC 1651
I'm going to salt lake in a month. I'm going to attempt to sell it while I'm there. If i'm not successful, it shall be released from it's prison. I am having an individual make me a ring with a denarius of Marcus Aurelius in it. I wanted to get my wife a matching pendant with Faustina II; for a split second I was contemplating using this coin, but I think it may be too valuable to put into something that has the possibility of getting beat up. I may have to get another Faustina II
Just a caution: when I first started collecting some of the LRBs, I made one into a necklace for myself. Within a few months, the oil from my skin had a real effect on the surface of the coin. It was not an expensive coin, nor anything of value more than a few dollars, so it was not a great loss. Other than, thinking about it, the coin survived nearly 2000 years to be destroyed in a couple of months by me. Now I wear a fake coin, so it won't matter what happens to it. Just food for thought.
Thanks, I don't know many people with ancient coin jewelry. If that's the case, I'll probably go with a fairly inexpensive aurelius and faustina ii. Most of the jewelry I see comes from ancientcreations in Vegas; most of their coins have already been ruined when they buff the surface to match the luster of their sterling silver.
Faustina II Denarius. 3.1g, 18mm OBV: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Diademed & draped bust right. REV: SALVS Salus seated left feeding from a patera a snake arising from an altar. REF: RSC 195. RIC 714. Sear 5262.
Very nice new piece! I don't own any coins in slabs, but if you're going to be open to selling it in the future (even if not immediately), you might just want to consider holding it in its plastic prison for now. Not a popular sentiment, I know, but you'd just be carrying on in the grand old evil tyrant tradition of keeping pretty things in cages. And now I feel like buying a slabbed coin myself just to get drunk on the power... Bad Zumbly!
