One of the types I have wanted is a tetradrachm of Caracalla. Got one at a great price a few months ago. Caracalla (198 - 217 A.D.) AR Tetradrachm SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Seleuceia Pieria O: Laureate head right. R: DHMARC EX UPATO D, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head turned right. 23mm 14.5g Prieur 1188; Bellinger 76
Sweet score, chick-coin man ... Yup, I love those big, heavy, silver Tets (they always feel great in hand) => cool score
Nice looking coin. Funny that I am currently contemplating on getting a Caracalla Tetradrachm too, but not the same coin.
Nice coin indeed! I keep bidding on these Syrian tets at CNG and keep losing. One of these days, I'll find one that suits my budget and detail requirements.
I saw a few on Ebay in the past couple of weeks, and I was sorely tempted. But on the ones I could afford, there was always some technical problem, i.e. flan crack or incomplete legends. I kept hearing comments from members of this forum "I wouldn't buy one w/o complete legends" or some such. So I never pulled the trigger. I think the eagle makes for very nice designs.
Dont matter to me, so long as there is some good identifying design, has good silver and no BD forming, plus the price is right, it will come home.
It doesn't generally matter to me either. Most sold for over my budget anyways. I was only commenting on the remarks I heard in my mind. I suppose that's a good thing. Remembering little factoids (these days I don't remember so well).
I pretty much ride a seesaw when it comes to buying coins by condition. Sometimes I want the really high-grade coin and spend big bucks on it, other times I'm perfectly happy to get a coin graded F or lower, just to collect that particular type. And there doesn't seem to be any pattern to it. I like your tet, even though it grades Fine - it wears its wear very well. It did its duty in commerce, and there's a nobility in that.
Again => sweet new pick-up, Mat (congrats) This was one of my first ancient coin purchases (I'm sure that everybody knows this coin by now) ... I scored this Syrian Tetradrachm from a seller in Spain ($70 delivered, which seemed reasonable enough at the time) Good ol' Elagabalus, AR Tetradrachm Antioch, Syria 219-220 AD Diameter: 26 mm Weight: 12.80 grams ... sure, the obverse is a lil' worn, but I've always liked the cool eagle reverse
As nice as mint state coins are, whether its modern or ancient, I actually have more to comment on with a coin that has wear then AncientJoes area of collecting because they are perfect. What is there to comment on but "WOW". Same with moderns. A mint state seated liberty dollar is a beauty to see but one that is laying next to it and in VF condition I may have more love with it because of a particular circulation wear or even the toning due to its use in life I do not buy coins with major holes, bronze disease, or cracked in half or repaired from being cracked or slugs from uncleaned lots. Otherwise everything is fair game. Past 2 years I actually have parted with many pieces, some fairly rare, just because I got one in better shape cheaper. Its what keeps me off the wagon
I don't expect a perfect coin in my collection, probably can't afford it anyway. But I don't mind a little wear and tear as long as the details are mostly still there.
