Another question for our community of experts: I collect budget (or low-end, or cheap, or euphemism) coins. My big bank-breakers are a pair of coins that were about $55 each, and I usually put a $35 cap on my ebay searches. That means I almost never see early emperors, at least not in my typical ebay I'm-actually-looking-to-buy searches. So my question is this: why do cheap provincial Augustus coins come up regularly, and then nothing much in the budget range for at least a hundred years after that?
There are cheap Provincials. Part of it may be that the demand for them is low and fewer people deal in them. Augustus was in power for a long time so there should be more of his coins. What Augustus Provincial are you seeing cheap?
I picked this guy up for about ten dollars shipped. I guess it's mostly the Iberian ones that I see in this range.. The condition isn't great, but I don't see any of the other first century (AD and BC) emperors for ten bucks in any condition (except maybe Vespasian?).
Curious? => is that a David Connors' example? (he usually has quite a few inexpensive coins, eh?) ... I bought a Nabataean coin from him a while back (my coin-photo has the same red-light thingy goin' on) As Doug already stated, I'm sure that it's merely a simple case of supply & demand (there are lotsa Augustus coins on the market, but not that many ancient coin collectors, so the lower-end examples are plentiful and inexpensive)
I picked this one up on ebay. I've been watching David Connor's store, but the stars haven't aligned just yet. I actually haven't made any vcoins purchases, though I check them out every once in a while. I've actually got a another of this type, and another Augustus with sacrificial implements, but mostly because I'm compulsive and have a hard time resisting five-dollar coins with any eye appeal.
Both of my Augustus Provincials were in the $20s shipped & I like them both. KINGS of THRACE, Sapaian. Rhoemetalces I, with Pythodoris, Augustus, and Livia (Late 1st century BC-AD) Æ 27 O: Heads of Augustus, laureate, and Livia, conjoined right; to right, capricorn right, holding globe. R: Diademed head of Rhoemetalces and draped bust of Pythodoris, conjoined right. 27mm 13.8g Youroukova 182-4, 186; RPC I 1708 Augustus, with Gaius Caesar, ( 27 B.C - 14 A.D.) Phrygia, Apamea. Gaius Masonius Rufus, Magistrate Ӕ20 O: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, laureate head right. R: ΓΑΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΓΑΙΟΣ ΜΑΣΩΝΙΟΣ ΡΟΥΦΟΣ ΑΠAΜΕΩΝ, Gaius Caesar in facing quadriga. 20mm 4.46g RPC 3129 Scarce
I love the jugates on theThrace.. still working on finding an example (from anywhere) for my collection. Something about the horses heads in the Phrygia speak to me... they definitely seem caught in the middle of something.
Lydia, Sardes. Augustus AE20. Grammateus Diodoros Hermophilos Augustus, 27 BC - 14 AD bronze of Diodorus Hermophilou. Obv: SEBASTOU head of Augustus r. Rev: SARDIANWN - DIODWROS / ERMOFILOU Lydios Zeus standing, holding scepter in left, eagle on his outstretched right hand.
Perhaps this thread is showing hoth2 correct since you have been showing coins of Augustus (cheap or not) rather than later rulers. I have shown little interest in the 12 Caesar period and have relatively few coins. I do have three cheaper Nero provincials but I have had them for years so maybe they are less common now than I realized. Macedon Nero AE24 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?similar=1372067 Magnesia ad Sipylum Nero AE15 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?similar=2078422 Sagalassus Nero AE19 https://www.acsearch.info/search.ht...s=1¤cy=usd&thesaurus=1&order=0&company= The most expensive of the three was within the $35 cap but I suspect they might bring more today especially if you insist on patronizing higher priced sellers. In truth we are getting to the place that ancients other than late Roman bronzes in presentable (not high) grade under $35 are getting harder to find. My attempts to sell my unwanteds and duplicates did not go so well as to suggest it would be wise to set up a business model based on coins under $35 so it might be less what exists than what there is a demand for in the market. It seems more likely to produce revenue if you tell people something worth $10-30 is worth $70-100 and see if someone doesn't believe it. I'm glad to see someone was interested in the coins shown here even though they were not mint state (or even fine?).
Just another Augustus. This one set me back 10.18 plus 5.48 to ship. I like searching for relatively nice coins for under 35.00.
Augustus, Lamia/Silia/Annius, AE Quadrans Around S.C. & Simpulum/Lituus ... not super cheap, but it's a good ol' Augustus example that I seldom post
Yeah, the 35 dollar cap is kind of limiting, but it keeps it challenging and keeps my fiancee supportive . I do love those pretty siglos though, and so stretch past it from time to time..
I seem to only find a decent 'provincial', let alone one of Augustus, at your limit (and often at my remaining budget limit) at Forum auctions, although they also seem to race towards $50.00+ by the close of auction. Sometimes it's best to combine a two month budget to get a coin you will still love a year from now, although I'm the first to admit I lack the necessary discipline to go more than a few weeks without making a purchase. LOL
Provincials are generally more rare than imperials and usually in poor condition. 35$ is around the range I look for but i'm not as concerned with condition as much as the city. Thessalian league under Augustus. Pseudo-autonomous AE15. Strategos: Megalokles Thessalian league under Augustus.Strategos: Megalokles. Obv. Head of Zeus, THESSALO Rev. Head of Apollo, MEGALOKLEKLEI Burrer 109-111. Rare
I pretty much stick to the wilderness of ebay. I have to do a lot of sifting, but the sifting is half the fun. With my budget I can't get too hung up on things like artistic merit, so I enjoy the hunt, and identifying unidentified lots, and the sheer age and the circumstances around the hammering of each coin.
Octavian, 27 BC - AD 14 AE32, 16g, 6h; Colonia Celsa. Obv.: II VIR COL V I CELSA; bare head of Octavian right. Rev.: Bull right; L.POMPE.BVCCO above, L.CORNE.FRONT (moneyers) Sorry I can't really help with the question.
AUGUSTUS Æ Semis OBVERSE: AVGVSTVS DIVI·F, Laureate head right REVERSE: Q. PAPIR . CAR . Q.TER.MONT.II.VIR.Q., Hexastyle temple with IVNONI inscribed on the entablature, C I IL A among the columns of the temple Ilici (Elche - Spain) After 12 BC 4.9g, 21 mm RPC I 192; SNG Copenhagen 507 AUGUSTUS AE Semis OBVERSE: PERM CAES AVG, bare head left REVERSE: COLONIA PATRICIA, apex & simpulum Colonia Patricia (Cordoba - spain) 19/18-2 B.C 4.08g, 20 mm RPC 130 AUGUSTUS (OCTAVIAN) AE Dupondius OBVERSE: CAESAR DIVI F, bare head of Octavian right REVERSE: DIVOS IVLIVS, wreathed head of Julius Caesar right Gallic or Italian mint 38 BC 30mm; 17.90 g CR535/v1, RPC620v
