Down to two to complete the 12 caesars

I am down to Julius Caesar and Otho. Two of the harder to come by coins. I am seeing a lot of the Elephant JC coins for not that bad, but a portrait is very hard to find, Otho is also hard to find. Can anyone give me an idea of what a fair price is for these two and the condition that price would maybe buy? Photos would be appreciated. I am in no hurry but I do scan Vcoins every so often looking for these two. Thanks for the help

 

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A JC portrait coin will cost a minimum of $1,000, usually more. Otho, varies. Some are over $300, some near $700, depends on the condition and if his name appears, on the flan.

Lots of fakes, for both, too.

 

Portrait Julius Caesar denarii have always been quite desirable and I have never gotten one. I do have the portrait bronze As/Sestersius of him from 38 BC.

Also I've an Otho but that one in an aureus, & I think you're looking for denarii. Here a major aspect is whether the lines in his wig are discernable.

I'd recommend looking at prices realized at Heritage & CNG to see what money buys. I wouldn't buy those types of items on EBay due to counterfeiting.

 

Are you creating a set of only denarii? As I am sure you are aware you can significantly reduce the price by adding in some bronze provincials..


Otho, Ruled Jan 15-Apr 16, 69 AD
AE28, Syria, Antioch Mint
Obverse: CAE AVG IMP M OTHO, laureate head right.
Reverse: Large SC within laurel wreath of eight leaves, fastened at top with pellet.

 

I would prefer getting Denarius coins but I am not adverse to provincial or AS bronze coins.

 

Did you sell your first set?

 

Sorry but that's Galba. Whoever worked at the Antioch mint got the bust wrong. Yes it might say "Otho" but it doesn't look like him. On the other hand I love bronze provincials and the variety of different sizes and denominations used back then.

I think the O.P. is working on a denarius set tho.

 

Tracking shows Galba is out for Delivery today. At last. Man I hate buying from Germany or Europe as a whole. But the wait will be worth it. This was in much better condition and less expensive than others on Vcoins.

 

A very handsome example!
I agree about overseas shipping - I just received some coins yesterday, which I had purchased any a month ago.

 

I would like a set of Denarius 12 caesars, but I can not spend that kind of money. I will do bronze and or provincial coins. Otho may very well be a bronze. Same with JC.

 

I see on Vcoins there are two for 350 that are OK but name not readable. Very worn but still easy to tell what it is. There are a few in the 950 range that are like my Galba that just came in. Maybe if I get a good tax refund I will invest a bit into a JC or Otho.

 

There is this one on auction closing tomorrow that might sell for a reasonable price. https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=4284&l=5068721

 

Sorry - you're incorrect - its a provincial coin of Otho (as described).. here is my provincial coin of Galba (for your reference, tho).


AE23, Syria, Antioch Mint
Obverse: [IMP SER GALBA] CAE AVG, laureate head right.
Reverse: Large SC within laurel wreath of eight leaves, fastened at top with pellet, between inner circle and outer dotted border.
References: RPC I 4315 var (obverse legend), McAlee 314 (same dies)
Size: 23mm, 8.99g

 

It's not a portrait coin, though.

 

Note that I didn't say it wasn't a coin of Otho. I said that it doesn't look like Otho. In the Colonial coinage of the Spanish Kings (1700's-early 1800's) when one would die they'd often use the previous one's portrait but with the titles of the new king.

Sometimes, when left to their own devices, they'd simply make up an "Imaginary portrait" of the new King.

Since your coin says "OTHO on it, it was made depicting Otho. However I still think that it doesn't look like Otho as whoever engraved the design didn't yet have a picture of Otho. Thus it resembles the previous guy (Galba) with the nose fixed up a little bit.

Otho looked very different.

Otho photo from Ed Wadell but I removed his listing# & price.

 

"This coin is from one of the most important collections of portrait denarii ever assembled."

Do you know what collection this was/is?

 

Julius Caesar portrait coins are very hard and expensive. I buy nice coins. I don't buy really ugly problem pieces. I took a certified Julius Caesar portrait denarius up the $11,000 ($13,200 with the buyers' fee) and didn't get it.

The elephant pieces are selling for $1,500 to $2,500 in nice examples. That is by far the most common design (There are lots of varieties.) that as made when Caesar was alive.



I have this piece, which was struck 11 months after Caesar was assassinated. It was struck while armies loyal to the Senate were chasing Mark Anthony and his forces. The preservation is great, but it was struck off-center. This cost me a couple thousand.



My take is Otho is not as popular as Julius Caesar, but his coins might be a bit rarer because he was in office for three months. His coins seem to fall into the $1,500 to $2,500 range depending upon how nice they are. I suppose that the problem pieces are less, but I don't follow those. This one was cracked out of an NGC VF holder. A lot of ancient coin dealers crack them.

 

Good luck on your search. Leu has several portrait Caesars with "issues" in their next auction, if I remember correctly. That could help with cost.

I haven't purchased an Otho because I rarely see a nice one with full legends on both sides of the flan. That and centering are sticking points for me. If I'm going to sink that kind of money into a coin, I want it without hesitation. Portrait Caesar coins are a thought, but it hasn't really been a focus for some reason, as I have an elephant. Besides, I have 80something other varieties that I am looking for. LOL.