Ever buy duplicates on purpose?

I just received this anonymous Roman Republican denarius from the last CNG.


I already have an example but I love the design and each has different features that I really like. Here is my other example.



And here they are together:




So please show and/or tell about any duplicates you have.

 

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That's one of my favorite Republican types. Certainly worthy of owning more than one

I have several duplicates and would be happy to have triplicates and quadruplicates of certain coins as well.



LYDIA, Sardes (... or maybe not)
Germanicus and Drusus
Struck CE 23-26?
restruck by Asinius Pollio, proconsul of Asia under Caligula, CE 37-38?
Æ26, 13.78 gm
Obv: ΔPOYΣOΣ KAI ΓEPMANIKOΣ NEIOI ΘEOI ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOI; Germanicus and Drusus seated left on curule chairs, one holding lituus.
Rev: ΓAIΩ AΣINNIΩ ΠΩΛΛIΩNI ANΘYΠATΩ; KOINOY/ AΣIAΣ within wreath
Ref: RPC 2995, Sear 365

These coins are unusual because they were overstruck with ring-shaped dies, striking new legends around the perimeter. How thrifty .
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-puzzling-provincial-of-germanicus-and-drusus.264079/



Julia Domna
AR denarius, 19.5mm, 3.17 gm, 6h. Rome mint
Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 207-211
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; draped bust right
Rev: Fecunditas or Tellus (Earth) reclining left under tree, resting arm on basket of fruit and placing hand on celestial orb; standing before her are four children representing the Four Seasons
Ref: RIC IV 549 (Septimius Severus); RSC 35



MACEDON (ROMAN PROTECTORATE), Republican period. Transitional bronze issue
c. 167-165 BC
Obv: Facing mask of Silenus, wearing ivy wreath
Rev: MAKE ΔONΩN legend In two lines; D above; all within ivy wreath
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 1324-6




PONTOS, Amisos
85-65 BCE, time of Mithradates VI Eupator
AE, all are ~27-29 mm
Obv: helmeted head of Athena right; helmet decorated with griffin
Rev: AMIΣOY; Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa, Medusa's body at his feet, blood gushing from the neck

etc

 

Wow! I love the restruck legends. I'd never heard of that.

 

Duplicates in ancient coins are entirely justifiable. They're all individually handmade so each coin is different, unlike modern machine-struck coins. Maybe I'm just rationalizing but it seems reasonable .

Even if you have two coins from the same dies they will look different because of the strike and flan. Heck, having coins from the same die is in itself a reason to buy the pair

 

Absolutely. I just bought another Faustina Junior aureus because she had a beautiful portrait style. While a coin of Faustina Junior isn't necessarily a critical addition to what I'm trying to build in my collection, I couldn't pass it up.

Here's my latest, followed by the two I'll probably eventually trim out:

 

Wow...they are all amazing if you ask me.

 

Both very nice coins H8_modern, I can see both also have their own detail characteristics, which in my book is a good reason for having the two. I bought this Antoninus Pius column sestertius about six years ago and although a well struck heavy (close to 28gm) coin with an attractive patina, was never completely satisfied as the statue was hard to see on top of column. So when this other sestertius (lighter near 20gm) came along for a third of the price but good statue detail I couldn't help myself.

 

They're all spectacular, of course

I can see why you might want to sell the third example but choosing which of the first two to keep? Impossible. Keep both. Or, justify all three by calling them studies in Faustina Jr hairstyles

 

I have never bought a duplicate on purpose...but I could see myself doing that with my ancients collection.

 

I have two of these sestertii, one in higher grade, but somewhat rough surfaces, the other in lower grade but smooth. The high-grade, rough one was an accidental purchase, made when I bid on a coin without properly consulting my inventory, so I can't say it was purposeful. But anyway, I ended up with both of them.

 

I've only purchased duplicates a couple of times, and they were pretty different. Here is a Russian wire coin I purchased a second copy of, the second version has reverse legend ends pretty much were my original coins legend started. Together, they make a complete reverse. These coins were struck on flans that were much larger than the flan, so it's impossible to get all the "stuff" on one coin.

 

I take in poor waifs when it strikes me even if I already had a matching coin. Examples:
I bought the second of these rare denarii simply because I couldn't stand by and watch the other bidders disrespect one of my favorite coins. If I see another at the same price, I'll buy it, too. The first of these has the most complete legends while the second has better surfaces. Will I find a perfect one?
Julia Domna / VICTOR IVST AVG seated Emesa mint


These two Domna / Venus Rome mint denarii are from the same clashed dies. Two matching coins show that the damage was in the die not in an individual coin.

 

It depends on how you define duplicates. I don't buy duplicates(other than to upgrade) that I consider duplicates, however a difference in control-mark, mintmark, legends or sometimes style make it a different coin to me. Here is an example. Going strictly by catalog numbers(except the Russo RBW catalog), these two would be duplicates but I consider them to be different enough, because of style, to be worth having both:

Roman Republic AR quinarius(16.3 mm, 1.94 g, 11 h). Anonymous. ca. 212-196 B.C. Apulian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / ROMA, the Dioscuri riding right, each holds a spear; H below. Crawford 85/1a; Sydenham 174; RSC 33b; Russo RBW 347.
Ex RBW Collection(Agora 42 lot 114, 10/6/15), ex Frederick Hastings Rindge collection(Malter XXX, lot 1473, 6/7/1985)


Roman Republic AR quinarius(16mm, 2.16g, 9h). Anonymous(H series), ca. 212-196 B.C. Apulian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / ROMA, the Dioscuri riding right, each holds a spear; H below. Crawford 85/1a; Sydenham 174; RSC 33b; cf. Russo RBW 348/NAC 61 lot 356(these dies)
Ex Roma XIII lot 544, 3/23/2017

 

I wanted the first coin and then apparently wanted the first coin again. I use a spreadsheet to record my coins (only about 1/2 done but the first coin was definitely in there). When I bought the second coin at auction I started entering in the description and Excel read my mind and autofilled everything. When I scrolled up a few lines I saw why - same coin already there. Note to self - check spreadsheet before bidding. Kind of cool to compare the different style of the engravers in the lettering and busts.



Elagabalus c.220-221 AD
IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate draped bust right
LIBERTAS, Libertas standing facing, head left holding pileus and sceptre, star to right. RIC 107

 

Duplicates you say? Yes, I collect duplicates. But then again, I specialise and look for minor variations between different dies. Style is perhaps the most nuanced reason.





These are all Vespasian RIC 19. The style variations between the 3 obverse dies are interesting to me.

 

Very nice indeed David. One could write a paper on those noses!

 

Both great details, I would have both.

 

I agree, I wouldn't count them as duplicates, to look at to many differences especially the helmeted head of Roma.

 

If only minor variations count as a duplicate than I have a lot If not than I only have 3 Horseman that are essentially the same (same ric/mint/officina) and gave on of those away.