What Your Budget Buys - $150 Edition

We're continuing our climb up the price ladder, and I'm curious to see what this next bracket will bring...

Let's see a sampling of your $150 coins (or anything between $125 - $175).

If a coin is an older purchase (ie., not bought in the past few years), please let us know roughly when bought it. If the coin was part of a bulk or large lot purchase, it would be helpful to mention that too. I'll kick things off with a few of mine...

This A-Pi drachm of Alexandria was just slightly over $125 shipped and came with some extras - the Roman-Egypt provenance (ex Dattari Collection), and the rare 'domed Nilometer' depiction on the reverse.
ANTONINUS PIUS
AE Drachm. 21.28g, 32.3mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 17 (AD 153-154). RPC 14929 (this coin cited). Dattari-Savio Pl. 141, 2763 (this coin). O: Laureate head right. R: Nilus, with crocodile beside him, reclining left, holding reed and cornucopia from which issues Genius holding wreath; to left, a dome inscribed Iς (for 16 cubits), in front of which stands a Genius; L-IZ (date) in field.

I simply loved the old collection look of this Hadrian denarius and its scarce reverse, featuring Oceanus and his crab-pincer horns. Just under $150.

HADRIAN
AR Denarius. 2.98g, 19.1mm. Rome mint, AD 119-125. RIC 75a. O: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right. R: P M TR P COS III, Oceanus reclining left on a dolphin, crab claw horns on his head, holding an anchor in his right hand.
Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection

A 'late lifetime or early posthumous issue' Alexander the Great tetradrachm that will not be everyone's cup of tea. But hey, to each his own... $170 shipped.

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander the Great.
AR Tetradrachm. 17.4g, 31.9mm x 25.5mm. Pella mint, late lifetime or early posthumous issue, circa 325-315 BC. Price 245. O: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. R: AΛEΞAN∆POY, Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and, in his right, eagle with closed wings; club in left field.
Notes from a 2014 Heritage auction listing for another specimen of Price 245:
"An extremely rare type; we have been unable to find any examples of this particular Price number having been sold in the past decade."

 

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This stunning Elagabalus was $125. Probably a little on the high end, but the portrait was very pleasing and attractive, and definitely worth every penny. Look at those killer sideburns and half formed beard.


This L Piso Frugi Denarius came to around $125 with auction fees included.

 

$134 shipped.
Vitellius Denarius.
Weight: 3.30 g
Diameter: 18.50 mm
A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head right / LIBERTAS RESTITVTA, Libertas, draped, standing facing holding pileus and long rod. BMC 31, RSC 47.RIC 105

 

Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Denarius Rome mint. Struck AD 74.
(18.47 mm, 3.39 g, 6h).
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESP AUG Laureate head right
Rev: PONTIF MAXIM Vespasian seated right, holding scepter and branch.
RIC II 685; BMCRE pg. 27 ; RSC 386. SRCV 1 (2000) 2305.
Ex: J. Eric Engstrom Collection
Ex: CNG E-auction 373, Lot 366 April 20, 2016
Paid: 135.00 USD


Domitian. AR denarius (18.15 mm, 3.36 g, 7 h). Rome mint, struck A.D. 81.
Obv: IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG, laureate head right
Rev: TR P COS VII, draped throne, back decorated with grain ears. RIC 3; BMCRE 2; RSC 554a.
Ex: William Rosenblum Coins Ex:Agora Auctions March 22, 2016 lot 52-174
Purchased from Agora Auctions March 22, 2016.
Paid 131.00 USD


Domitian. AR denarius
(16.88 mm 3.02 g,). Rome mint, struck A.D. 81.
Obv: IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG, laureate head right
Rev: TR P COS VII, draped throne, back decorated with grain ears Lituus beneath
the frame.
RIC 3 Var;; RSC 554a.
Ex: Akropolis Ancient Coins
Paid 170 USD




M. Porcius Cato.AR Denarius Africa 47-46 BCE
(18mm., 3.57g).
Obv: M CATO PRO PR Draped female bust r.
Rev: Victory seated r., holding patera.
Babelon Porcia 9. Sydenham 1052. Sear Imperators 46. RBW –. Crawford 462/1c. SRCV 1 (2000) 1381.
From the E.E. Clain Stefanelli collection.
Naville Numismatics 29 February 26 2017 Lot # 560
Paid: £110.68


Anglo-Gallic. Aquitaine: Edward the Black Prince. 1362-72.
(20.16 mm 0.96 g)
Hardi d'argent of Poiters
(.96g 20.16 mm).
Half-length figure of the Prince/Long cross divides legend. Elias 205b, S 8143. aVF, natural split on reverse.
Ex S. George Tucker, sold by Owl (the late John Barton) 10/81, #154$150+
Ex: William Rosenblum Coins Auction 47A - June 29, 2017 Lot 105
Paid 140.00 USD

 

Wow, this is amazing buy for Vitellius- Congrats!

 

Thanks. I got lucky, was the last one I needed for my 12 Caesars.

 

This category is becoming too common as prices rise and I run out of cheaper coins I want. All are in the 2016-2017 range.

I'll scare more people with the first one. "You paid WHAT for THAT?"

Diocletian AE antoninianus PAX AVGGG with MLXXI mintmark off flan $175 from High Ratings Low Prices (yes I did - it was on sale down from double that). I had been wanting one of these struck by Carausius in the name of Diocletian so I bought it. Most of you would not want it for $25 which is what I might pay for a similar looking Diocletian from another mint.


HR-LP did not mention the provenance of the coin. It has been shown here by another CT regular when he owned it. It also appeared in a CNG sale:

232, Lot: 310. Estimate $100.
Sold for $460. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Diocletian. AD 284-305. Antoninianus (25mm, 3.35 g, 6h). Londinium (London) mint. Struck under Carausius, AD 287-293. Radiate and cuirassed bust right / Pax standing left, holding branch and sceptre; S-P/[MLXXI]. RIC V 5. VF, brown patina, a bit off-center.

I can not explain circumstances that would allow HR-LP to sell a coin for 1/3 what it realized in a CNG sale. IMO the coin should sell for somewhere between CNG's estimate and what I paid. If you can make any sense out of coin prices, you are waaaaay ahead of me.

Next is another example of my paying too much because I liked a coin as much as the seller at a 2017 show. $130 strikes me as OK to a bit much but its tone and strike appealed to me.

Lucius Verus AR didrachm from Caesarea with Mt. Argaeus



On the other hand I really liked this Hadrian travel series AEGYPTOS sestertius from a 2016 show at $160.

The same dealer at the same show also provided this 'LIBERI' denarius showing Vespasian and his two 'children' and later emperors Titus and Domitian. At $150 I'm not sure it was a bargain but I like Eastern mint Flavians. It does have the mintmark in exergue and a decent face to offset the reverse off centering.


An earlier show in 2016 provided this Spainish mint Augustus with magistrate names for $150. Cute bull!

 

$136 from a dealer, April 2017. I'm probably the only person who'd pay that much for this coin but that's OK, sometimes that's the cost of being a specialist in a series and adding a coin that only comes to market once a decade or so.

Roman Republic Æ Uncia(5.10g, 20mm), anonymous(""Victory"" series), 211-208 B.C., Central Italian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right. Behind, • / Prow right; above, Victory flying right with wreath and ROMA; below •. Crawford 61/7

$172.50 via CNG auction December 2015. While it has metal issues I liked how well engraved and well struck it was. The toning is absolutely beautiful as well.

Roman Republic AR Victoriatus(17 mm, 3.08 g, 12 h). Anonymous. ca. 211-210 B.C. Southeast Italian mint. Laureate head of Jupiter right. Border of dots / Victory standing right, crowning trophy; upright spearhead between. ROMA in exergue. Line border. Crawford 83/1a; Sydenham 223; RBW 336; RSC 24m.
Ex RBW collection, privately purchased from Spink, September 1986

$154.50 on eBay, June 2017. This coin sold for $310 after buyers fee at CNG 61 in 2002. Just goes to show prices do change.

Roman Republic Æ quadrans(8.34g, 20.4mm). CINA(L. Cornelius Cinna?) series, 169-158 B.C., Rome mint. Head of hercules right; behind ••• /Prow right; above, CINA; below, ROMA; before, •••. Crawford 178/4; Sydenham 368c; Babelon Cornelia 14
Ex RBW collection, ex Tony Hardy collection, CNG 61, 9/25/2002, lot 1174

$161 from CNG early this month. I was a bit surprised myself as it previously hammered for $180 at CNG but I'll take it.

Roman Republic AR Denarius(3.98g, 17mm, 12h), Lucius Opeimius, moneyer, 131 B.C., Rome mint. Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, wreath; before, mark of value. Border of dots. / Victory in quadriga right, holding reins in left hand and wreath in right hand; below, L OPEIMI; in exergue, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 253/1; BMCRR Rome 1133; Opeimia 12

$125 at auction late 2017. A serrate Denarius of Quintus Antonius Balbus, praetor killed by Sullan armies shortly after his march on Rome in 82 BC.

Roman Republic AR Denarius(18mm, 4.23g, 6h), Quintus Antonius Balbus, Praetor, 83-82 BC, Rome mint. Laureate head of Jupiter right; behind, S•C downwards. Border of dots / Victory in quadriga right, holding reins and palm-branch in left hand and wreath in right hand; in exerge Q•[ANT]O•B[AL]B PR. Border of dots. Crawford 364/1d; Russo RBW 1374; Antonia 1.

$141 from an English dealer. This coin was priced a bit higher for quite a while and then Brexit came along and trounced the pound for a short period so I snapped it up

Roman Republic L. Procilius AR Denarius(3.70g, 19mm). Rome, 80 BC. Head of Jupiter right; S•C behind / L PROCILI F, Juno Sospita advancing right, holding spear and shield aloft; serpent before. Crawford 379/1; Sydenham 771; Procilia 1.

 

That is me. Tom Cederlind offered it to me many years ago for $600. I told him that was too much for a coin that was struck so far off-center. After some haggling, I bought it for something like $350 (I can't recall the exact amount). I was somewhat put-off by the off-centering and, in a moment of weakness (and later severe seller remorse), I gave it to Victor England to include in a CNG Auction. I have regretted that decision ever since (that probably rings a bell with many members of this Forum).

 

SEXTUS POMPEIUS FOSTLUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS POMPEIA
AR Denarius OBVERSE: Head of "Minerva or Pallas" (personification of Rome) with winged helmet, earrings and necklace, looking to the right.
Below the chin, it is the "X" (although its value then was 16 aces) and behind the bust is a small jar
REVERSE: FOSTuLVS left and Sextus. Pompeius. to the right of the field. She-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus.
Behind Ruminal fig tree is represented with three birds in their branches. On the left, the pastor Faustulus figure in an attitude of admiration for the wonder he sees. ROMA in ex
Struck at Rome 137 BC
3.63g, 19.5mm
Cr235/1a; Syd 461; Pompeia 1
Cost: $155

ATHENS ATTICA
AR Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Athena right
REVERSE: Owl standing right, head facing, on overturned amphora; to left, eagle standing right on thunderbolt; Gamma on amphora, ΗΡΑ in exergue; all within laurel wreath
Struck at Athens Epigene-, Sosandros and Eume(nes)-, magistrates 127/26 BC
16.8g, 30mm
Thompson 477a
Cost: $175

P CLODIUS MF TURRINUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CLAUDIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Radiate head of Sol right, quiver behind.
REVERSE: Crescent moon and five stars, P CLODIVS M F below
Rome 42BC
3.41g, 19mm
Cr494/21, Syd 1115, Claudia 17
Cost: $137

 

This is exactly what makes me buy so many coins. As a specialist you have to decide 'now' or 'never' more often than you like. Sometimes you err and buy something you have not seen for a decade and discover there was a group of them and you see more each month for a while. There are coins where all know examples look alike and probably came from one find. You never know when your 'unique' treasure will become the worst know of ten.....or a thousand.

Recently one CNG sale sold two of these that had the word FOSTLVS clear on flan. One had all three birds (as does Bing's) and full legends all around.
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=339573
I wanted that one but not as bad as someone else did! A VF coin with all the parts does not show up often enough that it did not draw a crowd. My coin ($130 in 1990!) has better legends than Bing's but worse birds. Maybe someday???

 

That could well be the case with my uncia. The patina is very similar to at least one BnF example and I believe of the 5 or so examples other than mine in my photofile there's another with very similar patina. I hope a hundred are found though, I would love to be able to buy one with a better "Victory" on the reverse even if mine suddenly becomes one even a specialist wouldn't want.

 

We have the same love for this era and type coins. Well done.

 

I LOVE all the posts....and the reasons for buying the coins!

I'll start with three that I easily can price.


AR Antoninianus of Philip I "the Arab" 244-249 AD., - IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FIDES EXERCITVS, four Legionary Standards, one of which is an Aquila (4.37 grams, 24/22 mm) Rome mint 247-249 AD., RIC IV 62 RSC 50, Extremely fine, bright silver, bold strike and strong portrait

I simply liked the eye-appeal and wanted one with that particular reverse---$132.00


Ae-29mm of Mamertinoi in Messana on Sicily, 220-200 BC. Av. laur. head of Zeus right Rv. nude warrior standing right, holding spear and shield. Black patina, weight is 17,14gr. BMC 25ff., SNG Cop. 458....

It simply spoke to me ---$148.00





RENIA (138 BC) Caius Renius Date: 138 B.C.
Workshop name: Rome Metal: silver
Diameter: 16mm Weight: 3.70g. Crawford 231/1

Obverse titration: Anépigraphe.
Description obverse: Head helmeted from Rome to the right; Behind X.
Titulature reverse: C. RENI // ROMA.
Description reverse: Juno in a goat's beard galloping to the right, holding a scepter and the reins of the left hand and a whip of the right hand.

I had to have a 'nice Republican' indulging in 'alternative modes of transportation'.
$170.00

 

I've bought a lot of coins in this category, but one of my more recent was this Thrace, Anchialus. Septimius Severus, city gate flanked by two towers. US $166 delivered. 26mm, 9.73g, Varbanov 199.

 

Louis the Pious, Carolingian Empire
AR denier
Obv: + HLVDOVVICVS IMP, legend around cross in circle
Rev: + METALLVM, legend around cross in circle
Mint: Metallum
Date: 816-819 AD
Ref: MEC 762



Demetrius I, Seleucid Empire
AR tetradrachm
Obv: Diademed head right, within wreath
Rev: BASILEWS DHMHTRIOU, Tyche holding scepter and cornucopia, seated left on throne supported by tritoness, monogram to outer left
Mint: Antioch
Date:161-150 BC
Ref: SC 1634
Provenance: Ex Stephen Glover Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 264)

 

I think I have an obverse die match to your coin; however mine is not nearly as nice.

 

Under Theodoric, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE half-follis
Obv: IMVIC-TA ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right
Rev: She-wolf standing left, suckling Romulus and Remus, two stars above, XX in ex
Mint: Rome
Date: 498-526 AD
Ref: BMC 30



Athalaric, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE decanummium
Obv: INVICT-A ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right
Rev: D N / ATHAL / ARICVS / REX, legend within wreath, X (10) below
Mint: Rome
Date: 526-534 AD
Ref: COI 86; MIB 78; MEC 1, 133-4

 

Yours looks great to me, I would have been just as happy with your one....I bet you got yours cheaper....you guys in the US get some great bargains.

 

I almost hate to say what I paid. Just a little better than 10% of what you paid. Really, sorry to say that to you.