These threads might be reaching the point of diminishing returns, but I thought it might be worthwhile to start at least one more category. TIBERIUS 42 B.C. - 37 A.D. AR Denarius (3.63 gm.) "Tribute Penny" Lugdunum RIC 30 TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Tiberius r. Rev. PONTIF MAXIM Female figure seated right Purchased for $1,600 in 2008 directly from my dealer. TITUS 69 - 79 A.D. AR Denarius (3.31 g.), Rome 80 A.D. RIC 115 IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM Laureate head of Titus right. Rev. TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P Elephant, wearing cuirass, advancing left. Purchased from CNG in 2009 for $1,900 GAIUS (CALIGULA) AE As (11.31 g.) Rome 37 - 38 A.D. RIC 115 C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Bare head of Caligula left. Rev. VESTA S C Vesta enthroned left. Purchased for $2,000 in 2010 directly from my dealer. Finally, what is the consensus about starting a thread for the next tier ($2,500 - $5,000)? Would it be worthwhile?
Me too because even though I might be able to compete in this price bracket, I would have to make too many financial sacrifices that frankly aren't worth it to me (such as giving up my other hobbies, vacations, etc.) But looking and admiring high end coins is free, so I enjoy it very much.
I've shown this one before and it's my avatar. Purchased directly from ANE but it came from CNG. I got a good deal on it...over $1500 but under $2000
Coins in this category and higher are coins generally out of reach for me, but like @GerardV said, I love looking at them while I salivate.
That would probably be the only way I could get something in this category. The problem begins when I just can't part with any of my lesser coins. They are like my kids.
Some lovely coins above, two of these three below are well-worn, but were somehow irresistible at the time. Nero aureus RIC 50 - Temple of Janus - €1648 from Pecunem (G&N) in 2013: Nero aureus RIC 44 - Nero & Poppaea - €1678 from Pecunem (G&N) in 2014 (seller's pic): Leontinoi tetradrachm SNG ANS 257 - €2074 from Artcoins Roma in 2012. Most surviving examples of this type are from one hoard. Unfortunately, there are dangerous fakes made from dies made using the hoard coins. Fortunately, the fake dies apparently were "fixed" to repair a die break and so fakes tend to be identifiable - listings often include something like (quoting from a CNG auction) "minor die break on obverse (characteristic for this die)" to say they don't think their coin is a fake
Love the coins @IdesOfMarch01 ! And since I don't follow the big auctions I have no idea what the higher budgets buy. Don't mind seeing these wonderful coins at all.
This is the latest addition to my collection. It came to me in September from John Anthony. (I give it 5 smiley faces). Seller's photo: SICILY, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm 485 - 478 B.C. 24 mm, 17.2 grams
Lovely coins! Here is one of mine.... AV Solidus ND (uncertain mint) fifth officina 4.47g./ 21mm. Eastern Emperor Zeno 476-91AD mint state
Another....from NFA 1987 auction for $1200 AV Solidus ND Arelate Mint 4.56g. 22m. struck 366AD FDC Valentinian I 364-75AD
Marsic denarius 89 BCE Bovianum-Asernia-Samnia HN Italy 407 Sear 230 SCARCE Marsic Confederation denarius 89 BCE Italia-Italia seated shields vict Corfinium Campana retro B 105 HN Italy 412a Sear 228 RARE Carthage Zeugitana 310-270 BCE EL Dekadrachm-Stater 18.5mm 7.27g Tanit Horse 3 pellets in ex MAA 12 SNG COP 136 RR Anon AR Didrachm 280-275 Mars-Horse FIRST AR Coin of Rome RR Anon 265-242 BCE Didrachm Roma-Victory Crawford 22-1 Sear 25 RR Anon 265-242 BCE Didrachm Roma-Victory Crawford 22-1 Sear 25 Etruria Populonia AR 5 Asses 3rd C BCE 2.0g Young Hd L V behind HN 173 Vecchi Rasna III 52 Vecchi Etruscan 91.6 ex NAC 29 No 9 RARE
Annia Aurelia Faustina was a Roman Empress who has been scarcely noticed by ancient and modern Roman historians. She was of noble descent, daughter and only child of the wealthy heiress Annia Faustina and the Roman Senator, consul Tiberius Claudius Severus Proculus. In 221AD she became the third wife of the Emperor Elagabalus for a brief marriage. Potin Tetradrachm (24mm, 15.72 g, 12h). Dated RegnalYear 5 (L Epsilon) of Elagabalus (AD 221). Obv: Draped bust right / Rev.: Conjoined busts of Nilus, (wearing grain ear wreath and with cornucopia), and Euthenia, (draped and wearing grain ear wreath) both facing right; L <epsilon> (date) to right. The Imperial coinage issues in the name of Annia Faustina are of the greatest rarity, with only 6 attested surviving examples in silver, with a CONCORDIA (holding hands) denarius type. A sestertius with a similar reverse is also known. RSC notes a PIETAS type in silver with bust on crescent, but suggests it is a tooled Maesa double denarius. More examples are to be found among the Roman Provincial coinage, but anything in good condition is likely to exceed four figures. Still, there are interesting things out there. This next is the Claudius denarius I showed in an earlier thread. Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus (41-42) (BMCRE 13; RSC 6; RIC 2) Minted at Rome Both coins were purchased from CNG this year and each topped $1600 delivered. I don't think I have anything in the next tier.
Oh, yeah, a couple Stragglers to the party: Julius Caesar and P. Sepullius Macer. Ar Denarius Jan. - March 44 BC, 19 mm. 4.1 gm. Obv: CAESAR – DICT PERPETVO Veiled and wreathed head of Caesar r. Rev: P·SEPVLLIVS – MACER Venus standing l., holding Victory and sceptre resting on star. B. Julia 50 and Sepullia 5. C. 39. Sydenham 1074a. Sear Imperators 107e. Crawford, 480/14. PERSIA Achaemenid Daris I-Xerxes II 485-420 BC AV Daric 14mm 8.3g LydoMilesian Sardes king wearing kidaris kandys quiver spear bow Incuse Carr Type IIIb Group A-B pl XIII 27 First GOLD Coin as a Unit of Account
I've been on the look out for a reasonable example (better than the one offered in last week's CNG e action) for about a year now. They aren't showing up in auctions like they used to..