Hello guys! My latest aquisition just arrived: Diocletian, AD 284-305 Æ1 Follis, 8,81 g., 25 mm, Struck AD 301, Aquileia Mint Obv.: IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG Laureate head right. Rev.: SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. Ref.: RIC VI Aquileia 31a So far so good... However, what bothers me and ruins my pleasure is the frickin' edge! Also, the patina in hand doesn't look as thick as on the image, it's looks a bit "transparent"... Take a look! Do you guys see red flags or is it only in my head?
One thing that many new collector have trouble accepting is the fact that desirable ancients come in all grades from too good to be true to absolutely horrid. There are extreme rarities that do not exist in a grade that modern collectors would touch and there are others that can be found by the hundreds in mint state having spent 2000 years in a sealed pot buried in a hospitable climate. Learning the difference will take a while. Congratulations on your excellent coin.
If you want to see some LRB's with breathtakingly smooth fields and sharp dies, check out some of the "x6" collection still selling on eBay. The coins command a premium, but this seller really has some eye-popping items from Steve's collection as well as general inventory. Like this one, my fave: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Roman-Impe...936812?hash=item1ed1fb762c:g:l8kAAOSw76JZ46Jo
Hey, I am a Capitalist. If one can get those prices....better than everyone else in history and good for them! And, of course, if they truly are getting those prices, I myself and every other seller in the world is willing to consign.
Well, in fairness, the seller does have a “make an offer” option. But since many of these coins are being sold to help someone in need, it feels a bit churlish to bargain. But maybe I am being hyper scrupulous. With coins priced in this fashion, maybe some bargaining is invited.
And I’m sorry to hijack this thread. The OP coin is beautiful, and I see no reason to doubt its authenticity. I think I was making the connection to these other coins because they too are examples of LRBs that seem too good to be true. But such coins are indeed out there for those with discriminating eyes … and appropriate resources.
True. And I see that aspect. But I dont talk politics, religion or (I guess) health (but I am walking a fine line here and now, or, well crossing it I supose). Health is a big concern for me now (I wont expound). Should I ask 2-10 times current value and then tell people what my situation is expecting exponential sales? No, I wont do that. Not my style. When I check out likely none of you will know. And you wont pay any extra for any coins you do buy from me.
Thank you very much for the help guys! You made my evening! None taken, I was hoping for such answer! Yeah, I guess it makes me uncomfortable holding something ancient which doesn't show the wear I expect to see... Actually having a doubt about any of my coins is really discouraging... Yesterday I spent the day reading articles about counterfeits and how to spot them (including some of yours Doug ). So I guess there is a positive side - I hope some of the information stayed in my worried mind...
As others have said, nice coin! The edge looks perfectly normal, and as for the colour, IMHO, the coin has been cleaned and the metal is the process of gradually toning down. Many of these folles from the Tetrarchic period survive in very good shape and are common enough to not be very expensive. Here's my Maximianus from the same mint. MAXIMIANUS AE Follis. 9.47g, 28.9mm. Aquileia mint, AD 302-303. RIC VI Aquileia 35b. O: IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right. R: SACR MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia; VI in right field, AQP in exergue.
Man. Maximianus needs to lay off the fried cheesesticks. What is that neck measurement? About a 32? How does he even button his dress shirts?
Government isn't easy sometimes when you've got Diocletian's expectations to live up to! Give the man a break.
At the time the coin was struck, Maximianus would have been into the 16th year of his reign. That's a good many years of living large, and I'm sure he took to the benefits of the purple like a fish to water. Pop quiz: how many emperors liked the job so much they had THREE reigns?
