Caligula Shoot-out

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Comments are especially welcome. I’m going to keep one of these “CALIGULAE” and let the other one go. I think I know which is which, but I’d like other perspectives. Here’s another photo pair.

 

Well if you could combine the obverse of the top coin with the reverse of the bottom, that would be a pretty nice coin. However, I like portraits so I would go with the top one since it appears a little more clearer than the bottom one.

 

Great idea! Saw the coins in half and combine which ones you like.

I do agree with Evan, but I'm a big sucker for sharp legends... gonna have to go with the second one.

 

I voted for the darker coin then changed it on closer inspection. The top coin has a much nicer portrait but the bottom has better centering and a very readable legend. The reverse on the bottom one is also much better IMO.

They both have something the other one doesn't... I think they would make a good team. Yup I'd keep em both.

 

Bottom one in the first post looks like a fake to me.

 

Darker top

 

Usually when this is the question, the answer is both or neither. Find one you like and delete both. I had the same problem but had no question about keeping one. I finally decided to keep the lesser one as well since it had a different obverse legend and no one would want it for what I would ask.

Now I want a better one with the lower one's legend. Who has one with a clear DIVI AVG PRON?

 

TOP coin’s provenance is Incitatus Coins, a VCoins dealer.

BOTTOM coin’s provenance is Numismatica Tintinna, an unsold lot from a Dea Moneta auction.

I don’t have a compelling reason to doubt either provenance. But if people have reasonable doubts, I’m interested in hearing them.

 

I prefer the lighter coin with its full legends and better centering.

 

I have to agree with Doug. But if I have to vote, I would take the better centered coin - the second coin.

 

..both coins have merits..i'm kinda like doug when it comes to selling my favs...i'd prolly want too much and end up keeping both..or neither...

 

Votes are running dead even. You people are no help!

 

Bottom--but not for color, for the centering and legends.

 

More and more, I've grown to appreciate quality over quantity in my collections. An upside is that I rarely find myself in a position of culling upgrades. I buy the best that I can reasonably afford (when considering the number of coins that I will ultimately need for the collection) the first time, which typically means that any upgrade would be out of my price range. That being the case, I'd personally sell both coins, combine the money, and buy something in better condition. As my Momma always said, "If you can afford two lesser grade coins, then you can afford one better grade coin!". (She didn't really say that, but it'd be cool if she did )

Of course, my approach to coins in general (new to ancients) is of the casual type set variety as opposed to strongly numismatic. Besides what happens to look more interesting, I don't really care whats on the reverse. I need 1 Caligula bust coin, only metric is that it's as nice as possible.

 

My choice would be the lighter coin with great legends.. or sell both and maybe the $$ will get you close to an even better coin? This is a very nice "problem" to have... sometimes it's important that we all remember that.

Best of luck and I hope you share your decision!

 

The second lighter coin has marginally better eye-appeal.

 

As a general example of this type of Caligula, the bottom coin has more features to recommend it: better obverse & reverse centering, much more readable legends, more even strike. But if Caligula's portrait is an important feature, the top coin has the advantage in that particular area.

I agree that on the bottom coin's reverse, the VESTA legend is unlike any other Caligula as of this type I have ever seen, and this makes me a bit uncomfortable. It may be that the cleaning process left only the high points of the legend visible (the legends on the obverse at 6 o'clock look similar), leading to this somewhat unusual appearance, but I'm still a bit wary about this coin.

 

Glad I am not the only one.

Plus just the lettering and the way the coin is "struck" compared to others. It just looks fake.

Your money, Gavin.....

 

Hmmm. I wonder if that's why it was an unsold lot at auction. This might be one I pay to have authenticated, though that sort of ruins the point of finding a budget buy. It's going to be hard to turn loose of the top coin now if there are legitimate doubts about the bottom "keeper," which was how I was leaning and which seems to be voter preference as well.

I'm fairly new to the world of auctions. Does Numismatica Tintinna have a generally solid reputation among collectors? PM me if you'd prefer to comment offline.

I assumed that I was fairly safe going with this auction house and had no reason to doubt the coin. But I don't want to ignore inconvenient but credible concerns.