Won what I consider to be something really major a few hours back at the Heritage e-sale. People familiar with early Roman Republican bronzes will understand. But for you others I will explain briefly why I consider this to be among my best purchases so far this year. The type itself is not super uncommon. But in high grade and preservation they are EXTREMELY rare and most top specimens still suffer from one of the main flaws on these which are: centering issues due to the small size of the coin, they also tend to almost always have surface / metal issues resulting in fragile surfaces, delamination and corrosion. Having looked at all specimens on acs, on numismatics. org and the British museum collection, plus countless other specimens I've encountered, I haven't found a better specimen of this type, most likely making this among the absolutely finest known. Centering, strike, surfaces (apart from some very minor pitting) and style are all exceptional! It will of course be released from the slab on arrival Anonymous. Ca. 235-231 BC. Æ Half-Litra (12mm, 7h). Rome mint. Obverse: Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet. Reverse: Dog standing right, left forepaw raised in pointing stance; ROMA in exergue. Reference: Crawford 26/4.
What a lovely little coin. Even in those in-slab images, with the ghastly white prongs grasping at it, you can see that's it's a nice example. It must've gone in on a bulk submission, since it didn't get the Strike/Surface ratings. I would have been interested to see what they gave it in those categories. And NGC gave it a "star". I never got a star from them. Even on one coin that richly deserved it. Hmph. Oh well, at least it got a perfect grade.
WOW, @Michael Stolt , that is a beauty! Congrats on the find! I would give you 5 Star Likes, but the rating is not available. I have several of these early RR Litrae. You are absolutely correct how difficult it is to get a good quality version. I have nothing as well preserved as yours. Mine makes yours look really good! My Doggie Half-Litra, one of my first Pre-Denarius AE Roman Litrae: RR Anon Half-Litra 235-230 BCE AE 11.1mm, 1.41g Obv: Head of Roma right, Phrygian Helmet Rev: Dog right w/ left foreleg raised; Roma in ex Sear 598 Craw 26-4
Excellent example, congratulations. Mine below. Surfaces are the biggest issue with these early RR bronzes.
This is a beautiful coin that I also was bidding on. Congratulations for a superior addition to your collection.
Good coin Michael. You'll need to locate a pre-2011 provenance in time so it has a travel passport. My coin is W.C. Boyd's example (1840-1906) ex the famed Baldwin's Boyd collection sale in 2005. (photo was taken in 2005 when digital cameras were a bit basic; very pretty in hand).
I put a 'place-holder' bid on that coin but promptly forgot about it (and everything else I bid on in that sale). That's one of those few per year I truly regret having let slip. Congratulations on such a lovely coin!
LOL, I KNOW this coin. It is part of my research files from 2015... 26/4 #0574-17 didrachm-litra coinage, Diana Dog Half Litra, 12mm, 1g68 26/4 #0574-17 didrachm-litra coinage, Diana Dog Half Lit... View on www.flickr.com Preview by Yahoo 26/4 #0574-17 didrachm-litra coinage, Diana Dog Half Litra, 12mm, 1g68 Half Litra. 234-231BC. 1.68grams. Rome mint. Anonymous. Crawford 026/04 Pre-den. Obverse: hd Diana r. Reverse: dog r, ROMA. Common.
I still have a hard time understanding slabs and how they come to some conclusions when grading certain coins. It's more fun to just break them open
Thank you very much I never thought I'd ever see one this good considering the very few top specimens out there.
Thank you very much Your specimen is one of those in the very top that I have been looking enviously at for a while. I feel really lucky to have been able to add one to the collection
Hello Andrew! Thank you very much. I will definitely be on the lookout for additional provenance on this. That's quiet the provenance you have on your's, congrats.
Mine. Little guy I bought on a whim at NYINC - pre 2011. One of the few bronzes I own. Michael Stolt's is really exceptional.