Are any of these a good deal? All are $20

I found these at my local antique store. They are $20 each. I don't know much about Roman coins and I apologise ahead of time for the less than ideal pictures but I'd love to hear if any of these are a great deal. Thanks everyone!

 

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They all look like standard/common LRBs. The larger bronzes, like the Maxentius & the large Licinius I think would be a good deal.

 

You may hope to find good deals if you are versed in late roman bronzes and could spot rare variations (unlisted officinae, rare mints, rare legend variations and/or bust types etc.) or coins in particularly good condition and/or of particularly artistic style.

 

Nope. In my experience, Very few good deals to be had at coin shops on ancients. They make their money off the rubes that get hyped up by the razzle dazzle of the age of the coin.

 

Your title states all are $20
Then your post states $20 each... I almost yelled yes! but I changed my mind

 

I would only possibly consider the larger coins for $20. The rest, no.

 

I am not an LRB collector. I would save the $380 (approx), combine it with more saved monies, and get your Avatar coin... Carthage EL Stater / Dekadrachm.

 

Sorry to disappoint! I would've yelled yes I'm the store if they were the case haha!

 

Thanks! I'll keep this in mind. I'm gonna compare some prices and maybe pick up one

 

Haha very true! One day

 

You could probably find comparable coins on eBay right now at $20 each. Except, perhaps, for the Maxentius coin and the larger coins in better shape. But so much depends upon the reverse, which is not pictured here.

 

#87 Valentinian looks well-preserved for the type; $20 would be about right if the obverse was at least in the same shape as the reverse.

 

As others have mentioned, I like that Maxentius (unless the reverse is a disaster) for the price.

 

They all appear to be common, late Roman bronzes. With these coins, condition is usually the main determinant of value. If you decide to buy one just for the sake of owning a genuine, ancient Roman coin, then I would suggest looking them all over carefully and choosing the one in the best condition.

As a collector, I, too, would be tempted by the Maxentius. But your interests as a newbie are probably different from mine, and you can always pick up another Maxentius further down the road if you get the collecting bug.

 

The prices seem reasonable to me for a person just interested in acquiring a few decent ancients for the curio cabinet in the living room and for the tyro just starting to collect in this area an inexpensive way to learn a lot.

 

Depending on their reverse type and condition, I'd say that the Maxentius in the second row and the larger Licinius in the bottom row are worth considering at $20.

 

The Maxentius is probably a good buy, but I would probably pass on the rest.

Larger Licinius coins are more scarce than smaller ones, but there is no shortage. For reference, this one was only about $25 from Savoca early last year, fees included.

 

I would pick up the Licinius larger example and the Maxentius. Those are good deals. Maybe also for curio value a Constantius II Falling Horseman type. These have the legend FEL TEMP REPARATIO meaning "The return of Happy Times," "The return of the good old days" or something like that. Kind of neat and shows what the emperors were hopeful of, whether or not it was true is a different story. Consider it a bit of propaganda.

 

FYI my Maxentius was $85 which is par for the course for this type, sometimes they run into the hundreds of dollars for those in superior condition.





Maxentius is an interesting historical figure as he was defeated by Constantine at the battle of the Milvian Bridge, where Constantine purportedly had a vision of the Chi-Rho in the heavens and ordered his men to paint this symbol on their shields. It is the first time that Christianity was invoked before a battle.

 

Interesting post, @AdamB . I’d be careful purchasing from an unknown source, particularly rare and expensive coins. I think it’s cool that you have an antique dealer nearby who is selling them.