Galba id/condition help

looks like a nice portrait, well struck. XF To my eyes. I have this as RSC43 Livia standing left holding patera right, sceptre left.
Any thoughts/input greatly appreciated

 

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This appears to be RIC 186 (BMC 8).

Galba's nose appears a bit unusual but this series of denarii has a lot of unusual noses (try ACSEARCH with the search phrase "galba denarius ric 186" to see what I mean). As with your Vitellius, I don't see anything obviously inauthentic but the same caveat regarding your Vitellius applies to your Galba.

Galba's denarii can be pricey in better condition -- easily in the $1,000+ range -- so if you paid significantly less than this you might want to consider having it authenticated in hand by an expert.

 

From the photo I can't tell. I'm slightly worried about the lack of flow lines emanating from the lettering and flowing to the edge of the flan. But that's just my opinion. Getting a 2nd opinion on such a high quality piece is probably worth it.

 

...here's a legit one (slightly worn) to compare it to..as you notice, i went the way as @IdesOfMarch01 suggested, some several years ago by NGC.......the nose does seem a bit Duranty... and welcome to cointalk....

 

This would be a great coin if it proves to be authentic (I hope it does). I'm certainly not saying it's not genuine. But I would ask if you purchased this coin from a known seller. As @dougsmit has so often said: "know the coin or know the seller". Also what is the weight and measurement?

 

That's a very impressive nose. Perhaps the designer of the coin was a secret Nerva supporter.

 

I no longer express positive opinions on authenticity on coins I have not seen in hand but I would like to comment on grading. The Steelers coin has separation between the ear and wreath and mid-rib detail on the leaves. This is XF. Coins lacking both of those two characteristics are, at best, VF. If the leaves are not separated from the head, we used to call a coin Fine at best. Difference of opinions on such matters is why many of us no longer grade coins using these terms. The fact is that wear is a minor part of whether a coin is desirable or not. My Galba below is terrible due to poor surfaces. Wear may be VF or not but desirability is Very Poor.

 

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"IMPRESSIVE" ????? What are you talking about ? The exact word would be SEXY !

 

Perhaps this example will serve as a useful nose guide/reference.

Galba AD 68-69
Bronze As or Dupondius
Obv. Laureate head right
Rev. Libertas standing left, hold pileus
Good portrait
RIC 318
16.6 grams

Ex. Palladium Numismatics

 

Well, I find it desirable.

 

Pegasi Numismatics is the source via an auction site, I am concerned because the terms of sales for the auction house is:

Lots may be returned if substantially misdescribed, but written notice to the sale vendor must be made within 5 days of receiving the lot. After that, lots may only be returned for reasons of authenticity. Any lot returned must be returned in the identical condition as auctioned. Slabbed coins that have been removed from the original holder may not be returned for any reason, including authenticity. Books or bullion items are not returnable for any reason.

So if you submit for authentication and comes back not genuine, you cannot return because it's in a slab and not in original holder mailed to you?

 

Send it to David Sear. He does not slab, but he does authenticate. He's also well respected in the community.

 

My interpretation of this sentence is:

(1) if authentication requires removal from the slab and the coin is judged to be inauthentic, then Pegasi will not accept a return of that coin.

(2) If the coin can be authenticated without removing it from the slab, and it is judged to be inauthentic, then you will be able to return it for a refund.

I.e., "holder" = "original slab." You cannot "re-slab" the coin if you remove it from the slab that was sent to you.

Personally, I would be comfortable relying on Pegasi's reputation that they wouldn't knowingly sell an inauthentic coin, and probably wouldn't bother to have it authenticated, but if you don't have this comfort level, you should listen to your own inner voice.

 

I did a search in Sixbid archives and found this:



GALBA (68-69). Denarius. Rome.

Obv: IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG P M.
Laureate head right.
Rev: DIVA AVGVSTA.
Livia standing left, holding patera and long sceptre.

RIC² 189.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 3.45 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.

Pecunem 36/607

That was the closest I could find in style. There is a huge variation in style with the coins of Galba.

 

Searched a bit more, and think I found the provenance:

 

thanks for the research and this example! My concern is that the portrait seems cartoonish. Not so much as not trusting the seller. I haven’t seen a Galba with that type of portrait particularly the nose. The one you’ve shown is similar and is reassuring

 

Thanks for the provenance!!

 

If the Pegasi coin and the Roma coin are not the same, I suspect they are both fakes, based on the exact same pattern to the right of the sceptre of Livia. If it is the same coin, I would perhaps wonder why it’s for sale only one year after being purchased at Roma. But I have a suspicious mind.

 

Agreed. Another coin I was watching, an Otho, came from the same Roma sale.