Roman Denarius: A Little Sculpture in Silver

I was really amazed when viewing this little coin today, at the depth of strike, or rather, the very high relief achieved when striking this denarius. It is a denarius of Lucius Verus minted at Rome ca. 160 a.d.

The portrait stands out from the planchet a good 1-1.5 mm!
I find it amazing what die cutting quality and realism the mint at Rome was able to achieve.

 

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The incentives were a lot higher LOL a bad strike of the emprors effigy and off to the Arena to say hello to the lions close up Seriously though I have to agree the workmanship on many of the coins is stunning :bow:

 

thats one thing that impresses me as well about ancients

 

If you thinks that's high relief, you should take a look at an aureus!

 

Oh, I am NOT comparing. But I am impressed by the depth of strike on this particular coin. Certainly better than most of my denarii, and better than my aureii as well.

 

Yep a very fine coin Ed. Been trying to get that denarus for a while now. I wonder why Commodius did not make short work of the fella. Traci

 

How would you like to stack them!! Nice coin.

 

beautiful coin

 

Where can I get one and about how much do they cost?

 

I take it you are new to Roman coins, and would like a representative example of a roman denarius?

Look here: www.vcoins.com

Good site grouping many dealers specializing in Ancients coins, and you get some reassurance that what you are buying is not a fake.

Nice denarii can vary widely in price depending on rarity (emperor who issue it) and condition. The one I posted is not a rare coin, Lucius Verus coins are not that scarce. This one cost $90.

And, welcome to the Forum!

 

:bigeyes: Nice Pickup
I must agree the ancients are a win win coin.
The quality and workmanship was excellent.
And the price is reasonable.
Wish I knew more about them
Never took latin(for obvious reasons)

 

Very nice coin in deed!

Not all denarii have such a high relief - yours is a better one, I think.
Here's a high quality Severus Alexander:


Here's a pic of an aureus, from the National Museum in Rome:


If you like high relief coins, you might want to check out Greek coins

 

Thank you Svessien. Those are VERY nice coins you show there!
Beautiful detail on those greek coins.

I am trying to remember. What is the name of that fantastic (Athenian?) coin signed by Euianetos? (if that is the correct spelling). It shows a chariot on the reverse - and a beautifully cut portrait on the obverse. Absolutely lovely design (and expensive too!)

Eduard

 

Euainetos was one of the die engravers that worked in Syracuse, Sicily, during the period that some were allowed to sign their dies. There are large silver dekadrachms known that show the signature, coins that can be shown to be from signed dies but do not show the signature (it was weak and required a good strike to transfer) and coins that are claimed to be Euainetos style but are not signed. There are other cutters of which the best known is Kimon.

Fakes are common.

 

Here you go, buddy.

Don't go drooling all over the keyboard now, lol

 

Did you notice the die break on the last coin? Both shown are the same die but the break was a baby in the bottom one. Syracuse had the finest dies but they did not retire a die until it was absolutely necessary.

These glossy catalogs always show the big silver that now sells for big bucks. Those of us in poverty status can own coins of lesser denominations. Below is a hemilitron of Syracuse from the same era. It weighs .3g and is 10mm in diameter. There are bronzes of even lower denominations but the artwork is there.

 

Nice one, Doug.

I agree on the poverty status thing
I made up that "catalog" with stolen pics, just to show some die-hard US collectors that there's more to numismatics than dollars and cents

I have collected some bronze coins from Syracuse. They are nice looking coins too, and affordable.

 

I don't care whether people collect US or ancients but I can't call it a hobby if the only concern is the cash value of the collection. There is a lot to learn studying coins, any coins. I admire the collectors of large cents who understand the effect of the mint getting a particularly soft batch of copper one year and those who understand the politics that led to some types (VDB cents comes to mind as do racketeer nickels and Civil War tokens vs. CuNi cents). A dealer and author I admire once wrote, "Admire your coins for what they are, not for what they are worth." I personally have no use for MS66 over MS65 at $1000+ difference but I accept that obsession from those who could tell which was which if someone covered over that section of the slab.

 

Well, those are exactly that ones I had in mind. What a beauty.
I will have to own one of those one day, if not in this life, then in the next..........!

And the bronzes you guys showed are also very nice. Greek coins are not my main focus, but I can appreciate their art and workmanship.

 

Those are all beautifull coins. Thanks for all the pics. The artistry in ancients is really amazing.