Recent lots

So, just a few lots recently I got. One of them is strictly the result of our friend @Severus Alexander fault. Its the late Roman lot. Anyone care to guess why I bought it? How about the byzantines, anyone spot what I spotted? The tets from Antioch are nice, but unfortunately one broke in shipment, (the lowest grade one thankfully).

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Nope. We don't always agree on what is best. I like the two Crispus in row 3.

 

What in the world does something like a lot that size cost & what's the avg coin price? Are those a mother mary coin? The ones that look like a lady with cross behind it?

Very neat stuff.

 

I'm going to guess the tetradrachms is for the Herennia Etruscilla, looks like a better reverse type?

 

I think it was the Byzantine lot that was my fault. I won't reveal the secret sleeper coin's identity...

 

I bought one from your lot sir, but this one does not show the obverse in the pics. Its a full face VF example. I have never seen a full face example for the issue, so REALLY pleasant surprise. The one I am blaming on you was from the late roman lot. I was educated in your auction, so therefor had to buy one coin in there.

 

No idea. I just bought the Antioch tets because they look cool and I always wanted a "roll" of them. Doug says I like to roll collect ancients. Yeah, he is right.

 

Ah! Got it. I'm not actually sure which of the late Roman I drew your attention to, so I look forward to finding out like everyone else!

Meanwhile here's a favourite group lot "sleeper" acquisition:

Maximian follis, issued 297. First tetrarchal issue from London, with LON mint mark. (Also a unique type with girded loins - they hadn't figured out the standard design yet, meaning this coin is among the earliest official outputs of the London mint.)

 

I never knew that Constantine's family still made coins celebrating Sol instead of Christian ideology. It is so pervasive in later Constantinian iconography, I thought it was fascinating having a Sol Invictus reverse. Its the last one in the third row. Of course, being a hoarder, I waited to pick one up in a group lot. The others are kind of nice, the silvered coin in the first row is especially pretty in hand. I don't actually collect them, but they are in nice shape for ancients.

 

Yes, it is a beautiful lot!

 

Ouch, that hurts. I was an underbidder on your auction for this type. I have never seen these in a group. Great coin.

 

The two on the left of the last row?

 

Well, the far left reverse. The obverse was not shown. Its a Class H. Its one of the rarest anonymous bronzes of the series. The obverse was actually a VF full face issue. Not full strike unfortunately, but full face. As such, its the highest graded one I have ever seen. The obverse might be pictured behind another coin on the bottom right row, (its the smallest coin in the group by far).

I have been luckier than average this year being able to buy two Class H and a Class F in group lots. The rest of this group is mainly Class A2 and A3's, with some Bs, Cs and Gs thrown in. Those just go in the pile, as I have tons.

 

You got some nice coins in there.
I had the byzantine lot on my list, but in the end decided to go for the byzantine lot 3 positions later, and got it, but not for what they highlighted.

 

Did they highlight the Irene? What did you bid on it for?

 

This confuses me. There are far more Sol coins of Constantine I than any with even a remotely Christian type. The family did not do much overtly Christian until dad was dead and most of the later types were neither Christian nor Pagan in keeping with the split of the population and desire to keep peace.
Crispus with Jupiter


Constantine II with Sol but not named


Constantine II with Jupiter


Constantine I issued Sol from all the Western mints at least.

He even has Mars coins.


I wonder if we would have spotted the H better had you presented both sides in the same order rather than stirring the pot? Probably not since I missed the double cross.

 

Yes, they did. The lower left is an SB 2120 in good state, there are a few decent others (consider i clean coins; Alexius follis is in progress already and cleaning nicely), and i wanted a few seals. I believe the tetarteron will pay for half of the lot.

 

I see a reasonably nice ALAMANNIA DEVICTA reverse in there. That’s a scarce an desirable type. Was this your reason for buying the lot?

 

Just to shove it in a box with others to be forgotten about until retirement.

 

It was only for the Sol Invictus in the third row right. Other than that I knew nothing of the others except they looked in good shape. Nothing is ever wrong with higher grade ancients.

I won the lot at estimate, so wasn't chasing it too hard. I think I bid on about 12 lots and won 3.