Challenge; post attractive, sub-$300 coin/s

Riffing off a recent thread of mine, let's show people that it is possible to acquire attractive examples of coins purchased at $300 or below. It's possible even with Roman Republican Denarii. I'm still working on my coin photography, or else I would post an example.

It doesn't have to be XF. A coin in good Fine with a fantastic patina can be more attractive than a problem XF. Severan era Greek Imperials from the Balkans often have lovely patinas.

Picking from recent coin buys, this one came in well under $300, and was really closer to $100. It looks even better in person. I love the Rome-style Philip Tetradrachms!


Rome mint for Antioch.
Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Eagle standing facing, head left, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; A to upper right, S-C flanking body, MON VRB in exergue.
AVTOK K M IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOV CЄB
ΔHMAPX ЄΞOVCIAC
CHARACTERISTICS
COMPOSITION Billon
MINT NAME Antioch
DENOMINATION Tetradrachm
DIAMETER 27
MAIN CHARACTER Philip I
GREECE PROVINCE Seleucis and Pieria
PRODUCT TYPE Coin
YEAR 244-249
PRIEUR 305

The next one is lovely for the type, a Leo III.


Leo III with Constantine V (717-741). Æ 40 Nummi (19mm, 4.41g, 6h). Constantinople, year 20 (c. 720-1). Crowned and draped facing bust of Leo, holding globus cruciger. R/ Large M surmounted by crowned and draped facing bust of Constantine, holding globus cruciger; cross to r.; A/A - X/X across lower field. MIB 28; DOC –; Sear 1514. Good VF

 

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$300


Orbiana (225 - 227 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA AVGG,Concordia seated left holding double cornucopia and patera.
Rome
19mm
3.8g
RIC IV 319, RSC III 1, BMCRE VI 287, SRCV II 8191

$150


Lucilla (162 - 182 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, Draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing facing, head left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
Rome Mint
19mm
3.27g
RIC III 760.

Ex. Cabinet Numismatique, Genève.

Rare

$220


Aquilia Severa (220, & 221 - 222 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: IVLIA AQUILIA SEVERA AVG, Draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing facing, head left, holding double cornucopia and sacrificing with patera over altar to left; star to right.
Rome Mint
19mm
3.02g
RIC IV(part 2), pg 47, #226 (Elagabalus)

Scarcer with "Star in Right Field".

 

This only set me back $200 shipped.

Ptolemy II, Ptolemaic Kingdom
AR tetradrachm
Obv: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis
Rev: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, monogram in left field, shield in front of eagle
Mint: Alexandria
Date: 285-246 BC
Ref: Svoronos 574

 

O i LOVE that 1!

 

Nice and double nice!

 

....i guess beauty's in eye of the beholder of the coin...

 

$24, not including sales tax.

 

Well, the Didius is one of my all-time favorite Roman types. The Salonina has a nice patina.

 

Wonderful idea and coins so far!

 

Paid $180US

 

That's an excellent price for an excellent coin!

My least costly Byzantine gold coin is this crude AV hyperpyron of Andronicus II and Michael IX, 1303-1320, at $250 in 2019, Roma E-Sale 53, lot 1037.

Sear 2396

3.95 grams

 

Sub $300? Bougie.
How about sub $50?
Never in my life could I imagine spending $300 on a coin. In fact, I've never spent more than $90 and that was a stretch.

This one has a beautiful dark green patina, a well centered strike, and an amazing depiction of Nike. Cost? $24.50

Gordian III
238-244 AD
AE25
Hadrianopolis
Obverse: AVT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AV, laureate, draped bust right
Reverse: AΔΡIANOΠOΛEITΩN, Nike standing left with wreath and palm branch

 

Very nice! Me likeeee!

 

Religio Avg Sestertius

 

Wonderful, Ryro and Panzerman. Panzerman, I recall that you mentioned that AV was purchased a while back, but even with inflation it would still meet the $300 threshold.

I think that is a splendid buy, furryfrog.

I'm not that into fourrees, but this is a lovely, sub $100 (even with inflation - it was 2010) coin.

C. Norbianus fourreé Denarius (plated), ca. 83 BC, Rome.
Obv: C NORBIANVS, control number LXXXV to left, diademed head of Venus right.
Rev: Corn ear, fasces and caduceus reverse.
18-20 mm, 3.16 g
Syd. 739

Almost extremely fine. The light weight and the apparent small breaks on the reverse make it highly probable that this is an extremely well done ancient fourrée. Remarkable! (seller's description).

The next. Ex Ken Dorney: The coin's only in Fine condition but the generous flan more than makes up for it. The 35 mm. Tets have to be in awfully bad condition not to be attractive in hand.



Aeolis, Temnos, 188 - 170 BC
Silver Tetradrachm, 35mm, 15.79 grams
Obverse: Laureate head of Herakles right wearing lion skin.
Reverse: Zeus enthroned left holding eagle and scepter, monogram above oinochoe below vine tendril in left field.
Price1678 // SCBC356

Struck on a broad flan, original find patina.

Next, same seller (it actually came as a happy mistake)


Islands off Thrace, Thasos, mid 2nd - mid 1st Century BC
Silver Tetradrachm, 33mm, 16.76 grams
Obverse: Wreathed head of young Dionysos right.
Reverse: Herakles standing left holding club and lion skin, monogram in left field.
le Rider 51 // SNG Copenhagen 1050

Struck on a broad medallic flan, very attractive grey toning.

The style of the obverse is slightly unpleasing to me (the falling out eye), but it's a really attractive coin in hand, and I always wanted the type. I'm no expert in this area; I wonder if it was a well-done Celtic imitation?

It was one of the rare times that the wrong coin being sent ended up with a happy customer. I ended up getting the original coin as well.


A thread by Donna inspired the purchase of this one. Sub-$100. It's a halfway decent example.

Title: 46 BC - Roman Republic. Mn. Cordius Rufus AR Denarius / Venus
Attribution: Crawford 463/1a; Cordia 2; Sydenham 976
Date: 46 BC
Obverse: RVFVS III VIR, jugate heads of the Dioscuri right, each wearing a laureate pileus surmounted by star
Reverse: MN•CORDIVS, Venus standing left, holding scepter and scales, Cupid perched on her shoulder
Size: 18.00mm
Weight: 3.73 grams
Description: nearing VF, light roughness, a few cleaning scratches.

 

I like the Religio Aug Sestertius! A good patina adds a lot to a coin!

 

I'll bet that is not a price from the Covid era!

 

I recall Panzerman mentioning that was his first coin. Even with inflation, it's still sub-$300 (I think).

And what a first coin. Cool. The lawn care business must be pretty lucrative. I'm afraid Panzerman might hit his Kursk with my lawn, though . Between the moles and the old trees, it would be tough sledding.

 

All my coins are sub 300.00 here are my two fovorites

 

Most of my coins are simply budget quality, but I do have some that I'm proud to have in my collection!
This one's a bit under $100


The coin that really made me dwell into ancients, $50


An Augustus quinarius for $90, love the bust!


A lifetime Alexander from Babylon, $200


A nice siliqua for $110


I love the abstract design in this Sri Lankan imitative of a Roman follis, $30.


And a more recent arrival of Aelius, I find the honest wear and the cost attractive, $20.