For those of you who don’t know, I recently went to work at a major coin shop. Recently, Aaron represented a buyer at auction, and the coin came in today. It’s amazing what I get to handle sometimes.
It's good to be able to appreciate the obscure little things that nobody else really cares about. Kudos -- I doubt I'd be able to keep my hand steady enough to hold it...!
I don't think I have any words that will do the Eid Mar justice, but thanks for sharing. If you don't mind sharing more, how did that job come along? Did someone know someone? Did someone know you? Did you know someone? What does one need to know to work for a coin shop?
It was my podcast. They were aware of my work, and asked me if I would be interested in interviewing. I was. I did, and they offered me a job. Lesson to be learned from this: I did the podcast to share and to educate. I worked hard for over 10 years to make it as interesting as I could, but I never expected it to become a career. As George Allen said, “Work hard and watch good things happen.” I am living proof.
Well, if NOBODY can't be located for a re-sale, I believe I'm knowing of a buyer, especially at PM value. Love the Post!
Why isn't that on your "What Walked In" yet? I'm sure it will be when you get the chance. Fun job to get paid for. Thanks for the post.
I think I've seen that coin before...hmmm... https://www.coinworld.com/news/worl...reus-offered-in-numismatica-ars-classica-sale
It's a pileus, a cap given to Roman slaves when freed. Here it's being used by Brutus to signify that he freed the Roman people on the Eid Mar (Ides of March = March 15th, 44BC) by assassinating Julius Caesar. Here's my silver example - still very expensive but not quite the ~$2.5M coin Mike is holding (although sans-hole ;-) )
I’m getting ready to teach Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar this summer and in the fall. Next month I’ll be at the Globe Theater watching the play in London. In the play, Brutus is often represented as a selfless stoic laboring on behalf of the Roman Republic. I find it fascinating that he put his bust and name on the obverse of that coin, when that’s the kind of thing that allegedly got Caesar killed. Maybe Brutus wasn’t so selfless and stoic after all.
I've actually been asking myself, "Would the hole and scratch bother me?" I hate to admit it but I think "yes". The denarius is lovely, btw.
Yes, that's true! I think that the first who did it, Julius Caesar, could seem criminal because it had never been done before, it was against the mos majorum. But doing it, it set a precedent, and for the Romans if there is a precedent it's legal now, it's OK.