Every so often a coin follows me home just because I thought it was pretty. I don't especially collect Diocletian and I had others of similar design but this one is about as pretty to my standards as any late Roman I have. It is not full silver but the places worn through have a contrasting tone so they look good. The strike is even and legends are bold. This is what I seek when looking for ancients. It is not mint state but good enough for me. Diocletian AE Antoninianus c.285 AD RIC 323 p256 vol.V Jupiter and Hercules Antioch mint 4th officina It came from a dealer's half price box. No one wanted it at full price but I took it at half.
thats a nice piece and a good reason to get it. I dont collect ancients but i can see myself doing that waaaayyy later in life
I like it, good portrait, nice legends and details on the reverse.... very pretty indeed. I can see why you liked it.
Not bad. I've always preferred the pre-reform radiates to the post-reform issues. Particularly those issued under Carausius. Of course, I'd take a Diocletian sestertius any day.
I would have snatched that one up, too. I always like depictions of Hercules on Roman coins, and that's a very nice one for such a small rendition. The lion skin is even better than it often is when Hercules has the entire reverse to himself.
Woops! My phrasing wasn't the best on that. They don't exist! Let's try "I've always preferred the pre-reform radiates, particularly those issued under Carausius."
I have always liked the Tetrarchy coins. I don't have many but have been meaning to get more. I just love the art nouveau look of the post reform folles. Nice pre-reform one Doug.
The first one was marked $40 so being half price made it $20. That is small show, low demand for ancients pricing. The same dealer had a good size box of lesser grade items at $7 and less than that at $5 of which 90% I would not want at any price. That is what I would consider the range for common late Romans depending on who has them and were they are being sold. That was the point of this post: This dealer unloads things that he has had in stock for a while by putting them in his sale boxes. I'm a bit surprised that someone didn't take this at the $40 number but perhaps he had even nicer ones that went first and left this as a 'second'. As I mentioned, the price of coins is often more a factor of who has them than what they are. I saw other dealers selling worse coins at twice the price but I didn't buy theirs. Bargains in ancient coins are harder to find if you are seeking something specific but easier if you consider buying what is available at your price. That's why I prefer to buy at shows - easier to see what is available. for medoraman: One thing I like about the post reform radiates is that they were not silvered and lacked the little bit of silver in the alloy that made them corrode more easily than they wore. The coin below was from the same dealer's $7 box and not the nicest but I picked it out since it was Carthage mint and I didn't have one. My opinion is that the first coin is worth more than three times the second but that is a decision for us each to make.
