Ancient: Real or Fakery, like so many hot rolls from a bakery. Diameter: 20.9mm, Thickness: 2mm, Weight: 4.7 grams, Non-magnetic
I agree. This silver coin is about the cheapest high grade silver roman you can ever find. They were saved in high grades in huge numbers, so if you were concerned about this coin because of a low price, that is the reason. When I see this in pick boxes for $20 I will only buy it if its in VF+/XF grades. Not saying that is the "retail" price, but its the "Chris has to buy if VF+" price.
As with 90% of my coins, some 20,000 +/- in total, I picked this up for $.16 (16 cents). Since my job has me traveling all over Southern California, I visit nearly all the coin shops twice a month or so. This gives me an advantage at seeking out bargin bins en mase. I'm not a rich man and the price or rarity of a coin does not impress me, but the find or character of the coin does. My stoic belief in fate usually leads me to it. Two days ago I was curious about silver ancients after reading some posts on ancients and there it was. I even asked the dealer if it was real and he replied, "ehh, we don't deal in ancients." It may sound kinda silly, but it's true. One day, I'll get into some serious type set collecting, but for now I'm happy fullfiling my obsesive need to catalogue and organize things, coins in this case.
Wow, .16 for that? Thats the cheapest ive ever seen Gordian III go for. Now if you found a Claudius or Otho silver, then I would be hounding you which shop it was here lol.
Another reason the G III's are cheap right now is : The British hoard found last year has many of these and they have been coming onto the market for a few months now. I suppose they will dry up after awhile.
Yep Joe its RIC 16, Reverse is Jupiter holding thunderbolts and septer with G III at his feet. Minted in 240 AD, nice.
