I bought this coin, along with a a Gordian III/Tranquillina As, about a week ago. I'll share them in separate threads. Both have wonderful green patina Elagabulus AE As Moushmov 1433 struck at Nikopolis ad Istrum 218-222 AD OBV: AVT M AVRH ANTWEINOC, Laureate head right REV: UP NOBIOU ROUFOU NIKOPOLITWN PROCI-CT-PO-N, eagle standing facing, wings open, head left with wreath in its beak 14.13g, 26mm
I see no evidence of smoothing - quite a feat these days for a provincial from that region. For provincial issues as this, I'd prefer the Greek "assarion" for the denomination. But I'm a picky one!
To be clear - it's a great coin! Buying larger bronzes can be quite a challenge these days, mostly because of smoothing.
Very nice, the provincial styles have grown on me so much I think I prefer them to the 'standard' Romans now, they have already said so much before you even start reading the legends.
Im liking provincials more too & have added more in 2012 but some coins HAVE to be in denarii form. When I am done with the remaining 12 caesars and some other emperors I have interests in I may target more provincials & roman republics.
Nice coin from my favorite little perverted emperor. For those not familiar with his "accomplishments", I highly recommend reading about him. He makes Gaius look prim and proper by comparison. I still would like to find an "Emessa stone" reverse from this emperor.
You working on the 12 Caesars Mat? I didn't know that. I am just too anti-hole filling of a collector to pursue them. OTOH, I do find myself pursuing a few Sassanid rulers I don't have, so maybe its just lack of interest in Roman generally, (or the pricetag of a few of them), that makes me disinterested in them. If anyone is looking for a nice sestertius of Galba for a 12 Caesar set, a friend at my coin club has a nice one for sale.
I started collecting a set of denarii of the first 12 Caesars about 30 years ago. I finally obtained my final denarius last year. It was Caligula, and it wasn't cheap. I may post an image of my display with the 12 Caesars in another thread. Good luck.
I thought I told you Chris? It was mentioned in my Galba thread. Nice, saw it on CCF I believe. I still need Vitellius/Otho & Caligula but my side set of lucilla/crispina is my priority.
Do you have a Julius lifetime portrait? That is the one that would stop me financially. The "heavy hitter" of our coin club brought one in one time, passing it around like it was a LRB. It was FDC denari lifetime portrait. I am guessing $40-50k might buy it if you could ever find one for sale. I do know you have the elephant issue though.
I have one portrait coin of JC. RSC 34, that was holed and plugged and probably a former jewelry mount. But it is a portrait coin just the same
^Lucky Nope, just the elephant which is fine for me. Ive seen affordable portraits surface on vcoins the past two weeks, under $700!!! But I dont have that kind of $ to play with & they are sold aready.
The portraits done with Octavian are not as pricey as lifetime issues, its just some 12 Caesar collectors insist on lifetime portraits. That same collector last week was passing around coins with caduceus' on them, and in the coins he was sharing were 4 coins of Antinuous, all VF-EF. Dang........ I just shake my head knowing I will never have such coins.
Gorgeous coin Bing (and nice coins posted by everybody else as well) ... => Here are a couple of my Lil' Perv coins ...