No longer in denial. I DO collect LRB...

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by maridvnvm, Jun 2, 2015.

  1. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    After being in denial for so long I can now confirm that I have admitted to myself what has been obvious to others for a little while.

    My name is Martin and I DO collect LRB.

    I stumbled across a small dealer recently. All the ancients that he had in stock were three lonely LRB. I felt obliged to buy all three as each had some small thing that appealed to me in some way, making them in some way interesting.

    Coin 1:-

    Constans as Caesar - AE3

    Obv:- FL CONSTANTIS BEA C, Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right / . //dot DSIS dot.
    Rev:- GLORIA EXERCITVS, Two helmeted soldiers standing with spears & shields, facing two standards between them
    Minted in Siscia, (// dot DSIS dot), A.D. 334-335.
    Reference:– RIC VII Siscia 238 (R1)

    This is an example of the unusual form of this obverse legend as they were experimenting with the naming for the young Caesars.

    [​IMG]

    Coin 2:-

    Valens - AE3

    Obv:– D N VALENS P F AVG, Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev:– SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left holding wreath & palm branch
    Minted in Rome (//SM leaf RB). 24th August A.D. 367 - 17th November 375
    Reference:– RIC IX 24b

    Nothing really special other than the lovely jade green patina and the use of an Ivy leaf as part of the mint mark.

    [​IMG]

    Coin 3:-

    Gratian - AE3

    Obv:– D N GRATIANVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev:– GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor advancing right holding labarum & dragging captive
    Minted in Rome (R dot QVARTA) A.D. 367 -375
    Reference:– RIC IX Rome 23c, type xii(b)

    Just interesting that these coins spell out the officina as part of the mint mark. Honest wear but a lovely chocolate patination.

    [​IMG]

    Martin
     
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  3. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Welcome to the LRB club :D
     
  4. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    It's easy to see and 'read' why those particular LRB's appealed to you Martin---they are very lovely and have great eye-appeal and various interesting aspects for each one.
     
  5. Whizb4ng

    Whizb4ng HIC SVNT DRACONES

    What's the old saying again? "The first step to more Severans is admitting you have an LRB problem"?
     
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  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Welcome Martin. I too collect LRBs. Man, this feels like my Wednesday night club meeting.
     
    Mikey Zee likes this.
  7. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    12 step time...well, you've made the important first step martin....admitting you collect LRB.

    now follow these steps..

    2 buy more coins
    3 buy more coins
    4 buy more coins
    5 buy more coins
    6 buy more coins
    7 buy more coins
    6 buy more coins
    9 buy more coins
    10 buy more coins
    11 buy more coins
    12 buy more coins
     
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  8. Okidoki

    Okidoki Well-Known Member

    Admitting must have releast the stone from your stomach, keep them comming my coin friend
     
    brassnautilus likes this.
  9. Okidoki

    Okidoki Well-Known Member

    What is LRB..?
     
  10. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Late Roman Bronze
     
    Okidoki likes this.
  11. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

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  12. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Great examples. Some LRBs are enjoyable. I prefer the valentinian portion.
     
  13. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I was like Martin in the mid 1990's. I bought a lot of Septimius Severus, a few Probus and almost nothing after 300AD. I started working with Victor Failmezger and learned enough that when I photographed his coins for his book we included nearly 100 of mine in the plates. LRB's can be addictive. I now have more LRB's than Severans.

    I might point out that none of these three are 'ordinary' types. Each has some little thing that adds a bit of interest. If we did a countdown of the 100 most interesting LRB types, the Constans and Gratian would be on my list. (Sorry, Valens, there are just so many neat LRB's.)

    There is nothing wrong with us buying common type LRB's also although I do have trouble sometimes with the number of beginners who buy horrid condition common coins at high prices when there are some nice ones out there.
     
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  14. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

  15. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I strongly recommend the Failmezger book Doug mentioned. I use mine regularly. However, I also agree it should not cost a fortune.
     
  16. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Nothing but accolades from me. I started out with LRB and intend to continue. Here is my exact same coin of Constans, down to the officina.

    constans22sis.jpg
     
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  17. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I had said that this coin is a must have for Latin teachers (how many 4th declension genitives do you think are on coins?) but maybe it is just something any LRB collector should have.
    rx5980bb2341.jpg
     
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  18. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Hey folks, we've got a hat trick!
     
    Mikey Zee likes this.
  19. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    One of my first ancients :)
    111_081.JPG
    Constans AE3. 335 AD. FL IVL CONSTANS NOB C, laureate, cuirassed bust right / GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers standing facing one another, each holding reversed spear and shield set on ground, two standards between them, SMANE in ex.

    RIC VII Antioch 89 (SMANΕ), R5 in RIC


    Heres another one.
    1004301.JPG
    Constans AE 3
    CONSTANS P F AVG, laureate & rosette-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers holding spears and shields with one standard between them, O on banner. Mintmark: A SIS star
    Siscia
     
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