My 3 new Ancients - opinions and info wanted!

Hello again. I found these at a dealer's shop. There were cheap. I paid $35 for the three of them. How did I do on price? What info do you have on them? Other thoughts? Thanks!

1. Roman Valens, AD 364-378


2. Constantinopolis, 330 AD


3. Constantius II, Fallen Horseman, 337-361 AD

 

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They look very good CBD, though not sure 'bout prices. I like the falling horseman piece best.

 

Hi, C-B-D !!!

It's my guess you did pretty well with that group purchase---perhaps about typical retail for the types I recognize. I don't see anything negative about them (although some are a bit rough, but well-centered etc.) and I don't see anything unusual or scarce about the mints or styles, so I think you got what you paid for---Doug, Val or so many others can offer more informed feedback than I can.

If you're patience and shop around a bit, there are so many sources of coins online and off that you can almost always score what we all strive for---a low retail cost or a real bargain for the price. And, ALWAYS ask the dealer/seller about accepting a lower price---they almost always will in most cases....

Is the dark coloring patina or simply the result of a photo shoot???

 

More or less you paid $11.66 for each one which is about right for those coins. I'd say it's neither cheap nor high priced.

 

IMO $35 was a little too much. These are common types in typical shape. $27 max is more like what I would pay for them. I echo Mikey's advice. Spend some time looking around places such as eBay and Vcoins, and you will find deals.

 

I believe the FH type (third coin above) attributes as:
Antioch RIC VIII 135 Constantius II AE 23mm. 350-355 AD. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP REPARATIO, G in left field, helmeted soldier left, spearing falling horseman who is clutching horse's neck, Gamma in left field, AN[officina] in ex.

 

The first coin, Valens, I believe is:
Siscia RIC 15b type xxxv(b) Valens AE3. AD 367-370. DN VALEN-S PF AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left, holding wreath & palm, R over Symbol 3 in left field, F in right field. Mintmark ASISCVE.

 

@Bing, these attributions are awesome, but they still confuse me a bit. Is there a thread where an ancient noobie like me can learn the lingo? For example, I have no clue what "ASISCVE" "RIC 15b" or "PV AVG" mean.

 

The City Commemorative coin is either:
Antioch
RIC VII 92 Antioch, City Commemorative. 330-333 and 335 AD, or Antioch
RIC VII 114, 337-347 AD, CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS, bust of Constantinopolis left, wearing laureate and crested helmet, necklace and ornamental mantle over left shoulder, holding sceptre / No legend, Victory standing left, foot on prow, holding transverse sceptre and resting left hand on shield. Mintmark SMANI.

 

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/abb.html

http://cointranslator.com/

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=mint marks

Here are a few links for you to read. Should help you to understand the coins a bit better.

 

Gil answered before I could. All the links he provided are good but I think I would start with the Numiswiki link since you are a newbie.

 

Oh, and btw, I think VK is more right about values. These coins should be no more than $8-$9 each or even less. They are not bad coins, they are good to fine in condition, but these coins are so common that they sell for so little.

 

You’ve already got those great links to read but here is what those three specific items are:

"ASISCVE" are probably the letters designating the mint where the coin originated. This mint mark data is probably located at the bottom of the coin's reverse. That area on the reverse below the device is called the exergue. Does your coin have ASISCVE in exergue? Maybe you couldn't read it before but can now that you know what to look for.

"RIC 15b" refers to the series of books Roman Imperial Coins. When you have an extra copy of the books, please send me a copy.

"PV AVG" is just the last part of the obverse legend on your coin. They put a dash (-) when words are broken up by some design element and place a space ( ) where there is an actual space between words. Roman legends include many abbreviations (and some misspellings) all the time. AVG is short for Augustus or something like that. PV is short for public or for-the-public or something like that.

Your coins have all been good examples for newbies (like you & I) because all the legends are readable. I constantly have trouble reading legends because I don't know Latin & really don't know what letters to expect where the letters are weak or erased by antiquity.

 

Very helpful! Thank you!

 

The 3 were priced at a total of $77.50, so I thought I was getting a deal at $35... looks like if ai overpaid, though, I only did so by a few bucks. For me, I'm still stunned that for few hundred bucks I can get a bunch of neat coins and free history lessons. U.S. coins, comparitively, are generally too expensive to indulge in. Bottom line: I'm loving ancients more every day.

 

Isn't it amazing, being able to own something two thousand years old for the cost of an inexpensive meal? Ancient coins are an endless source of awe.

 

I agree---You only overpaid by a few bucks and that is generally referred to as 'high retail' for the type and condition you purchased.

Ancients are an unending source of information and wonder, as TIF states, and you will always be learning something new and unique about each and every one of them...Just stay on this forum and you will constantly be astonished!!

 

But but but... there's something missing on this forum that is everywhere in the Coin Chat and U.S. Coin Forums! Where are the nasty, judgmental, know-it-all trolls????

 

Oh, I'm here. Just ask my wife and kids.

 

To list all the know-it-all trolls would be listing all the members on the ancient forum (except me of course )...