I'm really happy my CNG winning lot arrived today! It's a somewhat worse for wear tetradrachm struck for Vespasian in 69 or 70 AD AR Tetradrachm Antioch mint, 69-70 AD RPC 1940 (7 spec.) Obv: AYTOKPAT KAIΣA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: T ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠ KAIΣ ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY; Laureate Head of Titus, r.; in l. field, star; in r. field, B This regnal year 2 tetradrachm in "Alexandrian" style was most likely struck in Alexandria and then sent to Syria for circulation. Kevin Butcher speculates these "Alexandrian" styled tets were ordered by the southern Syrian cities for circulation in that part of the province. It's of interest to note that these tetradrachms in which Titus' portrait is featured on the reverse may have been circulating in the region where he commanded the legions fighting the Jewish War. The star in the reverse left field may be some sort of mint control mark. Although the flan is somewhat flatly stuck near the bottom and the surfaces a bit rough, in hand it's a really nice piece. The main attraction here is the fine portrait of Titus on the reverse.
Thanks Mat. I overpaid me thinks, but in the end it was worth it after seeing the coin in hand. For some reason CNG's photography over enhances rough surfaces.
If you needed it & happy with it, thats all that matters. I have several I have overpaid for in general but enjoy. The bargains I get at times make up for it.
Nice looking coins. Wear-It's been around the block a few years but still detailed. I would love to see these coins in a higher grade. If your pleased, who cares about the price.
I see a nice coin that I would be happy to have but I don't see a lot of wear. There is complete separation of ear and wreath on Titus which would have disappeared with wear. I see uneven striking and the normal porosity of billon coins. The coin may be 'worse' than some CNG offerings but it is not badly worn. If I were a slabber, I would call it VF but give lower marks for strike and surface (2/5?). Wear? I have wear (and an additional Domitian): As far as CNG photography goes: I don't think they over emphasize roughness but enlarged photos with excellent sharpness are going to make detail and faults easier to see. Most coins are bought by old men with failing eyesight who may not see things in hand with household lighting with unaided vision that do show up in well lit enlargements. I consider his a good thing. The coins look more like they do under a magnifier (not microscope) which is really how they are. I have a very few coins that are good enough to stand being made into 20x30 enlargements but prints that size are meant to be viewed from a distance greatly more than arm's length. Some people bid on CNG lots having seen them on a 20 inch high definition monitor; some bid on things seen on a phone with a cracked screen. I'm not sure how we can expect sellers like CNG to present lots to both groups of potential bidders on an even plane. One of the best reasons for learning to take photos of our coins is what it teaches us about interpreting the photos taken by others from which we buy our coins.
I now look at everyone's images which get posted here with a different interpretation than I did before I had to re-image all mine.
Doug, I think your dynastic denarius has just as much eye appeal (if not more so) than my tetradrachm, despite being a heavily worn example. Call me perverse, but I think worn coins have an appeal all their own.
Vespasian70's tetradrachm of Vespasian and Titus is from Antioch, Syria as he notes. Here is another one from Antioch.
Nice example of RPC 1942! However, both types are from the same issue and mint which has been traditionally attributed to Antioch. Although, based on style they were likely struck in Alexandria (or at least the dies were engraved by Alexandrian mint workers) and then sent to Syria for circulation. These are not billion tets, since they have around 80% silver (RPC II p. 275). Here is my example of the type.
