Just got this one recently. I really like odd things like this. Struck off center and quite heavily. The photo doesnt show the smashed lip so well, but it is pretty severe. I think I paid $15, which is probably $10 more than the average person would pay!
That is pretty cool, Ken. I consider myself a bit above average, so I would have gone as much as $10, which is however still some distance away from $15 .
How in the heck was this allowed to leave the mint? I know quality control was generally lacking in Roman mints at the time but this is just plain sad (the QC not the coin which is neat-looking). I suppose if they had some sort of daily quota in pounds of coins they needed to produce might as well mix this one in with the rest of them to help achieve that quota. Makes me wonder how the rejects would have looked like...
By this time, the Gallic Empire produced an estimate of 48 MILLION coins A WEEK (Bland, R.:From Gordian III to the Gallic Empire, AD 238-274) and that´s only official mints. Hundreds of other "irregular" mints were flooding the streets with bad copies (notably, it was against the law to reproduce the emperor´s image, so if you DIDN´T copy it well, there was no crime in it). So, it is quite understandable this coin skipped QC. Hey, even it may have been approved by it! Bottom line: Sweet little coin you got!
Super cool example, Ken Dorney (I love weird things too) Ummm, I have an example that isn't quite as off-center as yours, but it's still in the same ball-park ... Andronicus II Bi Trachy
Quality control for the Gallic Empire was essentially non-existant. It was money, and it was utilitarian. All concerns of artistic value was out the window!
I once was told by a dealer known as a major expert in many fields that I was his second biggest cheapskate customer. I took that as a challenge to try harder but Zumbly has me beat. I'd go the full $15 as long as that was postpaid, of course. Steve's Byzantine is really not bad for its period. The Tetricus shows the use of pincer dies and would fit my technical collection well. It will take me a while to find one like this in FDC. I have two coins of the type that show what they were trying to do. Sad.
I dont know, there are some out there who are super cheap. Even one well known dealer who is recognized worldwide as being famously and even perhaps fabulously cheap! Anyway, that $15 did include shipping but for the price I had to have it. I also bought this from the same seller. I just liked the patina and style. It was $25.
I'm with you Ken and Doug as well. I'd spring for the $15.00--- that 'Whacky' off-center coin appeals to me on several levels.
Ken (and others)...I am not a collector of ancients, but I would like to get 1 or 2 coins from the Roman Empire...without spending $50 bucks or more each. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Look for a nice Constantinian period bronze. One can get really nice ones for $30 and under. If you troll long enough, you will find them even cheaper. Ebay is full of decent ancients for $10 or so plus shipping.
It's a coin of Crispus, son of Constantine I, 317 - 326 AD, minted at what is modern Trier, France. I got lucky on that one, just a random good buy. Retail would likely be around $100 for such a nice example but that is due to the type, grade and patina. I just looked on VCoins, there are 528 coins of Crispus at the moment, priced from about $15 to a high of nearly $1,000 (the expensive ones as there is a Medusa on the shield on the obverse).
Something new collectors often have trouble dealing with is this concept of 'random good buy'. Of the sons of Constantine, Crispus may be just a bit more popular and expensive. Some mints are just a bit more popular and expensive as are some reverse types and some special mintmarks. Then there are the special little detail that some, not all, collectors are willing to pay more for (like the Medusa mentioned above). The problem is you will find rarities in each category being sold as if they were nothing special and coins that really are nothing special being sold as if they were beyond wondrous. There is no Red Book and more sellers who don't know than there are those who do. The question we each ask is whether we want any given coin on any given day at any given price. Ken's Crispus is a fine example of what I would pay $25 for but not $100. I do have Crispus coins no better looking for which I willingly paid over $100. I have bought coins for $5 and regretted it later. It is not the sort of hobby that is easy to explain in terms that make sense to everyone.
That is an awesome coin, Ken! I'd like to find more ancient errors. I know there are a lot that are a bit off. But, one that's as obvious as that would be right up my alley. Erin
i'd go 15 bucks on that as well, interesting flan. here's one i picked up at a coin show a while back. i'm not sure what i paid for it, it was a package deal. 10 bucks? Tetricus I Æ Antoninianus, 271-274AD Antoninianus O: Radiate bust of Tetricus right, "IMP C TETRICVS AVG" R: Pax standing left holding a branch and staff, "PAX AVG". Cologne mint. 20 mm, 3.9 g Sear III - 11243, RIC 100? i'm guessing here based off online stuff?
